Chapter 9 – A Shaken Heart (Part 7)

The nobles at the banquet watched as Viverna was carried out on a stretcher. Clenching her fists in frustration, she looked like a defeated woman. Thus, the final banquet celebrating the wedding ended in Reubellina’s victory.

Had Viverna not collapsed and continued to demand respect as an elder, it wouldn’t have ended so easily. Reubellina recalled the moment and laughed heartily.

“Your Grace, please maintain your decorum.”

Heather advised as Reubellina’s laughter echoed beyond the office door. But even Heather’s face was full of smiles.

“However, I also feel relieved.”

“Then laugh heartily too.”

“Can I really?”

“Of course.”

Heather’s laughter echoed loudly through the room. She laughed so hard, saying it felt so refreshing, that she didn’t notice Paddington entering.

“Ahem! Sir Heather.”

“Oh, you’ve arrived, Butler.”

Paddington, a long-time servant of the Speraum family, was respected even by knights like Heather. His face also bore a subtle smile.

The money Viverna had taken under the guise of maintaining her dignity had been substantial. Until now, Tartenon had implicitly acknowledged Viverna, so they had no choice but to send her the money. But now, things had changed. It meant they could cut unnecessary expenses, from the maintenance of her mansion to her clothing allowance.

Paddington felt relieved knowing they wouldn’t have to hear complaints about sending insufficient funds to the villa anymore. Although they had treated her as a member of the Speraum family, even Paddington had grown tired of Viverna’s attitude.

“What brings you here?”

“I’m here to get approval for the budget.”

Reubellina, after checking the budget documents he handed over, signed them without hesitation. With no more money being sent to Viverna, the amount was significantly reduced.

Paddington, having retrieved the documents, lingered in the room. Sensing he had something to say, Reubellina looked at him.

Understanding her intent, Heather left the room, leaving them alone. Paddington bowed slightly.

“Thank you for giving me this opportunity, Your Grace.”

“I didn’t expect you to say that now.”

“Even so, I’m grateful.”

“Alright.”

For Reubellina, it wasn’t a big deal. Since Paddington had shown his competence as a butler, it was natural to entrust him with the work. Reubellina’s principle was to treat capable people accordingly.

“It is an honor to have someone like you as the mistress of the North.”

“You only realize that now?”

“And thank you for becoming the true family of the Grand Duke.”

“…….”

Reubellina couldn’t readily respond to Paddington’s words of gratitude. She and Tartenon were bound by a contract, not by familial bonds. They weren’t the “true family” Paddington thought they were. She stood by Tartenon because their interests aligned, not for the beautiful reasons Paddington imagined.

Without further words, Paddington left the office. Heather was about to enter, but Reubellina waved her away, needing time to think alone.

‘I don’t deserve such gratitude.’

She couldn’t claim to be Tartenon’s true family, so she couldn’t respond to Paddington’s heartfelt thanks.

“Tartenon Speraum…”

Reubellina tapped her desk with her index finger. Despite pondering deeply, she couldn’t reach a conclusion. She was someone who would eventually leave the North, and Tartenon would have to walk the path of the Grand Duke alone.

‘Can I really leave him behind?’

It had been a short time—three months since the wedding and her arrival in the North. Through various experience, she had grown closer to Tartenon. Reubellina couldn’t readily answer that she could leave behind everything she had built in the North.

She stood and looked out the window. The faces of the staff, much brighter now, the knights in clean uniforms, and the merchants carrying supplies.

She couldn’t take her eyes off the many people who came and went from Speraum. They all believed in her.

One of the staff who looked up at her slightly bowed. Reubellina nodded in acknowledgment. As he bowed, other staff members also noticed her and bowed. Many people bowed toward her. Reubellina felt the weight of their trust and expectations.

Touched by their sincerity, Reubellina nodded and stepped back. If she remained by the window, the servants wouldn’t be able to work properly.

‘Do I deserve such a greeting?’

She had started something she couldn’t see through to the end, and now she was thinking of leaving irresponsibly. How should she respond to the people who had shown her such genuine feelings?

“What do I want to do?”

She had done so much in the North. She had shaken the Northern social circles and abolished old traditions. She had introduced new trade groups to the North and led reforms. All of this had happened after Reubellina arrived here.

Three months had passed since then. The North was gradually improving. But as more time passed, she would have to leave this place.

She had to return to the capital and succeed the Duchy of Asillious. She had to leave the North and Tartenon behind.

‘Why am I having such pointless thoughts?’

Reubellina shook her head vigorously. Her head ornament fell with a clattering sound, but she didn’t care. There was still plenty of time left. There was no need to think about such things when she didn’t even fully understand Tartenon’s feelings.

“Tartenon thinks of me as…….”

‘What does he think?’

Reubellina bit her lip. She closed the window and stood there for a while.

As she was about to turn around, someone whispered in her ear.

“Why don’t you say more?”

She was startled but soon relieved. It was Tartenon.

‘I didn’t even hear him come in…….’

She was relieved. At least she hadn’t voiced her final thoughts. Reubellina managed to hide her bitter smile.

“What should I say?”

She turned with a bright smile, and Tartenon approached her more closely. The firmly closed window remained shut, and Reubellina leaned against it. Tartenon reached out to the window frame, trapping Reubellina in his arms.

“It would be nice if you shared the thoughts in that small head of yours.”

“Well, the usual stuff. How much money is left, if the budget is sufficient, things like that?”

“Is that really all?”

Tartenon’s voice resonated lowly. It was a sticky voice that made her whole body shiver.

‘What answer did he want? What kind of answer was he looking for from me to ask such things?’

“If not, then what?”

“I hoped you’d think of me.”

“Oh, of course, I’ve thought about the Grand Duke of the North too.”

Reubellina answered nonchalantly.

“How can I imprint the Grand Duke’s influence on the minds of the Northern people, things like that?”

“Not that.”

Tartenon rested his chin on Reubellina’s shoulder. His hair tickled her cheek. Rather than tickling, it made her whole body tremble. No, her heart pounded endlessly. From some point on, standing next to Tartenon always made her heart race.

‘What should I do? With these feelings.’

The excitement was brief, and worry came first. 

‘What should I do?’

She had never thought she would fall for someone she met through a contract. No, she didn’t want to think about it. She had only taken his hand because of Inferno.

And yet, she had fallen for someone else so easily.

She had liked him from the start because he had helped her. His occasional jokes, his stern personality, none of it was bad. Especially his actions to protect her, even though they were part of the contract, made her heart flutter.

‘It’s because it’s the first time I’ve received help from someone who isn’t family.’

Although there was Bruelin, she was in a position to pay him, so it was different from Tartenon. She had helped him, but compared to the kindness he had shown, it was a very small part. Reubellina had plenty of money, and Tartenon had people.

Reubellina’s philosophy was to repay kindness with kindness and malice with double the malice.

‘I still have a long way to go to repay what he did for me.’

“Was it that you wanted to see me or something?”

“Well, um…”

“Did you want to see me?”

“No, it’s not like that…”

“Not like that?”

Tartenon’s expression, with his eyes drooping, looked really sad. His face looked so gloomy, as if he was deeply hurt by my lack of consideration for him, that Reubellina was at a loss for words.

‘Why do I feel like I did something wrong?’

Reubellina fidgeted and couldn’t properly meet Tartenon’s eyes. Tartenon cupped Reubellina’s cheek, avoiding his eyes, and made her look at him. His blue eyes met her golden eyes. Somehow, this situation felt familiar. In this moment, with their eyes meeting while she was in his arms, Reubellina felt a sense of déjà vu.

“It’s not that…….”

“Your Grace! Urgent news……!”

Before Bruelin, who had burst through the door, could continue, Tartenon spoke.

“Are you abandoning me now?”

Reubellina’s eyes widened in surprise at Tartenon’s words.

‘Wh-What is he talking about?’

“Abandon? Her Grace abandoning His Grace the Grand Duke?”