The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 129

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

“What can’t I do?”

I couldn’t tell if this was shamelessness or a lack of self-awareness.

I let out a hollow laugh and cleared my throat.

“Then shall we try it once? Ahem, I’m a bit thirsty.”

Without a word, a water glass was suddenly thrust at me.

Dumbfounded, I took the sloshing glass and somehow continued the rehearsal.

“Where did you say we’re going today?”

“Didn’t I just explain that to you?”

“I forgot. Tell me once more.”

“…You forgot already?”

No, just answer the question, you…

I forced myself to continue asking questions.

“It seems a bit stuffy in here, don’t you think?”

“It’s a carriage.”

“Right, it would be stuffy since it’s a carriage.”

“I suppose so.”

‘This is maddening!’

I finally grabbed the back of my neck.

“And you’re saying you can act as an attendant well like this?!”

“Was there something I answered wrong?”

“Everything!”

You got everything wrong from start to finish!

I gathered all my patience and explained.

“How would you know if the thirsty ‘Eloise’ wants water, juice, or wine? You should have asked before giving it.”

“The other things are bad for your health. An attendant serving their owner should naturally recommend what’s good for them.”

“When I ask about our destination, just answer. Why do you keep asking questions back?”

“Shouldn’t I be aware if the owner I’m serving has memory problems?”

“…Do you think I asked because I didn’t know we were in a carriage? I was saying it in a roundabout way that it’s hot and stuffy. So you should have opened the window or fanned me.”

“Then you could just say it’s hot and stuffy.”

“That’s true, but…! I normally would say it like that, but right now we need to act like a typical noble lady and her attendant!”

It was even more maddening because he had his own logic.

I made an X sign to Tesagh who had opened the window and returned.

“I’m sorry, but Your Grace has absolutely no talent as an attendant. Though it would be strange if you did.”

“I don’t find that convincing.”

“How do you usually speak to your attendants, maids, and aides?”

“I usually didn’t need to speak. They handled things on their own.”

Ah, yes. I see…

I asked, having lost my fighting spirit.

“Can’t Your Grace just borrow another noble’s name like I’m disguising myself as ‘Eloise’? That would seem much more natural.”

“If that were possible, I would have done it long ago. But it’s impossible.”

“Why?”

“Do you think there’s another noble who looks like this besides me?”

It was a convincing answer in one shot, but I asked back.

“Then do you think there might be an attendant who looks like that…?”

“Well. There could be.”

I shook my head and racked my brain.

A profession that would match Tesagh’s appearance and physique while being suitable to be beside a noble lady…

‘Right, there was that!’

“Can’t you just say you’re ‘Eloise’s’ escort knight?”

“…Knight?”

Tesagh’s brow furrowed strangely.

“Yes. If you say you’re a knight, it wouldn’t be strange… no, it would be less strange. How about going with a taciturn knight concept?”

Why does he have that expression?

Wouldn’t playing a knight be better than insisting he’s an attendant with that face?

Even that expression that looks ready to grab and beat someone up could somehow be managed.

And it wouldn’t be strange to be a man of few words. Actually, that was the biggest reason.

‘He absolutely can’t open his mouth much!’

Not only was his speech pattern close to informal despite the polite facade, but his voice was so low it could be identified, making it dangerous.

Wasn’t my suggestion the best solution? I was thinking when—

“A knight is the most familiar and dependable existence to you. …Is that why you’re suggesting this?”

“Pardon…?”

What does that even mean?

Before I could ask, Tesagh spoke in a businesslike tone.

“If that’s more comfortable for you, let’s do that.”

It’s not particularly comfortable, but I had no other alternatives to suggest.

I accepted without asking further and looked at Tesagh sitting across from me.

I felt a renewed impression.

From his somewhat arrogant yet inherently elegant posture to the atmosphere he exuded.

I could clearly feel that he was someone who had held power since birth.

‘Why didn’t I know? Now I can tell just by looking.’

…Perhaps I didn’t want to know?

Tesagh, who had been watching me laugh as if deflated, asked quietly.

“Why.”

“No, just. …I was wondering why I didn’t know until now.”

That seemed to be enough of an answer, as Tesagh’s lips pressed tightly together.

Night breeze gently flowed in through the gap of the open window.

Having worked all day again, I was drowsily blinking when Tesagh spoke.

“Get some sleep.”

“Mm… When will we arrive at County of Delphia?”

“At dawn.”

“Still, let me look at the documents a little more before sleeping…”

The papers rustled in the wind.

Looking through them, I gradually closed my eyes.

I was just about to fall asleep.

A presence approached, and carefully took the documents from my hands.

*

“…Haa.”

Tesagh, who had taken the documents from Elisha’s hands as she kept her eyes closed, rubbed his face wearily.

Elisha slept well in a position that was neither lying down nor properly sitting.

She had slept well using ledgers as pillows, so perhaps this position wasn’t uncomfortable for her either.

Perhaps what was uncomfortable was his own heart watching her.

‘I thought she would… go back.’

He thought she would hate looking at him.

After all, Elisha had been quite shocked when she saw him in the carriage.

He had given her a chance to return, thinking she was participating reluctantly because the ‘Root of Blindness’ materials were offered as compensation.

On top of that, it was enough to completely kill any affection she might have had.

Wasn’t it essentially his mother forcing her participation by holding her illness treatment hostage?

And yet.

‘…Why is she acting no different than usual?’

Elisha didn’t leave.

If not for the title ‘Your Grace,’ she spoke to him first as usual and even smiled a little.

Had she forgiven him?

A small hope bloomed but quickly withered.

“…I was wondering why I didn’t realize it until now.”

The expression Elisha had worn was clearly self-deprecating.

It was a smile of finding herself pathetic. All because of him.

The moment he saw that smile, it felt like his heart was sinking.

Elisha was simply being faithful to her assigned task.

Just as she always had, she was approaching it diligently, calmly, and with a sense of responsibility.

It wasn’t because she had forgiven him.

‘…When this is over, you will… just like you did then… leave without looking back.’

With an aching heart, Tesagh carefully pulled Elisha over to lie down and knelt on one knee.

When he unwrapped the bandage around her left hand, he could see the clearly healed wound.

It didn’t seem like she had used the medicine he had left behind.

The only way to heal this much so quickly in just a few days was…

‘The Captain of the Royal Knights.’

It must have been Ailren, that man’s holy power.

Anyone could see that he was clearly someone who could help Elisha.

Unlike himself.

“Still, it’s fortunate that he was by your side… since it healed quickly. That’s enough for me.”

Muttering, Tesagh gently applied scar ointment from the first aid kit.

Then he carefully rewrapped the bandage tightly.

“You like her, don’t you?”

It was the Mage’s voice that had echoed in his ears hundreds of times.

Tesagh nodded for what must have been the hundredth time and whispered.

“Elisha.”

If you knew that you appear in my dreams, you would hate it.

“Sweet dreams.”

After parting like that in the warehouse.

Every day he dreamed of that moment.

It was foolish, but even in his dreams, Tesagh couldn’t stop Elisha from leaving.

The entire dream consisted of just standing there as if bound, watching her retreating figure.

Even so, it wasn’t a nightmare.

‘Because I could see you.’

Stroking Elisha’s hair that had turned golden with the pin, Tesagh murmured.

“I hope that in your dreams, I’m not there.”

Dreams with me in them would surely be nightmares for you.

*

Opening my eyes to the morning sunlight, I was examining my left hand when I discovered a bag with a note attached.

[Change clothes and come out. Don’t forget to wear the ribbon.]

It was Tesagh’s handwriting.

When I changed clothes as instructed and came out, Tesagh was waiting in the distance.

As I got closer, I could see his transformation.

‘Wow…’

His hair was a dull ash color, and his eye color was a deep golden hue mixed with red.

He was wearing a somewhat neat jacket like a Knight, but through his unbuttoned shirt, another long tattoo was visible.

It seemed like a strategy to divert attention, but that appearance was, well…

“What do I look like this time?”

“Excuse me?”

“Last time you said I looked like a ruthless corporate villain. What do I look like this time?”

“…Well, um.”

Is it okay to say this?

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————