"Your grace, the tailor you requested for has arrived"
"Thank you hannah let's go meet them." I thought things with hannah would be bad but the next morning she apologized on behalf of her husband and even told me not to go easy on him. Calling him an 'idiot' multiple times. It made me happy knowing she wasn't hostile to me now.
"Do you know where sarah is?"
"Maria said she would be taking the week off to get used to things before she resumes her duties" sarah seems to be adjusting well, that's good.
"Hurry, her grace will be here soon." I heard that she was engaged to a prince so her taste in clothes must be high quality. I must prove myself to the new duchess and show her that runan is not to be looked down on.
"We must show the duchess how sophisticated we are in runan"
"Yes madame, your clothes are the best in the empire"
The door opened slowly and the rumors about her beauty were an underestimation. She looked as if a goddess had descended. Her gold curls, her green eyes filled with knowledge and the air of elegance around her. I heard she just came of age, who would believe that with how sophisticated she looks.
"Greetings your grace, i Sofia Tama am glad to be in your presence "
"Thank you miss Sofia, I'm sorry i called you out here on such short notice" even her voice is elegant.
"Its an honour that i get to serve someone as elegant as you your grace"
I can not believe what I'm seeing. I heard that runan is the only place that allows it's women to wear pants without prejudice so how does the duchess know so much about them. To think she went out of her way to learn about something so trivial. Runan must be favored by the heavens.
"These pants are incredibly warm, it thought the fur inside them would be itchy but they are incredibly soft and comfortable, i love them. Thank you"
"It was my honor your grace, if you would have me, I would love to be your exclusive tailor going forward. I may not have the best skills but I will do my best to make sure you always look best"
"That sounds lovely, thank you madame sofia"
"These pants are really amazing, she must have worked very hard to make them."
"Hoho..... you are right your grace and I think it would be a crime if no one else saw them." Stella had this mischievous look on her face as she grinned in hannahs direction.
"Thats true your grace, come to think of it you have not been to town yet. How about we go out today" I wonder what schemes they are concocting now.
"I heard his grace was free all afternoon today, maybe he could take you to town for a date" aha so this was the silly plan. I couldn't help but grin at their silliness. I would l9ve to go with theodore but I need to keep my distance.
"My love is too busy, maybe next time. But visiting the town sounds like a good idea." I could see the disappointment on their faces but I refuse to back down. I'm trying my best to calm my racing heart especially since he has been trying his best to seduce me this past few days. It's not like I mind it though. A sexy long silver hair and blue eyed eye candy flirting with me, please sign me up.
"Yes, your grace i will get that ready" is he pouting? How could steven be acting so cute at that age.
We went around town in a carriage as Steven and hannah tried their best to be the best tour guide. Taking me to the most famous Cafe, boutique and jewelers. I wanted to check out how the people lived but I didn't want tramp on their efforts to give me a good tour.
We went into the market and I was so grateful I had pants on. For a duchy covered in snow and so cold, the people are so happy. Most of them were so excited to meet the new duchess even going as far to give me free things. It was a new emotion I hadnt felt in so long, it felt like contentment. I never knew I would feel so comfortable having so many eyes staring at me.
Sarah would have loved it here. I should come here with her next time, how I wished I had explored more in the last 18 years. Would I have seen more beautiful sights like these?
Runan is so beautiful in winter covered in snow, it looks like a white oasis. I wonder how spring would look like. Standing at the top of a hill looking down into town from a snow covered field, it feels like i have truly been transported to another world.
"The duchy truly is beautiful. I can feel how much the duke loves this place"
"Well the dukes family has protected these lands for generations now."
"Protected? What do they need protection from?"
"From the monsters in the ariand forest, your grace" monsters? Monsters exist in this world. Huhhhhhh???? Since when? Well no fantasy story would be complete without monsters in the north but hold up, I know i'm very ignorant of the world but baroness Sally never mentioned this during our teachings. Huh?
"The monsters live outside the northern walls. His grace and the knights go there to reduce their numbers" now I remember, theodore has mentioned going to the northern walls a few times and I never questioned it as I just assumed it was one of his duties.
"You have nothing to worry about your grace, his grace and the knights are the strongest people in the empire so their missions are always safe. It's less of a battle and more of a massacre if i should be honest, even an idiot like my husband goes on those expeditions and comes back unharmed." I guess i must have had a worried look on my face
"Thank you hannah that puts my heart at ease" I'll send a letter to Clark once I get back to the castle. Why would baroness sally lie to me? What else did she lie about? How much of my lessons were true?
"Steven i think i may need a teacher." He looked at me questioning, because every noble child would get a teacher at the early age of 4. So asking for one must be such a strange request.
"I had one when I was younger, but as you may know not much is known about runan. I would like to learn the customs and cultures here"
"Hmmmmm, if what you need is someone to teach you about the duchy, i believe the previous duchess would be the best person to learn from, she should be back in less than a week" thats not fast enough. I need to send a letter to clark. Baroness Sally lied to me i need to know why.
"Thank you steven"
Going into town was so much fun, i'm glad i was able to enjoy such simple luxury.
"Clarisa" oh my he is so cute. Was he waiting for me to get back.
"My love" he pulled me into a hug.
"I heard you went into town, how was it?"
"It was sligtly overwhelming, everyone was so excited to meet the new duchess."
"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. Good job protecting my wife sir Andrew"
"It was an honor your grace"
"Did you already have dinner my love?"
"Not yet, should we " he extends his hands to escort me.
"So you want my mother to be your teacher. I'm sure she would be happy to teach you." I doubt his mother would feel any way for me. I'm happy he had good parents growing up though. That's probably why he treats me so well. I wonder how clark and Arabella are doing. I should address that to the letter in send.
"I'm glad your mother is a nice person. I can't wait to meet her. I didnt have the best relationship with the count and countess, so I'm not sure how to act around your parents" I don't know why I just told him that, i wonder what he would do when he finds out I'm an illegimate child. I heard the door open and shut as all the maids walked out.
"Thats not your fault clarisa, I'm sorry that happened to you. Unfortunately not all parents deserve children and the Dumonts seem to be one of them" he put his hand on mine squeezing lightly.
"I don't think you would say that if you knew the truth" is this really a dinner conversation? Why am I even saying all this.
"Why would you think i would treat you differently because of your parents?" He looked hurt like I just said something wrong.
"Its because i'm a despicable dumont."
"Clarisa i don't care about who you were. I care about who I'm seeing right in front of me. The you who is looking at me right now. That's who I believe is the truth" not once did he avert his gaze, his eyes looked straight at me with conviction as he said every word. It made my heart ache as I knew I was deceiving him. This is the man i love, a man willing to believe in me against all odds.
***********At the Palace********
"Your highness, you asked for me"
"Nathan, did I receieve any letter from the north?"
"Nothing yet your highness" dammit, why isnt she replying me. I heard that the duke killed his other fiancée. What if he has already killed her. Rubbing his temple as he felt his head ache. It's my fault, if I had just done the simplest investigation on her I would have realized that she was being abused. I may have been able to save her. It's my fault. If she dies I'm the one who killed her.
"Nathan send a letter to Runan requesting entrance." I need to make sure she is safe.
"Callus i'm sure she is fine. If something had happened to her it would be all over high society"
"Estella, what do I do? It's eating me alive. I feel so much guilt. I just need to make sure she is fine, then I'll be able to move on"
"Okay callus I'll ask the temple about it. They should have someone in runan that can give them any information "
"Really estella thank you. I love you so much, once this is all squared out we can go forward with our engagement ceremony " im so glad I'm have her by my side. I feel so reassured with her here.