The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 131

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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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13. Why are you coming out here

I nodded as I looked over the schedule.

‘The party program is packed tight, and the dedication ceremony is tomorrow at noon. So the only time I can move freely is.’

Late at night.

With too many people around and the sun blazing bright, searching every corner of the manor seemed difficult right now.

“For now, it would be best to mingle with the party guests. We might pick up some clues through conversation.”

So I headed to the dazzlingly splendid garden where the garden party was being held, but what do you know.

People wouldn’t talk to me.

To be precise.

“Hello, Countess. It’s my first time meeting you…”

“…”

“…Uh, I don’t know what it is, but I apologize for the intrusion!”

As soon as they made eye contact with Tesagh standing behind me, they all backed away.

‘This is really driving me crazy!’

I looked up at Tesagh while holding the back of my neck.

I’ll admit his expression looks a bit fierce, but is it really worth being so terrified at the sight of a person?

‘Isn’t everyone being too much?’

It seems all the Empire nobles have hearts the size of beans.

I sighed and whispered to Tesagh.

“Since it’s come to this, would you just sit in front of me?”

At this point, there didn’t seem to be any need to act.

You need an audience to put on a performance. When no one can even look at us, what’s the point.

Tesagh, who had been watching the men who tried to talk to me but ran away until the very end, turned his gaze at my words.

Wouldn’t standing be better for securing a view?

That seemed to be his expression, so I shook my head slightly.

“If you could go somewhere for a moment, I’d be able to gather clues in the meantime…”

“That won’t do.”

“Yes, I figured you’d say that. So please sit down and talk with me, my neck hurts.”

Tesagh hesitated at my complaint about my neck hurting, then surprisingly sat down across from me obediently.

Looking at him seated, I let out a hollow laugh.

‘Seeing him like this, I guess it makes sense they’d run away.’

Whether he was angry because of Rugenote, his expression was several times colder than usual.

His attire was the same.

Unlike other nobles who had their buttons fastened tight, he had his front open, adding a wild atmosphere.

With his muscles clearly defined through the opening, it would be strange not to find him threatening.

‘Good, then let’s go with the strategy of being so conspicuous that we actually draw less attention.’

Like during the Founding Festival.

Perhaps sensing my gaze, Tesagh’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down.

“…What kind of story is it. Tell me.”

“Although I couldn’t have conversations, it wasn’t completely fruitless. I was able to eavesdrop on other people’s conversations.”

“Ah, that story.”

His voice sounded somewhat deflated.

Wondering what that was about, I saw Tesagh gesture with his eyes.

“What were they saying?”

“First, the butler being sensitive doesn’t seem to be because he suspects our identities. He apparently treated all the Moro Duchy people thoroughly.”

At the party, there were several other people from Moro Duchy besides ‘Eloise’.

They all complained that the butler was too demanding, but the Empire people listening seemed to be hearing this for the first time.

“It could be wariness toward foreigners, but it seems more likely to be because of Rugenote.”

But I had a question.

“But why bother inviting duchy people in the first place? If they’re going to be so wary.”

“It could be the late count’s will, or since the dedication ceremony is a religious event, they might have invited them for a show of unity. The duchy’s state religion is also the World Tree Faith. Or…”

Tesagh’s eyes suddenly sharpened.

The direction of his gaze was.

“The new count has some ulterior motive.”

It was Duke Delphia, who was greeting the party guests.

He, who had inherited the title after his father’s death, was a young man with long beige hair tied back.

‘Huh? That person.’

Looking at him somehow reminded me of Ailren.

‘Why? His appearance and atmosphere are completely different.’

Despite the quite warm weather, the count was wearing formal attire that covered his entire body, as if he wasn’t hot at all.

Tilting my head, I asked Tesagh.

“Do you know him?”

“I’ve never met him. Except for you, everyone here has never properly seen my face. But.”

Tesagh’s brow gradually furrowed.

“I heard he was quite sickly and weak in character… but seeing him now, he’s quite sociable.”

Glancing over, he did indeed look somewhat sickly and had a dark impression, as Tesagh said.

“Maybe he’s an introverted person squeezing out social skills?”

“Well. We’ll know if we keep watching.”

Just then, I made eye contact with the count.

But.

“Oh, he’s coming this way.”

Count Delphia, upon spotting me, immediately began striding straight over.

Covering my mouth with my fan, I hurriedly asked.

“Does that person know ‘Eloise’s’ face?”

“No. Devin Viscount is also someone who rarely goes out except to auction houses, which is why I chose him as a cover identity. The two have no connection.”

‘Then what is it. Why is he coming to me?’

They’ve never met. Then it’s not like he recognized me by hair or eye color either.

Why is he coming to me? And with a face that looks like he definitely recognizes me?

‘Is he just coming to greet me?’

However, before I could figure out his intention or purpose, Count Delphia had arrived in front of me.

“Good day, Countess Devin. I am Duke Delphia.”

I was wearing gloves on both hands to avoid revealing that I had bandages wrapped around them.

But Count Delphia was also wearing similar gloves.

Seeing that, I returned his greeting for now.

“Ah, yes. Hello, Count. It’s my first time meeting you.”

“First time?”

Count Delphia’s lips curved upward.

Perhaps because of his dark eye area? It was a neat but simultaneously somewhat unstable smile.

“Oh my. I expected you to say that, but I’m a little disappointed.”

What… are you disappointed about…?

What kind of relationship does he have with Eloise?

It was enough to make me flustered, but I managed my expression.

“Isn’t this our first meeting, Count?”

“Ah, yes. You might not remember me, Countess. We only exchanged greetings once from a distance.”

‘What, so they weren’t particularly close.’

Letting out a small sigh of relief, I answered gently.

“Ah, I see.”

‘But does this person know Eloise’s face or not. Did he only remember her by eye and hair color?’

While having intense thoughts inside.

“Haha, if I startled you, I apologize. But the memory of seeing you in the capital of Moro was so vivid that I couldn’t help myself.”

“You saw me in the capital?”

“Yes, it was about three months ago. You were smiling beautifully in front of the fountain…”

“Stop.”

Tesagh’s cold voice cut him off.

“Didn’t she say she doesn’t remember?”

Tesagh continued with a chilly tone.

“First you push memories that only you have, then you persistently demand understanding. Can’t you see that the young baroness is uncomfortable?”

Count Delphia flinched momentarily at Tesagh’s sharp words, but soon regained his smile.

He looked at me and said.

“I don’t know who this gentleman is, but. Do you feel the same way, my lady?”

I stared at Count Delphia.

Looking into his softly curved malachite-colored eyes, I said kindly.

“Yes, it’s quite uncomfortable.”

“…What?”

He seemed not to have expected me to answer like that.

While Count Delphia was taken aback, I quickly continued.

“Since you mention seeing me at a fountain three months ago, I assume you’re talking about the outdoor auction held in front of the Belen Fountain.”

I knew about that event.

‘It was an event I saw when I first arrived in the Moro Duchy in my past life.’

If it was held in front of a fountain and was an event that Eloise, who rarely went out except to auction houses, might attend.

There was only one outdoor auction.

However.

“But I didn’t go there this year. I think you’re confusing me with someone else?”

Among Eloise’s personal details that I had memorized, there was no record of her attending the outdoor auction this year.

In other words.

‘This bastard is also testing me!’

Having reached this conclusion, I linked arms with Tesagh.

“Let’s build our connection starting from today, but could you please leave for now? My darling seems upset.”

When I emphasized the word ‘darling,’ Count Delphia’s face turned bright red.

He looked back and forth between me and Tesagh and stammered.

“Ah, to commit such rudeness, I’m truly sorry…”

“Yes, I accept your apology well. Thanks to you, this party will remain a good memory.”

Having cut off his words, I turned my head to Tesagh.

“Darling, I’m thirsty.”

“What would you like to drink?”

‘This time he’s asking.’

I smiled slightly with my eyes.

“Anything is fine as long as our Lord Lis gives it to me.”

With things turning out this way, regardless of Count Delphia’s intentions, he had no choice but to retreat.

Looking flustered, he bit his lip, bowed his head, and walked away.

I watched until Count Delphia’s retreating figure was no longer visible, then caught my breath.

“That person is openly suspicious.”

There wasn’t just one or two suspicious things about him.

First, there was his probing, and the way he almost desperately tried to squeeze out connections to act familiar was suspicious.

Most of all.

“To approach me even after seeing His Grace the Duke, that’s the most suspicious thing.”

Others couldn’t even make eye contact.

‘Still, it’s fortunate. It seems that man doesn’t properly know Eloise’s face.’

I was thinking this when I turned toward Tesagh.

“…”

Tesagh was looking at me with a strange expression.

Could it be.

‘Is he going to ask how I knew about the outdoor auction that wasn’t in the personal details?’

Although there’s little exchange between the Empire and the Duchy, knowing about the existence of an auction could be reasonable.

I am an appraiser, after all.

However.

‘I pinpointed exactly where this year’s auction was held.’

Count Delphia had only said ‘fountain.’

‘As if I had seen it myself.’

Oh no.

Cold sweat trickled down.

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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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