Chapter 14 – A New Beginning (Part 3)

Hearing Teryn’s response, Reubellina stared intently at the document. Nothing had changed, but she wanted to ensure she wasn’t forgetting anything.

‘This uneasy feeling…’

Pondering how to alleviate her anxiety, Reubellina decided to go see Tartenon’s face.

‘Looking at something handsome is always the best.’

She especially liked seeing Tartenon’s face when sunlight shone from behind. His silver hair gradually turning golden brought her peace. Since her favorite thing was gold coins, watching Tartenon’s sparkling hair was the happiest sight.

Having made up her mind while thinking of Tartenon, Reubellina gave Teryn another order.

“Keep reporting on the situation in the capital and find out about the secret passages in the imperial palace.”

“Secret passages in the imperial palace?”

“You know, like hidden tunnels.”

Reubellina’s face remained calm as she ordered him to investigate something as confidential as the imperial palace’s secrets. To overthrow the Emperor and the Crown Prince, they needed to ensure the imperial family couldn’t escape. Without securing the secret passages, it would be difficult to track the imperial family’s movements.

“Finding secret passages might be a bit difficult…”

“Just do your best. There must be someone in the imperial palace who’s crazy about money.”

“I’ll make contact.”

Seeming to have someone in mind, Teryn’s eyes sparkled. Reubellina gave him a satisfied smile and waved him off. Once he bowed elegantly and disappeared, Reubellina stood up.

“The weather is nice, I’ll go see Tartenon’s face!”

Fortunately, no one heard her talking to herself. As she left the office, Heather immediately followed.

“Where are you going, Your Grace?”

“Where is His Grace?”

“His Grace is, um, probably in the bedroom?”

“The bedroom?”

It sounded like he hadn’t woken up yet. Reubellina frowned as she walked. However, when the servants of the Duke’s household bowed to her, she quickly hid her expression and smiled gently. She was worried that rumors of something bad happening might spread.

Reubellina arrived at the bedroom she shared with Tartenon. It felt a bit awkward to enter the place she had left in the morning, but she asked Hemil, who was waiting outside.

“Is Tartenon inside?”

“Yes, he is.”

Nodding slightly to Hemil, who opened the door, Reubellina entered. She saw an unusual sight of Tartenon. Reubellina held her breath, seeing Tartenon asleep on the bed.

‘At this hour?’

It was unexpected. Tartenon always left earlier than she did and returned to the bedroom later than she did. She had seen him leave early in the morning, but now he was back in the bedroom.

“Is he sick?”

Reubellina sat on the bed and looked down at Tartenon.  After staring at his disheveled hair for a moment, she drew the curtains when she saw him squinting in the sunlight. With the room darkened, Tartenon’s face looked more relaxed, and she sat beside him again.

‘He sleeps so peacefully.’

Afraid of waking him, Reubellina couldn’t bring herself to touch his face and just watched. Her eyes wandered over Tartenon’s face.

‘There’s a mole here.’

Reubellina smiled as she discovered a small mole near his neck. Then, she blushed, recalling something Tartenon had said before.

At some point, she had noticed Tartenon looking at her with eyes full of desire. She read the passion in his blue eyes but couldn’t respond.

Reubellina couldn’t give up the Duchy of Asillious. It was hers.

‘If it can’t be mine, it must at least belong to my child.’

She couldn’t let the Duchy of Asillious fall into the hands of someone else, especially the imperial family. Her golden eyes were filled with determination.

Feeling awkward about staring at Tartenon for too long, Reubellina was about to get up when Tartenon grabbed her wrist.

“Oh!”

Unable to resist his pull, Reubellina ended up lying beside him, blinking in surprise.

“Weren’t you asleep?”

“I woke up when the door opened.”

Tartenon’s keen senses had noticed Reubellina’s presence the moment she entered the bedroom.

Reubellina whispered apologetically.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have come.”

“No. I’m glad you did.”

His eyelids slowly lifted, revealing his blue eyes. When Tartenon’s eyes met Reubellina’s, he pressed his lips to her forehead. At some point, Reubellina had stopped being surprised by his light kisses. It was a small but definite change.

Seeing her staring eyes, Tartenon chuckled and sat up.

As he rubbed his eyes, still tired, Reubellina’s hand reached out to him. She pushed him back onto the bed as he tried to get up.

“Sleep more.”

“No, I’ve rested enough.”

“Sleep more, I said!”

Tartenon’s eyes widened at Reubellina’s firm exclamation. She pressed her body against his to keep him from getting up.

“Let’s rest.”

“What?”

“Let’s rest. I came here to rest too.”

Despite her expression not matching someone who came to rest, Reubellina shamelessly closed her eyes. She even placed her hand on Tartenon’s waist and snuggled into his arms.

‘It’s quite warm, I like it.’

With the curtains drawn and Hemil and Heather guarding outside, there was nothing to worry about.

She felt Tartenon’s gaze on her face, but Reubellina kept her eyes firmly shut. She planned to hold him like this until he fell asleep.

She sensed Tartenon sigh lightly and wrap his arm around her waist. Feeling his touch, a small smile played on Reubellina’s lips. Tartenon noticed but simply smiled back, tightening his embrace around her.

Reubellina lay with her head resting on Tartenon’s arm, her breathing steady. Confirming that she had fallen asleep, Tartenon closed his eyes again. The quiet bedroom was filled only with their breaths. It was a peaceful afternoon.

***

Two days later, an invitation from the princess arrived. Reubellina frowned at the lavishly decorated invitation, adorned with gold and silver foil. The extravagance was over the top.

“Wow, they even soaked it in rose water? No wonder it smelled so nice all the way here.”

Sandy added, standing beside her. Reubellina, waving the invitation and enjoying the scent, suddenly felt something was off.

‘The imperial family shouldn’t have the luxury to spend money like this right now.’

It wasn’t the season for tax collection yet. Moreover, the financial support from the Duke of Asillious had been cut off, so they couldn’t be well-off. The expenses of the imperials, accustomed to luxury, were considerable, and it was well-known among the nobles that the imperial steward suffered constant headaches because of it.

For them to prepare such a lavish invitation meant the imperial family had high expectations for this banquet.

Feeling something was amiss, Reubellina scrutinized the invitation more closely. Besides the subtle fragrance, the paper was of high quality. The opulence of the invitation, engraved with the imperial crest, no longer caught her eye.

“What are they plotting?”

As she pondered what could be done in front of all the gathered nobles, Reubellina recalled the unfortunate incident involving Inferno.

‘Could they be planning to frame someone in front of the nobles?’

As her expression hardened, Sandy swallowed nervously. The date of the banquet was also strange. Normally, invitations for a imperial banquet were sent out a month in advance to give the nobles time to prepare.

However, this invitation arrived the day before the banquet. It meant the banquet was tomorrow.

Not only she but many nobles who received this invitation would be flustered and hurriedly prepare, with no time to visit the capital’s dressmakers.

“It’s not just a banquet; they are gathering nobles to do something…”

As she reached this conclusion, Reubellina propped her chin on her hand. It was an unladylike gesture, but she couldn’t help it.

Sandy’s gaze fell on Reubellina’s arm but she didn’t speak. Reubellina’s eyes looked rather fierce, and Sandy knew better than to speak out of turn.

Before Reubellina could get up, the office door opened and Tartenon entered. As Sandy left the room, Tartenon pulled a chair to sit across from Reubellina.

“I heard an invitation from the palace arrived.”

“Yes.”

She handed him the invitation. Tartenon also frowned as he examined it.

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

The unusual date was apparent to any noble who saw the invitation.

“Something will happen at the banquet.”

“Should we prepare the knights?”

They didn’t want to be caught off guard. The Duke of Asillious had many assets to protect, including the mansion, the estate, and the trade guild. The wealth scattered throughout the capital also needed protection.

Seeing Reubellina’s worried face, Tartenon reassured her.

“The northern knights will suffice, so don’t worry too much.”

“The imperial family has plotted against us before, but I’ve never felt this uneasy.”