Chapter 7 – Progress (Part 13)

After that meal, whenever the servants of the Ducal household gathered in groups of two or more, they would suddenly lower their voices and start whispering. The topic was that it seemed the Duke and Madam had spent the night together after returning late to the mansion.

Despite their efforts, they had been worried that the two were not getting closer. But seeing the Duke affectionately call the Madam by name at lunch and express a desire to grow closer, the servants were thrilled that their efforts had finally borne fruit.

Even the knights training in the practice yard asked Aaron if it was true that the two had become closer.

“Aaron, I heard the Duke and Madam had a really good time last night?”

“Looks like the Duke is finally having a warm spring day in his life. Maybe that icy demeanor of his will thaw a bit?”

The knights, hoping that the Duke’s romance with Madam would make him softer towards them, giggled and couldn’t hide their joy.

However, Aaron, who had witnessed Elysia’s drunken antics the previous night, was filled with concern about how to handle the situation, which was quite different from the rapidly spreading rumors. Contrary to the expectations of the Duke’s household, the relationship with the young lady from Serenze, who had pointed fingers and said all sorts of things to the Duke, was practically in ruins.

He couldn’t imagine the Duke accepting such behavior, and it was entirely unbecoming of the dignity expected of the Duke’s future mistress, so he anticipated that a breakup would soon follow.

‘I’m sorry, everyone. I couldn’t stop it. I should have somehow dragged the Duke out when I realized the Madam was drunk, but because I stayed in the room, I ended up showing him such a sight. The Madam probably didn’t know her limits and drank too much, leading to that behavior.’

Aaron sighed in self-reproach.

***

Elysia felt like she was sitting on a bed of thorns every day. Cassius, unlike before, called her by her name and occasionally smiled at her. Moreover, he spent more time with her during meals and even went on walks with her. Whenever this happened, others would give them encouraging looks and discreetly leave them alone.

However, to Elysia, the Duke’s behavior felt like he was toying with a cornered mouse. The smiles, the way he called her name, and the increased time spent together all felt like pressure.

This was because, whenever they were together, Cassius would casually bring up things Elysia had said during her drunken night, making her tense.

The reason Cassius did this was that he found Elysia’s reaction—stiffening and wanting to hide in a hole—amusing. Having seen his fiancée’s true colors, he found all of Elysia’s actions entertaining. For Cassius, who lived a life devoid of fun, it was an addictive thrill.

After several days of living like this, Elysia, anxious and on edge, finally reached the limit of her patience.

‘Is he trying to torment me to death?’

So, just before dinner, Elysia stormed into the Duke’s office. When she knocked on the door from outside the office, a voice from inside told her to come in.

Thinking it was the butler, Cassius was surprised to see Elysia enter. Aaron, who was working at his desk in one corner of the office, was equally surprised.

“Elysia, what brings you here? Has something happened?”

Seeing Elysia, who had never come to his office before, Cassius worried that something serious had happened to the Serenze family or to Elysia herself, and he stood up from his seat.

“No, I came to speak with you, Duke, and I apologize for the intrusion.”

Cassius was about to point out that Elysia hadn’t called him by his name but held back when he saw her determined face.

“Aaron, please give us some privacy.”

“No, I would like Secretary Hass to stay as a witness. He might need to handle the aftermath once I’m done speaking.”

At her words, Cassius gestured for Aaron, who was about to leave, to stay. He then led Elysia to the front table. The two sat on sofas facing each other across the table, and Aaron sat in a single chair on the other side.

Elysia hesitated for a moment but then made up her mind and spoke.

“When are you going to do it?”

Cassius looked at her with a puzzled expression.

“What do you mean?”

“The breakup. I’m curious when you plan to request it. If you let me know the date, I’ll prepare to settle my affairs by then. Though there’s not much for me to settle. It might be good to return to the Serenze house under the pretext of recuperating.”

Cassius felt displeased again at Elysia’s talk of going home, but that wasn’t the important issue right now. He focused on the topic of the breakup.

“I’m curious why you think that.”

“Because I not only committed an unforgivable rudeness to you, Your Grace, but also showed behavior unworthy of someone raised in a noble family, let alone the future mistress of the Ducal household. I deserve to be broken up with, but I hope you’ll let me know the date in advance so I can prepare a little, considering my parents.”

“I can’t do that.”

At Cassius’s cold response, Elysia became anxious and began to plead.

“I’ll leave quietly without causing any trouble, so you don’t need to keep bringing up my mistake to torment me. And though it’s shameless of me to ask, I hope you won’t cause any harm to the Serenze family afterward, as the reason for the breakup lies solely with me.”

Aaron was thinking about how to frame the breakup to protect the honor of both the Duke’s and Serenze’s families, and how long after that it would be appropriate to present a new candidate for the lady of the Duke’s household. Either way, even if handled quietly, the repercussions would not be small.

Cassius replied in a calm voice.

“It seems there’s a misunderstanding. I have no intention of breaking up with you.”

Both Elysia and Aaron looked at the Duke in surprise.

‘So, is he planning to keep me by his side and torment me to death without breaking off the engagement? Or does he plan to keep me, who has no power, as the Duchess while freely meeting other women because he has a hold on me? I heard the late Duke also kept his wife confined to a villa while frequently changing mistresses.’

Elysia, thinking that although she had been rude, she didn’t deserve such humiliation, spoke in a strong tone.

“Although I used the excuse of being drunk, I lived as I pleased in the Serenze household. You must have thought I was a well-mannered daughter of a noble family when you proposed, but no matter how hard my parents tried, they couldn’t change my true nature. So, if I become the lady of the Duke’s household, I might make even greater mistakes. You’ve seen my flaws, so you should break off the engagement and freely meet others to find someone truly fit to be the lady of a noble household.”

Cassius pretended to think deeply before responding.

“As you said, I thought of the Serenze young lady as a well-mannered noblewoman. And I learned that you are different from what I thought. But can you guarantee that other noble daughters aren’t like you, with dual personalities?”

Elysia and Aaron were both taken aback by the Duke’s leap in logic.

Elysia was appalled that he was generalizing all women based on her mistake and calling her a person with a dual personality just because of one drunken incident. However, since she was caught in a weak position and needed to quietly break off the engagement, she couldn’t say anything.

“I think it’s better to marry someone whose true nature I’ve already understood. And I have no intention of meeting other women besides you. They could also have dual personalities.”

Seeing Cassius smiling while repeatedly mentioning “dual personality,” Elysia was convinced he was mocking her. Combined with the tension from the past few days, her anger boiled over, and Elysia once again lost her temper.

“You are excessively mocking me. You keep mentioning dual personalities, but I only made a mistake because I drank too much this time. I haven’t always behaved differently in front and behind. Haven’t you ever made a mistake after drinking too much, Duke?”

“I have never drunk to the point of being in such a state. You’re blaming the alcohol, but isn’t the problem with the person who drank until that point, not the alcohol itself?”

“…Yes, that’s true. Fine. I admit that it was my fault for drinking too much. But haven’t I been respectful to you otherwise? To treat me as a person with a dual personality over a single mistake…”

“Seeing your behavior that night, I couldn’t help but doubt whether your usual courteous demeanor was genuine. So, I intend to stay by your side and gradually learn your true nature.”

“Are you trying to learn everything about me while keeping everything about yourself hidden? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you lose your composure, Duke.”

At those words, Cassius looked steadily at Elysia. Elysia swallowed nervously, wondering if she had finally crossed a line by speaking so challengingly.

“I’m glad to hear you want to know about me too. Then we should both make efforts to truly get closer.”

Elysia was left speechless by Cassius’s astonishing logic, her mouth opening and closing silently. In contrast, Aaron smiled at the two as if a ray of light had shone through.

‘Thank goodness! The Duke hasn’t given up on Madam. That means there’s still a chance for them to get closer. This time, I must provide proper help and absolutely prevent a breakup. Don’t worry, Duke! I’ll find a way.’

Elysia remained silent in her own thoughts, and Aaron in his, leading to a brief silence. Soon, Cassius stood up and extended his hand to Elysia.

“It seems it’s almost dinner time, shall we go to the dining room together?”

With a look of having her spirit drained, Elysia rose and walked as Cassius led her.

“Your Grace, I’d like to leave now and visit the Hass estate.”

“Alright. I’ll have a private audience with His Highness tomorrow morning, so report to the Administrative Palace in the afternoon.”

At Cassius’s instruction, Aaron bowed and headed to the Hass estate.