The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 205

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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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I sat down in the prepared seat and noticed a teapot by the fireplace.

When I opened it slightly, a sweet and sour aroma wafted out. Could it be?

“It’s mulled wine that’s mainly drunk in the north. It’s a warm drink, so it should help you sleep.”

“Wine, you say…!”

“Of course there’s no alcohol. I boiled it.”

Oh my, it seems the memory of me getting drunk on rum-soaked cherry cake is still vivid in Tesagh’s mind.

Tesagh chuckled as he watched me smack my lips in disappointment, then poured the wine and handed it to me.

I blew on it and took a sip – the mulled wine filled with fruit was truly delicious.

“Wow, this is my first time drinking something like this, but it’s really tasty! I feel my body warming up. Did Duke make this yourself?”

“Yes. For security reasons, servants can’t come and go from the safe house.”

“Pardon?”

When I asked back in confusion, Tesagh raised one eyebrow.

“It’s a ‘safe’ house. The more people who come and go, the higher the chance of being tracked, so it should only be used alone or by a small number of people.”

“No, no. During dinner earlier, you said it was prepared by the Duke’s residence servants, didn’t you?”

Tesagh’s lips, which had been explaining about the safe house, snapped shut.

I asked with a smile.

“Did Duke prepare dinner for me too? Why didn’t you tell me? If you had, I would have scraped the plate clean without leaving a single bite.”

“…That’s exactly why I didn’t want to say anything.”

“What do you mean, that’s why?”

“If I said I made it, instead of focusing on eating, you’d worry about me who made it for you. That’s the kind of person you are, Elisha.”

Tesagh, who had been avoiding my gaze with a somewhat listless tone, added with an “Ah.”

“It’s not like I completely lied though. I used ingredients selected and sent from the Duke’s residence, so it’s also true that the Duke’s residence servants prepared it.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“That’s the problem – that you’re not saying anything. …Weren’t you thinking that I lied?”

“I was momentarily speechless because Duke’s thoughtful heart was so touching. Don’t take away my time to savor the moment.”

“Good grief.”

I thought it was because he was embarrassed, but it was for this reason.

I really was moved and couldn’t speak, but Tesagh seems to think I’m just being playful as usual.

I chuckled softly and gazed at the lake reflecting the moon while caressing the warm pewter cup. Tesagh seemed to be looking at the same place.

“…”

A quiet but not awkward silence settled around us.

It was the particular stillness that flows between people who have things to say but can’t readily bring them up. After mulling it over, I was the first to speak.

“You were flustered when I said I’d attend tomorrow’s investiture ceremony, weren’t you?”

“Was I just flustered? I doubted my own ears, wondering if I heard correctly.”

While riding horses together, I had expressed my intention to attend tomorrow’s investiture ceremony to Tesagh.

Tesagh had seriously asked if I was being sincere. He had good reason to.

It was a hastily decided schedule that had nothing to do with my wishes, and the political situation in the Imperial Palace was chaotic in many ways.

Most importantly.

“…You know better than anyone, having spoken directly with the Princess, that this investiture ceremony is a lure to draw you into the Imperial Palace.”

Lina’s condition, who would preside over the ceremony, was not normal.

I felt something off in both her speech and behavior, but what I noticed first as an emotion mage was none other than her eyes.

I know those green eyes that glittered hollow and shadowed like glass reflecting foliage. I’ve seen them before.

“See you again?”

In the beheaded mage Eivor.

‘I had thought there might be a condition that only people with green eyes could be controlled. But that wasn’t it.’

People controlled by Eivor have their eye color changed. Like a mark!

Of course, I still didn’t know the reason for the ‘other common factor’ I had asked William to investigate – why their memories disappeared.

But this alone was a great harvest. It meant I had a clue.

‘He had no choice but to mainly target people who originally had green eyes! So that even if their eye color changed, it wouldn’t be noticed right away.’

After realizing this from seeing Lina’s eyes, I asked to confirm whether there was a moment when she lost her memory.

Ailren’s answer made it certain. Lina is now moving according to the ‘real’ Eivor’s will.

“Yes. It’s probably a trap.”

“Right, but knowing that, why?”

After pausing briefly, I looked into Tesagh’s eyes and said.

“Eivor who didn’t die. I need to find out that bastard’s ‘main body.'”

At tomorrow’s ceremony, the Ruby Tablet will definitely be revealed.

Its existence is already known through the special edition, and it’s the justification for my title.

Even in the sense of honoring achievements, the Ruby Tablet has no choice but to be displayed.

And perhaps…

‘I saw the black light characteristic of divine relics at Etewyrn Manor too. That’s most likely Rugenote that Eivor already stole.’

There was also a possibility that Rugenote would be revealed.

If the Ruby Tablet was the justification for my title, then Rugenote was the justification for conflict and strife.

How noisy would it become if the Duchy’s stolen sacred relic suddenly appeared in the Imperial Palace? Taking advantage of that chaos, Eivor would undoubtedly try to achieve his purpose. True to his nature as a backstabbing specialist.

But I was thinking of using that against him.

“I can glimpse the past through sacred relics, can’t I?”

By touching the relics and tracking Eivor’s past.

I couldn’t detain Lina, who is both the Imperial Princess and Regent King, and that would be meaningless anyway. Eivor could just change his target of control.

‘So I have no choice but to quickly stop the main body.’

Main body. Main body, indeed.

Thinking of someone’s face and sighing quietly to myself, I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly.

“As you know, I’m a divine-level saint, so only I can do that job. I should put my abilities to good use.”

Even though Tesagh knew about my holy power, it was an explanation full of holes.

The more he knew, the more dangerous it would certainly become. Moreover, Eivor already recognized Tesagh and was on guard against him.

Therefore, this was about all I could say.

I had even planned what to answer if he pressed for more details.

But?

“Alright. I understand.”

Tesagh, who seemed to be thinking it over, nodded even at this flimsy explanation.

I was rolling my eyes at his unexpected reaction when an even more unexpected comment came back.

“Are you curious why I’m not asking more questions?”

“Uh, um, a little.”

Tesagh, who had slightly raised the corner of his mouth, cleared away the cups and stood up.

“Do you know the order of the investiture ceremony?”

It was an out-of-the-blue comment, but I answered anyway.

“Well? I’ve never received a title before. Don’t I just listen to speeches and clap?”

“You obviously don’t know that you have to dance.”

“Dance? By myself?!”

I was horrified at what kind of embarrassment that would be, when Tesagh took my hand and helped me up.

“I’d like to see you dancing alone in the middle of the hall at least once, but that’s not it – there will be a brief ball.”

“Why would you want to see that…? Besides, I don’t know how to dance.”

“I’ll teach you. Stand on my feet.”

I hesitantly stepped on Tesagh’s feet.

It didn’t seem heavy. Tesagh, who carefully supported my waist with his large hands, began to move.

He said to do it like this, like that, but honestly I couldn’t really tell how to step.

As I looked around, I heard a hearty laugh from Tesagh, who had been quietly humming a dance tune.

“Why can’t you keep your hands still?”

“I have no idea where to put them. I can’t grab your collar, this is really…”

“Just put them anywhere you can grab.”

“Roughly…? Is that really okay? You’re teasing me, aren’t you?”

“We’ll be going out together tomorrow anyway, so if I’m fine with it, then it’s fine.”

“Tomorrow?”

It was when I unconsciously asked back and lifted my head.

“Yes. Tomorrow.”

Tesagh’s steps gradually slowed and eventually stopped.

He spoke quietly.

“I understand your responsibility and respect your decision. So I can wait. Until you’re ready to tell me. That’s why I don’t ask.”

“…”

“But if that’s not a judgment made for yourself but one made out of concern for me, I hope you’ll reconsider. Because I’ll be by your side, Elisha, even if you choose a long and treacherous path and throw yourself into traps. Because I’m confident I can gladly walk with you. Like now.”

Tesagh’s eyes, gently stroking my cheek, were as clear as his words.

“You stay by your side. I’ll come to you.”

Unwavering trust that left no room for misinterpretation was watching me and supporting me.

Come to think of it, that was true. Tesagh never stopped me. Instead, he stayed by my side and waited for me.

He would continue to do so in the future.

That was very… reassuring.

When I stared at him silently for a while, Tesagh’s ears turned slightly red as he made an uncharacteristic jest.

“Of course, it would be nice if we could walk a smooth path.”

Something deep in my heart tickled.

I raised both hands.

“Duke.”

“Yes. …You wouldn’t dare…”

When I brought my hands to his cheeks, Tesagh narrowed his eyes.

He seemed to think that since I told him to grab anywhere, I might be planning to pinch his cheeks like last time.

It was when he closed his eyes as if resigned to his fate.

Standing on my tiptoes, I kissed Tesagh.

Our lips lightly touched, then parted.

“…Ah.”

I smiled slightly at Tesagh, who was staring at me blankly.

“You don’t need to do that. Duke, you’ve been… by my side for a very long time.”

Those were my last words.

Passionate breath penetrated deeply.

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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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