IGRA Chapter 18

“Didn’t you say it was just a formal marriage?”

 

“Right. So what?”

 

“I didn’t know that your formal married life included a cheerful breakfast for the two of you. Even before the wedding.”

 

“…”

 

“Are you going to have breakfast together like this every day? In front of everyone?”

 

“Don’t be silly. It’s just for today.”

 

“Then why on earth did you decide to have it together today?”

 

“Layla.”

 

“It’s strange, isn’t it? My brother, who never had breakfast in his life―”

 

“Stop it. I won’t say it twice.”

 

At Daryl’s spat-out words, Layla closed her mouth. However, it didn’t take long for her pouting lips to open again.

 

“…You don’t like that woman, do you?”

 

“Layla.”

 

“If you come out like this, the servants will misunderstand. They’ll say that woman has a legitimate right, that you’ve recognized that woman as the hostess of this house!”

 

“Don’t make a fuss. It’s just a meal together.”

 

“That one time is important! What if that woman gets arrogant and decides to sit down? I deliberately let her be alone in a secluded room, and made her spend the day and night without anyone to talk to, but if you do this, it’s meaningless!”

 

“…What?”

 

Daryl, who was pressing his temples as if tired, raised his head at that.

 

“Did you order it?”

 

“What?”

 

“Are you saying that the maid Eleanor brought from her family home was sent back by you?”

 

At that, Leila showed a momentarily flustered expression.

 

“How did you… Did that woman tell you?”

 

“Layla.”

 

Layla seemed momentarily flustered, but soon lifted her chin more proudly.

 

“Yes. I did it. Was that wrong?”

 

“…”

 

“Matilda said that the maid was overweight and her face was full of freckles, and she looked dull at a glance, so she didn’t fit the status of the Duke’s house. So I ordered her to be sent back to where she originally lived. Is there a problem with that? I have the authority to hire or not hire any maid. Don’t I?”

 

Despite her defiant questioning, her voice was trembling slightly. Daryl silently stared at Layla’s flushed face.

 

After Edith’s death, the position of the Duchess of the Duke’s house had been vacant for a long time. It was only last year that Layla began to participate in the housekeeping, which had been jointly managed by the butler and the headmaid. Now he understood. It was a deed that crossed the line even for a mere maid to commit on her own. It would have been impossible without a reliable backing.

 

Daryl gestured for the remaining food to be cleared away. Soon the maids cleared the plates and tidied up the dining table. Daryl took out a cigar from the cigar case that Herbert had brought and lit it.

 

“Why aren’t you answering?”

 

Unable to bear it, Layla asked. But Daryl was still silent, just smoking his cigar.

 

“Brother.”

 

The smoke that Daryl exhaled silently spread thinly in the air.

 

“…Are you going to punish me?”

 

At her defiant question, Daryl’s gaze finally turned to Layla.

 

“Are you going to punish me for driving out the maid that woman brought?”

 

“There’s no reason to.”

 

Layla was momentarily speechless, taken aback by Daryl’s immediate denial. Daryl slowly exhaled the smoke he had in his mouth.

 

“Do it within a reasonable limit. Don’t cross the line.”

 

It was as if he didn’t care about his wife-to-be. Hearing his cold voice, she felt a little relieved.

 

“Aunt is coming tomorrow. We’ve decided to have dinner together as a family, so keep that in mind.”

 

At Daryl’s following words, Layla’s eyes widened again.

 

“Is that woman also included?”

 

“Why, are you planning to skip it?”

 

She wanted to skip it, but she couldn’t. It seemed like Daryl knew that too. He rubbed the half-smoked cigar in the ashtray and put it out.

 

“Don’t even think about causing a problem. It’s enough to have your second brother giving me a headache.”

 

“…”

 

Layla only chewed her lips in frustration, then abruptly stood up from her seat. A maid who was bringing a tray of dishes was startled and looked at Daryl. Regardless, Layla turned around and left the place.

 

But there was no word from Daryl asking where she was going, or telling her to sit down again. Layla left the dining room with the same stern face as when she came.

 

****

 

The next evening, when Daryl appeared at the dinner table, only Anthony and Layla, who had arrived first, were sitting there. Daryl sat at the head of the table, which had been his father’s seat until recently, and asked the butler Herbert.

 

“Eleanor?”

 

“It seems she’s taking a long time to get ready.”

 

“Tell her to hurry up and come down.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Daryl’s eyes glanced at Anthony.

 

“You look unusually decent today.”

 

Unlike his usual free-spirited style, Anthony was properly dressed in a suit that suited the formal dinner. His hair, which he always let loose, was neatly tied back.

 

“I do consider the time and place. Besides, I don’t want to hear Aunt’s nagging.”

 

“Do you mean my nagging is bearable?”

 

“You only started nagging at me recently, didn’t you? Honestly, you didn’t care what I did until Dad died.”

 

“I’m well aware.”

 

Daryl said expressionlessly. Anthony couldn’t help but smirk.

 

After that, Daryl didn’t say anything more. Without even a word to compliment his sister’s dress, let alone a proper glance in her direction, he remained silent. Layla, for her part, kept her gaze fixed on the dishes in front of her, her eyes slightly downcast. It was as if she was claiming she had no intention of mingling with anyone.

 

Despite being a gathering of only three siblings, the atmosphere was as gloomy as it could be. Only the candles placed around the table flickered in the silence.

 

‘It seems like Dad’s funeral was more lively.’

 

Anthony fiddled with his fork with a bored expression.

 

‘Layla wasn’t like that in the past either. Although she was overly prim for her age, she was a child who had her own charm and laughed well. But now, look at her. She’s like my big brother, just with a different gender.’

 

‘When did the laughter disappear from this house? After Mom died? No, it was much earlier than that. The seed of destruction was already planted when rumors started to spread that Eleanor Townsend was Dad’s illegitimate child. The small sprout that wasn’t visible when we were young has now grown so large that it covers the entire Chatsworth House in shadow.’

 

‘What was Dad thinking?’

 

‘It was insane for Dad to leave a will for him to marry Eleanor, and for him to follow that will.’

 

‘Well, if that’s the case, am I the craziest one for trying to seduce my sister-in-law to spite them?’

 

Anthony lowered his head and chuckled softly. Layla frowned at him.

 

That’s when Eleanor entered the dining room.

 

“I’m sorry. I’m late.”

 

Daryl looked at Eleanor as if to warn her, but momentarily forgot what to say.

 

Eleanor looked quite different from what he had seen before. She was dressed impeccably from head to toe. An elegantly coiffed hair with two rose decorations, a set of earrings and a necklace that seemed to match her blue eyes. A sophisticated purple velvet dress.

 

Perhaps it was because she always wore a modest dress that came up to her neck. Even though the evening dress didn’t reveal much, the exposure of her neck and collarbone gave a heart-fluttering feeling. Whether it was the effect of makeup or not, her features looked much clearer. The contrast between her white skin and red lips was more vivid than ever.

 

As Daryl looked silent, Eleanor slightly shrugged her shoulders.

 

“Am I too late? I’m sorry. It’s my first time at such an event, so I didn’t know it would take this long to prepare…”

 

In fact, it took a good half day. It was the result of Marianne taking the lead, insisting that it had to be perfect since it was her first appearance in front of her fiancé’s family.

 

At first, the maids in charge of dressing were openly nervous, but as time went by, they became more focused on Eleanor’s changing appearance. When it was all over, they even looked strangely proud. Eleanor herself felt very awkward. She didn’t look like herself in the mirror. But she figured this was something she would have to get used to.

 

“It’s okay. We still have time, and Aunt hasn’t arrived yet.”

 

Anthony intervened and answered on behalf of Daryl. There was genuine admiration on his face.

 

When he saw her before, she was definitely pretty, but there was a feeling of being too plain. But now that she’s properly dressed up, she seems to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with any famous beauty in the social circle.