The Civil Officer Can Have Sweet Dreams Chapter 8

The next day, just as he told Henry, Cleatt proposed to Priscilla.

“…Eh?”

Having managed to make time in the afternoon even for just ten minutes, as soon as Cleatt entered the small room, the first thing that he said was, “I'd like to propose marriage to you.” Priscilla, who had been sitting on a chair and eating some bread, raised her head, and gaped at him.

“I, Cleatt Brody, said that I'd like to propose marriage to you, Priscilla Land. I would like a reply to my proposal.”

“…Huh.”

“I'd like you to think of this as a marriage of convenience. I have come to the conclusion that I need you.”

Priscilla was still gaping at Cleatt. And yet, she restlessly put the bread away. She seemed to have understood that this wasn't a conversation she should listen to while eating.

“I don't particularly like for problems to arise later on as well as lying, so I thought to just say it clearly. Please think of this as a marriage of convenience. Of course, we haven't had a period of dating, and even now, if I were asked if I have feelings of love, I could only say I don't know. But certainly, I do hold a favorable impression of you as a person.”

“…Thank you for your kind words…”

“Your hands are magnificent. I need your hands. For me to always be with you, we would have to marry. You don't have a lover, or a person you love at the moment, right?”

“…Yes, I don't.”

“If so, there wouldn't be a problem with you becoming my marriage partner. Although this doesn't need to be said, I shouldn't be such a bad partner to have in marriage for you. My parentage is also higher.”

“It's much too high.”

“As for prospects, I plan on being successful.”

“By being more successful than now, you mean becoming a prime minister, right?”

The confused Priscilla could only retort back at the unusual Cleatt, but he seemed to ignore her words as if he was slightly excited.

“Your appearance is, well… It's not bad at all. If I were to point out a fault, it would be that our ages are slightly far apart… But for a marriage of convenience, this much is normal.”

“Okay…”

Priscilla's manners have always been spectacular, but because she didn't know what kind of att.i.tude she should take towards this extremely sudden, and mysterious proposal, she absent-mindedly let out a sound meant to show she was listening.

“So that's about it. Consider marrying me. If I have your hands, I wouldn't be afraid of anything.”

If it had been someone else, they would probably retort, If you're going to propose, at least say ‘I love you' even if it's a lie!, but Cleatt who didn't like to lie would be unable to say such sweet words.

“U-uhm, if you could give me some time…”

Cleatt looked at the clock, noticing that time for work was approaching, and when Priscilla squeezed out these words, thinking she had to stall for time, Cleatt nodded, Of course, and left the room as he said, Sorry, I have to go back to work.

Priscilla sent him off, dumbfounded, and dropped her gaze onto the half-eaten bread she had on hand.

“Marriage…?”

In a daze, Priscilla murmured words that seemed too unbelievable.

Priscilla returned to work after her lunch break ended, and even though she was still confused, she at least was able to earnestly consider his proposal. First of all, was that a daydream, and not reality? is where her thoughts got stuck in.

She didn't know why he suddenly proposed, but she didn't feel uncomfortable at the lack of emotion and hesitation in Cleatt's proposal. Rather, she had a favorable impression of him, and felt this was like him. When she heard of the rumors at work, she became even more conscious of touching Cleatt even more than before despite the short time they spend, and she understood that he was the kind of person that thinks of rational things.

She didn't know if something had happened, but Cleatt thought to obtain the best result by marrying Priscilla. Of course, that's because of her “hands.” Every time Cleatt was by Priscilla's side, he would say, “It's incredibly relaxing” but every time he was tired, he understood this from her hands. It wasn't enough to spend less than an hour once every two to three days.

If they married, at least he would be able to acquire it at night. Just like how she would accompany her younger brother, Peter, every night.

When she thought of at night, Priscilla's heart would slightly beat, but she knew that Cleatt wasn't the kind of man that pursued such things at night. Of course, marrying doesn't mean it has nothing to do with such deeds. For n.o.bles, when it comes to marrying, having an heir is a problem so such deeds were common and necessary in order to make children.

If she became connected to Cleatt like such, Priscilla, who had no love experience whatsoever, couldn't quite imagine it, but she's able to easily imagine it if she think it similar to how she would get close to him, and help him sleep. Even now, Cleatt was sleeping on Priscilla's lap. A deed that was completely what lovers would do.

Even whilst looking at it objectively, Cleatt Brody was the best marriage partner Priscilla could think of. For a partner to have even better parentage and ability than him, then she thinks there could be no one else than that aside from the royal family. If her family hears of this, they would all be completely surprised.

Cleatt mentioned it was a marriage of convenience, but when talking about a real, true marriage of convenience, then this marriage would bring no benefit to him. It would be a Cinderella story for Priscilla.

Though the only thing that Cleatt wants is Priscilla's hands.

That's right, just her hands.

As a woman, that would be sad, right? But Priscilla didn't think so. These hands of hers was the only power that only she possessed. She wanted to be helpful to others, currently working with utmost effort as a court lady with her own power. But as Priscilla thought, her want of being helpful to someone with these hands was strong. She thought about that often whenever she spent time with Cleatt. Which is why she's extremely happy that he wants her hands. His appearance is nice, his character as well– Is there anything else wrong about him? Cleatt wants these hands of hers. He said there was nothing scary about Priscilla's hands.

That was the best proposal for Priscilla.

Priscilla doesn't rank people's lives and worth. For a n.o.ble, this was an unusual way of thinking, but that is what Priscilla thought. For people stuck in bed with illnesses, or working at the forefront of influencing the country — there was really no difference to her. She thought it would be nice for someone to want her hands from the bottom of their heart.

She thought so. But even so.

But even so, for a person who is pivotal and works at the forefront of this country, for a person whose work can influence this country's politics — if she's able to be of help to such an amazing person, wouldn't this be wonderful? Priscilla honestly thought.

She always thought so since long ago, whenever she watched her brother sleeping. That there was no job that was able to utilize her hands effectively.

If I can use my hands to help someone who carries this country on their back, wouldn't this be an effective way of using them?

That night, Priscilla gazed at her own hands for quite some time.

“To be useful to the country, huh…”

To be of use to Lord Brody.

If that's the case, then there was no reason for Priscilla to reject him. On that night, Priscilla had decided.

I'll support him. She doesn't know how useful she'll be, but Priscilla will support Cleatt who supports the country. Cleatt had said that he needed Priscilla's powers. A smart person who is smarter than Priscilla could imagine concluded such.

Priscilla could only follow.

The next day, Cleatt appeared where Priscilla was– in the small room, her heart beating fast, wondering Is Lord Brody going to come? and this time, it was Priscilla who first talked and said: “About marrying, I would like to accept.”

For a moment, Cleatt's eyes went wide open, and in the next moment smiled, looking happy and making Priscilla's heart thump. Cleatt is 10 years older than her, but there were times his smile looked like that of a boy's. Usually, he would only make a difficult expression when he's at work, but when he's with Priscilla, his calm appearance made her heart beat.

“I see, I'm glad. I shall be counting on you from here on out.”

“Yes…”

He held out his hand, and she timidly held it. To Priscilla who was estranged from love, she thought, Isn't this somewhat weird for a man and a woman to handshake after deciding to marry? but she let it be without saying out loud. Like with yesterday's proposal, she knew that even Cleatt, who could do his job, was a considerably rough person when he talks about love. Priscilla wasn't particularly someone who dreams of love, so she doesn't have any complaints about that part of Cleatt but she worried that some women might get angry.

At the same time, Priscilla is already going to be marrying Cleatt so she realized there was no problem since she didn't fall in love with somebody else, and for the first time, Priscilla's true feelings about the marriage gushed forth. When it did so, her face suddenly felt hot.

I'll be marrying this person in front of me. Thinking that embarra.s.sed her, and Priscilla slightly moved her gaze from Cleatt's face.

“If that's what you've decided, then I would need to greet your family. We would have to do the same to my family. I apologize, but since we wouldn't be getting much of a break, I would like to do it all at once so when would be a good time for you?”

“I will leave it to your convenience, Lord Brody.”

She thought He's in a hurry, it seems but when she thought of how busy Cleatt was, she figured it couldn't be helped.

“Uhm, when we marry, where shall I be staying then?”

When she asked the matter she worried about the most, Cleatt slightly raised his brows.

“It would be my house then…”

“That's true…”

The Brody house is a famous n.o.ble family. Moreover, Cleatt is the heir. Since she'll become his wife, it was common sense that she'll be marrying into the Brody house. Is that going to be okay? Priscilla breathed a sigh at her biggest worry.

“Uhm, as a n.o.ble lady, I don't have much confidence in…”

“Oh, you don't have to worry about that. We're of a military lineage. Our manners are sloppy, and we don't particularly live gaudily. Rather, I would like to apologize to you instead.”

“I see…”

Priscilla was slightly relieved. Seeing as she was someone who was raised with almost no knowledge of tea parties nor evening parties, she was grateful for Cleatt's words.

“I've also only gone back home once this whole week, but when you start living at home, I'll come back everyday.”

“…Thank you very much.”

As for Cleatt, he might have said such because of his objective, the rest given by her hands, but if the listener was somebody else, then they would have seemed like wonderful, sweet words. Priscilla's face turned slightly red again.

“You live here in the Royal Palace, right?”

“Yes, in the court ladies' residences. My house is slightly far to commute from. Though I do go back whenever I have a day off.”

“I see. This might be too sudden, but are you free tomorrow morning? If it's tomorrow, I might be able to make some time.”

Tomorrow!? Isn't that too fast!? Priscilla retorted deep down, but obediently replied, “I understand. I shall send my family a forewarning then.” Cleatt said, satisfied, “After we go to your house, we'll go to mine. I'll also tell my family.” Even though she thought, this is developing too quickly, Priscilla earnestly thought things might get settled with this kind of speed if she were to become as excellent as him. It seems his subordinate have it rough as well. Somehow, she felt regretful that it became natural for them to easily handle their job at this speed.

Priscilla decided in her heart, When we marry, I'll become a good wife, allowing Cleatt to rest as much as possible.

After that, it had turned into a storm1.

After talking about the first stage, Cleatt immediately brought Priscilla with him, walking inside the Royal Palace. It was a place that Priscilla couldn't quite enter as she was still a newcomer. Priscilla prudently decided to entrust everything to Cleatt.

When Cleatt opened a luxurious door with no hesitation, he called out to Henry who was inside the room. In the prince's presence, Priscilla stayed quiet, and only followed behind Cleatt.

“Your Highness, this is Priscilla Land. I've decided to marry her, so give me a bit of personal time off tomorrow evening.”

When Cleatt said that, Henry let out a shocked voice, “It's already been decided, huh?” The eyes of the other guards and civil officers inside the room turned wide open at Vice Minister Brody's sudden marriage announcement.

“Wow, congrats. Priscilla Land, right? Cleatt doesn't really have an ounce of emotion in him, but he's not a bad guy so I'll leave him to you.”

Priscilla curled into herself, and bowed when the prince addressed her. She thought, Is it okay to let the Royal Palace know before informing my parents? but then continued, If Cleatt is fine with it, then that's fine and entrusted to him how things should go. With that in mind, rather than saying Cleatt was extremely reliable, he seemed more the type to quickly act before deciding have been decided, so it might be best to just follow along without saying anything from here on out, Priscilla felt she had already grasped the secrets of wedded life. That put Priscilla at ease, so it seemed her compatibility with Cleatt wasn't bad.

Priscilla only slightly bowed when they finished reporting to Cleatt's superiors, and Cleatt also stood ahead of her when they reported to her superiors.

It was expected for Priscilla's superiors and coworkers to be surprised, but because everyone thought Cleatt was the one she had been meeting up with, they blessed them with “We're happy for you. Isn't this great?”

Having finished reporting everything to the Royal Palace that day, Cleatt, who had been willfully proceeding things along, seemed to be in a good mood. Priscilla was slightly relieved as she took a sidelong glance at him. Maybe Cleatt was a smart yet simple man, or whose mood is easy to understand. I might be able to easily get along with this person, for the first time today, Priscilla was relieved.

“I'll arrange for a carriage tomorrow. Since we'll be going to your house, let's meet up at 8am. I have to finish things up at work so I'll excuse myself for today.”

“Understood.”

While watching Cleatt's retreating back as he quickly walked back to the Royal Palace, Priscilla smiled slightly. She had sent a forewarning, so right about now, a huge uproar might be happening in her home right about now.

Aight. Long as h.e.l.l, and sorry for the late update. I haven't had time to translate because of school and homework. BUT LMAO CLEATT. He's funny and kind of adorable, but mostly, Priscilla as a female MC is refres.h.i.+ng. I've never seen such a reasonable and logical MC before.

You guys are seeing this without much editing from me, so things might sound awkward/weird so excuse those. I'll try and edit in the next few hours (or tomorrow).

Also as a heads up: You might have noticed the site has ads now. Sorry for the ads, but I had to do it for maintenance costs (server and domain). If ever it goes above that (which I doubt tbh), I'll be using that money to buy LNs to translate, paying editors/other translators, or maybe even moving servers to help speed up loading times. Feel free to keep Adblock on, if I'm being honest. Whichever you guys prefer since just getting you all to read my translations is good enough for me. Thank you!