The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 222

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

1. People don’t live there

Three weeks had passed since the World Tree disappeared.

During that time, everyone at the Moro Duchy had been incredibly busy without a moment to spare.

Among them, if you were to pick the busiest person…

“It must be Duke himself, right?”

It would be Duke Tesagh Alister Moro.

The maids gathered in front of the main gate of the Duke’s residence whispered among themselves.

“Just imagine how much he had to handle. He had to comfort the shocked believers and priests of the World Tree Order.”

“He also had to wrap up the matter of Eivor, no, the culprit who controlled Eivor.”

“Since the Emperor returned to the Empire, he had to discuss responsibility and compensation issues anew, right? Sigh.”

“I wonder if he even got any sleep. Still…”

Despite worrying about the Duke, the maids’ expressions were subtly bright.

And for good reason.

“His trip to the Empire today is probably because of ‘that person,’ right?”

“Come on, isn’t it obvious! Just look at him leaving at this dawn hour – he’s trying to arrive at the pawnshop right when it opens in the morning!”

“Oh my, how unexpected! I never knew His Grace had such a side to him…!”

“Why are you all gathered here? Are you planning to see me off?”

The maids who had been squealing and hitting each other’s backs suddenly flinched.

The maids who turned around hesitantly met Tesagh’s fierce, no, blazing eyes and quickly bowed their heads.

But Tesagh didn’t seem pleased with that.

“I remember abolishing such formalities long ago. Who mobilized you all at two in the morning?”

“Ugh, even if we really were mobilized to come out, would we readily tattle to you? Stop being noisy and just get in the carriage.”

It was Border Guard Belastard who cut off Tesagh’s interrogation.

Having suffered from heavy duties no less than the Duke, she yawned and pushed Tesagh into the carriage.

Tesagh, who ended up in the carriage unexpectedly, had a very displeased expression. In other words, it was the expression the people of the Duke’s residence had always seen.

“Y-Your Grace. This…!”

“What is it.”

“It’s a bath toy gift set! We maids prepared it!”

Even at the mention of a gift, Tesagh had an expression like ‘So why are you giving this to me?’

“Miss Elisha seemed to like these toys! So we prepared them in different colors!”

At the following words, his face softened for a moment.

Though it was a moonless night, a light suddenly appeared in his dim eyes.

It was probably because of the name the maids mentioned, rather than the gift itself.

“…Thank you. I’ll pass it along.”

“Yes! Have a safe trip!”

The carriage departed.

The maids who were feeling proud, saying ‘His Grace said thank you!’ were about to return.

“Tsk tsk.”

A tongue-clicking sound was heard. It was Border Guard Belastard.

The puzzled maids heard Belastard’s voice muttering quietly.

“Look at him getting excited, doing things he’s never done before.”

“Y-Your Excellency. If I may ask, what do you mean by ‘things he’s never done’…?”

“Seeing him scold you for gathering shows he’s aware he should act normally, but…”

For saying thank you? For not frowning?

The confused maids nodded with understanding at the following words.

“In the end, he couldn’t hide it until the very end. If it were really like usual, he would have interrogated you endlessly about why you thought she liked those duck toys, whether there were aspects of Elisha’s preferences he didn’t know, but he just accepted them and left. He can’t think straight at the thought of seeing her face after two weeks.”

“I see…”

“As someone who’s watched that guy for a long time, I can say with certainty.”

The Border Guard, who had been talking about her son like he was some stranger, declared:

“The reunion after two weeks probably won’t go as the Duke expects.”

***

Having no way of knowing what declaration Belastard had made, Tesagh tried to get some sleep, even if forced.

But sleep wouldn’t come.

His heart, which had been calm even when running dozens of laps around the training grounds, kept asserting its presence today.

“She likes these things.”

Tesagh, who finally sat up straight, turned the soft duck toy around and chuckled.

“…How foolish.”

It was two weeks ago.

Tesagh, who had brought Elisha to the Empire, knew he had to return but couldn’t bring himself to take a step.

He had almost lost her several times. Elisha had even just woken up after being unconscious for a week.

Though his anxiety had clear reasons, he couldn’t say anything for fear of reminding her of that fact.

“What should I do? I don’t want to send you away.”

As if understanding Tesagh’s heart completely, Elisha hugged him tightly and spoke very sadly.

Just like ordinary lovers.

So Tesagh could also speak honestly.

“I don’t want to go either. I don’t want to leave you alone and return to the duchy. …I want to stay here.”

“…But you have to go, since Tesagh is the Duke…”

“…That’s not what I meant…”

After the usual jokes and usual bickering, Tesagh returned to the duchy.

While handling work that would normally take over two months in just two weeks, Tesagh always thought of Elisha.

It didn’t interfere with his work. Rather, having a goal helped him concentrate better.

“Get some sleep, Duke. It’s four in the morning now. What is all this? Huh?”

“I’ve written all the content, so just check it, Border Guard. This is the treaty document. This is the agreement. This is the real estate document. This is the cooperation letter to send to the priests.”

“There seems to be something strange mixed in – what’s the real estate document?”

“It’s nothing much. I bought a mansion in the Imperial Capital. Under Elisha’s name. Of course, Elisha doesn’t know yet.”

“…”

“Since there will be many matters to discuss with the Empire, we’ll need to travel back and forth frequently, and we can’t keep staying in safe houses. Since I’m not an Imperial citizen, I bought it under Elisha’s name, who is an Imperial citizen. And this is a wedding ceremony order I revised in advance.”

“…”

“It’s better to remove all unnecessary procedures. A priest’s blessing? Why is that needed? The person who will stand by my side is the incarnation of the World Tree, right? Just the marriage declaration and kiss should be enough, shouldn’t it? Of course, Elisha doesn’t know about this either.”

“…I’m seeing all kinds of crazy bastards…”

There were a few times he almost got grabbed by the collar by the Border Guard, but there were no major problems anyway.

From what he heard, Elisha had also been very busy, but had gained some free time in recent days.

‘She said she would refrain from using magical tools for a while since we don’t know what effect divine power or magic power might have on Elisha.’

Because of this, she couldn’t use communication devices either, so he had no choice but to hear news through his aide Milton, whom he had left in the Empire.

Though he was somewhat unreliable due to his absent-minded nature, given the circumstances, he had no choice but to trust him.

Tesagh looked at the sky that was gradually brightening.

The Empire was getting closer. Tesagh smiled without realizing it.

He had definitely been like that.

“Tesagh, I’m sorry.”

For what?

“Tesagh is banned from entering the pawnshop.”

“…Why?”

“Oh, and by the way, ‘Alter’ and ‘Ris’ are also banned from entering. Don’t even think about coming with your eye color changed using Clip. You know I can’t be near magical tools right now, don’t you?”

“…So why…?”

“Would you like to go to the safe house for now? I’ll explain later.”

He was suddenly kicked out.

To Tesagh’s shocked ears, it seemed like he could somehow hear Belastard clicking her tongue.

***

It was lunchtime.

I gathered my notes and headed to the safe house where Tesagh would be.

“Tesa… Oh my.”

When I opened the door, the first thing I saw was Tesagh grabbing Milton by the collar and shaking him vigorously.

Then when our eyes met, he immediately threw Milton away. Fortunately, Milton’s fluttering body landed safely on the sofa.

With a composure that was hard to believe from someone who had just launched his aide like a paper airplane, Tesagh said calmly.

“I was helping him with physical training.”

“That’s right! It helps with, cough, flexibility!”

Milton, folded up like a shrimp, gave a thumbs up.

Well, if he says so himself.

I was about to sit down without asking further when Tesagh casually threw out a comment.

“I don’t give this kind of collar grabbing, I mean, physical training to other people. In case there might be misunderstandings.”

“So it’s special treatment that you only give to your aide. I understand.”

“…That’s a relief. About that, the ban from entering that was imposed on me.”

It was somewhat cute how this man, who always had the impression of a bird of prey or wolf, was asking like a puppy that had caused trouble and was reading the room.

So instead of explaining, I was quietly smiling and watching him.

Tesagh squeezed his eyes shut and spoke as if he had made up his mind.

“I’ve decided to accept it humbly.”

“…What?”

How did he reach that conclusion?

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————