The garden was quiet again.
Elowen sat cross-legged on the grass, a small flower held gently between her fingers as she absentmindedly twisted its stem.
"…He said it belonged to his mother," she murmured softly.
Her hazel eyes drifted, thoughtful.
The greenhouse. The shadow. Noel's expression.
Everything about it lingered in her mind.
Even the system had been unusually quiet.
"…Suspicious," she muttered under her breath.
A shadow fell over her.
Elowen paused.
Slowly… she looked up.
And froze.
A tall figure stood before her, his presence overwhelming even without a word. Broad shoulders, composed posture, and an aura that felt… heavy.
Powerful.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the flower.
"…Who…?"
She instinctively shrank back just a little, her body reacting before her mind could.
The man's sharp eyes rested on her, studying—measuring.
Not unkind.
But not soft either.
Behind him stood a neatly dressed man, holding a stack of documents.
"Your Grace," the man spoke respectfully.
Elowen's eyes widened slightly.
Your Grace…?
The realization hit slowly.
Duke.
This was—
Her father.
Her body stiffened.
"…Duke," she said quietly, unsure.
The word felt strange on her tongue.
The Duke's gaze flickered briefly at that.
Then, without looking away from her, he spoke.
"How has her stay been?"
The secretary straightened. "Young Miss has adjusted well, Your Grace. Though… she struggles with her lessons."
Elowen frowned slightly at that.
Hey—
The Duke's eyes shifted slightly, observing her more closely.
"…She looks thin."
His voice was calm, but firm.
"She needs to eat more."
Elowen blinked.
That was… unexpected.
He turned slightly. "Prepare snacks. Cakes as well. Have them brought here."
"Yes, Your Grace."
The servants quickly moved.
Elowen watched all of this quietly, still unsure how to react.
The Duke stepped closer.
Too close.
She instinctively leaned back a bit, gripping her dress.
His presence was… intimidating.
Not loud.
Not harsh.
Just… heavy.
Like standing in front of something you couldn't fully understand.
His gaze lowered slightly, landing on the flower in her hands.
"…You like sweets?"
Elowen hesitated.
"…Maybe."
A small pause.
Then—
"I don't want to eat."
The words came out quickly, almost defensive.
The Duke didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he simply sat down on the garden bench nearby.
"Bring it."
Moments later, trays were set before them—small cakes, delicate pastries, sweet fruits arranged neatly.
The scent reached her almost instantly.
Elowen's eyes flickered.
…That smells good.
No.
She looked away.
"I said I don't want—"
Her stomach betrayed her.
A soft, very audible growl.
Silence.
The secretary coughed lightly.
Elowen froze.
Then slowly—
Very slowly—
She reached out.
"…Just one."
The Duke watched as she picked up a small cake, taking a cautious bite.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…It's good."
Another bite.
Then another.
Before she knew it, she was eating properly.
The Duke's gaze softened—just barely.
"…You have a sweet tooth."
Elowen paused mid-bite.
"…?"
"…Like your mother."
The words stilled her.
She looked at him, uncertain.
"…Mother?"
The Duke's expression didn't change, but something in his eyes shifted.
"…Do you remember her?"
Elowen shook her head slowly.
"…No."
A quiet answer.
Honest.
The Duke looked at her for a long moment.
"…You resemble her."
Elowen blinked.
"…I do?"
A faint nod.
That was all.
But somehow—
It felt important.
She didn't fully understand why.
"…Oh."
Silence settled between them again, softer this time.
Less tense.
Elowen took another bite of her cake, glancing at him occasionally.
"…Duke."
He looked at her.
She hesitated.
"…Why do I have to learn all those things?"
A small frown formed on her face.
"I don't like them. They're boring. And confusing. And I don't understand why I need to act like that."
She huffed slightly, looking genuinely frustrated.
"…Proper lady this, proper lady that…"
The Duke stared at her for a moment.
Then—
He chuckled.
A low, quiet sound.
Elowen froze.
He laughs?
"…You speak freely," he noted.
"…Is that bad?"
"…No."
A pause.
Then he spoke again.
"You are a duke's daughter."
His voice was calm, but carried weight.
"In this world, status defines everything. The way you speak, walk, eat… even the way you look at others."
Elowen frowned.
"…That sounds annoying."
"…It is necessary."
She pouted slightly.
"…I still don't like it."
Another quiet chuckle.
"…You don't have to like it."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…Really?"
"You only need to understand it."
Elowen blinked.
That… was different from what the tutors said.
She looked down at her cake, thinking.
"…I'll try."
The Duke nodded once.
"That is enough."
Another pause.
Then he added—
"Your second and third brothers will return from the academy next week."
Elowen looked up.
"…Brothers?"
"…Yes."
She tilted her head slightly.
"…Are they… nice?"
The Duke didn't answer immediately.
"…You will see."
That didn't help.
At all.
Elowen frowned slightly.
But then—
She took another bite of her cake.
"…Okay."
For now—
That was enough.
And as the two sat in the garden, surrounded by soft sunlight and the quiet rustling of leaves—
Something small shifted.
Not quite warmth.
Not quite distance.
But something in between.
The beginning of something unfamiliar.