Episode 2

After a while, one of the maids brought Olivia a tray heaped with pastries and tea. Having served the tea, the maid was instructed to depart, allowing Olivia to dine in peace, unwatched by any onlookers.

Her table manners bore no resemblance to those of the highborn.

As a child, when her parents plummeted into bankruptcy, no one took the time to instruct her in the ways of ladylike conduct; her father was perpetually busy working with the scant staff that remained, and her mother, stricken with depression following their financial collapse, scarcely ever left her room, leaving Olivia without a model to emulate.

Most days, Olivia kept company with Anna, the sole remaining servant in the mansion after the rest had been forced to leave, with her father unable to pay them. Yet, Anna had elected to stay behind.

Olivia often aided with household chores, as Anna, overwhelmed by the workload, could not cope on her own. The few employees who stayed did so because they had nowhere else to go; they opted to remain in exchange for sustenance and shelter. With every valuable possession sold off, her father just managed to keep paying their wages with the meager earnings from his fiefdom.

Yet, the situation spiraled into an insurmountable crisis when a blight ravaged their lands, prompting her father to arrange a marriage for her.

As Olivia bit into an apple tart, she pondered, "I can only assume that now that I am married and have received a substantial sum of money, things at home must be improving."

Post-meal, fatigue washed over Olivia, and she reclined on her bed, swiftly succumbing to sleep. Later, a maid summoned her to dinner, and Olivia descended to the dining room feeling a thrum of nerves. She wondered if she would finally encounter the formidable Duke she'd heard so much about, but he hadn't yet returned and would not be joining her for supper.

Upon learning she would dine alone, relief coursed through her.

When seated, a seemingly endless parade of scrumptious dishes arrived at the table, eliciting a mouthwatering response from Olivia.

Faced with a bewildering array of cutlery, she succumbed to confusion over which to use.

Eventually giving in, she took to the food with her hands, surely a shocking sight to the butler, who could offer only a stern look of censure. Olivia ignored him and continued eating ravenously.

The flavors were unparalleled; the meat, tender and succulent, melted on her tongue, leading her to eat to her fill.

Having dined to contentment and with the night air inviting, Olivia stepped out for a garden stroll. The gentle breeze tousled her hair, and the moonlit garden was a sight to behold. After her walk, she returned to her room where two maids had prepared a luxurious rose petal bath complete with fragrant essential oils.

Despite Olivia's insistence, there was no dissuading the maids from assisting with her bath. Afterwards, they garbed her in a lovely lilac nightgown of mysterious origin—surely not her own—then carefully braided her hair. With their task complete, they left her to solitude.

Gazing in the mirror, Olivia puzzled over the provenance of the nightgown, a vestige of elegance from a life now foreign to her.

She awaited the Duke that night, but he never came, and she fell asleep.

Come morning, the maids awoke Olivia and helped her into a voluminous and cumbersome blue dress adorned with white frills. Though she detested the encumbering attire, her new station as the Duke's wife necessitated its wear.

Navigating her way to the breakfast room led to a toppled vase and near tumbles courtesy of the cumbersome dress. Anxiety clung to her, with the impending introduction to the Duke awaiting her.

Upon her arrival, the butler's announcement prompted Olivia's awestruck silence; the man before her exceeded every rumor of his handsomeness. Serene, feline features framed hazel eyes whose golden flecks demanded attention. His jet-black hair, pale skin, and immaculate visage made him seem otherworldly.

The allure of his beauty explained the clandestine desires held by some women, despite there being a palpable fear that barred nobles from offering their daughters, fearing his retribution.

As the whisper of an old rumor surfaced — of a young noble's misstep leading to the ruin of her entire family — Olivia's awe remained fixed until the butler's nudge snapped her from her reverie.

"My lady, please be seated," he urged.

With a blush, she obliged, "Oh! Yes."

As she seated herself, servants swiftly set breakfast before them. Faced with the refined Duke and a loss for words, Olivia sipped only fruit juice, her hunger gnawing at her.

The Duke's elegant dining contrasted sharply with her own lack thereof. Observing her untouched food, he inquired, "Does the meal not please you?"

Olivia, flustered yet fearful, managed to reply, "What? No... it looks delightful."

"Then why do you not eat?"

Her head bowed in shame, Olivia confided her rudimentary table manners were likely unbecoming in his presence.

He reassured her nonchalantly, "Mm... eat as you wish; that is of no concern to me."

Relieved and grateful, Olivia believed the Duke might not be as fearsome as rumored.

"Thank you, my lord," she acknowledged, then indulged in the exquisite meal.

The Duke watched Olivia briefly before resuming his own meal. Once finished, he departed, leaving Olivia to linger and enjoy the remainder. Afterwards, she ventured into the daylight garden — starker than its nocturnal counterpart yet striking in its own right.

The day was too splendid to tarry indoors, so Olivia enjoyed the tranquility beneath a willow, recalling how, during her life before, never was there leisure to savor such moments. Now, things were different; she planned to relish this newfound freedom.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***