Lucia

“I have not learnt very much. There are many things I lack to fulfill my duties as the Duchess so I asked the Duke to tell me about you. After which, I asked him to ask you. I’ve heard you are a very busy person, but if there are any interruption in the schedule, I ask you to please understand. Ah, if my words or actions are not polite, please tell me.” [Lucia]

A smile appeared on Michelle’s tightly closed mouth.

“For manners, Madam doesn’t have more to learn. The essence of courtesy is consideration for the other party. To learn how to sincerely treat the other person, and learning how to express it, is manners. Madam already has those two things down, what else can I add?”

“You flatter me.”

Lucia’s face was tinged red. Michelle felt as though Lucia were her beautiful granddaughter and laughed heartily. She had thought that Lucia would be very arrogant since she was a princess.

She knew the duke was not really calling her for teaching but because Michelle was in a great position in the social circle, to let the Duchess get a head start.

Michelle had never thought of the Duke of Taran as a good person. She didn’t want her son or her grandchild having the Duke as a role model. A competent man but not a good person. The duke was arrogant, unyielding, and regarded interaction with people as trivial.

Still, she had to acknowledge his eyes for people was outstanding. But now she sees that his wife’s eyes were also impressive.

‘The Duke found a good wife’

Some thought that because of the Duke’s extravagant tastes in women in the past, he would marry a remarkable beauty but they didn’t know what they were saying. The Duke was a very cold man and would not move without benefit.

So for a wife, he probably thought to pick someone who was good at listening, hassle-free, and suited his level. Michelle thought that, one day when she gets to see the Duke, ignoring the consequences, she would definitely tell him.

‘Show affection to the Duchess’.

Even if it is not romantic love, at least, to not throw away his existing feelings. A woman who receives no affection would feel anxious about her place and becomes nervous (1). So with only their pride alive and they become full of thorns and increasingly picky.

Many people overlook the fact that if the mistress of the house is not comfortable, eventually the household will be shaken.

Michelle had to admit that her predictions were wrong. She had seen a lot of people and could tell at a glance what type of person they were. The Duchess was an innocent and clean person. She couldn’t see any anxiety or depression. It was the appearance of a woman who received plenty of affection.

“I believe you’ve been married for about two months.” [Countess]

“Yes.”

“Then, it is around the time to start activities outside. Starting with a light tea party would be good.”

“What size would be good?”

“Since it is the start, it is okay to start small. Invite around 10 people, mainly wives of Duke’s vassals. You can ask the head butler whom to invite. The Duke’s head butler is competent.”

Lucia nodded her head. Jerome was definitely competent.

“Actually, I have a lot of people to meet. Do I have to open something like a ball?” [Lucia]

“Just because you are the Duke’s wife does not mean you have to be a socialite. In fact, social activities and aptitude must match. You can’t not do it all, but it has to be done moderately. Around twice a month, throw a tea party or a garden party, inviting only women. It’s also good idea to sometimes increase the number from 10 to 30 people. ”

Countess Corzan’s way of teaching was to give good advice while conversing. In a conversation that spanned nearly two hours, Lucia learned what she did not know and got to understand interesting facts.

Lucia sincerely admired the Countess who spoke elegantly without getting boring and skillfully used the Chinese language. It was the same for Michelle whose heart was moved. The more they continued to talk, the more Michelle was attracted to Lucia’s mild and ill-will lacking personality (2).

It was pretty hard to find someone with such a character. Michelle was in a good mood because she had found a good friend, disregarding the age differences.

“If Madam needs someone to talk to, I would like to introduce you to my niece. Her conduct is not elegant, but her character is bright and not lavish. She will be a great help to the madam in finding enjoyment in your northern life. ” [Countess]

“I’m grateful but I am already adjusting well to my life here and I don’t need a friend who will be checking my mood.”

“Ho-ho. Madam is very honest. Kate is, ah, her name is Kate. Kate does not possess the courtesy to try and please her friends. If Kate does not like Madam, she will not become friends with you. ”

“I’m interested. I’m willing to meet her. She sounds like a charming lady. ”

“She is a person with many merits and demerits. When her friend’s fiancé cheated on her friend and deceived her, she did not hesitate to embarrass him. If someone tells me her name, my head hurts to know what incident she’s caused again. ”

“But you love your niece.” [Lucia]

Michelle smiled brightly. Her eyes were filled with affection for her niece.

“Because she’s a lovable child. But I am worried that there is no brave man that will marry her. Even though she hasn’t married, she attends to and counsels young girls who are in love. She can become a good counselor for the madam. ”

“But I’m already married.”

“Marriage is not the end, it is the beginning. Before marriage, had you been in a relationship for some time with his Grace?”

“Relationship...?”

When Lucia thought about it, there was no relationship reason for meeting with him. As soon as they met, she proposed. At the second meeting, they signed a contract. At the third meeting, she was doing laundry then she got caught and got told off on something similar. Then she signed the marriage certificate.

“Umm...before marriage, I met with his Grace, three times.”

Michelle’s hand that was holding the teacup paused for a moment and she put down the cup.

“Can you tell me how his Grace treats you in the house? Actually, for me to talk about this would be considerable risk. It might be taken as slander against your husband to you, the Hostess. But Madam seems to have married his Grace without knowing him very well, it’s a little sad.”

“Tell me please. I promise not to keep it in mind.” [Lucia] (3)

“Well, first of all, could Madam describe to me what kind of person his Grace, the duke is?”

“Honest...right?”

“Yes. Honestly.”

“Umm. He is... not fickle... but he acts as he pleases. Once he concludes and ends something. He turns his head and would never look back. He is an indifferent and cold person.”

“This. I said something pointless. Madam knows him very well.”

The Taran Duke’s outer shell alone was the best thing about him. His stunning looks and body were the manifestations of women’s fantasies.

In fact, there were no single northern girls who had actually seen the duke once and not fallen into a one sided love, even though the duke never hit on them.

Daring girls actually threw their bodies at the Duke. Usually, the duke responded to their temptation. Then, women fall into the illusion that he would soon fall for them. It didn’t take long for the illusion to break.

When the woman first gets hurt or falls for him and begins to want a little affection, the duke would throw them away with no hesitation. Many of the ladies Michelle had taught were so hurt and would cry in front of her.

Thanks to that, even though Michelle had never properly spoken to the Duke of Taran, she knew more than anyone else about the Duke’s bedroom matters.

Translator’s Corner:

(1). Her place as in her place as his wife. It literally said her ‘seat’ but I think place fit better.

(2). This sentence threw me off so much. It said she was “반했다” (banhaessda) which I thought translates to she was against it and I was like...whaa? So I went digging and found that it actually had TWO meanings. Learning new things everything. Also I was somewhat confusing it with “반대했다” (bandaehaessda) which is what means against. They sound too similar.

(3). I couldn’t make this flow well but basically, Lucia is telling the Duchess that she can speak her mind, and she wouldn’t take it to heart.

TN: I think the raws I’m following are a bit different. There’s a division right at the start of ch 17 part 1 like this: < — 공작부부 — >

Which essentially means a new ducal couple part so... yea. Imma just follow it, sorry if the numbering throws you off. I did wonder why they weren’t as long. This must be why.

The Ducal couple had been married for about two months.

It was the time where one could not abandon dreams and expectations of a honeymoon. However, the Duchess seems to have accurately figured out his Grace. It was evidence that she had not completely fallen for her husband. Michelle was surprised and pleased about that.

“Excellent. your Grace is not forgetting about herself. A woman is a truly sad existence. When they give their hearts, they have the tendency to excessively depend on the recipient. When the person disappears, they cannot stand alone and collapse, abandoned.”

Lucia smiled awkwardly and nodded her head. She was being praised but did not feel happy about it. Lucia could not forget about herself because she had given up everything in the first place.

“But, you should not excessively keep your husband at a distance. Maintaining the right distance is very important.” [Countess]

“Maintaining the right distance...” [Lucia]

Lucia nodded her head.

“I’ll ask a rude question. How many times a week does his Grace visit your bedroom?”

“Yes? Ah...”

Lucia’s face went red. “He comes...everyday”

Michelle’s eyes grew slightly but assumed an air of indifference and replied, is that so. She had found out a very interesting fact. On the contrary, the one being left out was the Duke. If Michelle were alone, she would have burst out laughing. The Duchess who appeared innocent suddenly looked different.

Men always want what they cannot get and the Duchess was maintaining the perfect distance to make the Duke want more.

“Keeping the right distance... how do you do that?” [Lucia]

“I’ll tell you, little by little.”

Michelle murmured inwardly, ‘It doesn’t seems like there’s anything more to teach the Madam. ‘

It was obvious to her as more time passes between ducal couple, the emphasis in the relationship would gradually shift towards the Duchess. This was a speculation from Michelle who had consulted and personally watched over many men and women relationships.

But there was one mystery that Michelle could not solve.

‘Just what charm of this person shook the Duke?’ The Duchess, of course, had no way to know that the Duke had completely fallen for his wife’s body. It was to the extent that he couldn’t get it out of his mind.

Countess Corzan, afterwards, decided to visit them regularly. And, after about a week, Lucia decided to throw her first tea party.

“Mistress.” A maid with a flushed expression spoke carefully “By any chance...is it possible that you are pregnant?”

“Pregnant?”

Lucia knitted her brows at those ridiculous words.

“You have not had your period for more than two months. There is no way to know so how do you feel about having a checkup?” [Maid]

The most important work of the maidservants was looking after the health of their masters. It wasn’t until after two months had passed that they discovered something was seriously strange with their mistress’ body and needed to be looked into.

If a specific maid continuously attended to Lucia, then it would have been noticed faster. However, the maids took turns over several days to serve her and kept assuming a different maid had waited on Lucia when she had her period.

Even then, they naturally did not forget to perform their jobs and when they got together and conversed, they realized none of them had seen Lucia menstruating.

At that moment, all the maid were frightened. The first thing they were suspicious of was pregnancy. There was no one in Roam that didn’t know that the ducal couple’s relationship was passionate.

“No. It’s nothing like that so don’t worry about it.”

Lucia, with her eyes showing no excitement, replied coldly.

“But Mistress. Still, seeing a doctor...”

“It is nothing like that. I know my own body very well.” [Lucia]

“...Yes. Mistress.”

The maid withdrew but did not give up. If be any chance, the Mistress was pregnant and in that state, she was unaware and something went wrong with the baby, the maids would be firmly dealt with.

She could not stop being anxious and quickly went to inform Jerome.

“Mistress. I listened to the maids and there seems to be a problem with your health.”

The moment Jerome arrived and began to speak, annoyance lightly flitted across Lucia’s face then it passed. Her eyes stopped for a moment on the maid that was standing behind Jerome. It was not a menacing glare but the maid couldn’t help but shrink.

Somehow, since it was Jerome’s first time seeing the mistress like this, he became nervous and started cautiously.

“Mistress, has the doctor ever made you feel uncomfortable?”

“It’s not like that. I’ll say this again, I’m not pregnant nor do I have any health problems. This is something his Grace already knows.”

Jerome fell silent for a moment, considering what to say.

“But Mistress, if by any chance a problem is found with you, we will not be able to avoid responsibility for it. May I confirm again with his Grace about this fact?”

From the beginning, she had already said she couldn’t get pregnant. He had only asked if she could prove it and afterwards showed no interest. It would be too surprising if he were to say that she was lying all this time and the truth was she could become pregnant.

“My words are not lies however I will tell him again.”

“May I confirm afterwards that Mistress has told him?”

These days, Jerome had been pretty meek around Lucia, but he was never an easy person. If he was only a good person, there was no way he could be the head butler at such a young age.

“...I’ll inform him when you are there. Is that good enough?”

“Yes, Mistress. I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable.”

“You are just doing your job as the head butler. But that child.”

Lucia’s gaze once again fixed onto the maid.

“I was definitely clear on what I said yet you ran to the butler without asking me twice. I don’t want to have someone who is keeping tabs on my movement by my side. Please send her out today.”

“Yes...Mistress.”

The maid’s face went black and she dropped her head while Jerome bowed his head with an earnest expression. He had thought she was a simple and nice person, but she knew just when to start and when to end that she seems a bit cold.

It seemed like the two of them were matches made in heaven. The butler who felt satisfied and full just seeing this new part of master was one step closer to being master-lover.