Isekai: Princess Marquess Becomes Entrepreneur of Tempe

Chapter 45. Just Friends

"Darling..."

"What's..."

"Hehe... Stefan..."

" Yes, Iris..."

"..."

Elona had just entered the study when she saw Iris constantly grabbing Stefan's friendly hand, and her brother left her alone while checking Elona's soybean business report. But the red hue that appeared on both of the man's cheeks could not be hidden, though he tried not to heed his wife's current behavior. Usually, Stefan is a person who can always hide any emotion, especially when concentrating.

Iris kept on calling out Stefan's name with a spoiled tone while wriggling on his arm. Stefan just rubbed it by answering "What.", then greeted with a smile Iris who was like a child. Then Stefan's name was called again. So it kept on repeatedly, making Elona who saw it feel astonished.

"... Why are you guys?" elona asked confusedly.

Elona's question dissolved Stefan and Iris's intimacy. Realizing that her sister-in-law was entering the room, Iris immediately distanced herself from her husband. The woman pushed her wheelchair up to her own desk and immediately focused on the papers on the table. While Stefan immediately cleared his throat and fixed the collar of his shirt, then acted as if there was nothing.

Yes, it is natural that husband and wife make out. But the problem is, Elona never saw anything like that from Stefan and Iris' relationship. Their marriage always looked like two best friends and nothing more. Elona had no idea what the cause could be, and now she also had no idea why everything had suddenly changed in one night like this.

Elona frowned, not understanding. But he won't take a headache. He was trying to get along with what he saw.

"Aren't you working on the factory report?" elona asked as soon as she saw Stefan struggling with the papers on the table.

"Yes, I'm checking his calculations" replied the man. In this world there are no computers and Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, so all accounting calculations of financial statements must be done manually.

"Let me, brother, do it. You two go for a walk into town. Especially Brother Iris, you've never been around Armelin City!" elona's Proposal.

"True, anyway, I haven't had time to walk around here" said Iris.

"Hmm, maybe we can go to the house of some of my acquaintances in this town. If for a walk in the city should start tomorrow morning" said Stefan.

"alright. Then, you two just rest while here. Brother Stefan and Brother Iris shouldn't think much while here huh."

"But-"

"This is an order from the temporary leader of Armelin City! I command you to have fun while you're here!" cut Elona while commanding style. Iris looked at him.

"All right, Miss Locke! We'll have fun first, yeah!" Iris said, then took a look at Stefan's arm, who was still trying to help his sister calculate the balance of payments.

"There, Brother Stefan too!"

"Yes, yes! But don't forget to rest, yeah. Don't force yourself. Eat when it's time!" stefan's message before he leaves the study with Iris.

Elona sat in her chair. Ryndall entered the room and approached the young lady with various papers and letters.

"Miss, this is an additional calculation for the new tofu factory. I've fixed some mistakes. Please check again."

"All right, Brother Ryndall."

*****

The day changed at dusk. Stefan, who used to work as one of the royal council staff, and Iris, who used to manage all household finances, can now relax at Armelin. They spent time strolling around the mansion and visiting some of the relatives' houses in the city.

Stefan and Iris came home with some parcels from the relatives As they entered the front hall corridor, Stefan saw Ryndall coming out of the study with a pale face. His secretary looked exhausted.

"What's up, Ryndall? Why is your face so?"

Ryndall who was accosted by his master immediately let out a long sigh.

"I'm sorry, sir. But Miss Elona is worse than you" he said, fixing the glasses on her nose.

Stefan looked at her cluelessly, "What do you mean?"

"Miss is so crazy working, sir. All day he kept working without even getting out of his room."

"Without going out... does that mean she missed her lunch?!"

"Yes, Sir. And Miss has done it quite often, ever since her soybean business shot up and became popular."

"What?!! That kid...! I told you not to force yourself!"

"Stefans! Wait!"

Stefan did not listen to what his wife said and immediately rushed to the study where his sister was. Iris was alone in the corridor.

"Well, brother and sister are the same..." Iris sighed. Then, the woman turned towards the servant who had been standing behind her.

"Where else, huh, the area near here that I haven't been to?" Iris asked the waiter. The waiter seemed to think for a moment.

"Yes... Madam has already tried to go to the lake behind the mansion? The view is pretty beautiful. While still managing her body, Miss Elona often goes there to run afternoons."

"Oh, lake huh? Stefan once told me that when he was a child he used to play in the lake... Is it possible that the lake is meant?"

"It could be, Madam. The nearest lake here is just the one behind the mansion, bordering the edge of the forest." explained the maid.

"Well, let's go with me!"

*****

The atmosphere of the edge of the lake is very beautiful with a variety of trees that seem green and fresh, because in Armelin there is no winter, different from in the capital. Moreover, this is nearing the end of the year. Iris's face always seemed paler when winter came, and the woman didn't like it. So, being able to see the beautiful scenery in this lake complete with warm weather makes it very happy.

Iris went to the lake with a servant and two soldiers. He walked along the lake with great pleasure.

"Be careful, madam, you'll slip!" the waiter warned. Iris laughed when she heard it.

"Just calm down, I'll be careful. Besides, if I slip, I can swim, really!" said cheerfully.

Before long, Iris saw a horse walking closer towards her, with someone on her saddle. And Iris knew that person's face.

"Lho, Arthur??"

Iris laughed sneering at him, "What are you expecting? Elona's? Ahhahahah!"

Iris realized that a servant and two soldiers were still behind her at this moment. Seeing that his conversation with Arthur was about to lead to Elona, Iris immediately asked the servant and the two soldiers to stay away from the edge of the lake, so that they would not occasionally reveal everything to Stefan. Otherwise, her husband would be furious.

Hearing his cousin tease him, Arthur becomes upset. "Shut up, Iris! I haven't seen him all day!"

"Oh, ouch... This one man is in the heat, huh? Just not met for a day just immediately annoyed so...!" Iris teased Arthur more and more, making the young man throw a keki look at his cousin.

"It was supposed to be my cousin, you helped me get close to Elona!" sahut Arthur's.

This time Iris smiled scornfully, "Free even close, your love is also not going anywhere, just moving in place!"

"What do you mean?! I'm trying to get Elona to like me too!"

"Free!" Iris said without hesitation, "Because the person you love doesn't see you as a man. Let alone making her fall in love with you, Elona even thought you were just a friend from the start! Ahhaha!"

"Why are you such a bitch, anyway!! Stop that laugh! Not funny!" Arthur was seen getting more black when laughed at by his cousin.

Suddenly, Iris looked at Arthur fixedly, then asked, "You want me to help her see you as a man, no?"

Arthur's eyes rounded for a moment. "What's? How's it?"

"Jawab I was. You love Elona, don't you?" Iris asked to confirm, and Arthur blushed immediately.

"L-yes..."

"What's? Not listening!" Iris teased him more.

"Yes!"

"Don't hear!"

"Yes I love Elona! I love her so much!!" arthur's voice boomed in the lake, making Iris immediately shut her mouth.

"Don't yell, stupid! Stefan will listen and come!!"

"And you told me! It sucks!" Arthur said with annoyance. Iris was laughing and did not think to see the behavior of his cousin.

"Well, I'll help Elona see you as more than just a friend. But, there's a condition."

"Oh, what else, anyway?" Arthur snorted in annoyance.

"Tell me that Iris is the most beautiful of all."

"The most cunning iris!"

"What did you say?!"

"Yes yes, the most beautiful Iris of all! But still more beautiful Elona!"

"Yes may.. hohoho!" Iris smiled with great satisfaction to be able to tease her cousin was always ignorant to her from that small.

*****

"Elona, rest!" Stefan was currently in the study and scolded his sister who had not left his chair. Elona was still at work when it was late at night.

"Live a little more, brother. It's the end of the month. I'm working on a worker's wage report on the farm and-"

"Yes, it can be tomorrow! Let me help you later! If I knew you would be like this, I'd rather just help you out than go to town!" exciting Stefan.

"No, Brother! You will need refreshment from the tired capital! You guys should be comfortable here!" Elona insisted.

"So it's uncomfortable when we realize you're working hard and we're having fun ourselves!"

"Hey already, already!" Iris went into the room and broke up the quarrel. "They both care about each other, but they get into a fight!"

Iris took a deep breath, then walked over to Elona at her desk.

"What Stefan said is true. You need to rest, baby... Don't be like this! Remember, adequate rest is also part of a good lifestyle and stress management!"

Elona was a little surprised. What Iris said has a point. Although his body is slim now, but his lifestyle and stress management must still be controlled so that he does not return to his psychological illness.

"All right.." said Elona, then tidied up the files on the table. Stefan took a breath of relief looking at her. He was angry at Elona who was stubborn, it could be completed by his wife in one sentence.

"How about tomorrow Elona will accompany me for a walk? Can you take Stefan?" ask Iris. Stefan immediately agreed.

"Good idea. It's you here who needs refreshment, Elona, not me!"

"But, Brother-"

"No but-but! Tomorrow you accompany Iris for a walk. Buy whatever you like. Let me do your job at home."

Elona fell silent as soon as her brother cut her words. Iris gave a final push, "And you know this city better.... Would you let me walk alone?"

A moment later, Elona nodded her head, "Alright..."

"Yay! Then, tomorrow we get ready early in the morning, yeah...!" Iris exclaimed happily.

The woman is happy not only because Elona is willing to accompany her for a walk, but because she knows that her plan to get Elona closer to Arthur will soon be accomplished. Iris laughed in her heart.

Arthur, you're gonna owe me so much, hihi...

*****

...\=\= original writing by @author.ryby \=\=...

...\=\= cover art by @fuheechi_ \=\=...