Chapter 2 (Part 5)

On the desk, countless documents were neatly categorized and stacked, yet it gave off a strangely chaotic impression. This was due to the various ornaments and medicine bottles scattered at the edge of the desk.

Sellakia narrowed her eyes, trying to identify what they were.

The statue of a mermaid in the center. Carved from white marble, it was a common item for those living in a territory by the sea.

However, the arrangement of coral branches said to ward off misfortune, horseshoes to chase away ghosts, ladybugs for luck, and golden turtles symbolizing longevity was somewhat peculiar.

Aldrich, as if out of habit, stroked the back of a golden ladybug and chewed several pills without water. His thin lips trembled as he struggled to swallow the medicine.

“Then you don’t remember the will either?”

She was curious about how he would react if she revealed that she knew the will was forged. Would he faint?

But before Sellakia could satisfy her mischievous curiosity, Aldrich mumbled in a low voice.

“I’ve already burned that dreadful thing. It would be difficult to ascertain the truth from you.”

She nearly bit her tongue. Unconsciously, Sellakia looked up at Tenus. His face was as unaffected as someone who hadn’t secretly intercepted a fake will.

Was it a mistake not to inform her beforehand that he had taken the will from Aldrich, or was it arrogance, knowing it wouldn’t matter if caught? Judging by his unperturbed demeanor, it was undoubtedly the latter.

Sellakia managed her expression and feigned ignorance.

“A will? What will are you talking about? As I said, I don’t remember anything.”

“Well… what’s done is done. Let’s forget the past. What good would come of it…?”

Perhaps due to the effect of the medicine, Aldrich appeared slightly more stable as he sat back down. He remained silent for a long time, and Sellakia maintained her position closely beside Tenus.

After observing them for a while, Aldrich spoke cautiously, yet with a tone that clearly hinted at probing.

“Ahem. You two seem to be getting along very well.”

“Does that mean we didn’t seem so before? That couldn’t have been the case…”

Sellakia smiled shyly and discreetly nudged Tenus’s side with her elbow. A dull ache spread through her arm as if she had hit a rock.

In contrast, Tenus seemed unfazed, as if he didn’t even feel a tickle.

“Isn’t that right, Duke?”

She tried poking different spots, adjusting the angle, but the rock-like sensation remained unchanged. Fortunately, there was a result. Tenus, who had been passive all along, finally spoke up.

“Well, yes.”

His hand, lazily draped over the armrest, moved to his mouth. Sellakia noticed a slight hint of amusement in his voice, indicating he was suppressing laughter.

“Being close… that’s a good thing. Yes, a good thing indeed.”

Aldrich, seemingly oblivious to the obvious dubious smile, nodded with a darkened expression. Sellakia, aware of Aldrich’s apparent confusion, secretly glared at Tenus.

Under her piercing gaze, Tenus slowly wiped the smile from his face and spoke again.

“Since we’re on the topic, I’d like to spend some leisurely time with my wife for a while.”

“What?”

“…What?”

Both Aldrich and Sellakia, who had been maintaining a facade of calm, were taken aback.

Despite the two pairs of eyes fixed on him, Tenus remained unfazed.

“I’m saying I want to take a break from work for a few days.”

“That’s difficult, Tenus. Even now, your absence is causing disruptions.”

“I thought I had handled all the urgent matters.”

“That’s true, but… you know, don’t you? The work in the Duchy never ends.”

For some reason, Aldrich seemed to be pleading with Tenus.

Tenus’s status was indeed as expected. Given that Aldrich, the acting Duke, depended on him to this extent, it was safe to say that Tenus held the actual power in the Duchy.

“I won’t keep you long. In the morning, or the afternoon, whichever is convenient for you, please personally oversee and inspect the important tasks.”

“…”

“Isn’t it your territory, Tenus? Hmm?”

Listening indifferently to his uncle’s earnest plea, Tenus twisted his lips. A voice colder than the winter sea flowed from between his lips, which bore a somewhat sardonic smile.

“There’s no need to remind me. I’ve never once forgotten that obvious fact. When have I ever abandoned what belongs to Seidon?”

“Of course, you haven’t. That’s not what I meant…”

Aldrich took a handkerchief from his pocket and pressed it against his forehead to wipe away the cold sweat. Seeing his pitiful appearance, Tenus spoke as if doing him a favor.

“I’ll try to make time in the morning.”

“Th-thank you. That should be enough.”

“You’re welcome.”

Suddenly, Tenus wrapped his arm around Sellakia’s shoulder, who was leaning against him.

“I can’t just stand by and let flies swarm over what belongs to Seidon.”

The unexpected touch and the meaningful words he uttered were clear in their implication.

It was a warning.

Perhaps not entirely oblivious, Aldrich’s lips turned pale. He seemed about to offer some explanation, but Tenus didn’t give him a chance and continued speaking.

“As the mistress of Seidon, Sellakia should fulfill her duties, but let’s postpone managing the household for now.”

“…Managing the household?”

“Wasn’t Sellakia overseeing the family’s accounts?”

Aldrich’s shoulders flinched. In the heavy, sinking atmosphere, Sellakia didn’t miss his reaction.

“Ah, ah. Yes, she was. I was so out of it… Alright. I’ll handle that on my end.”

Aldrich, nodding his head frantically, looked somewhat servile.

Could this man really be the one who tried to kill her?

The indirect and timid plot of abandoning Sellakia at sea without resorting to murder seemed fitting for Aldrich.

If he were to see the mansion stained with blood or a horribly mutilated corpse, he would surely…

Ah.

For a moment, a gruesome image of herself covered in blood flashed in her mind. Sellakia shuddered.

While spending time alone, she had imagined all sorts of scenarios to stave off boredom, but she had never envisioned something so miserable and horrific.

A sudden, belated realization struck her like a heavy blow. She had been so caught up in the idea of leaving the past behind that she hadn’t fully grasped the reality.

She had truly experienced something harsh and terrifying.

“Well, if that’s all you have to say, we’ll be going now.”

A firm voice cut through her troubled thoughts. She felt a strong grip on her shoulder.

Tenus stood up, practically embracing her. As his solid, warm body enveloped her, she realized her body had been trembling with cold without her noticing.

She felt Aldrich’s persistent gaze on her back. This time, she couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes, so she didn’t turn around.

* * *

Back in her room, Sellakia lay on the bed for a while, staring blankly, before asking without looking at Tenus.

“Did I really manage the family’s accounts?”

“That’s what they say.”

Tenus’s voice came from a distance. The rustling sound of paper suggested he was looking at documents again.

It was clear that telling Aldrich he wouldn’t work was a complete lie. Tenus was a more diligent successor to the Duke than he appeared. Even while watching over Sellakia, he never neglected his work.

“Who says so?”

“Aldrich and the maid who was assigned to you.”

Amy again. Did the other servants not add to their baseless testimonies?

There was no way anyone would entrust such important work to a mere figurehead of a Duchess.

Though she felt stifled, Sellakia decided not to delve into the truth. The past, which she couldn’t speak of, didn’t matter to her as she focused only on the future where she would leave.

She could endure the fear and anger that made her tremble. Thinking about leaving everything behind soon made everything seem alright.