Chapter 8 –  The Gathering (Part 6)

The Grendel household’s physician finally declared Elysia fully recovered. His announcement was so solemn that Elysia felt embarrassed, as if she had recovered from a grave illness. Feeling much lighter, Elysia went downstairs to the dining hall for the first time in a while to have dinner with the Duke.

Since Elysia was now fully recovered, there was no longer any reason for Daisy to stay at the Grendel mansion, meaning she would soon return to the Serenze household. Though her body was well, this realization left Elysia feeling a little down. Cassius, noticing her mood, refrained from his usual awkward attempts at conversation and allowed her to eat in peace.

However, as Elysia continued her meal, she noticed something unusual about the second dish served. The food on the table was different from what she was accustomed to.

‘Why is everything so high in protein and packed with extreme nutrition?’

Elysia, who typically ate lighter meals due to her relatively low activity level, quickly felt full as the hearty dishes kept coming. By the later courses, she was leaving more food on her plate. Watching this, Cassius asked,

“Are you still unwell? You’ve barely eaten.”

“No, I’m fully recovered. I just haven’t been very active while resting, so my appetite has decreased.”

“If you continue to eat as little as you did while you were ill, it will be difficult to regain your full strength. I instructed the meals to be prepared similarly to a knight’s diet to help you recover quickly. Consuming these nutrients will make your body stronger. It’s better to build a sturdy constitution than to rely on good medicine after falling ill.”

Hearing Cassius’s explanation, Elysia finally understood why the menu had been so different.

While his reasoning wasn’t wrong, the idea of continuing to eat such meals was daunting to Elysia, who couldn’t possibly be as active as knights. Cassius, with his regular training and constant movement between the Administrative Palace, the royal palace, and the mansion, likely didn’t see any issue with such a diet.

‘But since he went out of his way to arrange this for me, I suppose I should keep eating…’

After some thought, Elysia decided this couldn’t continue and opened her mouth to speak.

“Your Grace, I appreciate your consideration, but I’m just an ordinary person. Eating like knights who undergo rigorous training is too much for me. Are you perhaps expecting me to start training in the practice yard?”

Her question was half-serious. Nobles, especially those born into noble families, often learned basic self-defense or swordsmanship in case of emergencies, even if they had knights guarding them. It was considered prudent to be able to protect oneself.

However, such training wasn’t mandatory, and it was less commonly expected of women. Elysia, who had always disliked physical activity, often skipped training sessions at the Serenze household and eventually declared she wouldn’t do it at all.

Still, she worried that the Grendel household, with its higher status, might have different expectations.

“If you wish to train, you’re welcome to do so. But if you don’t want to, there’s no need to force yourself.”

Cassius glanced at the food on the table again. While he had arranged the meals with Elysia’s health in mind, he realized that he hadn’t considered her usual preferences or favorite dishes.

“My concern for your health overshadowed my consideration for your usual eating habits. From now on, I’ll have the meals tailored to your preferences, and I’ll eat the same as you.”

With that, Cassius reached for the bell on the table to summon the head maid. Elysia hurriedly stopped him.

“No, Your Grace!”

Cassius paused mid-motion, looking at Elysia.

“Unlike me, Your Grace, you’re always busy and as active as the knights, including training. There’s no need for you to adjust your diet to mine.”

“But as a married couple, shouldn’t we create commonalities in our daily lives? Eating the same meals during dinner isn’t a big deal.”

Elysia suppressed a sigh.

“Your Grace, we are different individuals with different physiques. Just because we’re married doesn’t mean we have to do everything the same way. We should each do what suits us best. That includes meals—I believe we should eat what fits our individual needs. Besides, it’s not like we’re completely separate in everything. Even now, we’re sharing the same space and spending time together, aren’t we?”

Cassius looked as though he had been struck by her words. After a moment of thought, he gave her a gentle smile.

“It seems I still have much to learn. I’ll ensure that from now on, both of us can enjoy meals that suit us.”

Elysia had expected the Duke to insist on his way, but she was surprised when he easily agreed with her. Despite her surprise, she felt pleased.

***

After finishing dinner, Elysia and Cassius left the dining room. In the past, this would have been the point where they exchanged goodnight greetings, with Elysia heading to her room and Cassius either going to his office or study before returning to his room at bedtime.

However, during the time Elysia was recovering, Cassius had gotten into the habit of visiting her room every evening after dinner to check on her. Now, he found it disappointing to part ways so quickly. It also bothered him that Elysia had reverted to addressing him as “Your Grace” instead of “Cassius,” but he refrained from saying anything, not wanting to pressure someone who had just recovered.

While Elysia was bedridden, Cassius had taken the time to carefully review the supplementary contract he had signed with Tobias. This had made him realize that he hadn’t made much effort to gradually grow closer to Elysia. Although he had managed to keep up with their three shared meals per week, he hadn’t even attempted to approach her slowly or make small gestures to build their relationship.

It was too late for an evening stroll now that it was dark outside, and suggesting a tour of the Grendel Ducal Mansion at this hour seemed awkward. Left without any better ideas, Cassius simply followed Elysia at a distance.

Elysia, on her way to the eastern wing, paused in the hallway to bid him goodnight as usual. However, she became flustered when she noticed Cassius following her instead of heading off on his own.

‘What is he doing? Why is he following me?’

Elysia stopped walking, turned around, and studied Cassius’s expression. In the past, she would have thought his face looked perpetually frozen like ice, but lately, she had started noticing subtle differences in his expressions.

Even now, he was making a face she had never seen before.

‘He seems hesitant for some reason… Could it be—no, surely not! Is he doing this because he doesn’t want to part ways with me?’

Elysia was startled by her own thoughts and scolded herself internally for jumping to conclusions. Yet, the idea that Cassius might be reluctant to leave her made him appear oddly endearing. Shocked by her own reaction, Elysia began to wonder if she was experiencing some sort of mental side effect from her illness.

After regaining her composure, Elysia opened her mouth to bid him goodnight.

“Your Grace, I think it’s time—”

But Cassius’s expression shifted ever so slightly, and for some reason, it looked like disappointment. Elysia hesitated, unsure if she was overthinking things. Deciding to test her theory, she said,

“Cassius, would you mind escorting me to my room? I’m still not fully recovered, and I’m worried I might stumble on the way.”

At her words, Cassius’s expression immediately brightened. He quickly offered his arm to Elysia and moved to her side. Though Elysia tried to act indifferent, she couldn’t help but feel a slight warmth rising to her ears.

From that day on, Cassius made it a point to escort Elysia to her room every evening after dinner, even if he had pressing work to attend to. On days when he couldn’t join her for dinner due to late nights at the Administrative Palace or other commitments, he would still visit her room upon returning home, no matter how late, to exchange a few words before bed. Over time, Elysia grew accustomed to spending her evenings with the Duke.

***

Having recovered her health and realizing there was no one to scold her for being idle anymore, Elysia returned to her usual routine. However, contrary to her expectations, this newfound freedom didn’t bring her as much joy as she had hoped. Instead, she found herself feeling strangely bored.

To remedy this, Elysia decided to pursue an idea she had been putting off: changing the monotonous, grayscale uniforms worn by the Grendel household staff. She began by consulting with Grace, the head maid, and Pedro, the head butler.

Both were thrilled by the idea and couldn’t hide their excitement. However, neither of them had any knowledge of reputable tailors or the latest trends in clothing.

“In that case, who should I ask for advice? Back at the Serenze household, my mother would bring in samples from various tailors and let the staff choose their preferred designs. That’s why everyone’s outfits were so diverse. But here, I think it would be better to order from a single tailor for uniformity… I’m not sure if there’s a tailor capable of handling outfits for so many staff members.”

Pedro, acknowledging the situation, reluctantly suggested the Haas Trading Company.

“Though I’m not particularly fond of him, I believe Ronan Hass would be the best person to consult. He knows all the large and small tailoring shops in the capital, as well as those that specialize in uniforms. Since maintaining a relationship with the Grendel household is important to him, he’ll personally select the best options and act as an intermediary.”

Elysia had wanted to consult Ronan herself but had hesitated, fearing that Millie or Pedro might disapprove. Hearing Pedro recommend Ronan first came as a relief. Elysia requested a carriage be prepared, stating that she intended to visit the trading company in person.