Chapter 42
“I could do it myself, you know.”
Sitting before the vanity after her bath, Rubiana looked apologetically at Jocelyn, the head maid of the Grand Duke’s residence.
“Leave things like this to a professional, my lady.”
Jocelyn smiled pleasantly as she dabbed Rubiana’s damp silver hair with a dry towel.
Two young maids behind her were fanning enthusiastically.
In high spirits, Jocelyn spoke in a sing-song voice:
“I knew it the moment you first arrived at the Grand Duke’s estate, my lady.”
“W-what… what did you know?”
“I had a feeling I’d be seeing you very often.”
“……”
Hohoho. A stream of cheerful laughter kept escaping from Jocelyn’s lips.
“I knew a young lady like you would recognize our Grand Duke’s true nature. The world may praise him as a war hero to his face, but behind his back they call him a war maniac and a killer.”
“……”
“All while they sleep comfortably in the capital, stretching their legs without a care, thanks to His Grace rolling around the battlefield and protecting the Empire with his exceptional skill.”
Rubiana, quietly listening, could clearly understand—
—just how dearly Jocelyn cherished Elion.
“I always hoped that someday a kindhearted, bright young lady would appear and soothe the lonely wounds of His Grace. And the moment I saw you that rainy day, I just knew.”
“……”
“That perhaps you would become the Grand Duke’s match.”
Rubiana desperately wanted to evaporate on the spot.
It seemed Jocelyn saw her as Elion’s destined partner.
Of course she would.
There had been an article about the two of them entering a hotel together.
They had attended a party together.
She had visited him after hearing he was injured, and they had spent the night under the same roof.
“It’s all technically true… but I’m not Elion’s partner. I’m sorry.”
She felt a sharp ache in her chest when she imagined Jocelyn’s disappointment once everything returned to normal.
And it wasn’t just Jocelyn who had fallen into sweet fantasies because Rubiana spent a single night at the Grand Duke’s residence.
The butler, Scott, showed similar symptoms.
Scott, who always wore a strictly formal, minimally polite smile, was different today.
His entire face was beaming.
“Breakfast is ready, my lady. His Grace is already waiting in the dining room.”
“Yes. I’ll be down soon.”
“There is no need to hurry.”
Beaming.
Grinning.
Seeing that blatant smile—one whose meaning she understood perfectly—Rubiana wanted nothing more than to run away.
‘Ahh… please don’t get your hopes up. It’s all a misunderstanding. I am absolutely not going to become Elion’s partner. So please, please stop expecting that.’
Rubiana swallowed a sigh and lowered her head.
Just as Scott said, Elion sat at the table reading a newspaper.
“Welcome, my lady.”
“Yes.”
Elion folded the paper when she arrived.
A brief glance—his face was far too clean, composed.
She was embarrassed, flustered by last night’s memories and humiliated by the staff’s mistaken expectations, yet he alone looked utterly calm, which somehow irritated her.
Soon, dishes began arriving one by one.
First came the salads:
Green salad, caprese salad, Caesar salad, quinoa salad, and coleslaw filled the table.
Then came the bread:
Croissants, brioche, muffins, and cinnamon rolls.
Then the soups:
Steaming mushroom soup, chicken noodle soup, tomato soup, and clam chowder appeared in succession.
Rubiana’s mouth slowly fell open at the sight.
Even among nobles, breakfast was normally simple.
‘Why did they prepare every type of food imaginable? Do I look like I eat this much? Or does Elion normally enjoy this kind of feast for breakfast?’
She knew well that each household had its own customs.
Not wanting to seem rude by asking, she struggled to maintain her expression while only her eyes darted around.
Then came the most unbelievable part.
Five maids carried in meat dishes, and Rubiana’s eyes widened.
Beef steak, ham and sausages, roasted duck, chicken cutlets, even venison pie.
‘This isn’t a dinner banquet…’
Seeing her astonishment, Scott gave a smooth, knowing smile.
“The chef cooked everything he could think of, unsure of what you might like, my lady. Chef Derrick, that is.”
“Ah…”
The moment Scott finished speaking, Chef Derrick—standing in the back watching—bowed his head.
Rubiana lowered hers slightly in return.
“…I appreciate the trouble.”
Though flustered, she tried her best not to show it.
Elion clicked his tongue.
“What is all this nonsense? Is it only my eyes that see this table as absurdly overdone?”
“M-my lord…”
Scott, Derrick, and even the maids froze under Elion’s sharp tone.
Realizing his blunder at hearing his master’s displeasure, Scott quickly bowed.
“My deepest apologies, my lord. I was too excited. I will clear the meal at once.”
“Leave it. Just leave it.”
“Ah…”
“And get out. All of you.”
Elion waved his hand impatiently.
At the dismissal, Scott’s usually neat gaze wavered weakly.
But only for a moment—he quickly composed himself and bowed.
“…Yes, my lord. Please enjoy your meal.”
Scott offered a polite farewell and left at a brisk pace. His neatly tied long red hair swayed pitifully.
The chef and maids followed after him.
Finally, left alone in the dining room together, Elion sighed lightly as he looked at Rubiana.
“Forgive them for startling you. They aren’t usually this foolish. You’re the first guest to dine here, so it seems they all got carried away.”
“It’s fine. I was just a little surprised.”
“Don’t feel pressured. Eat only as much as you want.”
“…Yes.”
Perhaps because her head was still spinning, even her fingers felt clumsy.
Clatter!
She dropped her fork.
For a noble lady invited as a guest, dropping a fork at the table was a significant faux pas.
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Here.”
Elion handed her an extra fork.
Their fingertips brushed lightly as she took it.
Even in that fleeting instant, she clearly felt his magic seep into her.
But this time something was… different.
‘Something… is strange!’
He touched her for only 0.1 seconds, yet his magic surged through her entire body.
And not just surged—everywhere it passed, a peculiar heat burst like fireworks, sending shivers racing through her.
‘W-what… what is this?!’
It was unfamiliar yet familiar.
The exact sensation that had made her lightheaded in bed last night.
‘Wh-why—! I’m not some Pavlov’s dog!’
If a bell rings whenever a dog is fed, eventually the dog salivates at the bell alone.
Had the intoxicating magic and thrills of last night conditioned her so that just brushing his magic was enough to make her tremble?
‘No, no. Last night was just one time. You don’t build that kind of conditioning overnight. I’ve always felt good when receiving his magic anyway.’
Yes, she had.
So she convinced herself nothing had changed—that this was normal.
‘Don’t overthink it. Ahh, seriously, this is awful!’
She bit the soft flesh inside her cheek, focusing on calming the shivers rippling through her body.
“My lady, are you alright? Are you feeling unwell?”
“A-ah… it’s nothing. I’m fine.”
Regaining composure, Rubiana smiled lightly as though nothing had happened and stabbed her salad with her fork.
Watching Elion eat calmly made her mind swirl again.
‘What? He’s fine? Did he not feel anything? That weird sensation… was it just me?’
She couldn’t be sure whether what she felt was the usual sensation or something entirely different.
But seeing Elion’s serene expression made a petty frustration emerge.
‘Why am I the only one getting nervous and flustered and worked up?!’
