Chapter 8.1 (Part 1)

As soon as their eyes met, Amy turned her head, but even from the side, her raised lips were clearly visible.  

Sellakia swallowed her discomfort and sought out Tenus amidst the piercing stares. His face, at a glance, was not one of someone surprised by her appearance.  

“Ah. Well…”  

Her lips, on the verge of sighing, couldn’t even muster a feeble excuse.  

She bit her lip in frustration when suddenly a hearty laugh erupted from the silent table.  

“Hahaha. Did you come because you wanted to see the Duke?”  

Baron Colby’s words eased the stiff atmosphere in the garden.  

“Ah. Is that so? The rumor about the two of you being close must be true. The one about the parasol in the shopping district.”  

“They say the Duke personally held the Madam’s parasol. And that they enjoyed a date in a two-person canoe.”

“That’s not what I heard. Didn’t she ride the canoe with another man?”  

“Would Madam really enjoy a trip with an outsider? Come on. You need to learn to discern between truth and exaggeration.”  

Sellakia struggled to maintain her smile. The pricking content of the conversation made her uncomfortable, but it was better than awkwardness.  

She planned to leave quickly with an apology once the conversation died down.  

However, as soon as she thought that, Baron Colby, who had first laughed, offered an unwanted kindness.  

“Don’t just stand there, have a seat, Madam. Since it’s a vassal meeting, it would be good for you to participate too.”  

A vassal on the opposite side, who had been keeping his lips tightly shut, immediately objected.  

“That’s out of the question. Madam hasn’t received the marriage certification from the Imperial Palace yet. At the previous marriage certification, Madam…”  

“Ahem. Didn’t the Duke personally ask us not to mention that anymore? But I also oppose Madam’s participation in the meeting. I believe it’s too early.”  

“Even if not voting rights, allowing participation rights shouldn’t be an issue.”  

“What harm is there in giving her voting rights? Even Sir Logue has them.”

“That’s nominal, so it should be an exception.”  

The previously laughing voices suddenly grew stern.  

Sellakia shifted her eyes. She had no intention of attending the meeting. The current heated debate was just a waste of energy on something futile.

“Um, everyone. I…”  

Sellakia was about to express her firm stance when Tenus cut her off with a gesture.

“Sellakia.”  

Tenus interrupted her and gestured.  

“Come here.”  

Sellakia was at a loss for words. Amidst the vassals, who were turning red with fervor, Tenus remained completely relaxed.  

He seemed unhesitant in calling her. His face, no different from yesterday’s conversation, only confirmed that she was the only one feeling disheartened.  

Should I follow his words obediently to avoid showing my disappointment?  

While she was pondering, Nancy hurriedly brought an empty chair next to Tenus.  

She quickly lifted the large chair and moved it. Roberta nodded approvingly at Nancy’s efforts.  

“Madam, please sit here!”  

It was a situation difficult to refuse. Sellakia reluctantly headed to the unexpectedly provided seat. It was right next to Tenus, at the head of the table.  

Once seated, she felt the gazes on her even more intensely. Some were warm, others disapproving.  

This time, Sellakia broke the silence.  

“I didn’t know a meeting was in progress here. I’m sorry for the unintended interruption.”  

“Why apologize? You did nothing wrong.”  

Ignoring Tenus’s tactless interruption, Sellakia continued.  

“I understand it’s too early for me to participate in the meeting. Although I’m here thanks to your understanding, I won’t cause any inconvenience, so please continue your meeting comfortably.”  

“Ahem. It’s not due to personal feelings that we refused your entry, Madam.”

“I understand. Please don’t worry, I won’t take it to heart.”  

Some vassals who had vehemently opposed her entry cleared their throats. They didn’t seem inclined to voice further objections to expel her. She hoped it wasn’t because of Tenus glaring at the vassals from beside her.  

Sellakia tried to present a harmless face, as if she had nothing to do with Tenus.  

Tenus, however, scanned the vassals one by one before finally calling Nancy.  

“Nancy.”  

His voice, issuing some instruction to Nancy, was low and quiet.  

Though Sellakia, sitting right next to him, couldn’t hear it, Nancy seemed to understand perfectly and headed toward the mansion with a bright smile.  

In place of the absent dedicated maid, Amy filled Sellakia’s teacup.  

Pretending to watch the tea pour in a curve, Sellakia observed Amy.  

“Shall we continue the discussion about the Tria Merchant Group’s trade goods?”  

“Regarding the continued exercise of exclusive trading rights…”  

The vassals seemed to erase Sellakia’s presence and refocused on the meeting. Sellakia, letting their half-understood conversation wash over her, fell into thought.  

It seemed Amy had orchestrated Sellakia’s presence here.  

But she couldn’t guess the intention. What could Amy possibly gain from having Sellakia present here?  

To watch me get expelled from the vassal meeting? To mock me for not being able to contribute a word to the meeting?  

“…”  

Surely not.

Sellakia chuckled at her insignificant speculation.  

She had spent over ten years as a neglected figure in the Viscount’s household. Being disregarded was something she was well accustomed to.  

Moreover, Seidon was someone else’s household. She wouldn’t feel wronged or unjustly treated for being slighted at someone else’s vassal meeting.  

Sellakia quickly dismissed her thoughts. Surely, Amy had some grand purpose beyond her imagination.  

If so, then surely…  

“…”  

Sellakia stared intently at the clear tea filling her cup.  

“What’s wrong?”  

Tenus whispered softly, perhaps curious why she was staring at the teacup without touching it.  

His face was too close when he tilted his head. The warmth of his breath was felt right next to her ear. If she turned her head, their noses might brush.  

Realizing this, Sellakia momentarily forgot all her thoughts. All her attention was instantly drawn to Tenus.  

“Sellakia Seidon.”

When Sellakia remained silent for a long time, Tenus called her again. Sellakia moistened her parched lips and barely answered.  

“…I think Amy is trying to poison me.”  

“What?”  

“I came here because they said you called me to the garden.”

“I didn’t call you.”  

“Exactly. I think this is all part of Amy’s plan. She wouldn’t have called me for no reason.”

Tenus said nothing. Sellakia wondered if he was looking at her as if she were a paranoid patient, but she couldn’t take her eyes off the teacup.  

It wasn’t because she was worried the tea would suddenly rise and engulf her. It was simply because Tenus’s face was too close.  

As Sellakia slowly leaned her upper body away from Tenus, a large hand suddenly entered her field of vision.  

The hand with thick bones grabbed her teacup and quickly poured its contents into his mouth.  

Sellakia turned her head, startled, following Tenus’s hand.  

“W-what are you doing? I said it might be poisoned!”

“I told you before, I’m immune.”  

“You don’t even know what kind of poison it is.”  

“I’m immune to most poisons.”  

“Even if you’re immune, it only means you’ll survive; don’t you know it feels like your insides are burning and you cough up blood?”  

Sellakia whispered through clenched teeth. In her agitation, she found herself leaning close to him.  

“Why does a Duke keep using such foolish tactics?”  

“Now you’re finally looking at my face.”  

“What?”  

“Hmm. It doesn’t seem to be poisoned.”  

Tenus calmly wiped his lips with his hand. He seemed completely unfazed by Sellakia’s scolding.  

“You really…”  

Just as she was focusing on controlling her angry breathing, she noticed the eerie silence around her.  

The vassals’ voices, which had been like background music, were no longer audible.  

Startled, Sellakia turned her creaking head. Unlike during the meeting, dozens of lively eyes were now focused on her.  

Her face flushed hot as someone burst into laughter.  

“Hahaha!”  

As if the laughter was contagious, all the vassals at the table began to chuckle, even those who had previously opposed Sellakia’s entry.  

“Hahaha. The way you two whisper sweetly reminds me of the previous Duke and Duchess. Honestly, I never believed the rumors about the Duke being affectionate with his wife.”  

“Neither did I. The Duke never showed any interest in the opposite s*x. No matter how much we tried to push for marriage, he always refused.”  

“Even seeing it with my own eyes, it’s still hard to believe. But the story about the Duke holding the parasol himself must be exaggerated, right?”  

Viscount Shulman, sitting nearby, asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Tenus answered without hesitation, as if he didn’t mind the trivial question.  

“What’s the big deal about holding a parasol?”

Sellakia expected the vassals to admonish Tenus to maintain decorum, but surprisingly, many nodded in agreement.  

“Well, the previous Duke was also a devoted husband. Considering the Duke grew up watching such a father, it’s understandable.”  

“I still can’t forget the portraits of the previous Duke and Duchess. The immense love seemed to emanate from the paintings.”  

“Madam, have you seen them? The portraits of the previous Duke and Duchess. They’re probably stored in the Long Gallery now.”  

“No, I haven’t yet…”  

With her limited range of activity, Sellakia had only been to her bedroom, office, library, and garden in this vast mansion. She didn’t even know where the Long Gallery was.  

“You haven’t been here long, so that’s understandable. Make sure to see them later. There’s probably a portrait of the Duke as a child there too.”  

“If you see it, you’ll be surprised. Unlike now, he was quite adorable…”  

The vassal’s words, nostalgically recalling the past, abruptly stopped. Thud, Tenus’s hand hit the table.