Chapter – 22
Before she knew it, a week had passed.
As usual, Psyche spent her days idly inside the mansion—but one day, she received a visitor.
She went out to the front of the mansion and watched the carriage approaching the main gate.
The reddish-brown carriage bore the crest of the Fulhium family.
After the carriage stopped in front of the mansion and the coachman stepped down to open the door, Mia Fulhium alighted, smiling brightly.
“Thank you for inviting me, Duchess. I’m so happy to be here.”
“I should be the one thanking you for coming, madam,” Psyche replied with a gentle smile.
A week ago, when she had told the Marchioness to come by for tea anytime, Mia Fulhium had promptly replied, insisting on meeting again in exactly one week.
Psyche had worried that it might have been a mere courtesy, but seeing Mia’s lively demeanor, she couldn’t help but smile softly.
Mia hadn’t pressed her about what had happened in the salon or given her an unpleasant look about Warren.
That alone put Psyche at ease.
After Anna, she wondered if there was anyone else who treated her so freely.
Mia cheerfully said that she had brought along poetry books that Psyche would surely enjoy.
Just as Psyche was about to welcome her warmly into the mansion, another person stepped out of Mia’s carriage.
“This person is…?”
Psyche’s eyes widened as she looked at the woman.
Her long red hair flowed down past her hips, and her emerald-green eyes sparkled.
She wore a dress that accentuated her voluptuous figure.
Mia stood beside her and said warmly,
“Sorry I didn’t tell you beforehand, Duchess. This is my niece, Seyla. She’s from the Sherman family.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Honestly, I had planned to come alone, but she insisted on meeting you. She’s clever, so she won’t cause any trouble. And having just the two of us for tea would have been rather lonely, right?”
Mia apologized repeatedly for bringing extra guests, but Psyche smiled and said it was fine.
“I wouldn’t mind making more friends here in the capital. I should be the one thanking you. You’re both welcome to visit often.”
Then Seyla, who had been standing next to Mia, stepped forward to face Psyche.
Seyla was slightly taller than Psyche, and her gem-like green eyes were framed by thick lashes.
“Miss Seyla Sherman. Please feel free to call me Seyla,” she said with a soft smile, revealing deep dimples in her cheeks. She had a charm that could easily influence the social circles of the capital.
She seemed to share Mia’s lively personality.
Since Mia had brought her, Psyche assumed that Seyla must also be a remarkable and adorable young woman.
“She has just come of age. I hope you’ll teach her many things,” Mia added.
“Teach…? I’m still quite lacking myself,” Psyche replied modestly.
“That’s exactly the humility we hope Seyla will learn from you,” Mia said.
The three of them entered the mansion.
A long and grand hallway stretched before them, lined with artworks that carried great history or were taken as spoils of war from enemy nations.
Feeling slightly excited at the thought of guiding two friends through the mansion, Psyche asked,
“Miss Sherman, this is your first time visiting the duke’s mansion, right? Have you attended your debutante ball?”
“Yes, at the last gala,” Seyla replied.
“I had the honor of acting as your chaperone,” Psyche said.
Seyla’s eyes scanned the mansion curiously, as if taking in every detail.
They walked a little further to reach the drawing room at the end of the hallway.
As Psyche reached the door and instructed the maid to open it, she paused and glanced back.
Seyla was standing in front of another door, some distance away.
“Miss Sherman, this way,” Psyche called.
Seyla slowly turned her head toward them and walked over to where Psyche and Mia were standing.
Psyche, puzzled, asked,
“Were you curious about another room?”
“Yes, there are so many rooms,” Seyla replied.
It seemed her attention was elsewhere.
Her elongated eyes and emerald gaze swept around before she asked,
“Is the duke not at home?”
“Pardon?”
“I don’t think I’ve seen him. He hasn’t come out?”
Psyche looked a little flustered and hesitated, unable to answer immediately. Mia lightly scolded Seyla.
“Why are you curious about the duke?”
“Well, it’s natural to be curious. He’s the master of this mansion, after all,” Seyla replied confidently, continuing to look around.
Psyche awkwardly smiled and said,
“The duke is always busy. He’s probably in his study dealing with paperwork even now. He usually only gets to his bedroom at dawn…”
She trailed off, realizing that she hadn’t actually had a proper conversation with him since returning from the salon a week ago.
They ate separately, and she wasn’t even sure if Ikali was truly in his study.
Even though they lived under the same roof, they were so unaware of each other—it was slightly embarrassing to realize.
Seyla, on the other hand, took a deep breath through her nose, nodded after a moment, and then entered the drawing room with a disinterested look.
The tea party lasted about two hours.
Hearing that it was the lady of the house’s first tea party, Anna and the others prepared diligently.
Mia admired the Earl Grey-flavored pastries.
“Oh my, I heard these desserts are limited to seventeen orders in the capital. Lady, you are quite resourceful.”
“My maid managed to get them. She’s very capable,” Psyche said with a gentle smile. Anna, standing against the wall, discreetly puffed up her shoulders, clearly proud of her efforts for the lady’s first tea party.
Mia looked on, clearly pleased.
“You seem to be doing well, but is it hard adjusting after coming from Doson?”
“No, not yet.”
“But if you ever have any trouble or need anything after coming to the empire, tell me. I might be able to help,” Mia said.
“…Is that really okay?” Psyche asked, surprised. Mia added that she had come specifically to say this.
“Of course it’s okay. You moved so far from your homeland to get married… helping you is only natural. I, too, married into a foreign land, so I wanted to become friends with you.”
Psyche, surprised by the kindness, looked at her, her cheeks coloring slightly as she lowered her gaze.
Mia found her reaction even cuter.
Since then, Mia and Seyla visited the duke’s mansion often.
Two or three times a week, their visits kept Psyche from being overly gloomy or bored.
“Well, this girl insisted on seeing the Duchess again. She’s so stubborn, I must say,” Mia explained.
“I’m very glad and pleased,” Psyche replied, smiling warmly at the now-grown Seyla.
Mia explained that her niece had insisted on visiting often, even if it was a bit rude.
Seyla, like Mia, was originally from Nixsen, but had already had her debut in the empire and even considered marrying an imperial gentleman.
Yet she continued visiting the lonely duke’s mansion rather than attending social events with other men.
Psyche wondered if the otherwise cold-looking Seyla was genuinely interested in her.
As Psyche was about to guide them comfortably to the drawing room, Seyla suddenly asked,
“Can we do something other than just stay in the drawing room today?”
“What did you have in mind?”
“Perhaps walking around the mansion. I heard there are some wonderful gardens here. It would be nice to get some fresh air. Staying in one room is boring,” she said.
Psyche let out a small sigh. She realized that keeping them confined to the drawing room to avoid encountering Ikali might have been too restrictive.
She hesitated for a moment, glancing out the window.
‘It should be fine. Ikali is probably working, and he wouldn’t mind me spending time outside or with others.’
After a brief pause, she decided to show them the gardens.
“Very well. Please follow me.”
Seyla, who had been sulking, now smiled broadly in satisfaction.
Psyche instructed the maids to lay a sky-blue cloth for tea in the garden.
After touring the gardens named after the empire’s goddesses and the rose garden, the three of them sat down.
Watching the maids busy placing bread, jam, and chocolate cookies, Mia slightly scolded Seyla.
“Seyla, why are you wandering around when the Duchess is showing you the garden? Your manners are terrible.”
“What did I do, Aunt?”
Seyla, wrapping her shawl around her shoulders, pouted. Psyche smiled awkwardly.
“See, Lady, you were also curious when you first saw the garden,” Psyche said.
“Exactly. You did the same, didn’t you?” Seyla said, giving Mia a sidelong glance.
Mia, finding even this frivolous, lightly scolded her, but to Psyche, it was obvious that she was a doting aunt.
