Fated Hearts: Reborn to be His Duchess

Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Authority and Kindness

Elysia nearly dropped the spoon.

Bran’s sudden question startled her so much that her fingers twitched on instinct. Several drops of dark medicine splashed against the corner of Cassiel’s lips.

Quickly, she pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped it away.

In her haste, her fingertips brushed lightly against his cheek.

At that exact moment, Cassiel’s eyelashes fluttered faintly twice.

But Elysia had already turned toward Bran and failed to notice it.

Her heart pounded violently against her ribs.

Fortunately, Bran seemed entirely unaware of her reaction.

Instead, he rubbed thoughtfully at his chin.

"Changing His Grace’s clothes and cleaning him will definitely require turning him over," he muttered seriously. "You’re a woman, my lady. You don’t have the strength for that."

Then he nodded to himself decisively.

"Those matters should naturally be left to us."

Only then did Elysia finally release the breath trapped in her chest.

She steadied herself carefully before setting down the cloth.

"By the way," she said calmly, changing the subject immediately, "aside from you and Clara, I still haven’t properly met everyone in this courtyard."

She looked toward Bran.

"Gather them all. I’d like to see them."

Bran answered at once.

"Yes, my lady."

Then after a brief hesitation, he added:

"But there is something Your Grace should know first."

Elysia looked up.

"What is it?"

Bran scratched awkwardly at his head.

"Draevenor Manor is actually divided into two parts."

He gestured vaguely around them.

"This courtyard is one side. Everything outside it is the other."

Elysia frowned slightly.

"What does that mean?"

"Expenses, servants, management..." Bran explained carefully. "Everything is handled separately."

Elysia was genuinely surprised.

"Why would the manor be arranged that way?"

Bran shook his head.

"When His Grace first brought Lady Melissa and her family into the estate, he personally established the arrangement. I never asked the reason."

He lowered his voice slightly.

"Now everything outside the courtyard falls under Lady Melissa’s control. Inside the courtyard, His Grace originally managed matters himself."

Bran looked increasingly embarrassed as he continued.

"After His Grace fell unconscious, I temporarily took over."

A helpless expression crossed his face.

"I’ve handled things poorly. The accounts are a mess."

"Lady Melissa suggested several times that she should take control here as well, but I refused."

Then he glanced toward Elysia quietly.

"Fortunately, Your Grace has arrived now."

For reasons Bran himself could not explain, he trusted this seventeen-year-old girl completely.

Meanwhile, Elysia sank into thought.

Before marrying into Draevenor Manor, she never realized the estate operated like this.

But strangely enough...

The arrangement reassured her.

At the very least, she would not be controlled entirely by others.

Within this courtyard, many decisions could still remain in her own hands.

—

When they stepped outside, the summer heat rushed toward them immediately.

Bran quickly ordered someone to place a chair beneath the shaded corridor.

Soon afterward, everyone serving within the courtyard gathered together.

Aside from the armed guards stationed outside, the group consisted of six maids, six footmen, and two older matrons.

Elysia sat quietly while examining each of them carefully.

Then she instructed everyone to introduce themselves one by one.

Where they came from.

How they entered Draevenor Manor.

What duties they handled daily.

Gradually, she formed a rough understanding.

The two older matrons originally entered the palace as children and once served Dowager Sereia personally.

When Cassiel first received his title, the Dowager sent four experienced women from her own household to help manage his estate.

Over the years, one retired due to old age, while another passed away from illness.

Only Bertha and Maude remained.

As for the others, some were children of palace servants while others were relatives of soldiers who once followed Cassiel into battle.

Some handled cleaning duties.

Others knew how to read, calculate expenses, and manage household matters properly.

Overall, the arrangements appeared surprisingly solid.

And with Bran standing silently behind Elysia—his towering figure radiating unmistakable pressure—everyone naturally treated the new Duchess with complete respect.

The more Elysia observed, the stranger the feeling in her chest became.

It almost seemed...

As though someone prepared this entire courtyard long ago.

Simply waiting for its future mistress to arrive.

Cassiel must have prepared everything carefully for the woman he truly loved.

Unexpectedly, after living another lifetime...

Elysia herself became the one occupying that place.

A faint sigh passed silently through her heart.

At last, she looked toward the gathered servants and spoke calmly:

"By His Majesty’s decree, His Grace and I are now husband and wife. From this day onward, I am the Duchess of Draevenor."

Her voice remained gentle, yet steady.

"I was raised in Hartwell Manor. I don’t understand the complicated schemes and calculations noble households enjoy."

Then she added simply:

"But I do understand one thing... As long as you fulfill your duties properly, there will naturally be generous rewards."

A brief silence followed.

Then Elysia glanced toward the blazing summer heat outside.

"I’ve already kept everyone standing under the sun for far too long."

She paused before continuing:

"After this gathering ends, have the kitchens prepare barley broth for everyone."

The servants visibly froze.

Sweat already dampened their clothing beneath the unbearable heat.

At the mention of chilled barley soup, several people swallowed unconsciously.

Elysia continued calmly:

"From today until summer ends, everyone serving within this courtyard may receive a bowl every afternoon."

"If one bowl isn’t enough, then have another."

"And if you need anything else, tell Miriam. Once I hear it, I’ll decide appropriately."

This time, everyone hurried to thank her sincerely.

Watching their reactions, Elysia suddenly recalled something her sister-in-law once taught her.

Balance authority with kindness.

Let them fear you first.

Then reward them afterward.

That way, they would obey willingly.

It seemed her sister-in-law truly understood these matters well.

—

Afterward, Elysia began reviewing the household accounts.

Just as Bran admitted earlier, he clearly knew nothing about bookkeeping.

The ledgers looked utterly chaotic.

His handwriting resembled scratches left behind by an angry dog.

Still, Elysia read patiently page by page until she lost track of time completely.

At some point, Miriam entered quietly from outside.

"My lady, you should rest."

Elysia continued staring at a particularly horrifying blot of ink.

"What time is it?"

"Nearly ten at night."

Elysia froze.

The moment she lifted her head, soreness spread sharply through her stiff neck and shoulders from sitting too long.

She hissed softly and rubbed at the back of her neck.

Outside, darkness already swallowed the entire courtyard.

She truly had not expected it to become this late.

And she still hadn’t visited Melissa today.

—

Elsewhere within the manor, Melissa slammed her palm heavily against the table.

"That Elysia girl truly doesn’t respect me at all."

Beside her, Lillian sat quietly embroidering.

Without even lifting her head, she said softly:

"Mother, she didn’t actually do anything wrong... You’re her aunt, not her mother-in-law. No rule says a new bride must visit her aunt immediately after marriage."

Melissa’s expression darkened instantly.

"But I manage this household."

Lillian muttered quietly:

"But that courtyard was never under your control..."

Melissa nearly choked with anger.

She glared viciously at her daughter.

"Ungrateful girl. You’re already speaking for outsiders now?"

Then her eyes turned increasingly bitter.

"That position as Duchess of Draevenor should have belonged to you."

Lillian finally looked up helplessly.

"But I never wanted to marry Cousin Cassiel."

Melissa’s temper exploded immediately.

She snatched the embroidery frame directly from Lillian’s hands.

"All day long you only know how to sew!"

Her voice rose sharply.

"What use will embroidery ever be to you? How did I give birth to such a useless daughter?"

Caught off guard, Lillian accidentally pricked her finger with the needle.

A thin line of blood appeared instantly.

She inhaled sharply, her eyes reddening almost immediately.

"I never wanted to marry him," she whispered stubbornly. "And Cousin never liked me anyway."

Melissa laughed coldly.

"If he didn’t like you, then you should’ve learned how to seduce him."

Her expression twisted bitterly.

"If you had managed to climb into his bed even once, he would’ve been forced to marry you regardless."

She clenched her teeth tightly.

"If you cannot become Duchess of Draevenor, then sooner or later this entire manor will fall into someone else’s hands."

Tears gathered in Lillian’s eyes.

"But Draevenor Manor was never ours to begin with."

Her voice trembled softly.

"Cousin only brought us here because he pitied us."

The next second—

A loud slap rang through the room.

Melissa’s fury erupted completely.

"You’re nothing like your elder sister!"

She pointed furiously at Lillian.

"I should never have allowed your father to raise you outside all those years! You’ve grown into a weak, useless fool who doesn’t know how to fight for anything!"

Her breathing grew increasingly harsh.

"If your sister hadn’t married so early, she would’ve become Duchess long ago."

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