The Grand Duke remained silent for a long while even after I had regained my senses. His red eyes focused solely on the papers in his hands as his long callosed fingers flipped gently through them. Probably perturbed by my insistent stare, he gazed up at me with cold eyes. His hands stopped flipping through the pages of the documents, instead he motioned for me to come closer.
"Huh?" I turned to my side to confirm if I was really the one he was calling for. Seeing that we were the only people present in the room, I stepped forward with my eyes, staring down at the rugged floor. It was already rude enough to fall into reverie while staring into a noble's eyes.
"Your Grace."
"Sit." He ordered in a calm voice. However, I dared not - a servant could not sit in the presence of their master, that too, on a chair provided for special guests. Even when I took on the identity of crown prince, I couldn't sit in the presence of the queen, such atrocity was punishable by death.
"Thank you, Your Grace." I refused in the most polite way.
"I don't want to repeat myself." His cold red eyes glared at me, and his assertive voice left no room for objections.
I sat half-heartedly, making sure I sat upright so my back do not touch the backrest.
The Grand Duke stared at me for a while before looking away, "I heard you want to become my personal servant." He spoke.
The fear I felt almost turned into full-blown anger, who said I wanted the position of personal servant?
"You could be a spy, or an assassin sent to kill me."
What was he saying? Why would I work for him just so I could kill him one day?
"Your information states that you were a Belonian." He glanced at me and then back at the papers.
"Yes, Your Grace." I didn't deny it. My hair alone was proof. I was already grateful for the fact that he didn't mention my identity as crown prince.
"That's more reason for you to want to kill me. And you met the crown prince before coming to the Duchy."
I didn't meet any crown prince but I met the king. Or was he referring to the defeated crown prince of Belonia? Which was still me anyway.
"I didn't meet any crown prince on my way, Your Grace."
"You didn't meet Crown Prince Perez on your way? What blatant lie." He murmured the last part to himself, "Lying to my face is a sin. However, an enemy you know is better than a friend you don't." He murmured again, softly tapping his fingers on the table.
He leaned back and pulled out a box from under the table, he then pushed the wooden box towards me, "Open it."
I did just as he commanded but the thing inside the box was not what I had expected, what did I even expect at first? The object that shared the same colour as my hair was none other than a dagger; a small silver dagger. Do the Grand Duke want me to end my own life? It would probably be too much of a hassle for him to do it himself.
However, I was not surprised, just quite shocked that I'd be dying as soon as I met the Grand Duke, how would I escape from such-
"Keep it. From now on, you're my personal servant."
Huh?
The shimmering silver dagger was proof that I just became the Duke's servant... without any problematic situations or any death warrant, just like that.
"Is there something you wish to ask?" He asked, as if reading my mind.
I had a lot to ask, but one question suddenly popped up, it may be too personal for him to answer, and I might even loose my head for asking such question. But I still persisted, contrary to my own expectation, "C-Can I bring an unofficial servant over from the annex?" However, the question I asked was not the question I wished to ask.
"You won't be doing much so you won't need assistance." Came his consise reply.
"Yes, but I mean can I let an unofficial maid come visit me?"
"Your wife?"
"No." Why would he even think that?
"Fiancée?"
"No." My face reddened. It felt like I was being teased by Melanie.
"Don't bring a woman into the Duchy. If you want to meet a woman, then meet her outside, don't let me catch sight any unofficial servant."
My question had already been answered even without me asking it directly. The Grand Duke for whatever reason, despised women. I hurriedly looked down, if he ever finds out who I am, not only would I be killed, but in the most gruesome way possible. I must never be found out.
****
After our first meeting, I didn't see the Grand Duke for two whole weeks, which could be considered a good thing, therefore, I was stuck in the Duchy, simply idling around.
I spent some time, helping the servants in the kitchen, I personally cleaned the Grand Duke's room too, even though he was never around, but I spent most of my time in the library with Lorain. His job in the Duchy was something I could not understand since he always had free time, but I never really cared to pry deep.
"Here, read this too." He placed a colourful book on the table.
"Why should I read this?" I glanced at the book and my nose scrunched up when I read the romantic title and the romance tag under it, "Not interested." I pushed it back to him. Why would a man even read something like that?
"You only read books about history or diplomacy, are you perhaps planning an usurp?"
I glanced at him briefly before looking away. So far, majority of the people I have interacted with since Belonia fell always thought that I would fight to regain my Kingdom's honour one day. What childish thought.
"Sigh, you're no fun." Lorain added when he didn't get the answer he had hoped for.
"Ciel, come out quickly! The Grand Duke has returned." The butler announced from outside.
I quickly jerked up and ran to the door but paused in my tracks and turned to Lorain, "Are you coming?"
"Why should I?"
"Tsk." I opened the door and ran out without sparing him another glance.