Chapter 31
She had no intention of stopping Nancy from wanting to learn swordsmanship. However, sword training required Roberta’s permission. No matter how fond she was of Nancy, she couldn’t bring in an external instructor for a maid.
“Sir Belfona. Could you teach Nancy swordsmanship instead of me?”
“Huh? Nancy? Are you serious?”
“Please, Knight! I’ll work really hard. I’ll even cut back on eating and sleeping to learn. Please? Can’t I?”
“…Calm down, Nancy. Even the notoriously strict military academies don’t push their trainees that hard.”
“I’ll work harder than any cadet!”
Roberta, staring into Nancy’s burning eyes full of determination, muttered quietly.
“As expected, Nancy really is just like the Madam, down to her nostrils…”
“Sir Belfona!”
“Ahem. Well, fine. Madam, are you giving permission?”
Sellaquia, worried Roberta might say something strange again, simply nodded without loosening her expression.
“Very well. I’ve been rather bored anyway, so if Madam approves, I’ll gladly accept.”
Roberta laughed cheerfully. Her bright smile somehow felt chilling.
* * *
Roberta, with a stern look, said she needed to assess Nancy’s physical condition and began feeling her here and there.
“…Why are you so solid? You’ve got quite a bit of muscle.”
Nancy proudly placed her hands on her hips.
“I was even more toned before serving the Madam. Back then, I cleaned all day.”
“Then no worries about your physical strength.”
“Of course not. I built this strength running up and down stairs with buckets of water. Knight, I’m good with an axe too! I chopped firewood for my older brother since I was a child.”
“Really? Hmm. Then maybe a dane axe would be best… no, she’s short, so maybe a longsword. That might be more fun…”
To already be worrying about Nancy’s weapon, when she hadn’t even held a sword before—Roberta was clearly serious about her training.
Watching the two chatter excitedly from the side of the bedroom, Sellaquia recalled the mountain of problems before her. It occurred to her that this was no time to be leisurely cheering on Nancy’s sword lessons.
The “problem” that was tormenting Sellaquia was none other than the upcoming banquet.
“I really hate this…”
A deep sigh escaped her. Was this what it felt like to helplessly face a towering tsunami? It felt as miserable as dealing with Aldrich himself.
Part of her wanted to flee out of fear, and part of her wanted to ruin the whole banquet just to make Tenus twist his face in frustration.
And yet… she also wanted to do a good job. For once, she wanted to carry out a responsibility given to her properly.
“In that case, I need to get the ledger first.”
The estate’s ledger, symbolizing authority, was essential for performing the role of hostess. Reviewing past expenditures would tell her what preparations were needed for the banquet.
With a goal in mind, it was time to act. But Sellaquia hesitated, unable to rise easily from her seat.
To claim temporary custody of the ledger, she’d need to see Tenus. Aldrich currently managed the records, but actual permission had to come from Tenus, the true master.
However, last night’s events made facing him feel awkward.
“Madam, is there something you need?”
Nancy, who was having her stamina evaluated by Roberta in the corner, quickly turned to her.
Sellaquia flinched at being caught fidgeting and abruptly stood up.
“Ah, um…”
“Are you heading out? To the garden? Or maybe to the library to read?”
“Neither. …I’m going to the Duke’s office. No need to follow. You and Sir Belfona stay here and continue training.”
“What are you saying? Of course you come before training! Right, Knight?”
Roberta, arms crossed while watching Nancy, swiftly swung open the bedroom door.
“Obviously. Especially after last night’s incident—how could we let Madam go alone? Let’s go, Madam.”
And so, Roberta and Nancy accompanied her all the way to the office.
The door to the office loomed large and imposing as always. Sellaquia hid her mixed feelings and knocked before stepping inside.
Roberta and Nancy naturally waited outside, while Dominic greeted her with a bow, as if expecting her.
“Madam. You’ve come.”
“Good afternoon, Shaik.”
“I’ll take my leave, then.”
Without even being asked, Dominic quickly exited the office. She didn’t even have a chance to stop him. It felt as if she had unintentionally driven him out.
As Sellaquia stood awkwardly, staring at the door he’d disappeared through, a low voice came from behind.
“Have you finally decided to send Aldrich off on the slave ship?”
Tenus looked at her crookedly from his seat. Sellaquia ignored his nonsense with practiced calm and sat on the sofa in the middle of the office. Her movements were natural, as if it were her own space.
“I’d like to manage the ledger for a while.”
She didn’t want to drag things out unnecessarily, so she got straight to the point. Her eyes turned toward the wide window behind Tenus’s seat. The picturesque garden view was perfect for soothing her nerves.
But even that solace didn’t last long. Tenus stood up, blocking her view with his ridiculously broad frame.
He approached her, clearly expecting an explanation. Sellaquia stubbornly stared straight ahead.
“I don’t mean to keep it permanently. But I need the ledger to prepare for the banquet…”
Coincidentally, her line of sight was at the level of Tenus’s wrist. As she spoke, her gaze drifted to his left wrist, where she had tied a bandage the night before. It was unavoidable.
Though his shirt sleeves were loose and covered most of it, when he sat down across from her and ran his hand through his hair, the fabric tightened slightly, revealing his wrist.
“…What the?”
Sellaquia furrowed her brow, momentarily forgetting her train of thought. The knot in the bandage was very familiar.
“You didn’t call Rupert? Why is the knot I tied still there?”
“For this level of injury, I didn’t think it necessary to call Rupert. Continue.”
“This level? Are you planning to call the physician only after you’ve turned into a corpse?”
Tenus blinked his silver eyelashes with an expression that said he didn’t see the problem. Sellaquia let out a dumbfounded sigh.
She had thought he was a hypochondriac, constantly emphasizing that not dying was the Duchess’s duty. But apparently, that wasn’t the case.
Feeling like reason wouldn’t work, Sellaquia sprang to her feet, ready to summon Rupert immediately.
“Sit. There’s no need to invite misunderstandings by calling Rupert.”
“I can just say it was for a check-up.”
Tenus gazed at her with calm, subdued eyes. Sellaquia understood instantly what that look meant.
“…You’ve never had a check-up before, have you?”
“Now we’re getting somewhere. Sit.”
She didn’t want to sit down so obediently. Remaining on her feet, Sellaquia glared at the red-stained bandage. It irritated her—she couldn’t leave it alone.
Maybe it was because the injury had been meant for her. Whether out of responsibility or guilt, the emotions stirred her uneasily.
“This is the Duke’s office, right? Unlike the bedroom, you must have some first aid supplies here.”
Without waiting for a reply, she began rummaging through the office. Fortunately, in a built-in cabinet, she quickly found clean cloth and a bottle of unknown medicine.
Clutching her finds with satisfaction, she returned to sit beside Tenus. He looked at her in mild surprise as she sat close beside him.
“You’re going to treat it yourself?”
“You say that like I didn’t already do it yesterday. Give me your hand.”
Tenus’s eyes widened slightly. It wasn’t a dramatic reaction, but for someone so reserved in expression, it was easy to tell he was surprised.
“Your hand?”
Tenus didn’t move an inch. So Sellaquia reached out and forcefully grabbed his left hand. His large hand flinched sharply, like a fish caught in a net.
She glanced up. Tenus’s face had gone rigid. His neatly shaped lips were drawn tight, and even the muscles in his jaw had tensed, as if he were clenching his teeth.
He must really dislike this contact. Sellaquia felt slightly wronged.
He was the one who looked at her while she slept, who touched her without permission last night—though not directly. Still… he had.
