Chapter 3 – Exploration (Part 8)

After a brief period of precious alone time, Elysia had to learn about the internal affairs of the Ducal estate through the butler. She decided to gradually learn more about the mansion’s structure and garden and now focused on thoroughly understanding the household affairs to become a true lady of the house.

“As you know, the Ducal estate owns not only this place but also villas in the provinces. Although they are called villas, they are almost the size of entire territories of ordinary nobles. The income and expenses from there are substantial.”

Even for nobles, by royal decree, they couldn’t keep private soldiers in the capital except for a few knights to guard the mansion. However, in the provinces, since they had to guard the entire land, they could maintain private soldiers at least at the level of a security force. The butler explained that many knights guarded the Grendel family’s provincial villas.

“The annual budget of the Ducal estate is comparable to that of an entire city or a small principality. Until now, financial experts have been hired to manage it, and the Duke has personally overseen the final details. Now that you are here, Madam, you should oversee the finances…”

“No, I think it’s better to continue as it has been.”

“Pardon?”

The butler asked back with a surprised expression. It was because, typically, the ladies of noble households tried to take control of the household finances. They believed that doing so would establish their prestige. In households with large budgets, managing finances allowed them to secretly create their own funds and wield significant influence.

On the other hand, the Grendel Ducal estate had been hiring financial experts for quite some time due to the scale of its assets. While the Duke made the final decisions on important matters or expenditures, the financial experts handled the minor details. The reports they created were delivered to the Duke monthly, quarterly, and annually.

As the size of assets increased, the use of experts was gradually becoming more common. However, there were still ladies of the house who felt humiliated if their husbands did not entrust them with the finances, so it was still typical in noble households for the final decision-making power to be delegated to the lady of the house first.

“As you informed me, butler, the budget of the Ducal estate is akin to that of a small country. I don’t think it should be managed by someone untrained. Although my father at Serenze is in business, I never intended to inherit that business, so I never learned anything related to it. Let’s continue using financial experts as before, and I’ll just receive a reasonable allowance. Wouldn’t that also be reassuring for the Duke?”

“Understood, Madam.”

In reality, through her upbringing, Elysia had learned basic arithmetic and how to read a general ledger. However, she never considered herself capable of managing the Ducal estate’s budget.

Even at Serenze, she only learned enough about the family business to avoid being swindled, thinking she would live comfortably without being involved.

‘Even if I start learning now, managing the money would just give me a headache, and it’s not like I can spend the Ducal estate’s money as I please. It’s best to just receive an allowance.’

The butler was once again impressed by Elysia. Despite her capabilities, the Madam did not try to assert control or monopolize the financial authority. She humbly acknowledged her limitations and was considerate enough to ensure the Ducal estate ran smoothly without causing unnecessary trouble for the Duke.

Pedro, the butler, was inwardly pleased, thinking the Duke had chosen a truly thoughtful person as the lady of the house.

***

Duke Cassius informed the butler that he would dine with Elysia instead of having a simple meal in his office to adhere to the additional contract terms with Tobias.

Thus, Elysia found herself preparing for a second dinner with Cassius.

‘Is this some kind of extreme comparison experience?’

The first dining location, a banquet hall, was so large that they could barely see each other’s faces. This time, the meal was arranged in a place that was too small, seemingly designed for children’s meals. As a result, the round table was small and low, forcing Cassius to squeeze himself awkwardly into one side of the chair.

Cassius would have avoided this situation if he could. However, both the butler and the head maid insisted that there were issues with the facilities of other dining rooms, leaving this as the only place available for dining.

Upon arrival and seeing the state of this small dining room, the Duke attempted to arrange another location.

“In that case, prepare the meal in the drawing room…”

“No, Master!”

Grace, the head maid, interrupted the Duke with urgency.

“That… the drawing room is only heated by the fireplace, so it might be too cold for dining. And if food were to spill on the carpet, cleaning and washing it would be very difficult.”

Hearing the maid’s reasoning, the Duke couldn’t help but feel puzzled. They could use a portable alchemical heater for warmth, and it wasn’t even that cold a season. However, since the staff kept presenting various reasons, Cassius had no choice but to comply with the maid’s suggestion.

When Elysia sat down, she found herself almost knee-to-knee with Cassius. It was impossible not to be conscious of each other.

Cassius’s large frame, crammed into the small chair, looked as though someone had forced him into a punishment chair for discipline.

Beyond Cassius, sitting askew, was a large window where the sunset’s glow poured in. This made Cassius’s black hair appear slightly brown, and his usually stern face seemed softer, leading Elysia to inadvertently admire his features.

Due to his slightly bowed posture rather than his usual rigid stance, Cassius’s face also seemed different in atmosphere. The shadows cast by his long eyelashes over his blue eyes, the bridge of his nose, and the line of his jaw gave him a melancholic look.

Elysia found herself almost smiling at the gap between his appearance and his posture, thinking that the cold Duke seemed rather cute. She quickly snapped out of it.

‘This is why handsome men are dangerous. Everything they do gets interpreted positively. I don’t know what this is about, but I can’t let my guard down.’

Cassius, feeling Elysia’s gaze, turned his head, but Elysia, embarrassed at being caught staring, pretended to focus on her food.

Cassius found Elysia’s behavior suspicious as she acted as if she hadn’t been observing him.

Outside the room, the butler, the head maid, and Millie were whispering among themselves.

“Will it be effective this time?”

Grace looked at Pedro, urging him for an answer. Millie responded instead.

“It was none other than Ronan Hass, the master of romance and the epitome of a flirt, who shared this. He said that when the physical distance is close, the emotional distance becomes closer too.”

Pedro nodded in agreement.

“We made a mistake last time. We just wanted to provide the best, but it might have been overwhelming for Madam. Moreover, the distance between the two was too great. It would have been difficult to build affection that way.”

“When the two are closer, they can see each other’s faces better and converse more comfortably. Now, affection will surely blossom between them in no time.”

Grace chimed in.

However, despite their efforts, an even deeper silence enveloped the dining room than before.

Elysia felt an immense burden from sitting so close to someone she wasn’t comfortable with. In hindsight, she thought the large dining room from last time was better. At least there, she could eat comfortably.

‘I can see too well how we eat, and it’s so awkward that I can’t even swallow a sip of water. I can hear every sound of chewing, swallowing, and digesting!’

The Duke, for his part, had never sat so close to anyone before, and the small, uncomfortable chair led him to make mistakes he usually wouldn’t. He almost knocked over a glass while trying to avoid Elysia, barely catching it in time.

After safely grasping the glass, Cassius turned his head inadvertently, and his eyes caught Elysia’s face, softly illuminated by the golden sunset. Cassius momentarily forgot why he had turned and gazed at Elysia.

His gaze traveled from her face to her shoulders, then down her arm to her hand, and finally to her plate. Cassius noticed that Elysia was barely eating, just picking at her food. Her plate’s contents were almost untouched, and it seemed she hadn’t touched her drink either.

Cassius stood up.

“In this state, neither of us can enjoy our meal comfortably. Let’s postpone dining together for another time. I’ll have a simple meal in my office, and you should eat wherever you feel comfortable.”

With those words, the Duke exited and informed the butler of his instructions. Elysia also sighed and got up from her seat.

As she exited the dining room, Elysia noticed the gathered staff looking somewhat disappointed and puzzled. However, eager to return to her room and rest, she didn’t question them and quickened her pace.

Cassius, heading to his office, paused and watched Elysia’s hastily retreating figure, as if she had been waiting to escape.