The Echanting Duchess

Chapter 2: Settling Down

"My name is Lila. I'm very glad - I mean, t-this humble servant is very pleased and honored to meet - I mean, to be at your service, Your Grace!"

The introduction went well, but as for Lila, who seemed to have eaten a lot of sugar and was now oozing with too much energy, she earned a reprimanding look from the stern-looking Leonor. And this made Lila blush in shame.

Lila just couldn't help it when she saw the incomparable beauty and elegance of the new duchess and she almost couldn't contain her excitement after finding out that she would be one of the servants who would attend to the duchess's needs.

In Lila's eyes, when she first had a glimpse of Atallie at the entrance just a while ago, her eyes almost couldn't stop looking. But as a servant to receive and welcome their new master, she knew that it would be too inappropriate if she would be caught ogling the duchess. But now, after having to clearly see the full frame of the duchess, stars suddenly appeared in her eyes.

Lila had never seen such beauty and charm in her seventeen years of seemingly insignificant existence.

Atallie was well aware that this young servant in front of her seemed to be particularly fond of her. She also noticed that the four of them were not far from her age bracket. The four maidservants actually introduced themselves from eldest to youngest.

Atallie smiled faintly as she spoke, "Please take good care of me from now on."

"We are deeplhonoureded to be under your care, Madame." The four maid servants said in unison.

Leonor moved back in front of them once again. "Now, Madame, if you would, please let us know what your orders are for us."

Atallie heaved a sigh. She gazed at the still bright morning sun on the outside. She suddenly thought about the possibility of being invited by the duke for lunch and dinner. And this thought almost made Atallie roll her eyes.

"I am certain that you are all aware of my current situation," she paused. "First, I'd like you to prepare a warm bath for me and a change of comfortable clothes. Secondly, I would also like to take liberty and have my lunch and dinner in this room. Alone," Atallie instructed with her monotonous yet mellow voice.

The stern and dignified Leonor frowned a bit as she spoke, "Madame, I don't think that the duke would agree to your arrangement."

Atallie threw a sideway glance to Leonor. She already expected that Leonor would not agree with her.

"Leonor, like what I said a while ago, I am certain that all of you are aware of my current situation." Atallie stood up and fixed her eyes on Leonor. She was now glad that her shoes made her appear to be taller than the five women in front of her. "And I am also certain that the Duke himself would allow me to be on my own for today," she continued.

Leonor could tell that Atallie was not someone as simple as she appeared to be. Based on her many years of living and overseeing the Duke and the Kargaz of the North, she could clearly tell, despite having just met the new duchess a few minutes ago, that the woman in front of her was a firm and obstinate person.

"I understand, Madame. Please wait here for a moment. Gina will prepare tea for refreshment as we heed on your other instructions," Leonor said.

Leonor was behaving the same as Atallie. She was neither warm nor cold, but politeness was still present.

"Thank you," said Atallie.

After a few minutes of waiting while sipping on her sweet rose tea, brought by Gina, Atallie saw Leonor stepping out of the bathroom.

"Madame, your bath is ready," said Leonor.

"I understand. Thank you. You may now all go." Atallie placed down the cup on the table and stood to walk towards the bathroom. But before she could even take a step forward, Leonor's voice sounded once again.

"Madame, we are here to assist you, including during your bath time," said Leonor with her firm and stern tone.

Atallie's cold amber eyes gazed at Leonor as she said, "Leonor, it is truly a delight to have you to serve me. However, to speak frankly, I am not the least bit in the mood to have someone to accompany me right now." Her expression didn't even change from the very beginning until now. "Please leave me be. I want to be alone," she continued.

Leonor held her gaze but didn't utter a word to disagree. In the end, she bowed respectfully at Atallie.

"Then, we will let Madame have her time alone. Please excuse us," Leonor said.

Atallie gave a nod of permission. She didn't wait for the maid servants to come out of her room. She just walked straight towards the bathroom.

But before Atallie could get inside, she paused as she asked, "By the way, what day is today?"

Leonor was just about to reach the door when she heard the duchess ask a question out of the blue.

It was a sudden question, but all she could do was simply answer. "To answer Madame, today is the fourteenth day of the second month."

After hearing Leonor's answer, Atallie nodded on it and finally went inside the bathroom. Whereas Leonor and the four maid servants quietly exited from the duchess's room.

When Atallie saw the inviting bathtub and smelled the wafting aroma of sweet scented oils mixed in the steamy bath water, she almost tore the elegant and blinding white gown off her body. But after recalling the amount of precious diamonds and other precious stones laid on it, in the end, she carefully eased herself out from the gown and placed it carefully over the bathroom drawers.

After making sure that the gown was all good, Atallie jumped towards the bathtub without further ado.

And that's how Atallie spent the remaining hours of her morning. If she didn't remember the time for lunch, she would've slept right away after taking a good soak in the bathtub.

Sigh.

At least I got to enjoy a good bath.