Chapter 7 (Part 6)

Sellakia sat awkwardly on the sofa, as if sitting on sea urchin spines. It seemed even her hands holding the glass jar were sweating.  

Unlike yesterday, today she parted with Lashley on good terms, sharing smiles. The child even apologized for her rudeness the previous day and readily agreed to Sellakia’s request to pinch her cheeks.  

It was a relief that she seemed to have let go of her obsession with Tenus a bit. While walking with a lighter heart, Sellakia found herself right in front of Tenus’s office.  

And she was holding the lingonberry jam that Tenus had requested from Countess Sov.  

“…….”  

Would giving this to him slightly ease his anger?

Considering that he specifically requested it from Countess Sov, who said she didn’t like him, he must really like lingonberry jam.

Sellakia hesitated for a long time in front of the firmly closed office door, but it was Dominic, Tenus’s aide, who pulled her inside. She happened to run into him while he was looking for materials for the vassal meeting in the office.  

Dominic, after only receiving a greeting from Sellakia, babbled about how Tenus takes breaks alone in the office during the breaks between vassal meetings. Not stopping there, he gently pushed Sellakia into the office, like a fisherman herding fish with a net.

“You’ve decided to embrace all of the Duke’s past! As expected, Madam, your heart is as vast as the sea……!”  

To Nancy, whose eyes sparkled, she instructed to prepare buttered bread and left Roberta standing outside. The subtle glances from them, joined by Roberta, were a bit overwhelming to handle.  

“……If we don’t get along, it’ll only be hard for me.”

She already knew well from various experiences that if the owner of the mansion threw a fit for no reason, the situation for a guest would become difficult. So, there was no particular reason for her to seek out Tenus. That was all there was to it.  

In the silent office of Tenus, Sellakia’s voice, like a pitiful excuse, quietly echoed.  

The rich aroma of butter drifted around the office and dispersed, and enough time passed for Sellakia’s fingerprints to be imprinted on the glass jar she was holding.

The heavy door, which seemed it would never open, finally moved.  

Sellakia, who noticed the door opening silently and smoothly, quickly turned her head. Her gaze immediately intertwined with Tenus’s in the air.  

“…….”  

Tenus frowned slightly, as if he had seen an apparition. It was an expression one might make when unexpectedly encountering the sea god as a non-believer.  

As the door slowly closed, the sound of Roberta and Nancy’s cheers outside gradually faded away.  

In an instant, the surroundings were enveloped in heavy silence. The hallway and the office felt like completely different worlds.  

Unable to endure the awkwardness, Sellakia raised her hand abruptly.  

“Oh, hello.”  

Tenus did not respond.  

The silence, which seemed like it was about to crack, pressed more heavily on Sellakia’s shoulders.  

Sellakia wanted to drop her raised hand and slap her mouth. 

Saying hello—what an awkward greeting.  

With a face as red as well-ripened lingonberries, Sellakia hastily held out the glass jar.  

“I heard you like it. I thought you might not have eaten properly today either.”  

There was still no word from Tenus. However, he did move his previously stationary feet.  

Tenus, who sat across from her, was surprisingly gentle. The sense of discord she felt from him yesterday was nowhere to be found.  

Perhaps it was the effect of the lingonberry jam.  

As Tenus accepted the jar Sellakia handed over, he asked.  

“Have you tried it?”  

“No. I got it from young lady Sov, but I brought it for you. You can eat it all.”  

Tenus silently opened the lid of the glass jar. Instantly, the sweet aroma that had been blocked by the lid burst forth, tickling her nose delightfully. Her mouth watered reflexively.  

Tenus picked up a piece of toasted bread from the table and began to spread the jam with a neat knife stroke.  

The jam, with its plump fruit still intact, glistened with a glossy sheen. It was a color that looked delicious at a glance. Sellakia swallowed her saliva, keeping her hands neatly fixed on her lap.  

After generously spreading the jam on the bread, Tenus would bring it to his mouth.

“Take it.”

No, she naturally thought that would be the case, but it wasn’t. Unexpectedly, he held out the bread he was holding to her.  

“……Me?”  

“You like it, don’t you?”

“Oh, no? I said it’s yours. You eat it.”  

Sellakia pushed away Tenus’s hand with a feeling of swallowing tears.

She couldn’t just put into her mouth what she had brought for Tenus. She intended to use the fact that delicious food makes the heart generous and melts away feelings to make up for yesterday’s events.  

“Just eat it.”  

However, Tenus lightly ignored her difficult decision. His large hand, holding the bread, approached temptingly again.  

“I didn’t bring it to eat myself, really…….”  

Sellakia, after a few formal refusals, reluctantly accepted the bread as if she couldn’t resist. As the sweet scent drew closer, her lips twitched unconsciously.  

And the moment she took a bite of the bread, her expression changed dramatically. Her brow furrowed, and her jaw tensed. It was to somehow suppress the laughter and exclamation that threatened to burst out.  

“There’s no one around here who doesn’t know about the lingonberry jam from Countess Sov’s family.”  

Tenus said while continuing to use the knife. Busy chewing, Sellakia couldn’t answer and only nodded.  

The taste of the sweet and sour jam soaked into the savory bread was like fireworks exploding in her mouth. The tender pulp retained its unique soft texture, and the harmonious balance of flavors was not overwhelming.  

It seemed like she wouldn’t get tired of eating it every day. Lashley’s small handbag felt particularly regrettable.  

Though silence fell between them once more, it wasn’t uncomfortable like before.

Tenus silently spread jam on the bread and repeatedly handed it to Sellakia, who, having tasted it, couldn’t refuse and eagerly accepted each piece he offered.  

By the time she came to her senses, only one piece of bread was left. The small glass jar of jam was almost transparent at the bottom.  

She had eaten all the bread that had been piled up. 

It was supposed to be a peace offering!  

She couldn’t believe her own lack of manners in front of food.  

Sellakia, unable to hide her embarrassment at the belated realization, quickly grabbed the last piece of bread that Tenus was about to pick up.  

“Give it here. I’ll do it.”  

She also took the knife that had been in Tenus’s grip all along and scraped the remaining jam from the jar onto the bread.  

Tenus leaned deeply against the backrest and watched Sellakia quietly. He didn’t seem to think for a moment that the bread in Sellakia’s hand was meant for him.  

Sitting across the table from him, his face seemed too far away. It was inconvenient. After a moment of hesitation, realizing she couldn’t reach even with her arm extended, Sellakia stood up with the bread.  

“Where are you…….”  

Tenus’s relaxed expression momentarily faltered. He seemed about to get up, but when Sellakia sat next to him instead of heading for the door, he froze.  

“Here. Eat.”  

Sellakia brought the bread to his mouth, which had suddenly turned into an ice sculpture. Her voice, trying to hide her embarrassment, sounded unnecessarily grumpy.  

“I really didn’t bring it to eat myself. Hurry up and eat at least one.”  

Sellakia pushed the bread into Tenus’s mouth, which seemed about to say something. Though he frowned, he didn’t spit out the bread.  

“How is it? Delicious, right? Hm?”  

Even though she had fed him just one piece, she felt inexplicably satisfied watching his well-shaped lips move.  

However, upon closer inspection, Tenus’s face looked as if he were chewing on sand. His expression was completely different from Sellakia’s, who had been disarmed by just one bite.  

After a long time, Tenus swallowed the bread and spoke with a furrowed brow.  

“Sour and sweet.”  

“That’s why it’s delicious. Didn’t you like lingonberry jam?”  

Wasn’t it Tenus who ordered lingonberry jam from Countess Sov? 

Sellakia asked with blue eyes filled with astonishment.  

“Don’t tell me you dislike it?”

Had I forced him to eat something he didn’t like?  

Sellakia was in shock. She had come to mend their relationship, but now she seemed to have given him another reason to resent her for no apparent reason.  

Tenus answered with a still frowning face.  

“I don’t particularly dislike it.”  

“Alright. I can tell from your expression, but I thought you liked it…….”  

“I said I don’t dislike it. I just don’t go out of my way to eat it.”  

“That’s what disliking means.”  

“No, it’s not.”  

Tenus refuted quite firmly. Sellakia glanced at Tenus’s mood.  

“……Really?”  

“Yes.”  

Tenus’s mood didn’t actually seem that bad. His previously furrowed brow soon relaxed.  

Indeed, it wasn’t the face of someone attacked with food they disliked. His earnest answers seemed like an attempt to console her, who had become somewhat sullen.  

Though it might be a misconception, Sellakia found courage in her own delusion.  

“Um, about yesterday…….”