When Terdeo appeared, the greenhouse garden fell silent.
"Ah, how are you here?"
In response to my question, Terdeo turned his gaze from Aedus to me.
"I came back early because I had nothing to do, and it seems I've stumbled upon a bug."
His voice was particularly cold when he emphasized the word 'bug.' Terdeo extended his finger and lightly touched my lower lip, the same spot Aedus had touched moments ago.
"Should I kill it?"
Despite his indifferent touch, his red eyes burned intensely.
'He can't possibly mean to kill me, right?'
I stiffened and subtly moved away from Terdeo's embrace. I then faced his cold, rigid expression.
'I should have stayed in his arms.'
It's even scarier now.
"Fortun Viscount wanted to talk about the reward for helping us last time."
My words, squeezed out with difficulty, sounded like an excuse from someone caught in the act of cheating.
"What I heard was a different conversation."
"Me?"
"Concubine."
I flinched.
"…That's what I clearly heard."
No, I never said I would make him a concubine! I had firmly refused! Why do I feel so guilty, as if I were caught doing something wrong?
"It seems there's some misunderstanding…"
"Yes, that's correct."
Teredo's question was answered from behind. Terdeo slowly turned his angry gaze to Aedus.
"I asked Her Highness the Duchess to make me a concubine as a reward for last time."
You, you crazy guy. Do you have two lives? You can't tell the difference between what to meddle in and what not to.
"Make you a concubine as a reward?"
Teredo sneered, as if showing off.
"Did you do something worthy of a reward?"
It felt like a fight was about to break out.
"If I hadn't helped, you would have been in danger."
"I could have handled it on my own."
"But you couldn't even draw your sword at that time."
"Yes, if it weren't for your nosiness, I would have drawn my sword and subdued them immediately, Aedus."
Aedus flinched at the sound of his name. Terdeo raised an eyebrow, noticing the subtle movement.
"You asked me to call you by your name, but now you look displeased. Aedus."
"…I never asked Her Highness the Duchess to call me by my name."
"Since no one told me not to, I thought anyone could call you by your name, Aedus?"
Teredo's mockery made Aedus's face turn grim. He was so menacing that I took a step back in shock. Terdeo subtly shielded me with his broad back.
"It's best not to look me in the eye. Before I gouge out those insolent eyes of yours."
"My name can only be called by Her Highness the Duchess."
The veins on Terdeo's clenched fists stood out.
"Don't mention the Duchess so casually. I feel like tearing you apart right now."
A dangerous silence followed. The two men glared at each other as if they were mortal enemies. It wasn't a metaphor; they really were.
'But why are they fighting?'
I peeked out from behind Terdeo and looked at the two men. Aedus did ask to be made a concubine, but I had firmly refused. Of course, I wavered a bit at the end, but even if Terdeo hadn't appeared, I would have refused again.
'The role of Duchess only has a few months left anyway.'
Even if I had made Aedus a concubine, Terdeo, who is just a contractual partner, has no reason to be angry. The same goes for Aedus. Our contractual relationship is a secret known only to the two of us.
'If a real husband had heard the request to be a concubine, he would have a reason to be angry.'
So Aedus also has no right to make a big fuss.
'But why are they fighting so fiercely?'
I looked at the two men, who were still glaring at each other with fierce intensity.
"Um."
I called out softly, and both turned to look at me.
'Oh, scary.'
Receiving their overflowing murderous gazes simultaneously, I regretted interfering.
"Why did you call?"
As I shrank back, Terdeo quickly softened his rigid expression and asked. Aedus followed with his usual smile.
"Speak, Your Highness."
Fortunately, they didn't seem to want to kill me. The atmosphere relaxed as the murderous aura dissipated.
"There's no need to fight to the death. …Fortun Viscount, you should stop too."
At my words, Terdeo and Aedus approached me with aggrieved expressions. The tense atmosphere quickly subsided.
"I never intended to kill. I just wanted to scare you and stop you from using the title 'Duchess' so casually."
"I never intended to kill either. I was just surprised when you said you would gouge out my eyes and tear my mouth."
"You have a talent for twisting words. You were the one who scared my wife first, Aedus."
"Stop calling me by my name, Your Highness."
"Did I ask you to? Aedus."
"I didn't say that to Your Highness. Look, Your Highness. You're teasing me again."
"Don't call my wife casually."
"Then what should I call her, Your Highness?"
"Just don't call her."
A deep sigh escaped from my chest. The two men simultaneously clenched their lips at the sound of my sigh. I pointed to the table behind me.
"Can we sit and continue? …Is that okay? Fortun Viscount."
I smiled faintly, seeking their agreement.
"It's best to send you away if you don't want to continue."
"Your Highness should leave. I still have things to discuss with Her Highness the Duchess."
"This is my mansion. Where should I go? You should be the one to leave."
"I'm not a guest of Your Highness but of Her Highness the Duchess. I still have things to say to Her Highness. Why are you trying to chase me away?"
"If you're a guest of my wife, you're also my guest. I don't feel like entertaining guests today, so leave. You said you wanted a reward, right? As a reward for last time, I'm giving you the opportunity to walk out with dignity. Be grateful."
Ha. A second sigh escaped. The two men fell silent again. I pointed to the table.
"Let's sit down."
"…"
"…"
"Do my legs hurt? Should I keep standing? Huh?"
I asked them in turn. Finally, they moved to the table. I followed. The tablecloth I had dampened had started to dry.
"Before you two speak, I'll say something first."
"Go ahead."
"Let's do that."
They were so cooperative, which was a relief. If they could be like this when talking, it would be great.
"First, Terdeo. …Fortun Viscount did ask me to make him a concubine, but I refused."
Teredo looked up. His expression was calm, but it seemed to ask, "Really?" I nodded in response.
"I really refused. And I will never have a concubine. So you don't need to worry about that."
After nailing it down to Terdeo, I turned to Aedus.
"Fortun Viscount. The person here, that is, the Duke, is… my husband."
I hesitated slightly at the words "my husband." It was a simple phrase, but it felt strangely ticklish.
"Ahem."
Strange. Maybe my throat was sore from talking so much? I cleared my throat, feeling ticklish.
"Since you heard Fortun Viscount ask me to make him a concubine, it's natural for the Duke to be angry."
"But…"
"I've already said I have no intention of making Fortun Viscount my concubine. It's not because he's particularly bad. I just have no intention of having a concubine at all."
Aedus tightly closed his mouth, looking resigned. His head, which he had lowered helplessly, made me feel a bit sorry for him.
"Then it's settled. Everything is clear."
In contrast to Aedus, Terdeo shrugged his shoulders. His expression was still calm, but he seemed in a better mood than before.
"Yes."
Upon reflection, it was really a trivial issue. Terdeo nodded contentedly at the clear answer. He gave a silent signal to send Aedus away quickly. I ignored Terdeo's signal and continued.
"But Fortun Viscount helped us before and just now gave me a hint about the trial. Tell me what you want."
As soon as I finished, Terdeo frowned.
"I could have handled it alone before. He just meddled unnecessarily, not helping at all."
"Teredo, if it were just you, maybe, but I was there too, and it was dangerous."
"I would never have let you get hurt."
"You might have gotten hurt trying to protect me."
"A scratch like that would heal with a touch of my tongue."
"Whether it helped or not, Fortun Viscount did step in for us. And…"
I leaned in toward Terdeo and whispered so Aedus couldn't hear.
"We need to give a decent reward so he doesn't ask for anything else in the future."
We need to cut off any future requests for rewards. Terdeo lost his words, his lips tightly sealed. He crossed his arms and turned his face, expressing his dissatisfaction with his whole body.
'Sometimes, it's like I can see who Selfie resembles.'