Chapter 6 (Part 6)

“It would have been nice if we could have enjoyed such times together in Lensch too.”  

“It’s not too late now. We’ll have plenty of time ahead of us.”  

Chester, fixing his gaze vaguely around Sellakia’s shoulder, added,  

“You look well, which is a relief. I’ve been worried ever since we parted like that before.”  

“Do I look well?”  

“Life in the Ducal household must be good. Isn’t it?”

“Don’t even get me started.”  

Sellakia pursed her lips and muttered complaints she hadn’t shared with anyone.  

“I’ve been so busy I haven’t had a moment to breathe these past few days. I’ve been put in charge of managing the Ducal household ledger, and it’s enormous. Plus, there’s a banquet coming up soon, and preparing for that isn’t easy either. Managing the household affairs is more challenging than I thought.”  

“For someone who says that, you seem to be in a very good mood.”

“…Is it obvious?”  

Sellakia laughed awkwardly.  

“Since it’s my first time doing something like this, I guess I’m a bit excited.”  

Though she never mentioned it, she had always felt a tinge of envy when Chester took over the family’s business as an adult. For Sellakia, who couldn’t even function properly as a person, let alone contribute to the family, it felt like Chester had suddenly become an adult, leaving her feeling slightly abandoned and betrayed.  

“You…”  

Still, she had congratulated Chester with a smile. Chester would have done the same if the roles were reversed.  

But now, the Chester in front of her didn’t look like he was going to congratulate or encourage her. He seemed deeply confused and lowered his voice to ask,  

“Have you changed your mind about leaving the Seidon family?”  

Sellakia couldn’t answer immediately.  

And realizing that, she frowned and consciously uttered,  

“No, it’s not like that. I still intend to leave.”  

“Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not asking because I want you to leave the Seidon family.”  

“…Do you not want me to leave Seidon?”  

“Sella, what’s important to me, no, to us, isn’t that.”  

Chester, meeting her gaze for the first time since they met today, spoke firmly.  

“As long as you’re happy. Wherever you are. Beside whoever you’re with. What does the place matter?”  

His words were sincere, evident from the warmth in his eyes. Sellakia felt relieved and almost let out the pent-up sorrow she had kept tightly sealed.  

Chester, I found out about Aldrich’s vile nature. It’s horrifying. I don’t understand why Amy is hostile towards me. I’m angry at myself for being an inadequate hostess. I miss Mother and Father so much. What does Roberta think of me? Just an employer who pays her? Is Nancy’s loyalty genuine? What are Tenus’s true intentions?  

“……”  

There were no words worth extracting from the tumultuous emotions swirling inside her. She didn’t want to show Chester even a fragment of her negative feelings.  

Fearing that the perceptive Chester might notice her inner turmoil, Sellakia lowered her gloomy eyes.

Chester, observing her, cautiously spoke.  

“Is he treating you well? The Duke of Seidon… no, the Young Duke, I mean.”  

Remembering the last time Tenus had caught him by the tongue, Chester quickly corrected himself. Having just thought of Tenus, Sellakia shook her head in surprise.

“Well, um. Sort of, but not really. It’s a bit complicated to explain. Tenus is a bit strange.”

“Strange how?”  

“I’m not sure if he’s being nice or not.”  

“How can you not know? You can tell by his actions.”  

“Tenus’s expressions, words, and actions are all different. I haven’t met many people, but I’ve never seen anyone like him in my life.”  

Chester blinked, seemingly not understanding what she meant.  

If she explained everything that had happened, he would immediately agree.  

Applying ointment to her hand with a disdainful look, holding an umbrella for her despite disliking contact, arrogantly scolding her for harming herself, and then at night…  

There were endless stories she could tell until the sun set and the canal was shrouded in darkness.  

As she hesitated, wondering whether to speak or not, Chester, watching the passing scenery, asked,  

“You’re using separate rooms, right?”

“No, we’re sharing one. It’s better to appear as a harmonious couple for now.”

“What?”  

Chester’s eyes widened in shock and surprise at her nonchalant answer.  

“You’re sleeping together?!”

His voice grew louder, seeming to pierce through the music and reach the back. Sellakia instinctively turned her head.  

A little distance away, Roberta was frowning deeply. Sellakia’s heart skipped a beat, feeling guilty. But upon closer inspection, Roberta was glaring irritably at the orchestra. The grand melody reaching its climax seemed to bother her. She didn’t seem to have overheard their conversation.

“Madam, what’s wrong?”  

Surprisingly, the person keenly observing Sellakia’s movements was Nancy. Nancy, precariously perched on the edge of the boat, leaned her upper body toward Sellakia.  

“It’s nothing, Nancy. Please sit still, it’s dangerous.”  

“Pardon? I can’t hear you well, Madam.”  

Nancy shouted, cupping her hands around her mouth. Fortunately, Nancy also seemed not to have heard the conversation. Sellakia smiled and responded with a hand gesture, then quickly soothed Chester.  

“I know what you’re worried about, Chester. But it’s really unnecessary. Do you know how Tenus looks at me?”  

Being inexperienced in relationships didn’t mean she was naive. Sellakia had a world she had seen and heard through books and tutors. She knew well the need to be cautious and wary of the opposite s*x.  

However, sharing a bed with Tenus was an exception. Strangely, it didn’t make her feel any sense of danger. Her relationship with Tenus was so healthy it was dry. The fact that she slept soundly every day without even being aware of Tenus’s presence was proof of that.  

“If you knew how Tenus looks at me, you wouldn’t worry at all. That man probably wouldn’t…”  

Even if I were stark n*ked, he wouldn’t touch me and would only throw a contemptuous glance.  

Sellakia hesitated and swallowed the rest of her words. It didn’t seem like something to boast about, regardless of her certainty. Above all, she wasn’t confident she could laugh cheerfully after saying it.  

“Sellakia Lensch, you know nothing about men.”  

Chester sighed deeply. It was such a heavy sigh that she worried it might bore a hole in the canoe’s bottom.  

“Or maybe, you know nothing about yourself.”  

“Who knows me better than I do?”  

“You’re an utter fool.”

“What?”  

Sellakia glared at Chester. Utter fool? Unable to hold back at the insult to her pride, she flicked the oar.  

Droplets of water splashed from the tip of the oar and rained down on Chester.  

“Oh my!”

Feigning surprise at her mistake, Sellakia jumped to her feet. The canoe wobbled with the sudden movement. Chester, startled, flailed his arms and dipped his hand into the canal.  

Meanwhile, Sellakia maintained her balance admirably, standing tall on both feet, looking down at Chester. Though she tensed her shoulders to avoid attracting attention from behind, her upper body trembled faintly with laughter.  

“Don’t mess with an utter fool, Chester Pyregen.”  

Sellakia elegantly sat down, not a drop of water on her.  

Chester, brushing off the moisture clinging to his hair and clothes, burst into laughter. It was a neat smile, devoid of any trace of irritation.  

“If you treated others like this, I’d never have to worry about you for the rest of my life. Still, I’m glad you seem more spirited than when I last saw you.”  

A wet handsome man was not unsightly; rather, he gleamed more brightly in the sunlight, catching the eye. It was enough to soften her slightly prickly heart.  

Sellakia let the canoe drift as it pleased, resting her chin on her hand, and gazed at Chester as if admiring him.

“Hey, Chester.”  

The small talk had gone on long enough. It was time to convey the main purpose of today’s meeting.  

“Starting tomorrow, the Seidon Duke’s household will hold a vassal meeting. In three days, there’ll be a banquet to welcome me. Tenus told me to invite close acquaintances.”

“In three days?”  

Chester seemed to be calculating the schedule in his head and then nodded.  

“If it’s in the evening three days from now, I can make time.”  

“No. You shouldn’t come.”  

“What do you mean? I’m closer to you than anyone else, and you’re telling me not to come?”  

“Because it’s you, you can’t. I intend to pretend I’ve completely forgotten about you. When I’m gone someday, Tenus will question you first. There’s no need to provoke suspicion by showing how close we are.”

“Still…”  

Sellakia shook her head firmly.  

“Do as I say, Chester. Okay? It’s better for all of us.”  

Chester pressed his lips together in dissatisfaction instead of answering. Sellakia, knowing Chester didn’t particularly like banquets, was slightly taken aback. She thought he would be relieved, not disappointed.

Was he curious about the famous Seidon Duke’s banquet? 

Sellakia thought she’d have to vividly recount the events of the banquet to him later and cautiously brought up the next topic.  

“And there’s another favor I need to ask… can you arrange a ship and a fake identity for me?”