Married the Monster Duke

Chapter 9

In the morning, Beatrice woke up to a peaceful and warm morning. She still can’t believe that she woke up feeling comfort in the place. In her past home, she always woke up scared and nervous, but whenever she woke up in the duke’s estate, she never felt that way since she arrived.

As always, Katy helps her get ready; she always waits for Beatrice to wake up and greets her with a smile, as if she always enjoys serving her master.

“The servants talked about you,” Katy said, smiling while helping Beatrice get ready for the day.

Beatrice shifted in her seat. She anxiously looked at Katy in the mirror.

“What did they talk about?” She asked nervously.

“Nothing much, they just praised how nice you are to them and are glad that you became their Duchess,” Katy happily said.

Beatrice instantly felt shy; she still couldn’t get used to the kindness that she was receiving in the mansion. She said thanks in her mind, like the servants would hear her say it. After getting ready, Beatrice excitedly made her way to the dining area, hoping to have a small talk with Arthur before he started doing his work.

As she sat down, the maids instantly served her food. She looked around and waited for minutes, but Arthur still didn’t come. Even though minutes passed, she still hadn’t started her food, hoping Arthur would join him. In that moment, a maid came to the dining area and gave her a message.

“Madam, I have a message from the Grand Duke,” The maid nervously said.

“What is it? You can speak,” Beatrice kindly said.

“The Grand Duke left early, he said he needs to catch up on paperwork from the capital,” The maid said.

Beatrice felt disappointed. When Katy saw her emotions, she quickly walked towards her master and whispered.

“Maybe he has a lot of work to do since he was gone almost a month,” Katy whispered, hoping her mistress would feel a little bit better.

Beatrice smiled at the messenger and said her thanks before dismissing her. Even though she feels a little sad that she can’t talk or see Arthur in the morning but she quickly brushes it aside.

‘It’s okay, Beatrice, he’s the Grand Duke, of course he is busy,’ She said in her mind, cheering herself up.

While eating her breakfast, she started wondering what a duchess should do during the day. As he pondered her thoughts, Charles, the butler, came into the dining area. She looked at him, but he stayed quiet until Beatrice finished her food. After breakfast, Charles appeared by her side and politely bowed.

“The Grand Duke has instructed me to guide you around the estate,” Charles seriously said.

Panic instantly showed in Beatrice’s face as she thought of troubling the butler with her lack of knowledge. Charles saw the panic in the duchess's eyes and instantly smiled at her.

“You don’t have to worry about anything, it is my job and I feel honored to be the one who will assist you to adjust to your new position,” Charles kindly said, which made Beatrice breathe a little.

Charles begins the tour by showing her the entrance hall, and he also begins explaining the history of the estate and also about the previous family who lived there. Beatrice, who felt anxious and nervous on their tour, became more comfortable while listening to Charles. She took the vastness and the dignified atmosphere of the whole estate.

When the tour was finished, Charles guided Beatrice to her own office, where letters, ledgers, and schedules were neatly organized.

“This is my own office?” Beatrice asked, not believing what was happening.

“Yes, ma’am,” Charles said and began explaining the responsibilities to Beatrice. Slowly and patiently teaching her until she understands everything.

On her first day at work being the duchess, Beatrice tries reading a ledger, but she becomes flustered after making small mistakes. In her first mistake, she instantly panicked, resulting in making more mistakes.

When Charles noticed that she was beginning to panic, he gently corrected and assured her that she could learn at her own pace. In that way, Beatrice began doing her work efficiently as the day’s goes. She began working non-stop, enjoying her work like it were born for her. She felt happy at the time, knowing that she could do something for the Grand Duke.

As the day went by, Charles looked at the time and made Beatrice stop working. The sun is setting, and the butler thought that it was a shame that she wouldn’t see the sunset in the garden.

“Can I really stop working and look around the garden?” Beatrice asks, surprised.

“Of course, ma’am, you can stop working anytime you want. I’ll guide you to the garden,” Charles happily said.

Beatrice got mesmerized when Charles guided her to a part of the garden she hadn’t seen yet, a greenhouse of winter roses and a full medicinal herb section.

“Wow! Who planted these?” Beatrice asked happily.

“The workers who were assigned here in the garden, it was Sir Arthur’s idea to add some medicinal herb section here,” Charles proudly said.

Beatrice started asking more about the garden and history in the estate that she hadn’t had time to ask earlier in the day. As Beatrice hears the rest of the history, she feels fascinated and quietly admires the flowers, feeling a small warmth bloom inside her chest. The calm environment in the garden became one of the reasons that eases her nerves.

On the way back to the mansion, more servants greet Beatrice respectfully.

“Good morning, your highness,” One of the servants politely said and bowed.

Beatrice smiled back and greeted the servant when, suddenly, a maid offered her a fresh pastry while one of the gardeners handed her a small flower. Beatrice, shocked at their gestures, but accepts it with a soft, hesitant smile, surprising the servants and earning more admiration.

As Charles steps away to attend to something, Beatrice pauses in the quiet hallway. She reflects on the respectful greetings, the gentle smiles, and the small gifts. At the moment, she began to wonder why people in the Grand Duke’s estate treated her kindly when her own family never did.

She began remembering the harsh times she received back at home, but when she remembered that she was still holding the gifts that she received from the servants, she suddenly felt confident.

‘I promise that I will try my very best to be worthy of this place and to be worthy as their Duchess,’ Beatrice silently promised to herself.

As she looked at the sky from the hallway, she heard some footsteps. When she followed the sound, a wide smile appeared on her face.

“You’re back!” Beatrice excitedly shouted.

Arthur returns late, looking tired but composed. When he saw Beatrice, he felt calm and full of energy; he didn’t know the reason, but it was always like that when he was with Beatrice.

“It’s cold out here. Let’s talk during dinner, go back inside,” Arthur warmly said.

Beatrice nodded her head and waved goodbye to the Grand Duke before hurriedly walking back to her room. Her personal maids stood when she entered, they instantly helped her get ready for her dinner with the Grand Duke, but while getting ready, she happily told her maids about her day.

“I’m glad to hear you are happy with your first day,” Katy said while smiling.

Katy is really happy when her master starts to smile more, not only her, but the other maids were also happy for her. After getting ready, Beatrice almost ran to the dining area because her being excited to talk to Arthur.

She quietly sits at her seat, waiting for Arthur, hoping that he will not come like what happened in the morning. Minutes passed, Arthur came, apologized for being late, something unexpected from a grand duke.

“It’s okay, I understand if you are busy,” Beatrice said softly.

Arthur smiled at her and began eating. They eat quietly but comfortably, exchanging short conversations about her tour. As they finished their dinner, Beatrice became more talkative, and she began telling stories about her day. The Grand Duke listens intently when Beatrice says Charles helped her, and he feels quietly relieved that she’s adjusting well.

“Really? What else did you do today? Tell me all about it,” Arthur said while smiling widely at her duchess.

In the midst of her stories, not only did Arthur begin feeling happy, but also the servants. They were all really glad that someone like Beatrice was going to be their new master. Back in her room, Beatrice holds the small flower or pastry given to her earlier. She imagined all the things she did in the day, while reflecting on the day, she felt a soft sense of accomplishment.

For the first time in her life, she felt something that she had never felt before.

“Maybe, just maybe, I really can live happily here,” Beatrice whispered to herself before dozing off.