Chapter 35
Count Sove.
Selachia engraved that name at the very top of the countless vassals stored in her mind. She didn’t know the person’s face or even their gender, but for some reason, she felt like they would understand each other well.
“You like them.”
Tenus casually remarked, as if he could see straight through her mind. Selachia feigned ignorance.
“They must have excellent insight.”
Tenus narrowed his eyes, then burst into a light chuckle. It wasn’t unpleasant—rather, it sounded genuinely amused.
Selachia found herself smiling too, then suddenly let out a small exclamation.
“Oh, right. I’m meeting Piregen Youngsik tomorrow. We’re supposed to meet in the plaza, so I’m planning to go out.”
She wasn’t obligated to report it to Tenus, and he likely didn’t care, but it still felt like the right thing to do. As expected, Tenus merely furrowed his brows slightly and gave a small nod.
Since she was on a roll, Selachia decided to confirm something else.
“You once told me I’d have the same rights as you. Does that still apply even outside the ducal estate?”
“Even if you cross the sea and step foot in the land of the dead, it won’t change.”
It was an unequivocal affirmation, leaving no room for doubt. It was the answer she wanted, but Selachia still wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. She couldn’t help but feel unnerved whenever Tenus said things like that.
The smile tugging at Tenus’s lips deepened. Selachia shot him a sideways glare, then shifted her gaze to the rustling bushes nearby.
There, curled up between the dense shrubs of the flowerbed, was a small figure. It was the cat she had seen before.
“Oh!”
Selachia unintentionally let out a delighted cry. At that moment, Tenus’s gaze followed hers. In a rush to divert his attention, Selachia asked hastily,
“Aren’t you leaving?”
“What?”
“You’re busy, right? You should go.”
Tenus’s eyes, which had been heading toward the cat, turned back to her. Selachia breathed a quiet sigh of relief and nodded toward the mansion.
“Used me up, so now I’m being tossed aside?”
“Oh my. Did you hear that? My inner thoughts.”
Tilting his head with a crooked smile, Tenus didn’t bother hiding his irritation. But perhaps he really couldn’t afford to waste more time—he got up without protest.
“Take Belfona with you tomorrow.”
“Of course. I won’t forget Sir Pinter either.”
Selachia referred to the mark with a pinch of sarcasm. Tenus threw a glance toward the treetops of a nearby tree with thick branches.
Ah, not behind the tree—above it.
She made a mental note of the new information. In the meantime, Tenus was already far away. He turned his back without even a glance, let alone a farewell. Cold-hearted to the end.
“Well… him taking time to teach me the ledgers was already out of character.”
Despite pouting her lips, Selachia didn’t take her eyes off Tenus until he completely disappeared into the mansion. Only then did she call for Nancy.
Nancy, who had been tirelessly swinging her wooden sword, was drenched in sweat. Selachia wiped the sweat from Nancy’s forehead with her sleeve as the girl approached.
“Nancy, could you go to the kitchen and bring some food for the cat?”
Blushing from the gesture, Nancy nodded.
“The cat came back? Sure! Just a moment. I’ll be back in a flash!”
“The cat doesn’t seem likely to run off, so take your time. Have a snack, and if you want, rest a little out of sight from Sir Belfona. I’m worried you’re overworking yourself.”
Selachia lowered her voice and glanced toward Roberta. Nancy giggled.
“I’m having so much fun I don’t even feel tired. I’ll be back soon, my lady. Please wait just a bit!”
With a cheerful reply, Nancy hurried off. Watching the ever-diligent Nancy go, Selachia approached the cat cautiously.
Roberta had already spotted the cat and taken three steps back, pretending not to see it.
The cat, lounging arrogantly, swished its tail against the ground when Selachia entered its view. Clearly annoyed, but it didn’t get up to flee.
Selachia chuckled.
“Do you like me, or not?”
“……”
“You’re staying for the food even though I’m annoying, huh?”
“……”
“So you hate me but love the food?”
Of course, the cat gave no reply.
Gray fur, dark eyes, and that cold demeanor.
Yes, this cat resembled Tenus.
Which was precisely why she didn’t want Tenus to see it.
He might already know about the cat through Roberta or Mark’s reports, but it was different if he saw it with his own eyes.
Tenus was unlikely to feel anything toward the cat. Most likely, yes.
Even thinking that, Selachia couldn’t suppress the nervous flutter in her chest.
* * *
Thud.
The thick glass window gave a heavy thump. Aldritch’s fierce face was reflected in the smooth surface as he punched it in frustration.
“Just look at that!”
Aldritch pointed to the extravagant garden of the Saden Duchy outside the window. A place that combined the untouched majesty of nature with meticulously calculated artistry.
There, in the distance, a couple stood out even from afar.
It was clearly Tenus and Selachia, sharing a table, looking very much like lovers.
“You said you could definitely drive a wedge between them! You couldn’t possibly imagine the humiliation I’ve endured these past two days, you lowly wretch!”
He turned abruptly to glare at the person standing nearby with hands neatly folded.
Amy bowed her head. Her face radiated irritation, but her voice carried an earnest, pleading tone.
“But Lord Logue, I was caught off guard. You never told me there was another escort besides that tall one.”
“That was… something I didn’t know either.”
“If even you didn’t know, how could someone as lowly as me? So it’s not entirely my fault, is it? If that knight from House Pinter hadn’t shown up, we would’ve had the upper hand.”
A hint of annoyance leaked into her voice despite herself. Aldritch’s labored, angry breaths grew louder. Amy smoothly continued with a submissive tone.
“You’re so wise, Lord Logue, not like an uneducated girl like me. I know you’ll understand.”
“……”
“With your keen insight in governing House Saden, please guide me. That upcoming banquet—it must be our chance, right?”
Aldritch cleared his throat and tried to suppress his anger. Apparently, he never grew tired of being flattered daily.
Well, of course. Where else would a fool like that hear such praise?
Even the lowliest servants didn’t respect him—such was Aldritch Logue.
Though she wore a subservient expression, Amy was viciously mocking him inside.
“There will be many people coming and going during the vassals’ council, so don’t come to me then. We must be especially careful.”
“……”
“This is your final chance. Isn’t it your failure to handle Selachia properly that brought all this upon us?”
Once again, Aldritch gave no specific instructions on how she was supposed to “handle” Selachia.
At first, Amy suspected he was trying to sever ties with her, but now she knew the truth.
Aldritch simply lacked the brains.
As fragile as his emaciated body, his nerves couldn’t handle pressure. During the vassals’ council, he wouldn’t even set foot outside his room.
Stupid, pathetic, weak man.
Which made him perfect.
The kind of man who could be used by even a lowly girl like her.
Suppressing a smirk, Amy bowed deeply.
“Lord Logue, I’ll make sure to repay your kindness. Please trust me this time!”
“You’d better. If you fail again, next time it won’t be my office you visit, but the dungeon—”
Just then—
Bang! The office door burst open without warning.
Amy quickly grabbed the rag she had set aside and pretended to be wiping down a nearby bookshelf. From the corner of her eye, she saw Aldritch frozen in place, looking as suspicious as ever.
You idiot!
She nearly hurled the rag at his disgusting face.
“A maid cleaning, I see.”
As she focused on her work to calm her rising fury, a low voice brushed her ear.
“I heard voices—thought there might be a guest.”
It was the master of the mansion. The slyly handsome Tenus Saden.
Amy turned and greeted him, answering in place of the speechless Aldritch.
“Lord Logue asked me to bring some water. I was just about to go after wiping this bookshelf.”
“And who are you?”
“…Sorry?”
“I don’t recognize your face.”
The look of triumph Amy had been savoring cracked.
You don’t know me? …You, of all people? Tenus Saden?
