CH 4

She always prepared to say goodbye.

Senelia thought even if the maids’ behavior towards her was far ruder than it was seven years ago, she couldn’t help it.

But they were always polite to her.

Senelia was very confused and curious about it.

Without Benelucia, Senelia was nothing but the daughter of a poor viscount.

There were even maids who were selected from among the nobles and actually higher in rank than her.

Because this was the mansion of the grand duke, the only member of the royal family besides the emperor.

She’s only the grand duke’s lover, that’s all. She knew the subject well.

In any case, there was no reason to be dissatisfied with the treatment of the courtiers.

Senelia was served by the grand duke’s courtiers, from bathing to the preparations for the tea party.

“Today I will escort you, Lady Daphnen.”

It was Ardante, the deputy commander of the knight.

He was one of Senelia’s escorts.

Six years ago, Benelucia appointed Ardante Samuel as Senelia’s escort.

‘At that time, Ben wouldn’t have taken me seriously.’

“As always, please take good care of me, Sir Samuel.”

Senelia took Ardante’s hand and got into the carriage.

Like the grand duke’s carriage, it ran smoothly on the road without any rattling.

It was quiet in the carriage.

It was only natural for Senelia to ride the carriage alone.

There was a time when this carriage was not quiet.

Suddenly, what happened with Benelucia in the carriage came to mind.

‘Sally.’

If Senelia kept her mouth shut and said that she wouldn’t bother Benelucia, he would call her by her nickname just like that.

These days, Senelia has been spending a lot of her time alone.

Since Daphnen’s family is not a central noble, she generally stayed in the grand duke’s mansion when she came up to the capital.

Benelucia often took her in a carriage and went out to enjoy the various parts of the capital.

That’s a thing of the past.

The grand duke has two special carriages given by the emperor, and he gave one of them to Senelia.

Therefore, it was the carriage that she always rode in.

Senelia thought that was the reason she kept thinking of Benelucia.

It has been six years already.

It would not be strange to think of a familiar man in a familiar carriage.

“Lady Daphnen, we have arrived at the Count Nominant’s mansion.”

The carriage stopped and the coachman’s voice was heard.

Senelia simply pushed the thoughts out of her head and got out of the carriage.

“Welcome, Lady Daphnen.”

“Thank you for your hospitality, Lady Nominant.”

As Senelia entered the garden where the tea party was being held, Lady Nominant greeted her.

Senelia could feel the Lady Nominnt’s gaze glancing towards her back.

It was obvious who she was looking for.

This was the reason why the young lady of the Nominant Count, a central noble family, invited Senelia, who was only a rural viscount’s daughter, in the first place.

Because Senelia is the grand duke’s lover.

There was a hint of disappointment in Lady Nominant’s eyes, but Senelia pretended not to know. There was nothing she could do about it anyway.

***

‘Rumor has it that the grand duke has a new lover……’

Two years ago, rumors spread that Benelucia had met another woman.

After that, Senelia knew that more and more people were looking for opportunities to be on the grand duke’s side.

‘Oh my, then how about Lady Daphnen?’

Since then, the number of people who glanced at them as if measuring the relationship between the two has increased, and there have often been people whispering behind Senelia.

After the rumors spread, Benelucia made no excuses.

Senelia didn’t ask about it either.

It was the same when two new scandals broke out after that.

It didn’t matter.

If in the end Benelucia returned to her.

What is important to Senelia is not Benelucia’s love, but to make him remain by her side.

It wasn’t his existence that she cherished very much, but he was an indispensable necessity for her.

That was enough.

‘To do that, I endured for 8 years.’

There’s not much time left.

Senelia pushed other thoughts away and only had that thought in her mind.

***

However, as if to laugh at Senelia, who was trying to be quiet, the tea party quickly became noisy.

From the entrance to the garden, many people were chattering and whispering.

“……Ah.”

Senelia sighed quietly without realizing it.

It was only after she let out a sigh that she thought she had reacted stupidly.

She could guess why people reacted like that.

Soon, the person in Senelia’s mind appeared before her eyes.

It was Benelucia. And next to him was another woman.

“Your Highness, it is an honor to have you come to my party.”

Lady Nominant approached Benelucia and bend her knees to greet him.

Lady Nominant’s gaze passed through Benelucia and turned to the woman who was next to him.

“By the way, this lady is……?”

“My partner, Lumina Erdella.”

Benelucia introduced the woman as his partner. Then people flocked to her. Two people, three people, five people……

Although the grand duke had scandals with other women besides Senelia, it was the first time in six years that he had brought someone to an official party.

Many surrounded Lumina Erdella, who came as the grand duke’s partner.

Their curious words turned to Lumina. And only those who were unable to approach her due to their low-ranked family remained, and were looking at Senelia.

Senelia was watching the scene silently.

As if she wasn’t there.

‘……ah, I made eye contact.’

Senelia’s gaze, who was quietly looking at the grand duke and his partner, met Benelucia.

He did not avert his eyes as always. He also said nothing, as he always did.

Just staring at Senelia.

Senelia has sensitive skin so she sat under a tree, covered in dark shadows.

She thought that the appearance of Benelucia standing under the sunshine was in contrast with herself here.

In contrast to the two people standing under the bright sun, she remained in the dark shadow of the tree, unable to get any sunlight.

The bright area was buzzing with laughter and the dark area was surrounded by gossip.

Benelucia did not take his eyes off Senelia.

Then she smirked.

For a moment, Benelucia’s forehead was distorted.

He licked his lips as if he wanted to say something, but he quickly turned his head away.

Throughout the tea party, Benelucia hasn’t paid a single glance to Senelia.

Senelia still sat under the tree and did nothing.

As if she kept her word that she wouldn’t bother Benelucia.

It was getting colder as the sun went down.

Until then, Senelia was still in her seat.

As if it had been her place from the beginning.

bang.

Suddenly there was a loud noise. Senelia turned her head and see that Benelucia’s chair was overturned.

Benelucia slipped out of the party before it was even ended.

His steps were very rough.

It was before the sun went down completely.

***

Senelia returned that day to a townhouse near the capital owned by her father, the viscount, not the grand duke’s mansion.

Benelucia brought another woman to an official party.

Senelia thought when Benelucia bids his farewell, she mustn’t act like other clingy girls.

After eight years of Senelia’s struggle, she couldn’t be brought down with just this one light blow.

The maid, who had entered the room asked, “Miss, are you cold?”

“……no.”

“But why is your body shaking?”

Then she looked back at herself. She was obviously fine in the carriage, but as soon as she entered this place, her body was trembling.

“……ah.”

Eight years have allowed Senelia to be casual in front of others.

So she often did not notice her own condition.

bang bang bang.

At that time, someone was banging on the front door of the townhouse.

It was loud enough to be heard all the way to the second-floor room.

“……if you rush……the……ness!”

In an instant, there was a loud noise outside the room.

It was too late for anyone to visit.

The viscount was not here, so the owner of the townhouse was Senelia.

The visitor came in without the owner’s permission.

There was only one person who could barge in like this.

“Your Highness!”

The butler’s voice restraining the visitor could be heard.

It seems that Benelucia has arrived.

As soon as she realized that Benelucia had come to the townhouse, Senelia’s trembling quickly subsided.

This was a habit.

Senelia thought it was fortunate that she could pretend to be resolute in front of him.

“I will go out and check the situation……”

The maid’s expression was full of worries.

As if she thought she had to deal with Benelucia herself, she spoke with a determined face.

Senelia was changing clothes, so it was not very appropriate to welcome guests.

The maid was the one who had been in charge of the viscount household for a long time.

Sending the maid to the townhouse was the consideration of the viscount couple who were worried about their unmarried daughter living apart from them.

Such a maid may be able to deal with Benelucia for a while.

“No, I’ll take care of it.”

But Senelia shook her head.