I No Longer Have Love to Offer You - Chapter 27

“Can’t you come out with me again today?”

Hearing the voice from the doorway of his study, Ricardo lifted his gaze from the documents he’d been scanning. Marietta stood there, dressed in her usual finery, looking at him with a slightly displeased expression. No doubt because he hadn’t been able to accompany her shopping lately.

He had told Marietta she was free to shop as she pleased, and since all the bills would be sent to the estate, she never had to pay for anything herself. That should have been enough if all she wanted was to enjoy shopping, but Marietta had never been interested in just that.

What she loved most was dragging Ricardo along to dress shops, trying on outfit after outfit, and making him tell her how good she looked in each one. Then she’d drag him to jewelry stores to do the same with gems and accessories.

Back when she was a countess, she had apparently enjoyed shopping with lesser noblewomen in tow, but since her divorce, that was no longer an option. Probably because few ladies would bother keeping her company now.

And going out with men other than her husband or fiancé would be scandalous.

Which meant Ricardo was the only one left to accompany her.

“I’ve got too much work piled up right now. I can’t go out.”

He knew it would sour her mood, but he had no choice but to answer that way.

Ever since Marietta had come to live with him, the more they went out together, the more his work had fallen behind. At first, he’d managed by cutting into his sleep and working late into the night. But now, three months in, even that wasn’t enough to keep up.

“We haven’t gone out together at all lately. When will you be free?”

“I can’t promise anything. I need to deal with this backlog first.”

Ricardo hated saying it, but he knew that if he gave in now, things would only get worse.

“I can’t go with you, but you’re free to shop on your own. Just pick out whatever you want, alright?”

He sighed as he spoke, and Marietta visibly bristled at his tone.

“That’s not the point! I just wanted to spend time with you.”

“If it’s just about buying dresses and jewelry, can’t you do that alone?”

Honestly, he couldn’t remember them going out for anything else. There were so many other things they could do—watch a play, visit a museum, stroll through the city.

Suddenly, he recalled how Mirabel, unlike Marietta, had preferred doing things together over shopping. She had kept dress and jewelry purchases to a bare minimum, avoiding unnecessary expenses.

“I just want to be with you.”

“Then let’s have tea together instead.”

If they skipped the preparations and travel time, he could use those hours for work.

But Marietta immediately shot down his suggestion.

“No.”

“…So, you don’t want to have tea together?”

“That’s not it. If we have time for tea, I’d rather go shopping. Besides, we can have tea at a café in town.”

Their conversation was going in circles.

Marietta, who wanted nothing more than to go out and shop, and Ricardo, desperate to carve out even a little time for work.

Had Marietta always been like this?

The discrepancy between the woman he’d imagined and the one before him now left him bewildered.

“Look, I really don’t have the time. If you want to go out, go alone.”

In the end, that was all he could say. If he didn’t get his work done, he wouldn’t be able to maintain the viscountcy.

“If it’s taking up this much of your time, isn’t the job just too much for you?”

“…What did you say?”

For a moment, he thought he saw a mocking glint in her beautiful face or was it just his imagination?

“Well, isn’t it? You can’t even spare a few hours to go out with me. Maybe you’re just in over your head?”

“Marietta, you might not realize this, but most gentlemen work every day. They make time to go out by adjusting their schedules. The only men who spend every day trailing after women are idlers.”

He kept his voice measured, though irritation prickled at him. He didn’t want an unnecessary fight. But Marietta’s next words ignited his anger.

“But Ludovic always made time for me whenever I asked. He never refused because of work.”

“…!”

Nothing infuriated Ricardo more than being compared to his brother, Ludovic.

The very reason he’d been drawn to Marietta in the first place was that she had seen him not as a shadow of Ludovic, but as himself. She had claimed to love him for who he was.

And now, here she was, openly comparing them implying Ludovic was better.

Ricardo clenched his jaw, forcing down the fury threatening to erupt.

“Get out.”

“…What?”

Either she hadn’t sensed his anger or she didn’t understand what he’d said, because she just stared at him blankly.

If they stayed in the same room any longer, he’d say something he’d regret.

Gritting his teeth, Ricardo rose from his chair, strode over to Marietta, and restraining himself placed a hand on her back to guide her out.

She looked startled by his sudden movement but allowed herself to be ushered out.

BANG!

He shut the door behind her with more force than necessary, then leaned against it, breathing hard.

He took several deep breaths, struggling to rein in the storm inside him. Finally, he exhaled in one long, shuddering sigh.