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Chapter 13
He, too, paused briefly at the sight of the table, but soon gave me a curt nod.
I returned the gesture with a stiff smile before dropping my gaze to my plate. My hand tightened involuntarily around the fork.
*‘This is awkward.’*
We hadn’t even gotten to the real part of the relationship yet, but last night was still the first time I had ever shared a bed with a man.
*I hope it doesn’t show.*
But my cheeks were already burning with heat.
It didn’t help that the face I had just seen brought back an image of him beneath the candlelight the night before.
*‘No. Get it together. He’s someone I’ll have to see every day.’*
I hastily grabbed my glass and drank the cold water in one gulp, then focused solely on moving the food around on my plate.
From across the table came the occasional clink of utensils.
I had no idea how long the silent meal continued.
“I assumed the lady might not be familiar with the layout of the estate, so I’ve made preparations,” the steward said, his hands clasped neatly in front of him, a gentle smile on his face. “Shall I guide you after breakfast?”
Anything to escape this atmosphere.
I quickly nodded, my expression visibly brightening.
“Yes, please do.”
—
We passed the portrait gallery of the former Dukes, then walked by a library packed with an overwhelming number of books, and finally stepped outside.
“This main building will be the residence of the Duke and Duchess. That smaller building over there is the annex, where the staff reside,” Vernon explained as we walked along the colonnade.
There was a note of pride in his voice that lifted slightly with his words, revealing just how much affection he had for the estate.
*‘But…’*
I bit back my hesitation, unsure of how to phrase what I wanted to say.
Sunlight streamed in through the columns, casting a warm glow that painted the estate in a new light—very different from last night.
Under the veil of darkness, I had thought the place had a kind of antique charm…
*‘Maybe that was just an illusion of the night.’*
In the full light of day, the cracks in the plaster walls and the chipped gold leaf on the sculptures were impossible to ignore.
*‘No wonder Rachel had a fit.’*
The garden was in worse shape.
Weeds had grown knee-high between the grass, and the trees stretched in all directions, untouched by pruning shears.
I couldn’t help but sigh at the bleak and neglected scene.
“It might be a good idea to hire a gardener. And… some repairs on the house itself wouldn’t hurt,” I murmured.
“Ah… well,” Vernon’s expression darkened.
I looked at him curiously. Was there a problem?
“Funds are tight, but more than that… the rumors surrounding His Grace have made it difficult. No one is willing to come.”
He let out a soft sigh.
“Not just gardeners, but even carpenters or laborers for the repairs refuse to work here.”
A bitter smile crept across his wrinkled face.
“No matter how much we offer, they won’t take the job.”
“…Really?”
Even here, the damned rumors were causing problems.
I stopped walking and turned to face him.
“No matter how much you offer?”
“Pardon?”
He blinked, confused. I spelled it out for him kindly.
“Even if it’s ten times the usual rate?”
Vernon’s eyes widened in surprise, darting nervously.
“But our budget—”
“I brought a considerable dowry when I came here.”
“Well, yes, that’s true, but the dowry…”
Vernon lifted a hand to wipe the sweat beading on his brow, clearly struggling to phrase his next words.
Traditionally, a dowry belonged to the bride and was used at her discretion—for personal indulgences or as private funds.
Touching it was a sensitive matter. Most wouldn’t dare.
But I offered a faint smile.
“If needed, I don’t mind spending whatever it takes. This manor is my home now, and I have more than enough funds.”
My father had seen the dowry as a matter of pride and had been more than generous.
When else would I use it, if not now?
“Besides,” I added gently, “when the amount offered goes far beyond common sense, no one will care about the rumors.”
I turned to him and continued in an even tone.
“By today, send me a detailed list of the repair work needed and the labor costs. Also, hire the best gardener available, regardless of price.”
“L-Lady Edith…!”
Vernon’s voice trembled. For the first time, the man who always wore a calm expression looked visibly shaken.
“But make sure they’re from this territory,” I added.
If I was going to silence the gossip spreading through the land, it needed to be quelled by the people themselves.
“Oh, and,” I added with a slight glint in my eye, “it might be nice to let them know that the new Duchess detests vulgar rumors.”
Vernon’s eyes grew wide as I smiled.
*‘It’s about time that nonsense is put to rest.’*
Anyway, the original female lead would clear up Denok’s madness within a year. There was no harm in speeding up the process a little.
Just as I turned to continue walking—
**Thud. —Thwack!**
A dull sound of wood striking wood echoed in the distance.
“What was that?”
“Ah, that would be…”
Before he could answer, I turned the corner ahead and was greeted by a wide training yard—where knights were fiercely sparring.
Each time they lunged forward, the wooden swords in their hands clashed with explosive force.
*‘Ah, the training grounds.’*
And then, at the very center of the yard, a man resting his chin on his hand and watching the match intently suddenly caught sight of me.
His eyes lit up in recognition.
“Oh?”
He sprang to his feet and waved both arms enthusiastically.
“Your Grace, the Duchess!”
Under the brilliant sun, Gerald’s fiery red hair gleamed like flame.
The dueling knights halted as he bolted across the wide training yard toward me.
Their gazes followed his—and landed squarely on me.
*‘This attention is… a bit much.’*
I wanted to back away, but Gerald was already closing the distance.
“My lady! What brings you out here?”
Beaming, he looked from me to Vernon and let out a gleeful exclamation.
“Ah, are you touring the estate?”
The indifference in his eyes earlier had vanished—replaced by the gleam of a child who’d discovered something fascinating.
*‘Who’d believe this man is in his late thirties?’*
If not for the faint wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and the streaks of white hidden in his red hair, I might have guessed he was in his twenties.
“If it’s a tour you’re after, I can help. May I join you?”
His odd mix of casual and formal speech caught me off guard. I lost the chance to reprimand him like a proper, dignified noblewoman.
Somehow, whenever I was around him, it became difficult to maintain the mask of ‘Lady Edith.’
“I’ll have to decline. You were busy training the knights,” I replied coolly, gesturing behind him with my chin.
“Oh, that lot? Just told them to run a few drills. They’re so hopeless, I’ve lost interest,” Gerald said with a dramatic shrug and a grin.
**Ha ha ha!** His laugh echoed loudly across the training yard.
The bluntness of it was unmistakable—and loud enough for everyone to hear. I noticed several knights flinch, their shoulders visibly sagging. Poor things.
“It’s fine. I’ve seen enough. I was just about to head back anyway.”
I didn’t want to be known as the Duchess who put knights through drills on her first day here, so I firmly declined.
At my words, the cheerful smile on Gerald’s face faded quickly. He looked genuinely disappointed.
*‘Why… is he acting so familiar all of a sudden?’*
I narrowed my eyes at him.
Gerald might know the true nature of my relationship with Denok, but this level of familiarity still felt excessive.
I was about to question him further when—
A loud commotion in the distance silenced me.
