Chapter 7 (Part 3)

There was a time when early marriages were common in the Empire. It was a time even before the era when Sellakia’s grandparents lived. But currently, the Empire strictly prohibited the marriage of minors.  

That didn’t mean they oppressed marriages with a significant age difference. Sellakia wasn’t biased either. After all, her mother and father also had a considerable age gap.  

Her mother was about seven years older… Sellakia counted on her fingers and shook her head. They had met after becoming adults, so their situation was distinctly different from Tenus and Lashley’s.  

“This crazy…”  

Sellakia muttered a curse under her breath so Lashley wouldn’t hear.  

What on earth did they do to this little child?  

Tenus’s impression, which had been gradually rising lately, plummeted to the ground.  

The strategy she had prepared for a similar situation became useless in an instant.  

Sellakia had thought that if someone threatened her like this, she would hint at waiting just one more month. She even had the absurd dream of forming an advantageous alliance with the opponent.  

“Lady Sov. Pardon the impertinent question, but may I ask your age?”  

“I just had my ninth birthday party. In nine more years, I’ll be of marriageable age too.”  

“You need to live exactly as long as you’ve lived so far.”  

“Nine years will pass quickly!”  

Sellakia couldn’t agree with that. For her, even a month felt long; nine years seemed like eternity.  

It seemed she would have to temporarily shelve her ambitious plan to involve the other party. Sellakia decided to focus on persuading the little girl in front of her.  

“From another perspective, what you just said means you have nine years to look around at various men. So there’s no need to find a groom already, is there?”  

“The boys around me are all boring. I don’t see anyone like Duke Seidon anywhere. Have you ever seen anyone more handsome than the Duke?”  

For once, a rebuttal didn’t come out immediately. Sellakia rolled her eyes and reluctantly acknowledged part of it.  

“A man’s appearance is indeed very important. Of course. But that doesn’t mean you should overlook other aspects, Lady.”  

“There’s no one in this Empire, except the Imperial Family, who can match the honor and wealth of the Seidon family.”  

“I believe a person’s inner self is the most important thing above all.”  

Though it was a pointed comment, Lashley only looked as if she wanted to pick her ears.  

“Why do all adults say the same boring things?”  

Despite her soft face that looked like it would squish if poked, Lashley’s mindset was quite firm. It seemed she wouldn’t be persuaded at all.  

Naturally, the arrow of resentment turned to Tenus. She couldn’t understand what he was thinking, putting such nonsense into a budding sprout.  

Is he really a crazy pervert?  

While she was making a reasonable assumption, there was a sudden urgent knock. When Roberta opened the door, Countess Sov entered the drawing room with a fierce momentum.  

“Lashley Sov!”  

At the thunderous voice, Lashley’s small body half-rose from her seat. Countess Sov grabbed her wrist as if to drag her out, with eyes blazing. She pressed down on Lashley’s head, who had awkwardly stood up, and bowed to Sellakia.  

“My younger sibling has been discourteous, Madam. If you wish to punish her, we will accept it.”  

“Please don’t, Countess Sov. The young lady was keeping me company, and I was having an enjoyable time.”

Encouraged by Sellakia’s support, the trembling Lashley pouted her lips.  

“I haven’t done anything wrong. It was Countess Sov who taught me to demand my rightful claims… Oh.”

Chattering on, Lashley spotted Raisa’s fierce gaze and clamped her hand over her mouth. Her large eyes rolled around as if they might fall out at any moment.  

“……Ahem.”  

Sellakia pretended to clear her throat to suppress the laughter that was about to burst out like a sneeze. Lashley, who had been so bold as to fluster her, now looked her age. Her chubby, trembling cheeks were so cute that Sellakia wanted to pinch them.  

“…….”  

Perhaps noticing the suppressed laughter, Raisa’s sharp gaze turned to Sellakia. However, before Sellakia could flinch, Raisa’s gaze slid away. Raisa carefully observed the marriage proposal in Sellakia’s hand.  

That alone seemed to give her a quick understanding of the situation.  

“Rightful claims, you say. That very thought is wrong. You have no right to demand anything from the Madam. Have you forgotten that you were annulled in less than a day, Lashley Sov?”  

Raisa added with a cruel smile.  

“It was a record-breaking shortest engagement.”  

“That, that was….”  

Lashley, who had been confidently speaking back to Sellakia, now couldn’t say a word and bit her lip. Her round eyes filled with tears, and her small shoulders began to shake sorrowfully. She was on the verge of tears.  

“Lady Sov……”  

Startled, Sellakia took a step toward Lashley. But just before she could reach the child, Lashley burst out with resentment instead of tears.  

“I hate you, Sister!”  

Lashley shook off Raisa’s hand and twisted her body as if she would run out of the room at any moment. Even then, she didn’t forget to bow to Sellakia.  

 room Lashley ran out of fell into a silence like the calm after a storm.

The first to break the silence was Raisa, with a troubled expression.  

“I am ashamed to face you, Madam. The child is not usually so ill-mannered, so please do not misunderstand. She will probably soon realize her mistake and come to apologize to you.”  

“Lady Sov hasn’t done anything for which she needs to ask my forgiveness. More importantly, Countess Sov, I have a question. What did you mean by what you said to the young lady just now?”  

Raisa paused for a moment before giving a short answer.  

“It concerns the Duke’s affairs before his marriage. There’s no need for you to worry about it, Madam.”

“Still….”  

“Pardon me, but the break is almost over. I must leave to avoid being late for the upcoming second vassal meeting.”  

Raisa bowed with perfect etiquette, as if from a textbook, and left the drawing room without giving Sellakia a chance to stop her.  

Now that she thought about it, Lashley’s stubbornness seemed to be just like her sister’s. Of course, Raisa’s solidity was overwhelmingly superior.  

Tenus had said that Raisa, Countess Sov, disliked him. Judging by Raisa’s cold demeanor, Sellakia seemed to be in a similar position.  

“Nancy, have you heard anything about the Duke’s engagements or annulments?”  

At Sellakia’s question, Nancy, who had been standing against the wall like a fixture, came over quickly.  

“I don’t know either. I joined the Ducal household after you two were married. Should I look into it?”  

“It’s alright. I’m curious, but there’s no need to go that far…”

Nancy suddenly grabbed Sellakia’s hand, which was waving gently in the air.  

“Don’t worry, Madam!”  

“……Huh?”  

“I didn’t know the Duke had such a past. I’m really disappointed… no, I’m sorry. What I mean is, I feel upset! You do too, right? If I feel this way, how much more upset must you be, Madam?”

Nancy’s palm, calloused from holding a wooden sword, gently patted the back of Sellakia’s hand. Sellakia, who only wanted to satisfy her pure curiosity, found herself bewildered by the sudden comfort.  

“There’s probably something we don’t know. I’ll make sure to find out and let you know. You know best that the Duke isn’t that kind of person, right? So don’t worry too much.”

“Nancy, I think you’re misunderstanding something, but I’m really fine….”  

“Oh, come on. You don’t have to hide it from me. I know exactly how you feel, Madam!”  

Nancy, who clearly knew nothing, slyly pulled Sellakia into a hug.  

“Just trust me. I’ll find out soon.”  

Her arms wrapped tightly around Sellakia’s waist with considerable strength.  

Sellakia sent a pleading look to Roberta, who was standing idly by, over Nancy’s shoulder.  

“Tsk. I thought he was well-mannered at the academy, but the Duke of Seidon is quite something… Tsk.”  

However, Roberta was muttering to herself and didn’t even glance this way. It seemed there was no one here to listen to Sellakia.  

The situation was absurd, but being surrounded by people who cared for her didn’t feel bad. Roberta’s gruff voice was comforting, and Nancy’s warmth pressed against her was soothing.  

It was enough to make her think that a minor misunderstanding didn’t matter at all.  

“Yes. It’s reassuring to have you, Nancy.”  

In the end, the words of explanation she had been rolling around in her mouth melted away. Sellakia let out a light laugh at her lackluster words and placed her hand on Nancy’s back.