If You're Going to Sell Yourself, Sell It to Me - Chapter 130

“Is that true? Did Grandfather really say that?”

Her lips were swollen from being kissed so many times in just a few minutes, and now her eyes widened at what Locke had told her.

Locke left out the part about the condition of becoming a grandson-in-law and only mentioned that Angus had told him to rise to the role of Vice President.

Which was why he’d been hard to reach these past few days.

“I had no idea such talks were happening. Vice President? Still, I believe you’ll do well, Locke.”

Georgiana smiled brightly and cheered him on.

Though his schedule for the past five days had been stifling, her single sentence made all the exhaustion melt away.

He felt strong enough to carry Georgiana on his back for life.

Too strong, in fact.

Locke tried to distract himself from the swelling desire that had risen from nothing more than a kiss.

He now deeply regretted declaring that he would wait to propose properly before doing anything more. But a promise was a promise—and he wanted to receive Angus’s full blessing first. He had already resolved that they would marry immediately afterward.

Everything had been prepared so that all Georgiana had to do was step into a carriage from her grandfather’s estate and it would be done.

Even amid his hectic schedule, he’d asked Henry to speak with the bishop of the largest cathedral in Northwest.

If elected, he would be ready to marry her the very second it was announced.

Locke quietly watched Georgiana sip tea across from him without so much as a clink.

Her golden hair shimmered like it was spun from honey and light. Her small, delicately featured face made his heart race—and filled him with anxiety.

For now, only Angus’s closest aides knew she had arrived in Northwest, but it was only a matter of time before the news spread.

Just being the Supreme Commander’s only family was enough to attract gossip, but Georgiana was breathtaking. There would be no end to the attention.

Several senators had already visited the house under the pretense of business—and many of them had heirs around Locke’s age.

His sense of unease wasn’t irrational.

He had to become Vice President.

Locke made up his mind to claim the position by any means necessary.

Even if it meant abandoning principles he had always upheld. Until now, he had lived justly, save for the missions that required otherwise. But love was more important than principle.

He absolutely could not lose Georgiana.

She didn’t seem to notice his intense stare. When their eyes met, she simply returned a sweet, soft smile.

The clock on the wall ticked with growing urgency.

Time had flown since she arrived—far faster than it ever had when she wasn’t around.

An hour and a half? It was impossibly short.

Locke wanted to believe his watch was broken, but when Georgiana began to gather her things, he realized it was his head that wasn’t working properly.

“I’ll see you Saturday, then.”

She rose gracefully. There wasn’t a hint of reluctance.

Almost without thinking, he reached out and grabbed her wrist.

“If you just stayed here…”

“Yes?”

“Never mind.”

Locke shook his head with a dispirited expression.

In truth, he wished she could stay even after he left.

But he reminded himself that to make that happen someday, he couldn’t afford to be late now.

As she looked up at him, Georgiana suddenly stood on her toes and kissed him on the cheek.

“……!”

It was so gentle that it barely made a sound—just a soft touch—yet both Georgiana’s and Locke’s faces flushed as red as the midday sun.

When he looked down with wide eyes, he saw her cheeks, even her ears, flushed bright red as she scolded him.

“With a face like that—like a puppy left in the rain—how could I just walk away?”

Was that really the look on his face?

Locke, stunned, replayed the moment in his head.

By the time Georgiana reached the door, he rushed to her and hugged her tightly from behind.

“Thank you.”

“For… what?”

“For everything. For showing up. For staying safe. For forgiving me. All of it—thank you.”

What she had just done moved him more than any grand declaration could have.

Locke was filled with renewed regret for his past mistakes—and an even stronger vow to devote his entire future to her.

***

Georgiana’s face was still flushed as she stepped out of Locke’s hotel.

“See? Aren’t you glad you went?”

Finn and Lily rushed up to her as soon as she climbed into the carriage, eyes gleaming. They had been fidgeting since the lobby, clearly dying to hear how the reunion had gone.

Georgiana gave a shy smile and nodded.

“Knew it!”

The sisters clasped hands and squealed.

He’d said it would be a few days, but she had kept waiting, expecting he’d write again. Then when he said they’d meet the following Saturday—exactly a week later—her mood had plummeted.

She wondered if he’d gotten involved in something dangerous again. Or if his injury had worsened from overexertion and he was hiding it.

Or maybe… now that she was in Northwest, he didn’t want to see her anymore.

Her mind had been filled with thoughts of Locke.

She’d opened book after book on horticulture, but none of it captured her attention like before.

She had lived more than twenty years without Locke. They’d only spent a few months together—yet his influence on her was immense.

Even though only days had passed, her gaze kept drifting down the hill. She had already memorized the location of his hotel on the map.

Still, she couldn’t just show up—rumors might spread, and she needed her grandfather’s permission.

But after pushing through all that, Georgiana decided to surprise Locke.

She was a little embarrassed to have sought him out after not even a full week apart—but she hadn’t expected such an enthusiastic welcome.

Watching him fumble with a letter, asking Henry whether she was real, it was all too adorable.

A man a full head taller than most still managed to look cute.

Even she found it strange, but Locke just kept becoming more lovable.

She had kissed him on impulse when he looked like a lost puppy. Seeing how happy it made him, she decided not to dwell on the embarrassment.

The way he kept kissing her in gratitude—his sincerity was crystal clear.

It was hard to believe that only a year ago, she’d thought him impossible to read.

Now, she couldn’t imagine thinking that.

“Grandfather must be on his way too, right?”

She had learned of Locke’s schedule from her grandfather first.

He had allowed the visit knowing Locke had an important appointment and wouldn’t be able to spend long with her anyway.

He said she should hear the details from Locke directly—but she never imagined it would be about becoming Vice President.

Still, imagining Locke giving a public speech… she could already see how impressive he’d look.

And yet, a sigh slipped out.

Back when he was wanted for assassinating Edward, she’d heard many times that the posters outside the police department would disappear almost as soon as they were posted.

They weren’t even accurate portraits, and still they vanished.

Apparently, it was the work of women who had fallen for Locke.

What would happen when he deliberately stepped into the public eye?

He was bound to attract attention—especially from young, beautiful women.

“Um… What do you think it’ll be like if the Count becomes a senator? People will probably love him, right?” Georgiana asked nervously, glancing between Finn and Lily.

“Sure, lots of people will admire him, but it doesn’t matter. The Count only sees you, Miss.”

“That’s right. You should try seeing the Count from our perspective. Then you’ll stop worrying entirely.”

Finn and Lily went on about how his eyes were practically dripping with honey whenever he looked at her, or how he seemed to only respond to her voice.

Though their reassurances brought some comfort, Georgiana still told herself not to let her guard down.

People’s hearts could change.

She couldn’t help noticing that although he seemed ready to propose before, he now seemed completely consumed by the election.

Still, after seeing him, her spirits had lifted.

She was just stepping out of the carriage when someone called out to her.