TM 05

Chapter 05…

What Kind of Man He Is

The dawn in the south came early and brightened quickly. The fatigue from the long journey clung to Lorelia’s body and refused to let go. She had fallen asleep almost the moment she lay down, as if under a spell. But she was startled awake by a gentle hand shaking her shoulder.

The first words out of her mouth as she shot up in surprise were:

“Breakfast!”

Her surroundings seemed to brighten in an instant.

“Am I late? I’m not, right? Please tell me I’m not!”

Alicia answered her anxious, desperate gaze with a laugh.

“Of course not, miss. You have plenty of time to get ready.”

Phew, thank goodness. Lorelia patted her chest in relief, then let out a sheepish laugh. As if they’d ever let her oversleep. She scolded herself under her breath as she threw back the light duvet covering her. The soft down comforter gave off a scent both unfamiliar and pleasant.

“Did you get some rest?”

“As you can see, I feel great. I slept like the dead.”

“I’m glad. I was worried you’d be too excited to sleep at all.”

“I thought I would be too, but the moment I lay down, I was out.”

“They say young people always sleep well. Apparently, it’s a sign of good health—body and mind.”

“Who says that?”

“My mother.”

“She’s right. Oh, by the way—has my father arrived?”

“Yes, miss. He came in late last night.”

Alicia nodded, her eyes gleaming with interest.

“Daniel said the Duke of Fervrante personally welcomed him.”

“My father?”

“Yes! They didn’t even raise the drawbridge until the lord arrived, and when your father reached the estate, the duke himself was waiting at the entrance. Even though it was very late at night.”

Lorelia’s eyes widened at the whispered story. Once night falls, the security of a noble’s castle tightens. Even if the lord is expected to return, raising the drawbridge after sunset is the usual rule. For the lord to personally wait up late at night to greet a guest—that was an extraordinary honor.

“Daniel said the duke’s reception was as if he were welcoming His Majesty the King himself.”

On Alicia’s face, Lorelia could clearly see pride. Treating Lancelot Hayes with such courtesy was also a sign of respect toward Lorelia’s family. As one of the domain’s people and the lord’s retainer, Alicia’s pride was natural.

“The Duke of Fervrante must be a very gracious man.”

“And, miss—”

Alicia was about to say something more when the head maid entered.

“The wash is ready, miss. We must hurry; time is short.”

“Alright.”

Lorelia exchanged a knowing look with Alicia, as if they were sharing a secret, then followed the head maid with a smile.

The bathroom was flooded with light as the curtains on the windows had been drawn back. The delicate patterns carved into the white marble tiles were clearly visible. It felt entirely different from last night.

When she had first seen the enormous golden bathtub the night before, Lorelia had nearly fainted from shock. More astonishing than the magically heated running water was the bathtub itself.

Surely it couldn’t be solid gold… The thought had nagged at her throughout her bath, and she’d even gently scratched at its surface with her fingernail. Of course, she couldn’t tell the difference between gilded and solid gold, but even a gold-plated tub was the height of extravagance.

A golden bathtub. Redder would never believe it even if she told him. She suddenly felt sorry for Lederhart, who had missed this magnificent sight because of his hunting trip.

“Even the washbasin is gold,” she murmured in awe, dipping her hands into the warm water.

The maid beside her let out a small, helpless laugh. “Even the toilet’s gold, miss.”

After washing up, the maids stepped in to dress her. They brought a white muslin dress that had been carefully prepared, tied the front knot, and pulled the ribbon tight to accentuate her narrow waist. They brushed her long, wavy hair and applied light makeup.

In Lorelai, unmarried women did not wear jewelry. Gems were symbols of a husband’s love, and a woman only wore them after accepting an engagement gift from a suitor.

“Mother looks so beautiful in sapphires,” Lorelia said as she admired her mother’s jewelry box after dressing.

Marilyn, with her black hair pinned up, wore a deep navy satin dress and a large sapphire necklace—an engagement gift from her husband, crafted by an artisan from Tricen, a land famous for its fine craftsmanship.

“You must be wanting something like this soon,” Marilyn said with a smile at her daughter, who shyly stared into the jewelry box.

The head maid, assisting Marilyn, chuckled and joined in.

“Who would dare give jewelry to our young lady? Anything they bring would pale in comparison to her own radiance.”

“Don’t tease me, Mrs. Meyer.”

“Tease? Everyone in the kingdom knows of Lorelia Lorelai’s beauty.”

The maid’s playful words made everyone laugh. Marilyn, however, silently studied her daughter’s reflection in the mirror. Her youngest was of marriageable age now. Her eldest daughter Elenia and her son Lederhart had both married before turning twenty. Lorelia was nearly twenty herself, yet to Marilyn, she still seemed so young.

Marilyn Hayes knew the true purpose of this trip. She had sensed it from the moment Cedric Glenn brought the invitation.

The invitation had been addressed only to the Lord and Lady of Lorelai and their daughter—not to Leder, the heir. The proud lord of Tricen personally sending a letter, the extraordinary reception for nobles with whom they’d had no prior dealings, and the five-day banquet at this estate—

All of it was for Lorelia.

“It’s ready, madam.”

Even after the maid withdrew, Marilyn remained seated for a moment. She looked at her daughter, who was waiting expectantly, ready to go.

What was her husband thinking? Was he planning to marry their daughter into this family? The eldest to a northern heir, and the youngest to a southern lord—spreading their bloodline across the continent?

Then what of Prince Albert?

“Mother?”

Lorelia’s voice snapped Marilyn out of her thoughts.

“…Yes. Let’s go.”

When she rose, her daughter smiled. Dressed in a pure white gown, Lorelia was breathtakingly beautiful—those clear, sparkling green eyes, untainted by any knowledge of the world’s dangers.

Marilyn knew nothing of the Lord of Tricen. She told herself that this vague unease she felt must be because of that.

Theobald Fervrante. She would soon learn what kind of man he was. If he proved dangerous in any way, they could simply leave in six days. She could write to the queen upon their return, proposing a quick marriage between her youngest daughter and the queen’s youngest son. Queen Celine would eagerly obtain the king’s approval, and the king would order the union.

“Where’s Father?”

“He’s already there.”

“Already?”

“He went to see the duke early this morning.”

“They must have become fast friends.”

Perhaps. Marilyn muttered to herself as they walked down the corridor. A servant led the way. Thanks to the thick, ornate carpets, their footsteps made no sound.

Did they lay this kind of carpet throughout the entire floor? A house where no footstep could be heard… Marilyn couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Despite the six of them—servants, Lorelia, Marilyn, and maids—moving together, there was not a single sound of footsteps. Lorelia marveled at the idea of carpeting the floors to muffle sound. Her feet sank softly, as if she were walking on clouds.

The breakfast room wasn’t far. It was just upstairs from the guest quarters. Lorelia was busy taking in the magnificent decorations along the spacious hallway. The arched ceiling was high and domed, creating a majestic feeling. She wondered how on earth they had managed to paint the elaborate ceiling murals so high above.

The walls were white and gold, gleaming with reflected light. Sunlight streamed through the massive windows on the left, and the mirrors lining the right wall reflected the light brilliantly. Gilded wall sconces and chandeliers adorned the hall; Lorelia had only ever seen such sparkling crystal chandeliers outside of the royal palace.

“Is my husband in the breakfast room?” Marilyn asked.

“Yes, madam,” the servant walking ahead replied. “Lord Hayes is with His Grace.”

Lorelia, who had been stealing glances at the ceiling, quickly straightened her posture. At the end of the hallway stood a large arched doorway flanked by two attendants. That must be the breakfast room. Her heart began to pound.

Why was she so nervous? And why did the dress feel so stifling today? She tried to breathe deeply, straightened her shoulders, and tucked in her chin.

Then the door before her swung open.

“Lady Marilyn of Lorelai and Lady Lorelia have arrived!”

The usher at the entrance announced their arrival. Following behind her mother, Lorelia lowered her gaze. She heard the scrape of heavy chair legs and then the steady sound of approaching footsteps. That was when she noticed—there was no carpet in the breakfast room.

“Welcome. We’ve been expecting you.”

The voice was half a span lower than most men’s.

It was like the sun. Deep, low, and resonant, yet gentle enough to not be intimidating. A grown man’s voice. Lorelia cautiously lifted her eyes.

She had never in her life seen hair that shone so brightly.

“Lady Hayes,”

The Lord of Tricen smiled as he approached Marilyn, bending slightly to extend his hand. Lorelia watched as he kissed her mother’s hand. His brilliant platinum hair seemed to pour like light itself.

“It’s an honor to host you.”

“Thank you for inviting us, Duke Fervrante.”

The man smiled sweetly as he met Marilyn’s eyes, then released her hand and turned to approach Lorelia. The closer he came, the stronger his scent grew—arborvitae, musk, and something like scorched wood.

“Lady Hayes.”

The moment their eyes met, Lorelia instinctively held her breath.