Epilogue (Part 4)

“Heather!”

“Yes, Your Ladyship.”

“Let’s go to the training ground!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Reubellina, who boldly declared, was walking down the corridor to the training ground when she saw a familiar face in the distance. It was Verito.

‘Why is he always shirtless?’

Though he wore one, it wasn’t properly fastened. Verito’s chest, with his shirt fully open, was firm but nothing compared to Tartenon’s. Why should she give attention to such a chest when there was a better one?

Hiding her discomfort, Reubellina roughly gestured towards Verito, who bowed his head towards her.

“I have something to tell you.”

As Reubellina was about to pass by, Verito requested a conversation. She urgently needed to find Tartenon, but she instinctively felt that what Verito had to say could be a crucial hint of important information.

“What is it?” 

“Your Grace, I will never forget the kindness you have shown me. I plan to leave tonight. May I have the opportunity to bid you farewell?”

“You’re leaving tonight?”

“Yes. Being pursued, I cannot leave during the day.”

The exotically handsome man tilted his head. His eyebrows, lowered in apparent sorrow, trembled slightly, but they did nothing to stir Reubellina’s emotions. 

Instead, she thought of Tartenon’s blue eyes, filled with warmth as they looked down at her, and her cheeks reddened.

“Thank you for everything.”

“No need for thanks.”

Reubellina casually accepted Verito’s bow. Once he was gone, she quickly looked around.

“It felt like someone was watching….”

Heather sighed and rubbed her forehead at her murmuring.

Who else could emit such a palpable killing intent? In this castle, the only ones who could freely exude such an aura were assassins or Tartenon.

Meeting Tartenon’s terrifying gaze, she couldn’t even turn her eyes in that direction.

Hemil felt the same. Sensing Tartenon’s killing intent, he pretended not to notice and kept his focus on Reubellina. When her face suddenly turned red, the oppressive aura grew even stronger.

“Your Grace, weren’t you going to the training grounds?”

“I am.”

Reubellina quickened her pace. She knew, in her heart, that Tartenon wouldn’t be at the training grounds. But she wanted to see him so badly that she kept thinking as she walked.

‘Every time I go to the training grounds, he’s not there. That means he must have someone following me.’

In reality, it wasn’t someone else but Tartenon himself who was following her, but Reubellina didn’t know that.

Since the day Verito arrived, Tartenon had put aside his work and followed Reubellina everywhere.

Everyone knew about his obsessive gaze. Especially the knights who knew his personality well in Speraum Castle. They avoided encountering him because facing Tartenon, who exuded such killing intent, was quite burdensome.

Even now, Tartenon was hiding and watching the conversation between Verito and Reubellina.

‘Blushing?’

He acknowledged that Verito had a handsome face for a barbarian. Once cleaned, his face looked neat compared to when he was covered in dirt.

But that was all. Tartenon was confident that Reubellina, accustomed to his face, wouldn’t even glance at Verito. However, confidence was one thing, and feeling unpleasant was another.

Reubellina had avoided meeting Verito. When Tartenon distanced himself from her, she, being perceptive, kept her distance from Verito. She also suspected that Verito might be a spy from the barbarians.

But to use the excuse of a final farewell to appear in front of her and charm her?

Tartenon’s killing aura grew thicker than usual. Even though he heard Reubellina say she was going to the training grounds to find him, Tartenon’s mood didn’t improve.

He already knew through intelligence that Verito was the heir of the barbarians. He also knew that the reason he entered the castle was to seduce Reubellina. It would be strange not to know since he deliberately loitered in front of her.

Still, he waited because Reubellina seemed to have a plan, but his patience had reached its limit during the wait.

Tartenon bit his lips tightly. He had been biting his lips more frequently these days. Thinking that Reubellina would scold him for it, a faint smile appeared on Tartenon’s face. To others, it would seem terrifying as he went from a serious expression to smiling and then back to a grave look.

After Reubellina disappeared, Tartenon remained in place for a while, unable to hide his bitter smile. Just then, he felt a soft body jump into his arms.

“Found you!”

He had no choice but to catch the soft body that ran into him. And so, Tartenon embraced Reubellina.

***

As Reubellina headed towards the training grounds, she turned back and moved towards the hallway where she had met Verito.

“Where are you going, Your Grace?”

“Shh!”

Reubellina signaled Heather to be quiet, fearing Tartenon might run away if he heard a loud noise.

As expected, Tartenon was standing at the corner of the corridor she had passed. Seeing the sorrowful beauty, Reubellina ran and hugged him.

“Found you!”

Tartenon hesitated but naturally embraced her.

Reubellina buried her face in Tartenon’s broad chest, inhaling his scent deeply. She felt him squirm in surprise, but she clasped her hands tightly and didn’t let go.

Before Tartenon could say anything, Reubellina released her hold on his waist and wrapped her arms around his neck, planting a light kiss on his cheek.

The sound of kisses echoed through the corridor, causing Heather and Hemil to disappear quickly. Reubellina, having her fill of Tartenon, rubbed her face against his neck.

“Reubellina.”

“I think I know what you’re thinking, but don’t distance yourself from me.”

Tartenon’s arms wrapped around her waist.

“You think you know?”

“Yes.”

Reubellina whispered, her face still buried in his chest, and Tartenon couldn’t help but listen.

“You’re trying to show that barbarian that our relationship has become distant because of him. So, he can do as he pleases.”

“…”

As Tartenon remained silent, Reubellina continued.

“He said he’s leaving tonight, so we need to see what happens.”

“…That’s not it.”

Reubellina, who had been enjoying Tartenon’s scent, blinked at his response.

‘Not it?’

Unable to comprehend what she had just heard, Reubellina couldn’t lift her head for a while.

‘What does he mean?’

He wasn’t avoiding her to show something to the barbarian?

It took her a moment to process what she had heard. Finally, Reubellina lifted her head abruptly.

“Not it?”

“Yes.”

“So, you were really… avoiding me?”

“…Yes.”

Tartenon averted his eyes shyly. Seeing his bashful expression, Reubellina’s eyes slowly curved upwards. Before opening her tightly pursed lips, she thought once more. A true merchant never speaks hastily in the face of a crisis.

‘Why did Tartenon avoid me?’ 

Reubellina calmly recalled everything that had happened. She reached one conclusion.

‘Could he have been jealous?’

As soon as she reached that conclusion, the anger that had enveloped her body dissipated. The Grand Duke of the North, the fearsome silver knight of Speraum, was jealous because of a man approaching her! So, he avoided her!

‘How adorable!’

Swallowing the words she couldn’t say out loud, Reubellina looked up at Tartenon. Seeing the sorrowful emotion in his eyes, she couldn’t hold back any longer.

Reubellina grabbed Tartenon’s hand and pulled him along. If he wanted to, he could have easily shaken her off, but he followed her quietly, making her heart swell with affection.