Chapter 4 – Suspicion (Part 11)

“Though I extended the invitation without expectation, it is an unparalleled honor for our family to have you visit, Duke Grendel, Miss Serenze.”

Cassius merely nodded in response to Earl Kumaran’s overly courteous greeting. Elysia thought that perhaps she needed to be polite on behalf of the Duke as part of her duties as his fiancée and greeted them with courtesy.

“Thank you for inviting us. I hope our visit does not inconvenience the Earl’s family.”

“Inconvenience, you say? Ha ha ha. It’s dinner time, so let me guide you to the dining room.”

Elysia was bewildered by the Duke’s lack of social etiquette here, just as at the Spring Ball. She couldn’t understand why he had agreed to come if he was going to maintain such an attitude.

She suspected that he might have wanted to see how she interacted with other nobles or hoped she would build rapport with important nobles since he wasn’t skilled in socializing. Either way, Elysia wasn’t pleased.

Despite her gloomy mood, Elysia entered the dining area with a polite smile. However, she stopped abruptly at the sight of two unexpected guests who had already arrived and were standing to greet them.

Cassius, walking beside her, was puzzled by Elysia’s reaction and the presence of the two unfamiliar people in the dining room.

“It seems there are others invited to this dinner.”

At the Duke’s remark, Sera van Kumaran quickly stepped forward.

“Thank you for accepting the invitation, Duke Grendel. For my friend Elysia, who must have been lonely living alone at the Duke’s estate, I invited some delightful guests.”

Sera always referred to Elysia as “Miss Serenze of the quasi-Baron family” in public, emphasizing her status. But now, she called her by name as if they were old friends, though Elysia was too furious to notice. Elysia barely managed to maintain her smile, suppressing her trembling body.

After Sera’s introduction, one of the two guests at the far end of the long table awkwardly stood up. It was Dolores, Elysia’s former tutor.

Elysia knew that nobles often investigated potential spouses through tutors or household staff before formalizing a marriage. So she understood that Dolores was likely brought here against her will.

It was clear that the Kumaran family had forced her old tutor to attend, hoping she might inadvertently reveal some flaw about Elysia.

While Elysia had been indifferent during her lessons, she didn’t dislike Dolores, so she felt sorry for her former tutor being in this situation.

What truly angered Elysia was not Dolores, but the other guest who smirked at her. He was the ambitious Viscount or Baron whose proposal she had rejected.

“Duke, this is Miss Dolores, who was Elysia’s tutor. And this is the Baron who was acquainted with Elysia before she accepted the Duke’s proposal.”

Looking at the two who greeted him, the Duke said,

“Inviting these two for my fiancée shows how much you, Miss Kumaran, cares for your friend.”

Elysia, aware of the Duke, responded with a smile that feigned delight.

“I’m truly grateful that Miss Kumaran is so considerate of me.”

Sera then embraced Elysia warmly.

“Elysia! I was so lonely not being able to see you. There was no mention of a proposal with the Duke, yet you entered his household as soon as you got engaged, and since then, not a single contact from you. Have you already forgotten someone like me after entering such a prestigious family?”

“How could I? How could I forget the kindness of a lady who regularly invited me to gatherings and helped me mingle with others, even though I like being alone?”

To anyone watching, the two seemed like genuine friends. Cassius, observing them, wondered if Elysia was not just a pawn of the Earl’s family but was truly loyal to the Kumaran family.

<< Don’t pretend to be close, you wicked fox! >>

Cassius froze at the sudden voice that struck his mind. It was unmistakably Elysia’s voice. He looked at Elysia, but she was still facing Sera van Kumaran, smiling warmly without any sign of disruption.

Cassius sat in his designated seat, pondering whether he had truly heard what he thought he did. The seating arrangement had the Duke and Sera on the Earl’s right, and across from them, the Baron, Elysia, and Dolores in order. Just by seating Elysia lower than the Baron, Kumaran’s intentions were clear.

Elysia sincerely greeted Dolores, expressing how glad she was to see her after a long time. Dolores, realizing the nature of the gathering belatedly, felt uncomfortable but was still happy to see Elysia again.

Looking at Elysia seated next to her, Dolores spoke with concern without realizing it.

“Elysia, is the wedding preparation tiring you out?”

Cassius looked at Elysia at those words. Upon closer inspection, she seemed less healthy than when he proposed.

“Please don’t just talk among yourselves, Miss Serenze. Didn’t the Earl invite me because we are quite acquainted?”

The ambitious Baron rudely interrupted.

“I’m not very perceptive and don’t remember people well. I’m sorry, but I think Miss Kumaran might be mistaken. Where have we met?”

Elysia’s innocent-looking words, as if she genuinely didn’t know, made the Baron’s face turn red.

“Have you forgotten my fervent courtship? I visited your house multiple times. It seems the proposal with the Duke has made you forget everything from the past.”

Listening to the Baron’s words, one might think Elysia was a woman filled with ambition who had rejected his passionate confession for the Duke’s proposal.

<< Why would I bother remembering an ambitious, incompetent leech like you? >>

Cassius couldn’t deny that the voice he heard, which was only audible to him, was indeed the voice of Elysia’s thoughts. It seemed the drug was working as intended. The Baron continued speaking to Elysia.

“You rejected my proposal so decisively; I suppose you were aiming for something greater. I recall you saying you wanted to live a simple and peaceful life.”

Elysia maintained her gentle smile as she looked at the Baron.

<< You and the Duke are similar, but you’re worse. I rejected you because I want to live peacefully and simply. Why should I be fooled by someone who dreams of leeching off me with ambition and no ability? >>

Elysia answered with the same serene smile on her face.

“You still remember my trivial words. However, I worry that you might have misunderstood my accepting the Duke’s proposal as some grand ambition. It was simply the Duke’s sincerity and consideration that moved my heart.”

Elysia looked at Cassius as if she were genuinely touched by his courtship. The Duke was taken aback by his fiancée’s impressive acting skills, but he nodded as if in agreement, aware of the eyes watching them.

<< Duke, don’t just nod; engage in some social conversation. Just because you look like a statue doesn’t mean you have to act like an inanimate object. >>

Sera, noticing Cassius staring at Elysia in silence, felt upset, thinking the two were communicating, and interrupted.

“By the way, Elysia, I was curious why the Duke chose you as his fiancée, but now I think I understand.”

Both Cassius and Elysia turned to look at Sera.

“Duke, now that I see it, you have something in common with Elysia.”

“I’m curious to know what that might be.”

Cassius asked in a tone that suggested he wasn’t curious at all.

“The Duke is famous for not showing his true feelings, right? Elysia here, whom I’ve known for a long time, is also hard to read. It’s a running joke among our friends too. In that way, you two seem similar, hohoho.”

“Oh, Sera. Now that you mention it, it does seem that way, hahaha!”

Earl Kumaran and Sera laughed as if they had discovered something amusing, joined by the Baron, while Dolores awkwardly managed her expression.

Cassius was simply baffled by their shallow attempt to insult both him and Elysia. He now understood why Earl Kumaran invited him and his fiancée despite having rejected the proposal. It was to probe and insult them.

Anticipating that Elysia would be displeased, Cassius glanced at her. Indeed, Elysia was barely holding back her anger. Soon, he heard her thoughts.

<< Saying I’m like the Duke? Clearly, the Duke has an expressionless face with no warmth, while I have a polite face. If you can’t see the difference, you must be blind! Go get your eyes checked! >>

Cassius was astonished that Elysia was more upset about being compared to him than about being insulted by the Earl’s family.

“Miss Kumaran, they say couples start to resemble each other. I’m delighted you think the Duke and I look similar. It must mean we’re a perfect match.”

Elysia said with a bright smile. Cassius watched as Earl Kumaran and Sera’s faces stiffened simultaneously, realizing that his fiancée had won this round.

The dinner continued with thinly veiled insults and feigned politeness, but Elysia labeled Earl Kumaran as a “white-mustached old man.” If Cassius hadn’t had such self-control, he might have choked or spat out his food.

Despite a few minor crises, the dinner eventually concluded without incident.

After seating Elysia in the carriage prepared for their return, Cassius turned back to speak quietly with Earl Kumaran. The Earl expected the Duke to express gratitude for the invitation.

“Duke Grendel, I hope you enjoyed the evening. Isn’t it nice to spend time together like this? I’ll arrange similar gatherings in the future so you can interact with other nobles. Please don’t hesitate to attend.”

“I decline.”

Cassius’s curt response left Earl Kumaran and those around him stunned. Unperturbed, Cassius continued with a warning.

“I attended this time as a trial since there should be occasions to introduce my fiancée. However, neither this invitation nor future ones seem enjoyable for me or my fiancée. If it were merely to observe, I might overlook it, but it’s embarrassing to see efforts made to insult us. I have no intention of dragging my fiancée into such unpleasant gatherings again.”

Both Earl Kumaran and Sera, standing beside him, turned red. Cassius, indifferent to their reactions, declared,

“I will refuse all future invitations from the Kumaran family, so there’s no need to send invitations. This includes those from the Earl’s daughter. Even if you visit the Ducal residence, you won’t be allowed to step inside.”

Having said his piece, the Duke boarded the carriage. Inside, Elysia, who had heard everything, looked at him with surprise.

“I’m sorry for declining the invitation on my own. Do you wish to continue associating with the Kumaran family?”

“If it’s not for the sake of the Duke’s house, I don’t wish to continue.”

“Then that’s settled.”

Elysia couldn’t understand why Cassius had come all this way only to cut off future invitations, so she kept observing him. Cassius, for his part, was confused by the discrepancy between Elysia’s thoughts and her outward demeanor, as well as the difference between his assumptions and reality.

However, today he confirmed that Elysia wasn’t colluding with the Earl’s family.

The suspicion that had wrapped around Cassius’s mind like a tight coil regarding his fiancée was suddenly cut loose, like a knot sliced by a knife. He felt foolish for suspecting her of being allied with a particular faction.

Yet, from what he observed today, Elysia, whom he had thought was a quiet noble lady, had a distinctly different side, warranting further observation. Cassius decided to reserve judgment for now. That’s what the engagement period was for.

Suddenly, Cassius recalled Elysia calling the Earl a “white-mustached old man.” Without realizing it, one corner of his mouth lifted slightly. Elysia, seeing this, froze. It was the most expressive change she’d seen in the Duke’s face so far.

<< Are you smiling? Did something good happen? Let me in on the joke. >>

Hearing her voice, Cassius lightly clenched his teeth to maintain his neutral expression.

• Continued in Volume 2