Chapter 9
2.
Kristina Rudian.
Though that was her original name, now she was known simply as the Grand Madam, a title that had replaced her given name. She pressed her throbbing temple with her index finger.
“Hey, come give me a massage.”
The Grand Madam seemed especially low in spirits today. One of the maids, who had been standing like a mouse in the shadows, cautiously approached her.
Even as she gently pressed the back of the Grand Madam’s neck, the maid didn’t make a sound—not even a breath.
In this bedroom, the only person allowed to speak before the Grand Madam did was Olvia, the sole maid she had brought with her from her family home when she got married.
“You seem to have had a headache for quite a while today. Shall I call Dr. Graham to prescribe some medicine?”
“No need. If medicine could fix it, it would’ve by now.”
The Grand Madam waved her hand lightly, dismissing the maid with a short sigh.
“You know very well what the root of my headache is, don’t you?”
Rather than agreeing outright, Olvia simply brewed a fresh cup of the mint tea the Grand Madam liked.
The Grand Madam didn’t drink it but instead took in the refreshing aroma through her nose. But her expression didn’t stay content for even ten seconds.
“When will that boy finally grow up…?”
Though it sounded like she was talking to herself, it clearly wasn’t meant to be kept inside.
Whenever her chronic headaches—immune to any medication—flared up, the Grand Madam would ease her frustration by complaining about her son.
And Olvia was the only one allowed to be present for such rants.
“It’s only been two years since His Grace inherited the title. The sudden burden must still be overwhelming.”
“Overwhelming? Do you really think Elkius is that incompetent or weak?”
Of course not—not at all.
Who was Elkius?
At just nine years old, he had left home alone for the capital, hidden his identity, and passed the entrance exam to the Imperial Academy at the top of his class.
Even after graduating, he concealed his noble birth and lived as a commoner. He was chosen as the crown prince’s escort knight during the academy’s fencing exam.
From the academy to the imperial palace—
Anyone lacking skill or backbone would never have survived the snobbery and scorn of the nobility.
But what good was all that excellence?
Since the day he returned to Pennington, Elkius had been doing his utmost to drive his mother up the wall.
“That brat. Did I ask for something ridiculous? His father already had two kids at his age!”
“……”
“He went to the capital and just filled his head with nonsense. How long does he plan to keep living so irresponsibly?”
Letting out a deep sigh, the Grand Madam put down her teacup and pressed her forehead with her hand.
As the silence stretched, everyone in the room watched the Grand Madam nervously.
Knock knock.
“Grand Madam, pardon the interruption.”
“What is it?”
Her voice was sharp, clearly irritated.
Sensing poor timing, the servant hesitated, hoping to avoid any blowback.
“Well, His Grace has brought a guest with him…”
“A guest?”
If someone visited the Rudian Duchy officially, the Grand Madam would have been informed in advance.
Since she hadn’t, it must be a personal guest of Elkius.
“Let me guess. Someone he was close with during the Academy days—”
“A lady he says he’s promised his future to.”
“……What?”
The Grand Madam wasn’t the only one shocked by the servant’s statement.
No one said a word, but the atmosphere shifted. A few couldn’t even hide their widened eyes.
“Say that again. The Duke, Elkius—he brought what kind of guest?”
“A woman he intends to marry…”
“You’re not joking? You’re not deliberately trying to rile me up?”
“I don’t think so, ma’am. However…”
“However what? Spit it out already!”
Elkius getting married—
That had been the Grand Madam’s fervent wish ever since he inherited the title.
But Elkius always wriggled out with excuses like I’m not ready yet or I’ll choose my partner myself.
Every time, her patience wore thinner, to the point it was in tatters now. No wonder she was more suspicious than joyful upon hearing such news.
No, wait. The point is, he brought a woman, right?
Even if it was just some act to avoid nagging, she didn’t care.
In fact, that was even better.
She’d use the opportunity to settle that woman as the duchess and secure the family’s future…
“She’s not a noblewoman, apparently.”
“…What?”
“One of the servants recognized her. They say she’s diligent, polite, and has a flawless personality, but…”
“But she’s a commoner, right?!”
The servant gave a reluctant nod, and the Grand Madam’s vision went white.
“That wretched brat…”
So he’d gone and done it—finally caused a real mess.
Gritting her teeth, the Grand Madam shot to her feet, eyes blazing as she barked at the servant.
“Take me to them. Right. Now!”
The shock at His Grace’s words—“a woman I’ve promised my future to”—was brief.
The servants quickly collected themselves and bowed deeply to me, who stood at the Duke’s side.
“We greet the future Duchess.”
“F-Future Duchess?!”
My jaw dropped at the unexpected title, and the Duke chuckled softly at my reaction.
He gently lifted my chin and gave the servants permission to rise.
“My fiancée will be staying at the Iris Pavilion from now on. You all know what that means.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Already sharp and formal, the servants now bowed even deeper.
The Duke extended his hand to me, who was still frozen in place.
“Well then, shall we go?”
“Go where?”
“As I said earlier, to the Iris Pavilion.”
Though a crowd of servants followed, the Duke personally guided me through the estate.
“Let me explain. That building you see ahead is the Lapis Pavilion. It’s the main house where the Rudian Dukes and their children have lived for generations. And…”
We circled a massive five-story mansion.
About ten minutes later—
“There, that’s the Iris Pavilion I mentioned.”
The Duke pointed to a four-story white mansion surrounded by a vibrant field of blue irises.
“Wow… It’s so pretty. Like something out of a fairytale!”
“I’m glad you like it. The Iris Pavilion is a separate residence reserved for the future Duchess.”
“A separate residence? Specifically for the future Duchess?”
“Yes. See over there?”
He gestured again, pointing back to the Lapis Pavilion.
“See that balcony jutting out from the center of the fourth floor? That’s my bedroom.”
“Ah…”
“And that balcony over there in the Iris Pavilion—that’ll be your bedroom.”
Following his finger, I quickly realized something.
“The two rooms face each other.”
Too far for one to cross balconies, but close enough for nighttime conversations.
“They were designed this way intentionally. Since it’s not proper for an unmarried couple to live in the same building, but some ancestor of mine couldn’t give up midnight trysts. A brilliant foresight, really.”
“Foresight?”
The Duke smiled slyly and leaned in to whisper near my ear.
“Thanks to that, I can openly provoke my mother.”
He explained why my entering the Iris Pavilion would provoke the Grand Madam.
“Not all dukes brought their fiancées to the Iris Pavilion. But every woman who set foot in it became the Duchess. Including my mother.”
“Am I even allowed to stay in such a place?”
It wasn’t common for noble engagements to be broken off—but it wasn’t unheard of either.
And if every woman who’d entered had become the Duchess, that meant…
“The fact that it’s that kind of place is exactly why you should go in.”
Suddenly, there was a commotion behind us.
Just as I turned to look, the Duke bent down and plucked a single iris from the garden, gently tucking it behind my ear.
“Don’t turn around. Just stay still.”
He cupped my cheek and looked down at me.
I nervously met his gaze.
At such close range, the honeyed warmth in his eyes was almost overwhelming.
“Irie, my love.”
Even though I knew it was all an act, my heart still thumped at the tenderness in his voice.
While I was too flustered to respond, the Duke smiled and slid a ring onto my left ring finger.
“All I can give you now is the Iris Pavilion. But one day, I’ll hang the key to Lapis around your neck.”
He lifted my hand and kissed the ring.
His lips had touched the gem—but somehow, I could feel the warmth through my skin.
As my face flushed uncontrollably, there was a loud thud behind us.
“Kyahhh! G-Grand Madam!”
“Get Dr. Graham immediately! The Grand Madam has collapsed!”
End of Chapter 9
