The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 132

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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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‘What should I answer?’

I was so focused on pointing out the contradictions in Count Delphia’s words to drive him away that I didn’t think about my own contradictions.

‘Should I say I saw it in the newspaper?’

The Empire and the Duchy weren’t very close. Both in physical distance and in emotional distance.

But if I said I saw it in the “Presrife Prism,” which carries a lot of foreign news, it might pass.

I waited anxiously, but the words that fell from Tesagh’s mouth were quite unexpected.

“Where did the name ‘Lord Ris’ come from?”

Oh, that?

The tension eased and I answered with an unconscious smile.

“I referenced His Grace the Duke’s middle name. It’s a name taken from ‘Alister.’ Is it not good?”

I meant that after removing Alter from ‘Alister,’ what remained was ‘Ris.’

But Tesagh didn’t seem curious about that.

“…Then are you going to stop calling me ‘my darling’?”

“Hmm, it’s the concept of a secret romance, right? But I thought it would be awkward for Eloise, who’s worried about her parents finding out, to keep calling you ‘darling.'”

It was unavoidable to shut the mouths of the butler and Count Delphia.

Tesagh, who seemed to think for a moment, nodded.

“That’s reasonable.”

“Right?”

“But when we’re alone, wouldn’t it be okay to call me that? …As a pet name.”

When we’re alone, there’s no need to act, so why?

But before I could even ask, Tesagh continued.

“…As you said, my acting skills are terrible, so think of it as helping me immerse myself.”

“I didn’t say they were terrible!”

“Your expression said so. Anyway… I’d be grateful if you’d cooperate.”

Saying that, he turned his head away sharply, and I almost habitually said something.

Something like a playful joke: ‘Actually, you just want to hear me call you darling, right?’

But I couldn’t. Because I suddenly realized.

‘That person is His Grace the Duke. Not Alter.’

That I could no longer treat him casually.

I swallowed the words that had risen to my throat and instead said something appropriate for this situation.

“Yes, since someone might be listening. I won’t use the title ‘Your Grace’ as much as possible. Then please act like ‘Lord Ris’ while you’re staying here. I’ll act as ‘Eloise’ too.”

‘Tesagh probably meant it that way too. Since we can’t let our identities be discovered.’

Tesagh, who had been staring at me quietly, answered slowly.

“…Right.”

His Adam’s apple moved up and down as he drank his champagne in one gulp while keeping his eyes on me.

Feeling somewhat awkward, I sipped my apple juice and spoke.

I was equipped with the persona of the noble lady ‘Eloise.’

“Don’t worry too much.”

“About what?”

“About acting. It’s okay if you’re not good at it.”

He seemed to be worried about it, so I wanted to ease his burden.

If he acted like a wooden doll, I could step in and divert attention.

“But you’re good at it.”

Is that formal or informal speech…

“Well, I had no choice but to learn it while living. Lord Ris doesn’t need to impress anyone.”

I was pondering how to make that strange way of speaking look more natural when I answered lightly.

“There is. Someone I want to impress.”

Tesagh said quietly.

For a moment, I had the illusion that the person he wanted to impress was ‘Elisha,’ not Eloise.

So I deliberately joked around.

“Are you talking about me?”

“Yes.”

An immediate answer came back.

In addition, he pointed to the empty glass and asked.

“The apple juice seems to suit your taste. Shall I bring more?”

“Earlier, didn’t you just hand me water first, saying it was for the health of the person you serve?”

So Tesagh smiled.

“That was for the person I serve to drink, and this is for you to drink. …I wanted to give you something you like.”

Tesagh, who had been watching my expression, said ‘Then I’ll go with apple juice’ and stood up.

Left behind, I watched his back and fanned myself unnecessarily.

‘He’s surprisingly… talented.’

It’s getting a bit hot.

*

There were many things to enjoy even after the garden party.

That meant there were many opportunities to mingle with people and eavesdrop on conversations.

“Wasn’t Count Duie originally staying in another region? It’s been a while since I’ve seen him.”

“I heard he was studying at an academy? Perhaps he returned to inherit the family since the late Count Delphia was ill.”

Information that Duie had been in another region, not in the County of Delphia, for some time.

“Still, his face has brightened considerably. When I saw him just before the funeral last time, his complexion was…”

“Oh my, this person. If someone heard that, they’d think his expression improved because his father passed away.”

“Well, isn’t that wrong? Rumor has it that the late Count didn’t think highly of Count Duie.”

“Shh, shh.”

Information that the relationship between Duie and the late Count Delphia wasn’t very good.

“I was feeling unwell and staying in my room, when the servants cleaning said something strange. They probably didn’t know I was there.”

“What did they say?”

“Sometimes at night, eerie sounds come from the family graveyard. Like someone crying! One maid even saw something like flickering lights!”

“Oh come on, surely…”

“What if there’s a ghost in the Count’s manor? That’s why they’re offering sacred objects to the World Tree to appease it!”

“Ahhh, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that!”

Even information about a ghost commotion that didn’t seem particularly related.

I was pondering when I heard Tesagh’s voice.

“Is there anything useful?”

Practice really is the way to go. Now his speech was quite knight-like.

We were on our way back after watching the concert held at the lake, which was the last event.

Walking slowly to let people going to bed pass by, I nodded to Tesagh.

“At least it seems true that Duie and the late Count Delphia didn’t get along well.”

“Why do you think so?”

“For a party for an offering ceremony, wasn’t it too extravagant, Lord Ris?”

Tesagh raised one eyebrow.

“A garden party, a concert, boat rides, and even fireworks. There were too many entertainments for a memorial party.”

“Right. It seemed less like mourning his father’s death and more like some kind of celebration.”

Tesagh seemed to think it was strange too.

I asked him as he nodded in agreement.

“You investigated Duie too, right? Was he really at an academy?”

“At least not as far as I know. There were no academic records at academies within the Empire. But it’s true that he was away for several years with mysterious whereabouts.”

“Could he have been at an academy in the Duchy? He was talking to me about fountains earlier.”

“If there had been records of him entering the Duchy, I would have known even more so.”

Then where was Duie?

I tilted my head and decided to put that information on hold for now.

So what’s left is….

“About the rumor of a ghost in the family graveyard, let’s go take a look.”

Tesagh’s expression became subtle.

“…Do you believe in things like ghosts? Do you actually want to see one?”

“No, I don’t believe in them! But.”

Among the many events at the party, there was also a tour of the Count’s Manor.

It was an event program where you could view the paintings and sculptures that the late Count Delphia had collected.

I looked carefully, but there was nothing resembling Rugenote.

There was no distinctive aura that could be felt from divine-grade relics either.

Then?

“A graveyard is the best place to hide something. It’s a place people avoid and fear.”

Maybe it’s hidden in the graveyard?

“It might be speculation, but the ghost rumors….”

“Could be intentional?”

“Yes! The rumors might have been deliberately spread to prevent people from approaching, even by accident.”

Tesagh seemed to think my words made sense.

But his expression was dark.

“The problem is, even if it’s in the graveyard, we can’t dig up all the graves to check.”

Setting aside that digging up graves is a crime.

‘Hmm, I wonder if that can really be set aside….’

Anyway, he probably meant that it would be physically impossible to check all the graves in one night.

However, I had something to rely on.

‘I’ll be able to see the light of the relic.’

But since I couldn’t say that, I glossed over it roughly.

“Still, let’s go take a look. Who knows, there might be a secret door or something.”

Tesagh, who had been hesitating, looked down at me.

His face looked like he had something he wanted to say.

What is it?

I was getting nervous when.

“If we can see it, then it’s no longer a secret door, is it?”

That’s absolutely right.

“Then let’s go see if there’s an openly visible door!”

Tesagh, who had covered his face at my shamelessness, laughed like a sigh.

“Let’s go.”

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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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