Meanwhile, in one of the guest rooms of the estate, Lady Gracelle's maid, Marta, was pacing frantically, her hands clasped together as she tried to keep her voice down but failed miserably.
"Hiiiiii! Where is Lady Gracelle?!" she squeaked, her face pale with panic.
She checked the bed for the tenth time, fluffing the empty pillow as if Gracelle might magically reappear.
As she flustered about, a knock came at the door. One of the Armand household maids peeked inside, bowing politely.
"Good morning, Miss Marta. I've come to inform you about Lady Gracelle's whereabouts," she said with a serene tone.
Marta immediately rushed toward her, gripping her arms. "Oh, thank goodness! Where is she? Did she get lost? Please tell me nothing has happened to her!"
The Armand household maid coughed lightly, trying to suppress a laugh. "Oh, no, nothing of the sort. Lady Gracelle was last seen… hugging our young master Javier quite tightly in his room."
Marta's jaw dropped. "H-Hugging? Your young master? In his room? What—why—what is going on?!"
"Well, I think it's best if you see for yourself," the Armand maid replied with a practiced smile. "Please follow me. I'll escort you to their location."
Still flustered and muttering under her breath, Marta adjusted her apron and followed the maid through the estate corridors, her mind racing.
Lady Gracelle, what have you gotten yourself into? Hugging a noble young master first thing in the morning? How am I supposed to explain this to your mother if this causes a scandal?
Meanwhile, in his room, Javier could feel his patience and personal space being steadily suffocated by the overly enthusiastic young lady clinging to him. Her arms were tightly wrapped around him, and her bright, adoring eyes left him with nowhere to escape.
Ugh… this little girl is way too clingy! Hello, lady? Ever heard of personal space? I can't even breathe here!
"Javier-sama," Gracelle said softly, her cheeks glowing with a rosy hue. "This morning was so wonderful... Waking up next to you felt like a dream." She leaned in closer. "I wish every morning could be like this."
Javier's eyebrow twitched. Hello? Lady, I'm not your husband! Get off me, already! This is suffocating!
Gracelle beamed at him, completely ignoring the subtle signs of his discomfort. "Javier-sama, we have the entire week together. Isn't it wonderful? I'm so happy I could spend this time with you."
Javier forced a polite smile.
Entire week? ENTIRE WEEK OF HELL! Liana!! You demon maid! You orchestrated this, didn't you?
"Yes, yes, Lady Gracelle… but for now, how about we… go eat breakfast?" His voice was strained, but his polite facade stayed intact.
Gracelle pulled back slightly but still clung to his arm. "Of course, Javier-sama!"
Gracelle tightened her hug, oblivious to the storm brewing behind his polite noble demeanor. Javier's thoughts spiraled into despair.
Seven days of this… I'm doomed. Someone save me… No, scratch that—LIANAAA! I will make you pay for this!
Just as Javier and Gracelle stepped into the hallway, they were greeted by the frantic voice of Gracelle's personal maid.
"Lady Gracelle! Where have you been? I've been searching everywhere for you!" the maid cried.
Javier's amber eyes lit up with a spark of hope.
Yes, yes, Miss Maid! Take her away from me! Better if you keep your little lady busy this whole week… ehehehe!
Gracelle, oblivious to Javier's inner thoughts, waved her maid off with a smile. "Oh, no need to worry about me! I was with Javier-sama!"
The maid's face turned even more alarmed, but before she could reply, Gracelle added sweetly, "And now, Javier-sama and I will have breakfast… with my future in-laws."
Javier froze.
Future in-laws? Who the hell told you I was going to marry you? Ugh, this little girl!
He forced a strained laugh. "Future in-laws, huh? That's… an ambitious statement, Lady Gracelle."
Gracelle giggled, clearly taking it as playful banter. "Oh, Javier-sama, you're so funny! I know you're just being modest."
Javier's polite smile barely hid the panic simmering beneath.
Modest? Lady, I'm trying to survive this without losing my sanity. Liana, you demon, look what you've done!
As they entered the dining room, Javier braced himself for yet another round of chaos, the weight of Gracelle's overenthusiasm looming over him like a storm cloud.
Inside the grand dining room, the lively hum of conversation paused as Javier and Gracelle entered. Seated at the long oak table were Javier's extended family, each seemingly engrossed in their own morning routines but quick to notice the new arrivals.
Lady Francesca was the first to react. "Ara~! My little honey bun with his own lady? Oh, how precious!" She smiled warmly at Gracelle, motioning to an empty seat near her. "Come, Gracelle dear, have a seat."
Javier's two older brothers, Marcellus and Cedric, exchanged amused glances, their expressions a mix of mischief and curiosity. Marcellus, the eldest, smirked and leaned over to whisper something to Cedric, who stifled a chuckle.
Lord Garius, seated at the head of the table, gave a curt nod. "Young Lady Gracelle, it is a pleasure to have you as our guest. I trust your stay will be a pleasant one." His tone was neutral, but his piercing gaze briefly flicked toward Javier, as if silently assessing the situation.
Lady Silvia, smiled from her seat, clearly thrilled at the sight of her daughter and Javier together. "Thank you for welcoming my daughter so warmly, Lady Francesca,"
Meanwhile, Javier's two stepmothers, Lady Garcinia and Lady Phenelopie, observed the scene with mild interest. Garcinia children, Aelius and Athine, appeared more interested in the pastries in front of them, while Phenelopie's son, Heres, curiously eyed the interaction between Javier and Gracelle.
Javier face twitched as he plastered on a polite smile. "Good morning, Mother. Good morning, everyone."
Gracelle gave a graceful curtsy. "Thank you for having me, Lady Francesca. I look forward to spending this time with your family."
As Gracelle took her seat beside Lady Francesca, Javier hesitated, scanning the room for his usual spot—and the smallest sliver of peace. Unfortunately, his options were limited, as Liana had undoubtedly ensured Gracelle was seated directly beside him.
This is going to be a long breakfast, Javier thought, his noble demeanor barely holding under the weight of his inner turmoil.
--
After breakfast, the family lingered briefly in the dining hall, but Lady Silvia soon approached Lady Francesca.
"Lady Francesca," she began gently, "I must thank you for your warm hospitality, but unfortunately, we cannot stay for the entire week as planned. There are pressing matters back home that require our attention."
Lady Francesca tilted her head slightly, maintaining her graceful demeanor. "Oh, that is quite unfortunate, Lady Silvia. We were looking forward to having you here longer. But, of course, duty comes first."
Lady Silvia nodded appreciatively before turning to her daughter. "Gracelle, dear, I'm afraid we need to prepare to leave soon."
Gracelle's face fell, her excitement from earlier replaced with visible disappointment. "But Mother! I was supposed to—" She paused, her gaze darting to Javier before continuing in a softer tone. "We were supposed to stay for a whole week!"
Lady Silvia sighed, her expression a mix of sympathy and firmness. "You know how far our region is from here, my dear. With the risks of bandits and monster attacks on the roads, it's better to return home while our guards and staff are still prepared for the journey."
Gracelle hands clenched the edge of her dress. "But Mother, I've barely had any time with—" She stopped herself again, and glanced at Javier. "—with the Armand family. Couldn't we stay just a bit longer?"
Lady Francesca, sensing the young girl disappointment, spoke gently. "Oh, Gracelle dear, perhaps you and Javier can keep in touch through letters. I'm sure he'd be happy to." She cast a sly glance at her son.
Javier, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on him, forced a polite smile. "Of course. I would be happy to write, Lady Gracelle."
And hopefully not see you for a while.Geh!
Gracelle turned to him, her expression brightening slightly at his words. "Really? You promise?"
"Absolutely," Javier replied.
Liana, this is still your fault!
Lady Silvia gave her daughter a reassuring pat. "There, you see? You'll have plenty of chances to stay connected. Now, let's not delay—we'll need time to prepare for the journey."
Gracelle nodded, though the disappointment in her eyes lingered as she excused herself to prepare for their departure.
As Lady Silvia moved to finalize the arrangements with her staff, Javier couldn't help but feel a wave of excitement wash over him.
Finally, some peace! Gracelle is going home. I can breathe again .Just a little more time, and I'll be free! Eheheheheh
( End of Chapter )