Chapter 62
“…They’re gone.”
Somehow, I felt a little down.
I shook my head vigorously to shake off the thoughts.
“No, it’s fine. They weren’t supposed to stay here for long anyway, so it’s right that they left.”
Now that I thought about it, I was worried about the upcoming side effects of the spell. Even more so because I couldn’t be there to stay by their side.
“Quiel.”
When I called softly, Quiel popped out immediately.
I patted Quiel, who rubbed its cheek against my finger, and said,
“Will you stay by Akes’ side instead of me?”
Quiel nodded vigorously!
With a firm nod, Quiel bounced out of sight again.
Staring blankly at the spot where Quiel disappeared, I pressed my cheeks with my palms.
“It’s okay. I’ll finish my business quickly and go see Akes.”
Just as I clenched my fists with determination, shouting “Alright!”
I heard the voice calling me again, “Miss.”
Startled, I quickly responded.
“Yeah, since you’re awake, you can come in.”
No sooner had I finished speaking than half a dozen servants rushed inside.
“Hello, Miss. We are your personal attendants from today onwards.”
“Oh… nice to meet you…”
But I couldn’t finish my greeting.
The reason was the enormous collection of grooming tools(?) the servants had brought in.
Before I could even react with a pale face, Livia, who introduced herself as my head attendant, began speaking.
“We will begin your morning grooming. First, you will bathe in lukewarm water mixed with pomegranate, yuzu, and rose oil, and wash your hair with a shampoo mixed with eggs and cognac…”
She continued explaining in a professional tone, but I barely understood half of it.
After being washed frantically, I was immediately handed over to the others for styling.
Unknown creams, powders, even lipstick… so many things were slathered on my face that it was hard to keep count. Some were even applied to my neck.
With every touch from the attendants, the reflection in the mirror became more and more unfamiliar.
I hesitantly asked Livia while looking at the mirror,
“Um… do you do this every day?”
Livia looked at me as if I had asked something strange.
“That is an obvious question.”
“…Ah.”
“Miss, you are about to become the Duchess of the Baharman household, so you must get used to this quickly.”
“….”
So, this is the life of the nobility?
‘Really, I need to get out of this place as soon as possible.’
As I silently repeated this vow once again, Livia added,
“Also, from now on, you will always wake up at 4:50 a.m. Starting tomorrow, we will follow this schedule, so please keep it in mind.”
“….”
I stayed silent.
If this is what being a noble is like, I really don’t want it.
‘Whenever I slept with As, no matter how early I woke up, his side was always empty…’
The idea that I could wake up before As and cook for him was truly ridiculous.
…Which is why it never worked even once.
By the time I was lost in these nostalgic thoughts, the dreaded morning grooming finally ended.
It took about an hour and a half, but it felt like ten hours had passed.
Breakfast was a light salad and soup.
‘They say physical strength is national strength.’
I was eating with grim determination while thinking about how to explore the mansion when Livia’s voice reached me.
“After breakfast, you will meet the head of the household.”
“The… Baharman Duke…?”
I almost choked.
Wiping my mouth with a napkin, I asked, and Livia nodded.
“Since you will soon become the lady of this house, it is only natural to meet and greet the head of the household.”
“Ah… uh….”
Suddenly, my appetite vanished.
After all this, I had to go see that tiny villain?
And this villain had tried to kill As multiple times before.
‘…No, Einra. Control your anger.’
Suppressing my emotions, I forced a polite smile and finished my meal with a sense of battle-readiness.
Livia led me to the reception room on the mansion’s top floor.
“Master, we have brought the young lady.”
“Oh, come in quickly!”
A warm, welcoming voice echoed from inside.
Swallowing a sigh, I entered and saw the Baharman Duke with blue hair and pale pink eyes sitting at the table, smiling brightly at me.
“Welcome to our family. Come, sit here.”
“Y-Yes…”
I awkwardly smiled and took my seat.
“Ahem, as you probably know, our Baharman family…”
The Duke went on endlessly about the long history, culture, and pride of the Baharman family.
I smiled blankly, listening halfheartedly while planning to quickly gather information and return to Akes.
‘I just wanted to scout things quickly and get back to Akes…’
The speech was like a school principal’s lecture. Just when I thought it was over, a second round began.
Anyway, one thing was clear.
Judging by the fact that they were trying to take me as their daughter-in-law, they had no idea about my relationship with Akes.
‘Even though they know As’ identity and that I’m close to him, I don’t know what victory of the mind they’re thinking…’
Well, if their misunderstanding works in my favor, that’s fine.
No matter how many thoughts I had, the Duke’s long speech continued.
By the time my patience was reaching its limit,
The tedious speech finally came to an end.
“…Even if you are blessed by the King of Waters, you are still a commoner. If you wish to become a member of our family, you will need to make an appropriate effort.”
“….”
If I’m a commoner and don’t fit the family’s standards, why are they trying so hard to accept me?
I muttered internally but nodded obediently, and the Baharman Duke smiled with satisfaction.
“I am very pleased that you are to be my daughter-in-law.”
“Ha-ha… yes…”
Still, I didn’t understand why people who essentially kidnapped me assumed I would naturally marry the Duke, a man from a family full of restrictive rules.
‘Maybe they think I can’t escape because I blocked the elemental magic?’
But it seemed they didn’t even consider that I might resist.
As I pondered this, Lloyd’s words from the previous banquet suddenly came to mind.
‘I’m naturally a very popular guy.’
‘I’m not usually the type to cling to anyone.’
And considering the part about him having casually met countless women…
‘Sounds like a Casanova or homme fatale.’
A man famous for charming women.
‘…Surely they don’t assume I’d automatically like Lloyd?’
I chuckled to myself and shook my head.
No way. People have some sense, they’re not that self-absorbed.
‘If I were the type to be charmed by Lloyd, I’d have already been completely won over by the Emperor.’
Honestly, the Emperor is way more attractive than Lloyd.
So the idea that I would fall for Lloyd when I didn’t even fall for the Emperor was absurd.
Shaking off these thoughts, I quickly spoke up while the Duke paused.
“Um, Your Grace.”
“Yes?”
The Duke’s pale pink eyes looked at me as if they were dripping honey.
‘Ah… this is torturous…!’
My stomach churned as if I might vomit, but I forced a smile and continued.
“I was wondering… could I take a look around the place where I’ll be living?”
The Duke’s lips curved into a smile at the words “where you’ll be living.”
He cleared his throat and nodded.
“Of course. This is where you, I mean, our daughter-in-law, will be living. Livia.”
“Yes, Master.”
“You will serve our esteemed daughter-in-law and show her around.”
“Yes, understood.”
Livia bowed politely.
The Duke turned back to me with a satisfied smile.
“Then our daughter-in-law may go ahead and take a look.”
“…Yes, sir.”
I didn’t know how many times I had heard the word “daughter-in-law” from this tiny villain, even more than from the former Duke of Serenia.
Smiling brightly, I left the reception room and only stopped smiling when the door closed behind me.
“Haah…”
I sighed without realizing it, and Livia approached me.
“I understand you may feel nervous meeting such a distinguished person, but he will soon be like a father to you. It’s best to get used to him.”
“….”
If I get nervous seeing the Baharman Duke, what will happen when I see the Emperor?
That would be amusing…
“Livia, could you show me around the mansion?”
I asked, trying to change the subject, and she nodded.
“Yes, I will guide you.”
Three hours had passed exploring the mansion under the pretense of “checking out the place where I’ll live.”
“Here it is.”
Finally, I had found it.
