Marquis Desmond Fairisles had decided that he would stay at our capital's mansion. Duke Arthur seed like soone had snuffed the life out of him while Rune was confused.
The personnel in the mansion were on edge and I was finding it hard to avoid the old man. He seed to have so sort of agenda for continuously trying to be around .
And, it was thanks to him that I had failed to contact Silas for the past two days to check up on Elise's condition. Her treatnt must have started but I still had to go and see if everything was fine. Having a (supposedly dead) concubine under his wing just because I had asked him to do so must be taxing.
I sat in the library for the mont to avoid the Marquis and others, I had to think up of strategies for the future. Just because I had Elise didn't an that Eric would definitely be loyal to .
I already had a plan but I still needed Silas's expertise. Anyhow I saw it, I needed to contact him as soon as possible.
"I should go see him soon." I sighed holding my black rook.
"See who?" I nearly jumped out of my skin as I heard the sudden question.
Marquis Fairisles walked over and sat in front of looking at the chess ga that I was playing.
I was alone in the library to escape this old man and have so peace of mind but it seed he wasn't going to let out of his sight.
"Are you playing alone?" He asked.
"Yes." I answered placing the rook down in the ga from where I had picked it up.
"You could have asked soone to play." He suggested as he picked up his knight and removed my pawn.
I sighed as I picked up my bishop and took his knight out.
"Everyone else is busy with their work and I wanted to spend so ti alone."
"Hm?"
He went ahead with another move and I countered it taking out another one of his knights and making him pause for a mont.
After a few minutes of playing, I pulled a checkmate on the Marquis and leaned back in my chair. I had dumped my work on Viscount regarding the township and I still had to give him further instructions.
There was more work than what was visible and I had no ti to waste lounging around.
Marquis stared at the chess board and then at .
"Do you like playing chess?"
"Yes. It helps clear my mind."
"Then would you like to play another round?" He asked.
"I was thinking of going for a stroll in the garden." I said.
I had dropped the act around him as he knew my smiles were fake. He would often compare with the late Duchess which made curious about her but since I had no mory of her so it was hard to think of anything.
"That sounds good too,"
Marquis stood up making stare at him before I sighed and we walked out of the library. We were just walking down the hallway when I saw Rune.
"Reina?" He ca running up to as soon as he spotted .
"Where are you going?" He asked as his eyes went up to the Marquis.
He was scared of him too.
"We were going out for a stroll."
"You can join us if you want." Marquis offered.
"Uh... Is that really fine?" Rune asked.
"Yes, why not?"
I walked in between Rune and the Marquis, Rune seed slightly on edge so I reached out and held his hand.
He looked down at and I smiled at him making him relax a little.
We walked through the garden, it was an awkward stroll as no one knew what to talk about. Usually, Rune would initiate a conversation but with him being silent there was nothing that we could do.
"Are you two scared of like your father?" Marquis asked making and Rune look up at him.
"No." I said.
"N-No." Rune stuttered and Marquis sighed.
"Did your father say so bad things about ?"
"Tha-That's not it!" Rune squeaked as he squeezed my hand tightly.
"Then do you hate ?" He asked.
"No, that's not it..."
"I think the problem is with your face, Grandfather." I pointed out making Rune look at with wide eyes and agape mouth.
"My face?"
"It's scary." I told him honestly.
"Is it?" He scratched his beard looking as if he had no idea about that fact.
"Why don't you try smiling a little? It will help people approach you."
"Huh? All right then."
The corners of his lips curled upwards and Rune beside clenched my hand even tighter and I could see his face going ashy pale.
Well, I wouldn't bla him, this old man had a special sort of scary face when he smiled.
"Maybe a smile was a bad idea," I said and his stoic face returned.
"Serene used to say the sa thing." He spoke running his hand through his hair.
"Ma-Maybe you should practice a little." Rune suggested.
"Hm... Then I'll practice more."
"Massaging your facial muscles to relax them should help." Rune instructed and the Marquis crouched in front of Rune.
"How should I do that?"
Rune flinched but then he started instructing the Marquis while I observed them.
Marquis Desmond Fairisles didn't seem arrogant or stuck-up. He didn't even get angry all the while that he was here even when the scared servants would ss up in front of him.
Maybe it was his stoic face and the intimidating air that made him hard to approach.
"What do you think about it, Reina?" Rune suddenly asked and I blinked.
"Huh? What?"
"I said that if Grandfather acts kindly with others then they wouldn't be so scared of him."
"Hm... that could work."
Two days later, I still hadn't gotten a chance to go to the location where I was supposed to et Silas.
But there was another kind of thing going around the mansion, Marquis was acting "kind" as how Rune had suggested and the result:
"I-I think I did sothing bad." One of the maids who was serving the Marquis stuttered as she talked to her friend.
"Why?"
"Hi-His Excellency keeps asking if I am all right and doesn't tell much work and whenever I bring him his food he gives that scary smile."
"Wha-What did you do?"
"I don't know!"
"Ta-Take care of yourself."
"Wah! God, help ! I don't want to die so soon!"
I ended up eavesdropping on their conversation and sighed. Marquis was actually trying hard to not co off as a scary person but it seed as if it was failing miserably.
I walked up to him the next day as he sat in the library reading so papers.
"Are you busy, Grandfather?" I asked and he looked at .
"No, do you want sothing?"
"I was thinking that we could take a walk outside." I suggested and he placed the papers down and stood up.
He was indulging and Rune without any hesitation which made a bit more certain about what I was thinking.
"Maybe you are being misunderstood because of your stoic nature." I spoke making him look down at .
"What?"
"You were trying to act kindly towards the maids as Rune suggested, right?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Stop doing that." I said and he tilted his head to one side.
"Why?"
"It's having a reverse effect." I answered making him stare at for a mont before he walked silently.
"It can't be helped then I guess." He mumbled and I sighed as I was about to tell him that it was all right when I sensed the sudden disturbance in the mana near us.
And before I knew I was whisked away from the Marquis.
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