Chapter 7 (Part 8)

The day of the grand banquet finally dawned. Although the banquet would not begin until evening, Sellakia kept peeking out the window since she woke up.  

The brilliant sun rose over the endless sea beyond the balcony. It was an exceptionally clear day.  

From the window on the other side, she could see the vast garden and the distant mansion gate, and Sellakia couldn’t take her eyes off it.  

She had advised Chester not to come and didn’t expect anyone from Lensch, but she was eagerly awaiting the tutor she had invited.  

Since she had to quit before Sellakia’s coming-of-age ceremony, meeting the tutor today would be their first reunion in nearly five years.  

“Nancy, hasn’t there been any news from the mansion gatekeeper yet?”  

“Oh my, Madam, this is the seventh time you’re asking. I made sure to tell them, so they’ll notify us as soon as the guest arrives.”  

“You’re sure they haven’t forgotten your request?”  

“No way. Whose request is it?”  

That’s what I’m worried about. Should I have used Tenus’s name more freely?  

Sellakia’s brow furrowed unconsciously at the name that flashed through her mind out of habit. Nancy flinched, perhaps misunderstanding the unfamiliar expression on Sellakia’s face.  

“I-I’ll go remind them one more time.”  

“Yes. Thank you, Nancy.”  

But there was no news even after lunchtime.  

It seemed they wouldn’t come. She thought it might be because she sent the invitation late, but Sellakia was greatly disappointed.  

“Madam, I found the part about sea fairies in the book! But it says sea fairies don’t have human forms?”  

Her solace was Lashley, who came to join her for tea time today as well.  

Nancy brought bread and lingonberry jam, saying it was from the kitchen, but remembering yesterday, Sellakia nibbled at the bread. She tried to resist, but it was hard not to touch it at all.  

“Did the fairy also appear by borrowing the power of a mermaid like the sea serpent? Why don’t they appear in Seidon’s sea? I want to see them too.”  

“Maybe they appeared to grant my wish. Lady, you could try sending a message in a bottle to the sea…….”  

She was comforting the saddened Lashley when Nancy returned briskly from fetching the tea.  

“Madam, someone carrying the invitation you sent has just passed through the mansion gate.”  

“Really? How many people were in the carriage?”  

“They said there were two.”

At the long-awaited news, Sellakia’s face lit up. Lashley, watching Sellakia’s reaction, cautiously asked.  

“Is a guest coming? Should I leave now?”  

“Unfortunately, we’ll have to end tea time here today. I have to go greet the guest. Will you attend the evening banquet, Lady Sov?”  

“Yes, of course!”  

“Then let’s meet again at the banquet, Lady Sov.”  

Sellakia smiled warmly, and Lashley left without further fuss. Come to think of it, Lashley hadn’t mentioned Tenus at all during tea time today.  

Satisfied with this realization, Sellakia moved with a light step. Thinking of the long-unseen faces, she couldn’t sit still and wait.  

It was when she was going down the stairs to greet them herself. The grand mansion doors swung open, letting in a flood of bright light.  

Two people entered under the guidance of an attendant, backlit by the sunlight, and as the door closed, familiar faces gradually came into view.  

“Sir Julien! Erica!”  

Julien, who had been walking straight ahead, and Erica, who had been looking around restlessly, both turned to look at Sellakia at the top of the stairs.  

“Sis, ah!”  

“Show proper respect, Erica.”

Julien sternly said, pulling down Erica’s raised arms. Sellakia, who quickly approached them with a light smile, spoke.  

“Sir Julien, Erica, you’re still the same.”  

“……It’s been a while.”  

“Don’t be so formal between us, Sir Julien.”  

“You’re no longer my student, Madam. It’s proper etiquette. Please get used to it.”

Despite his polite words, Julien’s eyes were sharp as he observed Sellakia.  

Sellakia knew that look very well. She felt as if she had returned to her childhood, receiving lessons from him, and confessed humbly.  

“You’re right. I haven’t reviewed the martial arts I learned.”  

“Judging by the lack of muscle on your arms, you haven’t practiced archery either.”  

“……But I still play with daggers occasionally.”  

“So, you have neglected spear techniques as well.”  

Having nothing to say, Sellakia feigned indifference.  

Julien always emphasized the importance of the bow and spear, saying they were useful for long-distance attacks. He persistently advocated for them until he quit his tutoring job, even when Sellakia showed no interest.

It was because one should always be able to protect oneself.  

Sellakia had always wondered if Julien’s unique educational philosophy stemmed from his background at the military academy or from his past, but she never dared to ask.  

“What? Brother, you should show respect too. Do you still think she’s your student?”

Erica, who was looking at Sellakia with sparkling eyes, bumped Julien’s side like a body slam.  

When Julien reluctantly stepped back a few steps, Erica took his place and grabbed Sellakia’s hand.  

“Wow. I can’t believe you’re becoming a Duchess! It’s unbelievable. It suits you so well, yet it feels so strange. It’s a weird feeling!”

Sellakia shared a joyful reunion, led by Erica’s jumping excitement.

“Erica, you’ve grown so tall since I last saw you. I think you’re taller than me now. Have you been well?”  

“I had my coming-of-age ceremony last year, so I might grow even more. Oh, I brought a gift for you, Sis! The kids handled it a bit, so it’s a little worn, but just a moment…….”  

As Erica crouched down to rummage through her bag, the sound of orderly footsteps from behind caught her attention.  

Turning her head, she saw Tenus descending the stairs, followed by a trail of vassals.  

“…….”  

Sellakia, upon spotting Tenus, trembled as if scalded and quickly turned her head back.  

“Wow. What’s with your face……. Sis, is that him? Right? His face, wow. It’s even more than the rumors. Oh my god…….”  

Still crouching, Erica stared blankly at Tenus. Sellakia couldn’t answer. She felt the heavy footsteps stop right beside her.  

“Go to the garden first. I’ll be there soon.”  

At the low voice, the vassals bowed to Sellakia and left in clusters.  

Tenus naturally took the place beside her and showed interest in the guests.  

“Is this the tutor you invited to the banquet?”  

Tenus looked down at Erica, who was staring at him with her mouth open. Even as Julien helped Erica up, Tenus didn’t spare a glance at Julien.

It seemed that Sellakia was the only one feeling awkward about yesterday’s events.  

Well. He doesn’t care about me anyway.

Sellakia mulled over the bitter truth and spoke.  

“The tutor is this one. Sir Julien. This is his sister, Erica. Sir Julien. Erica. This is my… husband, Tenus Seidon.”

“A commoner man as a noble lady’s tutor?”

Tenus slowly turned to Julien, tilting his head slightly. Julien bowed with perfect etiquette and briefly explained.  

“When I applied for the tutor position, I didn’t know the student would be a Lady instead of a Young Master.”  

“Was this sanctioned by Viscount Lensch?”  

“I have a document with Viscount Lensch’s seal.”  

Then he added a familiar phrase.  

“There was, of course, no impropriety.”  

“That wasn’t the intention of my question.”  

“Please understand. It’s a phrase I usually add to protect my own honor, as it’s easy to be prejudged.”  

Sellakia knew that Julien’s additional comment was actually intended to shield her.  

Julien had always been like that.

When he first discovered that the tutor position he hastily accepted involved teaching a Lady instead of a Young Master, it was only after meeting Sellakia. He was flustered but straightforwardly said he would quit.  

It was Sellakia who held onto Julien.  

“If you quit after just one day, I might never find another tutor… Could you please teach me? I can learn diligently.”  

It had been two years since she lost her parents before she had a tutor. Her stepbrother was too busy managing the estate and mansion to pay any attention to Sellakia.  

For one year, Sellakia was too immersed in grief to feel the need for a tutor, and the next year was spent worrying about how to ask the Viscount.  

Only after two years did she finally muster the courage to ask for a tutor. The result was Julien. It was an irresponsible appointment that didn’t even consider gender, but Sellakia was grateful nonetheless. She couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.  

“I know that noble ladies don’t typically receive lessons from male tutors. But I won’t be attending social gatherings, so it doesn’t matter.”  

“…What do you mean by that?”  

“I mean exactly what I said. I mostly stay in my room, but I don’t want to lose the opportunity to learn… Please.”  

Julien’s previously indifferent expression turned icy at that moment.  

“Does the Viscount abuse you, Lady?”  

“…Pardon?”  

“Is someone oppressing you, Lady?”  

Sellakia was unable to answer, frozen in place. Julien’s presence was too intimidating for a child to handle. He scrutinized her face and the wrist peeking out from her dress sleeve before nodding.  

“For now… I understand.”  

Julien left her room with just those words. Sellakia thought it was their final farewell.  

The next day, after a night of tears, Julien reappeared as if nothing had happened, this time with his younger sister.  

He introduced Erica and then stepped out for a moment. Once alone in the room, Erica suddenly tried to undress Sellakia.  

“Miss Erica, what are you doing?!”  

Sellakia flailed in panic, trying to escape Erica’s grasp, but Erica sternly warned her.  

“Hey, I’m just checking for injuries. You’ll get hurt if you move like that!”  

“Injuries? What injuries?”  

“Don’t you have any scars on your stomach?”  

“Why would I have scars on my stomach?”  

“Violence is usually inflicted where it can’t be seen. On parts covered by clothes. Seeing that you don’t know even this basic thing, it seems you haven’t lived while being hit!”

Even after giving up on undressing her, Erica poked Sellakia’s stomach, asking if it hurt. Erica said that if Sellakia was hit and bruised, it would hurt just from poking.  

These weren’t words a ten-year-old Erica should have been saying.

Julien agreed to become Sellakia’s tutor from that day on.

However, lessons were always held in the open garden, not in Sellakia’s room. On rainy days, they used a room near the bustling kitchen, with the door wide open. He never stayed alone with her, always bringing Erica along.  

Even during sword lessons, Julien avoided contact with Sellakia as much as possible, correcting her posture with the tip of a sheathed sword. When teaching social dances, he taught Erica the male role first, so she could partner with Sellakia.  

There was never an accidental brush of sleeves. It was a tearful effort.  

Julien, with his blunt nature, shared the best care and kindness he could offer with Sellakia.  

Sellakia often thought she might have used up all her life’s luck meeting Julien and Erica.  

“I never held any unpleasant prejudices, so let’s pretend I didn’t hear that.”  

Tenus’s cold voice snapped Sellakia out of her rare reverie.  

Tenus, surprisingly sharp, glanced at Sellakia before leaving. It seemed he was heading to the garden where the vassals were.  

Sellakia watched his retreating back in silence.  

Erica, who had been staring blankly, also followed Sellakia’s gaze to Tenus’s back. Her narrowed eyes held a curious glint.