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~Chapter 24~
The morning sunlight gently filled the study.
Dominic, who had simply fallen asleep in his chair last night, barely lifted his heavy eyelids.
The sunlight piercing through his eyelashes stung, but more than that, something noisy was happening outside, even at this early hour.
He loosened his body and turned his gaze toward the window, frowning slightly at the scene.
“What on earth are they doing?”
The servants were busily tidying up the indoor glass garden in the courtyard.
It was a part of the mansion he had never entered or paid attention to before.
“Mother planning to redecorate it again, perhaps?”
He was about to turn his head when his gaze froze on someone.
Elin was moving energetically among the busy servants.
Wearing a yellow dress reminiscent of daffodils, she looked genuinely cheerful.
“……”
Dominic stepped closer to the window, carefully observing her.
As the maids struggled to move large flowerpots, she had tied her hair back tightly and lent her hands to help them.
He didn’t know what kind of life she had led before the marriage, but the way she naturally worked alongside the servants looked completely at ease.
When she finished moving the pots and exchanged glances with the maids, her bright smile sparkled in the sunlight.
Dominic, almost as if seeing an illusion, stood dazed for a moment before slightly squinting and rubbing his forehead.
“Still half asleep, perhaps.”
Before he could process it, a knock sounded, and the study door opened.
“Breakfast is ready.”
At Jeffrey’s voice, Dominic tore his eyes from the window and returned to his usual professional expression.
“Why’s it so noisy outside?”
Jeffrey looked at the window with a slightly flustered expression before answering promptly.
“Ah… The Dowager Duchess gave orders while you were away, Your Grace. She instructed the neglected indoor garden to be cleaned up and turned into an art studio.”
Dominic raised his eyebrows, silently asking what that meant. Jeffrey continued.
“She wanted to create a space where the young lady who enjoys painting could rest.”
“Mother?”
The disbelief escaped Dominic’s mouth. He had always thought she never cared about anyone’s affairs but her own, not even her son’s.
‘Mother taking such an active interest in someone else’s business… How unusual. When did they get along so well?’
He looked out the window again in disbelief.
Elin watched the indoor garden being cleaned, looking proud of the work being done.
Seeing that, Jeffrey added what had happened while the Duke was absent.
“I’m glad to see the Duchess performing so well.”
Dominic turned to look at Jeffrey.
“She has already adapted remarkably well in such a short time and is performing her role as the mistress of the house with skill.”
“……Is that so?”
Dominic regarded Jeffrey with a skeptical look, hardly believing it. He knew Jeffrey was not someone to give flattery, yet it still seemed impossible.
She must have grown up struggling in a family with little to boast about, yet now she was taking charge as the head of the Duke’s household?
Impossible.
Jeffrey had been itching to recount exactly how the young lady had deftly handled the troubles in the mansion during the Duke’s absence.
‘He only told me to mention that she made him leave.’
But he figured he should explain the whole story.
“The troublemaker Palmer, who always caused issues in the mansion, was sent away.”
“What?”
Dominic asked again, trying to understand.
“She noticed the servants were troubled by Palmer and sent him off neatly. He left without any fuss and said he would farm the land inherited from the previous Duke.”
Finally, Dominic recalled the person he had heard of a few times.
“She sent that troublemaker away?”
Even he, known for being ruthless, had failed to handle the situation in time. He also felt some hesitation since his father had debts to Palmer’s father.
Yet she managed to get rid of him immediately upon entering the mansion.
How was that possible?
“Because it was something the Duke couldn’t do, she said she had to do it herself. Considering the previous Duke’s matters, she said it would have been difficult for the Duke to act decisively.”
Jeffrey recounted in detail how she managed to send Palmer out without any lingering issues.
To hear that such things had occurred while he was away was shocking. Her boldness was beyond what he had expected.
“When the Dowager Duchess collapsed, the young lady bravely stayed by her side until the doctor arrived. Even though her hands were trembling, she held the Duchess’s hand tightly.”
Jeffrey recalled the sacred image of the Duchess he had seen that day and described the situation to Dominic.
Listening, Dominic’s face was incredulous.
Even after receiving a dense report about Elin Nielsen before the marriage, he realized there was still so much he didn’t know about her.
‘No wonder Mother was impressed. Giving her an indoor garden for someone who protected me isn’t a big deal at all.’
To endure life in the stifling Duke’s mansion, she deserved a space to breathe.
Then his memory wandered to the greenhouse at the Count’s party, where he had first met her.
Even back then, she had been hiding there alone at night.
He didn’t know her intentions, but he understood.
His softened heart sparked a moment of suspicion before quickly settling again.
“How is Mother?”
“She is much better. She still eats in her room for now, but the doctor said she should soon be able to go out alone.”
“That’s a relief.”
He was glad Melisa, who enjoyed social activities, would not be miserable staying home. At least she wasn’t inviting everyone from the capital over.
Just thinking about it made Dominic feel yesterday’s fatigue returning.
“About the party?”
Elin paused mid-bite with her fork.
Dominic’s gaze wasn’t on her but on the newspaper.
“It’s an important event I can’t refuse, even if I don’t feel like attending. You just need to sit beside me, so don’t feel burdened.”
Elin nodded slightly at his calm words.
It seemed the one not wanting to attend the party was more the Duke than her.
“Is there anything I should know or be careful about before attending?”
At her question, Dominic folded the newspaper and rose from the table. His breakfast, aside from hot coffee, was barely touched.
“It’s a party hosted by the Prince of Nazar. You only need to exchange formal greetings, so there’s nothing for you to worry about. I have business in the afternoon, so I’ll excuse myself first.”
As Dominic left the dining room, Elin was left alone at the large table.
It was their first breakfast together since the marriage.
Trying to act unaffected, she still felt a little fluttery and nervous.
The Duke across from her looked picturesque as always, yet breakfast seemed like just another tedious obligation to him.
Glancing at his watch out of habit, she guessed he had an important engagement today as well.
Watching his back as he left, she felt a faint loneliness but tried not to dwell on it.
More pressing was the fact she had to attend the party.
‘Nazar Kingdom… I’ve heard of it, but I don’t know much about it.’
After breakfast, she planned to write a letter to her great-aunt and visit the mansion library to learn more.
Even though the Duke said she only needed to keep her seat at the party, she couldn’t take chances.
Elin picked up her fork again, slowly clearing her plate.
Although breakfast was simple, everything tasted so good she feared gaining weight quickly.
Yet she knew she had to eat well to have the energy for her role as the Duchess.
When she bit into a ham-topped bread, she caught the chef’s gaze.
“You eat really well—it’s flattering to see.”
Seeing him enjoy the food, she gave a slightly embarrassed smile.
When Dominic entered the social club, familiar faces were already present.
Some were playing cards or smoking cigars and chatting.
He gave a brief acknowledgment to acquaintances and took a vacant seat.
Glancing at his pocket watch, he had arrived slightly earlier than his appointment with the Crown Prince.
Bored, he crossed his legs and scanned the room, only to lock eyes with someone he didn’t particularly want to see.
It was Royce Crayton.
As if waiting for the Duke’s gaze, Royce excused himself from his companions and approached Dominic.
Dominic watched him with an annoyed expression but allowed a faint smile.
At least in front of others, they had to maintain proper decorum as relatives-in-law.
“Your Grace, Duke.”
Royce bowed slightly and looked at the empty seat across from Dominic.
“Sit until your appointment arrives.”
Dominic granted permission, and Royce took the chair.
The two men, not close and not particularly friendly, sat facing each other, observing one another.
Dominic felt curious to examine this man more closely.
He had been the closest man to Elin Nielsen and might even have been her husband.
What kind of man was he, really?
In the awkward silence, Royce spoke first.
“I heard you invested in our brewery, Your Grace.”
Dominic smiled lightly as if it were nothing.
He recalled the day he had seen Elin struggle with Royce on the street and had immediately instructed Higgins to invest in the Crayton family business.
“I was looking for a suitable investment, and now… we’re family, aren’t we?”
Dominic joked casually.
“My father was pleased and wanted to arrange a separate meeting to thank Your Grace.”
“Well, there’s no need for that.”
Though Royce expressed gratitude, his subtle discomfort betrayed his true feelings.
“The competition for succession in the Crayton family is fierce. I hope I can be of help. If you need my assistance, just let me know.”
The Duke spoke without arrogance, genuinely offering goodwill.
All in the capital knew that the brewery was highly contested among the sons, one of whom was the author himself.
“……Thank you.”
For Royce, the investment by the Linderto family was like gaining a powerful advantage.
Yet he also understood the Duke’s influence might be linked to Elin.
Before Royce inherited the business, he had to maintain a good relationship with the Duke.
Knowing his priorities, Dominic planned to keep a certain distance from Elin for now.
It wouldn’t do to upset the Duke at such an important moment.
Then the Duke furrowed his brows slightly and leaned close to Royce.
“However, while looking into the investment, I heard some concerning information about you.”
Royce’s eyes widened in surprise.
Dominic lowered his voice to avoid being overheard and whispered.
“You’ve been diverting alcohol illegally in the pleasure districts, haven’t you?”
Royce stared at him in shock, as if he had momentarily forgotten how to breathe.
‘How on earth does the Duke know about that?’
But Dominic didn’t stop there.
