Chapter 16 – Back to the North (Part 2)

That evening, Reubellina and Tartenon had a formal dinner together, and Reubellina dismissed the surrounding people. Once the servants had left, Reubellina spoke first.

“Do you remember?”

“Remember what?”

“Tomorrow is the day. It’s been three years.”

“Three years?”

Tartenon tilted his head, not understanding what she was talking about. His eyes suddenly changed, filled with a sharp light as he looked at Reubellina.

“Have you thought about divorce?”

“Divorce? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Our contract period is not over yet.”

“There’s one day left. I wanted to tell you in advance… … .”

“I’m sorry, Reubellina. I never intended to let you go.”

“What?”

“I had no intention of letting you go from the beginning.”

Reubellina didn’t know what to say to Tartenon’s firm declaration. She had only asked if he knew the contract period, but his response was unexpected. Clearly, he had misunderstood something. Just as Reubellina was about to correct his misunderstanding, Tartenon spoke again.

“Don’t even think about running away. You’re already mine.”

“Wait, that’s not what I meant…”

“Why are you trying to leave me? Do you dislike the North? After everything you’ve done here, you’re going to abandon me?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I can’t live without you now, and you’re leaving me?”

“No, I mean, what on earth are you talking about….”

“Who is it?”

Now he was bringing up another man. Seeing Tartenon’s attitude, which seemed ready to let his imagination run wild, Reubellina hurriedly spoke.

“I was going to say I love you!”

“What?”

Tartenon, startled by her sudden outburst, widened his eyes. Seeing him frozen with a knife in his hand, Reubellina, her face flushed, repeated herself.

“I love you, Grand Duke Tartenon Speraum of the North.”

“So you weren’t planning to leave me?”

“Why would I leave someone who loves me so much?”

“So you weren’t bringing up the end of our contract?”

“We should end the contract. It’s no longer a contract marriage.”

“…Ah. I see.”

Reubellina frowned at Tartenon’s somewhat dazed expression.

“What is it? Now that I say I love you, do you dislike it?”

“No!”

Tartenon’s loud exclamation echoed through the dining room, loud enough for Paddington to come in, wondering what was happening.

“I love you.”

Having said it once, it was easier to say it multiple times. Even though Paddington had entered, Reubellina confidently spoke to Tartenon. Seeing Tartenon’s expression soften almost to the point of melting, she said it once more.

“I love you.”

Her gentle words, like a spring breeze, reached Tartenon’s ears. Though he hadn’t fully grasped the meaning of her words, Tartenon finally came to his senses after hearing them repeatedly.

“It wasn’t a dream.”

“What are you talking about?”

Reubellina responded with a laugh, but Tartenon was serious.

“It really wasn’t a dream.”

His voice, repeating the words, was filled with joy. Reubellina stood up and whispered in his ear.

“I love you.”

Tartenon’s blue eyes turned to her. At that moment, Reubellina’s eyes curved into a smile.

“What’s your answer?”

Tartenon struggled to speak. Despite always saying it as a habit when she was asleep or by her side, he found it hard to respond now.

Knowing that Reubellina was waiting for his answer, Tartenon was preoccupied with controlling his overwhelming emotions.

Though quite some time had passed, Reubellina waited patiently. She had always responded with silence to Tartenon’s questions.

She now realized how nerve-wracking it was to wait for a response to a confession of love. Thinking about how Tartenon must have felt waiting for her answer made her feel guilty. She had made his heart ache by not being able to say those simple words.

She was in that exact situation now. She wanted to yell at Tartenon, who was hesitating to answer, but she couldn’t bring herself to speak first because of her guilt.

‘He wouldn’t change his mind now, would he?’

All sorts of thoughts crossed her mind. Tartenon must have had similar thoughts at some point. So she had to wait. She kept telling herself to wait.

Her mouth was dry, and tension filled the air. She was gripping her hands so tightly that her nails were digging into her palms. But Reubellina waited and waited.

Just when she thought Tartenon’s blue eyes looked like they were holding the sea, she saw tears welling up in his eyes. At that moment, Tartenon’s lips parted.

“I love you too.”

Once he said it, he wondered why he had hesitated so much over something so simple. Reubellina answered with a smile. The response to her initial declaration was, as expected, “I love you.”

“So I want to end it too. That damn contract.”

“Tartenon!”

Forgetting that Paddington was there, Tartenon mentioned the contract. Reubellina, flustered, looked at Paddington. His narrowed eyes were full of suspicion.

Reubellina quickly stood up and linked arms with Tartenon.

“In that sense, shall we finish our early dinner and head to the bedroom?”

“Bedroom?”

There was a sensual tone in Tartenon’s voice, or at least Reubellina felt so. It was the first time the word ‘bedroom’ sounded so enticing.

Before Reubellina could feel embarrassed, Tartenon moved first. She was surprised as he dragged her out of the dining room.

“Kyaa!”

Tartenon had lifted her into his arms.

Scared of falling, she clung to his neck. Tartenon, holding Reubellina tightly, moved like the wind. Before Heather and Hemil, who were waiting outside, could react, Tartenon headed to the couple’s bedroom on the second floor.

Heather, staring blankly at their retreating figures, held out her hand to Hemil.

“Pay up.”

“Ugh, how did you know?”

“Today, His Grace seemed unnecessarily solemn.”

Heather shrugged, saying that she, as Tartenon’s close aide, couldn’t be unaware of such things. Today’s bet was also Heather’s victory.

The knights had often wondered why such a harmonious couple hadn’t had children yet, leading to rumors that Tartenon was impotent despite his prowess in battle. Even when the northern noblewomen threw themselves at him, Tartenon didn’t budge, so the rumors naturally spread.

Thanks to Paddington’s thorough silencing, the rumor was confined to Speraum’s knights but it was strong. Hemil, who was convinced of Tartenon’s impotence, had bet on it, swallowed his tears while serving Tartenon faithfully, thinking no one could be perfect.

But today, that rumor shattered.

Paddington, who had come outside, held out his hand to Hemil. Hemil handed Paddington a money pouch identical to the one he had given Heather.

“I told you not to spread unnecessary rumors.”

After leaving those words, Paddington walked away leisurely. Hemil asked Heather.

“Was I wrong? Was I really wrong?”

“Yes, you were wrong.”

Why? It’s possible that His Grace isn’t perfect!”

“But saying he’s impotent was too much.”

“You agreed with me!”

“Only to make the bet interesting.”

“What?”

Heather chuckled as she tossed and caught the money pouch Hemil had given her.

“Get ready to empty your pockets. You’re the only one who bet on that side.”

“That can’t be!”

“No, really, you’re the only one.”

As Bruelin passed by and heard the news, he held out his hand to Hemil.

“What the!”

“I won.”

“You also bet that His Grace would consummate the marriage today?”

“Of course. Isn’t it obvious?”

“This is a scam!”

It was unbelievable. He wondered how everyone but him bet on the same side. Hemil looked up at the ceiling of the corridor in disbelief, but nothing changed.

Bruelin and Heather exchanged a secret glance. It was Heather who had informed them that His Grace was acting strange today, and Bruelin deduced the situation. Heather agreed with Bruelin’s plan to punish Hemil for spreading strange rumors. Why? Because it was fun. That’s what twins are like, enjoying teasing each other.

Heather hadn’t forgotten the time when Hemil had broken her cherished piggy bank to buy a sword. She winked at Bruelin.

Today’s bet was another success. Since that day, Hemil had never won a bet against Heather.

‘Does he bet knowing he’ll lose, or is he just lacking?’

It didn’t matter either way. If he was lacking, she could just help him out a bit.

Thinking nonchalantly about something that would make Hemil faint if he knew, Heather turned her gaze to where Tartenon and Reubellina had disappeared. She patted her now fuller pouch, silently blessing the couple who would truly become husband and wife today.

‘Seeing the contract was a stroke of luck.’

Heather, who had accidentally seen the contract left on Tartenon’s desk, had been waiting for the last day of the contract. Having endured, she deserved to enjoy all these results.

“Shall we call the other knights now?”

Her eyes gleaming wickedly, she was indeed Hemil’s twin.