Bridal Lessons - Chapter 17
He didn’t deny it, nodding coolly as he added,
“Since last night, continuously.”
“Oh, I see.”
The quick-witted maid understood what that meant and quickly shut her mouth. Her face, sprinkled with small freckles like salt, turned bright red. However, Joshua, who lacked such experience, asked with a slightly puzzled look,
“Huh? Then where did the lady sleep last night?”
“Ahem, Sir Joshua.”
The seasoned butler quickly nudged his side to stop him and bowed respectfully to Iscarion.
“Your Highness, actually, a message came from the lady’s friend. She said they were supposed to meet, but the lady didn’t show up…”
“Rosen’s friend, that would be the lady of the Esther Marquisate.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
After a moment of deep thought, Iscarion slowly spoke.
“Tell them Rosen is undergoing ‘bridal lessons’ in preparation for the wedding. Inform the academy of the same. It would be good to finalize and announce the wedding date as well.”
“Pardon? Bridal lessons?”
This time, the elderly butler couldn’t hide his surprise.
He had noticed the Grand Duke’s preparations to expand and furnish the new annex for a bridal chamber and had guessed that a wedding was imminent. He even knew that a ring had been prepared for the proposal.
However, he hadn’t anticipated that ‘bridal lessons’ would be involved.
While the name sounds grand, its true purpose was… to confine a bride-to-be to prevent her from changing her mind before the wedding.
Since the two had been living under the same roof for so long, he thought such procedures would naturally be omitted.
Moreover, anyone with functional eyesight could see that Lady Rosénia’s heart was set solely on the Grand Duke.
Why would she need a period of bridal lessons?
Quickly regaining his composure, the butler suppressed his presumptuous doubts.
“Forgive me, Your Highness.”
He had served the House of Lutèce even before Iscarion was born. The noble boy, born with everything in his grasp, never threw tantrums or caused chaos like other children. Everyone praised him as fitting for the successor of the Grand Duchy. But the butler always found the overly mature boy worrisome, feeling a strange unease about the child who lacked any childlike qualities.
Experience taught the butler to notice things others missed. Though Iscarion took over the title at a young age and performed his duties impeccably, his cold and emotionless eyes often revealed a premature sense of ennui.
When Iscarion brought Rosen in, the butler was relieved. The always-disinterested boy seemed like a normal youth for the first time. Seeing him tender with his young fiancée reassured the butler that his concerns were unfounded.
However, as Rosen grew and Iscarion’s obsession with her became apparent, the butler’s unease returned.
Perhaps the intense devotion of the late former Grand Duke of Lutèce, who couldn’t bear to live without his wife and followed her into death, had been inherited. As Rosen neared adulthood, the butler noticed the way his master looked at her and decided it was best not to interfere in matters concerning Lady Rosen.
‘Thank goodness Lady Rosen is so loving and kind.’
He considered it a blessing that Rosen’s heart also belonged to Iscarion.
Keeping his expression neutral, he cautiously asked,
“Your Highness, what subjects should the lessons cover? There are no suitable noblewomen in the household to take on the role. However, the young lady has been handling regular event preparations, ordering supplies, and managing personnel for some time, so there doesn’t seem to be a need for further instruction in those areas.”
“I know Rosen has been diligently working on those matters. She’s quite commendable.”
“Perhaps we could invite a high-ranking priestess or a learned lady from the temple? Studying scriptures or practicing prayers with a pure heart could be quite beneficial for the future Grand Duchess’s preparation.”
“No. I will handle it myself.”
Iscarion declined the suggestion with a slight smile.
“Rosen has much more important studies right now than copying scriptures or memorizing prayers morning and night.”
“Understood, my lord.”
Accepting without further questions, the butler listened as Iscarion continued with additional instructions.
“During Rosen’s lessons, ensure only the minimum number of necessary personnel enter the annex. Prohibit anyone from entering the room without permission to avoid disrupting her studies. Meals, clothes, and other necessities should be brought to me.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
With a light nod, he passed the three and ascended the stairs to his study.
