It had clearly seen better days, but I didn’t care. I would make this manor nice with my own hands if I had to. This was going to be my fresh start even if part of me still desperately wanted everyone to know.
The staff were waiting outside when we came to a stop. Five butlers swarmed the carriage behind us, grabbing my luggage to take inside to deposit in my room. Four more people were standing at attention looked tense, waiting for me to get out. Two of them looked like cooks, their hair pulled back into neat caps, clean aprons hanging over their arms. The other two looked like maids, the uniforms pressed and creased, their hands clasped neatly in front of them. The taller one looked young, close to my age or a little younger. Laugh lines framed the shorter one’s mouth even as she looked straight ahead.
A small staff, but I guess this was everyone who lived here. Everyone else would come and go.
I fussed with my dress, praying I looked presentable. They all knew I had been in a carriage for at least six hours, but I didn’t want to look like it.
Putra got out first, holding up a hand to help me out. Normally I would have batted it away and rolled my eyes, but I needed it now. With no break for that last leg of the trip, I didn’t have proper space to stretch.
I barely managed to not stumble, keeping my footing. Everyone bowed as I approached. The two maids stepped forward. The shorter one said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, my lady.”
I frowned. It sounded just as horrible as I thought it would. “Hyran is fine. Not really used to the ‘My Lady’ stuff.”
She smiled and it felt like the tension broke. Everyone seemed to take a breath, relaxing. “Unfortunately, Lord Muin had informed us that we’re not allowed to anymore since we embarrassed him in front of his parents.”
“I’d love to hear that story,” I said. It would be something to know about him. Datura guards were reluctant to say anything about him, good or bad.
She laughed and said, “When we have a moment, I’ll tell you everything. I’m Jurek Pasternak, head of house staff.”
The other one stepped forward, her small smile breaking through her tense features. “I’m Anhelina Kuzmenko, your lady in waiting. Lord Muin asked us to help you get settled in and answer all of your questions.”
The cooks spoke up, the gruff, older man speaking up. “My name is Fedir Nin. I’m the head cook for the manor and Lord Muin’s cousin.”
“If you see him negging the marquis, it’s all in good fun, even if it does look like he’s being an ass,” Jurek said. “Though sometimes he is just an ass.”
“Watch it or you’ll get laxatives in your dinner,” he said.
The other cook elbowed him, an elderly woman who stood tall even as she relaxed. A soldier, probably, retired here to keep an eye on Lord Muin. She smiled, her face crinkling into laugh lines. “Be nice, Fedir. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lord Hyran. I’m Kasi Zaman, assistant cook.”
I looked over everyone trying to take in their features and names. I was determined to memorize their names now so I wouldn’t blunder it and make a fool of myself later. Though I wanted to meet the butlers, I was a little glad they’d scurried off so quickly. I wasn’t sure I could remember another five names.
I cleared my throat. “It’s great to meet all of you. You all already know me, but let me introduce Putra Misra, my personal guard.”
He nodded to everyone. “I understand that there is a guard here already, but I take the protection of Lady Hyran personally. If there is ever anything wrong, please inform me as soon as possible.”
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“Of course,” Jurek said. “Introductions are done, for now. Everyone is dismissed, back to your chores. My lady, Putra, if you wouldn’t mind following Anhelina, she’ll show you to your rooms. If you’ll excuse me, I have to check on other matters.”
“Of course, thank you, Jurek.”
She bowed and left, leaving us to follow Anhelina inside.
It was better taken care of than the outside, gleaming walls and shining floors. It was surprisingly easy to navigate, and I didn’t have to try to remember paintings and sculptures as markers. Which was good because the walls were empty as if Lord Muin had just moved in. No decorations, paintings, busts. The walls were still white and there weren’t even any curtains on the windows.
The room Anhelina led us to was more of the same. It was nice, large, and airy, but painfully boring. Just a bed in an empty room with my luggage piled neatly in the corner. There were two doors, one of which I assumed led to a closet and the other, a bathroom.
“Is there a reason it’s so bland in here or does Lord Muin just like it like this?”
Anhelina shrugged. “We’ve asked him several times how he wants it decorated, but he never really answers. Though when he’s here, he always complains about how boring it is.”
“I suppose that can be one of the first things I do.” I did a slow turn around the room, noting there was only one bedside table. “Will Lord Muin be sleeping in a different room?”
She looked nervous as she said, “I know it goes against tradition, but it’s what he asked us to do. If you would like, I can ask him about it for you.”
“No, no. That’s fine.” It was a bit of a relief to know that his reclusive habits extended this far. Though I was confident in my skills, after so long in the carriage, I didn’t even fully remember what he looked like. “He’ll come to me when he’s ready. Whenever that is.”
“It may take him a while, my lady, he’s never been good at interacting with new people. It took a month of steady interaction for him to even talk to Jurek and even longer before he talked to me. He’s just not good with people.”
“Must be one hell of a marquis, then.”
She laughed. “He’s not good with people, but he handles the background work of being a marquis very well. Paperwork is are taken care of in a timely manner and if something needs to be handled in person, he’ll saddle up and deal with it. With some coaxing from Fedir and Jurek, of course. Oh! I almost forgot.” She dug into her apron and produced a letter. My name was written in small, nice lettering. “From Lord Muin. I’ll give you a moment to read it. Putra, I’ll show you to your room. It’s only a few doors down.”
“Thank you, Anhelina.” He nodded to me before leaving, shutting the door softly behind him.
I sat on the bed, turning it over in my hands for a moment before opening it.
September 28
Lady Hyran,
Welcome to Nin-Datura Manor. My apologies for leaving so quickly, I had matters to attend to in town.
I believe that we both are aware that this marriage was simply to make sure that we are no longer a burden to our parents. Due to that fact, I don’t want to lead with any expectations of a normal marriage. I don’t expect to have sex or to force you to do so. I’m not a brute and I don’t intend to become one.
Excuse the small number of staff we have. As it’s our honeymoon, most of the staff will work shortened hours until it’s over. We employ forty people, and you will see them when the month is over. Those who met you at the door and the guards who accompanied you are the few who live here.
Everything in the manor is now yours as well as the town. Do with it as you please; I don’t spend a lot of my time anywhere but my office when I happen to be there. My father tells me you paint. The walls are white. They could use some color if you’re interested in doing so.
I hope that someday this manor feels like a home to you.
Lord Muin
I looked it over again before sighing and falling back onto the bed. At least we both knew why we were actually married. For the most part, at least. Neither of our parents were especially thrilled during the ceremony and I could have sworn his mother yawned while the priestess was talking.
So much of my life had been decided for me. What to wear, what to eat, what to learn. At least Muin was giving me a choice in how our marriage would go. I was going to change the manor anyway, but at least now I knew he wouldn’t be upset. And more than that, I could paint.
I sat up, walking over to my bags. There was so much I needed to learn and be familiar with in order to be a good marquess, but for now, in this first month that was meant for my honeymoon, I would simply exist and get used to my new home.
I opened my bags and dug around for a bit before I found them. All of my painting supplies had made the journey, and I was itching to make something. To throw myself into creating so I could empty my mind of all the little worries cropping up. How would I know I was a good marquess? What if the people didn’t want me? What if, somehow, I managed to make Muin hate me?
I shook my head. There was no point in worrying about that now and there was at least one way to try to make sure he didn’t hate me.
I opened the door, spotting Anhelina on her way back. “Hey, do you have any paper?”