Chapter 6 – Change (Part 13)

The dinner between the two proceeded in silence. The meal was usually prepared in a dining room suitable for a small family, and the two sat across from each other at the table.

Cassius, lost in thought, occasionally glanced at Elysia, while Elysia, accustomed to such silent meals, didn’t pay much attention. Cassius, unable to determine if the tears he saw in Elysia’s eyes in the garden were from a yawn, continued to be bothered by her tearful face.

He began to wonder if life in the Ducal household was more difficult for Elysia than he had imagined. Recalling the time he had used a potion to hear her true thoughts, her real personality seemed quite free-spirited.

When he brought in a fiancée, he thought it was only natural for the future Duchess to adapt to this household and didn’t pay much attention to it. However, in a typical marriage, it was hard for one side to endure solely out of obligation.

Marriage was something that required effort from both sides, and if Elysia came to enjoy her time here more, it would be beneficial for both of them.

“Does the food suit your taste?”

Cassius asked something he had never inquired about during a meal, causing Elysia to almost drop the food she was about to put in her mouth.

‘Was I eating in a way that made it look unappetizing? Why is he suddenly asking about the taste of the food?’

“Yes, Duke. All the dishes are excellent.”

Elysia replied formally, but Cassius wasn’t looking for a polite response.

“Is there anything uncomfortable or anything else you need? I hope you find it comfortable living in the Ducal household.”

Elysia became increasingly uncomfortable, unable to understand why the Duke was suddenly showing interest in her.

“I have no inconveniences. Thank you for your concern.”

Cassius felt an inexplicable sense of frustration at her extremely businesslike reply. It seemed unlikely that Elysia’s life would become any more comfortable or that their relationship would improve at this rate. After some thought, Cassius spoke again.

“Don’t you miss your family? Since we hurriedly arranged the marriage, you haven’t had a proper chance to greet your family, so how about inviting the Serenze family to the Ducal household?”

Elysia paused with her cutlery in mid-air and stared blankly at Cassius. The unexpected suggestion briefly made her wonder if he was testing her or if it was merely a polite gesture.

Nevertheless, the thought of seeing her family made her so happy that she smiled without realizing it.

“I would be truly delighted if that were possible. Thank you, Duke.”

Elysia seemed unaware that she was smiling brightly while holding her fork and knife upright like spears. Cassius could clearly see that she was genuinely pleased.

“In that case, I will send a message so they can come as soon as tomorrow.”

At Cassius’s proposal, Elysia was so thrilled at the thought of seeing her family after just one night that she began to vigorously cut her meat, almost to the point of slicing through the plate.

‘He’s more considerate than I thought. So, can I really see my family tomorrow? Father, Mother, Marion, and maybe Daisy will come too, right? Will Alma come as well? What will they say when they see me after so long? They’ll surely be surprised by this Ducal mansion. I’m curious about what that sharp-tongued Marion will say.’

Thinking about it, Elysia realized one fact: her younger sibling Marion was still young and had a stubborn personality that didn’t filter her words.

While it was fine to say anything when they were alone, it wouldn’t be good if she harshly criticized the Duke’s mansion in front of the Duke. Even if they had replaced some of the mansion’s fabrics, considering the precisely trimmed trees at the garden entrance and the somber stone finish outside the mansion, it was obvious what Marion’s first impression would be.

“No!”

Elysia exclaimed, slamming her hands on the table with a bang. Cassius looked at her in surprise, and only then did Elysia realize what she had just done and quickly tried to rectify the situation.

“Meeting them tomorrow might be a bit difficult. You have your schedule too, don’t you? Isn’t tomorrow the day you go to the royal palace?”

“I can adjust my schedule by a day or two. You don’t have to restrain your desire to meet your family quickly because of my schedule.”

“The renovations around the mansion aren’t finished yet. The workers from the trading company are coming and going, and the staff have a lot to do, so it’s quite hectic. I’d like to meet my family leisurely after all that is settled.”

Cassius agreed.

“Then let me know a good date for everyone, and I’ll make sure to keep it free.”

Relieved, Elysia put the meat she had cut into tiny pieces into her mouth. Cassius, after a moment of thought, continued speaking.

“Once the work on the fabric is done, feel free to change other parts of the Ducal household to your liking. This includes not just the interior but also the exterior, like the garden. If you want, you can even change the training ground.”

“Thank you, Duke. I’ll try to suitably change the atmosphere of the Duke’s mansion without overburdening the servants.”

Elysia smiled sincerely, grateful to the Duke. Her opinion of the Duke improved slightly.

‘He mentioned exactly what I was going to ask for. At the very least, I need to fix the garden path from the gate to the entrance and the trees there.’

Though no significant conversation followed, the dinner continued in a warmer atmosphere than usual.

***

At the same time, a serious conversation was taking place among the servants gathered for dinner in the servants’ dining room next to the kitchen.

“Are we just going to let the first anniversary of the late Duke pass like this? Did the Duke say anything about it?”

At Grace the maid chief’s question, Pedro the head butler shook his head.

“I’m not sure if he’s too busy and forgot, or if he’s deliberately not mentioning it. I’ve subtly tried to gauge his thoughts, but it seems he has no intention of marking the first anniversary separately.”

“Even if we don’t do anything, it’s not against tradition, but I’m worried he might regret it later if he remembers. The date has already passed… But lately, the atmosphere here has improved, and I’m concerned that bringing up the first anniversary might return us to the somber times.”

Millie, who was sitting next to Grace and eating, interjected.

“I really disliked the Duke’s mansion when the late Duke was alive. It was such a stifling atmosphere that I couldn’t even breathe comfortably. Maybe that’s why the Duke didn’t show any sadness at the funeral.”

“Millie! Watch your words. The late Duke’s death was so sudden that he might have been too overwhelmed to show it. The Duke has been trained since childhood to hide his emotions, so his sadness might not have been visible compared to others.”

At Grace’s scolding, Millie lowered her head.

“I didn’t expect the late Duke to pass away like that. Honestly, I wondered if it was some kind of divine punishment…”

As the coachman Seti, who was sitting nearby eating soup, said this, the butler slammed the table before he could finish his sentence.

“The late Duke died of a heart attack due to overwork. Does that mean every person who suddenly dies of a heart attack is being punished by the heavens? No matter what others say, we shouldn’t speak like that. The late Duke was a difficult person to deal with, but he’s not someone to be mocked. From now on, everyone should watch their mouths!”

Under Pedro the butler’s stern reprimand, everyone at the table bowed their heads and continued their meal in silence.