Beatrice - Chapter 11 – He Will Be Mine

Chapter 11 – He Will Be Mine
“Your Grace, Lord Bandorras’s daughter has been waiting for more than an hour,” Aaron the butler appealed to his master with an imploring gaze. “Your Highness, I beg of you. At least go and greet her…”

Yet, his master was too cruel even to care. He was in his study, tending to the work pertaining to his dukedom. Upon his return, Alexandro was hailed as the Archduke, his deserved position.

Alexandro’s gaze remained on the document listing tax revenues. As seconds passed by, Aaron became overanxious, knowing that his silence signified rejection.

“If it becomes known that a duke’s daughter is visiting a bachelor such as Your Grace, all members of the aristocracy will assume that you are having a love affair.”

Stil so, the Archduke remained silent. He was resolved to ignore the matter entirely.

Lady Clara Bandorras had begun sending love letters to Alexandro ever since his return from Elpasa. When she became tired of waiting for his answer, she began visiting Graham Mansion at least once a week. She was not discreet about it—rather, she had always arrived precisely at 3 o’clock, just in time for tea and flaunting her horse-drawn carriage.

She was a daring woman.

Aaron could not turn away a daughter of a duke, at least for the sake of saving the Archduke’s face. If he refused to entertain a lady visiting a bachelor’s house, his master’s reputation as a cold-hearted fellow could become even worse.

However, despite the lady’s shrewdness and impudence, the Archduke would never see her.

“Your Grace, please do go and see her. She’s a charming lady. Just take one look. This is her tenth visit!”

“Aaron.” An icy voice finally replied.

“Yes, Your Grace?” Aaron looked up at his master with a shred of hope.

“Is this really something I should worry about?” He meant that Aaron should handle it on his own.

“But Lady Clara Bandorras has been here…every day!” And with that, Alexandro finally lifted his gaze to his butler’s face. And immediately, Aaron emitted the words, “Understood, Your Grace.”

Aaron exited the study with a sullen face. I wish that he would marry, he thought. His master was a brusque, unaffectionate man—he was simply clumsy at expressing his feelings. The Archduke did not have deep relationships with any women. He also lacked sex drive, so much so that Aaron worried that his master might be ill. He had not given into temptations of any ladies, no matter how beautiful they were.

For this, Aaron wondered whether the Archduke had an abnormal fear of women.

Well, it’s understandable, he thought. But Alexandro was the only son of the Graham family. Duncan and Aaron had worked tirelessly to match him with a beautiful daughter of an aristocratic family, but they could only marvel at his impregnable defense.

Aaron feared that his master would remain unmarried for the rest of his life—he was already twenty-five. People had begun joking that it would be faster for Duncan to remarry and have another son, than for the Archduke to marry and produce children himself. There were even scandalous whispers of those who were suspicious of the war hero’s sexual tastes.

Aaron, as the Archduke’s butler, carried a heavyweight on his shoulders.

“Lady Clara, unfortunately, the Archduke is unable to free himself from his work.”

A beautiful woman with blond hair cascading down her waist could be seen elegantly reclining on a seat. Clara, who was savoring her tea with the teacup nestled in her elegant hands, smiled knowingly.

“Well, that can’t be helped.” After a moment’s thought, asked, “Aaron, would you care to show me around the gardens then? I have been sitting for too long, and would love to see the charming roses of Graham Mansion.”

“Certainly, my lady.”

Lady Clara Bandorras did not seem at all frustrated. At this point, she was used to getting the door slammed in her face. He will be mine eventually, she thought to herself.

Archduke Alexandro Graham was fabulously eligible on the marriage market. For one, he was the only heir to the most powerful family in the empire. It was an open secret that his father had deliberately chosen not to become the emperor himself.

The only son of Duncan Graham—the man who controlled the puppet emperor—did not participate in any social events, despite his position as the Grand Master in the imperial order of knighthood. But many aristocratic daughters whispered of the unforgettable appeal of his sturdy physique, dark brown hair, and blue eyes.

Clara had been watching Alexandro since her chance encounters with him at the horse riding courses a year before. She had immediately fallen in love at the sight of the strappingly handsome man, galloping on his horse.

The information that this man was the Grand Master had surprised her – he was, despite the rumors, not a scary, domineering man. His blue eyes appeared quite delicate and noble, and the utterly beautiful face exudes elegance. However, his body had a wild appearance that suggested that once held against his firm chest, no woman would ever be satisfied with any other men.

He would reign supreme over all other men. Which means he is perfect for me.

Clara was actually relieved by the fact that he never attended any society parties. The rumors made him sound too frightening for any aristocratic daughters to approach, but if anyone actually saw him, they would not be able to help falling in love with his beauty.

Above all else, I like that he’s not promiscuous.

No woman could approach him due to his cold and expressionless face, appropriate for his reputation as a war hero. However, Clara Bandorras was different—she was confident that she could seduce any man that she wanted. She was a member of the Bandorras family, whose power within the empire was only second to that of the Grahams.

We shall see who wins, Your Grace.

The society was rife with stories of Clara frequenting the Archduke’s house—she was marking her territory.

She was also infamous for her temper—without her knowing, she was noted as the society’s craziest wench.

“These roses are absolutely beautiful.”

She flashed a bright smile.

Though not as beautiful as I am.

***

Meanwhile, Jorge, the deputy head of the infirmary, was having trouble falling asleep. The images of the newly organized medicine storage room, with the items – including those whose uses he had not been able to figure out – neatly organized by their usage, danced in his head.