Chapter 2.
The Monster Duke's Proposal.
A new dawn had broken, yet the air within Nirvana Manor remained as suffocating as ever. The morning was thick with the usual hushed whispers of the maids. But today, the cadence was off. Something felt different.
Elisa stood by a corridor window, her gaze fixed on the grounds below. The usual lethargic pace of the estate had been replaced by a frantic, unusual energy.
"El... Elisa."
Michael's voice reached her, laced with a distinct hesitation. Elisa turned, a faint, practiced smile touching her lips. "Oh, brother. What brings you here?"
Michael stepped closer, taking a long, bracing breath. "El, do you remember when those boys were harassing you? You were only twelve."
Elisa tilted her head, watching him curiously. "Oh, yes. They were quite ill-mannered, weren't they?"
"Yes... but you taught them a lesson I'll never forget," Michael said, a soft, genuine laugh escaping him. "I couldn't believe it. You were just a child, and you chased them off with nothing but a wooden rod."
A light flush crept onto Elisa's cheeks. "Don't tease me. Why are you bringing that up now?"
Michael reached out, resting a hand gently against her cheek. "El, you've always been strong. Beautiful, intelligent, and fierce."
Elisa looked away, unable to meet his intense gaze. "Yes, I am aware."
Michael's fist clenched at his side. He dropped his gaze to the floor, his voice cracking. "But El, you always try to solve everything alone. You insist on carrying every burden on your own shoulders."
As he spoke, a stray tear escaped, splashing onto the floorboards. "I am your brother, yet I feel so utterly powerless. It stifles me, knowing that when trouble finds you, you never come to me. Why won't you just lean on my shoulder and cry for once?"
He looked up, eyes brimming. "I want to protect you, El. Please, give me a chance. Let me be someone you can rely on."
The blood rushed through Elisa's veins, a sudden chill making her limbs tremble. Her own vision blurred as tears finally defied her will, spilling down her face.
No... don't cry, Elisa. You cannot be weak. You cannot afford a soft heart, she scolded herself internally. But the dam had broken; the tears wouldn't stop.
Michael pulled her into a firm embrace.
"Br... brother, why me? I never did anything wrong," Elisa sobbed into his chest. She clung to him, her fingers digging into his coat as years of suppressed emotions finally came pouring out.
"El... don't hate me," Michael murmured, gently wiping the salt from her skin. "Tell me when things are difficult. Tell me when you're lonely. I am always here for you, because I am your brother."
"What do you mean 'don't hate me'?" Elisa managed a watery smile, though the tracks of her tears remained. "I've always liked you. You're my only brother."
"And what exactly do you like about me?" Michael teased, his voice lightening.
"Oh... I like your hair and your eyes. You're strong and tall," she said with a sudden spark of enthusiasm. "You know, the ladies of high society are quite mad for you."
"Yes, yes," Michael laughed, patting her head. "But you know, you're the unique one, El."
It was true. Elisa was an anomaly in the Nirvana line. Her father and siblings possessed vibrant red hair and matching eyes; her mother had been raven-haired. Yet Elisa shared neither trait, nor did her eyes match any kin.
"By the way, brother," Elisa asked, her curiosity returning as she glanced back toward the gates. "What is all that commotion outside?"
"I'm not certain. Father mentioned a high-ranking noble was expected, though even he seemed in the dark about their identity."
Elisa fell silent, pondering. A high noble? Why would any peer of the empire visit us? We are a fallen house with a tainted reputation.
As the thought crossed her mind, a massive, opulent carriage rolled into view, followed by three more of equal grandeur. Elisa and Michael exchanged a look of sheer bewilderment.
"Michael... that crest. That belongs to..."
Michael stared at the passing gold-leafed wood, his expression darkening. "El, we need to go downstairs. Now. I have a bad feeling about this."
The entrance hall was swarmed with servants. Richard and Kia stood at the forefront, assuming their roles as the heads of the household. Michael and Elisa slipped in beside Saina.
The Drakin Duchy? What is a carriage from the North doing at our manor? Elisa wondered.
A man stepped inside—an elder, perhaps sixty years of age. His groomed white beard and impeccable livery marked him clearly as a high-ranking butler.
"Greetings to the Lord and Lady of Nirvana," he said, his voice radiating a calm, polished dignity. "I am Rudwick, head butler to Duke Maximilliun of the House of Drakin."
The servants erupted into frantic whispers.
"The 'Monster Duke's' butler? Here?"
"Maybe the Count owes the Drakin money, too," one maid snickered to another.
Elisa recognized them—the two maids responsible for fueling the most vicious rumors regarding her character. She threw them a sharp, icy glare. Caught in her crosshairs, the women instantly withered, bowing their heads in fear.
"Uh... welcome, sir butler," Richard stammered, his nervousness palpable. "May I ask the purpose of your visit?"
Rudwick signaled to an attendant, who presented a parchment. The butler broke the seal and began to read aloud.
"To the Lord and Lady of Nirvana. I am Maximilliun Drakin. I write this letter because I wish to seek the hand of Lady Elisa Nirvana in marriage."
A deathly silence slammed into the hall. The whispering ceased instantly.
What... what in the world? The Duke wants to marry me? Elisa's mind raced, her face a mask of pure confusion.
Rudwick continued reading.
"There is no need for alarm or haste. I have no wish to impose my status upon you. If Lady Elisa is willing, I shall visit the county in the coming days."
Rudwick handed the letter back and took another from the attendant.
Another one? Michael thought, his brow furrowing.
"This is a gesture of apology," Rudwick read. "A proposal of this magnitude should be delivered in person, but I am currently occupied with the affairs of the Duchy. I look forward to meeting you all at the upcoming founding festival ball. Thank you."
"Um... Sir butler," Richard began politely.
"You may call me Rudwick, Lord Nirvana," the old man replied warmly. He turned his gaze toward Elisa, his eyes twinkling with an unmistakable fondness.
"Very well, Mister Rudwick. But... why does the Duke wish to marry my daughter?"
Rudwick chuckled frankly. "Perhaps his Grace has simply fallen in love with My Lady."
The room went pale. It wasn't just the idea of the Duke being in love—it was Rudwick's informal, almost cheery tone. Such behavior from a Ducal butler was unheard of in the Empire.
Duke Maximilliun was a ghost; no one knew what he truly looked like. Yet, he was the primary subject of every high-society scandal. The "Bloodthirsty Monster" who had allegedly slaughtered his parents, elder brother, sister-in-law, and their children just to seize the Duchy.
But the rumors weren't all dark. They said that when he took the mantle at sixteen, the North was starving and vulnerable. Other kingdoms sought to swallow the Drakin lands. The North was a frozen wasteland of monsters, yet the Duchy itself was blessed with four seasons—a miracle attributed to the gods Drakon and Kinna, whose names formed the very foundation of the house.
Maximilliun had restored a dying glory. Those who tried to invade were dealt with—brutally.
Why would a man who has achieved so much want the daughter of a disgraced Count? Elisa was lost in the labyrinth of her thoughts until a sharp clap snapped her back to reality.
Rudwick signaled again, and servants began hauling crates from the carriages. As the heavy wooden lids were pried open, the collective breath of the Nirvana household hitched.
Gold, rare marbles, and gems spilled forth. There were pearls of such lustre they were likely unseen outside the Imperial palace.
"A small token from Duke Maximilliun," Rudwick said. "With your leave, I shall take my departure."
A small token? Elisa stared at the hoard. If I used this to pay our debts, we would still have enough to fund the estate for five years. If I accept this... we won't have to sell the coal mines.
"Mister Rudwick,wait! We cannot possibly accept gifts of this magnitude," Richard protested.
"Lord Nirvana... I do not have the authority to take them back. If you wish to return them, you must do so to the Duke himself. Until then, please, reflect on the proposal at your leisure."
Rudwick turned toward his carriage.
Who is this Duke? Elisa wondered. Is he truly a monster? If he is so bloodthirsty, why did he say the choice was mine? She watched the dust settle in the courtyard. I suppose I will only know the truth when I meet him.
While Elisa stood lost in her reflections, the rest of the manor could only stare at the treasure that had suddenly fallen into their laps.