I Need Sponsorship

‘Well, if it’s a spy from another family, they probably wouldn’t disclose such sensitive information.’

It was not enough to say that it built trust, but for now, I accepted it like this. The duke continued.

“Let them go inside.”

After saying that, he leaped onto the back of the black horse he had been riding. I watched that scene with admiring eyes. Even at a glance, the horse’s withers were remarkably high, yet he climbed up without any support. Just by observing his movements, I could tell how agile he was. I turned my body as well. It was to get on the carriage. However, the voice of the duke, coming from behind, caught my attention.

“Where are you going?”

Blinking my eyes, I responded to his unfamiliar question.

“I should also get on the carriage.”

“My horse is even faster.”

He said. I had to take a moment to try to understand what he was saying.

‘So you’re telling me to get on your horse?’

He didn’t say it directly, but he seemed to be saying it. At those words, I felt troubled.

‘I’ve never ride an horse before.’

I’ve been busy earning money since middle school, so I had never had the chance to try horseback riding like everyone else. There’s no way I could suddenly ride a horse like that. Above all, it was impossible for me to jump up like that. However, since she is from a noble family, if Sierra said that she had never ridden her horse, she would be suspicious, so I looked around as much as I could.

“My riding skills are not good… … .”

“Don’t worry, I’ll take the reins.”

“There’s also a carriage I rode in… … .”

“I-I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about it, Lady!”

The coachman, who was listening to our conversation, shouted loudly at this time. I looked back at him and saw the coachman shaking his head with a pale complexion. Disappointment spread across my face, but he was mouthing, ‘Please save me this once.’ It seems that he doesn’t want to go into the Duke’s mansion somehow. You can’t force someone like that… … . In the end, there was only one option left. I sighed and said.

“… … Excuse me then.”

“As you wish.”

He answered in a slightly laughing voice. I trudged to the side of the horse. Looking at it up close, it looked much bigger than it had before. Will I be able to climb the road? If you fall, won’t you seriously get hurt? I was worried, but I couldn’t help but get on, so I pushed my foot into the horse’s saddle and tried to get on it. At that moment, a large hand came in front of me. I looked up in amazement and saw the Duke holding out his hand towards me. He said.

“I will help you come up. Let me hold your hand.”

I looked at his face and hand in front of me for a moment. His hands, which were much larger than mine, had calluses and scars, but they looked so strong, as if they would never let go of me. Certainly, it seemed unreasonable for me to ride on this horse alone.

“Then, please.”

I grabbed his hand without hesitation. In an instant, he pulled me up, and when I came to my senses, I found myself seated on my horse.

‘No, it’s high.’

I admired for a moment, but I was nervous at the height farther than what I saw from below. It seemed that falling from here would not end with a simple injury. As I hold my breath in fear, he, seated behind me, reaches out to trap me and seize the reins. Nearby, the Duke spoke in a low voice.

“Don’t worry, you won’t fall. Lean your back and head on me.”

I raised my head and looked up at him. When his gaze, which had been looking forward, turned to me, I quickly leaned my head and back against his chest as he said. Is it because of my mood? “I can hear the pounding of a heartbeat, as if it’s someone else’s. It’s heartbeat I don’t know who it belongs to.

‘It’s a bit more comfortable… … .’

And miraculously, when I did as he said, my fear disappeared a little. Maybe it was because I felt relieved that his back was supporting me. Maybe it’s because his arms are trapping me so I don’t fall over.

“we will depart now.”

The duke, who had warned me not to be surprised, shook the horse’s reins. The horse started to move slowly and my body was shaken little by little. The speed of the horse gradually increased, but after a short distance, I realized that this was not its maximum speed. I could tell because there was little swaying and, above all, it was not as fast as I expected. Although I was not familiar with horseback riding, I knew that it involved significant swaying and was much faster.

‘Perhaps on purpose?’

I glanced up at the duke. His expression was hard and indifferent, but he was calm and comfortable.

‘Well, it could be my misunderstanding.’

Anyway, it is clear that it was not scary or dangerous than I thought. When I felt comfortable, my body naturally lost strength. I leaned more against his chest. Oh, it’s comfortable…..

As I began to relax, my surroundings gradually came into view. Last time, I was in a tense state inside the carriage, so I couldn’t fully appreciate the sight of the duke’s estate. However, this time, with less tension and a wider field of vision, the scenery caught my eye.

‘It’s really wide.’

It was not simply wide, but it blended well with nature and made me feel as if I was passing through the middle of a forest. No wonder, the duke’s residence was located deep in the forest.

‘Actually, Chloran also wandered in the forest and ended up here by accident.’

The reason why Chloran wandered in the forest was Sierra’s fault. But this time it won’t happen. That way, Chloran won’t have to wander through the woods.

‘So… does that mean Chloran won’t be the adopted son of Duke Crayman’

The Duke of Crayman adopted Chloran as his son because of this incident. If the incident itself is deleted, Chloran will not be adopted by the Duke of Crayman.

‘… … I wonder if it’s okay?’

I felt anxious. As a result, Chloran lost his precious friends and Ren, but instead gained a father, the Duke of Crayman, and an affluent environment. In fact, Chloran misses the children at the orphanage, but comes to know the love of his family when he sees Duke Crayman, who seems indifferent and friendly. If he lost something, he certainly gained something. But if there is nothing to lose, there is nothing to gain. I thought the former was right up until now, and that thought still remains the same, However, as I laid eyes on the duke, a sudden doubt arose as to whether this is truly the best choice.

‘Even if it’s not, there’s no other way.’

There is no need to deliberately cause tragedy for that purpose. Besides, children other than Chloran end up living a very miserable life.

“What are you thinking?”

At that moment, a voice was heard above my head. The voice was so sudden that I unknowingly shook my shoulders.

“yes?”

“It seems like you’re deeply lost in thought. I was curious.”

After a moment of silence at his words, I turned my head and answered in a low voice.

“It’s just… … I thought about some poor people.”

The duke, who looked down at me for a moment at my answer, looked back and parted his lips.

“I see.”

That was it. He didn’t ask further, and just quietly supported my back. The horse arrived at the main building and stopped.

The Duke jumped first and held out his hand toward me. Carefully holding his hand, I got off the horse. Having landed safely, I looked up at the duke’s residence. It is an old castle full of grandeur and magnificence, even at a glance.

Moments later, Rick also arrived and jumped off his horse. Rick took the lead and led us inside. I thought he would lead me to the office this time too, but the place I arrived was not the office but the parlor.

“I will bring you something to drink.”

Rick, who led me to the sofa, left, and I looked around the living room for a while.

‘A party hall would be more suitable than a living room… … .’

I silently murmured to myself.Typically, a reception room signifies a space for receiving guests. However, this place was so grand and magnificent that it could be described more as a venue for hosting parties rather than a space for receiving guests.

Chandeliers scattered light from above my head, and through the large windows on the wall, the scenery of the garden came into view at a glance. The sofa was made of pristine white leather, and on the spacious glass table, there was a vase filled with fresh flowers.

and the man on the other side. I looked at Duke Crayman and extended the envelope that I had carefully kept in my arms towards him. Duke Crayman looked at me with a puzzled expression on his face.

“I have brought the tea bags that I mentioned I would send last time. I personally brought them because I have something to tell you. In addition, I have also made several other tea bags as an experiment, so if you like them, I will make more to give you.”

At my words, the Duke picked up the paper bag and checked inside. Feeling nervous for no reason, I clenched my fist under the table. the duke murmured.

“… … It smells good.”

“Ah, it’s a dried leaf, so it should have a subtle scent.”

“It would be nice to use it instead of a scented pouch.”

“uh… … .”

The Duke’s words left me speechless for a moment. Use tea bags instead of scented pouch?

‘It certainly doesn’t have a strong scent, so I don’t think it would be bad… … .’

I’m referring to spaces like bedrooms or offices that don’t require a strong fragrance. I was a little bewildered as I had never thought of using a tea bag for such a purpose, but now that I think about it, it doesn’t sound too bad. If that’s the case, he would need a larger quantity of tea bags.

‘I’ll have to make more.’

I nodded.

“Try it and let me know if you like it. I will make more for you.”

“Alright. Thank you.”

The duke answered without hesitation. He sealed the paper bag well and kept it in his arms. I looked at it with a strange feeling. What should I say? In the world I used to live in, tea bags were of little value, so it felt a bit ironic to see someone the size of a duke treat them as if they were precious treasures.

“And I have more to tell you.”

The moment I spoke, Rick brought out refreshments just in time. Seeing the teacup he held out,I noticed something settled at the bottom and parted my lips in surprise.

“This is…?”

“These are tea bags gifted by Lady Sierra Peirunte The Duke treasures them and only uses them on special occasions. However, since Sierra Peirunte is visiting, he has commanded us to bring out the tea bags.”

As Rick explained, I looked at the Duke with an expression of disbelief. Instead of responding, the Duke sipped his green tea. That was his answer.

‘I didn’t realize he would value it so much.’

It was a bit thrilling to see how he valued what I had given him as a gift.

“I heard that Lady Siella invented these tea bags. Is that true?”

“Well, yes…”

“From my brief observation, this is a groundbreaking invention. Lady, if you don’t mind, the Duke of Crayman wants to invest in this tea bag and put it on the market. I would like to ask your opinion.”

“yes?”

Caught off guard by Rick’s unexpected suggestion, my eyes widened. No, this wasn’t Rick… I turned to the Duke.

He remained indifferent. In other words, if Duke Crayman decides to produce and release the product, it signifies his willingness. The Duke, who had set down his teacup, parted his moistened lips.

“I will explain the details along with the contract, but I will reflect your wishes as much as possible. You have all the rights to the tea bag and the conditions will be tailored to you as much as possible. We just invest in your invention and put it on the market, that’s all.”

“… … .”

“Of course, it’s fine to decline. From my perspective, it doesn’t seem like a bad option either.”