CHAPTER 38 - GIFTS FROM THE CAPITAL"What will my Madam do after this?" Liam asked after finishing his breakfast.
Harriet raised her eyebrows. "Me? Since you woke up, I…”
The woman saw Liam shake his head.
“Don't decide how to spend your time just because I'm awake. I wanted to know what you usually do when I'm unconscious too," Liam said softly.
Harriet blinked once and saw Liam's hand gripping hers on the table. She glanced at Liam's face, which looked pale, but his expression was calm. Was he okay?
"Then you must be prepared. My routine is so boring,” Harriet replied warmly.
Liam's smile widened as he reached for the glass of water and drank it.
Meanwhile, Heath stood up and excused himself with a displeased face. Seeing it made Harriet chuckle. Heath always reacted this way when she was close to someone, male or female. In a way, Heath was even more overprotective than she was towards Heath.
Harriet leaned her hand on the table and looked at Liam who was wiping his mouth with a handkerchief.
"Come follow me," she said.
Liam looked confused at the difference in the light in Harriet's eyes from before. Was that woman up to something?
“I just came back from the capital, and I sent a lot of souvenirs from there. Most must have arrived already," continued Harriet as they walked down the hall.
Hearing this, Liam slightly furrowed his brows.
"It's not really my routine, but it's something that has to be done sooner or later. I will open the gifts I sent from the capital and give them to the castle people,” said Harriet then.
"I see," Liam nodded, but there was something about Harriet's demeanour that gave him a strange feeling.
Harriet watched how Liam walked. He stood up straight and walked as usual, but he carried an antique wooden cane in his right hand. The cane had a golden handle, and at the bottom of the handle was a small engraving. Harriet thought she'd seen the cane before.
"This cane?" Liam asked softly. He noticed Harriet glanced at it several times.
Harriet nodded once, eyeing Liam curiously.
"This was my father's cane. A few years before my father died, he lost his leg, so he had to use a special prosthetic. This cane helped him walk better,” explained Liam.
Actually, Harriet wasn't too curious about where the cane came from. She wanted to know why Liam was suddenly using it. Liam actually knew what Harriet wanted to know, but he didn't want to answer it. He didn't want to say that he felt his legs were a little weak today, so he had to walk with a cane.
Liam was relieved that Harriet didn't ask further.
They arrived at Harriet's room, which was filled with beautifully wrapped boxes. Harriet's eyes quickly counted all the boxes.
“Alright, I'll separate the souvenirs for the castle maids first. Get some rest in bed, Milord," said Harriet, pulling Liam towards her bed as all the sofas and tables were filled with gift boxes.
Liam blinked and obeyed Harriet. He watched the woman sort the boxes. He didn't think this turned out to be more like a normal routine than he had thought. Harriet summoned the maids and asked them to distribute the contents of the box she had separated out to all the castle maids.
After the maids had gone about their duties happily, not expecting to receive gifts, Harriet moved on to gifts for the special staff.
“This is for Amelia and Daniel… This is for Sir Russell…” Harriet muttered, separating the boxes again.
And the few that remained made Harriet smile happily.
“Oh, this is for Miriam, and this is for Heath,” she said cheerfully, moving a few boxes to a special corner.
After that, Liam saw Harriet holding up another box that looked very expensive because it was made of wood.
“This is for the Old Duke…” Hearing Harriet's words, Liam furrowed his brows. It seemed to be the most expensive box he had seen in the pile.
"What did you bring for Grandpa?" Liam asked quietly.
"Oh, this?" asked Harriet with a warm smile. She said, "This is a new product that the capital's weapons artisans make. A brand new pistol”
"A pistol?" Liam asked.
Harriet explained that she didn't know what the Old Duke liked, nor was she sure what to buy him. In addition to this box of a pistol and its bullets, Harriet also bought some accessories. Such as watches, several pins and brooches, and other knick-knacks.
“These are just simple souvenirs. I only bought what I found in the capital," replied Harriet.
Liam furrowed his brows. What Harriet called 'simple souvenirs' were items that were difficult for ordinary nobles to buy. All of them were famous artisan products and of very good quality. But the problem was, why did all the nicest-looking and most expensive boxes she set aside were separated for her brother, Miriam and the Old Duke?
Where were the gifts for him?
Why wouldn't she bring something for her own husband?
Harriet looked at the last few boxes and smiled gently.
"Milord, please come here, I want to show you something," she said.
Liam got off the bed and approached with his cane. Seeing the posture of Liam swinging his cane automatically and elegantly, Harriet blinked in delight. She really had found the perfect model and muse for her fashion vision.
So when Liam saw Harriet suddenly step towards him in such a seductive manner, whispering, “Milord…” the empty space in Liam's chest tightened.
"Hmm? Why?" Liam's lips trembled. Was Harriet going to give him something special?
Like, maybe…
Harriet put her hand on Liam's shoulder, pulling his neck down.
For example…
Swish! Set!
Liam blinked in confusion. Harriet patted Liam's shoulders with satisfaction, and Liam realized Harriet had tied something around his neck.
"A tie?" Liam asked.
Harriet nodded. "A tie!"
The young woman looked at Liam with sparkling eyes.
"It's really beautiful, the color suits you very well," said Harriet softly.
Liam glanced at himself in the mirror and raised an eyebrow. Around his neck was a tie which was the same colour as his hair.
“I bought a lot of ties for you to wear while I was in the capital. This is a new model that hasn't even been released on the market yet,” said Harriet softly. "In fact, I'm the only one who got this model on the whole continent,"
New model…
Which was not out on the market yet?
For him?
Instantly Liam looked at all the gifts Harriet had set aside for everyone else but himself and compared them to what he got.
All the other souvenirs must also be owned by someone else, because they were produced and released by the artist as a product that could be purchased by everyone who could buy them. But the tie around his neck was a brand new model that wasn't out on the market yet, which only Harriet got for him.
Liam couldn't help but smile.
Harriet gave him something more special than the others… He was very happy.
“I was able to get this model because of my connections, and I fully invested in making the trend of this model. What do you think?" asked Harriet enthusiastically.
Liam nodded once confidently. "Beautiful. This model would definitely be a success,” he said.
Harriet smiled widely, wider than her usual smile. "You think so too?"
She laughed sweetly in a crisp voice, making Liam blink in admiration. So, his wife was interested in fashion?
“Oh, right! I also got another latest design which I think will be perfect for you. It's still a prototype, but if you become the model– I mean, if you give it a try, I might be able to refine it and give advice to my designer connections in the capital,” said Harriet, opening another box excitedly.
"Model?" Liam asked.
Harriet stopped her movements and quickly hid her nervousness.
"That's right, model. You look like a model, because you are very handsome, Milord," said Harriet quietly.
"Hmm," Liam glanced the other way at the box where Harriet kept his ties. A small card was tucked in there, and Liam took it.
Harriet turned to face Liam holding a white top with a design that was open at the chest. But when she realized what Liam was holding in his hands–a small card Harriet had written a few days ago–Harriet turned pale.
“Oh,” Liam smiled mischievously, and his golden eyes stared at Harriet with a dangerous gleam.
"So these ties have other uses, huh?"