Chapter 7 – Progress (Part 2)

For several days after the brothers had dinner together, both the Haas Trading Company and the Ducal household were busy with their respective affairs. Ronan, who had been preoccupied with visits to the Ducal residence, couldn’t directly visit the trading company for several days and was receiving reports in a small office of the trading company today.

There were indications that the nobles who had noticeably reduced their luxury goods transactions with the Haas Trading Company had met with Marquis Orga. Separately, the secretary of the trading company reported that Marquis Orga had taken a vacation to the southern country about two months ago.

“Although the mountains in the south are famous, it’s not usually a place people go for leisure. There must have been another reason for his visit.”

The secretary agreed.

“I suspect he went to investigate workshops that use alchemy to produce luxury goods. I’ve contacted the branch of our trading company in the south to find out where Marquis Orga went and whom he met there.”

Ronan nodded. Other thoughts were also swirling in his mind.

‘If he wanted to investigate workshops to establish trade, he could have sent a subordinate. It would be too conspicuous for him to go personally. Yet, for the cautious Marquis to go there himself, there must have been a compelling reason. What could be valuable enough for him to move personally?’

The southern country is the birthplace of the late Queen, and it also has mines that King Clois values highly. These mines produce minerals used in alchemy, and the Haas Trading Company, under royal command, was secretly responsible for importing magical minerals from there.

As the head of the Haas Trading Company, Ronan couldn’t help but suspect that Marquis Orga might have caught wind of this and went south.

“I have a feeling that unless Aaron acts as a spy, we might face a difficult situation…”

Ronan muttered before instructing his secretary.

“We need to investigate other things as well. Find out as quickly as possible if there have been any changes in the political situation in the south, the control over the mines, and if there’s been any incident that could sour relations between their royal family and Brunchia. Also, check if there are any financial problems within their royal family.”

The secretary left the office, stating they would start the investigation immediately.

Ronan wondered if, as he suspected, this matter was connected to Marquis Orga or a major political issue, he might need to request an audience with King Clois soon. This was something his father used to handle, but now that his father had completely handed over the responsibilities to him and was traveling the world, it was Ronan who had to enter the royal palace.

He had always thought the time would come when he’d have to handle such matters, but he had hoped it wouldn’t be so soon.

Remembering how his father, who enjoyed wearing comfortable clothes like himself, would wear impeccably formal attire when entering the royal palace, Ronan shuddered.

***

The interior of the Ducal residence, which had almost all its textiles replaced, had a distinctly different atmosphere. Servants, who always moved like assassins to avoid being noticed by their master, could now often be encountered in the corridors.

Without even a moment to rest after finishing her work, Elysia decided to change the landscaping of the garden to welcome her family as soon as possible.

However, it was impossible to replace all the trees in a short time. She had to be content with trimming the square-shaped topiary into round or triangular shapes and visiting several large nurseries in the capital to buy and plant decorative flowers.

With all the preparations complete, Elysia looked down the path leading to the mansion’s entrance from the steps outside the central entrance, smiling contentedly.

‘It may not be perfect, but it’s enough to look like the entrance of an ordinary noble’s house. As long as the Serenze family doesn’t venture beyond this area, it’ll be fine!’

Elysia felt proud and relieved, as if she had completed a major task.

‘Now I can soon be free from the Duke’s daily questioning about when I will invite my family.’

Since mentioning the idea of inviting the Serenze family, Cassius had asked Elysia if she had set a date every time they dined together.

In response to the Duke’s repeated questions, Elysia, without realizing it, answered in a weary tone that she would invite them as soon as the preparations were complete. After that, Cassius didn’t ask further but instead subtly continued to watch her.

‘I didn’t see it before, but he has a persistent side.’

It seemed that the Duke had a personality that liked to handle things he had decided on as quickly as possible. While Elysia was happy about her family coming, she was also worried that she might inadvertently revert to her original self in front of them, which could shock the Duke.

Therefore, she had to keep Cassius and her family as separate as possible while they were visiting.

‘He’s such a busy person, so he should just greet them briefly and then go to his office.’

Thinking that way, there was no reason to worry, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease.

***

The day before Elysia’s family was to visit, Cassius gave instructions to Aaron, who was about to leave work late from the Administrative Palace.

“Tomorrow, the Serenze family will visit the Ducal residence. I intend to spend time with them, so take the day off.”

Aaron was about to agree when he had a sudden thought.

“Duke, you don’t intend to stay with them the entire time they are here, do you?”

“Of course, I intend to stay with them. Since the family of my future wife is now also my family, isn’t it natural to be with them?”

Aaron felt a tightness in his chest. There was so much he needed to inform the Duke about.

***

On the morning of the day her family was finally to visit the Ducal residence, Elysia was surprised to find herself wide awake early and sat up in bed.

‘I can’t believe there’s a day when I wake up naturally in the morning!’

Admiring herself, she got ready early and went down to the dining room, but she was so excited with a mix of worry, anticipation, and longing that breakfast didn’t go down well. As promised, Cassius didn’t go to the Administrative Palace and had breakfast with Elysia.

Throughout the meal, Elysia caused small incidents. She mistakenly gulped down hot coffee thinking it was water, dunked bread into a water glass instead of olive oil, and brought an empty fork to her mouth, clearly showing her excitement.

That wasn’t all. Elysia’s expressions changed dramatically, from a joyful smile to a worried frown about her family’s reaction. The maids attending them couldn’t hide their sympathetic looks, realizing how much Elysia missed her family.

Cassius found Elysia’s behavior refreshing, as she rarely let her refined noble lady demeanor slip when they were together. It made him reflect on whether he had been too indifferent and should have invited his fiancée’s family sooner.

The members of the Serenze family had sent a letter beforehand, stating they would arrive before lunch, have a meal together, tour the Ducal residence, and then leave before dinner. After breakfast, while preparing to welcome the guests, the time for their arrival approached, and Elysia stood anxiously at the mansion’s entrance, waiting for the carriage to arrive.

She was very eager to see her family, but as the time for their arrival drew nearer, she began to worry more about whether this meeting was wise.

‘Why am I feeling so anxious? Or is it natural to feel anxious?’

Because of the events when Elysia left for the Ducal residence, the people of the Serenze family had the impression that Duke Grendel was arrogant and rude. They were angry because he seemed to assume that the Serenze family couldn’t refuse the marriage proposal due to his status and because he didn’t allow even one maid to accompany Elysia to the Ducal residence. Moreover, the atmosphere between Tobias and the Duke during the marriage contract negotiations wasn’t very pleasant.

It didn’t seem like the Duke was perceptive enough to notice such things, and even if he did, it didn’t seem like he would be cautious in his actions because of it.

‘Why does it feel like I’m lighting a fire on the bomb that is Duke Grendel with the Serenze family?’

Worried, Elysia glanced at Cassius standing beside her. For some reason, he wasn’t waiting in the reception room or working in his office but was standing with her at the entrance.

Her worry was short-lived, as she heard the sound of the carriage approaching the mansion. Unconsciously, Elysia ran down the path to where the carriage was coming, forgetting to maintain her noble demeanor. Cassius followed her slowly.

“El!”  

“Marion!”

The one who burst out of the carriage like a shot was the youngest and most energetic, Marion. Marion opened the door herself and jumped out as soon as the carriage slowed down, not even waiting for the Duke’s knight, who was standing by to open it. Seeing this, Elysia hurriedly ran to Marion.

“I told you not to jump out before the carriage stops. What if you get hurt?”

“You also ran out here in that dress, even though you were told not to.”

Despite their scolding, the two embraced each other in joy. Elysia was brought back to her senses by Tobias von Serenze’s cold voice.

“Duke Grendel, thank you for the invitation. I’m speechless with emotion to see a place I thought I’d never get to see in my lifetime.”

When she turned around, her father, mother, and Daisy had already gotten out of the carriage while she was having her emotional reunion with Marion. Apart from the two escort knights and the coachman, it seemed these were all the members of the Serenze family who had come.

‘Why are there so few people? Didn’t they bring any other servants, not even Alma, Mother’s personal maid? Wait, what did Father just say in his greeting? It felt like he was picking a fight.’

“I’m sorry I couldn’t invite you sooner. But you seem to have brought fewer attendants.”

Cassius responded to Tobias’s subtly provocative remark as if he hadn’t noticed it. Lillian laughed lightly with a fan in hand and replied.

“It seemed like you would be uncomfortable with other household members being at the Ducal residence, so we intentionally kept it minimal.”

There was a hint of coldness in her tone and gaze, clearly mocking the Duke for how he had treated Elysia, who had to enter the Ducal residence alone without her personal maid.

Cassius, with an expression that showed no sign of being affected, extended his arm to Lillian.

“They may not be as good as the maid who was by Miss Serenze’s side, but the servants of the Duke’s residence are attending to you without the slightest inconvenience. The servants here have been working for generations in the most demanding households in the kingdom, so you can trust them.”

Elysia swallowed a sigh.

‘Is he implying that the Duke’s servants are not inferior to those of the Serenze quasi-Baron family? Haha, my stomach is already starting to hurt.’