Chapter 7 (Part 4)

The vassal meeting, which she thought would be brief since it was the first day, was quite substantial. They even showed the enthusiasm to have dinner in the meeting room. Because of that, Sellakia had to attend the dinner with the vassals’ families alone, without Tenus.  

The banquet hall, filled with women and men, children and adults, was quite different from the dinner she had with Aldrich.  

Everyone seemed to know each other, with warm smiles on their faces. The lively laughter of the children eased the somewhat tense atmosphere, and the mature ones led smooth conversations.  

“With the new Duchess joining, we get to enjoy the honor of dining at the Duke’s castle again. I thought such a day would never come.”  

“Come to think of it, I can hardly remember when I last visited the Duke’s castle. The last time was when the former Duke was alive, and that was already….”  

“Ahem. Isn’t today a joyous day? Let’s save the gloomy stories for another time.”  

“Seeing the Madam’s intelligent eyes, I’m looking forward to the future. The day when Seidon, which has been stagnant for a while, regains its past glory is not far off. Hahaha!”  

Overall, it was a mostly peaceful atmosphere. Sellakia only needed to maintain a gentle smile. Strangely, not a single person expressed curiosity or mentioned Aldrich.  

“…….”  

Of course, not everyone welcomed Sellakia. She could feel some stingy glances directed at her.  

Pretending to wet her lips with a glass of water, Sellakia discreetly observed the people around her and took note of those with a cold demeanor. They all had one thing in common: most of them were young ladies around Sellakia’s age. Except for Lashley Sov, that is.  

Lashley turned her head sharply when her eyes met Sellakia’s. Trying to leave a good impression, Sellakia had been keeping her eyes as gentle as possible, but she relaxed her gaze awkwardly.  

Fortunately, the banquet maintained a harmonious flow until the end.  

Returning to her bedroom, Sellakia felt like a limp seaweed. Interacting with many people consumed a significant amount of energy, as it required mental effort she didn’t usually use.  

She was even more drained because she had barely eaten anything while observing the people.  

As Sellakia staggered toward the bed, Nancy approached her closely. She spoke in a secretive voice, as if sharing a confidential secret.  

“Madam. I found out while you were dining.”  

“What…?”  

“About the Duke’s past!”  

“Oh.”  

Sellakia sighed without much emotion and sat down on the bed. Nancy loosened her dress and carefully removed the heavy hair ornaments as she relayed what she had learned.  

“A servant who has worked in the Ducal household for a long time told me. Apparently, the Duke has been engaged to many young ladies of vassal families who were of marriageable age. There are so many that you can’t count them all on two hands!”  

“What? Really?”  

Nancy seemed pleased that Sellakia finally reacted, and she made a fuss.  

“Isn’t it shocking, Madam? I almost fainted when I heard it. I thought he was a devoted man based on how he treats you, but I guess not. How could he be such a, such a…!”  

Unable to finish her sentence, Roberta added bluntly.  

“Damn womanizer, isn’t he?”  

Nancy’s furrowed brow smoothed out completely. Sellakia couldn’t bring herself to criticize Roberta’s blunt language. Nancy let out a deep breath as if relieved and continued speaking.  

“Of course, all the engagements ended in annulment. That’s why the vassals were very resentful. If the Duke didn’t marry, he couldn’t inherit the title. The servant who told me said they thought the Duke intended to remain single for life, so they were very surprised when he married you, Madam.”  

“Why didn’t he marry? Did you hear the reason? A vassal family wouldn’t have been a bad choice.”  

“I didn’t hear the reason. Should I ask other servants? Maybe someone knows.”  

“No, this is enough. Thank you for finding out, even though you must have been busy entertaining the vassals, Nancy.”  

“I thought there might be another reason, but there wasn’t….”  

Having finished helping Sellakia change, Nancy drooped her shoulders in dejection.  

“Did I tell you unnecessarily? I’m worried I only disturbed your peace, Madam. But I couldn’t lie either…”

“It’s okay. I’m really fine, Nancy. It’s just the past, after all.”  

“But the past is also part of the Duke. It’s an aspect that can’t be ignored.”  

Sellakia’s hand, which was patting Nancy’s shoulder, hesitated.  

“……Is that so? I think it’s fine to erase the past entirely. It won’t hinder living from now on.”  

It was a kind of self-suggestion.  

However, for some reason, Nancy’s expression worsened at those words. With drooping eyes, Nancy suddenly hugged Sellakia tightly.  

“Madam!”  

Sellakia’s head, which had been resting on the bed, was forcibly pulled. She could feel Nancy’s chest rising and falling with her rapid breaths.  

Even Roberta, who was behind them, quietly approached and placed a hand on the two huddled together, conveying her feelings.  

“Now I see, the devoted one is you, Madam….”  

Roberta’s words were also unusual.  

At that moment.  

“……What are you doing?”  

Tenus, who had just entered the bedroom, asked with a bewildered expression. Startled as if caught committing a crime, Nancy quickly let go of Sellakia.  

“D-Duke.”  

“You’re back.”  

Roberta and Nancy greeted Tenus politely. However, they couldn’t hide their impure glances and almost glared at Tenus. Their eyes burned with hostility.  

Sellakia quickly stood up and pushed them toward the door.  

“Sir Belfona. You can go now. Nancy, you too. You’ve worked hard since early this morning. Go and get a good rest.”

She was worried that the people who had been piling up strange misunderstandings since the afternoon might cause trouble.

Fortunately, Roberta and Nancy, despite glaring at Tenus until the end, did not resist and left the room obediently.  

“Did something happen at the banquet?”  

Tenus, who had been observing only Sellakia’s face, seemed unaware of Roberta and Nancy’s hostility. Despite his sharp impression, he had a surprisingly dull side.  

“It’s not like that. More importantly, is the meeting over now?”  

“The meeting, yes. But not the work.”  

Tenus placed the stack of documents he brought on the nearby table. Thud, a heavy sound echoed. The faint fatigue on Tenus’s face was visible as he unbuttoned his shirt with one hand.  

No wonder he returned to the bedroom early. Even Tenus’s strong stamina seemed to have taken a hit today, as he usually returned only after Sellakia was deeply asleep.

“Is there anything I can help with?”  

Seeing Tenus sigh in frustration, such a question naturally popped out.  

She didn’t really expect there to be anything she could assist with regarding the vassal meeting, but surprisingly, Tenus answered immediately.  

“There is.”  

“There is? What is it?”  

“Tell me.”  

Tenus, leaning his body against the table, looked at Sellakia intently.  

“There was, wasn’t there? Something that upset you today.”  

She thought he was dull, but maybe not. Perhaps he was keen as his sharp impression suggested. Or maybe he was just probing.  

It was hard to guess Tenus’s intentions. Sellakia narrowed her eyes and feigned ignorance.  

“Anyway, even if I don’t say anything, Sir Pinter will report it, right? There’s also Sir Belfona.”  

“Say it yourself. You said you’d help me.”  

“What do they have to do with this?”  

Instead of answering, Tenus tilted his head. His gaze, as if asking if she really wouldn’t help, pricked her skin.  

Sellakia scratched her cheek in puzzlement, but she also felt the spark of curiosity rekindled by Nancy.  

Since Tenus was inquiring about the banquet, there was no reason not to speak.  

It wasn’t something she was extremely curious about. Just, since the opportunity arose, there was no reason to refuse.  

Sellakia mumbled to herself internally and began to speak.  

“There wasn’t any big trouble. Just a few people sending sharp glances my way.”  

“From which vassal family, who?”  

“……It’s not something to be interrogated so fiercely. It was understandable. Don’t blame them.”  

“What nonsense. Who dares…….”  

“A husband’s sin is a wife’s sin. And a husband’s enemy is also a wife’s enemy.”  

Tenus, who had been cut off mid-sentence, momentarily lost his sharp demeanor and looked as if he couldn’t understand. That face even looked somewhat innocent.  

To think he could look so nonchalant after doing such a thing.  

Sellakia lost her patience to speak indirectly and directly pointed out the main point.  

“Isn’t that right? Sending out marriage proposals recklessly. Is that something a gentleman should do, Tenus Seidon?”  

Tenus’s brow furrowed slightly. Sellakia noticed that subtle change in expression immediately but continued as if she hadn’t.  

“I heard you even sent a marriage proposal to a young lady who couldn’t even reach your thigh?”  

Tenus swallowed a sigh and rubbed his furrowed brow.  

“Young Lady Sov was a mistake. In the process of hastily dealing with the vassals’ persistent urging for marriage, there was confusion.”  

“Really?”  

“Of course. Lady Sov was only seven at the time. Do you see me as an unscrupulous person who doesn’t even know morality?”  

“Yes.”  

Sellakia nodded confidently right in front of Tenus.  

“From the fact that you chose me as a marriage partner because I’m the easiest. You couldn’t dare with the young ladies of vassal families, so you ended up annulling and choosing me, right?”  

Sellakia calmly recited her guessed scenario. She didn’t particularly mean to criticize him.  

Since he couldn’t use the young ladies of the vassal families, with whom he needed to maintain friendly relations, as tools, Tenus’s decision was somewhat reasonable. The plight of an unknown impoverished young lady wouldn’t have mattered to him.

Sellakia could fully understand his choice as the head of the family. But it was also true that she felt a bit indignant since she was the ‘impoverished young lady whose plight didn’t need to be considered.’

Calling him unscrupulous was a cheap joke compared to her grievances. Sellakia had already accused him of being a villain and even held a sword to his neck in the past.  

Each time, Tenus’s reaction was so uninteresting that it was almost annoying.  

“Easy, you say. You?”  

But today, Tenus was somewhat strange. The face that had always been solid showed a clear crack.  

He didn’t laugh as if it were absurd, nod indifferently, or even flutter his silver eyelashes quietly as usual.  

“Sellakia Seidon.”  

Tenus closed the distance between them in an instant. It only took one step.  

The distance was erased so quickly that he let out a sarcastic chuckle. It was a laugh that seemed to express displeasure at the distance being too easily bridged.  

“Do you truly think I considered you easy?”  

“…….”  

“Me, who can’t even touch a single fingertip of yours, utterly powerless?”

Sellakia’s hair stood on end due to the unusual pressure. She had no mental capacity to answer.  

She shivered with the instinct to step back, but her feet were as if bound by Tenus’s deep gaze, unable to move.  

It was distinctly different from before when it was cold as if frost was forming. His eyes seemed like they would reveal a deep abyss rather than a frosty surface.  

Sellakia felt a curiosity that overwhelmed her fear for a moment. She wanted to know his emotions, his heart. It seemed she might discover something if she could delve into his dark blue eyes.  

But it wasn’t long before Tenus raised his hand to cover his eyes. His hand, as if gathering overflowing emotions, was rough yet somehow forlorn.  

“There has never been a problem in my life as difficult and complex as you. I thought it might get better if I kept you close, but even that was the wrong answer.”

His voice, tinged with bitterness, was heavily laced with a sigh. Tenus soon turned his body. Without giving her a chance to hold him back, he left the bedroom.