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Chapter 16
When the massive ivory wooden doors of the Lavender Room opened, Eluana’s mouth fell open as well.
A chandelier that sparkled like starlight, a fireplace, an elegant carpet, and a circular staircase leading to the upper floor immediately captured her attention one after another. The delicate furniture, almost like works of art, carried the weight of time and gave the room a refined atmosphere.
As Eluana stared at the two-story reception room as if enchanted, Butler Dave spoke.
“The door on the left is the bathroom, and the door on the right is the dressing room. This way is the study.”
The butler opened the middle door, revealing a room with ivory bookshelves that stretched all the way to the ceiling. Beyond the desk and chair that looked like works of art, and a small single bed, there was a large glass window. Through it, the lavender garden could be seen at a glance.
‘Calling this the Lavender Room doesn’t feel right. It should be called the Lavender House.’
With a reception room, bathroom, dressing room, and even a study, it felt more like a house than a room.
While looking at the pale purple waves of the garden through the window, Eluana’s gaze shifted to the portrait hanging beside the study door.
The woman in the painting wore a dress decorated with tiny jewels scattered like a galaxy. She was so breathtakingly beautiful that it almost hurt to look at her. Around her neck was an emerald necklace that looked expensive enough to buy an entire house.
“She looks like my mother.”
The biggest difference was probably that the woman in the portrait had the same golden hair as Eluana.
“This is Lady Stella.”
At Butler Dave’s words, Eluana’s thick eyelashes fluttered.
It was true that Stella had been considered the most beautiful woman in Arden. But the woman in the portrait was on another level entirely.
Most importantly—
“My mother’s hair was dark brown.”
“She must have dyed it.”
Eluana couldn’t bring herself to say that was impossible. The many emotions reflected on Dave’s face made his words believable.
“…Did you know my mother?”
“I served Lady Stella for about two years here in the Lavender Room. Even afterward, I continued maintaining this place so that she could return whenever she wished.”
The corners of Dave’s eyes, marked by the passage of time, grew moist.
‘Was the Duke not someone who abandoned my mother and me?’
Eluana was confused.
Everything felt different from what she had assumed. This suspicion had stayed with her ever since she met the Duke of Spes.
But wasn’t it strange that her mother would abandon the Duke of Spes while she was even pregnant with his child?
Dave spoke gently.
“The Duke may have already told you, but you must not mention Lady Stella in front of the other servants.”
“I… wasn’t told.”
Dave looked slightly startled, but soon opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.
“I suppose I was being unnecessarily worried. You must not tell the servants her name. I was not informed that you would be coming, so I was unable to warn them beforehand. If word were to spread carelessly, it could become dangerous. His Grace will explain the reason himself.”
Eluana felt her heartbeat quicken.
“Danger?”
“…His Grace will explain that.”
Dave lowered his gaze, making it clear he could not say anything more. It seemed she would have to hear it directly from the Duke of Spes.
“I understand.”
“Thank you for understanding. Then I will show you your bedroom.”
Eluana pointed toward the small single bed beside the desk.
“What about that bed?”
“That is for your escort knight. You will soon have a personal guard assigned to you as well.”
The butler returned to the reception room and pointed toward the wooden staircase.
“Please come this way.”
After climbing the stairs from the reception room, they arrived at a romantic-looking bedroom.
The large bed alone gave off a warm and cozy feeling. The window frames were entirely gold, and thin golden threads extending from the edges embroidered beautiful patterns across the glass.
It was beautiful, but…
The windows couldn’t properly serve their purpose like this. Windows were not only for looking outside—they were also needed for ventilation.
The large window in the study didn’t look like it could open either.
“Can none of the windows in the Lavender Room be opened?”
“It was a decision made for safety.”
At the word “safety,” Eluana remembered the Duke of Spes’s ability to freely transform gold coins.
She pointed at the window frame.
“Don’t tell me this is all gold?”
“That is correct. His Grace alchemized them so that the windows could neither break nor open.”
Dave spoke proudly.
Good heavens.
Using gold for window frames was a luxury she had never heard of before. But if it was not simply extravagance, then it meant her mother had been exposed to some kind of danger.
Danger serious enough that she could not even open her windows.
‘What happened to my mother?’
Just as Eluana decided she would ask again, the butler pointed toward a door in front of the bed.
“That door connects to His Grace’s Golden Wolf Room.”
Without realizing it, Eluana frowned.
It felt as if she had accidentally intruded upon the romance between her mother and the Duke of Spes.
Because Ron Vita, her father, came to mind.
After finishing the tour, the butler left. Eluana stood in front of her mother’s portrait.
It felt unfamiliar because it was different from the mother she remembered. But even so, she was still her mother.
“Hello, Mom.”
The painting gave no answer. It only smiled kindly.
“I came to the room where you lived. I passed through the lavender fields you used to draw so often. It was wider and more beautiful than what I imagined while looking at your paintings.”
She could not bring herself to ask whether her mother had missed this place.
“But you were happy in Arden, right?”
For some reason, she felt like she might cry.
After calming her emotions, Eluana went to find Rui. She felt like seeing him would help settle her trembling heart.
The Daisy Room was right next to the Lavender Room.
When she entered through the half-open door, the maid who had guided them earlier and Rui turned around. Rui immediately ran over and hugged Eluana’s legs with a bright smile.
“Big sis! The bed is as big as my room. What about your room?”
“My room is as big as our house.”
It might have been even bigger.
“Whoa. The Duke must be rich.”
“Seems like it, doesn’t it?”
Eluana answered while looking around Rui’s room.
The Daisy Room had a study and a bathroom attached. Judging by the large furniture and the swords and shields hanging on the walls, it seemed like this room had once belonged to an adult man.
‘Would they listen if I asked them to replace it with furniture for a child?’
She should at least ask.
“Excuse me, I have something to ask.”
The maid immediately bowed her head.
“Please speak casually. I will be scolded if you do not.”
“…Oh, okay. I’ll try.”
Speaking casually felt strange. The awkwardness crept up from the tips of her toes.
She knew nobles were supposed to speak informally. But until now, Eluana and Rui had lived comfortably with the villagers. Changing such a long habit overnight was difficult.
Still, she had to get used to it little by little.
“Rui’s furniture seems too big for him. Is there any furniture for children? Even just a chair would help.”
“I apologize, young lady. There was no child-sized furniture prepared in the ducal residence. The head butler has already ordered new furniture, so everything will be replaced. I apologize for the inconvenience, but please wait a little longer.”
Eluana felt a small sense of relief.
Unlike what she had worried about, they were taking good care of Rui.
“Thank you for telling me. I’ll call if we need anything.”
To avoid making the awkwardness last longer, Eluana sent the maid away. Then she bent down and met Rui’s eyes.
“Rui, can you stay in this room by yourself? I heard nobles usually have their own rooms from a young age.”
“We’re nobles too, right? It’s okay. There are lots of shiny ones too.”
“Shiny ones?”
“Yeah! There are some behind you too.”
Rui said innocently, and Eluana hurriedly turned around.
There was nothing shiny there.
She reached out and placed her hand on Rui’s forehead.
“You don’t have a fever.”
“Rui isn’t sick.”
Rui tilted his head in confusion.
But then he heard a noisy whispering sound near his ear. As the tiny particles of light chattered, Rui instinctively realized he shouldn’t say anything.
“It’s just that you suddenly said you could see lights. Your eyes don’t hurt or anything?”
“Uh-huh. They’re over there.”
Rui pointed toward the five-candle chandelier behind Eluana.
Following his finger, Eluana also spotted it.
“Oh, you meant the chandelier.”
“Why?”
“Right. Arden didn’t have chandeliers with that many candles, did it?”
Rui repeatedly nodded his small head while staring blankly at the still-chattering particles of light.
While Eluana examined the chandelier, two maids entered carrying trays. They arranged food neatly on the table.
Rui’s mouth fell open at the sight.
“It is not mealtime yet, so we prepared a light meal. Please let us know if you need anything else.”
“It’s enough. Thank you.”
After the maids politely bowed and left, Eluana looked at Rui.
He looked ready to jump at the food at any moment.
“Shall we eat?”
At Eluana’s words, Rui’s eyes sparkled.
“Yes! Let’s eat! Thank you for the meal!”
Rui immediately began devouring the food.
Fortunately, there seemed to be utensils made for children, and they fit perfectly in his hands. While chewing with his cheeks full, Rui exclaimed.
“It’s delicious!”
Smiling, Eluana began cutting the steak. She cut it into small pieces so Rui could chew easily, but when she looked up, she saw Rui stabbing an entire piece with his fork and chewing it whole.
‘No, I should do it myself.’
The first thing Eluana tried was the honey lavender bread.
The warm bread had the same taste and fragrance as the one her mother used to make.
A taste she had missed.
No matter how many times Eluana tried making it herself, she had never been able to recreate the same flavor.
“…It’s delicious.”
“Big sis, are we going to eat food like this every day now?”
“I guess so.”
“Whoa. Everything is delicious. I think Rui is happy.”
Just like Rui said, every unfamiliar dish was delicious.
The whole roasted white fish was especially good. The soft, moist fish meat was covered with a refreshing sauce, and even the bones had been removed, making it easy to eat.
After eating happily for a while, Rui quietly asked:
“I ate a lot, right?”
“You’ll get a stomachache. Look how round your belly is.”
Eluana lightly tapped Rui’s swollen stomach.
“Then I’ll stop eating.”
Rui put down his fork, rubbed his belly, and smiled happily.
As Eluana continued eating, her eyes fell on the fish with only its head remaining.
“…He made it back safely, right?”
“Huh?”
“Kazar. Should I call him His Highness now? Anyway, when I first saw him, his eyes looked just like this.”
First impressions tended to last a long time.
Even though he had been poisoned, the sight of Kazar looking like a fish placed on a plate was still vivid in her mind.
Rui tilted his head.
“Are you worried about Kazar hyung?”
“Worried? I guess…”
Eluana trailed off, then realized that she really was worried.
Those empty eyes, as if he already knew that nothing remained for him except death.
She wondered if he was trapped somewhere alone with that same hollow expression.
“I guess I got attached because we suffered together for a few days.”
Eluana picked up a napkin and covered the fish head.
