Chapter 15
The angle of her wrist and arm as she held the spoon was perfect. The way she scooped the soup was precise, and not a single sound was made while doing so.
The Grand Madam, who had assumed she would display uncultured behavior, could do nothing but blink repeatedly. That was all she could do.
“Wow…! This is so delicious.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I was thinking we’d have to go to the Lapis Pavilion if the chef at the Delphinium Pavilion wasn’t up to standard. But that doesn’t seem necessary.”
The moment the word “Lapis Pavilion” came out of his mouth, Elkius’s gaze flicked to the Grand Madam. It was a mocking glance.
“Duke, you should try it too. The soup is really amazing.”
With eyes full of pure sincerity and no hidden intentions, Airy smiled brightly at the Grand Madam.
“I’ve never had such delicious soup before. Thank you so much for inviting me!”
“…Yes, of course it’s your first time.”
“I’ve never even seen the ocean before. Have you, Grand Madam?”
Whether she didn’t catch the nuance in the word ‘first’, Airy replied brightly and innocently.
The Grand Madam, displeased by her cheerful demeanor, spoke in a chilly tone.
“Talking at the dining table is not proper behavior.”
“Airy. Mother prefers to focus on her food during meals. Let’s keep the conversation between ourselves so we don’t disturb her.”
“Ah, yes. I apologize.”
With just a few words, Elkius completely silenced the Grand Madam, then signaled the servant to bring out the next course.
“How dare this uninvited guest act like he owns the place…! I’m the mistress of this Delphinium Pavilion!”
Fuming, the Grand Madam stared at Airy, determined to find some fault no matter how small.
But all she could do was watch as the two of them elegantly finished their dessert.
Because unless she resorted to absurd accusations, there was simply nothing to criticize. Airy’s table manners were too impeccable.
Too impeccable to have been learned in just a few days.
* * *
“Good job, future Duchess! The Grand Madam’s face kept twisting more and more—I found it so satisfying!”
Alicia clapped her hands against mine, delighted at the fruits of the past few days of hard practice.
I clapped her hands in return, trying to ease my disappointment.
So in the end, she didn’t invite me to give me an envelope of money, huh?
Was it her intention all along to simply serve me a meal? Or did she refrain from giving me the envelope because the Duke was there?
Maybe it’s the latter?
Just as I was thinking I should tell the Duke that I’d go alone next time the Grand Madam calls—
“By the way, future Duchess, I’ve been meaning to ask—where did you learn your etiquette?”
“Pardon?”
“Honestly, you’re so good you don’t even need formal training. Even the Grand Madam, who was ready to tear you apart, couldn’t say a word!”
Alicia looked to the Duke for agreement, and he smiled knowingly.
“You learned from your grandmother, right?”
A little surprised, I nodded. How did he know that?
“Yes. My grandmother was very strict when it came to table manners.”
Even when I was too young to remember clearly, my grandmother had taught me how to use a fork and knife.
She said it was best to learn these things before bad habits could form, and thanks to her harsh training, I’d never once been criticized at the table.
I hadn’t realized my manners would even pass the Grand Madam’s scrutiny.
“You learned more than just table manners, didn’t you? Like posture—how to sit and walk.”
“Yes. Is it that obvious?”
“Of course. Your grandmother must’ve been a great teacher.”
Embarrassed by the Duke’s compliment, I could only smile. Then Alicia asked in surprise:
“So you didn’t get any formal training before coming here? You learned all that from your grandmother? What did she do?”
“I’m not exactly sure. I heard she worked at a boutique in the capital when she was younger… Apparently, she met a lot of nobles back then.”
“That alone wouldn’t explain her deep knowledge of noble etiquette…”
Alicia looked puzzled, and I found myself becoming curious too—about my grandmother’s past, which I’d never paid much attention to.
Come to think of it, didn’t she say she was from Pennington…?
But strangely, she didn’t seem to have many acquaintances there.
No, not just not many—there wasn’t a single person she introduced as someone she’d known since childhood.
Aside from Dr. O’Neil, who occasionally dropped by to help us—my grandmother rarely went out, and she had few visitors.
Other than that…
Now that I think about it… there really was no one.
I had always assumed my grandmother avoided going out because of the burn scars on her face.
But considering how she reacted when she met the Duke before, and now today’s events…
Could it be that my grandmother has some kind of secret she hasn’t told me?
Maybe that’s why the Duke knows I learned noble etiquette from her?
As I stared at him, wondering, the Duke simply returned a cryptic smile.
Not knowing how to respond to that, I just smiled back.
I’ll ask her directly when I get the chance.
Once she finishes treatment in the capital and gets better, I’ll have plenty of chances to talk to her.
* * *
“I should’ve known something was off the moment she came running the instant I called!”
So furious and resentful that her attempt to humiliate someone had backfired, the Grand Madam furiously pummeled an innocent cushion.
“There’s a limit to how much someone can be underestimated!”
Afraid of catching her wrath, the maids and servants pressed themselves against the wall and held their breath.
Already known for her temperamental nature, the Grand Madam had become even more difficult to serve after being stripped of the Lazuli key and forced to relocate to the Delphinium Pavilion.
As someone said, she could no longer contain the rage she carried in her chest.
Still, thank goodness she hasn’t started hitting anyone yet…
But at this rate, the cushion might be replaced by a person soon enough.
Just as the servants silently sighed, a knock sounded on the door.
“What now?!”
The Grand Madam’s sharp voice rang out before she could even compose herself.
The servants pitied the poor soul who was about to catch the fallout.
Fortunately, the person who walked in was someone who didn’t so much as blink in the face of the Grand Madam’s fury.
“Seeing you tear apart perfectly fine cushions makes me think your complaints about lacking funds to maintain your dignity were quite exaggerated.”
“You…! Who said you could enter?! How dare you set foot in here!”
“Where else would I go? This annex was given to you by me, remember?”
His emphasis on “me” made it clear he was the true owner of the estate. The Grand Madam shouted back, boiling with rage.
“Have you no better place to flaunt your power than in front of your own mother?! Why don’t you go ahead and threaten to kick me out while you’re at it?!”
“Shall I? Where would you like to go—Valles? Quintana? I can give you a villa, if it helps you save face.”
“You… You…! You damn wretch—may heaven punish you!”
The Grand Madam leapt from her seat and swung her hand toward Elkius’s cheek.
But he calmly stepped back, easily dodging her slap, and she stumbled from the force of her own momentum.
“Madam!”
Olvia rushed over to support her. The Grand Madam leaned on her, glaring daggers at Elkius.
If looks could kill, he would’ve been torn to pieces. But Elkius simply smiled in the face of her fury.
“What could’ve upset you this much…? Anyone would think you were the innocent victim here. When in reality, you schemed to humiliate a sweet and innocent young lady.”
“You were the ones being vile! Don’t think I don’t know you sat there just to mock me!”
“Oh, I certainly did. But you were the one who invited Airy. Isn’t that right, Grand Madam?”
