Chapter 62
Tenus lightly smoothed out Selakia’s messy hair in her half-asleep state and withdrew his hand.
“Looks like I’ll get a good view before the servants leave.”
His voice carried a hint of amusement.
Only then did Selakia realize what a state she was in.
After crying her heart out the night before, she had barely changed her dress and collapsed into bed. Her eyes were predictably puffy, and her hair, hastily brushed without Nancy’s help, was in complete disarray.
Thinking this, she hastily pulled the blanket over her head. Still, feeling uneasy, she demanded in a shrill voice:
“Why… why are you here right now?”
“Is it a problem that I’m in my room?”
“You usually leave early. Why are you still here today?”
“Well…”
Tenus answered unusually hesitantly.
“Because you’re too tired to move?”
Perhaps he was tired after the three-day-long meetings and last night’s banquet.
But judging by Tenus’s unusually bright complexion, he didn’t seem fatigued enough to be slacking. Selakia scrutinized his face, the one she had glimpsed just before covering her eyes with the blanket.
Despite the early morning, his complexion was as flawless as ever, and his clear eyes showed no hint of sleepiness. Though a faint trace of fatigue lingered at the corners of his eyes, it only enhanced Tenus’s characteristic aura.
She suspected he had dressed immediately upon waking. His appearance sharply contrasted with her own swollen eyes and disheveled hair.
Selakia muttered under the blanket, eager to send him away:
“Today’s the day the servants leave. Go see them off…”
“I can’t hear you. Are you planning to keep talking under the blanket?”
Tenus tugged at the blanket. Selakia gripped it tightly with both hands and resisted.
“No. I want to stay like this.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to!”
Expecting him to snatch the blanket away, Tenus surprisingly relaxed his grip. Selakia quickly pulled the blanket back over her head.
Tenus poked at the rolled-up blanket like a shell.
“Am I supposed to see the servants off alone?”
Indeed, seeing off the servants wasn’t only Tenus’s duty. As the lady of the house, Selakia should be by his side.
Embarrassed, Selakia rubbed her eyes.
Noticing her concern even from under the blanket, Tenus said:
“The servants aren’t leaving until the afternoon. You have time. Get ready slowly.”
His voice was as gentle as usual, as if nothing had happened yesterday.
Selakia, feeling a tickle on her tongue from his indifferent kindness, spoke. Since he couldn’t see her face, it was easier to start talking.
“About yesterday… aren’t you going to ask?”
Tenus remained silent for a moment before replying:
“If you’re asking what Count wrote in the letter, will you answer me?”
“Huh? Didn’t you read it first?”
“Why would I read a letter addressed to you?”
“You checked the box.”
“That was for security reasons. I can’t read every private letter whose contents I don’t know.”
Surprised, Selakia blinked blankly under the blanket.
“…That’s surprisingly reasonable.”
Muttering this, Tenus exhaled in disbelief but didn’t respond. He seemed to be waiting for her answer.
Hesitant, Selakia whispered in a small voice:
“I just… wished them well. That’s all.”
They couldn’t speak as if they were children of the same family.
Thankfully, she was still under the blanket. Otherwise, her flushed, messy face could have embarrassed her even more.
Tenus remained silent, then rustled and stood up, finally ready to leave.
Selakia slowly pulled the blanket halfway down to watch him leave. When she peeked with one eye, their gazes met.
“…”
“…”
Tenus’s lips moved as if he wanted to speak, but then a knock came.
Knock knock.
“Ma’am, you’re awake…”
Nancy, who had quietly entered, was startled to see Tenus.
She looked between Selakia wrapped in the blanket and Tenus standing beside her, then hurriedly bowed.
“D-Duke, hello. I thought you wouldn’t be here since Ma’am was asleep. Uh… I, um, felt bad for not helping Ma’am change yesterday…”
Clearly flustered, Nancy babbled. Tenus ignored her and focused on Selakia’s partially hidden face, then walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he gave Nancy a brief instruction:
“Bring Selakia a hot compress.”
“Eh? Ah, yes!”
Hearing Nancy’s automatic response, Tenus disappeared from the room.
“Huh… hot compress?”
Nancy stared at the door Tenus had exited and at Selakia, who looked unusually disheveled today. After a moment, she realized the command was for her.
“Oh… so that’s why the Duke stayed in the bedroom so late. Since Ma’am isn’t feeling well… Of course, still… at least for a while…”
Nancy muttered to herself with a flushed face and approached Selakia.
Selakia lowered the blanket and tilted her head.
“Nancy, your face is so red. Are you feeling unwell?”
“Ah, it’s nothing. I need to… change the bedding first…”
“Why the bedding all of a sudden?”
Could she have noticed from my puffy face that I cried a lot last night?
Selakia, feeling gloomy, pulled the blanket back over her head.
“The bedding’s fine. It’s not soaked from yesterday…”
I didn’t cry.
Before she could finish, Nancy suddenly screamed:
“If the bedding’s fine, I-I’ll quickly bring the hot compress!”
Bouncing in place, Nancy rushed out of the bedroom.
Roberta, walking into the bedroom, scratched the back of her head as she watched Nancy dash off.
“Why’s Nancy acting like that this morning, Ma’am? Running like a chicken with its tail on fire.”
Selakia shrugged, unaware of the reason.
Though flustered, Nancy returned with a large leather pouch filled with hot water and another packed with frozen ice.
It was big enough to wrap around her waist, but Selakia only placed it over her eyes and face.
Nancy, puzzled, carefully massaged Selakia’s arms and legs, seemingly to reduce swelling and improve circulation. She even massaged her waist, showing such care that Selakia was deeply touched.
“Thank you, Nancy. I feel much better thanks to you.”
Feeling genuinely praised, Nancy twisted her body in delight. Today, for some reason, she focused on sewing rather than sword practice.
By afternoon, the swelling had subsided somewhat. Selakia, still anxious, went down to the hall.
Fortunately, the servants didn’t notice anything unusual about her face. They all smiled as they left, seemingly still enjoying the banquet from the night before.
“Madam, please forgive yesterday’s rudeness.”
The young ladies from the banquet also offered friendly farewells. Even those who had questioned Selakia’s status were polite.
“Madam, if you have difficulties, don’t hesitate to contact me!”
“Having a good mentor beside you, Madam, you’ll do well.”
“It’s such a relief that you’re here, Madam…”
Some even pressed their eyes with their fingers in farewell.
Tenus appeared surprised by their warm words. They didn’t stop there—they asked him to look after Selakia as well.
As Selakia’s gaze fell toward the floor, Rashli appeared.
“Madam!”
With a bright expression, Rashli ran over and whispered to Selakia:
“I talked with my sister yesterday!”
“Really? Just yesterday?”
Selakia couldn’t help admiring Rashli’s initiative. She repeatedly exclaimed in surprise:
“What did Count Sob say? I was right, wasn’t I?”
“Yes! We agreed to enjoy half an hour of tea together every day, but we won’t bring up the Duke or marriage.”
“I knew it! That’s wonderful!”
Selakia beamed, delighted as if it were her own success. Rashli glanced at Tenus talking with the other servants and quietly added:
“I really liked the Duke. I didn’t lie or use him… Ah, I’m not complaining to you, Madam! I think you two are perfect for each other!”
Recalling the first day of the servants’ meeting, Rashli waved her hands desperately in the air.
Selakia smiled and took the child’s small hand.
“Thank you. You’ll meet someone even better, Rashli.”
“Hmm… I don’t think anyone’s better than the Duke…”
Rashli hesitated but spoke politely.
