Side Story 2.1

The Ephelmar ducal residence was filled with an especially lively atmosphere today.

All the servants in the mansion were busy moving about, yet far from looking tired, they all appeared full of enthusiasm.

“Hey, is all the champagne prepared?”

“Check it properly. It’s an important day.”

Today was the day of the celebration banquet for Reitan’s conferment as Duke.

Recently, Reitan had officially become the Duke of Ephelmar.

“Reitan. It’s time for you to become the Duke.”

Reitan’s parents, the former Duke and Duchess of Ephelmar, had announced their retirement about a month ago.

Their reason was that since their son had completed his coming-of-age ceremony and found a good wife, it was sufficient.

While it was generally considered early to announce retirement, looking at Reitan’s achievements over the past two years, he was more than qualified to become Duke immediately.

Most of the family businesses were now under Reitan’s control, and the results were excellent.

At twenty-seven years of age.

It was the moment when the youngest Duke in the history of the Empire, where there had never been a Duke in his twenties before, was born.

“The tablecloth here is crooked. We cannot lower the dignity of the ducal house with such details, so be careful.”

The maid Nancy scolded a junior colleague who had recently joined.

She earnestly hoped that this banquet would once again be an opportunity to widely showcase the prestige of the Ephelmar ducal house.

Of course, that wasn’t just Nancy’s wish alone.

All the servants of Ephelmar were filled with loyalty to the ducal house.

But then.

“Um, Senior.”

“Yes? Is there a problem?”

The junior who had just been scolded by Nancy carefully opened her mouth.

“Well, yesterday I heard strange sounds coming from the corridor leading to the Duke’s bedroom…”

“Ah.”

Though the junior couldn’t continue and trailed off, Nancy immediately understood.

She had experienced the same thing herself.

‘I was also surprised at first.’

Slap-

“Ha, haah-!”

Slap-

“Ahnng!”

The unwritten rule of this place was to pretend not to hear the intimate sounds coming from the Duke and Duchess’s bedroom.

She thought they now educated new employees about this from the start to avoid confusion.

“Didn’t you hear about this during the head maid’s training?”

“Ah, well. I was sick and joined later than my peers.”

Despite her hesitant attitude, she finally asked Nancy. She seemed unable to contain her curiosity.

“A-are things really all right between them? I heard something like whipping sounds, so I wondered if the Duke…”

“No.”

Nancy cut off her junior’s words with a smile. It was to prevent her from saying anything disrespectful.

“I’ll tell you about that separately after the banquet is over, so focus on the preparations for now.”

“What? But…”

“What I can tell you now is that the two of them get along very well. The more you hear those sounds, the better.”

Leaving her bewildered junior behind, Nancy resumed her assigned tasks.

While checking the number of dessert plates for the guests, she smiled to herself.

‘Those two really do get along too well, just like newlyweds.’

The mysterious sounds coming from the Duke and Duchess’s bedroom.

They were actually evidence of the strong bond between the ducal couple.

By now, if the frequency of those sounds decreased, Nancy would rather worry if the two had fought.

Surprisingly, these intimate preferences of the ducal couple were no longer a secret among the mansion’s servants.

It wasn’t a bad thing, and it was Erta and Reitan’s privacy after all.

The popularity of the Duke and Duchess among the servants was sky-high.

They were extremely satisfied with the higher wages and systematic vacation system compared to other noble houses.

Moreover, they didn’t treat the servants carelessly like other nobles did.

Servants from other noble houses envied them, competing to work at the Ephelmar ducal house.

Those already working at the Ephelmar ducal house wanted to put down roots there for life.

The reason why the Ephelmar ducal house had become a heaven-sent workplace was.

‘Thanks to the Madam.’

Nancy and several other servants knew from rumors.

That it was the Madam who had changed the indifferent Duke into a caring person.

It was said that the Madam’s influence had greatly contributed to improving the treatment of servants in the mansion.

Today as well, Nancy and the other servants continued diligently preparing for the banquet, cheering for those sounds to be heard from the couple’s bedroom as often as possible.

***

It would be no exaggeration to say that all the nobles of the Empire attended the celebration banquet for Reitan’s conferment held at the Ephelmar ducal residence.

“Congratulations, Duke Ephelmar.”

“To be the youngest Duke in the history of the Empire! How admirable!”

“It’s not such an extraordinary achievement, but I appreciate your congratulations.”

It was only natural.

Among the three dukedoms in the Empire, Ephelmar had recently been the most prominent.

From the Emperor and Empress’s trust to the strong ties with the Holy Kingdom,

Moreover, the businesses led by Ephelmar were all on the rise.

It was only natural that those trying to establish connections would be everywhere.

“Duke, the recently strengthened security system was truly excellent.”

As is typical in conversations among noblemen, the discussion centered on business matters, and a middle-aged count raised the topic of the security business of Ephelmar.

“Haha, Count Rotten. I too have benefited from it.”

“I never thought you would improve the system that was already in place.”

“Thanks to it, I recently avoided a disaster, you know.”

Noblemen everywhere praised Ephelmar’s security system.

In the Empire, nobles were not allowed to have private soldiers in the capital, where the Emperor resided, but a guard for one’s mansion was still necessary.

Thus, the concept of a security business naturally emerged in the Empire.

It was a business where a company authorized by the Emperor would provide security services.

This security business was mostly led by high-ranking nobles, such as Dukes, and the reason was simple.

It was the straightforward psychological reason of nobles wanting to avoid having lower-ranked individuals exposed to the inside of their mansions.

In any case, more than half of the nobility in the capital were now using Ephelmar’s services.

“Actually, during the shift changes, there are bound to be gaps, but you managed to address that.”

Reitan had strengthened security by adjusting the shift times of the guards.

Previously, shifts would change immediately, but now there was a 10-minute overlapping period between the guards.

Additionally, separate patrol personnel were assigned.

They also developed magical tools that could monitor each floor and provide support.

Although this would have resulted in additional costs, Ephelmar did not raise the service fees.

Ephelmar took on the additional costs.

“You took on all the costs, didn’t you? I was amazed at your generosity.”

At first, the profit structure might have seemed less favorable, but the satisfaction of the nobles with the improved security system was considerable.

In noble society, reputation was the most important thing.

As a result, the number of customers doubled, and profits increased.

Nobles whose contracts with other companies had ended were all hoping to sign contracts with Ephelmar.

“You flatter me. If it’s something that can be improved, it should naturally be done.”

Reitan smiled softly.

The cause was his secret meeting (or perhaps a rendezvous) with Erta, but in the end, it contributed to the Empire’s security system. 

No one knew that the reason for strengthening the security was because Reitan was worried about someone other than him possibly intruding into Erta’s bedroom.

Who but Reitan would dare to invade the room of the Marchioness’s daughter, especially now in the Duchess’s bedroom?

Since Reitan was the one who had acted, he probably assumed others could do the same.

‘Well, in the end, it worked out.’

Reitan responded to those who spoke to him, occasionally following Erta with his eyes.

Erta, who was smiling brightly and engaging in conversation, was also surrounded by many people, just like Reitan.

It was the same in the women’s world.

From unmarried young ladies to married noblewomen, there were many women eager to exchange a few words with Erta.

“Duchess Ephelmar. It’s been a while.”

“Oh, Madame. I’m so glad you came all the way here.”

Erta had always been a prominent figure in society, even during her days as the Marquis’ daughter, but now that she had become the Duchess, she had become a presence beyond reach. 

Erta, as she always had, was well aware of her public image.

That was why she had maintained an elegant, flower-like demeanor up to now.

Because of this, there had been times when she felt lonely, with no one she could speak openly to, but now that was no longer the case. Now, she could share all her desires with her husband.

“Who is this? Risha! Come here.” 

In the midst of the conversation, Erta greeted someone with a bright smile.

Everyone around her turned their gaze in the same direction.

The person she greeted was none other than Lady Roelbe, the daughter of Viscount Roelbe.

“Duchess, it’s a pleasure to see you.”

Risha Roelbe, the daughter of Viscount Roelbe, had a shy smile, as if Erta’s warm welcome was too much for her.

‘Does Lady Roelbe have a connection with Duchess Ephelmar?’

‘If the Duchess greets her like that, they must be very close.’

‘Did you not know? Whenever Lady Roelbe is around, the Duchess always greets her first.’

Seeing how much attention Erta was giving to Lady Roelbe, whispers of envy spread among the crowd.

In fact, Risha Roelbe had been bewildered every time she encountered Duchess Ephelmar’s excessive warmth.

She couldn’t understand why Erta treated her so kindly.

‘Did I do something to earn her favor…?’

Moreover, she had recently received a dress from Erta, a famous dress, something she could never have obtained as a member of the Viscount’s family.

It was truly a wonderful and grateful gift, but for some reason, she always felt like she was receiving too much special treatment from Erta.

It would be nice if she could understand why.

However, Erta didn’t like Risha Roelbe for no reason at all.

Even though Risha herself didn’t know it, she was like a benefactor to Erta.

‘I’m always so grateful to Risha.’

Had Reitan and Erta not had that special connection, they would have married regardless.

Since their families had already been in contact, it was obvious that she would have become the Duchess of Ephelmar and ended up in this position, no matter how the process went.

‘But because Risha introduced me to Bondridge, I am able to be so happy now.’

But Reitan, unable to recognize his own hidden desires, and Erta, who would have had to continue pretending to be a virtuous woman in front of him, were both unaware of this fact.

When she thought of it, she felt deeply grateful.

For this reason, Erta greatly supported for Lady Roelbe.

‘I suppose I’m repaying my own form of gratitude.’

Because it was a secret preference that couldn’t be shared with others, Risha would likely never understand why Erta’s favor towards her was so overwhelming.

Even so, gaining the favor of a Duke’s family was a tremendous accomplishment in noble society.

It was a good thing, after all.