The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 229

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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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2. Things That Don’t Change

The news of Elisha and Tesagh’s marriage announcement spread in an instant.

Most people shrugged their shoulders, saying “I knew it would happen.” It seemed everyone thought it was just a matter of time.

However, the reactions of those close to them were a bit different. First, Belastard welcomed the marriage news very much.

“As the Border Guard, it’s certainly something to welcome, but as a mother, there’s one thing I want to ask, Elisha.”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

“What exactly is good about that dark fellow?”

“Well, because he’s cute.”

More precisely, she seemed more shocked by the comment that her son was cute than by the sudden marriage announcement, leaving her no time to object.

“That boy hasn’t been cute even once since he started walking! Elisha, think about it one more time!”

…Now that I think about her last words, it seems like she was against it after all.

Unlike Belastard, whose stance was ambiguous between approval and opposition, there was someone who opposed it in a very orthodox manner.

“That’s, that’s impossible. Marriage, Elisha?”

Crash.

Princess Katarina, who had broken her teacup, spoke with a trembling voice.

“How long have you two been officially dating that you’re getting married? It’s too fast.”

Eventually, tears even welled up in her large green eyes.

Elisha hugged her tightly, saying it was understandable to feel upset about a friend suddenly getting married.

“Lina, we’ll still be able to see each other often.”

“But if you marry the Duke…”

“I’ll continue living in the Empire. I’ll only visit the Duchy occasionally?”

“Really? Really? …If the Duke ever gives you a hard time, tell me. I’m ready to go to war with the Duchy.”

“I’m happy that you cherish me so much, but isn’t your whisper a bit too loud, Lina?”

“I’m saying it for him to hear.”

With that, Katarina stared at Tesagh with eyes burning with fighting spirit.

Well, this was all expected.

Elisha was not only the Princess’s friend but also a major human asset of the Empire.

It was rather natural for the Regent King to worry about losing her.

So Tesagh, considering it a kind of rite of passage, wasn’t particularly nervous,

“…”

But the moment he faced Mikelele, who had received a complete recovery diagnosis a few days ago and returned to the Duchy, was somewhat different.

“Duke.”

“…Yes.”

He was someone who had exerted his presence even while lying in a sickbed.

But from him, now returned to the Rionet Duchy, a truly different dimensional atmosphere could be felt.

The detachment unique to someone who had ultimately overcome a life full of hardships and the weight that comes from self-confidence were things that could never be faked.

“I’ve heard and seen enough to know the Duke’s character. But aren’t there basics that must be observed?”

When such a Mikelele said this, it felt like being hit in the bones. Moreover, it was very much the right thing to say.

Had he asked for permission? Had he formally sent a marriage proposal? Moreover, by starting with a press conference, it had become more like a notification.

Setting everything else aside, weren’t they grandfather and granddaughter who had been apart for a long time?

Even if Elisha stayed in the Empire, as her grandfather, it was natural for him to feel regretful and hurt.

‘He must want to spend more time with Elisha. …It’s my fault.’

There was no room for excuses.

To make such a big mistake when he knew how dearly the two cherished each other.

Elisha, who had been looking back and forth between Tesagh, who bit his lips tightly, and Mikelele, was about to say something, but Tesagh was faster.

“My thinking was shallow.”

Mikelele’s brow furrowed slightly.

“This was a matter where I should have received permission from you and asked for your understanding, but I acted rashly because my heart got ahead of me. It’s all my fault…”

“Does the Duke think I’m doing this to receive an apology?”

Then what?

Tesagh was flustered.

If he had known this would happen, he should have properly attended rhetoric classes when he was young. Should he kneel down even now?

It was a time when Tesagh was resenting the god of eloquence after a long while.

“Since you two have already decided, I have no intention of interfering. I trust my granddaughter’s choice.”

“Grandfather…”

“However.”

That was fortunate, but then why did he bring up ‘basics’ all of a sudden?

Though it was very touching words, unlike Elisha who hugged Mikelele tightly, Tesagh, who couldn’t be completely moved, hesitated at the following words.

“Isn’t there one more person who should know about this marriage?”

“…”

“Does the Duke’s father know about this news? Or rather, have you even been in contact with him?”

“Ah.”

I had completely forgotten…

Mikelele, who was watching Tesagh’s blank face as he finally realized, clicked his tongue.

It seemed his granddaughter’s husband-to-be had some dense aspects.

***

Tesagh’s father and Belastard’s husband, Theodor, was an adventurer.

He, who had made great contributions to exploring polar regions and pioneering new sea routes to expand maps, was rescued by the Duchy’s navy after drifting in winter seas due to a shipwreck.

“I thought he might be a spy. It didn’t make sense for someone to explore the world alone in a small boat, right? So I went in to interrogate him personally, and.”

“Yes, and then?”

“We got married.”

“You skipped way too much?!”

Anyway, even after marrying Belastard, Theodor’s adventures continued.

He would be away for months at the shortest, and years at the longest.

‘So that’s why she said it would be fine for me to be away because there was a ‘precedent.’ It was because of Father?’

The people of the Duchy had already been heavily inoculated by Theodor.

So at least I, who had a definite residence in the Empire, would seem acceptable.

But that didn’t mean it was something to be happy about.

“Can you contact Father?”

“I’ve sent a signal, but I don’t know if he’s checked it.”

“…Aren’t you being too carefree? We’re talking about the Border Guard’s husband, that is, the former Duke’s son-in-law and your mother’s husband.”

“And he’s also your father. If I hadn’t been carefree, do you think this marriage would have lasted?”

After waiting for several days, no reply came from Theodor.

Which meant…

“Well, what can we do. I’ll have to go find him.”

“Me, Border Guard?”

“Of course. The Duke is the one in a hurry to get married, not me.”

It meant he was inevitably going on an adventure to find an adventurer.

Very fortunately, there was a clue.

“If I connect the communicator’s signal like this… Done!”

The mages of the Magic Tower and Chloe created a tool that could track Theodor based on the communicator’s signal.

They said it was a magic device with minimized mana concentration, so it would be fine for me to use.

“The signal cuts out a bit, but you can see the, the movement route, so you just need to follow this!”

Chloe, who had become much more confident in speaking, proudly handed over the map.

My eyes widened as I gratefully received the map. And for good reason.

“Huh? He’s currently in the Empire?”

Because Theodor’s last detected location was none other than the Presrife Empire!

I was worried it might be somewhere far away, but at this level, we should be able to find it easily, right?

As I lifted my head in joy, I realized that Tesagh’s expression was somehow peculiar.

“Why does it have to be the Empire of all places….”

He even let out a sigh.

Why is he acting like that?

Not understanding the reason, I tilted my head in confusion, but I learned why the next day.

***

After Crodil’s downfall, as the Duchy and Empire newly established mutual diplomatic treaties, several restrictions were placed on Tesagh.

One of them was that when visiting the Empire, he had to notify the Imperial Palace in advance of the reason and duration of his stay.

The reverse was also true. They couldn’t just let the Princess or Emperor roam around the Duchy freely.

Therefore, Tesagh thought those conditions were quite reasonable.

“…So, as a precaution against any potential dangers, Her Highness the Princess has sent me.”

That was until this morning.

“It’s been a while since I’ve greeted you. I am Ailen Hugo Radeian, who will be accompanying you as a guard.”

Tesagh frowned.

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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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