Chapter 8: The Return of the Cheister Family
A long procession of carriages had just entered the Elfengrin estate.
Leading the way was a dark gray carriage, followed closely by a white four-horse carriage.
At a glance, its lavish appearance clearly indicated that a high-ranking noble was inside.
Not long after the procession passed through the entrance, someone could be seen hurriedly running out from the manor.
As the carriage procession slowly moved along the outer edge of the large circular garden, the servants, with tense expressions, began adjusting their attire once more.
As the procession gradually closed the distance to the manor, Raymond emerged slowly from the front door.
Following Raymond down the steps, Robin caught the sharp gaze of his grandfather, Greig, who was already waiting, and quickly averted his eyes.
It was a silent rebuke for failing to properly attend to the master, but Robin felt unfairly singled out, knowing full well that the master wasn’t one to follow requests blindly.
As if timed perfectly, the moment Raymond’s steps halted, the procession stopped in front of the manor.
Typically, a footman would open the carriage door to greet the guests, but for some reason, Raymond, the master of the manor, stepped forward himself.
The procession had precisely positioned the second carriage, the most luxurious white one, directly in front of the manor’s center, and Raymond’s steps led him toward it.
When the door, adorned with ornate gold leaf patterns, was opened, a noblewoman in a deep green velvet dress smiled brightly at Raymond.
Raymond, too, raised the corners of his mouth in a smile as he looked at her.
“You must be tired from the long journey, Mother.”
“Ray, my son. You seem to have grown even more handsome in just a few days.”
Raymond offered his hand to escort her, and the noblewoman took it, stepping down from the carriage.
The woman who alighted was Eleanor von Cheister, the Dowager Duchess of the Cheister family, Raymond’s mother and the wife of the seventh Duke of Cheister.
The previous duke, Randler von Cheister, had died suddenly in a carriage accident during a trip with his mistress, whom he had been involved with even before marriage, leaving Eleanor an unfortunate widow.
Yet, even in the moment of receiving the tragic news, the duchess maintained her elegant grace and composure, a remarkable woman.
Some who delighted in others’ misfortunes whispered behind her back, saying, “With such a cold demeanor, how could the duke have had any room to stray?” Throughout the funeral, Eleanor didn’t shed a single tear.
But even this duchess had moments when she softened.
When she was with her only son, Raymond, whom she loved more than anything in the world, she became an endlessly happy mother.
Ironically, her son, who resembled his cold, neglectful husband in every way, was no obstacle to her love for him.
She loved her daughter Cecilia just as much, but her affection and trust for Raymond, her first child and always dependable, were especially profound.
“Mother, anyone would think we hadn’t seen each other in months.”
Cecilia, who had just stepped out of the carriage, shook her head at the overly affectionate reunion.
Raymond’s close friend, Edward, who had been riding in the rear carriage, approached and escorted Cecilia.
“This girl always has to add something cheeky. So, are you saying you’ve seen a man more handsome than your brother?”
“To you, Mother, Brother is obviously the most handsome man in the world, so what does my opinion matter?”
Right? Cecilia, with a sweet expression completely different from her earlier sharp tone, glanced at Edward beside her.
Eleanor, looking at Cecilia with an exasperated expression, soon turned her gaze toward the servants who had come to greet them.
“Greg! Charlotte!”
Her voice rose with excitement at seeing familiar faces after months.
As Eleanor quickly approached them, the servants bowed in unison.
“My lady, it’s good to see you well. We’re delighted to see you in the same healthy state as when you left,”
Said Charlotte and Greig, who had faithfully served Eleanor since her first arrival at Elfengrin.
The two, who considered it an honor to serve their dignified and wise mistress, were genuinely happy to see her again after the season had passed.
Knowing their hearts, Eleanor warmly clasped Charlotte’s hands.
“With you all taking such good care of Elfengrin, I can travel with peace of mind.”
Well done, Eleanor praised them, and the two bowed once more.
“Hey, what about me? It’s been a while for me too, and I’m starting to feel left out.”
A prim voice came from behind, and Greig, standing beside Charlotte, greeted Cecilia and Edward next to her.
“Welcome, Miss, Sir Edward. You’ve grown even more beautiful in the meantime.”
“Greig, do you really mean that?”
Her angelic face bloomed like a radiant flower at Greig’s compliment.
Though both siblings were strikingly beautiful, standing side by side with Raymond, Cecilia’s beauty seemed almost intimidatingly amplified.
“Of course. I’m sure everyone would agree.”
Looking at the radiant young lady, Greig genuinely thought so.
Raymond stepped in to moderate the seemingly endless greetings.
“Alright, that’s enough greetings. Let’s continue inside.”
At a glance from Greig, the waiting footmen began unloading the Cheister family’s luggage from the baggage carriage.
The Cheister family ascended the steps leading to the manor, followed in order by the rest of the servants.
* * *
With the master’s family, absent all winter, finally reunited in full, Elfengrin overflowed with vitality, as if a curtain had been lifted.
All the servants of Elfengrin rejoiced at the return of the ducal family, creating an excited atmosphere.
But for some reason, the mood among the housemaids gathered at a corner table in the servants’ hall was unusually tense.
“The war begins tomorrow…”
Letting out long sighs, these maids remained seated even after the others, who had finished lunch in the servants’ hall, had left.
This afternoon, they were tasked with polishing the piles of silver and brass tableware on the table.
Among them was Deborah, diligently polishing the tableware.
“You were the one complaining it was too quiet, like an empty manor.”
At the teasing reprimand questioning her change of tune, the maid who had sighed earlier snapped back.
“It’s just a figure of speech! We’re all going to be worked to death until they leave in early summer. Are you saying you’re happy about it?”
“Who said that? You were all thrilled when His Grace came alone, but now that Her Ladyship and Miss Cecilia are here, you’re suddenly so gloomy. It’s just funny.”
At the pointed remark, the maid’s face flushed as if at a loss for words, and everyone giggled.
Amid the laughter and chatter, Deborah, who had only recently joined, was the only one unable to follow the situation, her eyes wide with confusion.
The maid sitting next to her, noticing her expression mid-laugh, spoke up as if understanding.
“The ducal family moves to their various estates every season. Unless something comes up, they usually return to Elfengrin, their main residence, from spring to early summer.”
The maid explained to ensure Deborah understood, though Deborah had already heard this from Hannah multiple times.
“While they’re away, the work mostly revolves around estate maintenance and cleaning, but when they return, it’s nonstop banquets, balls, and tea parties. With guests pouring in, the workload multiplies several times over.”
That’s why everyone’s like this, she added, and only then did Deborah understand the meaning behind their long sighs.
Nodding, Deborah saw a mysterious smile suddenly appear on the face of the maid beside her.
“You’d better brace yourself starting tomorrow. Miss Cecilia is a huge party enthusiast.”
“…?”
Once again, Deborah blinked in confusion, not understanding.
All that happened was the maids’ sighs growing even deeper.
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By Anna 💓
