Heiress' Househusband is a Secret Billionaire - Chapter 261

Chapter 261: In The Maze Garden
After finishing the cotton candy, Lariette quietly drank the hot tea Ruediger got for her. Countless thoughts wandered in her mind as her curiosity grew deeper.

What did he want to talk about with her?

Lariette glanced at Ruediger whose eyes looking aimlessly at the crowd passing by. From his side profile, he appeared to be at peace.

The gentle breeze ruffled through his locks, which resembled molten copper under the soft, golden lights. A faint shadow was cast on his face, hiding the small tug on his lips.

“Eddy, where should we go next?” Lariette asked, her voice softer than usual. She held the paper cup with both of her hands, her fingers curled slightly, fidgeting.

Ruediger tore his eyes away from the front, now looking at Lariette. As his lips curved into a smile, tenderness melted in between his brows.

“Let’s go to the maze.”

“Oh, the one you mentioned before?”

“Yes.”

Lariette nodded, simply following Ruediger’s plan. They moved away from the bench after finishing their drinks. Their destination was the maze garden.

Ruediger led Lariette in a direction, passing the arches of twinkling lights and the glowing light sculptures. After a few minutes of walking, they reached the hedge-lined entrance of the maze garden.

A pair of exquisite lampposts stood guarding the entrance. Tiny bulbs lined the tops of the hedges, bathing the front area with its golden lights. The garden was utterly silent, save for the faint echoes of chatters and laughter from the direction they came from.

Lariette glanced around the area, finding how quiet it was as if only she and Ruediger were here. Her voice sounded almost too loud when she spoke, “No one’s here. Is everyone at the light show?”

Ruediger’s eyes trailed after Lariette. Smiling, mirth danced across his eyes, “Perhaps. Well, it’s better this way. Come, Lettie.”

“We won’t get lost inside, right?”

Ruediger threw his head back, laughing at how funny Lariette’s question was. The merry sound filled the quiet air, chasing away the stillness.

“Hehe, do you think we’ll get lost?” Ruediger asked, laughter still bubbling at his lips. His shoulders shook as the laughter rumbled in his chest.

“Don’t tease me,” Lariette nudged Ruediger’s elbow. Huffing, she glared at him, “I gonna get you to pay if we ever get lost.”

“Oh? Pay in how?” Ruediger arched his brows, unable to resist teasing Lariette, “In cookies or pies? Or how about some strawberry shortcakes?”

Lariette narrowed her eyes, staring at Ruediger suspiciously, “That doesn’t sound too bad. But you do that almost every day.”

“Hahaha! You can think of it if we ever get lost.”

“…yeah. Anyway, let’s get inside.”

“Hehe, okay.”

Ruediger and Lariette walked past the entrance. The bulbs that lined the top of the hedges brightened the narrow, winding paths.

“Eddy, did you come here often before? You seem like you’ve memorized the way.”

After walking for some time, Lariette couldn’t hold back her question. From the beginning, the man led her confidently through the maze, taking turns without hesitation.

Ruediger lowered his chin, glancing at Lariette beside him. A corner of his grinning lips rose higher, “You can say so. So, you don’t have to worry about getting lost, okay?”

“There goes my chance to extort you out for more cookies,” Lariette sighed, pretending to sound so disappointed.

“Hahaha! That’s all you think of?”

After walking for a few more minutes, they reached the heart of the maze. Lariette gasped softly once she saw a small white pavilion standing on the circular clearing. Strings of lights wrapped its columns, bathing the cobblestoned pathway in its romantic glow.

“Let’s sit there.”

Ruediger gestured at the long bench within the pavilion. Lariette nodded quietly, her heart beating a little faster as she wondered if he wanted to talk here.

They sat side by side, close enough that their arms nearly grazed each other. A silence settled between them, broken only by the occasional passing wind.

Lariette folded her hands together and placed them on her lap. Pursing her lips, she tilted up her head to look at Ruediger whose eyes staring at the sky.

“Lettie.”

“…yes?”

The familiar deep voice gently called her name, almost flustering her in the quiet moment they shared in the maze garden. Being here with him was as if they were in a different world, away from everyone else.

Ruediger darted his eyes away from the sky, now locking his gaze on Lariette’s. The curiosity on her face was palpable, lingering unspoken in the air.

Ruediger clenched and unclenched his hands a few times, trying to soothe his tensed nerves. Despite still having some concerns, he wouldn’t back away from his decision to profess his feelings to her tonight.

Ruediger adjusted his position on the bench, wanting to face Lariette properly instead of just having his head turned toward her. After an exhale of a soft sigh, words flowed between his lips.

“Lettie, you’ve known me for over three months, right?”

Lariette blinked, never expecting Ruediger to bring up the duration of how long they knew each other. Nodding once, she said, “Yes. Why do you ask, Eddy?”

Three months.

Because Ruediger mentioned it, Lariette couldn’t help but admit that she had experienced various things within the short three months. Somehow, she felt as if more time had passed.

Teaming up to go against their own families, cohabitating despite being near strangers, having meals together, celebrating her birthday, visiting her hometown, playing in a theme park, and more.

“Three months,” Lariette muttered, her lips spreading into a smile, “It sounds short, but I enjoyed every moment we’ve spent together, Eddy.”

The sincerity in Lariette’s voice helped to ease a little of Ruediger’s uneasiness. He closed his eyes briefly, before looking at Lariette again.

“I’m glad to hear that, Lettie. But I need to be honest with you.”

“About what?”

Ruediger swore his heart beat too fast it almost leaped out of his chest, but he couldn’t stop here.

“This will surprise you, Lettie,” Ruediger paused, his voice filling the stillness in the air, “You might know me for three months, but I’ve known you far longer than that.”

Lariette blinked, “…because you heard about me from Maddie?”

“That, too,” Ruediger nodded, “Maddie always talked about you. But when I offered to join hands with you because I wanted to mess with my family, that’s never the reason.”

Once again, Ruediger paused. He tried assessing Lariette’s countenance, only to find more curiosity. He pushed himself to continue.

“Lettie, I just seized the chance that would allow me to be closer to you. My intention wasn’t pure. I have deceived you.”

Lariette held her breath. Ruediger had been speaking softly and slowly, but the meaning behind his words hadn’t registered fully in her mind.

Because… he sounded as if…

“You wanted to be closer to me, Eddy?” Lariette found her voice to ask, her eyes never leaving Ruediger’s countenance, “Why? For what… reason?”

When he spoke again, she discerned the traces of hope and fear conflicting in his eyes, that usually held unyielding confidence.

“Because I have feelings for you, Lettie.”

His words, spoken ever so softly, reached her before the gentle breeze carried them away. But it was already enough to suspend her heart from beating for a second before it thumped rapidly.