They arrived in Carlton in the evening. Light shattered across the surface of the sea, and the air was saturated with the salty scent of the ocean—warm, as though summer had left its mark on every stone.
The city felt like a promise that asked for nothing in return: a long pier, salt in the air, and white buildings retreating a single step from the shore, as if they understood their limits.
The car turned onto the road leading to the ducal palace. The trees lining both sides of the road were clearly well tended, until at last they reached the palace itself—grand despite its age and long history.
With its calm façade and wide windows, old aristocracy blended seamlessly with modern decorative touches. Quietly luxurious. A modern aristocracy that did not flaunt its wealth, but mastered it—now befitting the Dyssehard family.
The driver opened the door, and Neris stepped out first. The first thing she noticed was the scent: aged wood, and salt carried in by the sea breeze, leaving its trace on the walls.
As was customary for palaces and buildings overlooking the sea, the floors were white, polished marble. New servants stood lined up, ready to receive their new master.
Adrian stepped out of the car and moved forward. Standing before him was the new head butler of the palace, Jason, greeting the duke alongside the rest of the servants.
Adrian offered nothing more than an elegant nod, lifting his gaze to his new palace.
Then he ascended the gleaming white marble steps with confidence and entered.
Behind him came Neris and Edwin. The servants remained perfectly aligned, professional and silent. They did not yet know the nature of their new master, but the weight of his gaze—and the heaviness of the air around him—made them wary all the same.
In the reception room, Adrian looked calmly at Neris and spoke in a deep voice. There was nothing in his tone to grasp onto, nothing in his gaze that invited warmth. He was neutral to the point of cruelty.
"Jason will take you on a tour of the palace. You may choose your room yourself."
Then he turned with Edwin toward the study. Meanwhile, the servants dispersed to prepare dinner for their master. Opinions about the new duke varied among them, yet in every bow there was a trace of respect.
Neris walked behind Jason as he guided her through the ancient palace—once owned by a count, abandoned for years, until the duke received his fief and began restoring it. Modern, refined décor had been added, making it the most luxurious palace in the entire southern empire.
All of this had been accomplished in an astonishingly short time, while the outer grounds—the gardens and auxiliary buildings—had yet to be completed.
As they passed by several rooms, Jason asked her,
"Which room do you prefer, miss?"
She smiled gracefully.
"Any room will do."
"The duke has instructed that you inspect all the rooms yourself and choose the one you like."
For Neris, her only criterion was distance from Adrian. She followed Jason through several rooms, all spacious, beautiful, and overlooking the sea.
Yet one room stole her heart. Its wide balcony faced the sea at sunset. She stood there, watching the sun's disk disappear into the water, leaving behind faint pink rays still shimmering on the horizon and reflecting across the glowing surface of the sea.
It was a breathtaking sight—one she was seeing for the first time—and she knew she would be delighted to see it every day. She turned to Jason and asked,
"May I have this room?"
Jason nodded with a smile.
"Of course, miss. I'll have your belongings brought here at once."
Jason left, and Neris remained where she was, gazing at the luminous horizon that filled her heart with an unfamiliar warmth. The scent of salt grew stronger. Her breaths deepened.
This new place was utterly strange—eerily quiet. No noise, only a disconcerting vastness.
Martha entered, greeted her, and helped her bathe and change for dinner, while the rest of the servants arranged her belongings in the room—along with several dresses Adrian had brought for her. She still did not understand why he had bought her new clothes when she already owned many and had left them behind.
At the dinner table—set only for Adrian and Neris—she sat with that familiar unease returning to her stomach. She was truly hungry, yet the moment she sat at the same table as Adrian, her stomach churned again.
Unable to eat any more, she pushed the food around her plate, stealing glances at Adrian as he dined in silence and composure. Even seated for dinner, in his evening attire, he carried himself with elegance and arrogance. She could not stop herself from wondering what this man was thinking now—and what he intended to do with her.
Her curiosity overcame her fear. She lifted her eyes to him and asked,
"So… what will my role be here?"
Adrian raised his gray eyes, sending a shiver through her.
"Do whatever you wish."
She frowned in confusion.
"I don't understand what you mean."
He set his cutlery down, replying as if closing a door,
"I mean that you are free here, my lady, to act as you please. As for work, I will call upon you if the need arises."
He finished his meal in silence and left, while she remained behind, still trying to understand. He had let the words fall lightly between them, as if they meant nothing. Yet they settled in her chest with a weight she could not immediately grasp.
Was it truly all right for her to do whatever she wanted?
She returned to her room and stood once more on the wide balcony. A gentle breeze played with the strands of her blonde hair, which Martha had left loose down her back. She whispered to herself,
"It will take time to grow accustomed to the scent of the sea—but it's incredibly refreshing."
The sea before her turned into a black horizon as night fell.
Free.
She repeated the word within herself, like someone tasting a new word on their tongue.
If she was free, then what exactly was she supposed to do?
Her gaze wandered around her new, spacious room with its pristine white walls. With soft lighting from the electric lamps on either side, it was far larger than her old room in the Marquis's palace. She threw herself onto the bed carelessly, stretching her limbs aching from sitting in the carriage all day.
Yet she refused to sleep early. She needed to think more. What lay ahead no longer depended on what she knew of the future, but on what she would come to understand. And Adrian von Dyssehard remained a variable—difficult to comprehend or predict—and that angered her.
She sat up on the bed in irritation.
"First, I need to go to the library. I can't think clearly anywhere else."
She left her room, trying to recall the exact path Jason had described. Then a sudden question surfaced in her mind.
Where was the duke's chamber?
She paused in the middle of the hallway before continuing, whispering,
"I hope it's far away from my room."
As she walked on, she encountered Edwin, who smiled at her warmly.
"How are you, Lady Holsten?"
She replied politely,
"Oh, Edwin, I'm well. Thank you."
"Do you need anything? Is your room comfortable?"
"Oh yes, very comfortable. I only wished to go to the library."
"Very well. May I escort you there?"
"Yes, please."
Edwin led the way to the library and asked along the path,
"I thought the young lady would go straight to sleep from exhaustion."
Neris laughed shyly.
"It's still a bit early for me to sleep."
Edwin replied,
"I've just left the duke bathing and preparing for bed."
She nodded silently, then asked,
"So… are things running smoothly?"
"Certainly. The duke is extremely meticulous, so it's difficult for matters to slip out of control."
They finally reached the library, and Edwin continued,
"The duke has emphasized that Lady Holsten is to be left at ease. You may move freely within the palace and do as you wish. His Grace will also appoint a personal escort for you, should you wish to go out."
She nodded and thanked him, then entered the library. It was enormous, filled with countless books—most of them very old, clearly left untouched since the departure of the original owner.
"This library will need updating."
She recalled Edwin's final words, and all she could conclude was that the duke wanted to watch her more closely. Allowing her to act freely without seeking his permission could only mean one thing—he intended to observe her.
That was the only explanation for his unsettling behavior.
She smiled to herself, slyly, and murmured,
"Then so be it. Let's give him exactly what he wants."