Chapter 2 – Engagement (Part 7)

The Serenze household was located west of Brunchiat, the capital of Brunchia. The Grendel household’s carriage, which departed from there, was heading to the Ducal estate after passing near the royal palace and through the city center. The Grendel estate was the only one, apart from the royal palace, to own a large garden including a forest within Brunchiat.

The massive black carriage, drawn by six black horses, swiftly crossed the city center. The city people, seeing the Ducal house’s escort knights, also clad in black cloaks, surrounding the carriage, were startled and quickly moved aside, thinking something significant was happening.

“Oh dear, the Grim Reaper is coming to take this old man away.”

An old man who had been out for a stroll with his grandson saw the Duke’s carriage and collapsed by the roadside, his legs giving out.

“Mom, I’m scared! Waaah!!”

Children passing by with their parents also burst into tears at the sight of the black carriage, horses, and knights. The young coachman, a son from a family that had managed the Duke’s horses and carriages for generations, was embarrassed by the reactions around him and drove the horses even faster to reach the Ducal estate as quickly as possible.

Of course, he didn’t realize that the speed made the massive black mass seem even more threatening. From the outside, it looked like a carriage racing to the underworld with the king of hell aboard, but inside the carriage was very comfortable.

‘Even at this speed, there’s no noise or vibration at all!’

It seemed that not only the exterior materials were reinforced with alchemy. The scenery outside the window passed by so quickly that it was hard to make out the faces of the pedestrians. However, the ride was so unusually smooth and quiet that if one didn’t look outside, they might forget the carriage was moving.

The entirely black interior was unsettling, but it was indeed a carriage befitting the reputation of the Grendel Ducal house. The carriage’s performance was so impressive that it somewhat alleviated the gloom from parting with her family. She worried about an accident occurring while passing through the bustling city center, but fortunately, nothing happened, and as they entered a road lined with trees and bushes, there were no more people around. It seemed they had entered the garden owned by the Ducal estate.

After traveling for a long time, a massive gate finally appeared. The towering black iron gate was wide enough for about four large carriages to pass through simultaneously. Beyond it, a tree-lined path was visible.

A knight guarding the gate, which resembled iron bars, bowed toward the carriage and opened the gate. Even after passing through the entrance, the carriage traveled a long way along the tree-lined path before finally stopping in front of the mansion.

With Aaron’s help, Elysia alighted from the carriage and finally got a proper look at the Ducal estate. Unfortunately, the mansion closely resembled the carriage.

‘…A demon king’s castle?’

The mansion was so large it was closer in size to a castle. The pointed roofs resembled church spires, and the dark-colored bricks that made up the exterior walls were too somber for a noble mansion, giving it an imposing atmosphere. The sunlight that had been bright until passing through the city seemed somehow dimmed and subdued here. It was hard to tell if the bird perched on the spire was an eagle or a crow.

Momentarily forgetting to act like a noble lady, Elysia stood with her mouth agape until someone silently approached her side. Startled, Elysia realized the presence belatedly.

An elderly man with a posture as upright as the Duke’s, despite his white hair, approached and introduced himself with a polite bow.

“Lady Serenze, I am Pedro, the head butler in charge of the household. Welcome to the Ducal estate.”

A flock of birds suddenly took off from the spire, cawing loudly in Elysia’s stead.

***

Following Pedro’s guidance, they entered through the central door of the mansion, where all the servants of the Ducal estate lined the hallway to greet Elysia. The hall was as wide as the entrance of a castle, with broad staircases leading up the center and to both sides, wide enough for someone to ascend on horseback.

Even the servants’ attire was entirely black. The men wore black suits, and the women wore dark gray blouses and black skirts. Not even the maids’ hair ribbons had a hint of bright color. It wasn’t just the color; the design was also reminiscent of the servant uniforms insisted upon by old-fashioned nobles.

‘My goodness, I didn’t think there were still places that dressed like this!’

The maids of the Serenze household wore trousers that tapered at the bottom for ease of movement while working. The Serenze household wasn’t unusual; most households now provided practical attire for their servants. As long as they met certain standards, hair accessories were free to be chosen, and aprons worn over maid uniforms were deliberately made of bright fabric to lift spirits while working.

Seeing the Ducal estate’s servants’ attire, it felt like stepping back in time.

“The Duke regrets not being able to personally welcome you, Madam, due to a meeting at the royal palace today. Instead, he invites you to join him for dinner.”

“Yes… What?”

Elysia felt a great burden from being addressed as “Madam” already. Although she was promised in marriage, she was still in the status of a fiancée. However, before she could point out the title, the butler continued with introductions.

“This is Grace, the head maid, and this is Millie, who will be your personal maid starting today. The other servants will be introduced gradually. You must be tired, so I’ll show you to your room. Until you are officially married, you’ll stay in the East Wing rather than the main building where the master resides. Now, Millie.”

At the butler’s call, a maid who appeared to be in her mid-teens, with her hair neatly pinned up, stepped forward. The butler added that Millie was the daughter of the head maid Grace, and both Grace and Millie were from families that had served the Grendel Ducal house for generations, like himself.

“Madam, please follow me.”

Without even having the chance to say, “I look forward to working with you,” Elysia followed the maid up the right staircase in the hall.

‘The exterior was shocking, but the interior is even gloomier. Given that all the materials are luxurious, it’s not because of a lack of funds. Why is everything so dark and quiet wherever you go?’

“Madam, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. I will answer sincerely and wholeheartedly.”

“Thank you. But before that, could you call me ‘Miss’ instead of ‘Madam’? We haven’t had the official wedding ceremony yet…”

“I’m sorry, but changing the title is difficult. The Duke has instructed us to show the utmost respect to the future mistress.”

“I see… If the Duke has said so, then it can’t be helped.”

Perhaps mimicking the master they served, all the servants’ expressions were blank and rigid. Elysia already felt like she might shrink away, so she lightly hunched her shoulders.

Elysia considered striking up a conversation with Millie, who had a youthful face. However, the expression on her face, which looked at most in her late teens, was as rigid as that of the head butler or the head maid.

Seeing Millie’s tightly clenched jaw and disciplined steps as she guided the new Madam, Elysia felt herself involuntarily shrinking back, unable to muster the courage to speak.

‘Are they really giving me the cold shoulder, just like Daisy said…? And though the thick carpet contributes, everyone walks without making a sound.’

When the many servants who greeted her dispersed quickly and quietly at the butler’s command, Elysia thought they seemed more like an assassination group than household staff.

“Do you have any questions?”

When Millie asked first, Elysia couldn’t help but speak up.

“It seems the Duke likes a calm atmosphere. The decorations in the mansion and the lighting’s brightness are consistent.”

For a moment, Millie, who had shown no change in expression until then, seemed to flinch slightly.

“The Ducal house’s symbolic color is black, and the late Duke Aisar particularly wanted the mansion to be solemnly decorated. The current Duke is busy with state affairs and pays little attention to household matters. Of course, Madam, you will manage it in the future.”

Millie seemed about to say more but closed her mouth and quietly continued to guide Elysia.

‘I hope my words didn’t come off as criticizing the Ducal house.’

Although Elysia had lived a life without needing to be overly cautious, entering the Ducal house made her conscious of every word she spoke. She was already worried about being self-conscious even around a young maid.

After walking for a while, Millie stopped in front of a door and opened it. The room she was shown to was three times the size of the one she used at the Serenze mansion.

A massive bed with a canopy atop four posts. A long sofa that looked bigger and more comfortable than the one she lounged on at the Serenze house. And a huge dressing room and private bathroom directly connected to the room. Opening the tall, large windows revealed a balcony, with curtains tied to the sides, offering a view of the tree-lined garden path stretching into the distance. Everything from the carpet to the dressing table was of the highest quality.

Although she thought she had lived without any lack at the Serenze house, compared to the Ducal estate, her home suddenly felt lively, cheerful, and even modest.

‘It’s luxurious, but the room’s atmosphere…’

She realized it was a mistake to expect the room to be decorated in warm colors. While not entirely black, the overall color scheme was mostly neutral and dark, giving it a heavy atmosphere.

“Would you like some tea, or should I have your luggage unpacked first? Or would you prefer to take a bath and relax?”

“Please have some simple tea brought up and unpack the smallest bag first. I’d like to rest a bit after having tea…”

“Yes. I’ll prepare it right away.”

As Millie silently closed the door and left, Elysia let out a long-held sigh. She felt like a prisoner trapped in a mansion where she might summon the demon king, having arrived in a carriage that seemed to belong to the Grim Reaper.

She wondered if the bizarre landscape of the Ducal estate had contributed to the reputation of the current Duke, Cassius de Grendel, as the Ice Duke, and the late Duke Aisar as a frightening and ruthless person. In such an atmosphere, pursuing the comfort she desired might be more challenging than she thought.