Chapter 6 (Part 1)

The affection Kayev Ruden held for Celestia Danverton deepened with each passing day. The pink aura between the two had grown to the point where their sweetness rivaled that of any newlywed couple. Kayev acted as if he no longer intended to hide their relationship, and Celestia, for her part, neither stopped him nor particularly objected. Half resigned and half amused, she accepted his affection while adapting to her new environment.

About a month into this lifestyle, the entire household staff finally became aware of the relationship between Duke Ruden and the new maid. It was impossible not to notice when the Duke openly assigned Celestia as his personal maid and even prevented her from doing any actual work, treating her like a cherished treasure.

For a time, the staff couldn’t stop whispering among themselves. ‘The young master, who never cared for women, seems to have finally taken a lover.’ ‘I had a bad feeling about that Celestia from the moment she arrived.’ ‘I knew something big would happen sooner or later.’ Their gossiping tongues showed no sign of stopping.

However, the commotion among the staff did not escalate beyond that. While they didn’t view the Duke’s decision to take a lover or his favoritism toward the new maid positively, there was little they could do but accept it. After all, criticizing the Duke’s lover could lead to unpredictable consequences, given his infamous temper. Even after becoming Duke, Kayev Ruden’s reputation for his fiery temperament remained intact, and no one dared to risk incurring his wrath.

Amid the household returning to its routine, only Butler Bowen Dyke continued to watch the honey-dripping interactions between Duke Ruden and Celestia with a venomous glare.

***

Of course, Kayev and Celestia paid no attention to the commotion outside. At first, Celestia found the absurdity of the situation somewhat uncomfortable, but she eventually adopted a “let it be” attitude. She reasoned that if things continued as they were, a resolution would come one way or another.

From a purely situational perspective, Celestia’s position should have been highly uncomfortable. Yet, Kayev’s kindness and consideration eased her anxieties. She occasionally worried that he might grow tired of her quickly, but she decided to cross that bridge when she got there.

Celestia’s daily routine, confined to Kayev’s bedroom and office, wasn’t much different from her days at the Danverton Estate. While it wasn’t as carefree as her life there, staying in the spaces allotted to her and waiting for him felt like heaven compared to her days as a maid.

On the other hand, Kayev was restless, feeling he couldn’t do enough for Celestia, who seemed to enjoy her peaceful days. He constantly worried—were the staff being disrespectful? Was she lacking anything compared to her previous life? Was she bored or lonely? His endless concerns and meddling reflected his care.

One day, Kayev decided to take Celestia on an outing, just as he had when he served her at the Danverton Estate. Unlike his usual casual shirt attire, Kayev dressed in formal outdoor clothing, and Celestia’s heart fluttered at how dashing he looked. She, too, wore something other than her maid uniform—a light yellow dress, one of several he had ordered for her recently.

Kayev personally packed their belongings via Butler Bowen and drove a two-seater carriage himself. It was a private outing with no attendants.

Their destination was a picturesque riverside meadow not far from the estate. The wide expanse of grass was stunningly beautiful, the cloudless blue sky was radiant, and the gentle breeze was refreshing. On this perfect sunny afternoon, Kayev and Celestia exchanged smiles as they gazed at each other.

For Celestia, seeing his smiling face at last brought her happiness. She was happy when he spoke kindly to her, and she was happy when he listened attentively to her stories. Thinking back to the old Kayev, this transformation seemed unimaginable.

She once thought about sharing happiness with the ever-gloomy man of the past. Now, it felt as though that wish had come true in a twisted way. Their roles were completely reversed.

Yet, Celestia didn’t resent him. Despite her current circumstances, she was glad that things had worked out for Kayev. For her, being able to share a moment of laughter with him like this was enough.

“Kayev, this place is truly wonderful. I can’t believe there’s such a beautiful spot where flowers bloom so brightly.” 

Celestia said with a bright smile, expressing her innocent admiration.

While Celestia marveled at the scenery, Kayev was moved by something entirely different. He was overjoyed that he no longer had to stand a step behind her, merely admiring her lovely figure from afar. He was happy to sit by her side and share tea, and he was happy to hold her hand whenever he wanted, without any restrictions.

Though the journey to reclaim his position had been tumultuous, it was worth it. However, he still had unresolved matters to address.

“The new dress suits you well.” 

Kayev said, his eyes fixed solely on her, ignoring the scenery. Celestia let out a soft laugh, her clear, bell-like laughter bringing a smile to his lips. At that moment, she looked exactly as she had in his dreams.

“You probably don’t know this, but I once prayed desperately. I told myself I’d do anything to spend time with you like this. It’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but honestly, I feel like my lifelong wish has come true.” 

Celestia said with a radiant smile.

At that moment, Kayev finally understood why nobles were so obsessed with commissioning portraits. Celestia, brushing her golden hair back, tousled by the spring breeze, was so beautiful that he wanted to immortalize her in a painting.

Unfortunately, there was no artist present, so Kayev simply etched her image into his memory. Then, he began to share the words he had long kept to himself.

“I wanted to spend time with you too, Tia.”

Celestia’s eyes widened in surprise at his honest confession. Kayev continued.

“Every time I followed you to guard you, I wanted to walk by your side, not behind you. Whenever I saw those fools kissing the back of your hand, I wanted to kick them. Maybe that’s why I was always so grumpy. Back then, I could only ever be your knight.”

His words were unexpected. She had always thought his dark expressions were due to his reluctance to answer her summons.

“You didn’t hate following me? I always thought you did… Even so, I kept calling for you because I wanted to see you.” 

Celestia admitted.

Kayev gave a bitter smile. Back then, he had been in a deeply unstable state for various reasons. While his memories of Celestia were now tinged with nostalgia, not everything from that time was pleasant.

However, he had healed enough to recall those dark days without anguish. Losing his father, the late Duke Ruden, still pained him, but knowing that his father, who had been suffering from an illness, could now rest peacefully beside his mother brought Kayev some solace.

In the past, his heart had been consumed by anger over the disgrace brought to his family’s honor and despair from the collapse of his pride as a knight. However, now he had finally freed himself from that anger and wanted to move forward. And in that path ahead, he sought a companion. Naturally, that companion was Celestia Danverton.

Yet, there were many obstacles to overcome before he could ask her to share the rest of their lives together. The most pressing issue was Celestia’s feelings. The second issue was her lost status.

Kayev Ruden couldn’t be certain of Celestia’s emotions. While it was clear she didn’t dislike him, he couldn’t help but wonder if her reliance on him stemmed from having no other place to turn. Unlike before, when she would constantly confess her love, now she only occasionally revealed glimpses of her heart.

Of course, he had no intention of forcing her feelings. Though he couldn’t fully understand her inner turmoil, he knew she must be in deep pain. Even if she appeared calm outwardly, there was no telling the state of her heart. The aftermath of suddenly losing her parents and siblings wouldn’t disappear in a day or two.

Thus, Kayev resolved to wait until she regained some semblance of emotional stability. During that time, he also wanted to restore her status, no matter what it took.

‘Why isn’t he saying anything…?’

Celestia shifted her eyes nervously as she watched Kayev, who was holding her hand in silence. In truth, she had a plan for today: she wanted to give him a gift she had prepared. No matter how carefree she seemed, even Celestia was aware that Kayev’s recent kindness toward her had been extraordinary.

Since coming to the House of Duke Ruden, Kayev had provided her with every convenience she could imagine. She wanted to express her gratitude, even in a small way. In the past, she could have acquired anything with her father’s vast wealth, but now such things were impossible. As a result, she could only prepare something modest. Still, she wanted to show her appreciation in some form.