Chapter 6 – Changes in Emotion (Part 2)

Beyond the door, Reubellina and Tartenon sat facing each other.

“Couldn’t we have met in the parlor room?”

“Then we wouldn’t be able to talk comfortably.”

At Tartenon’s gaze, Reubellina told Sandy to bring tea. After a moment of hesitation, Sandy left the bedroom as Reubellina gestured for her to do so. Finally, only Reubellina and Tartenon remained in the room.

“I’ve heard about Count Phineus and his wife.”

“So you just left them be, huh?”

“There were some aspects to it as well.”

At his answer, Reubellina nodded. It was as expected. She secretly sighed in relief, reassured that he was not incompetent.

‘As I thought, even though it’s a marriage of convenience, my judgment wasn’t wrong.’

They would divorce in three years, but she couldn’t spend the present with a foolish person. The Duke of Asillious had angered the imperial family severely with this matter. Since they had allied with Speraum instead of the imperial family, they had to gain corresponding benefits.

“Then who is behind them?”

“I can only guess, I haven’t found concrete evidence.”

“Have you been to the office by any chance?”

“My office?”

Tartenon’s eyebrow lifted slightly, wondering why he would need to go there.

“I left something there that might help.”

“Ah, now that you mention it, there’s something I was thinking about as well.”

Tartenon stood up and extended his hand to Reubellina. Blinking, she realized he was asking to escort her, and placed her hand on top of his.

“I’ve brought people from Musen Trading.”

“They said they’d be here by tomorrow, but they’re early.”

“They almost didn’t make it.”

“Why?”

“Someone sent bandits to attack them.”

Tartenon spoke lightly, but the implication was serious. 

Hearing this, Reubellina’s eyes darkened. She was following his lead but suddenly fell silent. Tartenon waited patiently for her to speak first.

“Bandits?”

“Do you have any idea who might be behind it?”

“Well, if they discovered the Duchy of Asillious connection to Musen Trading, there are several possibilities. The most suspicious place is undoubtedly…”

“The imperial family.”

Tartenon finished her sentence. Reubellina didn’t bother to refute. It was a well-known fact among the capital’s nobility. The Duchy of Asillious was already under scrutiny from various nobles for running a trading group. Discovering another trading group associated with the Duchy would complicate things further.

“But it’s unlikely to be the Imperial family.”

“How can you be sure?”

“If the imperial family knew, they would have arrested my father without needing to send bandits.”

Reubellina’s words were blunt but accurate. If it were the imperial family, they would have imprisoned him first and then questioned his crimes. That was the emperor’s preferred method for effectively intimidating nobles.

“Huh?”

As she continued, Reubellina realized something odd. She wondered how Tartenon knew about the connection between the Duchy of Asillious and Musen Trading.

She looked at him suspiciously, but Tartenon remained silent.

‘Was it not him who brought the caravan here? No, wait, I just told him about the connection myself!’

Reubellina was shocked at how easily she had divulged her secret without realizing it.

Reubellina suddenly stopped speaking, surprised that she had inadvertently revealed her own secret. Tartenon also halted his steps and waited. 

She gazed at him with trembling eyes and grabbed his collar, causing him to lean in.

“Did you already know?”

“Know what?”

“About me and Musen Trading.”

Reubellina’s voice was urgent as she whispered.

‘Where did I slip up?’

She wondered if she should sever her ties with Musen Trading immediately.

“No, I didn’t know.”

Tartenon’s low voice reached her ear. The sensual movement of his lips next to her ear sent a shiver through her, but Reubellina was in no mood to indulge in the situation.

“W-What do you mean?”

“I didn’t know until you told me just now.”

“Tartenon!”

“I told you to call me Ren.”

Reubellina’s face flushed bright red at Tartenon’s teasing remark about her using his name. She had carelessly revealed her secret, falling for his simple ploy.

“Since you’ve let me in on your secret, we’re now partners in this.”

Tartenon’s teasing attitude as he looked down at her was annoying, but she couldn’t help it. Reubellina had made an irreversible mistake. To put it nicely, they shared a secret; to put it bluntly, he had leverage over her.

As Reubellina glared, Tartenon lowered his face again, still smiling.

Only then was Reubellina able to scrutinize his features closely. She had thought him handsome before, but today, the impression was different. The gleam in his blue eyes held the depth of a vast, dark sea.

‘Something’s different.’

This was a gaze she had never seen from Tartenon before. Reubellina felt a sense of fear at the unrestrained ferocity in his eyes.

After dealing with the bandits, Tartenon cleaned up and visited Reubellina’s bedroom, trying to hide the savage energy. However, he couldn’t conceal the sharpness in his eyes, heated for different reasons.

When she flinched and tried to back away, Tartenon took a step forward as if not allowing her to move away from him.

Reubellina could not avoid Tartenon’s approach, and her trembling fingers were fully felt by him. But she forced herself to maintain eye contact with him.

The two pairs of eyes remained locked onto each other, neither willing to break the gaze. Reubellina couldn’t tear her eyes away from the blue light flickering within his. The blue ocean that had captured her tilted slightly as his face moved slowly down next to her ear.

The breath against her ear left a dizzying sensation. To conceal her chilling fingers, Reubellina clenched her hand, but the one held by Tartenon did not budge.

“Are you afraid?”

“……”

“Do you think I might threaten you with this?”

Her wide eyes turned toward him. His blue eyes, smiling at her, never left her.

“Are you going to threaten me?”

She asked in a calm voice, grateful it didn’t tremble. Her eyes wavered, but at least she managed to keep her voice steady.

‘At least that’s something.’

It was a relief that she did not cower and tremble before the formidable knight, Tartenon. Seeing the tenderness hidden in the depths of his eyes, Reubellina felt able to look at him without flinching.

Tartenon, receiving her gaze, gave a small laugh and looked away.

“As if I would do that.”

“I didn’t think you would.”

“Really?”

Tartenon’s lips hovered just in front of hers. The movement, almost touching, caused Reubellina to lean back slightly. Fortunately, this time he didn’t pull her closer. She breathed a silent sigh of relief.

“Well, I did have some suspicions.”

“I suppose that’s understandable.”

Tartenon responded casually to her admission of doubt.

“I hope you’re not the type to carelessly reveal your weaknesses to anyone.”

“And you, Ren, shouldn’t come across as outright foolish.”

If she had a fan, she would have snapped it open dramatically.

“Foolish, you say? Should I tell you that I’m a man with carefully laid plans?”

“Ah, so you did have a plan all along.”

“Of course.”

“And yet, you didn’t tell me about this plan, did you?”

Reubellina’s eyes turned slightly sharp. Tartenon, unable to hide his awkward smile, changed the subject.

“Didn’t you say you had something to show me in the office?”

“That’s right.”

Seeing Reubellina’s willingness to let it go this time, Tartenon gave a slight nod.

‘It is a wife’s duty to nurture the spirit of her future husband, after all.’

It wasn’t good to press too much. Reubellina praised herself for stopping her interrogation and followed him to his office. Hemil and Heather, who were guarding the office door, brightened at the sight of her.

“Lady Reubellina!”

“Has anyone entered?”

“No one has entered as per your orders.”

“Good.”

Tartenon slightly raised an eyebrow at the sibling’s attitude, unsure if they were his subordinates or Reubellina’s. Hemil and Heather looked at her with bright eyes. As Hemil opened the door for her, Tartenon kicked him lightly.

Hemil dodged, but Tartenon kicked again, eventually hitting Hemil in the shin. Heather, who was tsk-ing at Hemil’s lack of training, averted her eyes when Tartenon’s sharp gaze fell upon her.

“What are you doing?”

Reubellina asked as Tartenon stood unmoving in front of Hemil. Tartenon gave Hemil a warning look and then entered the office.

“Did you just see that?”

Heather motioned to Hemil with her chin.

“I’m just glad I’m not a man.”

As Hemil rubbed his aching shins and Heather asked if he was okay, Reubellina was showing Tartenon the sack she’d found in the storeroom.

“Is this a sack of sugar?”

“You recognized it right away, as expected.”

Reubellina completely dismissed the idea that Tartenon might have stored the sugar there himself. It was impossible for him to have forgotten about it if he had.

“You found this in the storeroom?”

“Yes. It was dusty everywhere except around this area.”

“Then that means…”

“Someone has been sneaking in and storing or removing items.”

They both silently understood that the culprit was likely an insider.

“There’s a rat in my house.”

Reubellina responded to Tartenon’s sharp gaze.

“They must be panicking now.”

‘Since I’ve taken away this valuable item.’