Lady Cinderella - Chapter 18

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Lady Cinderella, Chapter 18

If the Grand Duke truly stopped roaming the frontier to escape the Emperor’s harassment, he might end up marrying some respectable house’s gracious young lady, formally and in the open. If that day ever came, could I smile and sincerely congratulate him? Without realizing it, Ella set down her fork.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing.”
The Grand Duke was truly a good man. He listened to Ella’s words, which no one else would believe, and even moved his troops on the strength of her claims alone, with no evidence to back them up. He had helped her when she was in trouble, and he stood to gain nothing from it. No matter how high-handed Baron Lloyd might be, he could never win against the Grand Duke.
One year and five months remained until she turned twenty. For this long yet short stretch of time, she could stay by his side. He had been kind to her, so if he found someone good, she ought to congratulate him sincerely. Right now, though, she simply couldn’t imagine doing it.
Even when she had only watched him from afar, with no word of any marriage ever reaching her, she had sometimes idly pictured what it would be like to be a husband like that. But now that she actually stood at his side, a greedy wish slowly raised its head: she did not want to hand this place over to anyone else.
“Hey, Cal.”
“Hm?”
“If there’s anything you want from me, please tell me anytime. I’ll do whatever you ask.”
“Where did that come from all of a sudden?”
Calaile frowned at her abrupt words. It would have been enough for her to eat well, sleep well, and stay by his side without a care in the world, so he couldn’t make out what she was up to now.
“It’s nothing.”
Ella only offered an awkward little smile and picked up her fork again. Seeing her pretend so hard to stay composed, Calaile deliberately didn’t press her, fearing he might prod at a sore spot. Silence settled over the table once more.
* * *
“You can’t go out, but a stroll should be fine.”
Noticing Ella had seemed listless since yesterday, Calaile took an exceptional measure. Patricia had apparently uncovered the general outline of the matter yesterday, and he was eager to resolve Ella’s parents’ problem quickly and make their engagement known far and wide.
“There’s a greenhouse in the rear garden, and the scenery is quite lovely. Our gardener is skilled, so I imagine he’d be delighted if you embroidered the garden’s landscape.”
“Would that be all right?”
“Of course.”
Calaile was gradually growing accustomed to how to handle Ella. Whenever she was told she needn’t do anything, she grew dejected and downcast. But give her some task and then praise the results, and she would light up with unmistakable joy.
“You’re busy again today, aren’t you?”
“Once the transport train carrying the spoils arrives, I’ll have to present myself to His Majesty again. Before then, I’ll tie up all the troublesome matters and formally report our engagement.”
Even if it was all a pretense, the Grand Duke treated her with great courtesy whenever the engagement came up. Ella, flustered by his gentlemanly manner, flushed shyly and rested her hand on his.
“There’s something I want to say.”
“Hm?”
“I think I can stop buying dresses now. And accessories too. There are far too many.”
She would only be staying for a year and a half, and at this rate she felt she’d never wear through all the new dresses even if she changed every day. No matter how generous Ella’s trust fund was, she couldn’t possibly pay for all of them, and she couldn’t leave such a wardrobe behind for the Grand Duke’s official wife to inherit.
“Lady Ella, that is…”
Calaile stopped Olga before she could step in. Today’s violet dress emphasized simplicity over flash, displaying the graceful curves of her figure beautifully. Watching Ella appear in a different dress every morning was one of his pleasures. She clearly found such extravagance burdensome, but Calaile had no intention of giving in on this at all.
“If you’re worried about my finances, there’s no need.”
“But…”
“El, I am a Grand Duke. I’m the Emperor’s first cousin once removed, and strictly speaking, I’m also the king of my own territory.”
Though the Emperor had been making such a fuss that Calaile now found himself wandering between the capital and the frontier, by rights he was the ruler of the Duchy of Wellington, lying east of the capital. That he could raise a spire rivaling the Imperial Palace’s own at his residence was proof of the power that came with a lofty ducal rank.
“And El, you are my one and only fiancée. You may enjoy this much and more without any hesitation.”
“But…”
“It’s not as if I have a mother or sister to make you live under her thumb. Did Olga give you some sort of hint?”
“How could she have!”
Since Calaile himself had started picking on Olga for no reason, innocent Ella stepped in front of Olga to shield her. Reading the Grand Duke’s intent to tease, Olga silently squeezed the lady’s hand.
“Olga is so kind to me. Please don’t ever misunderstand her like that.”
“Oh? I thought perhaps she had.”
“If there’s anything lacking in me, please tell me at any time, Lady Ella.”
“No, that’s not what I meant at all.”
Ella fell for the perfectly synchronized scheme of the two of them without a second thought. Just like that, the matter fizzled out, and under the pretext of needing a walking dress, Ella ended up changing once more.
“What is this?”
The green dress Olga brought was closer to a formal women’s suit, complete with a coat. Ella was far from pleased to be dressed up this elaborately for nothing more than a stroll, but Olga, full of approval and pride, even did her hair herself.
“His Grace really does seem to cherish you, my lady.”
“Are you teasing me?”
Though Ella was pouting, she was no longer a child. Olga indulged her with a fond smile and neatly braided the wisps of hair at her temples. Ella had decided to compromise at a reasonable point, since whenever she pinned everything up neatly, the Grand Duke would uncannily undo it all.
“People say he’s a cold and merciless man, but with those close to him, he’s full of mischief like that.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Since he was a boy, His Grace and Crown Prince Your Highness were famously known as quite the little rascals.”
Personal stories about the Grand Duke, which appeared nowhere in the records, made Ella prick up her ears as she listened closely to Olga. Olga, who had once been the Grand Duke’s wet nurse, was one of the few people who had watched him grow up all his life.
“He caused so much mischief in the Imperial Palace that he earned quite a reputation as a little troublemaker. He calmed down after that incident, though…”
“What incident?”
Having nearly blurted out something she shouldn’t have, Olga hastily smoothed it over with an awkward expression.
“No, it’s nothing. The sunshine is lovely. Shall we go for a walk now?”
“Yes, Olga.”
Ella didn’t want to see her looking so flustered, so she pretended not to have heard. She was curious, but she had no wish to dig into things she didn’t need to know. Ella herself hadn’t gone on at length about her parents, either.
The Grand Duke, too, had only asked whether she wished to return to her family, and had not pressed for any further details. Sometimes it’s kinder to pretend not to notice. Ella was well aware of his consideration, the way he would tease her lightly and let the awkward moments slide past.
While Olga went off for a moment to speak with Seth, who was both the butler and her husband, the maid Karen took over looking after Ella. Karen had been watching everyone else’s faces all along and hadn’t dared to speak to her easily, but now that they were alone, she finally ventured to address her carefully.
“Lady Elleidis, is there anything at all that’s bothering you?”
“Well, everything’s fine, but could you stop calling me by such a long name? Just call me Ella.”
Ella was warm and kind to everyone who attended to her. And so Karen, who would normally never have dared to speak so freely to the Grand Duke’s fiancée, mustered her courage and asked.
“Yes, Ella. It’s just that…”
“Hm?”
“Actually, I’ve heard a strange rumor.”

Karen, the maid of the Grand Ducal Family, had secretly admired the Grand Duke too, quietly dreaming of becoming the Grand Duchess herself. Yet suddenly he had brought in a woman of no particular standing, even if she was born noble, and made her his fiancée.
When Ella first arrived at this house in the Grand Duke’s arms, her appearance had been utterly shabby. Perhaps even her claim to nobility was a sham. Since the Grand Duke had never once looked twice at a woman before, Karen couldn’t help feeling a spark of spite.
“A rumor? About what?”
“It isn’t a very pleasant one.”
Though she claimed it wasn’t good news, Karen’s words lingered with an unpleasant aftertaste as she insisted on sharing it anyway. A newcomer who had suddenly tumbled in could hardly be welcome to those who had long been settled in their places. Seeing how transparent Karen’s motives were, Ella shook her head and fell silent.
“Then don’t bother.”
“Excuse me?”
She had no desire to face the intent behind deliberately passing along bad news, or rather, at this point, a feeling that might as well be called plain malice. Karen, flustered, clamped her mouth shut.
“I’m sorry.”
At the very least, while she stood by his side, no one could look down on her without consequence. Just as he had told her that morning, he was the Grand Duke, and Ella had become his one and only fiancée. Even a mere maid was being kind to her, yet seeing someone try to take advantage of her so easily, trying to shake her composure, made Ella realize just how thoroughly she had been underestimated.
“I’m thinking of embroidering here. I’ll sketch the design first, so stand behind me and hold the parasol over me.”
Having handed Karen a punishment that was hardly a punishment at all, Ella transferred the hyacinths in full bloom and the garden pond onto paper.
“Ella!”
Just as she was finishing the rough outline, Olga came rushing toward her from a distance, calling out in a flurry. Something must have happened, so Ella rose from her seat.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid you’ll need to come to the Main Building for a moment.”
Among the several buildings of the Grand Duke’s Residence, apart from the Inner Residence where the two of them actually lived, the Main Building and the Annex Building had been established as separate workspaces, where the affairs of the duchy and various other duties were carried out. Ella had never once set foot in either, so the sudden summons felt entirely unfamiliar.
“Why so suddenly…”
“Your father has arrived.”
At this bolt-from-the-blue news, Ella unknowingly dropped the paper and pencil she had been holding. While Karen scrambled to tidy up the mess, Ella headed toward the Main Building with Olga.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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