The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 204

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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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Tesagh squeezed his eyes shut then opened them.

Because he had seen with his own two eyes what kind of terrible ordeal Elisha, who had said these words, had endured.

The image of Elisha pushing him away and collapsing was still vivid before his eyes, but Tesagh barely, truly barely, loosened the strength in his hands.

‘Elisha means she wants to try handling this herself.’

Then his role wasn’t to kick down the door and drag Elisha out.

To prepare for emergencies while waiting for her. That was what he needed to do.

Carefully turning the handle of the back door, he suppressed his presence and drew out a magical device.

“How did Lina know about that?”

Tesagh stood in front of the room from which Elisha’s voice was flowing.

What was strange was that while Elisha’s attitude was resolute, it wasn’t interrogating in tone at all.

It was a way of speaking as if reconfirming something she already knew.

“I… guessed. Since Uncle regarded you as a thorn in his side, I thought he would have tried to… find your weakness.”

It was also strange that the Princess, who had been trying to melt Elisha’s heart with gentle words, also had a somewhat confused tone.

Rather than being flustered from being hit at a vital point, it sounded like she was hesitating while retracing her memories.

Though it wasn’t an answer that exactly matched the question, Elisha seemed satisfied with just that and asked again.

“Let me ask one more thing. Lina, how did you first come to our shop?”

“…”

“Count Airen knows, right? Could you tell me?”

“…I will relay Princess’s words exactly.”

I remember hearing rumors, but I don’t know how I decided to go there.

I just opened my eyes and found myself there.

That’s what Airen said. The Princess didn’t correct him. Instead, there was the sound of someone drinking something.

Elisha, who had been listening quietly, let out a small sigh and made footstep sounds. It seemed she had taken a step closer to the Princess.

“I’ll be honest with you, Lina. I can’t unconditionally take your side.”

“…What? But…”

“Because I’m your friend, Lina.”

The Princess’s words, which had been about to retort, were cut off abruptly.

“If you truly care about someone, you can’t just say nice things to them. Of course I’ll cheer you on and support you, but sometimes I have to give bitter advice, and if something’s wrong, I have to help set it right. That’s what a friend should do.”

“…Elisha.”

“And I think being unconditionally on my side isn’t something others can do for me. That’s something only I myself can do.”

The footstep sounds moved closer to the door, then stopped briefly.

“I won’t stay only by Lina’s side. But that doesn’t mean I’ll stay only by someone else’s side either.”

Strength entered Elisha’s voice.

“I’ll be by my own side. By the side of Elisha Rionet, myself.”

“So Lina too… stay by your own side. See you tomorrow, Lina.”

The door opened.

Elisha looked a little surprised to see Tesagh waiting, then smiled slightly.

It was at the moment of seeing that smile. Though his heart was still beating wildly, he was no longer anxious. He felt as if he had finally found his orbit.

Setting aside concerns about what remained to be done, Tesagh walked in step with her.

For now, that was enough, Tesagh thought.

*

After Elisha left.

Heavy silence flowed through the room.

The Princess, who had stood still until the footsteps faded away and nothing could be heard anymore, rubbed her face with dry hands before shuffling somewhere.

“Princess.”

Airen called to her.

“Dogmatic nonsense.”

But what came back wasn’t an answer.

“Just flowery words. In the end, she left me, just like everyone else. It sounds like words that consider me, but actually they’re not.”

It was a chilling soliloquy.

“Even though I said I’d give everything, she refuses. Then what should I do?”

“Princess.”

“Should I take everything away?”

“Princess!”

There was a sound of something dropping with a thud.

But there was no time to identify the source of that alien sound.

Airen, who had blocked the Princess’s path, was speechless at the sight of her shedding tears despite those chilling words.

“You must come to your senses, Your Highness. Do you know what you’re saying right now?”

“I know. I know. How could I not know? Haha… Count Airen.”

“Yes, I’m here.”

The Princess, who had jerked her head up, smiled with her green eyes folded as tears dripped down.

“Your head doesn’t hurt these days, does it?”

Airen froze like frost.

The Princess, passing by him as if she had expected this, arrived in front of the heavy vault door.

The Princess, who fitted the emerald pendant into the groove, faced the inside of the vault that Crodil had so desperately wanted to open.

Inside were all sorts of documents from Etewirn, precious jewels, and the seal that was the condition of being head of house. It was something the Princess had once dreamed of too.

But the Princess picked up something else.

She turned around after examining the pearl-inlaid sword that had been carefully placed on top as if someone had deliberately put it there, and stared at the haggard face of the Captain of the Royal Knights.

“She said see you tomorrow. Elisha did.”

The holy sword Rugenote, whose blade glowed blue, was thrown down in front of Airen with a thud.

“So let’s go. To prepare.”

What had fallen earlier was a hip flask.

The mysterious black liquid that leaked out darkly stained the Princess’s footprints as she walked away.

Airen finally collapsed to his knees.

*

“So… how many safe houses like this does the Duchy have in the Empire?”

“Just let it slide.”

“As a citizen of the Empire, I can’t just let it slide, can I?”

“What will you do if you can’t let it slide?”

“Let me come here occasionally to hang out with my friends. Look, there’s a nice lake in front and it’s in a perfect location to use as a villa, so it’s a waste to let it rot.”

Tesagh, who had been looking at me with his usual ‘what is all this’ expression, showed me to the room I would use and then stepped away briefly.

Leaning against the terrace, I looked around the safe house and the sky where the sunset was spreading.

Though it looked like an old cabin that fishermen might use from the outside, the interior was very decent and clean.

‘He said I hadn’t slept a wink from going to the mine, so Tesagh brought me here. Saying it would be better to rest here instead of going straight back to the capital.’

Since neither Tesagh nor I could use teleportation magic circles, it was a rational choice.

After briefly watching the sunset light rippling like gold dust on the water’s surface, I pressed firmly on my throbbing temples.

Physical fatigue was washing over me. But with so many thoughts, it didn’t seem like I’d be able to fall asleep easily.

I was alternately reviewing what I had seen in the vault in the abandoned mine and Lina’s appearance when a savory smell came from somewhere and I heard a knock.

“Come down, Elisha.”

When I went down and saw the dining table, I let out an exclamation.

It was quite a feast with plainly grilled chicken, soup and salad with bread, neatly cut fruit and cheese.

“Wow… what’s all this?”

“As you can see, dinner. …Doesn’t it look edible?”

“No, no. That’s not what I meant. How did you prepare such a proper spread? Ah, did servants from the Duke’s residence come by?”

I had heard that each safe house had teleportation magic circles, so I asked, but Tesagh’s expression was subtle.

“Well, something like that.”

Before I could ask for more, a fork and knife were placed in my hands.

“Eat.”

“I’ll eat well!”

All the dishes made with the Duchy’s unique cooking methods were delicious.

After finishing the meal, Tesagh, who had clearly been watching only me the entire time, pushed me into the bathroom.

Bath water and pajamas were prepared, so I washed up feeling bewildered, then was pushed into the bedroom this time.

“Rest.”

“Um, Duke. The lakeside is pretty, so maybe a short walk while getting some fresh air…”

“What walk? Your eyes are full of drowsiness.”

“My eyes are naturally round and droopy, what can I do about that? And I won’t be able to sleep anyway.”

“Just rest for now.”

How stubborn he is.

After the door closed, I was left alone and flopped down on the bed.

‘He should have plenty to ask about.’

Even though he heard it indirectly through Milton, he must have many questions.

But Tesagh didn’t ask a single thing while coming to the safe house.

‘Is it consideration, or does Tesagh also have a lot to think about?’

Actually, it’s good for me.

I’m in a situation where I need to be careful with my words, and suppressing complex thoughts while acting somewhat carelessly as usual was very energy-consuming.

But the reason my mood feels strange right now is…

‘I guess it’s because I just want to sit face-to-face with Tesagh and talk.’

It was when I saw him at Etewirn Manor. I remembered how my nerves, which had been sharpened from calculating and measuring, had relaxed.

‘There was a time when I would secretly frown whenever we met.’

When did Tesagh start feeling comfortable to me?

Thinking of him made the corners of my mouth turn up without me realizing. I was touching my lips and trying to force myself to sleep when it happened.

Knock knock, I heard knocking.

“Yes?”

“Come out for a moment.”

Following Tesagh out of the entrance, a blanket settled on my shoulders.

From his embrace as he lightly wrapped his arm around me, holding my shoulders, came the scent of soap and smoky wood.

“I looked around the area, but there are many thorn bushes, so a night walk would be quite difficult.”

Tesagh hadn’t let my casual words go unheard.

He pointed to one side.

In a spot not visible from outside, a small campfire was lit, and beside it was a box filled with snacks.

It was positioned where the moon floating over the lake could be seen clearly.

“I thought we could at least look at the lake while getting some night air, so I set this up. …Why are you looking at me like that?”

As I stared at him intently, Tesagh looked puzzled, so I smiled brightly and said,

“Because I like it.”

“…”

“I really, really like it. Truly.”

So Tesagh’s ears turned bright red.

“Making such a fuss over something like this. …Like an idiot.”

That sight was quite cute.

Though he would never agree with that.

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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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