Lariette didn't expect her guess to turn out to be true. The shock was reflected in her widened eyes.
"You really... cooked them all?"
Ruediger's lips carved into a joyous smile before laughter escaped, lifting his cheekbones higher. His crimson fringes swayed on his forehead, casting faint shadows on his face.
Lariette blinked, feeling the heat emanating from her cheeks. Putting the bowl on the table, her eyes still lingered on the laughing Ruediger.
Lariette didn't know why but, she appreciated Ruediger's relaxing and casual ways. His actions were similar to Madeline's, perhaps because they were close.
Being with Ruediger—despite only eting him recently—brought more comfort to Lariette than being with Damien even though they were in a relationship for two years.
"I was at Maddie's cafe when she called them to prepare food for you," explained Ruediger as his laughter gradually faded, "I replaced a cook on that day."
Lariette intently listened to Ruediger. The distant chatter and laughter from other visitors blended with the echoes of nature, reduced into background noises.
"Then, I heard about your plan. I'm trying to hook you through my cooking. So, how is it? Do you like my food? Enough to pick as your contract husband? I can cook and do chores well. I can be a good househusband for you."
Laughter easily bubbled out of Lariette's mouth. Ruediger's excuses tickled her heart. She covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes crinkling with amusent.
Tilting his head, Ruediger smilingly witnessed the radiance beaming from Lariette's joyful countenance. The echo of her giggles gently brushed his heart, reminding him that this was real.
She was with him.
Close enough for him to catch the sweet floral fragrance lingering around her.
Close enough for him to reach out his arms and bring her into his embrace.
She was no longer a dream.
"Hehe... hahaha! What kind of excuse is that? But, I like the term househusband. It sounds adorable."
Patting her cheeks, Lariette tried to calm down instead of continuously laughing. Her sapphire eyes caught the sparkle of the sunlight, glimring with delight.
"Mr. Alvord, you have a nice taste in flower arrangent and are a good cook. Well, those are good qualities. It's good to have a househusband like you."
Lariette rembered how fiercely Ruediger dealt with Damien when the scumbag tried to harass her a few days ago. Aside from those two skills, he could be a good protector too.
And...
His devilishly handso face and charming figure beca the additional bonuses.
"I'll take care of the house while you're working. Oh, don't worry about my job. I work remotely. I'm fine as long as I have my laptop and wifi."
"Deal! Hehe, should we continue eating?" asked Lariette while tucking a strand of her chocolate brown hair behind her ear, her cheeks had traces of the pink blush, "We can talk more about our deal, Mr. Alvord."
Nodding, Ruediger uttered, "Sure, Miss Elsher."
As Lariette savored every dish made by Ruediger, the man quietly peered into her face. He loved seeing the delighted smile on her lips whenever she thought a dish was delicious.
Well, this made him want to cook more tasty cuisine for her.
Miss Elsher. Mr. Alvord.
He would try to get them to be less formal today.
After finishing their al, Ruediger and Lariette tidied the table before moving to a nearby hut. The lake park had several gazebos scattered around, mostly facing the lake.
"Haa~ That was so delicious. Thank you for the al, Mr. Alvord. It's nice having a picnic like this sotis."
Stifling his laughter, Ruediger glanced at Lariette who sat opposite him. His eyes caught her side profile.
Lariette threw her gaze to the shimring blue lake, the shade was close to her sapphire irises. The sumr breeze lifted the stray strands of her hair, making her run one hand through her head.
Ruediger lowered his eyes, staring at his hands clasping with one another. Pursing his lips, he told himself to be mindful of his actions.
Despite yearning to run his fingers through her hair and gently play with her earlobes, Ruediger knew where he currently stood in Lariette's life. He was still an insignificant figure.
"Miss Elsher."
Hearing Ruediger's velvety voice gently calling her na, Lariette tore her eyes away from the lake, letting them collide with his green ones.
"Yes, Mr. Alvord? Are you ready to talk about our contract?"
Lariette and Ruediger agreed to discuss the clauses face-to-face instead of only relying on phone calls and ssages. Both of them sent their suggestions to each other before eting today.
Ruediger carved a smile on his lips. Despite appearing as composed as ever, he was actually nervous on the inside. He took a mont to calm his inner worries before saying.
"Before that, I wanna ask. Can we be less formal with each other? Like, using nicknas?"
"Oh! That's true!"
Lariette inwardly scolded herself. She shouldn't be formal with soone she would marry soon. Other people would find it weird. This was a good ti to nurture their relationship.
"Then... Should I call you Rudy?" asked Lariette, thinking back to how Madeline addressed Ruediger, "Or, do you prefer another na?"
"Can you call Eddy?" Ruediger requested without any hesitation, "Instead of Rudy?"
Lariette arched her brows, wondering why Ruediger opted for that nickna. Unable to hold her curiosity back, she asked, "Is that your childhood nickna or sothing? Because I have sothing like that too."
Ruediger answered with a nod, "Not all people called Eddy during my childhood but, I love that nickna. How about you? What's your childhood nickna?"
Ruediger's question softened the smile on Lariette's lips. His question brought back mories of her previous life – the one without the Elsher family and the glam and glitz of high society.
Her lips trembling, Lariette said, "Lettie. My granny used to call Lettie."
When Lariette first t the Elsher family, she introduced her nickna as Lettie but, she earned a scoff from her second brother.
"Do you think that cute nickna suits you? Lari. We'll just call you that."
Despite being disappointed, Lariette didn't dare to upset her newly found family. She weakly agreed with her second brother's ridicule.
Since then, she didn't use her childhood nickna. Not even with her grandfather and best friend.
Sensing the sadness in Lariette's eyes, Ruediger llowed his tone as he said, "I'll call you Lettie."
"...thank you, Eddy."
Lariette carved a smile on her lips but, the longing for the past clouded her sapphire eyes. She couldn't help but think about the last ti Mrs. Evans called her Lettie affectionately.
No matter how much she yearned for it, she couldn't return to the past.
So, she had to treasure the future monts to co.
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Book Recomndation:
Reborn Heiress Is Remarrying by ES_dusa
I like how the FL is truthful to ML without delaying or creating a misunderstanding. The ML seems kinda cold and is wary of FL but, he's respectful to her and listens to what she has to say. A book with a solid start ;)
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