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Chapter 164
With a satisfied smile, she waved lightly out the window.
Iona couldn’t take her eyes off the scene outside, even as she followed his movements.
Perhaps it was because she had always lived as an unwelcome guest, whether in the Count’s house or the Duke’s.
This situation, where she felt like someone welcomed by everyone, was incredibly special to her.
Iona spoke with certainty.
“It will be like that.”
“......”
“I think I will love it, just like you, Duke.”
If it was something he loved, she was ready to cherish it with the same heart.
Iona truly thought so.
She could feel Leroy’s gaze on her, but instead of looking back at him, she kept her eyes on the people disappearing in the distance.
She wanted to fully remember this moment, so different from the past.
The carriage passed through the welcoming procession and soon entered the gates of the Duke’s residence.
Evergreen trees lined the road from the entrance to the mansion, standing in rows like the knights they had met earlier.
Because of the branches extending over the roadside, shadows of the trees flickered over Iona’s hand placed on the window sill.
Breathing in the sharp, intense scent of the greenery, Iona felt a sense of stability, as if she had returned home.
It was a funny feeling.
This place wasn’t her hometown, nor had she ever stayed here for long.
Swallowing a bitter smile, Iona finally turned to Leroy and spoke.
“It was worth all the fuss with the maids this morning to pick out good clothes. I didn’t expect so many people to come out.”
Maybe it was because he had been exposed to the sunlight through the open window the whole time.
His face was more flushed than usual.
Leroy, perhaps feeling a bit hot, loosened his cravat, then replied in a slightly husky voice.
“You could have dressed more comfortably for the travel time.”
“We have to pay attention when facing people we need to impress.”
Iona, who had answered firmly, tightened her guard again after being briefly surprised by the unexpected welcome.
While the people outside the Duke’s residence might have welcomed the new mistress without much thought, the reactions of the people inside could be very different.
After all, wasn’t she known as the loyal aide of the Crown Prince?
Iona took a deep breath, preparing herself mentally.
Finally, the carriage stopped in front of the mansion.
When the servant approached and opened the door, Leroy stepped down first and extended his hand to escort Iona.
Iona took his hand and slowly stepped outside.
The front entrance was bustling with what seemed to be most of the household staff who had come out to greet them.
As Iona and Leroy stood side by side, they all bowed simultaneously.
“Welcome, Master, Madam.”
Iona had received similar greetings as the head of the family before, but the overwhelming number of employees here made it feel quite different.
The grand sight of the gathered mansion staff bowing in unison was rather majestic.
Watching this, Iona lightly wet her dry mouth with her tongue.
“First, let me introduce the butler and the head maid. Ben, Yudia. Could you introduce yourselves to my wife?”
“Good day, Madam. I am Ben Royce, the butler. If you find anything inconvenient during your stay, please do not hesitate to call on me.”
Ben was a tall, middle-aged man with a distinguished mustache. Without the mustache, he would have looked much younger, but his current appearance suited his title perfectly.
After the butler stepped back, a woman who gave the impression of an old, sturdy tree came forward.
She was so thin that her bones were visible, yet she appeared solid rather than frail.
Perhaps it was because of her tightly controlled demeanor and appearance.
In the past, Iona had always felt that she seemed inhuman.
“I am Yudia Grote, the head maid. I oversee the household, so if you need any items or have any requests, please feel free to let me know.”
The head maid bowed slowly and gracefully.
Iona, who had been holding herself stiff with tension, was inwardly shocked to see a smile on Yudia’s face.
It was the first time she had ever seen her smile.
Iona replied, hiding her bewilderment.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to working with you.”
“It is an honor to serve you.”
Although the head maid’s steps remained steady as she retreated, it no longer seemed to stem from the wariness of Iona.
Instead, it felt more like an effort to make a good impression on the new mistress.
This realization shocked Iona again.
She had only ever considered that she would need to try to gain the favor of the Duke’s people, not the other way around.
‘Did the Duke give them a prior warning?’
Iona glanced sideways at Leroy.
Leroy waited patiently for them to finish their greetings, his expression indifferent.
His casual acceptance of the situation made Iona feel somewhat self-conscious about her own overly sensitive reaction.
After all, it was only natural for a new bride to receive such a warm welcome, unlike her own unusual past marriage.
“Resting after your journey should be your priority. Let’s head upstairs. I will explain the layout of the mansion as we go.”
The head maid naturally took the lead, guiding them inside.
Leaving the butler directing the staff to move the luggage, Iona and Leroy entered the mansion.
Only Marsha, one of Iona’s maids, accompanied them, while the others stayed behind to manage the jewelry and clothing.
The head maid, confirming that the master and mistress were following, cleared her throat lightly and began to speak.
“The mansion is divided into the East Wing, the West Wing, and the Main Wing. You are currently in the Main Wing. If you proceed through the central hall and go to the left, you will find the dining rooms and banquet hall. To the right, there are living spaces such as the reception room and music room. There are many empty rooms, so it might be a pleasant pastime for Madam to decorate them as you wish.”
Her explanation was fluent, almost as if she were reading from a prepared script.
Even though Iona wasn’t particularly focused on her words, the clear enunciation naturally caught her attention.
Most importantly, her voice was incredibly kind and gentle.
Iona, unable to adjust to this kind of treatment, replied briefly.
“…Well, I don’t particularly have a hobby for decorating spaces.”
The head maid’s shoulders flinched momentarily.
Realizing that her cautious demeanor had made her tone a bit stiff, Iona felt a bit regretful, but the head maid’s explanation became even more enthusiastic.
“The West Wing, unlike the East Wing which can be accessed indoors, can only be reached through an external corridor. However, as it houses the servants’ quarters, you probably won’t have much reason to go there.
The East Wing is set up for guests, with a separate ballroom that you might enjoy exploring later. Although it is smaller than the one in the Main Wing, its unique structure gives it a different charm.”
Although Iona had some understanding of the mansion’s layout, there was new information that surprised her.
She had stayed in the mansion for official reasons only and had never been a welcome guest, so she had no idea where the ballroom was.
‘I truly was treated like an outsider.’
As Iona reflected on her past situation, they reached the second floor.
Perhaps out of consideration for the long journey, the head maid only mentioned the major rooms briefly before guiding them to their bedroom.
“This is the master bedroom.”
‘Master bedroom,’ she thought.
This was a completely unfamiliar space for Iona.
She had never slept in the Main Wing before.
She had stayed in a temporary bedroom in the East Wing, like a guest.
Despite the clear mistreatment, Marsha had been furious, but Iona had accepted it calmly as a matter of course.
Even if Leroy had visited the Modrov estate, she doubted she would have offered him any room other than a guest room.
Feeling a fresh sense of unfamiliarity, Iona turned her eyes to the head maid as she entered the room.
She then left a heartfelt compliment for the maid who had finished her explanation with professionalism.
Seeing her enthusiastic guidance made Iona feel as if she was already being acknowledged as the mistress of the house, filling her with warmth.
“Thank you for your kind explanation. It was very helpful to have everything organized so clearly. Now I won’t have to worry about getting lost in this large mansion and embarrassing myself.”
The head maid, who was holding the door for the master and mistress to enter, paused at Iona’s joke.
A faint smile appeared on her lips, then quickly disappeared.
“You’re too kind, Madam.”
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