By the next morning, Milena had just woken up to her sleep, she felt a bit of dizziness from last night—she thought that she had probably drank too much alcohol.
Across her bed was a vanity, and on top of it was the three boxes, that the duke had given to her last night, it was covering the mirror.
Still in her night gown, Milena tidy up her bed, fluffing the pillows and making sure she adjusted the comforter accordingly. After, she went to her vanity and sat down on the stool.
She opened all boxes at once, getting rid of the items out of the box and placed it aside where the garment boxes were. She admired how beautiful these items were and how useful they can be to her. Something intrigued in her, how can the duke be so kind yet intimidating.
But it's over now, the duke had apologized for the coffee incident, and so—she did too. Milena arranged her items that weren't properly arranged. As she arranged one last item, she heard a murmur from outside.
She ran immediately to the window seat and glanced outsude to see. There was a man—but she couldn't see who—wearing a brown fedora hat and a brown trenchcoat. He was being accompanied by Dawn, and further from a distance was a parked automobile.
Immediately, Milena brushed her teeth and brushed her hair, then got dressed and went downstairs. She peeked at the front window to see the man, he was bearded and wore a field gear underneath the coat. That's when she realized that it must be the investigator.
Milena decided not to interfere their conversation, instead she prepared tea and snacks for the guest.
***
Laurus was preparing to attend the meeting with the board members again. His valet helps the duke to perfect his outfit, as Laurus stood infront of the mirror, and from behind was Pilmer, reviewing the documents out loud for the duke.
As his valet suggested, Laurus chose a basic necktie out of all options. As he started to adjust it himself, there was a sharp knock on the door.
Maurice entered the room right after without any permission.
Despite Laurus still on his vest, but the she didn't mind at all. Pilmer immediately rose from the couch where he had been sitting moments earlier before offering the seat to the duchess.
"There must be important business that needs to be addressed, is it?" His tone, careful and measured.
"Your stubborn sister." She said, tight-lipped. "Is returning to Elnervale earlier than expected." She clicked her tongue.
"Why is that so?"
"She said, she is displeased by staying at Nervingston palace… Can't you believe how ungrateful she is!" Maurice pressed her forehead to her fingers. "Any noble lady would have dreamed of marrying the crown prince of Malnovia! How despicable! If she losses the opportunity, I will no longer accept her into this family."
Laurus had just finished adjusting his tie. He turned around to face his mother, who is all stressed out about his sister's engagement to the prince. He didn't show any hints of concern, and he didn't plan to hand out opinions. He was just annoyed by his mother's nagging.
"I will talk to Adelaide at once when she arrives." He said as he wore his suit.
"By then, scold your sister as you please, Laurus."
Laurus only nodded in response.
Adelaide was two years younger than Laurus. She was the epitome of a true De Vensteins—poised, charming and adored, always favored by their father. However, the siblings were never practically close, Since both lived a separate childhood. Laurus went overseas to study, meanwhile Adelaide stayed at Elnervale, groomed at a young age to become a princess. Her engagement with the prince had started when she was seven, forging an alliance between the De Vensteins and the Royal bloodline—securing both lineage and power.
But there was no bad blood between the siblings, despite Adelaide having more opportunities that her brother Laurus. She cared deeply for her older brother, even when most of the time she felt bad Laurus would only receive little attention from their parents. Meanwhile Laurus was most likely to be cavaliar about it, he didn't compete with any sorts, in fact he prefered being away from the attention and rather have all the peace to himself.
Half an hour later, Laurus had arrived to the Volberston Hall, where the meeting was being held.During the meeting they talked about economy, business affairs, and future projects. He would listened carefully to theur discussions and object whenever the ideas were against his.
Until Marquis Olheim raised his discussion on the ongoing investigation of the farm companies, this had made Laurus' interest graple and made his ears listen carefully.
"We already started the investigation on the farms, currently it is still ongoing. However, the operation is going smooth as expected, gladly." Olheimn drank his tea. "And I had keeping an eye on a particular farm, with that I would like to discuss it with the duke, privately."
"As you please." He raised his eyebrow and nodded. "Once the meeting is dismissed."
The meeting continued on until it was almost noon. When they ended, the bid each other goodbye as usual on any other meeting. Once again, Duke De Venstein and Marquis Olheimn were left alone in the meeting hall.
Before getting into the main point of their discussion, Marquis Olheimn had given his regards for the dowager duchess and how he had been doing lately with the investigation of the farming company.
"So when do you plan to announce the official announcement?"
"The thing is… My sister's matrimony is getting closer, and for the mean time I would like to give this moment to her for a while. Would that be okay, Marquis?"
"Of course! No need too rush."
"I plan to make it official next year. By that time, hopefully me and lady Iris would be able to settle." Laurus tapped his finger. "And you mentioned something about the farm?"
"Ah…" Olheimn hummed. "Iris had been eyeing on this beautiful location, however most part of it is owned by the Ferlin farm." He placed his wrists behind his back. "So, I want to ask a favor."
"Tell me."
"I want to buy that property for my daughter." He smiled.
Laurus thought thought that Olheimn was being predatory in seeking a property, intended solely for a personal interest, and that would taking someone's livelihood away. He knew it was wrong to approve such a thing for mere interest, but he found himself unable to decline the request—especially since he was expected to marry Lady Iris and Olheimn remained one of the largest contributors to his businesses.
"Marquis Olheimn, I don't know if I could do that. The property is owned and and it is a licensed company. It is not right just to take anyone's property and livelihood."
"Then I would pay them with an absurd and twice amount of money that they earn in a year."
"I'll think about it."
When their brief discussion ended, Laurus and Olheimn went on to their ways. Laurus currently had a clear schedule by the afternoon. And by now, he should be eating lunch with her mother, to continue on their conversation about his sister, Adelaide.
When he arrived, Laurus was greeted by his servants immediately and escorted him to the dining hall where Maurice is, who is refusing to eat until his son arrives.
He greeted his mother with a kiss on her head, and took his seat on the head of the dining table. When Laurus' lunch was served, Maurice finally took a graceful bite of her cold lunch.
Laurus looked at his mother, who only sat silent with a cold expression, probably distress of Adelaide's homecoming. To Laurus it was not that big of a deal to be mad over someone who felt homesick. However, in Adelaide's case, it involves business, power, and title.
Silence was between them, and only the sounds cutlery clicks, Laurus placed his fork and knife down and initiated a conversation.
"When would be the expected date of Adelaide's arrival?"
Maurice threw a side glance at her son as she gulped the food inside her mouth.
"Oh goodness! Don't remind me."
"So when would it be?" He ignored his mother's complain.
"I don't know." She shook her head as she cut through her meal. "The day after tomorrow or the day after the latter." She bit into her food.
"But I heard that Marquis Olheimn had been eyeing on one property, the one that had a lake in it."
"He mentioned it to you?" He asked, and Maurice nodded. "When?"
"Last night we had a chat. He really wanted the property but a farming business was getting on his way, he might want to get to our good side—and use your power as the leader to seize the property."
"Yes, but I didn't approved his request right away. It is an inconvenience if it were only for Lady Iris' interest."
"That's because the lady had plans to hold your wedding there, near the lake. They said it looked ethereal."
"The engagement has no official announcement, yet they are planning already." His tone prideful.
"Don't you get it, Laurus? It is all about security. Them obtaining the land would mean—not getting rid of the Olheimns for eternity."
"How cunning." He chuckled.
"But before the Olheimns, let your sister have the moment of her engagement with the prince."
"I already said that to Marquis Olheimn. I thought he was in a bit of a rush."
"That, I would agree. Five to ten years from now there would be war, because Malnovia had been feuding with this close-minded republic country. By then, a year from now—you ought to bear an heir. After all you would be summoned to serve as a general once a war broke out." Maurice finally took another bite.
Laurus thought Maurice was right, it was predictable that there would be war in the future, due to the circumstances of two heated countries. During the remaining time of lunch hour, he reflected what was his future was going to look like. He isn't scared of dying, he worried that the De Venstein lineage would be cut short, he was already a seven and twenty, he felt pressured to produce an heir—because he wasn't ready to become a father.
***
By the following day, Milena attended her class as usual. She was with her classmates in anatomy class, discussing about the endless school works, and the fundraising party that recently took plays days ago. Each of her colleagues teased one another about marrying a man they had interacted with at the banquet, as they took a long walk headed to the south of the university where the exit gate was located.
Not long after, her friend parted onto their own ways, headed home or headed to their dorms. When Milena was left alone, she took a trolley on her way home.
As Milena sat down, she placed her bag in front of her, then slowly puts her coin purse back in that she took out earlier to pay the fare. As she placed her purse, she saw the fountain pen that the duke had given to her—made her pause at the moment. She felt bittersweet about it, yet she wondered how is the duke doing. Then later on, she zipped her bag closed.
Milena finally arrived at her stop, but there was still a long path ahead of her in order to reach her lovely farm. She didn't mind, she liked walking in peace and stare at the bare sky, with trees surrounding her as the light cascading through the shade.
As she reached her step, Milena had found an automobile parked in front of her home, and in front of it was a man with a box camera in hand—taking photos of their property, and she thought that the land inspection was already done.
"Excuse me?" Milena raised her voice.
Milena narrowed her eyes and got closer to him, the man lowered his camera box and greeted Milena a good day.
"Are you with the inspectors?" She asked.
"No." He fixed his hat. "I was sent here by Marquis Olheimn, he told me to take some photographs."
"And where is it for?"
"I honestly don't know miss, I was just hired by him."
He hesitated as he glanced at his shoulder.
"I must go now, Marquis Olheimn expects to see me by dawn."
Quickly, the camera man stepped back into his automobile as he bid farewell to Milena.