Chapter 3
“I have married the Grand Duke, so I will live in this castle for the rest of my life. Before I start my life here, there is something I want to say clearly.”
“Do you want something?”
Fioni Arbore shook her head.
“I think it’s more about what you want than what I want. You didn’t marry willingly, so I’m sure you have a lot on your mind. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. I won’t interfere with the Grand Duke’s household. If you want, you can give me a separate room. I won’t complain even if you assign someone to stay with me.”
Leonard’s brow twitched slightly as he listened quietly to Fioni.
If she wouldn’t interfere with the household, that was good for him.
But asking for a separate room and people to serve her… that was strange.
In the Empire, it was serious if noble couples slept in separate rooms.
If a wife slept separately, it usually meant she had been rejected or ignored by her husband.
And yet she was saying it was okay to give her a personal room, not just for a night, but indefinitely?
Sending a wife to a separate room right after marriage was something only a cruel man would do.
If Leonard treated Fioni that way in a household where she had no support, she would have a hard time gaining respect from the staff.
Leonard remained silent, unsure of Fioni’s true intention.
Fioni quietly waited for his answer.
Leonard looked down at her and noticed her hands.
She stood straight with a calm expression, waiting for his answer.
She looked like a true noblewoman, proud and composed, unshaken by anything.
But her hands were fidgeting nervously, playing with her nails.
“I don’t know why you said that, but I won’t do it. Stay in this room. It is now your room too. I’ll slowly hand over the household matters. Albert, the butler, and Laura, the head maid, will help with the castle. For the budget, you can ask Count Patrick Brown.”
Fioni’s eyes widened in surprise at Leonard’s unexpected answer.
He refused so quickly.
Her proposal was all favorable to him. She thought he might hesitate or be suspicious, but she never expected him to refuse outright.
Fioni couldn’t hide her embarrassment and stammered.
“But… but Grand Duke, will it be okay if we share the room? It might be uncomfortable for you… please, just give me a separate room. I don’t want to be a burden.”
“I am not uncomfortable. Wouldn’t it be more uncomfortable for you? I know you are worried I am a devil, so there is no need to hide it.”
Hearing Leonard say this coldly and casually, Fioni’s face stiffened.
Seeing her expression, Leonard thought to himself, So that’s it. She was trying to redirect her own discomfort.
Leonard observed Fioni carefully.
She had been raised in the capital by a loving marquis family, living a protected life.
He knew better than anyone how a young woman like her would think of him.
The Noir family was cursed, with black blood and magical powers. Nobles feared them even while gossiping.
Her father married her off to the rumored “devil Grand Duke.” A girl with no life experience must have been terrified.
Leonard thought for a moment that maybe he should let her have her way. But he quickly dismissed the thought.
Allowing people to serve her would make it harder to control her. It was better to have her in his room.
Then, Fioni said something he did not expect.
“I don’t think that way. The Noir Grand Duke family has protected the eastern borders since the Empire’s founding. How can anyone who is so diligent and kind be a devil? It’s a really silly thought.”
Leonard blinked.
Had he misheard?
He had never heard such words from a stranger before.
He didn’t know how to react and froze.
Even Leonard’s own men had been hesitant when they first met him. But he was used to their cold, cautious eyes.
Was the Marquis teaching his daughter to act like this? To lower his guard with sweet words?
Or was this really her sincere thought?
The Arbore family had been loyal to the Emperor for generations. If it wasn’t acting, there was no way a woman from that family would say something like this.
Leonard’s mind was complicated. He had dealt with many people who wore masks, claiming to be sincere.
Yet Fioni didn’t look like she was acting.
“Grand Duke?”
Fioni called him, and Leonard snapped back to reality.
He had been distracted and didn’t catch what she said.
“Ah, sorry. What did you say?”
“I asked about the room… but you look tired. We can discuss it tomorrow. I’m sorry for taking your time.”
Fioni bowed politely, keeping her calm expression.
But her hands were still fidgeting nervously, glancing at him with concern.
If this was acting, she would be an incredible actress.
“Now that we are a family, it’s natural to adjust. It’s late, so we’ll talk tomorrow. I have reports to check, so I’ll be late. Don’t worry, you are not avoiding me. Go rest first.”
“I see. Please take care of yourself too.”
Hearing Fioni worry about his health, Leonard had a faint, strange expression and quickly left.
“Alright.”
He left quickly, almost like running. Fioni watched him, then slowly got up and went to bed.
Even at the wedding, she had felt that Leonard’s cold face did not mean a cold personality.
His words and actions carried consideration. He treated even someone without affection with respect.
Having gone through many hardships, it was remarkable that his personality was not harsh.
Fioni yawned as she lay down, covering her mouth.
She was more tired than she realized. Her eyes were already heavy.
Tomorrow would be the real start. She had many challenges ahead to be accepted in the Grand Duke’s household.
She looked around the unfamiliar room, which would soon become familiar.
It was now her home. Her breathing slowed.
Moonlight gently lit her sleeping face, peaceful, unaware of what was to come.
Leonard returned to his office. Patrick and Caden, who were waiting, jumped up.
“You were longer than expected. What happened?”
Patrick asked sharply, suspicious. Caden peeked nervously from behind.
Patrick was one of the few nobles trusted by Leonard, and Caden had been the head of the knights for a long time. Both were Leonard’s right hands.
Leonard waved his hand and sat at his desk.
Though he acted as if nothing happened, he felt uneasy.
“Nothing serious. Just discussing how to arrange the rooms…”
“You didn’t bring it up first, did you? Did she say something ridiculous like that woman before?”
Leonard frowned bitterly, remembering his late ex-wife. She had been a nightmare.
“She said if I am uncomfortable, she can take a separate room.”
Patrick frowned.
“That’s suspicious. Either she is plotting something or completely foolish.”
“Patrick,” Leonard scolded, but Patrick didn’t hide his doubt.
“Isn’t it strange for someone to isolate themselves here? The Grand Duke could stay away for a month if he wanted.”
Canus Castle was built as a fortress as well as a residence, so it was huge enough to host people in emergencies.
Patrick was right—using the fortress, one person could be kept away easily.
“I don’t think she is plotting or foolish… rather…” Leonard thought of Fioni in the room.
She was calm and confident even with difficult people.
But at the same time, she could not hide her nervousness completely.
Knowing her background and his own situation, he did not feel ill will toward her.
It was because her actions and words were sincere.
It was rare for nobles to be honest.
In the capital, even children of high nobles acted with caution.
And yet, the marquis’s daughter was genuinely innocent.
Leonard wondered why the marquis had sent her.
His heart felt heavy. He could not treat Fioni badly, no matter what kind of person she was.
“…It’s better to see her in person than just hear about her.”
