TMWSH 10

~Chapter 10~

“Pawned Life “

The next morning.

Howard had said he’d return in the afternoon and asked her to wait before leaving.

Irina finished her lunch with just a salad, then went straight to his office.

“He said to come after lunch. Why isn’t he here yet?”

She swung her ankle idly and muttered, glancing around the office.

The cold tea prepared for his arrival was still untouched.

It was quite a while before he finally walked in.

“Why are you so late?”

Irina greeted him insolently, leaning her arm over the back of the sofa as if she owned the place.

“Something came up in the middle of the day. Did you wait long?”

“Not really. Not enough to die of boredom—maybe just enough to want to pluck out five strands of your hair.”

When Irina grumbled, Howard nodded as if relieved.

“That’s good to hear.”

In the past, that sort of comment would’ve made him look frightened—it used to be fun to tease him like that.

“Boring.”

Howard sat down and handed her a thick envelope.

It was just the right size to hold some documents.

“What’s this?”

“You’ll see.”

Irina tilted her head and opened the envelope.

It was tied up so tightly it took her a while to undo the fastener.

Inside was a bundle of documents about the thickness of one or two finger joints.

Even holding it in one hand felt heavy. She set it on the table and opened the first page.

Stamped boldly with the royal seal—

“A marriage registration form? Already?”

“Please go through it carefully.”

“Mm—”

She flipped the next page. Rows of legal clauses about marriage made her head ache just to look at them.

“You can sign where your name is marked in front.”

“Mm.”

Irina’s signature lines appeared one after another, with Howard’s neat signature already in place.

“These are all standard items. Please review them in order.”

“Mm—”

“There are signatures required on the back as well.”

“Mm—”

A marriage without even a single flower.

Honestly, when he first mentioned the marriage registration, it hadn’t really felt real.

After all, ever since she’d reunited with him, her days had been hectic—and their relationship was anything but suited to marriage.

But seeing the official document, stamped with the royal seal, made her strangely melancholic.

She couldn’t flip to the next page. She just stared blankly at the line where her signature would go.

“Are you even listening to me?”

“So… does this mean we’re married?”

Howard took a sip of his tea and nodded.

“Once you sign, yes.”

His expression didn’t waver at all.

So she threw another small bomb.

“Then we’re husband and wife?”

His eyes trembled ever so slightly, but thankfully—or unfortunately—Irina didn’t notice.

“Only in formality.”

He answered calmly.

“No flowers?”

“Flowers?”

He was pretending not to understand—she could tell.

“We’re getting married. Shouldn’t you at least give me something? You’re awful. I hope you dream of getting pricked by rose thorns all night.”

Irina cursed him outright.

“Didn’t you once say flowers should never be picked?”

“That was then!”

He’d claimed not to remember the past except for the painful bits—yet he remembered that perfectly.

Irina kept muttering half-curses under her breath.

The stack of documents was thick.

She’d thought so from the start, but it was ridiculous how much fine print there was.

Here and there, family crests and royal seals were stamped.

Tiny letters filled every line, making her not want to read any further.

The main contents were surely at the front anyway.

She shoved the papers back into the envelope and handed it to Howard.

“Not reading the rest?”

“What’s the point? It’s all the same.”

He looked like he wanted to say something, but just accepted the envelope quietly.

“It is, more or less.”

“Good. I’ll sign it later and give it back. You keep it safe. Once I pay off my debt, we can talk about it again, right?”

Howard reluctantly nodded.

“Starting tomorrow, things will get busier. You’ll need to learn about all my businesses.”

“Why? All you needed was a wife, wasn’t it?”

“It will benefit you someday as well.”

“Hah, should’ve asked for extra pay.”

Irina pouted in mock regret.

“So then, we’re a married couple now.”

He said it as though offering a polite greeting. Irina narrowed her eyes.

“Let’s get one thing straight. Don’t misunderstand. That confession I made years ago—back then I was just young and dumb. A year from now, when I’ve paid my debt, I’ll be off to find a real prince on a white horse. So don’t even think about hitting on me. Got it?”

She laid down her warning like a threat, but Howard didn’t answer.

That afternoon, all the estate’s staff were gathered.

After signing the documents and handing them over, Irina had said she’d take her time greeting everyone, but Howard simply left her there.

“That damn man.”

She forced a smile.

The mansion was enormous, so she’d expected a large staff—but only about twenty people had assembled.

Apparently, to minimize risks, every hire had to be approved by Howard or his secretary, Werner.

That was how this group of twenty or so had been chosen.

It seemed an inefficient way to run things, but since the estate work wasn’t difficult, it apparently worked fine.

Despite an overnight change in their “lady of the house,” no one seemed surprised—perhaps they’d been told beforehand.

Though Irina was meeting them all for the first time, there was an odd sense of familiarity.

Or maybe it was just because everyone greeted her warmly.

“I’ll be in your care.”

Since she’d only be playing the role for a year, she kept her words brief, saying they should just go on as usual.

She felt awkward as the new mistress and said she’d make proper introductions to each of them later.

That’s when it happened.

Crash!

A loud noise erupted as a boy—not quite a young man yet—burst into the room.

Startled, Irina turned toward the sound.

Everyone else did too.

“Fergus! Do we finally have a mistress? Huh? Do we?”

“Connor, you brat! Mind your manners! She’s right there! Show some respect!”

The burly man—Fergus, apparently—smacked the boy’s back hard enough to make him yelp.

“Oof!”

Rubbing his back, the boy bent at the waist in a deep bow.

“Hello!”

His greeting was so bright and earnest that Irina couldn’t help but laugh, her tension easing.

He was, she learned, a recent hire who helped in the kitchen and milked livestock.

His vivid green eyes shone like fresh leaves, and his sun-browned skin made him look healthy and lively.

Irina thanked everyone again and wrapped up the gathering.

“Where is he?”

After dismissing the servants, Irina went to find Howard.

“Maybe he’s in the garden?”

He wasn’t inside the mansion, so she turned toward the outdoors.

As she walked down the corridor, she spotted him through one of the tall windowpanes.

She was about to step outside when she saw someone standing in front of him.

A woman, wearing a deep red frilled dress and a matching tall hat.

They seemed to be talking.

The woman gestured animatedly toward the woods as she spoke.

Irina narrowed her eyes, watching them.

She strained to listen, but they were too far away—there was no way to hear what they said.

After a while, the woman extended her gloved hand.

Howard took it and brushed his lips over her hand in greeting.

“For someone who’s supposed to be shy, that’s quite something.”

Irina muttered under her breath, sarcasm dripping.

A wave of irritation surged through her.

Just a simple greeting—

It was the kind of gesture any nobleman might make.

She herself had received countless greetings like that before, but she’d never realized how infuriating it could look.

The woman said something with a smile, then climbed into her carriage and departed without hesitation.

As Howard turned to head back inside, Irina started walking forward too.

He noticed her following him down the corridor and paused briefly before matching his pace to hers.

When he opened the office door and stepped inside, Irina leaned her shoulder against the doorframe.

“Why didn’t you just go ahead and kiss her too while you were at it?”

She spoke sarcastically, watching as he peeled off his gloves and tossed them into the waste bin.

“…You’ve gotten quite a sharp tongue, Lady Irina.”

Howard raised an eyebrow.

“Got sold into debt. That’ll do that to a girl.”

He chuckled softly, walking toward his desk.

“Then since you’re here as collateral, could you wipe down my desk for me?”

That man…!

Irina glared at him as he sat down. Then she casually hopped up, perching herself on the edge of his desk.

Howard gave her a brief glance before focusing back on the papers he’d just picked up.

“Who was she?”

“A guest.”

“Is that so?”

The tip of Irina’s dusty shoe brushed against his thigh.

Rub.

She twisted her foot slightly, leaving a faint smudge on his trousers.

“Really?”

Her eyes locked onto him, unyielding.

He didn’t flinch. As if dirt and discomfort meant nothing to him, he simply placed his hand on her ankle—

The pale skin just above her shoe was revealed where her skirt had ridden up.

His thumb traced lightly over the delicate curve of her ankle bone.

He threw away the gloves that touched that woman—yet he’s fine with this?