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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Tea-Spilling Jealousy
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Meanwhile, having finished her duties, Elena was leisurely enjoying tea on the sunlit terrace before Akid and Roena arrived.
It happened just as she lifted her teacup. A sharp tingle shot through her left shoulder, forcing her to set the cup down moments later.
Without showing it, Elena switched the cup to her right hand.
Was it from overexerting during the archery contest, or just psychological? Her shoulder throbbed persistently.
Even though it had mostly healed, unexplained pains cropped up now and then. But she'd grown used to it, so Elena remained composed.
'Don't push yourself too hard.'
Damian's words suddenly came to mind. She'd been flustered by his concerned tone at first, but the taunting follow-up had thrown her off balance before she knew it.
Come to think of it, had she ever truly seen him clearly? Even Elena hadn't dreamed he was such a playboy before their marriage.
He'd never had any scandals with women, and around her, he acted like a total stiff.
Those old memories brought a fresh wave of irritation. She'd misjudged him badly.
Whenever he showed a glimpse of his former self, she'd unwittingly get her hopes up, only to feel her heart chill even more from the disappointment that followed.
Shaking off the stray thoughts, she swirled her teacup to savor the aroma. Just as calm started to settle in, raucous laughter erupted right nearby.
She caught snippets like "Grand Duke this" and "Grand Duke that"—clearly, he was off frolicking with another woman.
'How tacky.'
The tea suddenly tasted awful. Elena set down her cup. If not for Roena, she wouldn't have come here in the first place.
As she rose to escape the grating noise, the Grand Duke called out.
"There you are."
With no choice, she turned. Sure enough, a woman was at his side. Displeased by the sight, Elena shot back sarcastically.
"You're a busy man. Even got time to expend your energies out here."
"This damn popularity just won't quit."
Damian retorted by slinging an arm around the woman's shoulders.
It was a far cry from how he'd ignored her chatter just moments ago.
Unaware of that, Elena stared at the woman half-clasped in his embrace.
Her attire suggested she was a local noblewoman. She flinched under the Grand Duchess's gaze but didn't pull away from him.
Another blonde.
Were blondes surrounded by some invisible barrier?
Her own platinum blonde hair only twisted her mood further.
Elena returned to the table. She picked up the teapot with her left hand and glided lightly toward the Grand Duke. Turning to the woman, she asked,
"What's so great about this man? His looks? His wealth? Or his physique?"
"Pardon?"
The woman blinked in confusion at the abrupt question.
Her eyes darted nervously to the teapot in Elena's grip. With a smirk, Elena warned her.
"If you want an easy life, learn to read the room. You clearly know who I am, so why not step back? Oh, if you don't, I'd be happy to enlighten you personally."
"G-Grand Duchess, I..."
"Good, you do know. Looks like your head isn't a flower garden like your face. Wait, no—sticking to a married man means it already is."
Elena grinned as if she'd made a startling discovery.
Before the woman could protest, Elena tilted the teapot over her head.
"If you've found a flower, you ought to water it. Conveniently, I've got some right here."
"Eek!"
The woman flailed her hands in panic, but Elena didn't stop.
Red tea soaked the woman's hair. It splashed onto the Grand Duke's sleeve too, since he'd had his arm around her.
The Grand Duke withdrew his hand and simply watched Elena without a word. He neither shielded the woman nor stopped Elena.
He just gazed at her left hand with an inscrutable expression.
Elena stared him down, daring him to react. She'd douse him too if he tried to interfere.
But the cunning Grand Duke merely stepped back and watched, saying nothing.
What a sly, infuriating fox.
Her mood soured even more, and Elena emptied the entire pot.
The woman, now looking like a drowned rat, wiped her face and shivered violently.
Quite pleased by the sight, Elena flashed a bright smile. The faint tremor in her left hand was nothing, she told herself.
"Grand Duke, don't forget we're all going boating tonight. If you're late, I might just sink you in the river."
"Guess I'll have to show up on time if I don't want to die."
Despite the grim warning, the Grand Duke chuckled and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, offering it.
"Tea splashed on your hand. When watering flowers, keep a proper distance."
"How thoughtful."
The Grand Duchess accepted the handkerchief with a charming smile and wiped the droplets from her hand.
The woman, who'd watched the bizarre exchange in bewilderment, ran off sniffling.
The Grand Duke didn't stop her. True to form, he never blocked incoming women or held back departing ones.
Moments later, he took the teapot from Elena's hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
A faint red tea scent lingered on her skin. He gripped her trembling left hand gently, his slightly clouded eyes meeting hers.
"Don't be late yourself, my lady. Or I might just dunk you in the river."
"Noted."
With that, the two turned and walked off in opposite directions, as if they'd never crossed paths.
The museum was fairly spacious. Holding Akid's hand, I pretended to browse while naturally steering us toward the artifact the spirits had caused a fuss over.
Akid followed without suspicion, admiring the exhibits. I kept sneaking glances at him, so innocently offering his hand.
'I must've been a pencil in my past life. How else could I keep getting these devious urges?'
Truth be told, I'd been a bit overloaded ever since heading to the museum.
Akid had said he wanted to be alone with me first, skyrocketing my confidence.
So when we arrived, I'd used the wide, dim halls as an excuse to ask him to hold my hand.
It was a blatant, forced ploy, yet Akid took my hand without hesitation.
The moment his wariness toward me fully vanished, I inwardly cheered.
The honor of holding my favorite's hand!
I might never have washed it again.
When did wary Akid turn this soft, like cotton candy? This granny wants nothing more.
Akid's innocence was troubling. Hard to believe this adorable guy grows into the villain.
I was lost in such delusions, grinning like a fool, when we reached the artifact said to hatch divine beasts naturally. Snapping back to reality, I scrutinized it.
The artifact was round, etched with bizarre runes on the outside.
To think it trapped divine beasts inside.
It looked just like one of those pocket monster balls from the cartoons.
Of course, without the creepy patterns, but the idea of containing something felt similar.
Still, no matter how I looked, I couldn't see it as an artifact.
If it weren't on display, I'd have thought it junk and sold it to a scrap dealer—rusted to hell.
Meanwhile, the spirits buzzed around it before complaining.
—Nothing here. It's an empty tin can.
—Good thing. They must've escaped safely.
—Aw, boring. Thought we'd meet a divine beast after so long.
The spirits grumbled, unclear if disappointed or relieved.
'Knew it.'
I hadn't expected a divine beast sealed inside anyway.
With the spirits freshly awakened from deep slumber, would one stay trapped in that junk?
Maybe it never held one to begin with.
If it had, archaeologists would've spotted it and made it a research subject by now.
Losing interest, the spirits vanished. Finally alone with Akid, I beamed.
"All these relics look like trash. I'd have walked right past without realizing."
"Yeah. Felt familiar—looks just like something in Father's study."
"Huh?"
"This one. Saw something similar there. Not identical, but same kind of markings."
Akid casually pointed at the exact artifact meant to seal divine beasts.
You saw this in Father's study?
My eyes widened at the absurd origin. Akid added confidently.
"Caught him shoving it in a drawer after getting scammed by an antique dealer. Might've been a bit smaller."
Akid blinked, recalling. As I waited silently, he averted his gaze and scratched his cheek.
"Could just be similar, though. Since he thought it a scam, probably a fake from that dealer."
"Ah."
A replica? Fair enough.
I felt relieved by Akid's explanation, yet uneasy deep down.
Having a black mage's creation—or knockoff—sitting openly in my home felt off.
'Nope. Gotta tell him to toss it when we get back.'
So I resolved, finishing our museum tour.
Elena and Damian opened the carriage door to greet us.
"You're late."
"Mother? Father?"
I'd never dreamed they'd come fetch us, eyes wide. Akid reacted much the same.
Then Damian said to Elena,
"Dear, now we just toss these two in the river?"
"Have you lost your mind?"
Elena's horrified retort sent a chill down my spine.
