I Snatched The Duke

Chapter 7. Even If You Don't Want To Care

“Butler, these are the statues that were ordered from the West. Where should we place them?”

“Butler, the blue crystal chandelier has arrived. Please inspect it before installation.”

“Butler! Here’s the list of drinks that will be served at the reception party. Please confirm.”

“Put the statue on each side of the central staircase on the second floor, unpack the chandeliers and place them on a black cloth. Hans, please wait a moment.”

Thanks to the frequent marriages of the former duke, Edward became a veteran when it came to ‘wedding preparations’. However, this two-month preparation period was so tight that he, a professional, had to grind his bones.

Thankfully, the previous duke and mastermind to his son’s quick marriage already had some behind-the-scenes work done, so the big things had been prepared in advance, and although it was tight, they were entering the finishing stages one after another.

“Butler! You are being summoned.”

At the sound of someone shouting, Edward’s eyes, skimming through the papers at high speed, widened.

“Who is!”

“His Excellency is looking for you.”

Gasping for air, the servant ran down the stairs.

“I understand.”

Edward immediately set down the documents and rubbed the dark circles under his eyes.

‘What’s going on?’

Edward came up with the question as he hurriedly traversed the hallway.

After entrusting him with all the authority over the wedding preparations, his master had not been involved at all, as if he had no interest in how things were going.

It was the first time since he became the head of household that he was summoned outside of the daily reporting hours in the evening.

“Your Excellency, you were looking for me?”

Upon entering the office, Anna, the head maid, was already standing in front of their master. The atmosphere was unusually heavy.

“Does the head maid not care about Lady Aclera at all?”

“No. Duke.”

Anna, who had arrived before him, had no idea why she was being questioned.

“Is she being served with proper meals?”

“Of course. She is a precious person, so the kitchen pays special attention.”

“If that’s the case then why is she so skinny?”

Mihalis anger rose as he remembered Eliana’s figure when they met.

At first, he thought it was the effect of the poison.

However, her body was still skinny a month later, and her clothes—not only were they simple but they were actually shabby.

He was supposed to not care about anything related to their marriage. So the fact that he had to pay attention like this was making him upset.

“Well, that’s… she had been eating so little for a long time, so she can’t eat much. If the amount suddenly increases, it will be a burden on her body… We will have to slowly increase the amount little by little in order for her to gain weight.”

“Then pay more attention to nutrition.”

“Yes, I’ll tell the kitchen firmly.”

“Head butler.”

His target has changed.

Edward’s body froze at Mihalis’ direct gaze.

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

In Mihalis’ hand was a document about the progress of the wedding that had been attached to the daily report.

“Is the budget not enough?”

“No. It is enough.”

Edward broke out in a cold sweat.

‘Did I make a mistake in the wedding preparations because I rushed it?’

“Explain why the young lady is still wearing Northern clothes.”

What kind of lightning out of the blue is this! Edward was taken aback.

“Your Excellency, we cannot meddle in her attire prior to the wedding.”

The dresses before the wedding were something that the bride-to-be has to personally decide.

Edward didn’t know why Mihalis was being prickly.

“You can’t meddle even though she’s wearing such stifling clothes?”

“Duke. Before marriage, it is customary to wear the clothes from one’s own family or to purchase additional ones using the dowry if needed.”

“Those shameless b*st*rds.”

Listening to Edward’s explanation, Mihalis, who recalled the baron and baroness’ ensemble, made him spit out curses.

He could somehow grasp the situation now. It wasn’t enough that they sold their daughter, they didn’t properly prepare the allowance she had to use prior to their marriage.

“…..”

Edward and Anna’s bodies trembled at the curses that came out of nowhere.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Mihalis’ fingers tapped the desk lightly.

“…..”

The longer the silence, the more Edward and Anna felt nauseous–they had no idea what kind of lightning might strike them.

“Head butler.”

Lost in thought for a moment as the two stood before him, Mihalis finally spoke.

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“How much is left in my personal budget?”

“It is estimated at about 2 Billion Riums.”

He had no interest in luxuries since he was a child, and his personal money piled up one after the other, as he did not have the time to spend it because he was tied up with military affairs.

“I’ll give her a present. Prepare clothes for the young lady.”

“I will prepare it.”

I lived.

Anna, who was frozen with tension, relaxed her body as she responded.

It seems that he was quite concerned for his bride-to-be who lived in suffocating dresses in this hot southern weather. This was a rather good sign.

“Something that would suit the Southern climate.”

Mihalis added, recalling the attire of the baron couple.

“Yes, I understand.”

“Buy enough accessories as well.”

The baroness, who had arrived in the morning, was dressed in the latest Southern fashion.

Before coming down to the South, they had arranged for clothes according to the latest fashion, yet the main character of the wedding, who should shine more than anyone else, had nothing prepared. The more he thought about it, the more he gritted his teeth.

“The cost does not matter. Get it ready quickly.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“I will do my best.”

“Both of you can go.”

As soon as Edward and Anna left the office, Mihalis began putting on the uniform of the Southern Navy, which was prepared in the office closet.

The Duke of Atcher’s insignia was embroidered with gold thread on the left chest of the ultramarine blue uniform that only admirals could wear, and epaulets signifying the Southern Navy were attached to both shoulders. Wearing a cap and a white cape that symbolized the commander-in-chief of the fleet, he looked like a hero.

***

It was the day after the commotion with the baron couple.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Eliana, who was sitting on the sofa having her nails done by the servants of the duchy, raised her head at the sound of knocking that broke the silence.

“Come in.”

Amy, who had gone down to get a snack, must have returned.

“It’s been a long time since I saw you.”

Eliana’s eyes widened. It was not the person she expected.

“What’s the matter?”

It was on the first day they had arrived at the Duke’s castle. It was the butler, Edward, who had shown her to this guest room and the head maid, Anna, whom she had only exchanged greetings with.

“I have something to show you. May I guide you for a moment?”

Is it because the wedding day is getting closer? Their somewhat stiff attitude a month ago had become more polite.

“Here we are.”

The place they went to, after being guided by the butler, was the room right next to the guest room where Eliana was staying.

“What’s this?”

When the door to the room next to hers opened, Eliana had to cover her mouth that had unintentionally opened.

It was as if they had moved an entire department store section in there. In the center of the room, dozens of movable racks were lined up in three columns, and the hangers were stuffed with lavish clothes arranged by purpose.

“It’s His Excellency’s orders-“

Edward was about to give an explanation to Eliana who was still frozen at the entrance of the room.

“What do you mean orders? They’re gifts. For the soon-to-be Madam.”

Anna smiled warmly as she quickly cut him off.

“It’s too much.”

Eliana was distracted by the many objects in front of her at once.

They weren’t just clothes.

By the wall of the room, shelves towering over her were tightly packed, each partition filled with hats, shoes, different kinds of jewelry, and other miscellaneous goods.

She had heard some noise from the next room in her sleep last night but just assumed that there were other guests who had arrived at the castle. She never imagined that it was because they were preparing something like this.

“Ahem, this is the exclusive dressing room for the future Madam.”

After clearing his throat once, Edward continued.

“My apologies. As we were in a hurry, we could only prepare ready-to-wear clothes.”

“No. I really like it.”

Eliana finally stepped into the dressing room. There were so many clothes that it felt like they swept everything that would fit her size.

“I’ve served him all his life, I can’t believe the day has come when he would give a present to a lady…”

Anna, whose eyes had become red, smiled widely and said.

“Future Madam, this Anna was so moved that I prepared without even knowing how difficult it was.”

Anna was truly thrilled. She had originally worked as the nanny’s assistant and had watched Mihalis grow from when he was an infant.

How worried she was that despite his dashing looks, he lived away from society and was completely uninterested in the opposite sex.

“Future Madam, I will wait on you. What clothes would you like to try on?”

Calming down her overflowing emotions, Anna followed Eliana into the dressing room.

“Aww, milady! It’s so amazing. I’ll assist you too.”

Upon arriving, Amy, who had brought a tray of snacks to the guest room, rushed over and excitedly gushed.

‘What’s your intention?’

Aside from ecstatic appreciation, Eliana felt a little confused.

‘Did you hate my dress that much? Or is it an apology for arguing with me? Maybe sympathy?’

He hadn’t paid attention to her in over a month. Eliana couldn’t understand this situation at all.

“Butler, where is the Duke?”

Brimming with questions, Eliana asked Edward. Whatever his intention was, she received gifts, so she had to say thank you.

“The Duke left for naval training late yesterday afternoon.”

“Then is he coming over for dinner?”

“Naval training is usually conducted far into the sea. He’ll probably be back next week.”

Hearing Edward’s answer, Eliana couldn’t figure out what this man was really trying to do.

‘Don’t tell me….’

Eliana tried hard to deny the possibility that popped into her head.

‘Ei, it can’t be right?’

It didn’t fit.

There was no way that a man with a face oozing that much sexiness… would do something like give her a gift and then run away, not knowing what to do.

“I’ll try this on.”

In any case, Eliana decided to enjoy the situation.

Due to her long-sleeved northern dresses that came down to her ankles, she tried to avoid outdoor activities as much as possible to be able to endure the humid weather.

‘The South is the best!’

In contrast, the clothes of the South were much more airy, and above all, the short sleeves and length that falls just below the knee were no different from modern clothes.

She really liked it.

‘I have to say thank you.’

The decision to stay there rather than break off the engagement certainly seemed like a good choice.