Episode 4

Olivia had spent the entire day in the garden, relishing the gentle breeze that meandered through the trees. She entered the house for lunch and returned to dine alone, as the Duke had been bogged down with work and then left.

In the afternoon, with nothing else to do, she requested a servant to show her the mansion. It was an undoubtedly incredible place, yet it felt somehow empty and chilled.

Olivia took the whole afternoon to tour it, and by dinner time, she was ravenous. She thought she would dine alone again, but on this occasion, the Duke was waiting to have dinner with her. As she entered the dining room, the Duke fixed his gaze on her, causing her to feel exceedingly nervous.

"Why is he looking at me like that?"

His stare was so intense she wanted to bolt, but she was terrified of his reaction if she fled.

The servants served dinner and then left, plunging them into an awkward silence.

Olivia began eating but was so uneasy that she could not enjoy the meal.

"Tomorrow a tutor will come to teach you etiquette."

"Ah... Thank you very much."

"I may have to travel north soon. If you need anything, you can ask Alfred."

"Will you be gone long?"

"I'm not certain yet."

"You're free to do as you please with your time as long as you don't leave the mansion."

"Yes..."

"If you receive invitations from nobles, you must decline them all. I've also ordered that if any nobles come to visit you, say your health is poor and you cannot receive them."

"Yes, my lord."

"You won't make your social debut until you have learned how to properly conduct yourself as a lady."

After dinner, the Duke rose from the table and secluded himself in his study. Before retiring to her room, the butler approached Olivia and informed her that the Duke would not visit her chambers that night.

This made Olivia feel relieved because she was very tired from wandering the mansion that afternoon. Thus, she went to her room, where two maids awaited to assist her in bathing and donning her nightgown.

They did as they had the previous night and then left her alone. Olivia was so exhausted that she fell asleep quickly.

The following day, the maids woke her and prepared a pink dress, even more voluminous and uncomfortable than the last.

Olivia breakfasted alone, the Duke being preoccupied. After eating, the butler took her to the library where the tutor was waiting with a pile of books for her to begin memorizing.

Learning it all was a real ordeal. Olivia was terribly bored. She couldn't even enjoy her meal because the tutor spent the entire time criticizing her poor use of cutlery and lack of manners.

What does he think they summoned him for, if not to teach me manners?

That was what Olivia thought but dared not say to the tutor, preferring to listen in silence.

The afternoon had been no better, as Professor Wilson grew impatient with her disinterest. Olivia was so bored that she even dozed off at one point.

When the butler finally announced that the Duke awaited her in the dining room for dinner, Olivia was overjoyed that those tedious lessons were done for the day.

Upon arriving, the Duke was already seated, and the maids began setting food on the table.

"How have your lessons been?"

"Very well, thank you for your concern, my lord…"

"As long as you are my wife, you'll want for nothing. You may command the house and all of the servants at will. If you require clothes, shoes, jewels, or anything else, you can tell Alfred to fetch someone from town."

"Thank you, my lord."

"I shall leave for the north in the morning and may be gone for a long while. Do try not to cause any trouble in my absence."

"Yes, I assure you there will be no complaints about me."

"That's good to hear."

After they finished dining, Leonard quickly retreated to his study as usual.

Before retiring, Olivia asked the butler to summon a dressmaker as she wished for less cumbersome and uncomfortable clothing, deciding to take the Duke at his word.

Olivia rose earlier the next day to bid the Duke farewell before his departure, but upon descending, the butler informed her that the Duke had already left.

Not that she particularly wanted to say goodbye; his presence always made her feel like a small rabbit in the clutches of a wolf. Nevertheless, as his wife, she was obliged to act accordingly.

She spent the day studying as she had before, leading to another exceedingly dull day, and come evening, Olivia was profoundly grateful to finally rest in peace.

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