Chapter 14
“A breakfast invitation today? Not tomorrow or the day after, but today? Why is the madam sending out such last-minute invitations?”
“Please don’t misunderstand. Fresh seafood arrived at the Delphinium Residence’s kitchen early this morning. It was so fresh that Her Grace insisted on serving it to the person who will soon be part of our family.”
“In that case, couldn’t the seafood be sent separately to the Iris Residence…”
“I’m fine with it. I’ll gladly accept the invitation.”
“My Lady!”
Alicia looked at me, flustered.
She was trying to signal me not to accept, knowing this was not an invitation made with goodwill.
‘I know she’s just worried, but…’
There was something Alicia didn’t know.
The reason I was here wasn’t to become a duchess — it was to get that envelope of money.
‘Maybe I’ll get it today.’
With that hopeful thought, I told the servant:
“Please tell the madam I gratefully accept her invitation.”
An hour later.
When I arrived at the dining room of the Delphinium Residence with Alicia, the one to greet me was the madam herself, already seated at the head of the long dining table.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Madam. My name is Iriel.”
“…The food will get cold, let’s save introductions for later.”
With just a glance in my direction, she waved her hand lightly. Servants began entering with trolleys and started placing tableware in front of me.
The table was large, yet only two place settings were being prepared — for me and the madam.
Feeling uneasy about Alicia still standing behind, I asked,
“Will it just be the two of us dining?”
“Then who else should be here?”
The madam’s sharp tone made it sound as though I had asked something deeply inappropriate.
Just as I was about to respond—
“I should be here too.”
Scrape. The chair next to me slid back.
The Duke sat beside me, glancing over with a gentle smile, as if asking, Right?
“You—why are you here?!”
“That reaction stings a little, Mother. Am I somewhere I’m not allowed to be?”
Though the Duke’s tone was calm, his words caused the madam to look at him as if she’d been struck in the back of the head.
‘She’s not going to faint again, is she…?’
They said she had pent-up anger inside. Seems like she was easily startled by even small things.
While I nervously watched her, the Duke waved at the servants as if this were nothing unusual.
“What are you all standing around for? I’m hungry. Move quickly.”
“Ah, yes!”
The servants scrambled like their feet were on fire, and soon a full table setting was laid out in front of the Duke.
“I heard you always eat breakfast with Veronica. She’s not here today? Sleeping in?”
“Veronica?”
“My younger sister. She turned five this year. I’ll introduce you later if there’s a chance.”
After dismissing the servants, the Duke poured water into my glass himself.
The madam glared at him as if he’d done something unthinkable and muttered coldly,
“Hah! Speaking as if you’re so close to her. You’ve never even visited her once.”
“It couldn’t be helped. You know how busy a duke without divine protection can be.”
Though the Duke’s tone was gentle, even I could sense the sting in his words.
From the way the madam narrowed her eyes at him, I could tell—
‘These two… don’t get along at all.’
Well, considering what I knew of the Duke’s past, it wasn’t too surprising.
‘From now on, I’d better keep my guard up around the madam.’
Just as I made that mental note, the madam drank cold water and raised her voice at the servants:
“Bring out the food!”
The servants first placed appetizers — bread and soup — on the table.
Though there was one plate of sliced bread and one soup bowl each, the number of butters, jams, oils, and sauces, not to mention the variety of cutlery, exceeded ten items.
Of course, this was all at the madam’s instruction.
A commoner orphan like her must have never learned proper table manners.
The servant, having placed the bread, stepped back — technically, he should have also applied the spreads. But that was part of the trap.
The madam silently sipped her water while glaring sharply at Iriel.
‘Just let her slip up once…’
A commoner could be excused for lacking education. But Iriel was now residing in the Iris Residence as the future duchess.
If anything about her displeased the madam, she was prepared to scold her so harshly she’d cry.
Duchess or not, she would be driven to leave of her own accord!
“Iriel, which do you prefer — jam, butter, or oil?”
“I like butter.”
“Then try this one. It’s from an eastern ranch — richer than your average butter.”
“Elkias! What do you think you’re doing?!”
“Just eating. Though we’re a bit apart, I can still see you. Need me to get you some glasses?”
Holding the bread and butter knife, the Duke grinned at her so brightly it felt like mockery.
The madam felt a sharp tension in her neck.
“Are you a servant? What duke picks up a butter knife himself?!”
“Is that really so shocking? Ah… I suppose Father never once buttered bread for you, did he?”
“Elkias Ludian!”
Forgetting anyone else was watching, the madam screamed.
She realized her mistake too late, while the Duke gave her a look of pity — a completely false one, of course.
“I didn’t know Father was such an unloving man. But don’t be too sad. Bottling up those feelings could make you faint again.”
The Duke placed the buttered bread on Iriel’s plate, then spread butter on another piece and had a servant place it on the madam’s plate.
“In Father’s place. Enjoy, Mother.”
Whether the madam was fuming or not, the Duke turned back to Iriel and chattered away — which jam went with which bread, which ones suited cream…
“They mentioned fresh seafood, and now I see crab soup. Do you like crab, Iriel?”
“I’m not sure. I’ve never had it before.”
“Try it and let me know if you don’t like it. I’ll have them bring something else.”
He picked out the correct soup spoon from the multitude of cutlery and handed it to her.
He was so natural, so casual.
The madam, who had been planning to pick apart Iriel’s every mistake, finally realized — Elkias knew what she was up to.
‘So he’s saying he won’t let me humiliate his woman?’
There were 17 types of cutlery laid out, five of them spoons.
If Iriel failed to pick the right spoon for the soup, the madam was ready to lash out — How do you plan to manage the duchy if you can’t even handle a spoon?
But the Duke kept interfering. And now she was boiling inside.
‘Hmph. But that’s as far as he can help her.’
He could hand her the right spoon — but he couldn’t guide her movements.
‘Arrogant fools. I’ll make them regret their insolence.’
The angle of the arm holding the spoon. The direction it scooped. The clink of metal. Her posture while raising it to her lips…
If anything was off, even slightly — she’d pounce.
Eyes gleaming with anticipation, the madam watched Iriel closely.
But then—
‘…What is this?’
The madam couldn’t believe her eyes.
