Chapter 7 (Part 2)

As Sellakia let out a weary sigh, Tenus gestured toward the door with his chin.  

“It’s the last one.”  

Sellakia gathered her strength and composed herself. There was only one vassal she hadn’t yet greeted.  

Countess Sov.  

Sellakia had been looking forward to meeting her.  

Countess Sov approached them calmly and greeted them. Just as in the portrait, her neat bobbed hair and intelligent golden eyes were impressive. She appeared to be around Sellakia’s age. 

“I greet the two masters of Seidon. Duchess, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Raisa, the Countess of Sov.”  

Countess Sov’s greeting felt so plain it was almost dry. There was no particular hostility, but after receiving only friendly greetings, the contrast felt especially stark.  

Sellakia, who secretly harbored goodwill towards her, greeted her more energetically than she did other vassals.  

“Nice to meet you, Countess Sov. Did you come alone? Hearing about the banquet, all the other vassals brought their families.”  

“My mother has difficulty moving, so I came with my younger sibling. My sibling… please forgive the rudeness. She had to move to the quarters first. She was feeling a bit unwell.”

Countess Sov seemed to have no talent for lying. Anyone who saw her sour expression could easily guess the backstory—that her sibling wasn’t physically unwell but uncomfortable about meeting Sellakia.  

It seemed oddly peaceful until now. Her heart, which had been irregular with tension, began to race with anticipation for the moment she had been preparing for. This was exactly the reaction Sellakia had expected.  

She suddenly wanted to meet Countess Sov’s sibling, whom she had never seen before.  

“The journey must have been tiring. It’s no wonder you’re feeling worn out. Please rest comfortably.”  

Countess Sov looked at Sellakia, whose face had somehow become more relaxed, with a puzzled expression. However, after leaving only a formal thank you, she turned her gaze to Tenus without any particular interest.  

“Then, Duke, will you start the meeting right away?”  

“I’ll be going soon.”  

“I’ll tell them to prepare.”  

Countess Sov bowed her head in greeting and walked toward the conference hall.  

Sellakia widened her eyes at the prompt schedule.  

“Are you having the meeting right away? Without giving them time to rest from the journey?”  

“The schedule is tight if we want to finish the meetings in four days.”  

Tenus replied as if it were obvious and added,  

“The vassals’ families won’t enter the main castle unless necessary, so feel free to relax.”  

“Okay. ……Take care.”  

Feeling awkward about resting alone, Sellakia offered an awkward farewell. Tenus looked slightly dazed, as if he had heard something unexpected.  

“Why, why are you looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong?”  

Instead of answering, Tenus just stared at Sellakia. It was as if he had never tried to avoid her gaze before, but now he looked at her as if he would forever.  

His eyes were undoubtedly cold, but her face flushed with heat. Unable to bear it, Sellakia averted her gaze, hoping he wouldn’t notice her burning ears.  

“I’ll try to take care.”  

Tenus gave an odd reply in a hoarse voice and didn’t move. Only after a long moment did he stride away with large steps.  

Unlike Sellakia, who was exhausted just from receiving greetings, Tenus’s steps were energetic and lively, as if he had just woken up.  

“……I should get to work too.”  

Feeling a twinge of conscience, Sellakia turned away from returning to her room and headed to the Duchess’s office. She intended to review the ledgers a bit more.  

Much time had passed. Just as her head was filled with numbers and her neck began to stiffen, there was a knock at the door.  

“Madam. The young lady Sov wishes to see you.”  

“Young Lady Sov?”  

“Yes. She’s waiting in the drawing room.”  

At the familiar maid’s message, Sellakia twirled the pen in her left hand.  

“I’ll be there soon. Please serve her tea and ask her to wait a little.”  

“Yes, Madam.”  

Sellakia had no expectation that Lady Sov had come to apologize for skipping the greeting earlier. She was now confident that the scene she had anticipated was about to unfold.

* * *

Sellakia took a deep breath and flung open the door to the drawing room. She had considered various possibilities.  

She deliberately waited until the tea had cooled sufficiently, just in case it got spilled on her.  

She also thought about bringing a dagger in case a hand flew at her cheek… but decided to trust her reflexes.  

And then…  

While she was haphazardly preparing countermeasures, Sellakia met eyes with the person calmly sitting in the drawing room. At the same time, her complicated mind went blank.  

“Hello, Duchess. I’m Lashley from the House of Sov.”

There was no flaw in the posture of holding her dress and curtsying. Sellakia forgot about any rudeness and scanned Lashley from her round head to the hem of her skirt, which hid her small feet.  

It took less than a second to take in the figure.  

“I’ll get straight to the point. Please break up with the Duke.”  

Despite the polite greeting, Lashley went straight to the point without any preamble. Sellakia touched her dizzy head and sank into a chair. It wasn’t because she was surprised by the bold words.  

“Lady Lashley, if you don’t mind my asking, did you come to see me alone?”

“Yes.”  

“The words you just said, are they a message from Countess Sov?”  

“No. The Countess doesn’t even know I’m meeting you separately. I’m here to convey my own intentions.”  

Hmm. Sellakia swallowed a sigh. Lashley sat across from her and raised her eyes sharply.  

But it wasn’t threatening at all, not one bit.  

While it was an expected situation, not in this manner.  

A large ribbon adorably decorated her head.  

Her chubby cheeks were like peaches.  

Her legs dangled in the air, not reaching the floor…  

In other words, she hadn’t imagined hearing such words from a child who looked less than ten years old.  

“Please return my prince to me.”  

“Prince? Are you talking about the Crown Prince of the Empire?”  

As if mocking Sellakia, who clung to a sliver of hope, Lashley finally spoke the name.  

“What are you talking about? I’m not interested in the Crown Prince. My prince is none other than Duke Tenus Seidon.”  

“Ah. I see. Alright, Lady Lashley of House Sov. I’d like to hear the reason why you’re telling me this.”  

“What other reason could there be? Duke Tenus Seidon must marry me. I’m his destined partner.”  

“……Are you aware of Tenus’s age, Lady?”

At the cautious question, Lashley’s chubby cheeks puffed up as if her weakness had been poked. Her posture with crossed arms looked quite stubborn.  

“What does age matter? Time flies quickly. Just like you, I’ll soon be of age.”  

“Of course, that’s true. And Tenus will also age. Time is fair to everyone.”  

“Even if he ages, a prince is still a prince.”  

“An old prince, well, if he’s a prince, he’s still a prince.”  

Despite Sellakia’s skeptical words, Lashley didn’t waver. Instead, she lightly countered, as if she had expected such an attack.  

“Haven’t you ever heard that age is just a number?”  

“How could I not? It’s a saying I fully resonate with. I believe you’ll understand its meaning even better when you become an adult with a proper value system.”  

“Hmph. Don’t try to make me give up with your fancy words. Anyway, the Duke feels the same way as I do.”  

“What?”  

Sellakia, who had been lightly continuing the exchange, was visibly shaken for the first time. Lashley, sensing her advantage, became more assertive. The child’s rosy cheeks swelled with pride.  

“Yes. He was originally supposed to marry me!”  

Sellakia, who had believed without a doubt that it was a one-sided feeling stemming from childishness, felt like she had been struck in the back of the head.  

She could clearly hear the sighs from Roberta and Nancy, who stood like still life against the wall.  

The only one excited in this space was Lashley.  

“Would you believe me if I showed you the marriage proposal addressed to me?”  

Lashley took an envelope from her cat-faced handbag. Her touch was cautious, as if handling a treasure. Sellakia looked down at the small white hand approaching her and took the envelope.  

The crest of a surging sea serpent above two crossed tridents.  

The luxurious paper with a subtle blue hue and its unique smooth texture.  

It was an eerily familiar envelope.  

“Duke Tenus Seidon is my prince. I’ve never seen anyone as perfectly handsome as him. Moreover, he’s dignified and mature…”  

“Being mature is only natural. He’s actually an adult, so it would be strange if he weren’t.”  

Even while confirming Lashley Sov’s name clearly written on the marriage proposal, Sellakia didn’t forget to counter the child’s words.