Black Gold (3)

We had to send Linda home through Allena and Renia, but her drunkenness was no joke.

“I!! I’m trying… to do well~!”

“Yes… I know. You’re trying hard and doing well.”

“Hng… but… things… huuuh… don’t go the way I want… you know?”

“W-what isn’t going well?”

“Everything!! Nothing works!! Hiiing….”

“Well… I think you’re doing fine right now…?”

“But… but hiiing… hng…”

At last Linda’s eyes reddened. Tears welled up. As I wondered what to do, Allena and Renia stared at me indifferently.

‘Why…?’

When I glanced over, the two women gestured with their hands as if telling me to hug her.

I thought sudden physical contact was inappropriate. So after some thought, I decided to first have Linda guided to the guest room.

Watching Linda get dragged away by Allena and Renia, I could only sigh.

“To be that weak to alcohol…”

I never expected she would be this weak. Still, since I asked the maids to handle it, I thought it would be resolved and drank the remaining alcohol while considering future plans.

‘If the Black Gold Merchant Company achieves results smoothly, I can direct attention toward the Hameureun Barony. Since the goods they’ll sell are also chocolate products… then the imperial family will turn their attention to us…’

If that happened, Princess Riana would inevitably feel hurt. The issue was that it had been kept secret from her to the end, and the timing of revealing it was important.

Should I act once before what the Hameureun Barony prepared truly caught people’s attention? Or wait? As I pondered—

“My looord!!”

Linda burst into the dining hall. Seeing the two maids behind her with troubled expressions, I was about to ask what happened, but she suddenly sat right beside me.

Then she stared at me and smiled foolishly, so I asked:

“Did you still have something to say?”

“Huuuum… you’re mean.”

What was mean?

“What do you mean?”

“Whyyy!! Why… won’t you allow… me…?”

“Allow? What do you mean?”

“Why won’t you keep me by your side? Why?! Huh?”

She was already by my side in one sense, so it likely meant something else. It was awkward wording, and not something to conclude with a drunk woman.

‘Quite different from her friend.’

Matilda held her alcohol well, knew how to deal with people, and was bold. Linda, on the other hand, seemed untalented in that regard.

Though capable, her being a lightweight was oddly cute.

“It seems you don’t realize what you’re saying right now, but I don’t believe words spoken with borrowed strength are truth. Your behavior isn’t proper right now. Please rest first.”

“I’m sad… with Matilda… you were… like that… hiiing…”

Her increased clinginess was watchable—but only up to a point. I again had Allena and Renia guide Linda to the guest room, this time ordering more firmly that she not leave.

‘Troublesome woman. Not unpleasant though…’

She was drunk from such a tiny amount, so bluntly, it might not be her true feelings. It could be drunken truth—but only that much. No need to act recklessly, and if she stayed here longer it would only repeat annoyance, so I stood up.

Carrying the remaining drink and glass to my bedroom, I cooled my head—and just as I set the bottle on the table after entering—

“Do you… dislike me?”

“…Why is Linda in my room?”

“I asked… I said I’d go here.”

I hurriedly tried to find Allena and Renia, but Linda spoke.

“I asked. That tonight… I wanted to be with you.”

“They allowed it… is that it?”

“Yes… do you dislike that I’m drunk?”

It felt less like drunkenness and more like pretending courage through alcohol. Looking at her, I asked:

“If I reject your feelings right now, what will you do?”

“I’ll reject the rejection…”

“Is the drunkenness an act?”

“I really am drunk… but… I gain courage.”

She left the bed and staggered toward me. It seemed some people really were weak to alcohol.

So I had no choice but to approach and support her.

“Let’s stop before you do something you’ll regret.”

“Why… do you keep pushing me away?”

“Because I value you. I don’t want to treat you carelessly. Does that answer you?”

I couldn’t ruin a capable retainer. And the many tasks Linda handled weren’t trivial. If personal emotions led in the wrong direction, I might regret this moment greatly.

Bluntly, if a woman had acted this far, it was beyond a green light—it was like she was asking to be devoured.

But if I formed a relationship with Linda and it went wrong?

It was frightening to imagine. People’s reactions differ—she might demand responsibility later even if she wanted it now.

No woman had done that yet, but I couldn’t assume Linda wouldn’t. I had to be cautious.

“What… am I to you?”

She hadn’t been a retainer long enough for such a question. So I answered honestly.

“A good retainer and an excellent colleague.”

It was a radical statement. Calling a commoner a colleague was absurd. But Linda seemed dissatisfied.

“Why are you avoiding it…?”

She leaned against me and looked up. A faint scent of sweat mixed with sweetness came from her.

Probably from working hard—but honestly it wasn’t unpleasant.

‘I’m becoming a pervert… finding that appealing…’

“I’m not avoiding you—I’m considering reckless relationships and their consequences.”

“Did you… have this talk with Matilda too?”

She was her close friend, so she probably knew something. But speculation or not, I couldn’t answer directly. Still, I wouldn’t lie.

“She only wanted a simple relationship. We enjoyed what we wanted without responsibility.”

“Without… responsibility. That’s cruel.”

In some ways it was cruel to a woman. But if problems occurred, I was prepared.

So I delayed answering and only listened.

Linda sighed deeply and said:

“Then… should I do that too?”

It was ironic she asked me that—as if wanting me to say it.

“Why do you feel that way toward me?”

I remembered her earlier resolve to become my wife—it didn’t match her actions now. Waiting for an answer, Linda spoke:

“Step by step, I want to get closer… and someday… even if not beside you… maybe one step behind, holding your hand…”

It sounded like Linda. Opposite to confident Matilda. Yet ironic compared to her past bold declaration.

But rejecting her now might hurt her. I wasn’t especially kind, but I never treated women insincerely.

Every moment had been genuine, though sometimes excessive… now I could restrain myself.

“Linda. I always say there is no responsibility in any relationship. Is that still fine? It doesn’t match your ideals.”

“…It’s fine. For now, I just want to stay by your side.”

It was interesting. After agreeing, I lightly lifted her chin and kissed her first.

It was to see if her words were true or hesitation existed—and as lips met, her eyes widened then trembled shut.

‘She might have no experience with men…’

Perhaps she had never done this before.

Borrowing alcohol for courage—not calculation, but hiding embarrassment. Thinking that, I continued the kiss.

Not deep, but she followed even the movement of tongues. She seemed inexperienced yet quickly adapted—perhaps expectation, study, or instinct.

As the kiss deepened, Linda pushed my chest lightly and pulled away. She wiped her lips with her sleeve, smiled shyly, and said:

“I’m glad… I gathered courage. I love you, my lord.”

It was a sudden confession—and quite awkward to hear.