Chapter 42
Why is Tenus here?
I rubbed my eyes, thinking I might be dreaming, but the figure on the bridge didn’t vanish. Instead, the oppressive atmosphere he exuded only grew clearer.
Tenus looked as though he had come out to enjoy the scenery, leaning on his chin while gazing down at the canal. If his gaze hadn’t been so fixed on Sellachia, one might have believed he was simply taking a stroll to relieve the stress of overwork.
“You really don’t get it, do you…? Sella, you’re such a fool.”
But Sellachia, whose gaze was firmly locked with Tenus’s, didn’t hear Chester’s muttering. Even the lively melody that had been lingering in her ears all this time faded into the distance.
As the current carried the canoe along, she was drawn ever closer to Tenus, as if sucked into the depths of his dark blue eyes.
As soon as they docked the canoe, Sellachia shoved Chester away. There was no time for farewells. If Chester and Tenus crossed paths again, they might end up exchanging a not-so-friendly knee to the gut. Better to avoid it entirely.
Tenus only arrived at the dock after Chester had vanished into the crowd.
“You’ve got the look of a loyal hound being abandoned by its master.”
He muttered while dismounting his horse. Sellachia pretended not to hear his rude remark equating Chester to a dog.
“What are you doing here?”
“Territory inspection.”
“Since when do you go on sudden inspections?”
“I do it now and then when work calls for it.”
Territory inspection, out of nowhere?
Sellachia had never once seen Tenus leave the mansion like this. It was a highly suspicious excuse, but with no change in his expression, she couldn’t refute it.
She had half-convinced herself that Tenus had followed her here. Feeling embarrassed by the assumption, she was relieved she hadn’t jumped to conclusions and confronted him outright.
As her eyes, which had been sharp, softened slightly, Tenus twisted his lips.
“I knew you had guts, but I didn’t expect this. Riding a boat with an unrelated man, right here in the duchy. Don’t you know this is the perfect kind of scandal to stir up gossip among the retainers by tomorrow morning?”
“Lord Piregen isn’t just some man. He’s an old friend.”
“If he’s a friend you don’t remember, he’s closer to being just a man.”
Though his tone was light, Tenus’s expression was icy. His gaze, full of reproach, stung. Sellachia, who hadn’t done anything even remotely inappropriate, felt unfairly accused.
“I’ve never thought of Lord Piregen like that. And you’re the one who suggested the canoe and band.”
“I said you should enjoy a boat ride among the common folk. Did I say you should flirt?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
Sellachia trailed off, her lips moving without sound.
It would only hurt her to get caught up in semantics. She was confident she had done nothing wrong, but she couldn’t deny she had acted outside the norms of high society.
She had assumed Tenus wouldn’t care even if he received reports from Mark and Roberta. She hadn’t expected such disapproval from him. At most, she thought it would cause minor ripples among the household staff.
Her eyes darted, searching for a clever excuse, but none came. In the end, she had no choice but to change the subject.
“Hey, did you hear I summoned the servants today?”
Tenus looked at her lazily, then replied as though indulging her.
“I heard. You said you’d raise their wages and hire more help.”
“It’s a bit late to ask, but… is that okay?”
“Do as you please. It’s your right.”
“What if I said I want to dismiss the head maid?”
“Magritte?”
For the first time, a hint of confusion flickered in his eyes.
“As far as I know, she hasn’t caused any trouble.”
He stroked his chin for a moment, seeming to consider it, then continued with a calm tone.
“She’s served the house for years. If you’re going to dismiss her, make sure she gets a generous severance.”
It was a direct and clear response, just like when he had granted her full authority. Sellachia was more surprised than anything.
“That’s it? You’re not going to ask why?”
“I said it’s your right. Do as you wish.”
“But she’s your servant.”
Tenus corrected her immediately.
“Our servant. Did you forget already, Sellachia Seyden?”
There was a faintly playful edge to his question.
Sellachia clenched her fist without realizing it. The way Tenus restated what should have been obvious left her with a strange feeling. Her stomach churned, like she was getting seasick long after stepping off the boat.
“What’s wrong?”
Noticing she didn’t answer as she normally would, Tenus tilted his head slightly. Staring into his deep blue eyes, Sellachia suddenly realized—
When had it started?
There was no longer any trace of disgust in his gaze. But that didn’t mean it was fondness either. His eyes, now free from the ice that once covered them, swirled with complex, conflicting emotions.
If he were to learn of her grave irresponsibility… would that dormant contempt resurface?
“…It’s nothing. I’ll think more about Magritte.”
She quickly turned away, as if running from him. She had planned to expose Aldritch’s deeds right away, but somehow, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
“Then finish your inspection. I’ll head back first.”
She took a step toward Roberta and Nancy, who were standing far off, when—
“It’s over.”
“What?”
“The territory inspection. It’s finished.”
Just as she was trying to distance herself from him, his words made her stop in her tracks.
She looked back, as if caught by the collar. She couldn’t believe he was saying the inspection—which should’ve taken days—was already done in half a day.
She turned to Dominic, his only attendant, trying to gauge the truth. But Dominic’s distorted expression—either suppressing laughter or worn out from fatigue—revealed nothing.
“Well then…”
It would seem ridiculous for the two of them, as a married couple, to arrive separately at the same place.
Though reluctant, Sellachia returned home with Tenus at her side. To an outsider, they looked like a harmonious couple returning from a pleasant outing.
The day of the grand banquet arrived.
Strictly speaking, today wasn’t the banquet itself. The gathering of the retainers would last four days, and the banquet would be held the night before it ended—so they still had three days left.
But Sellachia had no room for ease. There was a far greater challenge ahead of the banquet.
Greeting the duchy’s retainers.
“They’ve arrived already?”
“The first carriage just passed through the gates. It’ll reach the front entrance soon.”
“Nancy, we need to hurry.”
“Yes, my lady. You just need to choose your jewelry now!”
“…Right.”
Sellachia avoided the mirror. She looked utterly unfamiliar in her lavish dress and heavy necklace.
She wanted to tear it all off—but this was her first meeting with the retainers. Appearing too plain could be taken as a slight.
Just for today, she decided to endure it. Nancy’s taste might actually be helpful for once.
“…Nancy, I really don’t think the diamond tiara is right.”
“Knew it! Better to save that for the banquet. I’ll put in the coral branch pin instead.”
Without looking, Nancy reached into the pile of hair accessories and picked out a platinum pin shaped like coral. After hours of combing, braiding, and styling, the pin was placed atop her carefully sculpted hair. The finishing touch of a process that had started at dawn.
With her long dress trailing behind, she descended to the first floor. There, waiting in front of the entrance hall’s staircase, stood Tenus.
Sellachia sent Roberta and Nancy to line up with the other servants and took her place beside him.
“Hm.”
Seeing the doors still closed, Sellachia relaxed. Then she glanced at Tenus from head to toe. Sensing her gaze, he raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“You look different. Just surprised.”
He, too, was as dressed up as she was.
The golden embroidery on his high-collared uniform was extravagant. His silver hair was neatly combed back, exposing his smooth forehead and highlighting his sharp features—almost too handsome. Even the fine embroidery of the uniform paled in comparison to his appearance.
He obviously wasn’t wearing makeup, yet his skin was flawless and translucent. The chiseled nose, strong jawline—all added to his masculine charm. Even the way his red lips parted was…
“You have something else to say?”
Ah. The low voice snapped her out of her daze.
She thought she was used to his beauty by now—but clearly, she hadn’t reached that level.
Afraid he’d noticed her staring, Sellachia quickly looked around in a fluster.
“Aldritch isn’t here.”
“He won’t be for a while. Just like you wanted.”
“Why? Don’t tell me you actually sent him away?”
“It’s the usual. When the retainers’ meetings happen, he locks himself in his room.”
“…I’m jealous.”
Tenus’s tone turned firm at once.
“Not for you.”
“Did I say I would?”
She pouted. Tenus didn’t even glance her way.
He stubbornly kept his eyes forward the entire time, as if determined not to look at her at all. In contrast, Sellachia kept stealing glances at him.
She grew slightly self-conscious. Was she really so unimpressive that he wouldn’t spare her a glance?
The confidence she’d built from Nancy and Roberta’s compliments quickly deflated.
The suffocating dress felt even more unbearable. Coupled with her nerves, she felt short of breath.
Sellachia closed her eyes and frantically searched her mind for distraction. She needed to focus on anything other than the statue-like man beside her—like the names and portraits of the retainers she’d studied for days…
Then, suddenly, a large hand touched her back.
