Chapter 58.1

Chapter 58 – A Pretty Useful Guy

Knock, knock –

Head Maid Melanie knocked on the door of the bedroom. Entering quietly, she politely greeted Ashia and introduced herself.

“I am the head maid of the Grand Duke’s mansion, Melanie Serument. Feel free to call me Melanie.”

“Nice to meet you, my name is Ashia Bliss.”

Melanie led Ashia inside the bathroom after a brief exchange of greetings.

“Wow….” Ashia burst into admiration as she entered the bathroom. She quickly glanced at the huge and lavish bathroom with wide-open eyes.

‘It can’t even be compared to the Duke’s mansion. Being a Grand Duke must be great.’

The Duke’s mansion could never be said to be modest and simple, but the bathroom inside the Grand Duke’s mansion was even more splendid.

Starting from the size of the bathtub, as well as the design of the bathtub and walls, and the various precious jewels used for decoration – it wasn’t only that. The variety of flowers and herbs floating in the bathtub was too luxurious.

’If they only used things that weren’t available during this season, then they must have used things that were preserved with magical power.’

Just how much does it cost?

The shelf on the wall was full of various perfumes, and the warm and clean, hot water filling the tub was slightly swaying.

Haa, a sigh escaped through her teeth.

It was as if she had a glimpse of the Grand Duke’s wealth.

Ashia carefully immersed herself in the bathtub with the help of the Head Maid Melanie. A weak moan automatically escaped from her lips. It felt like all the fatigue inside her body disappeared.

’It feels good to be immersed in water like this.’

“The employees inside the Grand Duke’s mansion are very excited right now.”

Ashia slowly opened her eyes and looked at Melanie.

Melanie smiled faintly. The soft lines around her eyes wrinkled as she smiled.

“Why?” Ashia tilted her head.

“Because someone whom the Grand Duke values had come.”

“Ah…”

Melanie’s warm smile deepened more.

Seeing that, Ashia continued to speak with a small, and hoarse cough, “Values… that’s a little bit… it isn’t that kind of relationship.” Slightly embarrassed, she cleared her throat again and gave a somewhat impish smile. “First, I think it would be better to say that the Grand Duke and I are just friends.”

Melanie, who was following her and smiling, asked her back with startled eyes, “Just… friends?”

“Yes, friends,” Ashia said, and then stirred the water in the bathtub filled with petals with her hands. “We don’t know what people will do.”

“…” Melanie was diligently moving her sponge in her hand, still sporting a questionable look.

Friends?

Most of the employees inside the Grand Duke’s mansion were loyal people who had worked for the Grand Duke for a very long time already—even when he was a tyrant.

And then seven years ago, a change occurred in the Grand Duke’s mansion. Not only did Kaligo fix his messy private life, but he also built again the collapsing power of the Grand Duchy so that no one could take it lightly anymore. Only then he became a respectable head and a master that the employees could follow with confidence.

If there was one thing they thought was a pity, maybe because he had been playing around too much in the past, the Grand Duke didn’t want to keep any women by his side at all. That was why there were no young women among the employees of the Grand Duke’s mansion.

‘Now, he has become an outstanding groom no matter which angle you look at him…’

She used to imagine the second-generation Grand Duke and Grand Duchess who would leave this beautiful and majestic Grand Ducal mansion. She was very worried that she would close her eyes without hearing the laughter of children even once. But just in time, Ashia appeared when she was very sad that her perfect master would die of old age alone like that.

This weird lady called herself the Grand Duke’s friend. For a man with such fierce and rough energy, a man who didn’t want to make eye contact with anyone and was in a hurry to avoid it, she didn’t lose confidence at all.

’This is a chance – this is definitely a chance.’

Melanie was sure of it. “That’s right, Lady Ashia.”

“Just call me Ashia.”

“How can I do that?”

’You will soon become the venerable Grand Duchess of this Grand Duchy.’

“Ah, then I would feel uncomfortable.”

“Then… Miss Ashia, how about calling you Miss Ashia?”

“Um… alright, Melanie.” Ashia’s eyes, which had risen after a moment of thinking, drew arcs again. It was a smile that made the one looking feel better at the same time.

* * *

It seems that he wasn’t lying when he said he had many things left undone. He said that he didn’t have much to do and went to and from the store every day, but it wasn’t like that. Sending her in person to the Grand Duke’s mansion, Kaligo stayed up all night and was busy with his work.

‘I want to help, but I need to know something…’

The piles of papers piled up on the desk were full of matters she didn’t know of at one glance. Even when she was in charge of the housekeeping for the duchy, she wasn’t so interested at all, so she wouldn’t be much help now.

Kaligo told her that he was sorry for being unable to tour her around the mansion and said that she could wander anywhere around freely.

‘Anywhere, you say…’