Spring in My Grasp - Chapter 26

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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(26) Becoming a Porter After All

“Prepare a table.”
There was no need to mention the menu. Alexis spoke tersely, and the Restaurant Manager’s eyes lit up as he immediately gestured to his staff.
In moments, the employees moved with practiced precision, setting up the quietest and most elegant window table in the Restaurant for Rowan and Alexis. Brilliant sunlight streamed through the glass, illuminating cloth-wrapped floral arrangements and silver utensils arranged with meticulous care.
“This table is always prepared for you, whenever you visit.”
The Restaurant Manager spoke with deference. His manner was not that of greeting an ordinary guest, but rather a dignitary, and his gaze naturally settled upon Alexis.
Yet Alexis sat with natural composure, as though all of this were perfectly ordinary. In that moment, Rowan felt as though she were a Maid sitting beside someone who belonged in the Royal Palace itself, not here.
‘Where am I? Who am I?’
Rowan pressed her lips firmly together, struggling to hide her bewilderment.
‘Who exactly am I sitting next to right now?’
Alexis, whom she had thought a dissolute rake frequenting gambling houses and drinking dens—an image once formed that refused to fade—appeared in this space as someone no one would dare to touch carelessly.
‘I brought him along as a porter for shopping.’
Now it seemed she would have to escort him back instead. How could she possibly use such a man as a porter?
While Rowan was clicking her tongue in frustration, Waitresses appeared with footsteps so light they were nearly inaudible. Moving with the precision of those attending a king and queen, their coordinated grace made Rowan instinctively shrink into herself.
‘Oh, I should have worn something prettier!’
To think I’d end up in a place like this. Alexis! You truly are full of surprises!
Rowan ground her teeth inwardly.
And moments later, the first course arrived on a silver platter.
It was an appetizer. Layers of cream cheese and salmon tartare nestled in a crystal glass, crowned with golden caviar. Delicate herb sauce was scattered artfully around the plate’s edge, and the mere sight of it made one’s mouth feel refreshed.
The second course came in a small silver bowl—a soup suffused with the rich aroma of truffle. Finely minced poultry was subtly present alongside the mushroom, and a small, perfectly toasted ciabatta accompanied it on the side.
“Is it really all right to eat something like this in the middle of the day?”
More precisely, it was whether it was all right to eat something like this while out shopping, whether day or night—but she kept that thought to herself.
As Rowan murmured softly, Alexis answered with casual ease.
“If it tastes good, you eat it. What does day or night matter?”
That made sense, Rowan thought, and lifted her spoon to the soup.
“Wow, this is absolutely delicious!”
She exclaimed without thinking, and Alexis’s eyes softened as he watched her.
“Eat plenty.”
The third course brought seafood. Plump scallops were crowned with a white wine sauce, thin lemon zest arranged decoratively on top, its bright citrus fragrance enveloping the palate. Beside it lay red shrimp roasted in olive oil.
Rowan ate eagerly while covertly observing Alexis. He dined with the elegant grace of a prince from a painting.
By the fourth course, the main dish arrived. On a silver-gilt plate sat a perfectly cooked steak. The exterior was seared to a rich golden brown, while the interior retained a succulent pink, its juices flowing gently. A thin stream of deep red wine sauce graced the top, accompanied by silky mashed potatoes and butter-roasted asparagus.
As someone who loved meat, Rowan found herself suddenly troubled.
‘This man.’
Her brow furrowed slightly.
‘How has he been eating my food all this time?’
Finishing every last bite without complaint. And yet he eats like this, and still he ate my cooking.
‘My palate seems far less discerning than I expected.’
By the time the fifth dessert arrived, my stomach was already comfortably full. The final dessert, presented on a silver platter, was an intricately carved chocolate mousse.
Atop the silky dark chocolate mousse, a ruby-red raspberry rested like an ornament, accompanied by a small pearl of vanilla ice cream on the side. A delicate sugar decoration on the plate glimmered, catching the light and casting prismatic reflections.
Throughout it all, Alexis maintained an air of composure, yet his underlying tension was unmistakable. His fingers trembled slightly each time he lifted his fork, and when the waiter poured crimson wine into his glass, he coughed awkwardly and averted his gaze.
“Is it delicious?”
He asked carefully, and I quickly swallowed what was in my mouth, smiled, and nodded.
“Yes, it’s truly delicious.”
Yet inwardly, I added something else.
‘I came out to shop for groceries and ended up with haute cuisine like this.’
I was right to come out. People must move about to experience life. With tears of emotion welling silently, I stabbed the chocolate mousse with my fork and chewed thoughtfully.
‘I came to shop for groceries and got caviar, truffle, steak, and a full dessert course. What kind of blessing is this?’
After leaving the Restaurant with a thoroughly satisfied stomach, I stretched luxuriously.
“Wow, I can’t believe how much I ate.”
Alexis gazed at me with crescent eyes. Watching me eat with such relish, seeing me so contentedly full—his heart swelled with profound satisfaction. He had never felt this way looking at any other woman, no matter how glamorous or beautiful. The sight of Rowan eating so eagerly, like a child, stirred an inexplicable joy within him.
“Next time, I’ll really—”
Alexis spoke. I, who had been walking ahead while patting my stomach, turned back to look at him.
“Take you somewhere truly wonderful.”
At those words, I burst into laughter.
“This place was truly wonderful too. I’ve never eaten anything like this before. It was really delicious.”
Alexis blinked and followed behind me. A question suddenly bloomed in his mind.
‘Regardless of the family hierarchy, is the Hartwood Family’s financial situation truly so dire?’
If so, then I should continue feeding her delicious things. Fill her life with better things. If I do that, if I keep doing that.
‘She won’t leave.’
That sudden thought sent a chill through Alexis.
‘Why am I thinking such things?’
Leave, she said. If she were to leave, where would she go? Back to her family home, the Hartwood House? Yet from the letter her father sent before, it seemed unlikely she would ever return there.
‘But why?’
Aristocratic Society was depraved behind closed doors, yet outwardly rigidly conservative. How could she, who had clearly married into the Glister Earl Family, possibly leave? And yet, why did it feel as though—
‘As if someday she would….’
But whenever I looked at Rowan, she seemed like someone who wouldn’t care about such things at all. A stone seemed to settle in my chest.
‘No, it’s just a foolish thought.’
I pressed my lips together firmly and moved close beside Rowan. Seeing her turn to look at me, I extended my arm.
“Come, it’s a date after all.”
Alexis spoke as if it were nothing.
“Let me escort you.”
“….”
After staring at his extended arm for a moment, I playfully linked mine through his with a soft smile.
“Then I’m absolutely honored.”
I thought to myself.
‘I came to shop for groceries and got fine dining with an escort. This is quite the luxurious shopping trip.’
Yet Alexis’s expression turned serious.
“Why would it be an honor?”
“….”
“It’s only natural for a husband to escort his wife.”
“Ah, yes, of course.”
Rowan chimed in agreement.
“And my husband even bought me such delicious things today—I’m having such a wonderful time.”
Yet her mind harbored different thoughts.
‘Why is he being so grumpy today?’
With such divergent thoughts, we ventured into the heart of the city and browsed through several shops. But soon enough, that too came to a halt—whenever Rowan so much as glanced at something, Alexis would immediately purchase it.
“No, I said I don’t need things like that!”
Even when a glass ornament caught the light and sparkled, causing me to squint and peer at it for a moment, he swept it up without hesitation.
“I still need to buy groceries!”
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Rowan cried out. Alexis, his arms laden with purchases, blinked in confusion.
“What?”
He asked as if genuinely bewildered.
“You saw something beautiful, so you bought it.”
“Yes, that’s exactly it.”
Rowan spoke. Watching Alexis standing there with his arms full of everything we’d shopped for so far, an odd thought crossed her mind.
‘He’s become a pack mule.’
But those arms should be carrying the groceries we still need to buy! Rowan drew in a breath.
“I was just looking because it was pretty—it’s not something I actually need!”
“Why?”
Alexis asked.
“If something is beautiful in your eyes, you should have it.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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