Chapter 6 Marriage

Duke Arthur and Beatrice Blanche who was sitting alone in the room were sitting quietly until it was filled with laughter of the Duke.

"You are going to be the Grand Duchess of this Empire. You don't have to make a deal with me, do whatever you want!" Arthur shouted full of pride.

"You don't even know me, what if I do something that can embarrass your name," Beatrice said shyly.

Arthur thought the woman in front of him was very interesting. She was brave enough to make a deal with the Grand Duke while others fainted just standing in front of him but now he saw the lady being shy all of sudden.

"You don't have anything to worry about" Duke Arthur firmly said. 

"Grand Duke, your wedding is about to start," Charles said on the other side of the door. 

"Well now, let's get married" Arthur offered his hand to Beatrice with a huge smile on his face showing all of his perfect teeth.

Beatrice is nervous about what will become of her after she gets married and lives in another place she is not familiar with while on the other hand, Arthur stands there calmly.

The door went open showing the Grand Duke and the future Grand Duchess of Xylem empire. Everyone was surprised to see the two of them look perfect. 

"Relax, people will feel your anxiousness" Arthur whispered to Beatrice.

Beatrice smiled bitterly. She couldn't help but feel anxious since every single one of the people present at the wedding kept staring at her.

Beatrice managed to walk until they arrived in front of the cardinal. 

The Grand Duke grimaced as the ceremony took longer than expected. Many people with high status in the society said their greetings and said congratulations. 

"Greetings to the Grand Duke of the Empire" Cale Blanche arrogantly greeted Arthur without even bowing in front of him.

Beatrice flinched at the cold voice of his father while Arthur smirked at Cale. 

"Hello, Duke Blanche or should I call you father?" Arthur jokingly said while Charles side-eyed Arthur, scared that he would openly taunt the Duke.

Cale was taken aback at the tone of the Grand Duke. It was obvious enough that he was not in a good mood but he insisted on greeting him.

"Thank you for agreeing with this marriage" 

Duke Cale spoke again and the Grand Duke's mood worsened.

"Don't tell me you are going to ask about the mine right after your daughter's wedding? Without even offering a congratulations?" Arthur said while laughing.

It was obvious to the people around especially Charles that the Grand Duke was taunting the father of his wife. 

Beatrice felt her insides turn with the tension she was feeling, sitting beside the Grand Duke who kept on releasing his killing intent to his father was too much a pressure to her.

Arthur side-eyed his wife and calmed down. "Charles here will be setting an appropriate date and time for us to talk regarding this matter" 

Charles smiled at the Duke. When Arthur took his wife away from the party, Duke Blanche bit his lip angrily. Feeling his pride was crushed into pieces without even noticing that Charles, the Grand Duke's right hand is watching him.

"Uhm, are we leaving this soon?" Beatrice asked Arthur shyly.

The both of them were facing each other inside the carriage that they were riding to the north. Beatrice played with her fingers while anxiously waiting for the Duke's reply.

"I can't leave the North unattended for too long," Arthur calmly said while casually looking outside the window.

Beatrice looked up, sneaking a peak at the Duke's handsome face. She blushed slightly and thought, "How can a man be this handsome," 

The travel back to the north was long and quiet. No one ever said a word the only thing that you could hear was the carriage's wheels spinning and the horse neighing. 

"Welcome back Grand Duke and Grand Duchess," The servants simultaneously greeted the newly married couple as soon as they went down from the carriage. 

The maids in the right while the butlers are on the left. Arthur, being the gentleman he is offers his arm to his wife to hold onto while walking.

Beatrice on the other hand was surprised at their over-the-top greeting and did not believe her eyes as she saw every maid she passed was smiling at her warmly. This never happened at her own home and will never happen.

"Are you hungry?" Arthur asked as soon as they got inside of his huge mansion.

"I, uh, want to, uhm," Beatrice mumbles, she wants to tell the Duke that she wants to rest first but no words are coming out.

Charles nervously side-eyed Beatrice while Arthur sighed and patted Beatrice's hair. At the touch of his hand on Beatrice's head, she felt calm and safe. Beatrice closed her eyes and slowly opened them. 

"I want to rest first, my body feels sore from our travel," Beatrice said shyly but this time she managed to utter every word she wanted to tell the Duke.

"I see, let's see each other at dinner then," Arthur said and left without saying another word.

"Greetings to our Grand Duchess, my name is Nina, the head maid," A woman bowed and smiled warmly at Beatrice.

Beatrice blushed and greeted her back. "Nice meeting you, I am Beatrice Lionel, please take good care of me," Beatrice greeted sweetly.

The head maid was taken aback for a second but instantly masked it with her warmest smile. The head maid was not the only one who was surprised but also the servants that were around, who won't be surprised, their Grand Duchess greeted them with so much formality.

"I will show you to your room Grand Duchess," Nina said and showed Beatrice the way to her room with Katy following from her behind.

As they walked through the corridors, Katy walked faster to catch up to Beatrice. "My Lady, the mansion is too huge but beautiful," Katy whispered.

"But the vibe here is so lonely that it makes me sad," Beatrice whispered back and smiled bitterly.

"We are here my lady," Nina softly said and opened the door for Beatrice.

Beatrice's eyes grew big at the sight of her new room. It was so big and luxurious that two big families could live there. 

Nina smiled at her new master's reaction. She felt proud of her work since the Grand Duchess liked it. 

"The door at the right will be your bathroom and closet while the door on the left will be for the Duke's," Nina explained.

Beatrice looked at Nina with confused looks. "Are we sleeping in the same bed?" She asked.

"Of course madam, since you two are now husband and wife," Nina said and signaled someone outside to come inside the room. 

A twin young lady came wearing the same uniform as the head maid. Beatrice assumed that these would be the maids that would be assigned to her.

"This is Luna and Lina, my lady," Nina introduced and Beatrice smiled at the both of them.

"Greetings to the Grand Duchess," Both of them bowed.

"They will be one of your personal maids including the maid you brought with you," Nina said.

"Thank you," Beatrice softly said. 

Beatrice was feeling excited to meet new people and at the same time scared that they would be the new ones who would make her life miserable.

The maids including Katy left her inside the room after giving her a magical bracelet that will let her call any one of them anytime. 

Beatrice sighed and looked around the room that felt so empty. As she lay in bed she thought about what will happen in the evening.

"Will I need to offer myself to him?" Beatrice mumbled as she drifted off to sleep.

On the other hand, Arthur who is currently resting in his office was disturbed by someone knocking, it was the head maid who guided Beatrice to their room.

"Greetings to the Grand Duke," Nina bowed.

"What do you think?" Arthur coldly asked Nina.

Nina stood properly after bowing to her master and smiled. "She looked too innocent, young master," She said softly.

"Can you stop calling me that?" Arthur said feeling annoyed.

"I couldn't help it young master, no matter how much time passed, you will always be my young master," Nina said while giggling.

"At the very least, please don't call me that in front of her," Arthur said feeling defeated.

"Is this the Grand Duke that I know? The Grand Duke is feeling embarrassed?" Charles said while sitting in the window frame behind Arthur.

Nina giggled at Charles's playfulness. "I should have killed you the moment I met you," Arthur said, feeling irritated. 

Charles puts both of his hands in the air showing he is surrendering while smirking.

"Anyways, how is she?" Arthur asked seriously.

"She is currently resting in your room," Nina said hesitant to continue.

"Why, what's wrong?" Arthur asked while lifting one of his brows.

"She greets and talks to us with formality and so much kindness, I am scared that the madams in the society will make it her weakness and prey on her," Nina answered softly.

"Charles will be in charge of her education and you're in charge of teaching her proper etiquettes befitting a Grand Duchess," Arthur ordered.

"As you order," Charles and Nina simultaneously said while bowing.