Chapter 5 – Adaptation (Part 8)

After finishing his conversation with Emilliano, Cassius returned to the Ducal residence. He intended to read alone in the study until dinner, but strangely, the content of the book didn’t register in his mind.

Eventually, he sighed softly and closed the book. It was better to clear his head with a walk.

As he left the study, heading towards the entrance of the mansion, Cassius found himself observing his home. Everything was predominantly black or monochrome, and even the passing servants wore black or gray clothing. He recalled Elysia’s inner words during the luncheon.

‘Someone like you, who has spent a lifetime in the bright and splendid royal palace, wouldn’t last a moment in the Ducal residence’

Standing on the dark and imposing central staircase, Cassius slowly surveyed the house.

Just then, Pedro, the chief butler, passed by and greeted his master. Cassius asked almost unconsciously.

“Pedro, does this house look like a demon king’s castle to you?”

Pedro, who hailed from a family of butlers serving the Grendel Dukedom for generations and had been the chief butler since the previous Duke, was renowned for maintaining his composure without the slightest disturbance in the face of any command or question from his master.

Yet, Pedro’s complexion turned inexplicably pale, and his expression became subtly awkward, leading Cassius to realize that Pedro, too, agreed with the unofficial nickname of the Ducal residence as a demon king’s castle.

“Well… some people who don’t fully understand the unique elegance of the Ducal residence might occasionally say such things, but it’s not something you should concern yourself with, Your Grace. Our staff pays no heed to such remarks and strives to uphold the dignity of the Ducal residence. If anyone speaks out of turn, they will be dismissed immediately…”

“If I were to punish them just for thinking that way, it would only diminish the prestige of the Duke’s house. I’ll be going for a walk before dinner.”

Leaving the still-flustered Pedro behind, Cassius exited the mansion.

***

While walking around the mansion grounds, Cassius couldn’t help but reevaluate everything he saw. He noticed the trees, trimmed with such precision that not a single leaf was out of place. What once seemed neat now appeared like lifeless artificial sculptures.

The grand, predominantly dark-colored view of the Ducal residence, too, appeared even more eerie as a flock of crows cawed and flew over it.

By the time Cassius headed towards the path behind the Ducal residence, the lengthening shadows of the house gradually engulfed him as the sun set. Stopping in his tracks, swallowed by the shadows, Cassius looked up, unsure of where to go next, and noticed a narrow path just wide enough for one person through the bushes.

Drawn as if in a trance, he walked down the path and stopped short, holding his breath at the sight that greeted him.

Elysia was lying there.

The place Cassius found was the very spot Elysia had discovered and named her ‘secret garden.’ Although it was a long-neglected area, Cassius wasn’t surprised to find the garden, as he had known of it since childhood.

What stopped Cassius in his tracks and took his breath away was not the garden itself, but the sight of Elysia lying neatly under a tree. Her hands were folded neatly over her stomach, and a white handkerchief covered her face, completely still.

For a moment, the sight reminded him of the late Duke’s death.

Cassius’s father, the late Duke Aisar, was known not only for his cold demeanor but also for his robust physique. Despite being in perfect health, he suddenly died in a shabby inn in a corner of the capital, Brunchiat, which Cassius personally confirmed.

Cassius, who had been working at the Administrative Palace at the time, rushed to the inn upon receiving the urgent news. The innkeeper had laid the late Duke on the bed, placed his hands neatly over his stomach, and covered his face with a white handkerchief as a minimal gesture of respect.

Recalling the unexpected sight of his father’s body at an unexpected time and place, Cassius hurried to Elysia, knelt on one knee, and removed the handkerchief from her face.

“…Phew…”

A breath escaped him.

Now, Cassius could hear the sound of her breathing, occasionally long and drawn out, as it escaped her lips. Her neatly folded hands over her stomach and chest rose and fell steadily with her breaths. Belatedly, he noticed a book lying overturned to one side.

Contrary to his misunderstanding, Elysia had not collapsed or died; she was simply sleeping soundly in the shade.

After returning to the Ducal residence following the court luncheon, Elysia had immediately changed into comfortable clothes and brought a garden knife to the secret garden to relieve the stress from the luncheon.

Using the knife, she trimmed a few protruding branches and cut back the grass poking through the ground, creating a nice spot under the tree’s shade to sit. Bringing a cushion cover without stuffing and an old blanket to use as a backrest and seat cushion, she was quite satisfied.

‘It’s not as plush, but I can fix that over time. For now, this is good enough.’

Elysia indulged in laziness in the secret garden she had discovered. As she leisurely read a book, the temperature was just right, and the breeze pleasant, making her drowsy as it had at her family home. She decided to cover her face with a handkerchief and take a nap.

In contrast to the composed and proper manner Cassius usually saw in Elysia, the person sleeping now had her skirt spread out carelessly and her hair undone. However, her current appearance, resting in the shadow of the tree bathed in sunset light, seemed much more relaxed and peaceful.

In the timeless garden, observing Elysia sleeping without a care in the world, Cassius forgot he should move, simply staring blankly at her.

Then, a breeze blew, and a leaf landed on Elysia’s forehead.

As Cassius instinctively moved to brush the leaf off her forehead, Elysia stirred, perhaps due to the rustling sound, and seemed about to wake. Cassius hastily covered her face with the handkerchief again and hid behind a nearby tree.

After a while, Elysia slowly woke up and stretched widely. The handkerchief slipped down.

“Ah, I’m stiff.”

As Elysia stretched her arms upward and twisted her body this way and that, her stiff joints cracked. Groaning about her aching body, she twisted a couple more times before getting up. Seeing the sky where the daylight had almost disappeared, she hurriedly ran out of the garden, worried she might be late for dinner.

Cassius, confirming that Elysia had gone far, emerged from behind the tree and walked toward the mansion.

However, Cassius soon had to stop when someone dashed in front of him. Just as he was about to leave the narrow path, Elysia, remembering she had forgotten her book, ran back in a hurry and nearly collided with Cassius. As she stumbled from the sudden stop, Cassius instinctively reached out both hands to support her, and Elysia grabbed his arms to steady herself.

Holding onto each other’s arms, they looked at each other silently for a moment. As Elysia collected her wits and let go of his arms, Cassius also composed himself and stepped back. Elysia blushed deeply, embarrassed at having been caught in such a state. Trying to hide her embarrassment and act nonchalant, she asked,

“You must have been on a walk.”

Elysia had returned to her usual polite expression. Cassius found it oddly disappointing.

“I heard you enjoy solitary walks in the garden in the afternoon.”

“Yes. The Ducal residence is spacious, allowing for leisurely walks that help calm the mind and body.”

“But you didn’t use the usual walking paths.”

“…Today, I thought I’d try a different place.”

“This place should have had a blocked entrance.”

‘My secret sanctuary has been discovered!’

Elysia broke into a sweat, thinking of an excuse. If it was blocked off, there must have been a reason. She should have covered the entrance with more bushes or something to hide the fact that she had cleared it. She had been careless because she had heard that others rarely came this way.

‘Should I say I stumbled upon it by accident when I tripped over a stone? Or should I say I’m adventurous and decided to explore?’

Just then, Cassius suggested,

“If you wish, I can instruct the chief butler to make this place comfortable for regular use. There are many areas that need tending, including the garden.”

“No, it’s fine!”

Elysia quickly declined. She didn’t want this place to turn into another sterile landscaped area.

“I’d like it to remain as natural as possible, even if it needs to be tidied up to the point of not being dangerous. I know it doesn’t match the traditions of the Duke’s house, but if you could accommodate me, could it be maintained in its current state?”

Cassius looked at Elysia for a moment before responding.

“Do as you wish. It’s dinner time; would you like to return to the mansion together?”

With that, Cassius extended his hand. Elysia politely took it.

“Yes.”