“Then I must get ready quickly.”

Rubica washed her hands without using soap properly to get ready quickly, but Ann stopped her.

“No, you should take your time.”

“Huh?”

“They’re the ones who stormed in here early in the morning without taking the steps to officially request an audience with you, so you must show them the manners. They’re being rude, so they should be prepared to be untreated.”

She sounded firm. And, although she could understand how puzzled those relatives were and why they were trying to stop it, she thought manners were a different matter.

They had come early in the morning and were demanding to meet the duchess before she could even wash her face. That was a clear challenge to her authority. Ann couldn’t let some bugs climb onto her mistress’ head.

Rubica hadn’t known Ann had such a harsh aspect to her as she always looked so kind. However, the maids and Elise, who had come to serve her, also looked very serious. It looked like she had to brace herself properly. Although Edgar had started everything first, it had all started because of her determination. She decided to keep up the pace with Edgar’s action.

“Then I should wash my hands again.”

She made enough foams this time. She dismissed the relatives waiting downstairs from her mind and got ready slower than ever. However, even if she was going to mistreat them on purpose, doing it too well could backfire.

“Please give a simple breakfast to those who are waiting.”

It could look like some form of kind hospitality, but actually, it was an elegant way of scolding and protesting for storming in even before breakfast time. It was the method Rubica’s mother and aunt had used sometimes.

“Yes. I will have your breakfast brought here for today.”

Rubica had to go downstairs to go to the dining hall. Ann wanted to prevent bad things from happening because of the mad relatives, but Rubica was glad to hear that. In Seritos, having breakfast in your nightdress in the bedroom was thought to be something that only aristocrats of lazy and extravagant kingdoms like Sharman did. Even nobles were supposed to dress properly and eat in the dining hall in the morning. That was part of the virtues of Seritos. The kingdom really put diligence above any other virtue.

However, having breakfast alone in the dining hall while being watched by the servants and maids was almost a torture.

Dinnertime with Edgar was much better than that even if they fought every day.

“Would it be okay?”

“We have no other choice for today because of those uninvited guests, so no one will scold you.”

Rubica felt uncomfortable to break the rules. Her years at the abbey had taught her keeping the rules made many comfortable. Now she knew it wasn’t the time where they lacked supplies that much, but still, it felt uncomfortable.

“Do not worry about it. His Grace has been eating in his office for a long time. If any of the relatives accuse you, I will tell them to accuse the duke first.”

The relatives were probably not going to say that to Edgar. Then Edgar would ask if they were going to do his work instead and give them questions which they would never be able to solve or work that would never finish. Actually, even the king enjoyed breakfast in his bed in secret and everybody knew about it. Being lazy was the sweetest extravagance.

“Thank you, Ann.”

“Please don’t thank me. It’s only what I should do.”

Rubica knew that. Still, she was grateful. If someone like Mrs. Shaynie had been the housekeeper, she wouldn’t have been able to enjoy such kindness and respect. She thought she couldn’t take her inferiors’ kindness and respect for granted just because she was their superior.

“Oh, and Ellie.”

“Yes, Mrs. Taylor.”

Ann called Elise who was handing towels next to the maids. Ann only called her name, that was all, but her green eyes trembled in fear. She seemed to worry that her gesture of handing towels might have been wrong.

Ann thought for a moment while looking at her. Although Rubica could mistreat the relatives, the servants couldn’t. The butler had left with Edgar to the capital to serve him. If there were only maids to serve the relatives, they were going to be offended for being treated like commoners on the streets.

The maids were not allowed to tell them what was going on but turning them down flatly was going to make those girls pay for it. Maybe they could push the maids aside and storm onto the second floor, the private space of the duke and the duchess.

It had to be at least a lady-in-waiting to make them listen. Nobles were supposed to have enough reason to know if the girl stopping them was a servant-girl or a lady-in-waiting even when losing their temper.

In short, either Ann or Elise had to go down to treat the relatives.

Ann’s top priority was Rubica. Serving her was more important than treating the relatives. By rules, it had to be Elise who was going to go down as she had just become a lady-in-waiting. However, even if she now looked more arrogant after being decorated by the maids, she was a soft-hearted child. The girl was going to cry right away after standing in front of the furious relatives.

She did get ready, but the dress she was wearing today wasn’t the one Rubica had given her. It was quite plain. If she went out, the relatives would look down on her and directly try to meet Rubica.

They might yell why the new duchess couldn’t even discipline her lady-in-waiting and ask why she had kicked Shaynie out if that was the best she could do without her.

Ann had to be the one who was going to go down to press the relatives first before Rubica met them.

“I will go downstairs to explain to the relatives and offer them breakfast. Would you serve our madam in the meantime?”

“Really?”

Elise’s eyes got so much bigger. She got really tense as if she had just been given a huge mission.

“I will do my best.”

Ann had to try not to laugh at that and patted the girl’s shoulder while whispering, “Just talk to her so that she wouldn’t be nervous and help her have breakfast.”

Elise wasn’t a perfect lady-in-waiting, but she was better than nothing. If Ann had still been the only lady-in-waiting, it would have been a lot harder. Plus, Rubica was very fond of the girl.

Elise was going to be better at comforting her than Ann.

“I will do my best.”

Elise spoke bravely even if her eyes were still shaking. She acted like she had been instructed to save Rubica from hell. Although she appeared to be soft-hearted, she was strong when given a duty. Ann liked that. She might be able to have her handle important things in the future.

“Your Grace, then I will come back soon.”

“Okay.”

Ann got rid of her worries and bowed to Rubica who was wiping her face with a warm towel. Then, she instructed the maids to do their best as Rubica had to face the relatives who had come to protest.

She stopped and looked back many times as she went downstairs. Edgar was the one who had dropped the bomb, but Rubica had to take care of it. It made Ann angry. Edgar had run away to the capital and she was somewhat disappointed about it. She decided to confront the duke on behalf of Rubica as soon as he came back.

In the meantime, Elise was determined to make Rubica feel better, but she soon faced a difficulty. First of all, she didn’t know what to do to make Rubica feel better.

While she wondered what she was supposed to say and what she was supposed to do, the maids moved diligently to apply the cream to Rubica’s washed face and brought the warm breakfast to a small table.

“Madam, you should eat first and then get dressed for today.”

Elise didn’t even get to say that. An old maid did. It made Rubica brighten up and Elise regretted missing the timing.

Omelet, fresh fruits, bread, bacon, milk and juice. Rubica sat down on a chair and looked at the food on the table. It was a simple breakfast, but only within the Claymore standard. It was enough to make five people full.

‘I must eat a lot.’

She was going to need a lot of energy to confront those angry relatives. She had to eat more than usual, but her appetite didn’t follow her determination. Eating in the bedroom was more comfortable than eating at the dining hall, but she still had to eat alone.

She didn’t even touch the warm omelet and hot-roasted bacon. She first ripped a piece of white bread, dipped it in milk, and ate it. Although she managed to swallow it, the food didn’t taste good. It looked like she would finish after a few more bites. The others in the room got worried at seeing she didn’t have any appetite, and it made her lose appetite even more. That was how her breakfast time was always like.

‘I wish I could call Edgar.’

He was always saying things that made her angry, but it was much better to have that man at the other end of the table. If it had been just eating alone, she would have endured it, but it was even harder with so many people watching.