Chapter 3 (Part 6)

After listening to Nancy’s tales for a while, the door to the reception room opened. Only Roberta entered. Tenus was absent. 

He had finally decided to leave me alone!

Sellakia greeted Roberta with a face that couldn’t hide her joy. Nancy also left the reception room with an excited face, saying she would bring tea.

“Did you have a good talk with Tenus?”

“Yes, well…”

However, Roberta’s expression was somewhat reluctant.

Did Tenus pressure her to change her mind? 

Sellakia resolved to hold onto her no matter what. Having successfully recruited Nancy, her confidence soared.

“You don’t look very pleased. Is my sudden request making you uncomfortable?”

“No, that’s not it. Please don’t misunderstand. It’s just. Ugh.”

Roberta groaned in distress and began to ruffle her own hair. Her hair, which was already somewhat loosely tied, became half undone and disheveled.

With that appearance, Roberta had a rather serious expression.

“I want to make something clear.”

Roberta asked in a solemn tone.

“Is the person I should serve as my lord you, Madam, or the Young Master of Seidon?”

Sellakia, who had been listening with her back straight and tense, suddenly felt relieved. It seemed Roberta’s distress wasn’t because of Sellakia but rather due to some troublesome demand from Tenus.

For instance, reporting Sellakia’s daily activities to him in detail.

That was something she had anticipated. From the start, Sellakia had no intention of making Roberta her confidante. It was enough that she had no connection with Aldrich.

Sellakia answered without hesitation.

“Of course, it’s Tenus.”

Roberta blinked slowly, as if surprised. Sellakia smiled and kindly added.

“Please prioritize his words. As for the promised payment, I’ll ensure it’s provided without any issues, so don’t worry.”

“Hmm. Well. Matters between a couple aren’t something even a guard knight should interfere with. A husband’s jealousy isn’t something that should pose a problem for you, Madam…”

“…Pardon?”

Sellakia asked, not understanding half of what Roberta mumbled. Instead of explaining, Roberta gave a refreshing smile.

“I will serve you with loyalty from now on, Madam.”

“…Yes. I look forward to working with you, Sir Belfona.”

Pushing aside the slight unease, Sellakia happily accepted her greeting.

It was no problem if every move she made reached Tenus’s ears.

After all, there was nothing Sellakia could do until Tenus ascended to the Dukedom. Now was the time to crouch to leap forward.

Though lazy gazes might fall upon her as she spent her days like an idle turtle, it was not something she needed to concern herself with.

“Madam. I’ve brought the tea.”

Nancy, who had gone to the kitchen, returned with a teacup. Contrary to her earlier complaints about not knowing how to do anything, the tea’s color, resembling autumn leaves, was quite impressive.

“What kind of tea is this?”

“It’s a herb tea called Dakine from the southern region of Earl Pyregen’s territory. It’s the only tea I’m familiar with, so I brought it… Do you not like it? Should I bring something else?”

“No, it has a nice aroma. But, Earl Pyregen’s territory?”

“Yes. That’s where I’m from.”

Nancy’s hometown being Earl Pyregen’s territory meant it was under the domain of the Chester family. It was also a place Sellakia often visited as a child. Suddenly, Nancy felt like a fellow countrywoman.

“The tea tastes good, Nancy. Thank you.”

Hehe, Nancy smiled proudly and stepped back into the corner, as if to say she wouldn’t disturb them.

Savoring the tea, Sellakia glanced around the reception room. Her lips involuntarily curled up. The immense presence that had filled her view for so long was gone, and she couldn’t be more satisfied.

* * *

Once Tenus stepped away from Sellakia’s side, he now acted as if he had completely forgotten her existence. The days when he wouldn’t leave her side even for a moment seemed like a lie.

Sellakia, who went to bed early and woke up late, didn’t even notice Tenus’s comings and goings in the bedroom. He seemed to spend all day holed up in the office, and like Sellakia, who ate in her room, he seemed to have his meals there too.

It was unclear whether Sellakia was avoiding Tenus or Tenus was avoiding her.

Sellakia fervently hoped that a month would pass in a flash without having to face Tenus. At this rate, even if she packed her bags and leisurely walked out the front gate of the Ducal residence, Tenus wouldn’t even glance at her.

“Madam?”

“Are you not going in?”

Yes, Sellakia really didn’t want to face Tenus. She had come all the way to his office but was just staring blankly at the doorknob.

“Should I knock?”

“No, wait. I’ll do it.”

Stopping Nancy, who was about to knock hastily, Sellakia hesitated. Roberta and Nancy looked at her curiously. Sellakia mumbled as if making an excuse.

“I’m just organizing my thoughts before going in. I shouldn’t take up too much of a busy person’s time.”

There was no other way. What she needed was with the man beyond this grand door.

Yesterday, she had thoroughly searched the Duchess’s bedroom under the pretense of looking for memories. Nothing came out of it.

Nancy, who hadn’t been at the Ducal residence for long, knew nothing, and when she asked a familiar passing maid, she answered with her head bowed that Tenus had personally organized all of Sellakia’s modest belongings.

Of all people, he had to be the one to handle her things.

Sellakia clenched her fist with a bit of indignation. The sound of her knocking was loud.

“Come in.”

Inside, it was someone else’s voice, not Tenus’s.

“I’ll go in alone, Nancy. Please wait a moment, Sir Belfona.”

Leaving Nancy and Roberta outside the office, Sellakia entered alone.

Tenus’s office was twice as large as Aldrich’s. It was a clear indication of who the real owner of this mansion was.

The location was excellent, with a wide window at the front providing good lighting and a view of the Ducal garden. The ebony desk placed in front of it was so large that it exuded a sense of majesty, and Tenus, sitting leisurely there, looked quite dignified, like the head of a family. He seemed like a completely different person from just a short while ago when he leisurely kept by her side.

From the moment Sellakia opened the door and entered, Tenus’s gaze never left her. When she closed the door behind her, his eyebrows visibly furrowed. It wasn’t hard to understand what that meant.

“Sir Belfona and Nancy are right outside.”

Do I have to report even trivial things like this?

Sellakia felt a slight sense of self-reproach as she approached him.

Next to Tenus stood a tall man holding documents. His delicate appearance, with jet-black hair and silver-framed glasses, was familiar.

“Greetings, Madam.”

“…You’re the one I met at the hut.”

“I am Dominic Shaike, assisting the Duke. Please call me Dominic.”

With that, he prepared to leave. Sellakia hurriedly waved her hand.

“You can stay. I won’t be long.”

“Feel free to speak, Madam.”

“Ah, then…”

As Sellakia was about to return his friendly smile awkwardly, Tenus coldly interrupted.

“Leave.”

For a moment, Sellakia thought the command was directed at her. However, Tenus’s gaze was solely on Dominic.

Without questioning the harsh order, Dominic left the room after a polite bow. As if the chilling atmosphere had nothing to do with him, Tenus muttered.

“I didn’t expect you to come first. You don’t particularly like seeing my face, do you?”

You’re no different.

Sellakia was about to retort cheekily, but upon looking directly at Tenus’s face, she found herself at a loss for words. His face, which she hadn’t seen in quite some time, actually just three days, looked very tired.

Is the work too much for him? 

Sellakia glanced over his desk. There were several thick piles of documents, almost like a mountain. The topmost page, though clearly written in the Imperial language, was filled with sentences she couldn’t decipher.

The only recognizable writing was Aldrich’s signature at the very bottom. The ink on Aldrich’s signature seemed fresh, as if it had just been written.

The ink-stained quill placed right next to it indicated that Tenus had written it.

“……”

All the men in this household are forgers.

Since Tenus hadn’t yet officially inherited the title, he would have no choice but to use Aldrich’s name, acting as the Duke’s representative, to manage official affairs. Even understanding this situation, Sellakia’s expression soured due to her own past experience of having her signature forged.

Hastily, she brought up her business to wrap up the conversation.

“The maids said you have my belongings, so I came to get them.”

Tenus didn’t reply. Instead, he just kept staring at Sellakia’s face. His gaze was different from usual. It wasn’t cold or piercing, making it hard to discern its meaning.

“…What’s wrong?”

Had it been the usual look of disdain, she could have responded with familiarity. But the neutral, deep gaze devoid of negative emotions was even harder to handle.

Unable to bear it, Sellakia subtly turned her head to avoid his gaze. She could still feel his intense stare on her profile.

“Why do you want your belongings? Have your memories returned?”