The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 228
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
After a long while, when his coughing subsided, Tesagh looked like he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“What do you take me for? It’s not like that.”
“Hmm, do you have diplomatic immunity or something? Even so, that wouldn’t be immunity to just barge into someone else’s house.”
“It’s not trespassing, *cough*, I’m telling you.”
“Then whose house is it?”
‘It can’t be Tesagh’s house, right? Due to imperial law, there should be a price ceiling when foreigners buy mansions, shouldn’t there?’
A small safe house was one thing – he could have somehow bought that with Information Guild leader William’s help.
But this mansion looked bigger and more expensive than the Duke of Alchemiya’s residence at first glance. It even had an outdoor hot spring in the garden.
So I asked out of genuine curiosity, and Tesagh’s face slowly turned red.
“Anyway, there won’t be any problems. I promise on my name.”
“Oh my, you’ve staked something quite big.”
“That means I’m that certain. It’s needless worry, so put it aside.”
He must have rented it for the day or something? I concluded my understanding at that level.
I leaned against Tesagh, who was muttering, ‘I really need to fix the roof quickly for my image…’
I watched the stars while leaning against the firm arm that immediately supported my back. They were truly beautiful.
“…So, you figured out Kalamine’s feelings just by looking at his resume?”
“More precisely, I figured it out by watching him write his resume. He wrote everything else smoothly, but he kept hesitating when it came to writing about his childhood. He didn’t even write about his first scandal partner, saying he couldn’t remember at all.”
“That partner was the manager.”
“Yes. Plus, when Ide was preparing tea, he kept following her with his eyes while pretending not to. I thought there must be something between them. So when I asked Eloise…”
“Eloise? You mean Eloise Devin, who avoided trouble by coincidentally being drunk and asleep?”
“Didn’t you know she’s been making a name for herself in the duchy’s social circles lately? The rumors got a bit distorted, so the story spread that Eloise personally smashed up an illegal gambling den, and everyone’s trembling with fear.”
“…First of all, I didn’t know, and is that even considered ‘making a name for herself in social circles’?”
“She and the Marquise of Devin are satisfied with it. Anyway, Eloise gathered information for me. She sent me a newspaper article about Ide being his first scandal partner, and as soon as I saw it, I thought ‘So that’s how it happened!'”
Talking with Tesagh was always enjoyable.
“Emma will be pleased. It’s proven that the new ‘worst memory’ drinking type product is this effective.”
“It’s also proven that there’s a higher chance of it falling into the wrong hands and being misused.”
“Ah, but that’s not for sale. I heard they’re collaborating with the Imperial Palace to supply it only for interrogation purposes.”
“That’s fortunate, but I still don’t trust that mage.”
“…Well, it’s true that she misunderstood the relationship between me and Chloe, but didn’t you say you realized your feelings for me thanks to her?”
“That’s just that mage’s one-sided claim!”
Even during our first meeting when he misunderstood me as a criminal, it was the same.
No matter what nonsense I spouted, he would at least respond even if he found it absurd, and though he wasn’t particularly talkative, his reactions were surprisingly varied.
“Tesagh.”
“I’m listening.”
I also liked seeing how he focused on me like this, even when I spoke to him out of the blue.
It was one of the many reasons I liked Tesagh. Though he would probably wonder ‘Isn’t that natural?’ in confusion.
“If I marry Tesagh, my life will change a lot, won’t it?”
Tesagh choked for the second time.
He coughed much louder than before and looked at me as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Elisha, *cough*, what do you mean?”
“Oh, you won’t marry me? Did I jump to conclusions?”
“I will! Of course I’ll marry you…! No, more than that, why are you suddenly saying such things?”
Even with his face bright red, he seemed to be seriously wondering if he hadn’t heated the mulled wine enough, which made me giggle.
“I thought about it after seeing Cedric today.”
You thought about marriage after seeing that guy?
Tesagh, who had that kind of expression, slowly relaxed his face at my next words.
“It’s just something simple. Let’s not dig tunnels based on assumptions.”
“…”
“So I’ll speak honestly. …Actually, the reason I’ve been so devoted to pawnshop work lately was because I wanted to prove something.”
“What? To whom?”
“To the people of the duchy.”
Tesagh, who had been holding my hand and gazing at me, tilted his head.
“I want to continue working at the pawnshop even after becoming the Grand Duchess. But I’m not sure if it would be acceptable in terms of public sentiment for the Grand Duchess to be abroad frequently. The perception of pawnshops isn’t good in the duchy either…”
“Wait, Elisha. Are you saying you were worried about that?”
“Yes. Actually, since I’m the Empire’s best appraiser, there’s no replacement for me, right? It’s only a matter of time before customers come back. I was just wondering how I could shorten that interval.”
“Elisha…”
I had spoken really seriously and carefully, but Tesagh’s shoulders, with his head buried against my neck, were shaking.
“I’m being serious here, but you’re laughing right now?”
“No…”
Tesagh’s breath, mixed with laughter, tickled my ear.
“How is that a problem?”
“Well, because you have your position as Grand Duke to consider…”
“So, if I don’t consider it a problem, how would it be a problem?”
Tesagh continued slowly and clearly.
“The perception has been improving for a while now. New laws related to pawnshop operations are also scheduled to be announced.”
“Oh, really?”
“And your stay in the Empire won’t be a problem either. There’s precedent. Most importantly, the duchy’s citizens are of the mindset that they just want me to get married somehow, so they’ll all be delighted. Even more so if that partner is you.”
I was wondering whether I should be happy about this or not.
“Elisha, but even if that weren’t the case, you don’t need to compromise.”
Tesagh’s voice, after catching his breath, sounded very gentle.
“I told you. You should stay in that position. …I said I would come to you.”
“…”
“The worries that come with that are my job to handle. So you just need to fulfill my wish.”
“My wish is, Elisha. I hope all your days ahead will be happy, so that you can smile every day.”
“…”
“I don’t wish for anything else. Just having you by my side is enough for me.”
Tesagh whispered while holding me tightly.
“I love you. Elisha.”
As if to prove his words, our touching hearts beat loudly.
I could feel Tesagh’s affection with my whole body.
I was so overwhelmed that I was momentarily speechless, then slowly opened my mouth.
“I love you too. Tesagh.”
Tesagh, who let out a heated sigh, lowered his body.
His lips approached mine. At first it was just a light touch, but as soon as he felt my breath waver, Tesagh kissed me more deeply.
Our bodies were already half-submerged in the hot spring water.
The temperature of the water and Tesagh’s body heat mixed and poured over me. It was hot and dizzying.
The wetly soaked clothes kept slipping, and Tesagh’s large hands came to cover them as if they had been waiting.
It was when I was trying to grab his clothes in my dizzy state.
“…”
What is this?
Some bundle of papers had come into my grasp.
“Tesagh, wait a moment…”
I barely managed to turn my head to look.
“…Isn’t this a property deed?”
My eyes widened when I saw the name written at the bottom of the documents that had become limp from the water.
“But why is my name written here?”
“…Well.”
“Don’t tell me, Tesagh.”
“Think of it as a wedding gift.”
“What did you say-?!”
Only after we kissed for a long while did Tesagh confess that he had prepared it to give me when he proposed someday.
Having suddenly become the owner of a mansion, I was carried to ‘my’ bedroom in a dazed state.
My body had gone completely limp, so I didn’t have the energy to say anything.
After laying me on the bed and practically tearing off his shirt to throw it aside, Tesagh suddenly paused with an “Ah.”
When I looked up wondering what was wrong, he was staring at the rose petals scattered on the bed.
“Tesagh?”
“About the pollen you were worried about earlier.”
Usually I was the one to kill the mood, so why was this person suddenly…?
Though puzzled, I listened to his whisper for now.
“…”
“Ah, that would work!”
“Then there’s nothing to worry about anymore.”
The corner of Tesagh’s mouth curved up.
“Now you can focus on me.”
“I wasn’t even thinking about it until you mentioned it, mmph…”
My vision went white in an instant.
And the pollen, confetti, and hired reporters were, to cut to the conclusion, put to very good use.
[Princess Elisha Rionet – Duke Tesagh Alister Moro Marriage Announcement]
In the press conference photos that made headlines in every newspaper, we were looking at each other and smiling.
It was a photo where we looked truly happy, not different from reality.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————