After hesitating, Fabiola answered honestly.
“I was thinking about preparing dinner.”
This meant that Fabiola wasn’t wealthy enough to avoid having to think about household chores herself. Compared to the impressive background of Doris Windgood, the former head maid who had been exiled, Fabiola Silenster was truly a nobody.
Still, she straightened her shoulders proudly. It wasn’t shameful that her husband was poor and their circumstances weren’t good. Fabiola raised her brown eyes to look at the Grand Duchess, who had probably never worried about preparing dinner.
“It’s a headache to worry about what meals to serve every day. Tonight, you and Sir Silenster will dine with us here at the palace. I heard your children are studying at a school nearby. I’ll send a knight to bring them.”
“What? But…”
“As it happens, the Grand Duke also said he has much to discuss with your husband, Sir Silenster. I too have much to talk about with you.”
Kaela needed to quickly assess whether Fabiola Silenster was someone the butler would try to manipulate or not. As the Grand Duchess, Kaela had to figure out how much she needed to compromise.
Her non-negotiable bottom line was not sending back the maids she had brought from Ostein. She didn’t ask for much. The head maid just needed to not prevent that.
At least she could be certain that Fabiola Silenster wouldn’t do that, judging from the butler’s expression when he was informed about the new head maid.
“Pardon?”
“I said Lady Silenster is the new head maid.”
“But…”
The butler, about to say something, closed his mouth when both the Grand Duchess and Fabiola Silenster turned their gazes on him simultaneously.
“It’s nothing, Your Highness. You’ve done well. That’s fortunate.”
‘Since Fabiola Silenster isn’t from such a powerful family, we might be able to control her as we wish. Even if her husband walks around with his head held high annoyingly, this is strictly a matter of larger scale.’
The butler quickly finished his calculations and put on a smiling face.
“This will lighten our burden greatly.”
Fabiola Silenster clearly read the condescending attitude in his face. She had never liked that Baron Rolf Anderson to begin with. How dare he say “You’ve done well” to the Grand Duchess, it was practically disrespect.
To think that the young Grand Duchess, who had nearly died upon arriving, would be treated this way by such an arrogant butler.
Fabiola was not the type to tolerate such behavior. She stared, or rather glared, at the back of the butler’s head as he withdrew, claiming he had much to do.
“We too have much to do,” Kaela muttered, noticing that gaze.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Fabiola Silenster no longer tried to decline the position of head maid. The conversation at the dinner shared by the Grand Duke and Duchess and the Silenster family was just what one might expect between a head maid’s couple and the ducal couple.
“Though it’s quite late, congratulations on your marriage, Your Highness the Grand Duke. And welcome to Lusenford, Your Highness the Grand Duchess” said Sir Alfred Silenster, Fabiola’s husband. He was a very proper knight, slightly balding as he entered middle age, but still quite handsome.
“We were so happy to hear about Your Highness’s marriage. Your Highness, have you been to Luyanes? The waterfalls there are truly beautiful,” Fabiola added. She was a petite beauty, an elegant middle-aged lady with intelligent brown eyes and brown hair.
Kaela, who had never interacted with this couple before her death, found herself surprisingly enjoying the conversation in Lusenford. At least the Silenster couple and their children didn’t snicker among themselves when she spoke, as other people in Lusenford had done.
“The Grand Duchess hasn’t fully recovered yet, so we haven’t attempted any outings,” Peon explained.
“I was actually hoping to ask about your health. I’m relieved to see Your Highness looking so well today,” Fabiola said. Despite her reputation for being unapproachable, she was surprisingly sociable. Her concern for Kaela seemed genuine.
“I’m well enough to move around now, and to work,” Kaela replied.
“That’s such a relief. I’m so glad. When I saw you at the last gathering, leaning on the Grand Duke as you entered, I was truly worried. You looked so pale then, it really concerned me.”
Fabiola Silenster put a hand to her chest in relief.
“That’s why I thought, ‘So that’s why His Highness escorted her.'”
“No, that wasn’t the reason.”
Unexpectedly, Peon interjected.
“Isn’t it a husband’s duty to escort his wife wherever she goes?”
Kaela couldn’t quite recognize the man sitting beside her. But before she could look at him, the usually reticent Sir Alfred Silenster enthusiastically agreed with Peon’s words.
“That’s right, Your Highness. Isn’t that just natural?”
“Of course it is.”
“In Lusenford, some people treat escorting one’s wife as if it’s something only a naive person would do. Personally, I think those who think that way are the truly naive ones. How could a woman walk through muddy streets in this cold weather wearing such long skirts? Women are already physically weaker than men, and even more so after childbirth. What’s wrong with escorting them?”
Sir Silenster shook his head disapprovingly. Every word he spoke showed his care and affection for his wife.
Fabiola smiled quietly beside him. Her face, peaceful and full of the stability characteristic of a woman in a harmonious family with a good relationship with her husband, shone as brightly as the moon.
Kaela envied her sincerely. She envied her so much because she had once hoped to be like that but had been frustrated.
“Escorting isn’t anything special, not worth commenting on,” Peon added.
“Yes, that’s right, Your Highness. Now that you think this way, it won’t be long before all the husbands in Lusenford change their minds.”
“Is it that significant?”
“Of course, Your Highness. When everyone saw you escorting Her Highness at our ladies’ gathering, they were all surprised and the news spread. I’m sure they all said something to their husbands when they got home.”
Fabiola added with a bright smile.
“Now that Her Highness is here, I think the atmosphere in Lusenford will change completely. I hope you fully recover your health, bring us lots of good news, and stay happy for a long, long time.”
It was said that well-wishes from a wife who has had a long, happy marriage are a precious gift to newlyweds.
That’s why such women were often specifically invited to weddings. Kaela smiled at the well-wishes that wouldn’t apply to her at all.
“Thank you.”
The smile appeared briefly, then quickly faded away.
