I Reincarnated Just to be Unemployed

[LUCIELLE’S POV — THE CHAMBER — LATER]

SPARKLE!!!

SPARKLE!!!

The trays of cakes and pastries had completely taken over the table in my chamber. Chocolate cakes, cream-filled pastries, and tiny fruit tarts. Little sugar-coated things that I had no idea how to pronounce but was more than willing to sacrifice my dignity to eat.

After everything that had happened today, I deserved this. I stretched lazily across the couch like a satisfied cat, reaching for another pastry.

We had done it; we had found the Heat Mana Stone. Which meant Ashcroft was no longer at Baron Baldy’s mercy.

No more worrying about losing our assets, no more wondering whether the territory would survive another brutal winter, and no more staring at financial reports until my eyes started bleeding.

I took an enormous bite of pastry, and it was heaven.

Pure heaven.

Beside me, Cassian sat far too close for a man who had supposedly been given a perfectly good empty couch.

He held a document in one hand; his other arm rested lazily along the back of the couch behind me as he glanced at me. "Are you happy, my beloved?"

I nodded enthusiastically, grabbing another pastry. "Of course~~~! We got rid of that Baron Baldy’s pressure! Now we don’t have to worry about losing our assets!"

Cassian’s lips curved into a faint smile. "If my beloved is happy, then I should be happy as well, but..."

Then his smile disappeared as he shifted very close to me. "...Your husband is unhappy."

I blinked, then looked away like a guilty cat and took another bite. Maybe if I pretended to be deeply invested in pastry consumption, the conversation would die naturally.

It did not.

"My beloved..." I ignored him. "Your husband is unhappy."

I slid toward the opposite end of the couch. "I heard you."

Cassian followed.

"My beloved—"

"I heard it."

I slid farther.

"Your husband—"

"I KNOW."

I reached the corner of the couch, as there was nowhere left to go. I stared at him, like a trapped rat, and he stared at me like he was a very handsome predator. And unfortunately, the predator was wearing an expression that suggested he had all the time in the world.

"Please stop repeating the same thing for two days straight. It’s becoming annoying."

Cassian tilted his head. "Annoying?"

"Yes."

"I see." He looked thoughtful, then moved even closer. "Then perhaps I should explain it differently."

I immediately became suspicious.

"If you continue preventing your husband from living in the same chamber as you, how are we supposed to have children?"

SPLURRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTT!!!

Tea exploded from my mouth, all over Cassian’s face.

The room went silent.

My eyes widened. Cassian didn’t move, not even an inch. Jasmine tea slowly dripped from his hair, down his forehead, across his cheek, and onto his very silky, revealing shirt. Above us, I was fairly certain a rainbow had appeared. Butterflies might have been flying through it too.

. . .

. . .

. . .

I had just baptized the Grand Duke of Ashcroft in jasmine tea.

I was still sitting in the corner of the couch like a terrified laboratory rat when I finally grabbed the handkerchief from the table.

"I-I apologize." I hurried toward him. "But for the love of God, you need to stop talking nonsense—"

Before I could finish, Cassian caught my wrist; he tugged. I stumbled forward as my hands landed directly against his wet chest; he was soaked.

I was touching his chest; his shirt was clinging to his skin, and he was looking down at me far too calmly.

"What exactly did I say that was wrong, my beloved?"

My brain stopped functioning.

. . .

. . .

. . .

GOD...WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THIS HANDSOME—No...A man.

How was I supposed to have children with him when my soul was still that of a man?! I was not gay! For the love of everything holy, I was NOT...and then my heart thumped.

THUMP.

I froze.

THUMP. THUMP.

Why was it beating so loudly?! My hands were still against his chest; his heartbeat was steady, while mine was trying to escape my body.

"D-Damn it..."

Cassian’s eyebrow lifted. "Is something wrong?"

"Everything is wrong."

He looked genuinely confused, because he didn’t know that the woman standing in front of him was actually a modern man trapped inside his wife’s body. He didn’t know that every time he casually mentioned children, my soul experienced a complete system shutdown.

It had been one month.

One month has passed since I had woken up as Lucielle, one month since I had gotten used to dresses, one month since I had gotten used to long hair, one month since I had gotten used to being called Your Grace and one month since I had accepted the fact that my reflection was now that of a woman.

Fine.

I had adapted for money, mostly. But this? Children? Sharing a chamber? Marriage?

Sir, I would like to resign from this position.

Unfortunately, I had no idea where the resignation form was, and the stupid god who had thrown me into this mess was probably somewhere enjoying my suffering with popcorn.

I slowly pulled my hands away from Cassian’s chest. "I just...I need more time."

Cassian frowned. "More time?"

"To adjust."

"To what?"

TO ACCEPT MYSELF AS WOMEN TO HAVE SEX WITH YOUR DAMN IT!!!!

. . .

. . .

What am I thinking...why did I even think of having sex with him? Am I crazy? Or am I gay?

His expression became even more confused. I wanted to scream. Instead, I smiled.

"Women need time."

Cassian stared; apparently, that explanation satisfied him about as much as it satisfied me, then he spoke softly.

"Lucielle."

Something about his voice changed. I looked at him, and now he wasn’t teasing anymore; his expression had softened as he reached for my hands. I instinctively let him take them.

He rubbed his thumb over my fingers before lifting one of my hands to his cheek; he looked...pitiful. Actually pitiful like a giant silver-haired dog that had just been told it wasn’t allowed on the bed.

"My beloved..."

Oh, no, not the puppy eyes.

"The Archmage is here; tomorrow, several more Archmages will arrive."

I blinked as he gently pressed my hand against his cheek. "And if they discover that husband and wife are still sleeping in separate chambers...rumors will spread."

I swallowed.

That was true, then he added casually,

"And I cannot possibly go around killing every noble who decides to gossip, right?"

. . .

. . .

I stared at him with a dumbfounded expression while he was still wearing that puppy-eyes expression and still had my hand against his cheek. His expression remained heartbreakingly pitiful.

Did he just...threaten me with a puppy face? And why did he mention murder so casually?!

"Cassian."

"Yes, my beloved?"

"You cannot just kill everyone who starts a rumor."

He smiled faintly. "Then help your husband avoid such inconvenience."

. . .

This man, this terrifying, ridiculous man, had somehow turned political gossip into a hostage negotiation, and worse, he was winning.

I looked down at our joined hands, then at his face, then at the couch. Maybe the god who reincarnated me was laughing right now.

I wouldn’t blame him. I had become a grand duchess. I had a terrifying husband. I had a magical fox. I had a potential murderer masquerading as a handsome Archmage. I had just discovered a magical resource worth a fortune.

And now my husband wanted to move into my chamber because he was worried about rumors and not killing people.

My life had officially become a comedy written by someone who hated me. I slumped against the couch like a biscuit dropped into hot milk.

"Fine." Cassian’s eyes brightened. I immediately regretted everything. "You can start living here."

Cassian smiled, then, as if he hadn’t just emotionally blackmailed me with the world’s most dangerous puppy eyes, he casually slid away from me.

"I shall tell Raven to move my belongings here, then."

He reached for the collar of his wet shirt and started pulling it off. My eyes slowly widened as the soaked fabric slipped from his shoulders, revealing his bare, handsome chest, and I could not take my eyes off.

"...Why are you removing your shirt?"

Cassian paused; he looked at me, then a slow, wicked smile appeared on his lips. "Why? Is my beloved... aroused?"

My face instantly heated. I shoved his shoulder. "God! You’re really unbelievable!"

He chuckled, clearly pleased with himself. "It’s a wet shirt. You were the one who threw tea at me. Then why are you surprised that I’m removing it?"

"I am not surprised!"

"You were staring."

"I was checking whether you were injured!"

He looked down at his perfectly unharmed chest. "By jasmine tea?"

"Yes!"

Cassian’s lips twitched. "Of course, my beloved."

"Good. Now put another shirt on."

"Why?"

"Because—"

I stopped.

Because what? Because staring at him was making my heart behave like an idiot? Because my soul was already confused enough? Because I was trying very hard to maintain whatever remained of my dignity?

I grabbed another pastry and shoved the entire thing into my mouth.

Why did that make my heart do that stupid thing again?

THUMP.

I immediately looked away. I was not falling for a man. That would be ridiculous. I was simply...adjusting. Who falls for a man in one month? I am just comfortable around him.

Yes, that was it, adjusting.

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