Chapter 37
“It almost sounds like you’re saying that for someone’s benefit.”
“Oh my. Surely not. How could that be? Since these tea cups belong to Your Grace, you’re free to use whichever ones you like. I only meant that it’s a shame these lovely pieces never get touched.”
Amid the intimate conversation between the two, Ines cautiously opened her mouth.
“Is it really alright to show me all of these precious items? I’m a little worried.”
She meant that if one of them were to break, it would be a disaster, so perhaps they should be returned to the display cabinet.
Besides, listening to an explanation about every single tea cup displayed on the table would take more than an entire day, so Ines was genuinely troubled.
Hoping the head maid would somehow stop Cedric, Ines looked to her for help.
However, the head maid beamed brightly and mercilessly shattered Ines’s expectations.
“Of course. After all, you’ll soon become the mistress of the House of Angel.”
At the head maid’s innocent remark, Cedric let out a helpless chuckle.
Wasn’t she the very one who had told him not to pressure the young lady?
They weren’t even engaged yet, so calling her the mistress of the house was rather premature.
However, the head maid completely ignored Cedric’s gaze.
Instead, she turned an even kinder smile toward the frozen Ines.
“Please choose whichever tea cup you like, Lady Greenwood. That way, the next time you visit the ducal residence, we can prepare your tea in it.”
Unlike Cedric, the experienced head maid did not force the matter.
Instead, she naturally spoke as though Ines’s continued visits to the mansion were already an established fact.
At those refined words, Ines’s lips sealed tightly together.
‘Well done.’
The head maid smiled softly after giving Cedric a slight nod in response to his subtle glance.
She was quick-witted.
Otherwise, she could never have become the head maid of such a great household.
She thought that although the Duke was capable in every other regard, he became like an immature boy experiencing first love whenever he was in front of this young lady.
If she didn’t help him, who would?
After the head maid urged her once more, Ines finally had no choice but to choose a tea cup.
However, her hesitation lasted only a moment.
As she looked over the familiar tea cups, warmth gradually filled her eyes.
After getting married, the head maid had served her tea every single day in a different tea cup.
The brightest and most peaceful moments of her life shimmered within the tea cups before her eyes.
There wasn’t a single one that didn’t hold cherished memories.
‘I never thought I’d see these again.’
The blue Royal Porcelain.
The Hapton Company tea cups adorned with vibrant red flowers blooming across a white background.
Ines slowly traced their rims with her fingertips.
To the head maid, that sight left a profound impression.
The way Ines looked at those objects was filled with longing, as though she had reunited with companions she had known for a very long time.
There was also unmistakable bitterness in her gaze.
***
It took quite a long time just to make one full tour of the Angel ducal residence.
That was exactly what Cedric had intended.
To spend a long time before horseback riding.
Or to spend so much time that horseback riding would no longer be possible.
And then secure another promise from Ines to visit again.
Eventually, there was only one place left that they had not yet seen.
The gallery that displayed only the most valuable works of art owned by the House of Angel.
Cedric was leading Ines there.
At that moment, the butler hurried toward them from the far end of the corridor and stopped before them.
“Butler? What is it?”
“My apologies, Your Grace. Someone has come from the House of Lords.”
Cedric frowned.
“I believe I instructed that no visitors were to be admitted today.”
“I conveyed that message, but they insist on meeting with Your Grace. They say it is an extremely urgent matter.”
“An urgent matter?”
“Yes.”
Even the butler, who knew how much Cedric had been looking forward to Ines’s visit, was far from pleased by the situation.
Feeling as though he had interrupted their time together, the butler’s expression darkened.
“Shall I tell them to return tomorrow? If you wish, I’ll relay your message.”
Cedric let out a deep sigh.
He wanted nothing more than to do exactly that.
However, several important matters came to mind.
While Cedric stood there in thought, Ines quietly took a small step backward.
Ever since arriving at the mansion, she had already been feeling troubled because Cedric had stayed by her side without leaving her for even a moment.
“Please go.”
“No. Sigh…”
“It’s really alright. I’ll continue looking around the mansion.”
Ines meant those words sincerely.
She didn’t know when she would ever have another chance to visit this place.
Every corner of the mansion was filled with happy memories.
However, there was no one left who could share those precious days with her.
If anyone heard her story, they would point at her and call her delusional.
She wanted to quietly sort through those memories by herself.
They had already faded into the past without leaving even a trace.
Yet they had undoubtedly once existed.
After hesitating for a moment, Cedric finally let out a long sigh and reluctantly spoke.
“Then please excuse me for just a moment.”
Having his time with Ines interrupted left Cedric in poor spirits.
Seeing him like that, Ines smiled faintly.
“Don’t worry about me. Please go.”
“Shall I have the butler or the head maid stay with you to keep you company? The mansion is quite large. You might get lost.”
“No. It’s alright. There should be maids somewhere. If I get lost, I’ll ask them. I simply want to walk alone.”
Cedric’s expression relaxed considerably after hearing Ines’s thoughtful words.
Just then, the head maid hurried toward them from the distance.
“Your Grace, a guest has arrived.”
At the head maid’s words, the butler quickly replied.
“I’ve already informed His Grace. Honestly, couldn’t they wait even a moment before urging you to come as well? The House of Lords must be in quite a hurry.”
The head maid widened her eyes and let out an exclamation as though she had just remembered something.
“Oh. Come to think of it, someone else arrived before them. My goodness. We certainly have many visitors today.”
“Someone arrived before them? Does that mean another guest has come?”
“Yes, Butler.”
The head maid nodded.
“It’s that painter from before. The one who made the tea cups that His Grace enjoys using.”
Carefully watching Cedric’s expression, the head maid relayed Adrian’s message.
“He says he would like to show Your Grace a newly completed work. What shall we do?”
“I’m too busy today. Tell him to come back another time.”
Cedric answered immediately, as though the matter wasn’t even worth considering.
There was nothing unusual about it.
Artists sponsored by the House of Angel had often visited the ducal residence to present their latest works.
Whether their hidden motive was gratitude for the Duke’s support, repayment for his patronage, or simply a means of obtaining even greater favors, countless people had done the same before.
Adrian was merely one of them.
Cedric had no desire to interrupt his time with Ines just to meet an artist of no particular importance.
“He came without even making an appointment. I’ll make sure to give him a proper warning.”
The butler nodded in agreement.
Although he had already explained the proper etiquette, Adrian had apparently not yet become accustomed to noble society’s customs and had recklessly appeared without notice.
The irritation in the butler’s voice was unmistakable.
Had it not been for Ines’s letter of recommendation, he would never even have known such an unknown painter existed.
The landscape of Lake Verota painted on a small canvas certainly revealed extraordinary talent.
Even so, it was only a single painting.
There had been painters of this level before.
No one knew how much he might grow in the future.
But for now, he was merely an insignificant novice.
Cedric was just about to tell the butler to do exactly that without another thought.
Then Ines’s voice reached his ears.
“Um, Duke Angel?”
Ines asked Cedric,
“By ‘the painter,’ you mean the one I wrote the letter of recommendation for, correct?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“If it’s alright with you, could you invite him here?”
Surprised by the unexpected request, Cedric silently looked at Ines.
His gaze seemed to ask for an explanation.
Ines cautiously spoke.
“I heard he has been doing well since receiving the House of Angel’s sponsorship. But since he was someone I personally recommended, I’m curious about how he’s been.”
“Very well.”
Why would he refuse?
Cedric immediately gave permission.
His annoyance toward Adrian for arriving unannounced without proper etiquette had already vanished completely.
If it could relieve Ines’s boredom, then he could easily overlook such a minor discourtesy.
He was only a mere painter.
But if Ines liked him, that was an entirely different matter.
“That’s true. Since you haven’t met him since then, it’s only natural that you’d be curious about how he’s been doing. This works out well. It won’t take long. I’ll deal with this matter quickly and come back, so please enjoy the gallery together. Adrian is quite knowledgeable about art, so he’ll make good company.”
Since Ines had thought highly enough of Adrian to write him a letter of recommendation, it was only natural that she would wonder how he had been.
After hearing her explanation, Cedric ordered the head maid to bring Adrian there.
The head maid immediately nodded and hurried down the corridor to fetch Adrian.
“Then I’ll settle this matter and return shortly. Please wait just a little longer, Miss Ines.”
“Yes. I’m perfectly fine, so please take your time.”
Cedric forced himself to move his reluctant feet.
With irritation still lingering on his face, he asked the butler,
“Where is the guest now?”
“I’ve asked them to wait in the drawing room.”
Running a hand through his hair, Cedric thought to himself that if this turned out to be something trivial, he would make a strong protest to the elders of the House of Lords for interrupting hi
s time with Ines.
As Cedric gradually disappeared into the distance, Adrian was slowly making his way toward the gallery from the opposite end of the corridor, guided by the head maid.
