I got down from the carriage as soon as we reached his estate. I had never been here before. It's not like I had never been here, but I had never been anywhere other than the Marquis mansion as I was always filled with classes. It was always my etiquette classes and history classes so that I wouldn't have any issues after my marriage managing my husband's place.
"Madam," I was still thinking when he opened the door and again extended his hand to escort me down the carriage.
I smiled and gave him my hand. I didn't know anyone here, but I could see the person who was standing in front of me in the black and white suit was the butler of the mansion. It was a dress code, so no way I would not know him.
"Welcome, duchess."
"We had less time to arrange things, so I think there will still be something which I have forgotten, but I hope you will still like this place just as much as you liked the Marquis place," he bowed down to me politely, which I had never experienced before.
I somehow felt embarrassed but still nodded.
"Please take good care of me," my voice kept on breaking as my throat kept on trembling when I was trying to speak. I didn't know why.
I didn't know if it was because I'm not good at interacting with people or with his being beside me, making me more embarrassed than I thought, but still, I was not feeling good. This feeling was no good I was having from this place.
I walked inside while holding the duke's palm.
I could hear people already starting to mutter seeing me, but I couldn't hear.
I looked at the duke. He still looked so freaking handsome just like before. But his cold expression still hadn't changed. Why? Didn't he like me? Maybe, but still, we had to get along well.
"What is it?" he caught me off guard.
"Ah, nothing," I looked away.
"If you are dissatisfied with something you can say," he said.
It hurt me even more.
He thought I was looking at this because I was not satisfied with what was going on around me. How? Couldn't he see how I kept glowing just looking at him? Or was I not showing enough?
"There isn't anything bad. Thanks for asking me, my lord," I couldn't believe I didn't raise my voice.
Was I being too skeptical? I wasn't sure, but his asking hurt me.
"Shall we go inside?" he asked me.
"Yeah," I replied while we went inside, and I found the entire hall was even wider than my place. It was so freaking high that if there were 10 of me, still, they wouldn't reach the height of the ceiling.
"Madam, you can go and rest in your room. We have already arranged everything," the butler said while a young lady came and led me toward my room. But I continued looking back at him as he was talking with the butler.
"Hey, what is your name?" I broke the ice.
"Oh, sorry, madam. I forgot to introduce myself."
"My name is Yuna," she said in a polite tone.
So Yuna, what are they talking about? Do you have any idea? I sure sounded like those mistresses who come to a new home and act like they need to get a hold of the household from the very first day, but... I couldn't stop thinking about their conversation as if I was interested in whatever conversation they were having.
"I'm not sure, madam," to my disappointment, I already realized.
"Oh, it is ok. I'm all nervous, so I just wanted to know to make myself feel relieved." I smiled awkwardly.
"As you wish, madam," she was acting like a complete doll.
She was replying to me whatever I asked. She was doing whatever I wanted her to do. It was as if she was completely manufactured, not born.
I kept looking at her until I reached in front of my room. As I reached, I told her to go. I entered the room. It was completely designed in blue color. The rugs were blue, as well as the bedsheet with the blanket. Even the curtains were blue, but all of this reminded me of the Duke's subtle blue-colored eyes which were not blue, but when something shining fell on his eyes, they shone like a dark blue diamond.
I was still looking everywhere when I heard a knock on the door.
I quickly turned to see when I found the head maid whom I saw at the entrance was standing there with a few more people with her.
"Welcome duchess to the Duke estate," she bowed, but she was looking at me like ... no, she wasn't even looking toward me, but her eyes were closed, but she still could look that way.
"Nice to meet you," I sounded like a teenager.
"I came here to introduce everyone."
She came forward and let me know the Chef and some caretakers of the estate. It took me a while to remember their names, but I had to. That is one of the lessons I got at my home.
"We hope we will get along well from now on," she sounded too well-taught.
"Yeah, I do hope the same," I smiled while they left.
Some even stayed to help me bathe.
"Madam, please let us know if you need anything else," one of them said while pouring lukewarm water on me. A gentle sweet smell came from the soap which reminded me of lemon, but lemon is not sweet. It is more like a mixture of something else, still, I liked it.
"Madam?"
"Madam?"
I almost fell asleep.
"Yeah," I answered.
"We prepared you for the first night with the Duke, so we are now excusing," just hearing about the first night made my face turn red.
"Ah, okay," I answered somehow while they left.
So, he and I would be together finally after so many hours, right?
Yeah, it had to be.
Finally, I could tell him how long I had been admiring him.