Chapter 67
Whether he truly meant it or not, Tenus snatched the bracelet from Selakia’s hand. With his large, strong hand, it looked as if the bracelet might shatter into pieces at any moment.
“Why throw away something so precious? Give it here.”
Selakia tried to wrest the bracelet back from Tenus’s grip, but it was futile. He lifted his hand high, avoiding her reach entirely.
Selakia couldn’t overpower Tenus, who was considerably taller than her. No matter how much she jumped up and down, she couldn’t even come close to his hand.
“That’s so unfair…”
“Throw it away?”
Tenus shook the bracelet lightly. From the height, the glowing shell bracelet sparkled like a star.
Selakia, feeling almost as if surrendering, replied quietly,
“…I’ll keep it.”
As if he had been waiting for that, Tenus gently placed the bracelet on her wrist himself. It gave her a strange sensation, almost as if receiving a gift.
A gift.
The thought made her mind wander to lingonberry jam.
Why had Tenus asked Count Sob to get lingonberry jam? She wanted to ask, but her lips hesitated.
“I’ll only keep it until Princess Seidon comes.”
Yet the words that came out were strangely decisive.
Selakia didn’t have the courage to ask further, unsure of how Tenus might respond. The thought of hearing another evasive answer, full of unspoken issues, made her feel uneasy.
She didn’t want to admit it, but it was a cowardly avoidance.
Selakia couldn’t understand why a single word from Tenus made her so timid, leaving her frustrated.
Tenus, oblivious to her complicated thoughts, spoke matter-of-factly:
“Fine. Though I don’t know if she’ll ever come back.”
Selakia, who had been staring absentmindedly at the bracelet, looked up in confusion.
“Are you saying the princess won’t return? Why? Isn’t she studying abroad?”
“Studying abroad is just a convenient excuse to leave home.”
“Leave home?”
“She doesn’t like it here very much.”
Selakia couldn’t understand. Why would Princess Seidon dislike her home? She wasn’t even half-blooded like Selakia, nor was she an outcast in the family.
Selakia looked up at Tenus with curious eyes but didn’t speak. From experience, it was better not to pry into the intimate matters of a family.
If the princess didn’t come back, she could just leave the jewelry in the jewelry box when she left.
Thinking this, Selakia gently caressed the smooth bracelet.
Since her mother had given her a Rinoche pearl bracelet, she had never liked any bracelet this much. Even the expensive jewelry Tenus had bought at Laura’s workshop couldn’t compare—it was several times more precious.
“….”
Tenus watched Selakia fidget with the bracelet silently, seemingly studying her expression.
Selakia tried to ignore him, but Tenus’s deep blue gaze prickled uncomfortably. Unable to bear the sensation crawling over her skin, she finally spoke.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Do you have something to say?”
“I do.”
Tenus nodded, but hesitated before speaking further.
No matter the situation, he was known for his composure—someone unshaken even by civil war. If he was hesitating, whatever he had to say must be serious.
Selakia’s blue eyes flickered with unease.
“…What is it? Did something bad happen?”
His answer was surprisingly mundane:
“Someone from the palace will come.”
Surely they weren’t coming to declare war on Seidon…
Selakia let out a delayed, dull sigh.
“Ah. The marriage certification.”
She had guessed it might happen soon, but Tenus’s words sounded almost dreamlike.
Tenus tilted his head, observing Selakia, who only nodded vaguely.
“You don’t seem very pleased. I thought you’d be overjoyed.”
“It’s just… What about you? You can finally inherit the title you’ve been wanting. Why do you look like that?”
“I’ve wanted the title?”
One of Tenus’s eyebrows lifted. He seemed to suggest he had never desired the title at all.
Selakia snorted at his act. He had gone through a marriage he didn’t want just for a title—was this his white lie for her now?
Turning a deaf ear to his undesired consideration, she said,
“Understood. I’ll prepare the guest room for the palace envoy.”
“No need. We’ll go ourselves.”
“We’ll go? But you said someone is coming.”
“The royal family has a villa in the Seidon territory.”
Selakia blinked, surprised by the sudden mention of a royal villa.
Her confusion turned to shock as Tenus continued:
“The princess wants to meet there.”
“Princess…?”
“Since our marriage certification was disrupted once before, it seems the princess herself will attend this time, for appearances.”
“That’s impossible!”
It was unprecedented. The royal family had never intervened in a noble’s marriage certification before.
Apparently, the impact of Selakia missing the first certification last month was greater than expected. Perhaps it also mattered that the Seidon family was one of only two duke families in the entire Pangaea Empire.
Selakia desperately hoped Tenus was joking, though she knew him well enough to know he never played such meaningless tricks.
Seeing Tenus’s endlessly serious expression, Selakia asked half-resigned:
“When will the princess arrive at the villa?”
“Today.”
“…What?”
“And we need to go tomorrow.”
“Hey!”
Her carefully composed composure broke with frustration.
“Why didn’t you say anything earlier?!”
The next day.
Selakia watched the servants load the carriage with a pale expression.
Since yesterday, the sky had been gloomy, and now the rain poured steadily. The drizzle perfectly reflected her mood.
The emperor’s princess.
It felt utterly unreal. To her, a “princess” seemed as fantastical as sea gods or mermaids.
“She’ll be staying about a week. That should be enough.”
Magritte, instead of Selakia, commanded the servants. Hearing this, Selakia’s mood darkened further.
“A whole week… will she really stay that long?”
Magritte smiled in reply.
After all, even the head maid of the Seidon household, with over thirty years of experience, likely had never faced such a unique situation.
Selakia let out a low sigh and glanced around.
“Where’s Amy now?”
“She’s preparing the carriage she’ll ride in.”
“Did she refuse to go?”
Magritte responded with a careful smile:
“Not at all. She enjoys representing the Seidon family.”
Selakia couldn’t sympathize, but it was a relief. If Amy had insisted on staying behind, she would have been seriously worried.
Selakia repeated her instructions to Magritte, as she had several times since yesterday:
“If anything happens, make sure to send a message immediately. Even the smallest thing. Understood?”
“Don’t worry, Milady. I will.”
At that moment, Tenus emerged from the study, glancing at Selakia and Magritte with curiosity.
“When did you two become so close?”
“Well… it just happened.”
Selakia winked at Magritte without Tenus noticing.
“Magritte, please handle the remaining luggage.”
“Yes, Milady.”
Magritte bowed and moved away discreetly. Selakia busied herself as well.
She turned toward Nancy, standing dejectedly under a tree, sheltered from some of the rain. Nancy’s head and clothes were still wet.
Feeling Selakia’s presence, Nancy muttered loudly enough for her to hear:
“I can manage perfectly on my own…”
“…Even if Amy doesn’t come, I can serve you flawlessly…”
Selakia tilted her umbrella toward Nancy, who slouched unhappily.
“Of course you’ll handle your duties well. It’s not that I doubt you, Nancy. I’m bringing Amy because I’m worried it might be too much for you, and we’re going to an unfamiliar place.”
“I’m not struggling at all! Serving you is my joy!”
“Hmm. Are you upset, Nancy? Did I worry about you for no reason?”
“No… it’s not that. I’m grateful for your concern! But still…”
Nancy, proud of her role as Selakia’s personal maid, clearly felt her pride bruised by Amy accompanying them.
Selakia whispered to her, hoping to ease her mood:
“Amy is only temporary. You’re my only personal maid, Nancy.”
Nancy blushed, lips pursed.
Had her words been understood?
Selakia, unable to suppress her lingering worry, added:
“So if Amy causes trouble, tell me immediately.”
“…Yes?”
“Avoid being alone with her whenever possible. And if she tries anything, use the techniques you learned from Lord Belpona.”
“Milady…?”
“I’ll watch your back, so don’t worry. Understand?”
Selakia spoke with utmost seriousness, leaving Nancy bewildered.
In truth, Selakia herself was far less keen on bringing Amy than Nancy was. But there was no other way. The news Magritte had relayed yesterday had left her very concerned.
