Chapter 2.

  The Monster Duke's Proposal.

  A new dawn broke, casting a pale light over the world, but the air within the Nirvana manor remained as suffocating as ever. The daily chorus of maids' whispers and the stagnant gloom of the halls persisted, yet today, a strange electricity thrummed through the estate.

  Elisa stood by a tall window in the corridor, her gaze fixed on the grounds below. There was an unusual bustle near the gates, a frantic energy that set this morning apart from the rest.

  "El... Elisa."

  Michael's voice reached her, laced with a strange hesitation. Elisa turned, offering a fragile smile. "Oh, brother. What brings you here?"

  Michael stepped closer, taking a heavy, steadying breath. "El, do you remember when you were twelve? Those boys who used to harass you in the gardens?"

  Elisa tilted her head, her silver hair catching the morning light. "Oh, yes. They were quite the insolent lot, weren't they?"

  "They were," Michael chuckled softly, a ghost of a smile touching his lips. "But you gave them such a thorough thrashing. I could hardly believe it—a twelve-year-old girl wielding nothing but a wooden rod, sending them all running. Ha."

  A faint flush crept onto Elisa's cheeks. "Don't tease me, brother. Whatever made you bring up such a dusty memory?"

  Michael reached out, resting a gentle hand against her cheek. "El, you have always been strong. Beautiful, resilient, and brilliant."

  Elisa looked away, unable to meet his gaze. "Yes, I am well aware."

  Michael's hand dropped, his fist clenching at his side as he stared at the floor. His voice cracked, and a single tear traced a path through the dust on the floorboards. "But El... you always try to solve everything yourself. You shoulder every burden as if the weight of this family is yours alone to carry."

  He looked up, his eyes shimmering with unshed grief. "I am your elder brother, yet I feel so utterly useless. It stifles me, El, knowing that when trouble finds you, you never come to me. Why won't you lean on my shoulder and just... cry?"

  "I want to protect you. Please, give me that chance. Let me be someone you can rely on."

  Elisa felt the blood rush to her face; her entire frame began to tremble. Hot tears spilled over, drenching her cheeks before she could stop them. No... do not weep, Elisa. You cannot afford to be weak. You cannot be soft-hearted, she scolded herself. But the walls she had built around her heart were crumbling.

  Michael pulled her into a fierce, protective embrace.

  "Br... brother, why me?" Elisa sobbed, her voice muffled against his chest. "I never did anything to deserve this." She clung to him, her fingers digging into his coat as the emotions she had buried deep finally erupted in a torrent of grief.

  "El... never hate me for this," Michael whispered, wiping the salt from her face. "Tell me when things are hard. Tell me when you feel alone. I am your brother, and I am always here."

  "How could I ever hate you?" Elisa managed a watery smile, though the tracks of her tears remained. "You are my only brother; I have always cared for you."

  "And what is it you like so much about me?" Michael teased, trying to lighten the heavy air.

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  "Oh... your hair, your eyes. You are strong and tall," Elisa replied with a spark of her usual spirit. "You know, the ladies of the high society are quite mad for you."

  "Yeah, yeah," Michael laughed, patting her head. "But you are the unique one, El."

  It was a truth they both knew well. Her father and siblings shared the fiery red hair and eyes of the Nirvana line; her mother possessed hair as black as ink. Yet Elisa shared neither. She was a vision of silver and gold, a mismatch of traits that felt almost otherworldly.

  "By the way, brother," Elisa asked, peering toward the courtyard. "What is all that commotion at the gates?"

  "I'm not entirely sure. Father mentioned a high-ranking noble was expected, though even he seemed in the dark about their identity."

  Elisa pondered the thought. A high noble? The elite of the empire usually shunned the Nirvanas now, treating them like a plague due to their fallen status and her own tainted reputation.

  As she stood lost in thought, a massive, opulent carriage rolled to a stop before the manor, followed by one more wagon of impressive size.

  Michael and Elisa exchanged a look of sheer bewilderment.

  "Michael... that crest on the carriage. Isn't that...?"

  Michael stared at the sigil, his face turning pale. "El, we must go downstairs. Quickly. I have an ill feeling about this."

  They hurried from the first floor to the entrance.

  The entrance hall was swarming with servants. Count Richard and Countess Kia stood at the front, their postures stiff with the duty of their rank. Michael, Elisa, and Saina joined them as the heavy doors swung open.

  What is a carriage of the Drakin Duchy doing at our doorstep? Elisa wondered.

  An elderly gentleman, perhaps in his mid-sixties, stepped inside. His beard was a snowy white, and his refined attire marked him clearly as a high-ranking family's butler.

  "My greetings to Lord and Lady Nirvana," the man said, his voice calm and dignified. "My name is Rudwick elfo, and I serve as the head butler to Duke Maximillian of the House of Drakin."

  A wave of frantic whispering broke out among the servants.

  "The Legendary Monster Duke? What is his man doing at a Count's manor?"

  "Who knows? Perhaps the Count took a debt from the Drakins as well," one maid sneered, stifling a laugh.

  They were the same two maids, Timi and Rimi, who had been fueling the fires of scandal regarding Elisa's character. Elisa turned a cold, sharp glare toward them. The moment their eyes met her icy gaze, the maids bowed their heads in sudden terror.

  "Uh... welcome, Mr. Elfo" Richard stammered, his nerves visible. "Might I ask the purpose of this visit?"

  Rudwick signaled to an attendant, who stepped forward with a sealed missive. Opening the letter, Rudwick began to read aloud.

  "Lord and Lady Nirvana, I offer my salutations. My name is Maximillian Drakin. I pen this letter because I wish to seek the hand of Lady Elisa Nirvana in marriage."

  A deafening silence fell over the hall. The whispers died instantly.

  What? The Duke... wants to marry me? Elisa's mind raced, her face a mask of utter confusion.

  Rudwick continued reading.

  "There is no need for alarm or confusion. I have no wish to force my station upon you. Should Lady Elisa be willing, I shall visit the County in a few days' time."

  Rudwick handed the letter back and gestured for a second scroll.

  Another one? Michael thought, his brow furrowed.

  "This is an apology gift from my master," Rudwick read. "I feel i should have come in person for such a proposal, but i am currently occupied with the affairs of the Duchy. I look forward to meeting you all at the upcoming ball. Thank you."

  "Mr. elfo..." Richard said, trying to regain his composure.

  "You may call me Rudwick, Lord Nirvana," the butler replied with a pleasant smile. He found himself staring at Elisa, a look of genuine warmth and satisfaction on his face.

  "Very well, Mr. Rudwick. But... why does the Duke wish to marry my daughter?"

  Rudwick let out a hearty, frank laugh. "Perhaps the Duke has simply fallen in love with the young lady."

  The color drained from the faces of everyone in the room. It wasn't just the idea of the Duke's love, but the butler's shockingly informal tone—something unheard of among the rigid etiquette of the Empire's elite.

  Duke Maximillian was a ghost; no one truly knew what he looked like, yet he was the centerpiece of every high-society gossip circle.

  He was the "Bloodthirsty Monster" who had supposedly slaughtered his parents, his elder brother, his sister-in-law, and their children just to seize control of the Duchy. He was a mystery wrapped in violence. Yet, the rumors weren't all dark.

  It was said that when the Duke took command, the Drakin Duchy was starving, teetering on the edge of collapse as neighboring kingdoms sought to carve it up. The North was a land of ice and monsters, a frozen wasteland.

  But the Drakin lands were different. Despite the Northern chill, they enjoyed four distinct seasons and boasted a vast, prosperous coastline. The land was legendary—named for the God Drakon and the Goddess Kiana, said to be their earthly home.

  Maximillian had taken the reins at only sixteen. Within years, he had restored the Duchy to its former glory, brutally crushing any kingdom that dared to challenge him.

  Why would a man who achieved all of that want to marry the daughter of a disgraced Count? Elisa was submerged in deep thought.

  A sudden clap of hands brought her back to the present.

  Rudwick signaled again, and a line of servants began hauling heavy crest from the carriage. As the lids of the dark, expensive wood boxes were flipped open, the room gasped in unison.

  The Nirvana family stared at a fortune: heaps of gold, rare marbles, sparkling gems, and pearls of such quality they likely existed only in the vaults of the Imperial family.

  "Lord Nirvana, please accept this small token of affection from Duke Maximillian. Now, if you'll excuse me, I shall take my leave."

  A small token? Elisa thought, her eyes wide. If I used this to pay our debts, we would still have enough for a ten-year budget. We wouldn't have to sell our coal or other mines.

  "Mr. Rudwick, wait! We cannot possibly accept such a massive gift," Richard protested.

  "Lord Nirvana... I do not have the authority to take back a gift," Rudwick replied as he turned toward his carriage. "If you wish to return it, you must do so to the Duke himself. Until then, please, reflect on the proposal at your leisure."

  Who is this Duke? Elisa wondered as she watched the carriages depart. Is he truly a monster? If he is so bloodthirsty, why did he say my will would be honored? Perhaps I will only find the truth when I meet him.

  As the rest of the manor stood mesmerized by the treasure that had suddenly fallen into their laps, Elisa remained lost in the shadows of her own mind.