In accordance with their status along with their various merits, the Oswynn family was granted several priceless plots of land throughout the generations. Additionally, their military exploits have allowed them to claim lands by right of conquest. That's why their family had countless assets throughout the continent, both within and outside of the kingdom's borders. Naturally, that means the current Oswynn estate was utterly enormous.
"So...big…!"
Stephanie giggled at Madeline's profound exclamation as she stuck her head out the carriage windows and took note of the estate's sheer size. It's been a quarter of an hour already since they passed through the manor's gilded gates and yet they've yet to arrive at the actual mansion itself.
"Are we really going to be living here from now on, milady?" Stars practically twinkled from Madeline's sunset-colored eyes, completely awed and bedazzled even from just the few sights they've seen so far.
It honestly felt like they'd ridden all the way into another nation altogether rather than just Oswynn estate!
"Of course. His Grace took the effort to have us escorted all the way here. I'm sure that despite the circumstances, he's not so uncouth as to have us thrown out as soon as we meet him"
From his spot at the driver's side of the carriage, the corner of the ashen-haired steward's lips twitched but he remained silent until they finally reached the actual manor.
Silent yet swift, he leisurely opened the carriage door.
"House Oswynn and all its servants formally greet the Grand Duchess."
From scullery maids and groundskeepers to the Duke's own personal security unit, all of them stood in perfect position as they greeted the young woman in unison. With not a single hair out of place nor even an askew bow tie, the duke's household looked more and more like they were trained soldiers than actual servants as they paid their respects to Stephanie.
"We welcome the Grand Duchess."
"Thank you all for the warm welcome. Please, be at ease"
As countless people bowed before her, Stephanie's shoulders sagged as an inaudible sigh escaped her lips before she covered it up with her best attempt at a bright smile.
This is her life now.
══════════════════
Traversing through the spacious halls of the manor, one is able to come across innumerable priceless treasures with all a manner of differing origins. Whether it was paintings, armor, weapons, and or any other sort of artifact, Oswynn manor was abundant, nay, even overflowing with them!
Ever since entering their new home, Madeline was unable to keep her jaw off the floor for too long. All these new sights, wonders, and even people were too much for a simple little maid like her!
Though she'd follow her lady to hell and back if asked, the brunette was simply flabbergasted at the disparity between the duke's mansion and their old humble little cottage. Why, the most expensive thing they had back home was a saucière Stephanie's uncle won from a bet while drunk at a local tavern!
Granted, it was a very nice saucière indeed…
"Do watch your step, Miss Fraiche. It would do no good to worry her ladyship during her first day at the manor should you hurt yourself," came the cool voice of the steward who had been guiding them until now.
"H-huh?" Pausing her steps, the maid took a moment to refamiliarize herself with their surroundings and realized that she was a step or two away from crashing into one of those imposing sets of polished armor stationed at the sides of the hallways like stone golems judging all who would dare enter the duke's abode.
"Eeek! I-I'm sorry!" With a squeak, she pulled up her skirts before rushing to catch up to her lady. Mortification and shame bubbling up from within her for almost making yet another blunder when they've only been here for less than an hour.
Amusement glinted within the depths of the man's dark eyes as he watched the mouse-like maid scuttle towards her mistress in a flustered tizzy.
It wasn't long before the trio arrived at the imposing double doors that led directly to Duke Oswynn's study. Wasting no more time, the steward opened the doors and stepped forward into the room, his gentle temperament from earlier hardening until there was not a single trace of softness in his body.
"May I present her grace, Grand Duchess Stephanie Ines Oswynn nee Lindell"
She could practically hear the blood rushing in her ears as she walked towards what was to be her future. Each step seemed to echo across the expansive room, seemingly heightened by her heart that seemed to beat in tandem with her steps. Despite all this, she held her head up high and refused to waver and buckle beneath her own uneasiness. Yes, in spite of the airs she put up she was still a girl meeting her new husband for the very first time. The cold sweat that gathered on her back and at the nape of her neck made her shiver ever so slightly, but Stephanie powered through until she reached the heavy blackwood desk at the topmost center of the room.
It was sleek and colored a deep ebony with not a single ornament nor tainted with any paint, keeping its original beautiful color. Documents and stationery littered the table, from reports and laws to what seemed to be military formations. Certainly, they were all important documents that no ordinary person would ever see but that was not what took her full attention.
It was her first time seeing Grand Duke Oswynn in person and in such close proximity. Seeing him in mere photographs did not do his actual presence any justice.
He stood tall, taller than what she thought he'd be that the ravenette had to crane her neck a little just to meet his gaze. His eyes were the color of wine: deep, rich, and intoxicating. His face almost seemed cut from stone, all sharp angles and not a single sign of softness from his firm jaw to his strong, elegant nose. A dark crimson mane crowned his features, contrasting with and complementing the caramel glaze of his skin gained from his countless military excursions. The years spent training and fighting had sculpted his body to a point where it put even marble statues to shame. Though his impeccable suit fitted him perfectly, she couldn't help but fear for it nonetheless as she had a vague feeling his clothes might rip at the seams or even a button might pop off at any given time with how the fabric strained against the firm muscles underneath.
To summarize, Lucius Moretto Elldrich Oswynn was the type of man maidens fantasized about late at night. He had wealth, prestige, and his looks were nothing to scoff at either. Albeit his beauty was more rugged and wild compared to the noble sons who'd probably only ever used their swords to play-fight with their peers and who'd never spent a day toiling beneath the blistering heat nor freezing cold.
"I trust that the trip went smoothly." Though Duke Oswynn did not speak loudly, his dulcet tones reverberated across the wide expanse of his office easily. "However, I apologize for not being able to accompany or pick you up myself. There were matters of the utmost importance I had to attend to immediately."
"Please, there's no need for any apologies. Sending someone to pick me up is already more than enough for me," Stephanie smiled at him, revealing a little dimple as she beamed.
"Regardless, it is a grave misconduct on my part to not have been able to accompany you on this day. I don't want anyone thinking that I personally snubbed you or that you've earned my ire before we've even formally met" His powerful eyebrows scrunched up in distress, albeit his face remained impassive all the same.
"I intend to treat you with all the respect befitting of being Grand Duchess Oswynn and also as my wife, regardless of the circumstances of our union. You deserve that at the very least"
The ravenette blinked as she stared up at the behemoth of a man, looking not unlike that of a startled doe as she tried to digest his words.
"You may go out on leisurely excursions if you wish and a squadron of my men will always be there to accompany you. The duchy's treasury is also yours to withdraw from should you need funding for anything. You need only tell my steward—" the duke gestures at the ashen-haired male who'd been accompanying you all this time, "Theophilus, if you have anything you wish to purchase."
While Stephanie's eyes couldn't get any wider, her ever faithful maid Madeline was close to collapsing to the ground in an undignified heap. She didn't know if she should be terrified or ecstatic that her lady's new husband cared so much for her when they'd only just met despite all the rumors!
House Oswynn and all its previous lords were already infamous, but the current Lord Oswynn was the most infamous one to date. Whispers of him easily massacring hordes of monsters and razing down enemy camps as easily as he maneuvered court politics and held the kingdom within the palms of his hands were common. Whether it was mere slander from his opponents that wished to bring him down a peg or not, it was a well-known fact that he was not a man anyone should casually engage with. Not unless you wanted your head on a pike or shipped away to some remote island with no way to escape.
"Running the estate is a duty to be expected of its mistress, but you may take all the time you need to learn about your duties and responsibilities. Theophilus will continue to manage the affairs of the duchy while you receive tutoring on how to manage it. There's no point in making you do all the work when you have not a single ounce of experience in managing the household affairs of a ducal house."
Briefly turning to his desk, the crimson-haired male gingerly picked up an elegant velvet box that looked almost like a miniature version of itself when compared to the size of his hands. He lifted the lid and revealed an exquisite ring inlaid with a single opulent red gem that seemed to shine with the same shade of crimson in his hair.
"This ring has been passed down throughout our family for generations. The first Duke Oswynn had apparently torn the gem from the heart of a dragon he had slain before ordering the finest of smiths to forge it into a ring for his lady love. The bangle was made from the last remaining pieces of orichalcum and was tempered for days on end until every single impurity was burned away." The accessory was even more ridiculously small as it laid within the palm of his hand, the glinting golden-bronze bangle contrasting against his pitch black gloves.
Lucius holds his free hand towards Stephanie, dark eyes boring into her own and seemingly tugging at her to drown within their depths. Just like everything else, even her hand could be compared to that of a child when she places it within his palm and yet...despite the power he wielded there is no fear to be felt.
"Every single duchess has owned this as a sign of their station...regardless of their background before marrying into our house," revealed the man as he slid the accessory onto the ravenette's ring finger. "Whatever and whoever you were before doesn't matter anymore. Now that you have joined House Oswynn as its duchess, that is who you are now and ever will be."
"My vassals and the other aristocrats may voice their complaints as much as they want, but I will not be swayed. You are one of my people now and House Oswynn protects its own."
Even though his skin was protected by those silken gloves, she could still feel the heat of his hands.