IPBPBD 54🔐

chapter 54

“But it’s something the Duke might dislike, isn’t it?”

Emilyna’s question made Lockbel nod with a troubled expression.

Seeing that he answered reluctantly, Emilyna let out a light sigh.

“Anyway, I’ll handle that part myself. There’s no need to create unnecessary friction.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“No, it’s fine. By the way, I think we’ve toured the entire mansion. Could you now guide me to the room where I’ll be staying?”

Emilyna glanced at the window, where the sun was setting.

After touring the entire mansion, it was already evening.

The Duke, the owner of the mansion, was still nowhere to be seen.

Lockbel had said he would definitely return before dinner.

Feeling that waiting would be endless, Emilyna decided to rest a little until he returned.

She also needed to prepare herself mentally.

She had decided to accept this marriage, but facing him directly was another matter.

Now, she was truly going to have Kirzen as her husband.

Since it was inevitable, Emilyna thought it necessary to calm her nerves.

Fortunately, Lockbel seemed to understand her intent and immediately took the lead to guide her.

Emilyna followed him, her face showing signs of fatigue.

Upon reaching the bedroom, Emilyna stared at Lockbel in disbelief.

“…Could you repeat that? Where exactly is this?”

“This is the marital bedroom where the Mistress and the Master will stay together. Finally, I get to fulfill my role,” Lockbel said with a satisfied expression.

He seemed genuinely happy, apparently oblivious to Emilyna’s shocked expression.

Dizzy with disbelief, Emilyna surveyed the bedroom.

It was larger than any room she had seen in the mansion so far.

And the opulence—what a display!

Every single decoration was made from high-priced materials, luxurious enough to call it extravagant.

It was clearly a space designed for the married couple, and Emilyna couldn’t help but feel a sense of pressure.

‘This… is really too much…’

Swallowing her apprehension, Emilyna thought that even accepting Kirzen as her husband wasn’t enough to get used to this.

And now she was supposed to share a bed in the same room.

This couldn’t be simply a form of territorial assertion; no one would do this otherwise.

The situation was too shocking to process rationally.

Because of this, Emilyna could only interpret Lockbel’s polite words as a suggestion to live cautiously under the homeowner’s watchful eye.

After all, their connection existed only on paper.

Since their relationship could easily be severed with a signature, she couldn’t help but question this arrangement.

“Why… why don’t we have separate rooms?”

“It is a long-standing tradition of the Duke’s family and the wish of your ancestors. The teaching is that a married couple should live as one to maintain harmony,” Lockbel explained.

Emilyna, listening, thought there was no more hateful teaching than this.

And if resentment deepened, whom could one blame?

The already-deceased ancestors? Or the Duke’s family that stubbornly upheld this tradition?

It didn’t matter. For now, it was clear she would bear the consequences.

Unhappy with the idea, Emilyna couldn’t help but frown.

Sharing a bed wouldn’t automatically make a couple grow closer.

At the very least, emotional connection was necessary.

And there was no indication that she and Kirzen would have that.

Nor did it seem likely.

Yet, Lockbel seemed to have read her mind.

“I fully understand your embarrassment, Mistress. This is not a typical situation, so it would feel sudden. However, previous Duke couples have also benefitted from sharing a bed. Even when arguments occurred, they would grow affectionate by nightfall.”

“….”

“Thus, I am confident you and the Master will find the same path. You will have plenty of opportunities to become close and learn about each other.”

Lockbel spoke as if this were both a conviction and a goal.

Emilyna was momentarily lost for words.

What could she say? He was insisting on sharing the room.

Judging by his use of precedent, she felt certain that even if she requested a separate room, it wouldn’t be granted.

Although the mansion had plenty of rooms, it didn’t feel like she would be allowed one solely for herself.

So naturally, Lockbel was saying that tradition dictated sharing a room, giving them time to get to know each other.

It seemed he understood that she and Kirzen were not particularly close.

After some deliberation, Emilyna spoke.

There was no way she could share a bed with Kirzen.

Especially not starting today.

For the sake of her own future, it was best not to create a situation to be criticized.

“I understand Lockbel’s intentions. But I think I need private space. Everyone needs time alone sometimes, don’t they?”

“Of course. That’s why private rooms are prepared for both the Mistress and the Master. However, they are not suitable as bedrooms, which is why I showed you this one,” Lockbel explained, naturally gesturing toward the left door connected to the bedroom.

The rooms were connected like a suite.

Emilyna would take the left, Kirzen the right. Each had a private room adjoining the bedroom.

Opening the door revealed a small, cozy room.

It was larger and nicer than her room in the Klein residence but had a different atmosphere from the study or office she had been shown.

It seemed designed entirely for rest.

That was the point of saying it wasn’t suitable as a bedroom.

The private room was fully designed for comfort, excluding typical bedroom furniture.

Still, Emilyna was concerned by Lockbel’s added note: the only other room available outside the marital bedroom was a guest room in the annex.

Even if their relationship was in name only, using the guest room as a Duchess didn’t look proper.

Especially as a newlywed Duchess, choosing the guest room over the bedroom would likely spark rumors.

‘Though technically, I don’t have to care…’

But human affairs rarely go as planned, and she couldn’t argue about it.

She wasn’t alone; the Duke’s awareness mattered.

So Emilyna resigned herself to the situation.

As she touched her forehead in dismay, a soft knock came, followed by a young servant’s voice.

“Chief Butler, Sir Marcus has arrived. He wishes to greet the Mistress. What should I do?”

“Escort him to the reception room first. We will ask the Mistress and decide how to proceed.”

“Yes, understood,” the servant answered politely and left the room.

At the same time, Lockbel looked at Emilyna, seeking her opinion.

“Mistress, what will you do? Sir Marcus is the commander of the knight order under the family. If it is inconvenient, I can turn him away.”

It was, of course, inconvenient.

Even just touring the mansion had already exhausted her.

More precisely, her energy had been drained by the flood of troublesome thoughts.

Still, she wanted to rest, and exhaustion seemed a valid excuse to refuse the meeting.

Yet she couldn’t do that.

“Is it really okay? He is second only to the Duke in charge of the knights.”

“Even so, showing up unannounced is rude. He would be disrespecting you. Refusing him will not disgrace you.”

Lockbel’s words highlighted the knight commander’s insolence.

Despite being under the Duke’s authority, this behavior was improper, and there was no need to entertain it.

Lockbel frowned slightly, clearly displeased.

But Emilyna saw it differently.

While a visitor arriving unannounced might be an intruder, this case was different.

Moreover, Sir Marcus was the commander of the Dietrio knights, managing the Duke family’s armed forces.

There was no reason to offend him.

Thus, she decided it would be good to meet him in advance.

‘I can also ask about Rosy while I’m at it.’

After making her decision, Emilyna spoke slowly.

“No, that’s fine. I’ll meet him. If he came directly here, he must be quite curious.”

“Are you sure? You don’t have to push yourself. The Master instructed that your convenience comes first.”

“It won’t be a problem. Please guide him in.”

Emilyna shook her head firmly, and Lockbel, though momentarily worried, acknowledged her words politely.

“If that is your wish, Mistress, I will guide him immediately.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“Not at all. You would have to meet him sooner or later anyway. Sir Marcus is unpredictable.”

Lockbel paused briefly, then spoke with a troubled expression.

He seemed to recall the less pleasant side of Sir Marcus.

‘What kind of person makes him react like that?’

Emilyna, curious about Lockbel’s unusual reaction, couldn’t help but ask.

“Why do you say that?”

“He tends to confront everything head-on and has a temperamental personality. He enjoys fighting and is quite rough. He’s not the ideal knight you might imagine.”

“So he’s quite aggressive,” Emilyna said, intrigued.

Lockbel sighed deeply and shook his head.

“You could say that politely. But he is truly headstrong. His impatience means that without the Mistress’s permission, the introduction would have been postponed until the formal presentation by the Master.”

Lockbel frowned slightly, clearly displeased with the knight commander.

Mentioning Kirzen, Emilyna couldn’t help but notice.

“It sounds as if the Duke wouldn’t welcome this meeting.”

“That’s correct. Considering his personality… the Master wasn’t eager to formally introduce Sir Marcus either.”

“Then why ask me? If that’s how the Duke feels, couldn’t you have handled it yourself?”

“Because that is the Master’s will, not yours. A guest seeking the Mistress has the right to meet her. Ignoring this would undermine the Mistress’s authority.”

Hearing Lockbel’s respectful explanation, Emilyna truly realized her position.

Being the lady of the Duke family carried more weight than she had imagined.

And it was burdensome.

She even wondered if she truly deserved it.

Yet this was a choice she made, so she decided to endure it.

She had anticipated this, and it was unavoidable, so adapting quickly was best.

Following Lockbel, she headed toward the reception room where the knight commander waited.