Chapter 32
Selakia almost missed the large hand, but quickly readjusted her grip and gave the back of his hand a sharp slap filled with emotion.
“Stay still.”
She didn’t forget the warning in her eyes. Tenus wiggled his fingers but didn’t pull away from her grasp. Feeling like she had tamed a hunting dog, Selakia felt a bit proud.
“Ugh. You still won’t call Rupert in a situation like this?”
As she carefully unwrapped the bandage, a clicking sound escaped her lips. The bleeding had completely stopped, and although the wound wasn’t large, the exposed flesh looked terribly gruesome.
Hurriedly, Selakia poured the medicine bottle over the wound. Tenus, who had been silently clamping his mouth shut, let out a dry chuckle and asked in a hoarse voice,
“Do you even know what you’re putting on?”
“It’s from the duke’s office. It should be good for anything.”
Seeing that Tenus didn’t stop her, Selakia was sure of her guess. Confident in her assumption, she emptied half the bottle.
Tenus wasn’t even bothered by the sting; he smiled slightly. The only time he frowned faintly was when their skin touched directly.
It seemed the contact was more uncomfortable than the painful wound itself. Feeling a sudden surge of frustration, Selakia wrapped the cloth tightly with all her strength. Tenus didn’t make a single sound of complaint.
Watching Selakia concentrate all her energy on tying the knot silently, Tenus finally spoke.
“The ledger is managed by Aldrich, so go get it yourself.”
“Me, myself?”
Selakia’s hand faltered. She was staring blankly at the cloth, now sticky with the milky ointment.
“When you feel like you’re trapped between a deep blue sea and a demon…”
“……”
“First, try to take a moment to look around. Don’t recklessly plunge somewhere dangerous.”
Taken aback by the sudden words, Selakia quickly lifted her head. Tenus continued, his eyes as deep and blue as the sea.
“You might not be trapped alone.”
“……”
Selakia realized a moment too late that this was an answer to the question she had asked him yesterday.
She hadn’t expected Tenus to respond. It wasn’t really a question she hoped to be answered; more like a muttering born from self-pity.
She thought he hadn’t cared much because he had said nothing the day before, but apparently that wasn’t the case. His answer, after a whole day of consideration, was quite surprising.
As befitting Tenus, the next head of the family, his answer was solid, and, somewhat… cute. Selakia couldn’t help but laugh softly.
Tenus stared at her laughing for a long moment, then asked with a look of incomprehension.
“Why are you laughing?”
“I’m just impressed.”
“If you’re impressed, you laugh?”
“Am I not allowed to laugh?”
Selakia abruptly stopped laughing. Seeing he might have misunderstood, she added an explanation.
“I’m not mocking you. It’s just that I think the Seidon family duke is different after all. Calmness is good. It’s good advice.”
“Then keep laughing.”
“Fine.”
Her dry response quickly erased the impression she had received.
Selakia finished tying the knot with a sulky face. Before Tenus could pull his hand away first, she quickly pushed it away. Feeling childish but victorious, she felt somewhat better.
“Well. So what.”
She shot a triumphant look at Tenus, who was looking at her as if baffled.
Still, she didn’t feel like getting up and leaving the office just yet. She wanted to delay facing Aldrich as long as possible.
No matter how displeased Tenus might be, the man with a deeply cut wrist was far better than Aldrich for her.
While Selakia was killing time sitting on the sofa, Tenus suddenly asked an odd question.
“Do you know since when Aldrich has been showing me respect?”
Selakia tilted her head.
“Has he ever ignored you? Judging by how he looks now, it doesn’t seem like it.”
After some serious thought, Selakia answered.
“Hmm… maybe since you were officially announced heir?”
“No. Before that, exactly since I was fifteen.”
“Fifteen? Why?”
“That’s when I had a growth spurt. I passed Aldrich’s height then.”
“Height?” Selakia looked puzzled. Leaving her confused, Tenus got up as if he had said all he needed to.
“Go now.”
Selakia reluctantly got up awkwardly.
She imagined the young Tenus, who had just surpassed Aldrich’s height, looking up at him with a startled expression.
The current Tenus was at least a head taller than Aldrich. She couldn’t really picture him being smaller.
Height… Kira…
As Selakia opened the door, Roberta greeted her holding a pocket watch. And Nancy was…
“Oh my, Nancy. Are you okay? Look at this sweat. Have you been like this the whole time?”
“Y-yes. Huff. I’m… okay… oh dear.”
“Nancy, your posture is all messed up. Well, since the lady has come out, let’s call it a day.”
Nancy, who had been crouching with her arms stretched forward, stretched her legs with a moan. Selakia wiped the sweat beading on Nancy’s forehead with the end of her sleeve.
At that moment, she felt a prickling sensation at the back of her head. Turning around, she saw Dominic looking at them strangely from a step away.
“My business is done, so you should head inside, Dominic.”
“Huh? Ah… yes. Understood.”
Glancing back as he grabbed the doorknob, Dominic watched Nancy and Roberta curiously.
Selakia awkwardly smiled and waved at Dominic. As he disappeared inside the office, she told Nancy,
“Nancy, bring me the highest heels I have. Right now.”
Staggering forward with an unsteady gait, Selakia was nervously watched over by Nancy. Roberta flinched repeatedly, ready to catch her if she fell.
The heel hidden under her skirt was a full span high. Selakia gave an awkward smile as she took the precarious steps like walking on waves.
“Well then, I’ll be off.”
“Lady, this isn’t good. At least let me go with you to the duke’s office. What if you fall?”
“It’s right next door. If I make a fuss in the hallway like earlier, I’ll draw attention, so I’m training my stamina here.”
“But…”
“Well then, I’ll be off. Don’t overdo it, Nancy.”
Selakia quickly left the duchess’s office before Nancy and Roberta could stop her. She was just getting used to the shoes here.
As she kept walking, her steps improved from clumsy to somewhat acceptable. Seeing her reflection in the glass windows of the hallway, Selakia comforted herself that she didn’t look like a wobbling hermit crab.
“Sigh.”
A hollow laugh, like a sigh, escaped her lips. She felt ridiculous for looking for high heels she’d never worn before just to avoid being looked down on by Aldrich.
She understood that Tenus hadn’t meant just her physical ‘height.’ It implied Aldrich’s shallowness and low character. Seeing how differently Aldrich treated Tenus and the servants was enough to guess his despicable nature.
She just needed something to calm her mind. If being taller helped even a little, great; if not, the sharp heels could make a decent weapon.
“……”
Selakia slowed her steps as she approached the duke’s office between the duchess’s and the duke’s deputy’s offices.
Passing by the heavy door where Tenus’s office was, she glanced back at it.
Tenus knew where she was.
Somehow, that fact felt like a solid support behind her. Selakia’s shaky steps grew steadier and more determined. It was only a short walk to Aldrich’s office.
Knock, knock. When she knocked, Aldrich’s voice answered. She took a deep breath and opened the door confidently.
“…What are you doing here?”
Even from afar, Aldrich’s unpleasant expression was clear. His raspy voice compared to Tenus’s quiet tone a moment ago made her stomach turn.
Selakia clenched her brows but held back as best she could. Instead, she smiled calmly and offered a modest bow, recalling Tenus’s image and maintaining the proper etiquette.
“I came to get the ledger.”
With confident strides, she stood tall in front of Aldrich. His head, looking up at her from his seat, tilted slightly. Selakia kept her expression and secretly felt pleased with her satisfying eye level.
“The ledger?”
“Yes. I heard it used to be my responsibility. Now that I’m recovered, I want to take over my duties again.”
“Ahem.”
Aldrich coughed awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable, then raised his hand. Habitually, he stroked the golden ladybug ornament on his desk. He must have done it so often the delicate wing pattern was worn smooth and shiny.
“I’ve already gotten the duke’s permission.”
Selakia lifted her chin just enough to avoid looking obnoxious but to show a little defiance. Aldrich’s hand, stroking the ladybug, became rougher.
“You want to manage the Seidon family ledger yourself?”
“I can’t just stand by while the lady of the house neglects her role. Everyone is doing their best with their responsibilities; I must do my part too.”
“A role, huh.”
Aldrich sneered bitterly.
