Celia didn't quite understand what Ramas meant by his remark, but forgot all about it as soon as they entered the room.
It was wonderful. Cream-coloured curtains and a white tiled floor partly covered with beige carpets. A corner for drinking tea with two sofas that looked heavenly soft even from a distance. And then the huge bed with mountains of pillows and above it the peach-coloured cloths of the canopy. The room was even more noble than that of her sister Aria. Even a princess would feel at home here. And all this she could now call her own. It had to be a dream, she couldn't explain it any other way.
"I hope it is to your satisfaction. Of course, you can also arrange for changes." Ramas snapped her out of her thoughts again with this remark and she immediately shook her head. "It's beautiful."
"I have also taken the liberty of getting some dresses and jewellery for you. You can choose the rest yourself. If you want to go into town, you just have to let the butler know, otherwise we can have a dressmaker come."
It was all getting a bit much for Celia. "I already got some new clothes on the way here. I don't need that many."
Ramas looked at her for a moment, confused. "Lady Celia, these were just plain travelling dresses. You alone need several dresses per season. Add to that the fact that they should always be in fashion. You will have to deal with the highest circles and will be under constant observation."
Celia blushed slightly. She hadn't thought of that at all, how naive of her. She was so used to having no money that she was easily overwhelmed by all the luxuries. Only now did she realise how superficial her education had been.
Her discomfort did not go past Ramas either. "Lady Celia, if you wish I can find you a teacher. The position of grand duchess entails considerably more tasks than that of a count's daughter. It is quite normal that you do not know everything from the beginning."
Celia nodded gratefully. Sometimes the secretary reminded her of Lora, but he clearly had more tact.
"If you will excuse me, I will go and see the Grand Duke. You can rest for now. I will then send your new maids upstairs when dinner is ready." He indicated a small bow and then left the room.
As soon as she was sure that he would not come in again, she threw herself onto the large bed. It was even softer than expected and within a few minutes she was asleep.
+++
After Ramas had left his new mistress's room, he went straight back downstairs and to the Grand Duke's study.
Without knocking, he entered the room and found his old friend sitting at his desk. "You could have told me that she didn't get an extensive education," he blurted out.
Alek supported his head with one hand and just looked at him, unimpressed. "I thought you would have noticed."
"But I've hardly spoken to her!"
"Well, that seems to have changed," Alek replied and Ramas noticed his blood pressure rising. "I could have saved the lady the humiliation and got her a teacher directly. She didn't even know how important it was to dress well."
Suddenly a knife flew past him and stuck in the door directly behind him. "Are you calling my fiancée stupid?" he heard Alek growl menacingly. "She can dress however she wants to. If even one person dares to laugh at her, he'll see what he gets out of it."
Right, I forgot that I was having a discussion with a child.
Ramas breathed in and out calmly a few times and then corrected his posture. "Your Grace, I would never consider the lady stupid." Even if her taste in men is highly questionable.
"All right. Make sure she gets the best teacher. It won't be long before she receives her first invitations. Until then, however, I want my engagement to remain a secret as long as possible. I don't want her to feel pressured. Share this with the butler as well, tell him to inform the servants."
"Of course. Can I also tell him whether the lady will be dining opposite you or next to you today."
A short silence, then the Grand Duke pretended he had to look through some documents. "I will not be attending the dinner."
Ramas raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "I see. Then can I at least let Lady Celia know when you intend to show her around the estate?"
More silence, followed by the rustling of paper. "I'll leave it to you or the butler to show her around."
Well, he hadn't expected that. "May I ask how this silly... please forgive me, I meant ridiculous decision came about?"
Now Alek finally looked up again. "You realise that both versions are equally offensive?"
"Oh, by no means, Your Grace! Ridiculous is clearly worse than silly."
Disapprovingly, a soft "ts" escaped the Grand Duke and he got up to stand by the window. "She has been avoiding me," he admitted grumbling, his back turned to Ramas.
The latter did not know whether to laugh or cry. "I don't think it's because she's afraid of you," he tried to reassure his friend.
"What do you know about women," Alek laughed out loud and immediately the little bit of pity Ramas had felt a moment ago fizzled out. "I guess that is true, when you work for a tyrant there is no time to get to know women. I'll probably die a lonely old man." Just like you if you continue to ignore your fiancée. But he didn't tell him that directly. It wasn't his problem should he mess it up with her, after all. He had at least tried to warn him. "I will take care of the maids for Lady Celia then. Which, just like everything else, is not one of my actual duties, nor do I get paid for it", he reminded him.
The Grand Duke did not even turn around and only waved his hand to finally shoo him out of the room.
Ramas stopped in front of the door and pulled out the knife that had just missed him by a hair's breadth. He looked at all the holes in the wood and sighed inwardly. A few more and I will have to buy a new door again.