Chapter 10 – The Master of the Northern Social Circle (Part 2)

A few days later, Reubellina was having tea with Tartenon in the garden. It had already been a week since she requested Paddington to inspect the mines in the North. The person who came with the answer she wanted was not Paddington, but Tartenon.

“You’re coming with me?”

“Yes.”

“…Aren’t you busy?”

“Not at all.”

Tartenon answered nonchalantly. Reubellina knew he was busy. Since the wedding, Tartenon had been constantly on the move.

He had ousted some of the Northern noble families and established new ones. As the Grand Duke of the North, who had authority comparable to that of a king, he could deal with families that did not show proper loyalty.

He identified families among the Northern nobility that arbitrarily raised land taxes and did not pay taxes on time, and he captured all the nobles of those territories. There was some initial resistance, but the commoners did not remain silent once they learned about the nobles who had deceived Tartenon and raised taxes arbitrarily.

Sometimes, moving from below served as the best example.

The head of a baronial family that had imposed high tax rates was beaten to death by the commoners. This was possible because Tartenon allowed it. Nobles, who never thought commoners could kill them, voluntarily prostrated before Tartenon after the incident.

Of course, the commoners who committed the act were imprisoned because they violated imperial law. Only the ringleaders were captured and punished, while the other accomplices were left alone. However, Tartenon executed commoners who oppressed or set fire to other territories.

Thus, commoners could not act recklessly either. When commoners tried to kill innocent nobles, and the Grand Duke’s knights killed all the commoners involved, both nobles and commoners became cautious.

When Tartenon issued a decree that he would not tolerate anyone who committed a crime, whether noble or commoner, the Northern knights patrolled with vigilance, and the initial chaos gradually subsided.

‘That doesn’t mean he isn’t busy.’

It was natural that he was still incredibly busy. All affairs in the North were handled by Tartenon, and his authority had become even more solid after the banquet. Many nobles who had sided with Viverna now obeyed Tartenon.

Although Reubellina was helping with the administration, the timing was not good. Tartenon had drawn his sword because of this. Originally, he intended to observe and organize the situation a bit longer, but winter was approaching in the North. With the barbarian tribes from further north likely to invade in search of food, he could no longer remain idle.

So, Tartenon boldly dealt with the Northern nobles and appointed new ones in the territories where the leaders had been removed. These new nobles were either knights with baronial titles who pledged loyalty to Tartenon or lower-ranked nobles who worked in the inner court as his close aides.

“Even if the domains are being organized, they’re not completely safe yet.”

“This is sufficient.”

‘Not at all!’

Reubellina shouted internally. It was hard to tell Tartenon, who was resolutely showing his determination to follow her, about her actual plans. She only wanted to visit one place, known as the trash mine, among all the Northern mines.

However, she included other mines in her request because there were people who would be suspicious if she visited only that place. Although there were many mines in the North, most were not very productive, with only a few producing quartz.

But the place she was interested in was not a quartz mine. It was a mine where stones called “mystic stones” and other stones not considered proper gems were found.

Transparent stones were called rubies and sapphires, but opaque stones were simply red stones and blue stones.

‘But if I see them in person, I think they can be sold elsewhere.’

She had pondered this even in the capital. Similar stones were found in the mines owned by the Duke of Asillious.

‘If packaged well, they could sell….’

To do that, she needed to see the stones in person and make a decision. In the Duchy of Asillious, there were many other things to sell, so there was no need to sell such mine trash. So she had put it off for later, but now she wanted to inspect the Northern mines because similar stones were found there.

“You’re really coming with me?”

“How many times do I have to say it? I’m coming with you.”

Tartenon dragged his chair and sat next to Reubellina. It was not a noble-like action at all, but no one stopped him. Paddington, who usually talked about etiquette, turned his gaze away and pretended not to notice.

Reubellina felt anew Tartenon’s authority in the North. No one could speak against him. He was the king, the sword, the ruler, and the only one with the authority to execute nobles summarily. It was strange that this fact was not known in the capital.

She knew the Grand Duke of the North had considerable authority, but she didn’t know he had the power to summarily execute nobles. Although it was limited to nobles below the rank of viscount, it was still significant. It was an authority comparable to the emperor’s right to designate heirs.

‘So that’s why they tried so hard to suppress the North.’

It would be difficult to control the North if it had both military power and wealth.

Reubellina, who had accurately grasped the imperial family’s thoughts, flinched at the touch on her hair.

“W-What is it?” 

“You’re beautiful.”

Tartenon grabbed her red hair, which reached down to her waist, and brought his lips to it. Paddington, seeing the Grand Duke’s affectionate behavior, turned his body away. The other knights did the same.

With the knights turning their backs, Tartenon did not miss the opportunity. He leaned close to her and whispered.

“Reubellina.”

“W-what is it?”

His breath on her ear was so thrilling that it made her hair stand on end. The warmth of his breath made her earlobe feel hot. She tried to speak calmly, but she ended up stammering. Noticing her tension, Tartenon spoke again.

“Why do you want to go to the mine? You must have already received reports on the ores being mined there.”

“Well, yes, but I have something to confirm personally.”

“Confirm?”

His thumb slowly caressed her earlobe. His hand then moved down her neck, brushing over her exposed collarbone. Reubellina’s throat bobbed with tension, and Tartenon didn’t miss it.

“What do you need to confirm?”

He whispered in her ear. There was no need to speak so close, but he did it on purpose.

Reubellina raised her hand to cover her ear, and Tartenon’s hand gently stroked her exposed shoulder. Confirming her trembling, he asked again.

“Are you cold?”

“No, that’s not it…”

The careful touch on her shoulder left a soft yet thrilling sensation. It was strange. Despite his gentleness, she felt so tense.

An inexplicable heat enveloped her entire body. Her cheeks flushed red, and her breathing became heavy. Tartenon’s hand, which had slowly caressed her shoulder, moved back up her slender white neck.

“Why do you keep…”

“Can I ask you something here?”

“What are you asking…”

He wasn’t asking; he was biting. Tartenon bit her neck before she could finish her sentence.

“What are you doing?!”

‘Are you crazy?!’

Reubellina shouted internally, unable to voice the words.

“You look delicious.”

“W-What?”

“Looking at you makes me thirsty.”

‘I shouldn’t respond.’

Reubellina, who couldn’t bring herself to ask why he was thirsty, kept her mouth shut. However, Tartenon’s mouth did not stop.

“So I thought maybe this thirst would go away if I bit you.”

Seeing the deep desire in his gleaming blue eyes, Reubellina could only open and close her mouth. She couldn’t comprehend what Tartenon was saying.

‘What does he mean by feeling thirsty because of me!’

As she stammered, Tartenon leaned his face closer to hers. When their lips were almost touching, Reubellina instinctively pulled back. However, she couldn’t escape as Tartenon’s hand grazed her neck.

“To think I’d feel thirsty for such a slender, white neck.”

“Um, could you step back a bit…?”

“Answer me, Reubellina. If I nibble on your neck, will this thirst go away?”

At that moment, Reubellina gasped, and Tartenon’s lips stole her breath away.

Reubellina couldn’t escape the heat that passed through her mouth. She twisted her body to avoid Tartenon’s overwhelming heat that wrapped around and pulled her in, but his strong hands gripped her waist. With no place to escape, Reubellina relaxed, allowing Tartenon to freely explore her lips.

Her mind went blank, unable to think properly. All she could feel was the intense heat Tartenon gave her. This heat, which was hot yet tingling, was so intense that it took away her thoughts.

When Tartenon, who had been indulging in her lips for a long time, reluctantly let her go, she snapped back to her senses.

“Y-you pervert!”

Reubellina stomped on Tartenon’s foot with her shoe. She stomped hard enough that it should hurt quite a bit.

As Tartenon winced in pain, Reubellina shouted at him.

“Never ask me to have tea in the garden again!”

Reubellina covered her swollen lips with her hand, pushed back the tea table, and stood up abruptly. Sandy, waiting from afar, rushed to her at her cry, but she hurried away without waiting for Sandy.

This was her chance while the knights had their backs turned. If they had been watching her under the guise of protecting her, it would have been even more embarrassing.

Reubellina left the garden fuming.