Chapter 9 – A Shaken Heart (Part 1)

Reubellina cleared her throat and asked Sandy. She could have been caught off guard if she wasn’t careful.

“Different, how?”

“It seems like you really like His Grace.”

Reubellina’s eyes shook uncontrollably at Sandy’s response.

“So, I felt very relieved.”

“Your Grace.”

If Paddington’s voice hadn’t been heard from outside, Reubellina would have pressed Sandy on why she thought that.

“What is it?”

“His Grace is looking for you.”

“Now?”

It was early in the morning.

‘If it were urgent, he would have come directly, but calling for me means it’s not that urgent…….’

It hadn’t been long since she left the bedroom, so it was strange for Reubellina that she was being called. She stood up from her seat. There could be a reason he couldn’t come directly or perhaps another matter, so she signaled to Sandy.

Quick-witted Sandy put down the comb and brought over a dress. Reubellina put on the dress Sandy brought.

Dressed in indoor attire, Reubellina went outside. Paddington, who was waiting at the door, bowed deeply to her.

“The true ruler of the North has emerged!”

Heather, who was behind Paddington, playfully announced Reubellina’s presence in the hallway. Reubellina, not disliking her joke, smiled and responded.

“Be at ease.”

“Of course. But I must follow and guard Your Grace, so I will walk behind you.”

“Am I troubling you?”

“Not at all. Following Your Grace is my pleasure. Besides, following you often leads to interesting events.”

“Interesting events?”

“Well, the ‘beautiful bird’ incident recently was quite amusing.”

“Has the banquet incident spread that far?”

“Didn’t you know?”

Heather chattered as she followed the slowly walking Reubellina.

Heather, who always led the way in seeking out interesting events, was well-informed about the capital and the North. She was known as a great collector of information in the North.

“They say in the capital, beautiful but empty-headed young ladies are called ‘pretty birds.’”

“Really? That’s not good news.”

This meant the elegant nickname she gave Bellaruse might become meaningless.

‘I don’t like that.’

She really didn’t like it. Reubellina frowned openly and turned sharply towards Heather.

“Is that all?”

“Of course not. It’s said that Lady Zeraon is specifically called the beautiful bird.”

“Really?”

“Yes. No one else can take that nickname. The rumors are that strong.”

“Is there a rumor that she has fallen out of favor with the Grand Duchess of the North?”

“Isn’t that a given?”

Reubellina felt a bit better and continued walking.

‘After all this, she won’t cause more trouble.’

If she kept quiet, Reubellina wouldn’t interfere with her marrying Inferno. But if she continued to overstep, Reubellina wouldn’t stand still.

Before she knew it, Reubellina had reached Tartenon’s office and blinked.

“He’s here?”

“Yes, he’s here.”

“Isn’t he tired?”

Paddington chuckled at Reubellina’s worried mumbling. Hearing his laugh, Reubellina cleared her throat and spoke.

“Tell him I’m here.”

“Understood.”

When Paddington announced her arrival, the door opened. Tartenon, who had been reading documents with a serious expression, looked at her. Reading the anxiety in his eyes, Reubellina hurried into the office.

“What’s the matter?”

“The Crown Prince found out that it was me who sent someone to the temple.”

“Sent someone to the temple?”

“Yes.”

Reubellina recalled the banquet at the palace. When Monterno suddenly appeared and put them in a difficult situation, Tartenon’s mention of the temple’s approval had changed the situation.

“But what does that matter? It’s already over.”

“It is, but it could still cause problems.”

Tartenon handed her a document. It was a list of people who had visited the temple.

“You left your name in the guest book?”

“Of course not. The names written there are aliases.”

“The Crown Prince must have found something from the guestbook.”

“Yes. The issue isn’t the temple’s approval for the marriage. It’s that the alliance between the temple and the North has been discovered.”

“Is it fully exposed?”

“Not completely.”

Tartenon tried to speak lightly, but Reubellina realized the situation was becoming serious.

The conflict between the North and the imperial family was destined when the Asillious Duchy and the Speraum Grand Duchy united.

Knowing this, Reubellina still chose to hold Tartenon’s hand. It was the strongest house not swayed by the imperial family. If she hadn’t chosen Tartenon, the greedy imperial family wouldn’t have let her go. They would have done anything to swallow the Asillious Duchy’s wealth.

‘I don’t regret choosing Tartenon.’

Otherwise, the Asillious Duchy would have been caught in political strife by now. She owed him, so she had to repay him.

Reubellina smiled brightly.

“As long as there’s no evidence of the temple and the North’s alliance, it should be fine, right?”

“But I heard that they recognized a knight from the North who visited there.”

“Tartenon.”

Reubellina called his name. He looked up at her small voice as she approached the desk.

“Do you know the best way to cover up an incident?”

“…….”

Reubellina’s hand touched Tartenon’s cheek. The warmth in her palm was quite satisfying.

Reubellina smiled and leaned in close to Tartenon, close enough for her lips to touch his.

“Create a bigger incident.”

Her breath lightly touched Tartenon as she drew near and then moved away. It wasn’t just that. Reubellina confirmed Tartenon’s shaking pupils and lightly touched his lips with hers. The soft, tender sensation of his lips made a slight sound. Tartenon, flustered, opened his eyes wide and raised his hand to cover his mouth.

Seeing his ears turn red, Reubellina approached again and whispered in his ear.

“I’ll handle this, so you just stay put.”

Reubellina, who blew a breath into his ear, slowly moved away.

She hadn’t forgotten when Tartenon had bitten her earlobe, and now she smiled, thinking she had succeeded in her revenge. But before she could turn away, Tartenon grabbed her wrist.

Tartenon turned her around and engulfed her lips. Reubellina, caught off guard, didn’t open her mouth, so he bit her lower lip. Feeling a sharp pain, Reubellina involuntarily opened her mouth, and Tartenon didn’t miss the chance. His slow, deliberate heat penetrated her mouth.

The heat didn’t let her go. Accepting his warmth, Reubellina grabbed his collar. His neatly ironed shirt wrinkled. Accepting his kiss, her mind went blank.

She couldn’t think of anything. She just accepted the heat passing from his mouth to hers. Struggling to breathe, Tartenon licked her lips and pulled away.

“Breathe.”

At his low voice, Reubellina couldn’t move. Tartenon carefully patted her back and embraced her. Once her breathing steadied, he bit her ear.

“Ah!”

“Reubellina.”

Tartenon tightened his embrace. Held tightly, Reubellina had to offer her left ear to him.

“Please, ah! Stop.”

Her legs gave out, but Tartenon’s firm grip on her waist held her up. Panting, Reubellina pleaded with him. Her voice, mixed with a moan, sounded like a plea. Tartenon, taking it as encouragement, lightly bit her earlobe.

Seeing the small bite mark, Tartenon looked down at her with a satisfied expression. As her hazy eyes cleared, Reubellina tried to move away. But Tartenon’s arms didn’t loosen.

“If you can’t take responsibility, don’t provoke a man carelessly.”

His warning made her hair stand on end.

Tartenon pushed her out of the office. Reubellina, flustered, tried to say something but couldn’t. Blushing, she bit her lip.

‘What, what’s this!’

Swallowing words she couldn’t say aloud, Reubellina covered her ears. She still felt Tartenon’s warmth. The lingering sensation remained.

Reubellina hurried out of the hallway leading to Tartenon’s office.

‘Crazy! This is crazy!’

It was on a different level from a simple prank.

‘If you can’t take responsibility, don’t provoke a man carelessly?’

Her fierce aura kept anyone from speaking to her. Not even Heather or Paddington dared to talk. Paddington, who didn’t need to follow, insisted on going that way, saying he had to prepare for the banquet.

As soon as Tartenon’s office was out of sight around the right-angled corridor, Reubellina came to a sudden stop.

“Your Grace?”

“He’s crazy. He must be crazy.”

“Pardon?”

“How could he do that?”

Reubellina spun around. Both Heather and Paddington held their breaths in the face of her formidable presence.

“W-What do you mean?”

At Paddington’s question, Reubellina only blushed, unable to speak properly. Watching her lips move without sound, Heather instinctively knew.

‘Something happened inside.’

Something that could only happen between a man and a woman.

Heather wanted to tease her, but Reubellina was not just a peer but a superior. She regretted not being able to run to the knights and spread the word about the great relationship between Her Grace and the Grand Duke.

Regardless of Heather’s inner thoughts, Reubellina walked off, fuming.

The bedroom door burst open, startling Sandy, who was tidying up inside. Reubellina slammed the door shut behind her and finally shouted.

“He must be insane, really!”

“W-Who?”

Reubellina, having left at Tartenon’s call, was now revealing her true temper.

‘Something serious must have happened.’

Sandy held her breath, waiting for Reubellina to speak.

“Why does he keep licking my ear?”

“Um, Your Grace.”

“Why does he keep licking it? Does he think I don’t know how to do that? Isn’t he crazy? If he’s going to do it, he should do it in bed! What is this in the office…!”

Reubellina, who had been shouting, fell silent when she met Sandy’s eyes. She looked around, blinking, then raised her chin at Sandy.

“What? What is it?”

“Nothing. Please continue.”

Ignoring Reubellina pacing around the room, Sandy continued to tidy up the bedding. Seeing Reubellina’s face full of embarrassment, Sandy smiled inwardly.

‘What a wonderful time!’