Chapter 2 – Engagement (Part 3)

The next morning, the Serenze family received a notice of the Duke’s impending visit as soon as the day broke.

The Duke was dressed in attire with slightly more embellishments than his usual dark clothes. His hair was neatly styled, and he hid the bouquet behind his back as he stepped down from the carriage. Tobias and Lillian Serenze, standing at the entrance of the Serenze estate, greeted the Duke.

“Welcome to the Serenze house, Duke Grendel.”

At Tobias’s greeting, Lillian and the Serenze household staff lined up beside her also paid their respects.

“I apologize for the sudden notice, quasi-Baron Serenze. As time is short, I would like to meet the person in question immediately.”

It was easy to guess the reason for Duke Grendel’s hasty visit after having his proposal rejected. However, Tobias was displeased with the Duke’s lack of basic courtesy in explaining the situation to the elders of the family who might become his future in-laws. But there was nothing he could do against the Duke’s status and imposing presence.

“Yes, Elysia is waiting in the drawing room.”

Following Tobias to the drawing room, Aaron wiped his sweat as he recalled what had just transpired. His duties didn’t end with fetching gifts from the Haas Trading Company. He had called the Duke’s butler to ensure the Duke was appropriately dressed for the proposal, instructed a servant to quickly inform the Serenze couple to avoid startling them, and more. Even he thought he had accomplished a lot in a short time.

‘I didn’t expect the Duke to be so lacking in common sense… No, it’s not that he’s lacking; he just didn’t think it was necessary to fuss over these things. Still, with this preparation, it should go well.’

Aaron had repeatedly advised the Duke even while in the carriage.

“Of course, Your Grace, you are the highest-ranking person in this country next to the royal family, but the other party is your future in-laws. You must show the utmost courtesy. Hide the flowers behind your back and present them when you are alone with the young lady. When proposing, kneel on one knee…”

“I may not care about these things, but I know that much. Be quiet.”

Aaron fell silent for a moment but couldn’t help speaking again.

“Don’t forget to smile gently when you propose.”

“…Like this?”

The smile the Duke showed was akin to a sinister smirk, as if he were about to interrogate a spy who had infiltrated from an enemy nation.

‘…’

Seeing Aaron at a loss for words, the Duke remarked.

“Perhaps it’s better if I don’t smile.”

Silence filled the moving carriage.

***

In the drawing room, Elysia paced back and forth, biting her nails as if she would bore a hole through the carpet.

“Miss, if you keep biting your nails like that, you’ll ruin the lipstick I applied for you.”

“Why? Why? Why is he coming? Is he coming to confront me? Like, ‘How dare you refuse a proposal from the Ducal house, let me see the face of such a woman’?”

“Miss, you should use refined language. The Duke might suddenly enter and hear your coarse words.”

No sooner had Daisy finished speaking than the door to the drawing room opened, and Duke Grendel followed Tobias inside. Daisy bowed to the two and left the drawing room.

“I wish to speak with Lady Serenze alone.”

“Yes. I’ll give you some privacy.”

Tobias left the drawing room, leaving the two alone.

Elysia barely managed to straighten her body, which wanted to shrink at the sight of the Duke’s intimidating presence.

‘He looks like a grim reaper walking in. What’s the point of being handsome if it only makes him look scarier!’

When the Duke suddenly brought his hidden hand forward, Elysia inwardly screamed and recoiled.

‘Is he here to kill me in my own home?’

Only when she saw what the Duke was thrusting forward did Elysia feel relieved.

‘Ah… A bouquet?’

But the relief was short-lived, as she was soon enveloped by an even more ominous feeling.

‘Don’t do it, don’t do it, don’t do it.’

What the Duke took out of his pocket was, as expected, a ring.

‘No, don’t do that!!’

The Duke, who didn’t want to kneel before a woman he was meeting properly for the first time today, spoke standing upright.

“Elysia von Serenze, I apologize for my rudeness due to being busy with national affairs. I came in person as a belated apology. I was captivated at first sight at the Spring Ball. Please marry me.”

Elysia was astounded by the proposal, which seemed completely insincere. She thought that Duke Cassius de Grendel hadn’t even noticed her at the Spring Ball, let alone fallen for her at first sight.

And even if the love at first sight was true, the Duke before her seemed more like someone who had come to hold a funeral than to propose.

‘Dressed in black from head to toe with that icy expression, this feels more like a duel challenge than a proposal.’

Suppressing a sigh, Elysia pondered how to refuse. As she remained silent, the Duke urged her.

“I don’t have time to waste. You must answer quickly so I can prepare for the next step.”

Elysia’s expression darkened involuntarily. His attitude suggested he hadn’t anticipated a refusal. It seemed he was merely displeased that someone as busy as himself had come all the way here.

Her natural inclination was to reject him so coldly that it would hurt his feelings, but Elysia refrained, fearing the Duke might retaliate. She tried to think of the right words to refuse, while not showing how bothersome she found the situation.

‘I have to handle this well. I can’t stand out or make him unnecessarily interested by giving the impression that I’m a unique woman! I have to be vague enough so he doesn’t misunderstand the refusal!’

“Your Grace, I am deeply honored that you came in person to propose to someone you’ve never met.”

The Duke, staring at Elysia without moving, seemed completely unaffected by what she said, as if it were the most natural thing.

“As I said, I was captivated at first sight at the Spring Ball. We have met.”

Elysia asked the Duke, who was stubbornly insisting on something absurd.

“Is that so? Then do you remember what dress I was wearing at that time?”

The Duke had a good memory. He remembered Elysia from the ball because he had found her suspicious due to her strange expression and behavior. However, after observing the actions of Lillian and Elysia, who were clearly mother and daughter, he had concluded there was no danger and lost interest.

The problem was that his excellent memory focused only on remembering potential threats. He didn’t remember women’s dress embellishments or hair ornaments at all. Such details were unnecessary information that could hinder concentration. Of course, if Elysia’s dress had been adorned with poisonous real flowers, it would have been a different story.

“…Of course, it was a dress with a voluminous skirt…”

“No, it was a dress with a skirt that flowed naturally, following the latest trend. There was no part of it that was voluminously puffed.”

Elysia thought, ‘Unless it’s my chest, which Daisy had enhanced to the limit to make it look like it was padded.’ Of course, she could be sure the Duke hadn’t looked at her chest or dress at all.

Though his expression didn’t change, the Duke couldn’t continue speaking. However, he also showed no intention of withdrawing his proposal. Realizing she had to make it clear, Elysia began to choose her words for refusal again.

‘I must convey that it’s not because I find him undesirable, but because I recognize my own limitations!’

“Your Grace, your proposal is a great burden to me. I am not… fit to fulfill the role of the lady of a Ducal house. I am not well-versed in social circles, nor am I sufficiently educated…”

Elysia pulled out the trump card that had saved her from her mother’s orders to attend parties, Daisy’s endless nagging, and the tedious tasks from her tutors. She began to act like a pitiful and timid girl. She made her body tremble slightly, as if she were terribly frightened.

“If I were to enter such a place… and make a mistake in front of important people… So please, Your Grace, withdraw your proposal.”

‘Should I seal the deal by shedding tears or fainting?’