As I entered the mansion, I was met with chaos. Everyone was rushing around, carrying various items from one place to another.
As I observed the commotion, a medium-height, slightly plump girl holding a stack of clean linens bumped into me. The linens were about to fall, but I managed to catch them just in time, reacting on instinct.
"Are you alright?" I asked with concern.
The girl didn't even notice my question and immediately reached for the linens."No, this can't be… the linens…" she murmured.
After handing her the linens, I asked about the reason for all the commotion.
"Oh! You must be Young Master Lemi's new assistant. I'm sorry, I didn't realize. The Duke's important guests are arriving today, so we're trying to get the mansion in order before they arrive. I don't know much either. I just heard that some very important guests are coming. I'm in a hurry right now, please excuse me."
"My apologies for holding you up. May I ask one last thing?"
The girl raised her eyebrows in curiosity and looked at me.
"Of course."
"Do you know where the Young Master is right now?"
She thought for a moment, then said, "I last saw him heading toward the Duke's chambers. He might still be there."
"I see, thank you."
She gave a slight nod before hurrying off. I then made my way toward the Duke's chambers, the same place I had visited a few days ago.
As I ascended the stairs, my gaze once again fell upon the portrait hanging on the wall. Lady Camilla, Young Master Lemi's mother, stared back at me from the painting, her swirling thoughts seeming to reach out and pull me in.
Silently, I whispered to her: My Lady, I have many complaints about your son. Please punish him. He keeps making me do all sorts of things.
Smiling to myself, I walked past the painting and approached the Duke's chambers. However, the two men standing guard at the door caught my attention. One of them was my uncle, while the other was a short, bald, and slightly plump man.
When my uncle noticed me, he raised his hand, beckoning me over.
"Theodore, why aren't you with Young Master Lemi?"
"He left me behind while I was mounting Luna. I only found out after I got off."
"You rode Luna?"
The short, bald, and plump man beside my uncle looked at me in astonishment, his brown eyes widening.
"Yes?"
"She didn't hurt you?"
As my uncle studied me, the man's gaze remained fixed on me, his curiosity barely concealed.Just how many people has Luna injured for them to be looking at me like this?
While my uncle examined me, the man's eyes were fixed on me without changing for a moment, not hiding his curiosity. Luna, how many people has she harmed for these two to look at me like this now?
"It was nothing. It was hard at first, but somehow, she allowed it."
Just then, a deep, authoritative voice rang out from inside. The voice wasn't that of the Duke. It was so powerful and serious that we all instantly fell silent.
"Noah!!"
The man beside us opened the door and entered. We were left standing outside. Shortly after, the door opened again, and Noah appeared in the doorway.
"Theodere, they're calling you."
Me? Would he scold me for not coming with the young master? After all, I was his assistant, but I hadn't been attending to him.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside. The Duke sat at the large wooden desk in all his grandeur. I looked around, and there was Young Master Lemi and an old man. The old man, despite his built physique, white beard, and white hair, still looked quite strong and healthy. The aura he emitted was something else; it was overwhelming and chilling.
"Theodore, I hear you went horseback riding with Lemi today. Luna..." The Duke continued, glancing at the elderly man. "You rode her, I hear. Quite impressive, indeed."
Do they place so much value on a horse? Normally, a horse is just a riding animal; why are they exaggerating this much for Luna?
Actually, the way he values his wife's horse like this shows his love for her.
"Theodore, can you take care of Luna?"
Not only do they want me to deal with a spoiled brat, but now they want me to take care of a depressed horse? Do they think I'm Buddha? I can't believe I'm about to be a therapist for a horse for money. Damn it, we've all become slaves to money.
"Of course, I'll take care of it, sir."
"Good. You may leave now."
After showing my respect, I slowly exited the room, glancing at Young Master one last time. When our eyes met with his sharp green gaze, I slightly bowed my head and turned toward the door. But just then, the Duke's calm voice echoed in the room.
"Lord Ashford, to return to our topic... The preparations for the mourning of my late wife have begun. I am grateful for the support you have provided both to me and to Lemi during this time."
My steps involuntarily faltered. "Deceased..." The word echoed in my mind as a cold shiver ran through me. Death... The weight of this word was slowly unlocking a door in my mind that had been shut for years. I had never questioned whether Lady Camilla was dead. I had never come across her, but I had always thought that one day I would. But now I realized, she had never been here from the very beginning...