The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 220

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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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“A week?”

“Yes.”

“So much time has already passed…”

Cough.

I coughed while drinking cherry juice.

The place I was in now was the Duke’s banquet hall. Tesagh had brought me here in a princess carry, saying that everything else was secondary and I absolutely had to eat first.

I attempted to escape several times, but each time the arms holding me only tightened their grip, so I gave up and let myself be carried.

Even though I said I wasn’t particularly hungry, he pretended not to hear me, which made me wonder why he was acting this way. But if I was unconscious for a whole week? That made sense. I would have wanted to feed me something too.

“But for someone who fainted from the aftereffects of eliminating the World Tree, waking up in just a week seems pretty fast, don’t you think?”

Belastard chuckled at my joke.

She was also seated at the dinner table.

“I think so too. But…”

She had rushed over as soon as she heard I had awakened, and despite welcoming me with great joy, she shook her head with a somewhat exasperated expression.

“For someone, that week must have felt like an eternity.”

“Eat this too. And this. Try this too, you enjoyed it last time.”

It was because of Tesagh, who was sitting right next to me.

“Duke, take it easy. I understand your feelings of treasuring her so much you’re afraid she’ll scatter if you hold her or fly away if you blow on her, and I agree, but how can Elisha eat all of that by herself? And what are you doing staring only at Elisha? She’ll be too burdened to swallow anything.”

“…”

“What are you looking at, you fool. Look at the plate in front of you, not at me.”

At the Border Guard’s sharp words, Tesagh finally seemed to come to his senses.

He had been so eager to feed me various things that before I knew it, dishes had piled up like a mountain only in front of me, and he looked unusually embarrassed seeing this.

I laughed quietly and pushed the plate toward Tesagh as well.

“I don’t think I can eat all of this by myself. So let’s eat together.”

“No, Elisha. Leave that dark fellow alone and you eat plenty. That guy probably can’t swallow food right now anyway.”

Tesagh must have skipped meals and sleep while watching over me, but Belastard was firm rather than worried.

I could tell from how she told me to use the duchy’s duke as I pleased, but she really does raise her son quite strictly.

“Hmm, just looking at me fills you up?”

When I joked with a wink, Belastard chuckled and propped her chin on her hand.

Her red eyes curved mysteriously.

“That’s also true, but… there might be another reason?”

“Border Guard.”

“What, you fool.”

Anyway, since she told me to leave him alone, I decided to just eat my food, whether the mother and son had their eye conversation or not.

It was when I had finished everything, including the trifle loaded with cherries. Belastard approached and firmly grasped my hand.

“You’ve worked hard.”

It was a simple greeting, but her eyes said otherwise.

“Now you can live doing what you want to do. Not what you have to do, but what you want to do. You know what I mean, right?”

Suddenly, I thought of Beatrice, whom I had never met even once.

If Beatrice hadn’t died and was still alive, if she had seen me, wouldn’t she have said exactly this?

Thinking of her who left me the name ‘Elisha,’ which means ‘one who performs miracles,’ I grasped Belastard’s hand in return as she looked at me.

“Yes. Thank you.”

Belastard smiled warmly at me, but she just patted her son’s shoulder roughly and left.

Tesagh, who was dumbfounded, soon stood up.

“Then let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“There’s someone you need to meet.”

Grandfather.

It was the thought I had as soon as I woke up. However, I shook my head.

“No.”

“Why?”

To Tesagh, who looked puzzled, I declared:

“I need to wash! Fix my disheveled hair neatly! Spray on some perfume, and wear nice clothes! Then I’ll go!”

“…Is that necessary?”

“Of course! Sure, in Tesagh’s eyes I’d look pretty even if I came rolling out of a mud field! But as you know, my grandfather is an appraiser. His standards are incredibly strict. He can’t stand even loose threads sticking out of clothes.”

Tesagh looked like he didn’t know whether to argue or agree with this, but ultimately he went along with my wishes.

“Maids, please take good care of me.”

When I spoke solemnly, the maids’ eyes lit up.

They looked like people who had been waiting for this day alone.

“Just leave it to us!”

Usually I felt embarrassed being attended to by others, but now wasn’t the time to worry about that.

I squeezed my duck toy tightly and shut my eyes firmly.

This too shall pass…

When I opened my eyes again, the maids, who also had solemn expressions, asked:

“How is it?”

Cheeks flushed pink from the bath, lips with restored color, hair tied neatly and prettily, and a pink dress that matched my hair color well.

Seeing myself in the mirror, I gave a thumbs up.

“Perfect. Thank you.”

“If you entrust us again next time, we’ll serve you comfortably.”

“I hope I’m not being presumptuous, but you’re so cute and beautiful… ugh.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of the head maid smacking the back of a maid who couldn’t hold back her words despite speaking politely.

When I came out the door, Tesagh was waiting.

But somehow…

“…This is the first time I’ve seen Tesagh with all his buttons fastened…”

He was dressed even better than I was.

To think I’d live to see Tesagh wearing his shirt with all the buttons done up!

He was someone who kept his shirt open even at the imperial palace ball, and even in that cold sanctuary!

When I was genuinely surprised, Tesagh, wearing a neat navy blue uniform, narrowed his eyes.

“Anyone listening would think I usually walk around naked.”

Isn’t that about half right? I thought, and asked playfully:

“Did you dress up nicely because you want to make a good impression on my grandfather?”

Tesagh muttered.

“…Inherited aesthetic sense doesn’t just disappear.”

“Pardon?”

“You said an appraiser’s standards are strict. You’re an appraiser too. …I want to look good to you, so I changed clothes.”

Tesagh’s ears turned bright red as he said this.

After watching him for a moment, I cupped his cheeks with both hands.

“Cute.”

“…Not handsome?”

“Yes. You’re cute.”

I laughed and gave Tesagh, who looked like he couldn’t understand at all, a quick kiss on his lips while standing on my tiptoes.

Someone once said that when someone looks cute no matter what they do, it’s over.

“…Anyway, I’ll take that as meaning I don’t look bad.”

A cute person who doesn’t even know he’s cute? This is a big problem.

I thought I heard the watching maids making puzzled sounds like ‘Cute…?’ but I decided to let that go in one ear and out the other.

‘It’s enough if he’s cute in my eyes.’

I was walking arm in arm with Tesagh toward grandfather’s hospital room.

Tesagh looked at me as I took a deep breath. Our eyes met.

“I’m a little nervous.”

It was Grandfather’s face that I had always seen, but I couldn’t understand why I felt so nervous all of a sudden.

My heart was pounding. Tesagh, who was close to me, must have felt it too.

Looking around, I gestured toward the bell tower.

“Shall we get some fresh air for a moment?”

“Sure.”

Having come here many times, I gazed at the sky from the bell tower that had become the most familiar place in the Duke’s residence.

Despite being incredibly high, I wasn’t scared. That was probably because of Tesagh, who was firmly supporting me.

Leaning against his embrace, I smiled slightly.

“I never did get to grab the World Tree by the collar in the end.”

It was because I remembered the conversation we had here.

I had resolved to find a cure for Grandfather, even if it meant grabbing the World Tree by the collar.

Fortunately or unfortunately, there was no need to grab myself by the collar. Since the divine power within me had disappeared, there was no longer any need to find a cure.

Tesagh’s quiet laughter scattered softly by my ear.

“If you want, I’ll grab Crescenziano by the collar for you.”

“Is that really for me? Aren’t you just saying that because you want to grab him yourself?”

“Well, I can’t say that’s entirely wrong.”

On the way to the dinner, I heard from Tesagh.

The day before I woke up, Crescens had also awakened.

Since his punishment and fate hadn’t been decided yet, Crescens was in the dungeon of the Imperial Palace.

I could clearly picture the judges wracking their brains over the unprecedented dilemma of crimes committed by a god with split personality. It wasn’t exactly an easy matter to pass judgment on.

“Let’s go together.”

“To keep an eye on me?”

“Well, partly to keep an eye on you… and partly to meet Crescens.”

Still, I could be certain.

The current ‘Crescens’ would be the harmless person I knew, or at least someone trying to be harmless.

“Let’s do that.”

It seemed Tesagh thought the same way.

As we chatted about trivial things that came to mind, my tension gradually eased.

I was thinking that the constellations in the night sky looked exactly like dots made with paint when something suddenly occurred to me.

“Oh, by the way, when exactly are you going to use that wish? The wish from our pea shooting contest.”

“Is there a deadline? I can use it whenever I want.”

“Wishes depend on the person granting them. If you don’t tell me within 5 seconds, I’ll consider it void. 5, 4, 3…”

“I have one. A wish.”

You thought of one that quickly?

It must definitely be a wish meant to torment me, I thought as I tried to turn my head, but my left hand that had been counting down by folding my fingers starting with my thumb was gently caught.

And then.

“My wish is, Elisha.”

A ring was slipped onto my finger.

“May all your days ahead be happy.”

As I stared blankly at my hand, Tesagh slowly turned around to face me.

“So I hope you can smile every day.”

“…”

“I don’t wish for anything else. Just having you by my side is enough for me.”

He smiled.

“Can you grant that wish?”

Tenderness washed over me starting from my ring finger where the ring had been placed.

In the quiet world, only Tesagh’s heartfelt words lingered like an echo.

His serious gaze, unwavering expression, and his smile were vivid.

I decided to grant Tesagh’s wish.

“Of course.”

After all, I’m a former god.

When I smiled brightly and kissed him, Tesagh pulled me into his arms.

His body pressing against mine was warm. Surely, his ears must be burning bright red.

And I found that very much to my liking.

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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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