Chapter 38

After the story ended, I sent Adieu back. Having obtained what he wanted, Adieu readily withdrew. Everything seemed to have been resolved well.

"Are you in a bad mood?"

Everyone except Terdeo.

"What do I have to be in a bad mood about?"

"You've looked unhappy since just now."

"Calling someone a friend and addressing them by their name are all your freedoms; why would I be in a bad mood?"

Despite that, your face still looks dark.

"Are you sulking?"

"Who? Me?"

Teredeo let out a hollow laugh. Then, he quickened his pace and walked ahead of me.

'You’re not denying it.'

I shook my head as I watched Terdeo walk ahead. When I walked slowly behind, Terdeo, who had been walking ahead, suddenly stopped.

"…?"

When I also stopped, Terdeo turned around and walked back to my side.

"There was no need to call me by name."

"Huh?"

Name? I tilted my head as I looked at the very irritable face of Terdeo.

"Are you talking about Adieu?"

Snap. His face hardened again like a statue.

"Does it not suit you?"

"Yeah."

"Adieu?"

Crack. The sound of his teeth grinding could be heard. This was secretly quite amusing.

"To clarify, I’m not doing this because you made a friend or a lover."

As he said this, the veins on the back of Terdeo’s tightly clenched hand stood out.

"I don’t like that formality. With me clearly here, sending letters to you or asking to be made a lover—"

"Even suggesting to be friends?"

Teredeo responded with a grimace.

"There’s definitely some other scheme behind it."

"So that’s why you were in such a bad mood?"

"A dangerous person clinging to you could expose our family’s secrets, which would be a big problem. I’m just saying you should be more cautious."

He wasn’t wrong. From Terdeo’s perspective, it was a sufficiently worrying situation. Someone who got close to me might try to dig up the Laphreon family’s secrets.

'So that’s why you were so concerned.'

Only then did I understand some of Terdeo’s actions.

"It’s just a simple friendship, so there won’t be any unnecessary closeness. Don’t worry."

Nodding, a satisfied smile appeared on Terdeo’s face. He seemed to be in a better mood as he walked in step with me, his steps light and lively.

"But were you serious about what you said earlier?"

"About what?"

"That you will never make a lover again."

Why? I tilted my head, and Terdeo added matter-of-factly.

"Because if the rumor spreads that you’ve made a lover, my family will pester me."

Ah, right. If such a rumor spread, Cersia and Selphius wouldn’t leave Terdeo alone. They think we are a happy couple.

'So that was also a concern.'

I looked at Terdeo with a sympathetic gaze and patted his shoulder.

"Before our contract ends, I won’t make a lover, so don’t worry."

Teredeo stopped walking and frowned.

"Then what about after the contract ends?"

"After the contract ends?"

Why are you asking? I tilted my head and slowly replied.

"After the contract ends, we’ll get divorced, right? Then, whoever I meet won’t be a lover, will they?"

Teredeo’s expression crumpled like a piece of paper. His eyes gleamed sharply.

"…Thank you very much."

His words of gratitude didn’t sound genuinely grateful. I nodded and continued walking.

***

A few days passed. No more terrifying ghost rumors were heard in the mansion. Terdeo, having obtained all the information he needed, had chased the two people he had kept in the annex basement prison into the forest. It was called 'chasing them into the forest,' but in reality, they were chased out naked and whipped all over their bodies. The next day, when the duke’s knights went to the forest to check, they found only the traces of a struggle to survive, animal tracks, and red blood. Additionally, it was said that the stepfather’s son had already died when Terdeo found him. A glass bottle containing Aillette’s blood was found where the child had died. It seemed that the child, left alone at home, had played with the glass bottle containing Aillette’s blood and died in an accident. Either way, it was a fitting end. And starting the day after our tea time, I followed Adieu’s advice. First, I dressed plainly and rode in the splendid Laphreon duke’s carriage to find where my father was buried, at the busiest time of day. As expected, the next day’s newspaper featured a large article about how I was still grieving for my father’s death. Then, I gave generous severance pay to the servants who had worked at the Zahart viscount’s mansion, as a reward for their efforts. Originally, I planned to give an additional month’s salary, but since most of the servants had already quit, I decided to give generous severance pay. This, too, was prominently featured in the next day’s newspaper due to someone’s tip. Finally, I made and distributed invitations for a charity party, adding that I would donate a certain amount to an orphanage in need. And today was the day of that charity party.

"Your Highness, the Duchess! You’re in the newspaper again!"

By now, Selphius seemed to be enjoying it, bringing the newspaper with an excited face every morning.

"The article says that Your Highness is holding a charity party and donating to an orphanage! Thanks to Your Highness’s good deeds, the Laphreon family is being re-evaluated!"

Selphius read the article with sparkling eyes. It was embarrassing to hear praise directly, and my face turned red.

"Thanks to you, our family is being re-evaluated. That’s good news."

Teredeo replied with a pleased voice and scooped some of his croissant onto my plate. Terdeo often gave me his favorite food when he was grateful. It was a familiar gesture, so I thanked him and took a delicious bite of the croissant.

"To think the Laphreon family can be in the newspaper for good things. It’s really something you see after living a long time."

"Selphius, you’re only nine."

"That… I mean, it’s the first time in my nine-year life."

Where does he learn such things? Did he learn it at the academy? Selphius slowly started his meal. I narrowed my eyes and watched the child.

"Selphius, isn’t it time to go to the academy?"

"Just a little more."

Despite saying a little more, Selphius’s fork movements were very slow. He had almost shredded the salad and broken the bread into pieces.

'Is he feeling unwell?'

As I checked if Selphius was sick, Terdeo called out to him.

"Selphius."

"Yes, Your Grace."

"Is everything okay at the academy?"

Selphius lifted his face, which had been buried in his plate.

"No, everything is fine."

"Have you ever been hurt?"

"I’ve never been hurt or bled. There’s nothing for Your Grace to worry about, so it’s fine."

"Still, be careful always."

Selphius nodded, put down his fork, and stood up.

"Yes, I like the academy."

"Selphius."

"I’ll go to the academy."

Ignoring my call, Selphius left the dining room. His smile clearly looked forced.

"Wait a moment. I’ll check on Selphius."

I muttered to Terdeo and stood up. Then, I followed Selphius.

"Selphius, wait a moment."

Selphius, about to leave the mansion, stopped at my call. I approached him, lightly grabbed his shoulders.

"Earlier, you didn’t eat much. Are you feeling unwell? Did you have a stomachache?"

"…No, I’m not."

"Would you like me to take you today?"

"No!"

"I’m worried because you look unwell."

I held Selphius’s hand with a worried expression and was startled.

"Selphius! Why are your hands so cold?"

"This is just…"

"Your complexion isn’t good either. We can’t do this. Let’s skip the academy today."

Selphius’s face brightened at my suggestion but soon slumped, hesitating.

"If I skip the academy, Your Grace will be upset. What if he’s disappointed in me?"

"Your health is more important than the academy. Terdeo will think the same. If you’re unwell, you should have told me."

I held Selphius’s cold hand and instructed the servant to prepare the carriage. Then, I led him to his bedroom on this floor.

"It’s okay to skip the academy when you’re unwell, Selphius. Don’t worry about it."

"…But Your Grace…"

"If it’s hard to tell Terdeo, tell me. I’ll tell him for you."

Selphius kept muttering 'but' out of worry. However, he followed me to his bedroom, clearly feeling unwell.

"I’ll call a doctor, so change your clothes and lie down."

"No, I’m fine without a doctor. …I think I’ll feel better if I just rest."

Saying this, Selphius crawled into bed.

"I’ll inform the academy through the butler, so don’t worry."

"…Maybe I shouldn’t have gone to the academy. I should have learned from a tutor."

Selphius muttered under the covers.

'Is he worried about getting scolded by Terdeo?'

I reached out and stroked Selphius’s worried and confused head.

"But you’re learning many things at the academy.