CH 9

Benelucia doubted his ears.

However, as if to prove that what he heard was not an auditory hallucination, the eyes of the nobles focused on the door of the banquet hall.

All in all, it was an interesting topic.

No matter what the Archduke did, Senelia Daphnen, who had always stayed at his side, appeared at the banquet hall with an escort!

The door opened and Senelia and Yenelov entered the banquet hall, arms linked.

Unlike the Duke whose complexion had turned pasty due to lack of sleep, Senelia’s appearance appeared to be fine.

No, in the contrary… She seems particularly beautiful today.

“…Was the Daphnen’s young lady always this beautiful?”

This time, it wasn’t just Benelucia’s mistake.

As he had heard another similar comment from somewhere else in the aristocratic group.

“The Grand Duke is so gorgeous that we have just not realized it. With the young lord Pendragon next to her, she looks different.”

From the gossip, one sentence from the lively conversation struck the duke’s ear.

He hated it.

Senelia, who had dark, purple hair and red eyes, had the tendency to look particularly dark in contrast when she was with Benelucia. Benelucia, who had splendid blonde hair and shiny, silver eyes.

However, with the achromatic Yenelov, with his gray hair and black eyes, her unique color stood out in particular.

As if proving the fact that the choice of person beside Senelia would showcase her beauty more.

Benelucia felt his stomach twisted.

He refused to put up with it and approached the two seemingly ‘main characters’ of the banquet.

“Sally.”

He dared to mention Senelia’s nickname.

“I greet you, Grand Duke-”

“I have something to tell you.”

With Yenelov’s greeting to the Archduke interrupted, Benelucia pretended as if he was not present.

Ignore him, he thought and continued.

Senelia’s gaze while looking at Benelucia remained calm.

“Sally.”

He called for her again.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. If it’s calling that name, then I’ll accept it, but… If not, I do not think I will be able to leave the young lord Pendragon’s side.”

Benelucia’s face hardened.

Unless the opposition was of closer relation to you than your partner, it was polite to remain by your partner’s side during a banquet.

However, from the standpoint of Senelia, the daughter of a Viscount, there was no possible way for her to refuse the order of the Archduke.

In other words, she used the politest of refusals given, all the while stating that her relationship with the Duke Benelucia was no deeper than her relationship with Yenelov.

“Ha.”

Benelucia looked down at Senelia in shock.

If he continued to act in this situation, then he would be literally dragging her away.

Senelia’s expression was simply calm.

She met Benelucia’s gaze as if she had not been agitated.

Benelucia’s lips twisted.

Damn that face that doesn’t change no matter what I do.

Why are you being so kind to me?

And for eight years. Damn it.

“Young Lord Pendragon, allow me to take Sally.”

So, with that, the Grand Duke grabbed Senelia’s wrist and left the banquet hall.

***

The Grand Duke has his own private lounge in the Imperial Palace.

This is where Benelucia led Senelia to.

“Tell me, Sally.”

As soon as they entered the room, Benelucia turned to face and question her.

It was at that moment when Senelia, who had remained silent all this time, finally reacted.

“I don’t understand what you are trying to say, my lord.”

And it wasn’t the answer that Benelucia was hoping for.

“Why do you pretend to not understand what I’m saying? I asked why are you with Yenelov Pendragon.”

Benelucia asked sharply.

I was upset when I had to listen about another man being a better fit for Senelia.

But Senelia asked in that constantly polite tone as before.

“Is that an order?”

“…What?”

The reply was unexpected. Leaving Benelucia stunned for a moment, reflexively question.

“Otherwise, I think it would be disrespectful to Pendragon’s young lord. To have to explain private matters between the two of us to my lord.”

Again, Benelucia felt his stomach twist. Again, and again.

Senelia was drawing a line between herself and Benelucia.

That the relationship between her and any other person was no longer his concern.

“Isn’t the fact that you broke up with me, and then appeared here with Yenelov Pendragon, all means to provoke me?”

He nervously ruffled his hair.

He was angry at her behavior, but he couldn’t find the right actions.

It was because he was completely agitated by his actions.

“Ha… I’ll overlook your provocations this time. So don’t do this again.”

Taking a deep breath, Benelucia gave her a soft warning.

It’s very embarrassing for me to overlook something like this.

To be honest, contrary to the rumors of those in the social world, Benelucia didn’t care about the goings of Pendragon’s young lord.

But today, he was annoyed at the fact that Pendragon’s young lord had occupied Senelia’s side.

That was a dent on his pride.

It’s something I don’t ever want to go through twice.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“I am going to give you the breakup that you wanted, and I’ll also give you something else that you didn’t ask for before.”

Benelucia thought that was the end of it. Senelia would let go of her stubbornness.

If not, what would be the reason for her to appear at the imperial banquet with Yenelov Pendragon. It was well known that they were against one another.

“I’m sorry, my lord. I have no intention of pretending like my breakup with Your Majesty never happened.”

Of course, that was a one-sided dream of Benelucia.

His brow furrowed.

“You do know what this means right now?”

Benelucia questioned, as if he did not believe Senelia.

“I have told you that I have no intention of glossing over our breakup.”

Benelucia pursed his lips.

He didn’t want to hear that answer. So like a parrot, he asked again.

“Senelia Daphnen.”

“Yes, Grand Duke?”

“Are you really going to break up with me?”

“Yes.”

Senelia’s answer was unwavering.

Benelucia was displeased.

If she had been serious about the breakup, then what was the reason for her to come to the banquet with Yenelov Pendragon?

Yenelov was amid his marriageable age. And Senelia had long since passed that time.

He didn’t know who put those two together, but the intention was already clear.

“…Now them are you saying that you are to marry Pendragon?”

Senelia didn’t answer. But Benelucia took her silence as such.

“Are you angry with me?”

He still could not understand her choice.

Even when he deliberately had a scandal with other women as if to confide in her, she had never said anything about it.

However, maybe she was unable to stand the fact that he appeared in public with a young lady other than herself?

Looking back, maybe this is the reason.

Benelucia thought that it would be good if that were the case.

Because it meant that Senelia had finally reacted to his actions.

“If that is the case, I have nothing to do with Lumina Erdella.”

Benelucia was the first to give Senelia an excuse for her recent behavior.

“You Majesty, you have no need to explain to me.”

But she snipped that thought.

“It means there is nothing between you and me.”

Due to her reply, an unpleasant sensation resurfaced in Benelucia.

He didn’t know if that was the reason for the breakup, or is it acceptable for him to officially appear with another woman… But neither was a desirable outcome.

After all, Senelia’s words meant that they would no longer have anything to do with one another.

How can I be so upset?

Benelucia clenched his fists so as to not shout out in front of Senelia.

It was then, Senelia’s expression changed. Which did not escape Benelucia’s sharp eyes.

He noticed that he was still holding Senelia’s wrist.

“Why didn’t you say you was in pain?”

Benelucia forgot his anger in his surprise, and immediately let go of her wrist while shouting out.

Senelia had foolishly not made a sound while a bruise formed on her wrist. It was annoying.

He quickly took out a transparent potion from his pocket. It was a highly concentrated potion with the purest divine power to be used by the Grand Duke.

“This is not something I dare to use.”

Senelia pushed the Duke’s hand away.

“Ha… Why did you stay still when your wrist was bruised?”

Benelucia groaned.

Although Senelia was dragged out of the banquet hall, she had not dared to touch the body of the Grand Duke.

Why? Because she was no longer Benelucia’s lover. So, she could no longer reach out to him at will.

The duke was truly amazed.

This potion, did Senelia value it more than her own body?

“…Your Majesty!”

Senelia seldomly raised her voice.

At this time, the cause was Benelucia. Benelucia who had just poured the potion directly into her bruised wrist.

A potion that was priced as much as a single mansion.

“Stay still.”

Benelucia gave a command.

Senelia was stunned for a moment.

How ridiculous it was, that he would treat a mere maiden such as herself, with such an expensive potion so casually.

Maybe it’s a feeling of inferiority.

Benelucia would never become such a messed-up person.

Though Senelia couldn’t stop thinking about it.