Chapter 4 (Part 3)

Sellakia took out the bracelet and dagger she had carefully stored there.

“Are you going to wear this bracelet?”

“Yes. My mother gave it to me.”

“Wow. I’ve never seen pearls with such a beautiful color before. And there are four strands… How many are there? It must be very expensive, Madam!”

These are Linoche pearls, a specialty of Viscount Lensch’s territory.

Sellakia resisted the urge to boast and put on the bracelet. The bracelet her mother gave her served as a kind of amulet to help calm her mind and body.

Looking at the bracelet, which hadn’t lost its sparkle over the years, flooded her with memories of her childhood—when she was happy, knowing nothing but love, with her parents.

The sense of reality faded, and she became deeply immersed in nostalgia. The feeling of the bracelet around her wrist felt like the tender touch of her parents.

Sellakia, lost in melancholy, fiddled with the bracelet. Nancy, who was beside her, noticed the dagger belatedly and asked.

“But why did you take out this dagger?”

Ah.

That short question shattered the sweet reminiscence. Feeling tossed back into the cold reality, Sellakia lowered her hand into the layers of the dress’s ruffles and smiled.

“The dagger, well, I might need it.”

Roberta, who had been listless while watching Sellakia dress up, suddenly changed when she noticed the dagger.

As Sellakia showed the sword to Roberta and chatted for a while, time flew by.

“The sun has already set quite a bit. It’s almost time for the banquet.”

“Indeed.”

As she discreetly moved the dagger out of Roberta’s sight, Sellakia glanced nervously at the door. The door to the bedroom opened at that moment. It was Tenus, whom she had been waiting for.

Tenus, who entered while rubbing the back of his neck tiredly, paused when he saw Sellakia sitting on the bed.

His usually languid eyes opened wide, revealing his dark blue pupils.

“What are you doing?”

Seeing his wife dressed up for once, he asked what she was doing. Sellakia opened her eyes slightly in annoyance, then relaxed her expression and nodded haughtily.

“I dressed appropriately for the banquet. Thanks for the compliment.”

Tenus, without taking his eyes off her, gestured for Nancy and Roberta to leave.

Roberta, seemingly excited about rushing to the training ground, was smiling widely. It was the first time she had seen her smile so broadly.

Nancy was also grinning, but it was hard to understand why she was smiling when she had to go down to the banquet hall without a break.

As soon as the door closed, Tenus sighed.

“Are you planning to use your charms on Aldrich?”

“Don’t be sarcastic. I know I’m not pretty enough to make him forget his murderous intent.”

Nancy had praised her to the point of blushing, and Roberta had nodded in agreement, but she wasn’t so swayed by flattery that she couldn’t make an objective assessment.

“After all, to hide the poison inside, you must adorn the outside lavishly.”

“Are you planning to poison Aldrich or something?”

“Don’t say such terrible things. It just means I won’t sit idly by.”

“For someone who is so wary of Aldrich, I don’t understand why you don’t plan to expose his misdeeds.”

Tenus, looking frustrated, unbuttoned the top of his neat uniform.

He always dressed impeccably when attending to official duties, so there seemed to be no need for him to adjust his attire.

Instead of answering, Sellakia urged Tenus.

“By the way, when are we going down? Isn’t it time to go?”

“…Just a moment.”

Tenus suddenly disappeared into the room connected to the bedroom. When he returned, his outfit had changed.

His previously plain jacket without any patterns had been replaced by a splendid ballroom suit. He was wearing an expensive-looking cravat and cuff buttons.

Sellakia widened her eyes and looked at the man who appeared with an already handsome face now glowing with an aura.

“Why are you so surprised? Coordinating outfits with your partner is basic etiquette.”

“…Etiquette, my foot. You’re actually planning to use your charms, aren’t you? Trying to enchant your uncle?”

“What?”

Even his frown somehow looked different than usual.

“…Never mind. Let’s pretend I didn’t say anything.”

Sellakia turned away from Tenus and stood up quickly. Instinctively, she felt there was nothing good about facing him for too long. Facing Aldrich seemed preferable.

Unlike when she was leisurely seated, Sellakia moved quickly, and Tenus followed her at a relaxed pace.

At some point, Tenus overtook Sellakia and reached the bedroom door first. Just before opening the door, he advised her.

“Don’t bother with unnecessary things and just focus on eating.”

It was quite the husband-like remark.

Whether it was sympathy, a sense of responsibility, or perhaps a wave-like whimsy, she wasn’t sure. But the feeling of being slightly elevated in status compared to when she was coldly rejected on their wedding night wasn’t so bad.

Perhaps that’s why, even though the potentially treacherous moment was right in front of her, she wasn’t worried.

* * *

All the way to the banquet hall, the surprised gazes of the servants followed them. 

Was my attire too excessive after all?

It was fortunate that Tenus had changed his clothes as well; otherwise, it would have been even more embarrassing.

“We’re a bit late.”

Aldrich was already in the banquet hall. He seemed taken aback when he saw Sellakia and Tenus, who were dressed as if they had coordinated their outfits.

“Welcome.”

Sellakia shifted her eyes noticeably at the greeting.

Why on earth does Aldrich want to kill me? And why does he get so restless when I pretend to be close to Tenus?

Sellakia narrowed her eyes and sat down as Tenus escorted her. Her seat was directly opposite Aldrich. Tenus took the seat of honor.

“Thank you for suggesting the banquet. I didn’t expect you to arrange such an event.”

“Ahem. It’s not a difficult thing. Enough with the pleasantries.”

Aldrich, hiding his true feelings, awkwardly raised the corners of his mouth in response to Sellakia’s smile.

On the surface, the atmosphere seemed somewhat cordial. Tenus, who didn’t intend to join in the strange harmony, simply instructed for the food to be served without saying much.

Soon, the attendants brought out the food. It started with bite-sized amuse-bouche.

Scallops with a tangy fruit sauce topped with caviar, and chilled abalone with chorizo.

The presentation was appetizing and visually pleasing, but Sellakia felt no excitement. She couldn’t completely shake off her suspicions.

Was there really no poison?

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Tenus’s assurance, but she couldn’t let her guard down.

Sellakia nibbled at the food just enough to avoid being poisoned, if it wasn’t a lethal poison. She didn’t touch the wine that was served alongside the food.

“Does the food suit your taste? I told my chef to pay special attention.”

“…”

“…Sellakia?”

“Yes? Oh. Yes. It’s so delicious that I couldn’t even think to answer.”

Sellakia shamelessly answered while cutting the scallop, which was originally bite-sized, into grain-sized pieces. Her hand showed no sign of picking up the fork, just busy with the knife, which caught Tenus’s attention.

Tenus asked in a rather gentle tone.

“Are you nervous? Why don’t you eat comfortably?”

The way he spoke was quite kind. However, the gaze from Aldrich, which was fundamentally different, was hard to ignore. It seemed as if he was sternly implying that she should not think of getting up without finishing her plate.

From Tenus, who sat at the head of the table, an overwhelming aura that was hard to resist emanated.

“……Yes. If Your Grace says so.”

Sellakia, not forgetting to smile to appear friendly, reluctantly closed her eyes and stuffed the remaining food into her mouth.

And the moment the food touched her tongue, Sellakia’s eyes widened.

“Why? Doesn’t it suit your taste?”

“No, it reminds me of the food I had back home. But the taste is certainly superior. The chef must be very skilled.”

The taste was so exhilarating that it made her forget her fears of being poisoned.