The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 130

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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After hesitating for a long while, I spoke carefully.

“Like a pirate…”

To be precise, he seemed like a pirate king who had long conquered the seas and was now setting his sights on land.

However, I couldn’t bring myself to say the full description, so I mumbled vaguely.

“A pirate?”

“You told me to speak, so I’m being honest. You can’t get angry. Am I okay?”

I quickly changed the subject.

‘Eloise’ had light blonde hair and coral-colored eyes, and was wearing a yellow dress.

Tesagh, who had been examining me, spoke briefly.

“Like a chick riding on that pirate’s shoulder.”

“Pardon?”

“Let’s go.”

While I was wondering whether this was a compliment or an insult, we arrived at the entrance of the Count’s Manor.

I was looking around to see if there was anyone I knew.

“Huh?”

People were popping out from above a round magic circle.

“What is that?”

“A teleportation magic circle.”

“No, I know that. Why didn’t we come using that instead of taking a carriage?”

Do you like making things difficult for yourself?

I asked in bewilderment, but Tesagh’s expression had strangely hardened.

“…There are circumstances.”

Tesagh’s words ended there.

Wasn’t he going to tell me what circumstances?

‘Well, if it’s internal affairs of the Duchy, it’s natural that he wouldn’t tell me…’

Right.

I thought my question might have sounded quite presumptuous.

I nodded slightly to show I understood.

My forehead tingled as if Tesagh was looking at me, but I deliberately looked only ahead.

After waiting, our turn came. I handed the invitation to the butler.

“Good day, Countess Devin. I hope your journey wasn’t too far?”

“Haha, it was a bit tiring. But it’s not just any occasion – it’s a celebration of his canonization, so I had to stop by. I also wanted to pay my final respects to the Count.”

“Ah, thank you for saying that. You had a close friendship with our late master, didn’t you?”

‘Well, look at this. He’s subtly probing.’

I answered while maintaining my smile.

“I think so, but I’m not sure if the Count felt the same way. We only met occasionally at the auction house.”

“I see…”

“Sometimes we even competed for winning bids, so you could say we were friendly rivals?”

‘I’ve already memorized Eloise Devin’s personal details by heart!’

The butler’s shrewd eyes gleamed behind his glasses.

While speaking gently, he was clearly studying my face.

“Yes, I remember how much our master regretted when you won the ruby necklace, Countess Devin.”

“Oh my, a necklace? You must mean the earrings, right?”

“Oh dear, what a mistake… My memory isn’t what it used to be with age. I apologize.”

“It’s fine, how could you remember every detail of your master’s complaints? May I go in now?”

“Yes, I apologize for the trouble. Please go ahead.”

‘Testing an invited guest like this – there’s definitely something fishy going on.’

Just as I was finishing the conversation with a smile and about to enter.

Click.

The entrance gate closed.

“However, please have your companion wait for a moment.”

The butler blocked Tesagh’s path.

Seeing Tesagh’s brow furrow tightly, I gulped.

“Excuse me, but who might this gentleman be?”

“The escort knight of Baroness Devin.”

“In that case, entry will be somewhat difficult. Please wait outside until the party ends.”

“The reason?”

Though intimidated by Tesagh’s menacing aura, the butler soon answered with a smooth smile.

“This is a celebration of a glorious canonization, isn’t it? We will serve our distinguished guests with utmost care, so there will be no need for the Countess to require an escort knight.”

“How can you guarantee that? Danger assessment is for the escort to judge, not the butler.”

“The Count’s Manor has its own guards. Surely you’re not disregarding the Count’s Manor’s forces?”

“Forces? You mean those people clanking around in armor? Well, they seem quite worthy of disregard to me.”

It was a standoff with neither side yielding an inch.

‘If this argument drags on, we’ll draw attention.’

Hoping to think of some quick solution, I rapidly scanned the party attendees.

The moment I saw couples paired together among them, a method occurred to me.

‘Right, if he can’t enter as a knight!’

Having made up my mind, I strode forward.

And then.

“Oh, really. You always get so sensitive about anything related to my safety, don’t you? I told you not to do that, honey.”

I firmly linked arms with Tesagh.

Looking up lovingly at him as he stiffened, I whispered.

“Are you going to be this strict about separating work and personal matters? I’m hurt. Today you came as my partner, not as a knight.”

Of course, I was saying this for the butler to hear.

The butler looked at me once, then at Tesagh once, with a bewildered expression.

“So, you two are…”

“Yes, this person is my boyfriend. He’s incredibly cool, isn’t he? Handsome, right?”

Cough.

Tesagh coughed.

I lightly poked his firm side and looked around anxiously.

“Um, but my parents don’t know about this yet…”

“Ah, yes, I, I see.”

“I’m sorry for using the Count’s canonization celebration party like this, but we don’t often get chances to date away from my parents’ eyes… You know what I mean?”

I deliberately linked arms with Tesagh more tightly and winked at the butler.

I had cleverly mixed in real information about Eloise’s strict parents, so he couldn’t be suspicious.

The problem was Tesagh, who was far too stiff.

‘Please help me out!’

As I earnestly poked his side with my other hand, words finally fell from Tesagh’s lips.

“…That’s right. I was late in explaining. Today I didn’t come as a knight, but as the Baroness’s partner.”

‘What kind of words are worse than saying nothing!’

Are you a wooden doll or what?

I quickly delivered the final blow.

“Since things have come to this, I should mention it. Could you arrange our accommodations close together? Preferably somewhere, well, secluded.”

“Ah! Yes, ahem, I didn’t realize. I apologize.”

“It’s natural that you wouldn’t know. It would be even better if you continue not knowing?”

“Ahem, hmm. Understood. You two may enter.”

“Thank you.”

I smiled brightly and dragged Tesagh inside.

When the butler was no longer visible, I sighed and unlinked our arms.

After confirming there were no people around, I complained.

“I was mistaken. Forgive me, but Your Grace doesn’t lack talent in being an attendant. You just lack talent in acting…”

I paused as I lifted my head.

‘Uh oh…’

Tesagh’s cheeks were flushed red as he avoided my gaze.

‘Why, why is he like this.’

Was he always someone who got embarrassed this easily?

Seeing him like that somehow made my face feel hot too, so I spoke carefully.

“Um, what I said earlier…”

“Yes. I know it was acting. But when you called me that way…”

Tesagh fell silent for a moment, then muttered quietly.

“Even I ended up being fooled.”

It was an answer I never expected.

Not knowing what to say, I hesitated, and seeing my expression, Tesagh rubbed his face.

Then he laughed like a sigh.

“…It’s a joke.”

Without even telling me what the joke was about, Tesagh covered up his words.

I know he’s not good at acting.

So that statement about it being a joke…

‘That wasn’t a joke.’

It’s a lie.

But Tesagh’s smile as he said those words suddenly looked a little lonely, so I decided to change the subject.

“Um, so… this place is suspicious, right? It seems like they’re hiding something.”

“Yes. The butler was being overly cautious.”

“There are many party programs, so we should look around the area. Since we, ahem, deliberately asked for accommodations in a secluded place, we should be able to sneak out at night.”

“…Let’s do that.”

“What about Countess Eloise Devin’s image? Won’t it be troublesome if rumors spread?”

“You don’t need to worry about that. I’ll handle it myself.”

As we walked while making small talk, I could hear the sound of a pounding heart.

Whether it was mine or Tesagh’s.

Whether it was from tension about what was to come, or the aftermath of what had passed.

I couldn’t tell, but the distance between us had narrowed a bit compared to when we got off the carriage.

*

“Hmm.”

Eivor, who had been watching the crystal orb showing images of Elisha and Tesagh, rested his chin on his hand.

“To think that person would interfere…”

In Eivor’s hand as he thought of the Border Guard was a rolled-up scroll.

It was something he had stolen from the archives. The title was briefly visible.

[…’Root of Blindness’…]

“Well, does it matter if the two of them are together?”

The corners of his mouth turned upward as he tapped with his long fingers as if measuring.

“Right, if kidnapping doesn’t work…”

His gaze was directed at Elisha in the crystal orb.

“I can just kill her.”

Tap.

When he touched Elisha, the crystal orb turned black.

Looking at his own reflection in the black crystal orb, Eivor smiled pleasantly.

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