The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 150

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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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*

“These are the locations I hastily compiled based on my investigation of the surrounding area! Please use them for reference!”

Tesagh immediately understood why Bella had said he “wouldn’t regret it” the moment he saw the documents his aide handed him.

The documents listing the maze garden, terrace, hot springs, and so on were, in other words.

‘What is this nonsense…’

Documents organizing a course for spending time beneficially near the Duke’s residence.

Tesagh felt both absurd and slightly self-deprecating.

Had his past conduct really looked so pathetic that they thought this kind of thing was necessary?

‘Pathetic… is that right.’

Tesagh, who had habitually been about to crumple up the documents, relaxed his grip.

He decided to just remember it. For now, just remember.

In case Elisha might be curious about it.

But what Elisha was curious about was…

‘Why on earth did she want to see this place?’

It was his old room.

Tesagh leaned against the doorway and watched Elisha looking around various parts of the room.

He was thinking what could there be to see in an old room he used as a child, not even his office.

“Is this Duke’s handwriting?”

Elisha, who had pulled out a picture book, pointed to his name written in crooked letters.

“Yes, that’s my handwriting.”

“Looking at how worn the spine is, you must have read it many times. I read this too. Even nobles read similar fairy tale books when they’re young.”

“I thought the protagonist was stupid.”

“Me too! He should listen to the rabbit, but why does he keep listening to the sparrow? I was so frustrated.”

Next were the toys he used as a child.

“They’re all puzzles or cubes? Are you good at solving cubes?”

“I don’t think I’m bad at it.”

“Oh, then shall we try one now?”

“I’m not the type to engage in competitions with obvious outcomes.”

“What did you say-?!”

And next were photographs.

“So Duke also had a time when he played with building blocks… It’s natural, but why does it feel so strange?”

“What, did you think I was swinging a sword from birth?”

“Somehow that wouldn’t be strange either. Oh, who is this person?”

“Father. He’s far away now.”

“Ah…”

“No, no. I mean literally far away, he likes pioneering new sea routes.”

“Phew, I thought I had made a mistake again.”

Tesagh realized at some point that he was the first one talking about his childhood stories.

It was the first time for him, and it was quite…

“Thank you for showing me around, it was really interesting.”

Interesting.

Forgotten memories were layered over the room he had thought shabby and old.

And it was the moment he saw Elisha standing in the middle of those memories.

“…”

His heart fluttered.

“I like new things too, but I prefer things with memories in them. Maybe it’s because of my job?”

The sight of Elisha gently stroking the album cover.

“That’s why I was curious about Duke’s old things.”

The sight of Elisha turning pages and lowering her eyes.

“I was even more curious about the old stories Duke would tell me directly.”

And then the sight of Elisha looking up at him and smiling was deeply etched in his mind.

“Thanks to you, it was wonderful.”

Tesagh had a small premonition that when he remembered his childhood, he would also think of her.

He would not forget. This moment.

“…I enjoyed it too.”

“Really? That’s a relief, it seemed like it would be a long time since Duke had looked around his old room.”

He meant it was good to see it together.

He meant it was good because it was her who shared his memories.

However, Tesagh didn’t add more words.

He didn’t want to ruin it. Not today.

“Is there anywhere else you’d like to see?”

“Hmm… somewhere high. Somewhere close to the sky.”

There were several suitable places on the list. Like the terrace.

But Tesagh guided Elisha to a different place that only he knew.

When they arrived at the now-unused bell tower, a whoosh of wind blew.

“The stars are really visible here… It’s beautiful.”

It was when Elisha, who had been leaning against the bell tower railing looking at the night sky, turned to look at him.

Seeing her pink hair flying in the wind and her light purple eyes brighter than the stars, Tesagh nodded.

“Yes. Beautiful.”

In the fairy tale book they had read together earlier, there was a man who made wishes on stars.

Tesagh thought of the futile wish that time would pass very slowly.

*

The bell tower wasn’t very spacious.

Sitting with a small brazier in front of us, the distance between Tesagh and me was quite close.

“Shall we roast some marshmallows?”

What Tesagh brought along with the marshmallows and crackers after agreeing was surprisingly champagne.

With his face reddened by the flickering firelight, he muttered.

“Just one bottle.”

Crackle, crackle.

Watching the bubbles and sparks flying together beyond the champagne glass made me feel good.

It was also a good time to have the conversation I had been putting off.

“So how did William end up helping Duke?”

“That guy was caught gathering information in Moro. He was pardoned in exchange for cooperating with me later.”

“Ah, that’s why William choked every time he talked about ‘Alter’…!”

The story that started with trivial details,

“Hmm, so it was decided that the Temple of the World Tree would manage Duie’s custody and the ruby tablet fragment.”

“Right. The Imperial Palace vault and prison that had been breached once were dangerous. If that Eivor is connected to black magic, the temple would have the strongest defensive measures, so it was a rational choice.”

“…But what happened to Rougenote? If the intelligence was correct, it should have been at the count’s manor. But why did the ruby tablet appear…”

“Either we misinterpreted it as Rougenote because of the strong positive holy power, or… that guy might have deliberately leaked false information. That’s under investigation.”

“I see. …You must be disappointed.”

“It’s already in the past. And through the ruby tablet we gained new clues and an opportunity to cooperate with the Empire, so it wasn’t entirely useless.”

It gradually became serious.

“It was probably Eivor’s black magic that bound Duke, right? Duie thought he had done it himself.”

“That’s the blind spot of interrogation magical tools. What someone truly believes is spoken regardless of whether it’s factual. I think so too. Normal magic doesn’t work on me.”

“Right, when I touched Duie, all the other magic was dispelled but Duke’s magic remained. It must have been because the type and caster were different.”

“But even if it’s black magic, the spell formation should remain… Why his magic has no spell formation needs more investigation.”

At first, Tesagh seemed rather reluctant to have this kind of conversation.

Rather than disliking it, it felt more like he didn’t particularly want to do it now since this was also close to ‘work.’

But perhaps thinking that they needed to have an open conversation at least once, his attitude gradually became more agreeable.

So then.

‘I should… speak honestly too, shouldn’t I?’

That would be the only way I could be of help, of course.

Tesagh and the others were treating me as someone who needed protection.

I understood why they would think that way given all the incidents that had occurred, but now wasn’t the time to hide—it was time to act.

To cooperate, I had to reveal my abilities.

At least to Tesagh.

‘And it’s also time to clear up what little misunderstanding remains.’

After moistening my throat with champagne, I carefully opened my mouth.

“I think you must be curious about how I appraise holy relics so quickly, and how I noticed His Grace the Duke’s eye color. So…”

“I know.”

“Pardon?”

“I said I know. The method.”

How?

When I stared at Tesagh blankly, he raised one eyebrow.

“Isn’t it because you’re a capable appraiser?”

“Excuse me…?”

“If you want to boast about your appraisal abilities, there’s no need to do so. I’ve been watching from the sidelines.”

I was puzzled at first, but as I thought about it gradually, I seemed to understand his inner thoughts.

‘He’s saying I don’t need to speak if it makes me uncomfortable.’

Since he had told me about being immune to magic, it probably meant I didn’t need to feel obligated to exchange information in return.

He was probably thinking I had used magical tools inherited from Grandfather or Emma’s magic.

‘…He’s surprisingly considerate.’

Tesagh’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he deflected the conversation with a somewhat playful tone.

Watching him, I smiled slightly and said,

“But I want to boast about my appraisal secret.”

“Why?”

“Because I think His Grace the Duke would listen to me. Because it seems like it would be okay.”

Those were the words he had said at Delphia Manor.

Tesagh, who had been gazing at me quietly, slowly nodded his head.

“…Alright, then. Tell me briefly.”

“Briefly? It would be better for you to hear the details.”

“What for. You can say it shortly.”

“I can see holy power with my eyes.”

Cough.

Tesagh, who had been drinking champagne, choked.

Catching his breath, he furrowed his brow.

“…Sorry, but could you explain that in more detail again?”

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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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