Smelian was in turmoil. Before arriving, he had prepared himself to be humiliated and whipped by Duke Lu Xia.

After all, the rumors circulating throughout the Empire about Duke Lu Xia were far from favorable.

But just a moment ago, he had met the Duke Lu Xia who was widely known as "lecherous" and "cruel." Not only had she not verbally humiliated him, but she also showed no intention of punishing him. She even told him that he didn’t need to abide by all those rules here.

This was nothing like what he had imagined.

He even wondered if he was dreaming.

Because all of it felt so surreal.

"Would you like to see your room?" the old butler finally asked, unable to bear the prolonged silence as Smelian stood frozen in place.

’He had no desire to stand here with him indefinitely.’

Smelian lifted his gaze to meet the old butler’s calm eyes and nodded.

He felt he needed a distraction.

The old butler led him upstairs to a room. Pushing the door open, he said, "All the guest rooms are decorated identically. If you have any particular preferences, just let me know, and I will have someone make the changes."

"There’s no need to go to any trouble. This is already very nice." His own room at home was no better than this.

"Then please get some rest. I will come for you at dinnertime. There are no restricted areas in the residence. Feel free to look around if you wish."

Having explained everything, the old butler turned and left.

After the old butler left, Smelian stood silently in the room for a long moment before slowly walking to the edge of the bed and sitting down.

His handsome, expressionless face held a look of confusion.

Next door, Graces, who had followed Lu Xia back to her room, looked like he had something to say.

Lu Xia finished changing her clothes and met the man’s hesitant gaze. "Is there something you want to say?"

At her words, Graces walked over to her. He had changed out of his outdoor attire, and his sharp aura was softened by the casual clothes he now wore.

His hand slid naturally around Lu Xia’s waist. "Smelian seems a little unsettled."

Surprised that this was what Graces wanted to talk about, Lu Xia raised an eyebrow. "And? Am I supposed to go and comfort him?"

"That’s not what I meant. I was going to say, I can handle it for you."

Lu Xia looked at Graces, who so naturally offered to shoulder her burdens. ’He’s paying far too much attention to Smelian,’ she thought.

Still, she had no desire to waste energy on Smelian. If someone else wanted to handle it, that was fine by her. She nodded. "Do as you wish."

Pushing him away, Lu Xia turned and headed for the bathroom.

Even though she hadn’t done anything strenuous, she had spent the entire morning at the research institute. She wouldn’t feel right until she had a shower.

Graces watched Lu Xia disappear behind the bathroom door. His thin lips pressed into a hard line, the tenderness in his eyes vanishing, replaced by a dark, somber expression.

* * *

Smelian was startled by a knock on his door. He rose, opened it, and found Graces standing outside.

He didn’t recognize him personally but knew he was the male from Duke Leslie’s family. Like himself, he was a pawn discarded by his family and sent to Duke Lu Xia.

His sudden appearance was unexpected. "Can I help you?"

"I came to see if you needed help with anything," Graces said casually, as if that were his true purpose.

Smelian, however, didn’t believe he was the helpful type.

"Thank you, but that won’t be necessary. I don’t require any assistance. You may go." He hadn’t even begun to understand the situation here and had no desire to get too involved with its residents.

’As for Graces’s intentions,’ Smelian thought, ’they weren’t hard to guess. After all, we’re both males. The inherent baseness of our kind goes without saying.’

He simply had no interest in competing with Graces for anything.

"Very well. But Duke Lu Xia means you no harm, so don’t do anything to hurt her. Dinner is almost ready. Whatever dissatisfaction you may have with this place, please don’t let it show and ruin Duke Lu Xia’s mood during the meal."

Hearing this, Smelian realized Graces’s true purpose. ’He came specifically to warn me.’

"I’ll be mindful. You needn’t concern yourself."

"Excellent. I hope you have a pleasant stay." Graces’s lips curled into a careless smirk before he turned and walked away.

With a cold expression, Smelian watched him disappear down the hall, feeling utterly bewildered.

’Graces... warning me on behalf of a Female Master like Duke Lu Xia?’

Having already left, Graces gave no thought to what Smelian might be thinking. He had done what he’d set out to do.

He was indeed wary of Smelian’s presence, but he wouldn’t let the newcomer’s ignorance lead him to do anything that might hurt Lu Xia. That was something he would never permit.

By the time he came downstairs, dinner was ready, and the old butler had gone to summon everyone.

Graces entered the dining room, pulled out the chair where Lu Xia would sit, and personally arranged her place setting.

Just as he finished, Lu Xia came down the stairs. "Why isn’t Smelian down yet?"

"I’m here," Smelian replied as he stepped into the dining room. Every eye turned to him, which he found irritating, but he suppressed his annoyance.

Lu Xia saw him and offered a smile. "Then have a seat. Have you seen your room? If you need anything, remember to ask the old butler. Don’t be shy."

This wasn’t the first time Lu Xia had said as much, and it still made Smelian uncomfortable. ’She seems to be trying too hard to appear friendly and approachable,’ he thought. ’Is it an act? Is this all just a facade?’

Despite his suspicions, he showed nothing on his face. He lowered his eyes, his expression demure. "I understand. Thank you for your concern."

"Don’t mention it. Sit, let’s eat." As she spoke, Lu Xia took her seat. Graces then naturally sat down beside her.

It was impossible for Smelian not to feel a jolt of shock as he watched Graces casually take his seat.

In the Empire, after all, only the main husband had the right to dine at the same table as a Female Master. No one else was permitted.

Not even a secondary husband was allowed, to say nothing of a mere husband of their rank.

But now, Graces, a mere husband, sat down so naturally, as if he had done so a thousand times before. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

’How can this be?’

Smelian felt that ever since arriving here, his entire worldview was being turned upside down.

His own Male Father, Enor, despite being the secondary husband to the Raphael Family Leader, had never once eaten at the same table as Smelian’s mother.

Yet here he was, on his very first day, being granted such an honor.

Who would believe it if they hadn’t experienced it firsthand?

He sat down, his expression a mask of calm indifference, but inside, his emotions were a raging storm. He couldn’t even taste the food he was eating. It felt as if he were still caught in a dream from which he had yet to awaken.