章 11: 11. Preparation
The day was already very late, and Eleanor still hadn't arrived home. Her worried father waited at the mansion gate.
Henry, the Ashford family butler, saw Duke Ashford walking back and forth while waiting for his daughter and said, "My Lord... Please come inside. I will wait for My Lady here; the air is quite cold. If she doesn't arrive in 10 minutes, I will inform you."
He had repeatedly urged Duke Ashford to come inside, but Duke Ashford's response remained the same.
"No, I will wait for her myself. My heart can't be at ease, Henry," he said, massaging his forehead.
Duke Ashford's anxiety was not unfounded. Eleanor rarely went out, she only went out when there was a party with the presence of Crown Prince Lucas or when she visited the palace to meet the Crown Prince.
But her outings were always brief. This was because the Crown Prince always made excuses not to meet Eleanor, and at parties, she became the subject of mockery by the noble girls.
So she always came home early. However this time, Eleanor had been gone since morning, and she had yet to return.
When Duke Ashford was about to order Henry to send out knights to look for his daughter, Eleanor's carriage was seen approaching from a distance.
Henry breathed a sigh of relief, as he didn't have to turn the entire capital upside-down to find his young lady.
Upon Ellie's arrival at her mansion, she saw her father at the gate.
"Father, why are you outside? It's very cold out here, and you're not even wearing a coat."
"Haha, no need, my dear. I'm just getting some fresh air."
Henry, who followed them from behind, walked toward the mansion, a sad grimace on his face as he heard his master's words.
"By the way, where were you, Ellie?"
"Ah, I suddenly wanted to buy a Torta Cake, Father. It's been a while since I had one."
"If you wanted to buy a cake, you could have asked a servant. Why did you go yourself?"
"It tastes different when you eat it right there and then, and when you bring it home. Father, don't worry, I brought two knights with me."
"Alright, alright, my daughter."
"Um... Father, can I ask you something?"
"Just say it, as long as I can, I will grant your request."
"Can I have an increased monthly allowance?"
"Is your monthly allowance not enough? Henry, did you hear that? Allocate as much as Eleanor asks for."
"Very well, My Lord."
Henry was grateful for his young lady's change. At least now, Eleanor's eyes seemed alive. Unlike before, her eyes were empty, showing no sign of life. She never went out for a stroll, and all she cared about was the Crown Prince who didn't know how lucky he was.
So, Henry gladly complied with Duke Ashford's order to increase her monthly allowance if it could maintain the spark in her eyes.
As they were about to enter the mansion, a guard ran from the gate. Due to the considerable distance, his face was red and sweaty.
"Duke... ha... My Lord, there's an envoy from Grand Duke Caspian... ha... who wishes to meet you," he said, catching his breath.
"What are you doing in front of Lord Ashford? I think I should discipline you more."
"It's alright, Henry. Maybe because the guest is an envoy from Grand Duke Caspian, he was in a hurry to inform. Take him to my study."
Duke Ashford turned to Eleanor and said, "Ellie, I need to attend to a guest. Rest for a while. You must be tired."
"Father, I think this also concerns me. Why else would an envoy from Grand Duke Cassius come here if not for our marriage? And I believe I should accompany you to meet him, Father."
"Very well, let's go."
One thing that remained unchanged about his daughter was her stubbornness. If she had her eyes on something or wanted something, she wouldn't stop until she got it.
Ellie and Duke Ashford sat on the sofa in Duke Ashford's study. Then, Henry opened the door, announcing that the envoy was outside.
"Tell him to come in."
Then, a tall, muscular, blond-haired man with brown skin entered the room.
Ellie and Duke Ashford were both stunned when they saw him. He didn't look like an envoy, he looked more like... An experienced fighter who had been on the battlefield for years.
Max was slightly surprised to see Eleanor participating in this meeting.
After Cassius saw Eleanor approaching Hidden Hand, he ordered Max to visit Ashford Duchy to discuss the preparations for their wedding. However, Max had a different agenda.
He planned to sneak out after the meeting with Duke Ashford to see Eleanor's true face, which she always concealed in public.
How disappointed he was to see Eleanor even hiding her face when she was at home.
'I guess the rumors are true. Otherwise, why would she cover her face even when she's in her own mansion? Ah... My poor friend,' Max thought, his face grim.
Max greeted Eleanor and Duke Ashford.
"Good afternoon, Duke Ashford, Lady Ashford."
"Good afternoon, please have a seat. What brings you to our residence, Grand Duke's envoy?" Duke Ashford replied.
"I'm here to discuss the preparations for Lady Ashford and Grand Duke Cassius's wedding."
"Preparations? Shouldn't we wait for the Emperor, who is overseeing the wedding arrangements since it's a royal wedding."
Max snorted. What Duke Ashford had just said implied that he didn't desire this marriage.
'Even if you're not happy, can't you pretend to be happy to save face for Cassius,' he thought, furrowing his brow.
"In that case, what do we need to prepare for the wedding?" Ellie suddenly interjected, causing Max and Duke Ashford to both look at her.
Max was surprised that Eleanor seemed to approach this arranged marriage maturely, despite it being a political wedding.
However, contrary to what Max thought, Ellie believed that if they antagonized Grand Duke Cassius, the Emperor's hope to see them destroy each other would truly come to pass.
Therefore, she wanted to show genuine sincerity towards the Caspian Grandduchy as much as possible.
On the other hand, Duke Ashford felt sad seeing Eleanor discussing something that would determine her future as if it had nothing to do with her.
"Emperor has handed over all decisions regarding the wedding preparations to the Grand Duke. And the Grand Duke said you don't need to prepare anything except the Bride Gift. Everything else will be taken care of by the Grand Duke."
'Look at how attentive Cassius is to his bride, even though his bride is a stalker of Lucas,' Max thought sarcastically.
Max desperately wanted to utter those words, but he realized it would be impolite.
"Is that all?" Duke Ashford asked. He was surprised. Despite the various rumors out there about Eleanor, he didn't expect Grand Duke Cassius to personally handle their wedding.
It was as if Grand Duke wanted to show the nobles that he wasn't displeased with this marriage.
Cassius' position in his eyes rose a notch.
"Yes, that's all. And tomorrow, we will send Madam Astrid Voss to take Lady Ashford's measurements for the gown."
Ellie was completely taken aback.
According to Eleanor's memories in her head, Madam Astrid Voss was a designer who was difficult to book even for nobles of her father's status. She only created dresses and suits for royalty.
'Why is Cassius so enthusiastic and seemingly unbothered by marrying me? Maybe it's just for formality,' Ellie thought, finding it hard to believe that a man like Cassius would genuinely care for "someone" like Eleanor.
"Ah, yes. Tomorrow, we will also send the bridal gift to Caspian's mansion."
Duke Ashford didn't want to be outdone either. He planned to send the finest jewelry, a high-quality sword, diamonds, and some properties as Eleanor's bridal gift. So that no noble in this country would dare to look down on his daughter.
"Oh, and we will also send the dowry tomorrow along with the arrival of Madam Astrid."
For some reason, Ellie could sense the spark of competition in her father's eyes and the eyes of the envoy.
Ellie glanced back and forth between her father and the envoy. Then, she broke the unbearable silence.
"Very well. Is that all Grand Duke Cassius wishes to convey?"
"Yes, My Lady, and the Grand Duke hopes you can accompany him to one of the parties hosted by Marquis Hartwell."
Ever since Ellie arrived in this world, she had never once thought about how to socialize with nobles. She had also never touched the invitations to parties that were sent to her.
Once, Ellie read an invitation that basically expected her presence because a party without Eleanor is just like a circus without a clown.
Since then, she had been too lazy to bother with their sarcastic invitations.
"Very well. I will send my response through a letter," she simply said.
"In that case, as the evening is approaching, I shall take my leave. Thank you for your time, Duke Ashford, Lady Ashford."
Max stood up, gave his regards, and left through the door.
'I guess now it's time for me to go out and socialize to figure out who is an ally and who is a foe,' Ellie thought.
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