Chapter 69
Selakia’s face stiffened gravely.
“I’m suddenly worried about the safety of the Seyden duchy.”
“I’m just shelving it because it’s not something I can control.”
At Edu’s sharp remark, Tenus replied nonchalantly.
“If I pretend to know Amy, I’ll probably end up pretending to know about the things she’s done too.”
“……”
“Should I do that?”
Tenus’s eyes gleamed darkly. Even as a joke, Selakia couldn’t nod her head.
“…Even the head of a household can’t possibly remember every servant. It could happen.”
So what if Amy thought it suspicious? Selakia decided she would just watch the situation unfold with a lighter heart.
It wasn’t exactly a satisfying way to deal with things. Still, she was relieved that Tenus, in his own strange way, had at least listened.
The carriage had by now passed through the city streets and entered a quiet road.
“How long until the imperial villa?”
“About an hour. Maybe longer since it’s raining.”
“Do you know exactly which princess is coming?”
“It was the Third Princess herself who wrote the letter. She said she’d visit along with Marquis Noillian.”
Marquis Noillian was the husband of the Third Princess, Camilla Lys Pangaea. Both husband and wife had come all the way to the Seyden duchy.
The anxiety she had been trying to ignore resurfaced.
“Isn’t it strange for royalty to come personally like this?”
“The Third Princess isn’t the type to make political moves. She’s probably here out of personal interest.”
“You never know. There could be hidden motives.”
Tenus received Selakia’s uneasy glance with his usual calm.
“You overthink sometimes. Needlessly.”
It was an accurate point.
Her thoughts often spiraled out of control, a habit left from the days when she had lived confined to her room with nothing else to do.
But Selakia didn’t want to obediently admit he was right, so she only pouted slightly.
“I wish I had peace of mind like you.”
“I don’t see what there is to worry about. Just as Seyden shows no interest in politics, the imperial family doesn’t pay much attention to Seyden either.”
Tenus was right—the Seyden duchy’s presence in the capital was weak compared to the family’s actual influence. The duke rarely left his distant lands. If he wanted, he could have become a great noble to rival the imperial family, but he hadn’t.
For Selakia, this was a relief. If the Seyden duchy had been more involved with the capital, her life would have been far more turbulent.
“I only hope Princess Camilla has no interest in us either.”
Muttering her wish, Selakia asked,
“Do you know her well?”
“Thanks to someone, yes.”
Tenus smirked crookedly.
“Because I was the only one forced to listen endlessly to Viscount Damanian at the banquet.”
“……”
“Such a pitiful fate. Don’t you think?”
“……”
The memory of pushing Tenus toward the viscount at the banquet—so she could meet Chester—flashed through her mind.
As Selakia shifted guiltily, Tenus chuckled.
“As I said, the Third Princess isn’t political. She’s more interested in luxuries like jewels and dresses. They say she dominates the social scene and likes investing in fashion houses.”
Selakia suddenly looked down at her outfit.
She and Nancy had combined their tastes into the dress she wore—but would it satisfy someone with such refined taste?
This wasn’t just about her personal image, but about her family’s prestige. The faces of the retainers she’d met a few days ago floated up in her mind.
The subtle sheen of the expensive silk, the graceful flow of the skirt—they looked beautiful to her eyes…
But maybe she should’ve worn the moiré-patterned gown with scattered jewels that Nancy had strongly recommended.
As Selakia anxiously fingered her skirt, Tenus said,
“The marriage certification is just a formality. The princess won’t make things difficult. You only need to show your face for a few days and be her conversation partner.”
“That conversation is the hardest part…”
“What’s hard about that?”
His clear expression showed he had no idea how troubled she felt.
Well, this was Tenus. He would probably speak just as bluntly even in front of the Emperor.
Selakia quickly gave up trying to make him understand. But Tenus still added,
“Even if you offend the imperial family, it doesn’t matter. Just act as you please.”
“What? You can’t say that!”
Tenus tilted his head, as if he didn’t see the problem. Selakia’s face went pale.
Maybe the real obstacle in this meeting with the princess wasn’t herself, but Tenus…
Selakia swallowed a sigh and steeled her resolve. She would handle things properly, even on his behalf.
Just as Tenus had said, the trip to the villa took a little over an hour.
The villa sat halfway up a quiet mountain path. Though old, it was extremely well maintained.
The surrounding scenery of trees and fields was peaceful, and the seabirds circling overhead suggested the sea wasn’t far.
Knights stood guard at the gates. They seemed to be the Third Princess’s escort. As soon as Selakia and Tenus stepped down from their carriage, the knights approached sternly.
“Please cooperate with a search.”
The clanking of their armor carried a strong sense of intimidation.
Selakia’s shoulders tightened—not from fear, but because the leg holster hidden under her skirt pressed uncomfortably against her.
Before the knights could get close, Tenus blocked their path.
“Is this by order of the princess?”
“No, sir. It’s simply a standard procedure for the safety of the royal family.”
“I refuse.”
“…What?”
“It seems you don’t realize who your guest is today.”
The knight faltered at his cold tone, but stubbornly held his ground.
“Lord Tenus of Seyden does not need to be searched. But the lady must be.”
The knight turned to Selakia. Their eyes met, and she stepped forward hesitantly.
It wasn’t a crime for a noblewoman to carry something for self-defense. The problem was only that this was an audience with royalty. Still, she thought she might excuse it as a mere habit.
Selakia smiled gracefully, preparing her excuse—when Tenus suddenly pulled her close.
He placed a broad arm casually over her shoulders and declared arrogantly,
“She is my wife.”
“……”
“Do you need more explanation?”
Selakia’s prepared excuse vanished down her throat.
Even the knight who had been so firm froze and stared blankly at Tenus.
Silence fell around them, broken only by distant murmurs.
In Tenus’s arms, Selakia lowered her head. To have their relationship so openly declared—not even before family, but strangers—was mortifying. She almost felt it would be easier to just hand over the holster.
At that moment, someone ran up and shattered the awkward silence.
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing here, idiot?”
He smacked the knight on the back of the head, then bowed deeply to Tenus and Selakia.
“My apologies. He’s new and a little too eager. Please don’t take offense, Lord Tenus, Lady Tenus.”
Grabbing the dazed knight by the collar, he dragged him away, scolding loudly.
“What’s wrong with you? Do you have some powerful backer I don’t know about? You were told to search only the carriages and attendants! Didn’t you hear the captain earlier?”
His voice faded into the distance, still lecturing the new recruit.
But Selakia couldn’t hear the rest—because the sudden clamor of blades rang out.
“Don’t move! Resist and you’ll be executed for treason on the spot!”
The knights inspecting the luggage carts had all drawn their swords.
Selakia turned toward the shouts.
“…Nancy?”
There, surrounded by armed knights, was Nancy—her neck pressed against a blade.
