Chapter 2 – Engagement (Part 6)

Lillian and Tobias shouted reflexively. Elysia was also surprised inwardly but didn’t show it.

“The Duke insists that the mistress of the Grendel household must be entirely a person of the Grendel family… I’m sorry. I tried to persuade him, but the Duke wouldn’t yield, especially since it’s in accordance with the wishes of the late Duke.”

Elysia couldn’t help but clench her fists tightly.

‘No matter how much it was the late Duke’s wish, that man is already deceased, and the now Duke was supposed to build a future with his wife. Is this his way of establishing dominance right from the start? Does he think the standards of the past are more important than the future? No matter how great the Ducal house is, their actions are utterly petty.”

“The Duke is very cautious. It seems he cannot trust anyone unless they are personally hired and trained.”

Elysia’s words had a sharp edge, and Aaron’s troubled face grew even more serious.

“…Then, a carriage from the Ducal house will come to fetch the young lady the morning after tomorrow. Until then, please enjoy the remaining time.”

“Don’t worry about that, Aaron Hass. We’ll spend it very harmoniously as a family. Unlike certain high-ranking people who dismiss such human moments, we’re just leisurely lower nobility, after all.”

‘Ah… Father is really angry now, even though he looks the same as usual.’

Aaron hurriedly left the Serenze household, under the cold stares of everyone, including Tobias.

***

Two days at the Serenze household flew by. The previous evening, the whole family dined together, chatting cheerfully as if nothing was amiss, but on the morning of departure, the entire mansion seemed to have a deflated atmosphere. Daisy, who was doing Elysia’s hair from early morning, was unusually silent.

“Daisy, once I go to the Ducal house, it’ll be goodbye to your nagging too. You won’t have to serve the lazy me anymore, isn’t that nice?”

The hand brushing her hair paused briefly. But Daisy soon resumed carefully arranging Elysia’s hair and spoke.

“Miss, if the maids at the Ducal house use their master’s authority to bully or trouble you even a little, don’t hesitate to contact me. I’ll disguise my identity and enter the Ducal house.”

“Oh dear… How could that even be possible when they surely don’t lack hands there? But thank you for the sentiment.”

“I’ll make sure to get rid of all those maids and enter to protect you, Miss. Without me, Daisy, you won’t even be able to maintain human decency because you’re lazy and ill-tempered.”

Daisy’s eyes seemed slightly more moist than usual as she said that. Elysia, trying hard to hold back her own tears, replied.

“Alright. If anything happens, I’ll definitely contact you.”

When Elysia, ready to go, went downstairs, everyone from her parents to the household staff was there. They all seemed to be desperately holding back tears. Even Marion, who had constantly teased her about marrying into the Ducal house, stood gloomily beside her parents.

Soon, the sound of carriage wheels, heard from afar, grew closer and stopped in front of the mansion. When the butler opened the door and Elysia didn’t move, the maids and servants, following Lillian’s gesture, began loading the luggage into the carriage.

‘I was so comfortable, relaxed, and happy in this house, but I took it all for granted. I should have cherished that peace, spent more time with my family instead of just staying in my room… Have I ever been this afraid to step outside this door?’

With an effort to calm her inner fear, Elysia stepped outside the door,

“….”

But she couldn’t hide her surprise upon seeing the carriage from the Ducal house standing before her.

The carriage that appeared in front of Elysia, who had stepped out of the house lost in sentiment, was drawn by six horses. Its first impression was far from ordinary.

‘A gigantic coffin? An oversized hearse?’

The carriage was completely painted black to match the Ducal house’s family colors, and all the horses were black as well. Incongruously, the coachman appeared to be a young man in his twenties, but even his attire was entirely black, symbolizing the Ducal house.

The carriage, polished to a shine, had silver and gold embellishments here and there, but the black color was too overwhelming to change the overall impression.

“Miss, it’s impolite to think the Ducal house’s carriage looks like a gigantic coffin.”

At those words, Elysia quickly turned her head to look at Daisy.

‘Daisy… Do you have mind-reading abilities or something?’

Aaron, who had opened the carriage door and stepped out, was met with the sight of everyone in the Serenze household staring at the carriage in shock.

“The Ducal house’s carriage is truly…”

Even Tobias couldn’t finish his sentence, and Aaron replied with an embarrassed expression.

“Yes… It’s a carriage used since the time of the late Duke, only brought out for special occasions. It’s certainly not, absolutely not, something used frequently. Due to the alchemically reinforced exterior, it doesn’t burn and doesn’t break under most impacts, so it’s used on special days to escort special people…”

Despite his earnest explanation, Aaron couldn’t shake the feeling that this was a mistake.

‘I should have stopped the Duke when he insisted this was the way to show sincerity! I couldn’t persuade him because he was so sure, and that’s my fault!’

No amount of self-recrimination would help Aaron now. Taking Aaron’s outstretched hand, Elysia climbed into the carriage.

She couldn’t even say goodbye. The people of the Serenze family standing in line were all speechless. Through the carriage window, Elysia saw Lillian finally burst into tears as she watched the carriage drive away. Tobias, trying to comfort his wife, couldn’t take his eyes off the carriage either. Some of the staff who had come out to see her off were also visibly crying.

‘I’m not going to my death. I mustn’t cry.’

In the somber atmosphere of the Serenze household and with Elysia holding back tears, Aaron couldn’t find words of consolation. When he had talked with his brother Ronan, he thought the woman marrying the Duke was fortunate, but seeing the family and the bride-to-be, he realized how naive that thought was.

The Ducal house, which considered itself so grand, might not be desirable to everyone, and the Duke, whom he thought was perfect, might not make a good husband.

‘The Serenze family might have been better off enjoying ordinary happiness without being involved with the Ducal house… Will the young lady be able to adapt well?’

Aaron thought he should have at least arranged for Elysia’s personal maid from the Serenze household to accompany her, but recalling the conversation he had with the Duke in the office, he shook his head involuntarily. At that time, the Duke’s words seemed non-negotiable.

“Bring the young lady of the Serenze quasi-Baron directly to the Ducal house. Ask the butler for details. And no one who served her originally can come along. The only person entering the Ducal house is Elysia von Serenze, just one person.”

“Duke! Even if she’s from a quasi-Baron family, she’s still a noble lady. She must have a maid she’s spent her life with. How will she form bonds if everyone at the Ducal house feels like strangers? Even the late Duchess…”

Aaron realized his mistake before he could finish speaking. Mentioning the late Duchess’s issue was one of the taboos in the Ducal house. The Duke’s usually cool expression seemed to grow even colder.

“Yes. You know what happened thanks to my mother’s personal maid following her here and serving her so devotedly, don’t you?”

“I’m sorry. …But I don’t think it will be the same this time.”

The Duke spoke in a factual tone, devoid of any emotion.

“Aaron Hass. Elysia von Serenze is not merely entering any family. She’s coming to the Grendel house, which, along with the royal family, is the only one to use the title ‘de,’ the pillar of Brunchia. Do you think if any disgraceful incident occurs because of some petty sentiment, it would end as a problem only for Miss Serenze and her maid alone?”

Aaron couldn’t find words to respond to the Duke’s sharp, blade-like tone, even though he hadn’t raised his voice.

“This is also a will entrusted to me by the late Duke. So I will not discuss this matter further.”

Inside the carriage nearing the Ducal estate, Aaron sighed as he watched Elysia’s perpetually gloomy face.