Chapter 2: To Open One's Eyes
South of the Imperial Palace stood a cluster of manors. The owner of these magnificent manors were either rich nobles or highly ranked aristocrats. However, the southernmost manor that stood right on the southern border was not owned by aristocrats nor was it close to the Palace. It was famous for a whole different reason.
Unlike the other manors, which were named after the family that resided in it, this manor was called the Crimson Ivy Manor for the densely packed vines of ivy climbing up its walls.
The Crimson Ivy Manor was very old and worn down, but it was gigantic. After the last owner, a duke, passed away, it remained empty for ten years. This was because the duke's will stated that only those that preserved the manor and kept it intact would inherit it.
Because the manor was so large, the cost of maintaining it was enormous. Also, antiquated buildings were not in fashion at this time. It wasn't worth the time nor the money. The duke's descendants gave it up, but no one stepped forward to purchase it.
However, a few years ago, a buyer appeared. A line of carriages was seen carrying luggage into the manor. This caused quite a stir among the onlookers.
A few years had passed, and still, no one knew who the new owner of the Ivy Manor was. They only heard that it was a wealthy merchant from another country.
Walter, the butler of the Ivy Manor, was walking along a corridor when he suddenly stopped to observe a stain on a window. Taking out a handkerchief, he wiped the window until it was squeaky clean. He looked at it from different angles before he nodded with satisfaction.
Walter recently discovered a new skill. He used to be someone that had to deal with many people, and would therefore always be active and on his feet. However, one day, he suddenly received the order to be a butler. In the beginning, he grumbled about it, but now he was well on his way to becoming an amazing butler.
He became a busybody that couldn't ignore a speck of dust on a windowpane. He never knew he'd become somebody like this. He began to like the proper butler's uniform and monocle as he said, 'A proper butler needs to be like this!'
Walter frowned as he saw someone coming around the corner. He increased his speed as he approached the man.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Kuhn glanced at Walter's obvious displeasure and passed by him.
"The Imperial Palace."
Walter quickly followed after him.
"Again?"
"Dian wants to see me."
"You were there not that long ago."
"Even if I was there yesterday, I need to go back if I have business there."
"You shouldn't meet with him often. You should just send an errand boy."
"Why should I do that?"
"Why is that person ordering you to come and go?"
"Me going to see him or Dian coming to see me. Which one is easier? Dian has many eyes on him. He needs to be careful."
"Has there ever been a time when there weren't any eyes on him? I'm worried about you entering the Palace so often. Maybe you should take someone with you."
"Who?"
"Someone we can leave behind as fodder if anything goes wrong. That way, you can escape. There are many candidates for this position. Everyone's going to have such a laugh no matter who you pick."
Kuhn sighed. The fact that Walter was saying this with a straight face was chilling.
"Even if something goes wrong, Dian is a prince. He will be able to stop anything bad from happening."
"I don't trust him."
"Dian would be disappointed if he heard you. He thought you were on his side."
Walter snorted.
"Why would I be on his side? Stephan was badmouthing him so much that I only said a few words in his defense. Don't even think about getting rid of me. I'm never going to let you out of my sight."
Kuhn began to laugh.
"If I lose such a talented butler, it'll only make trouble for me."
Walter let out a long sigh.
"How did I become like this?"
"Only you'd know."
"Yes, yes. I'll take care of you till the day I die, so please just bring back a mistress for us."
Why did the conversation veer in this direction?
Kuhn kept his mouth shut. Ever since he had turned twenty, the pressure to get married became greater by the day. He wasn't sure if they all gathered together and planned this, but every time he spoke, they would all change the subject to marriage.
He wouldn't have minded it too much if they only talked about it a few times. However, all this marriage talk was making him neurotic.
'Even if you say that, I can't just bring any woman back and marry her.'
As the head of his clan, Kuhn had a duty to leave behind a successor. However, just because he wasn't fulfilling his duty now didn't mean that he planned to stay a bachelor. When he envisioned his future, he always saw himself having a wife and children.
It was just that he hadn't found her yet. He wanted a unique woman. He wanted a woman that could govern his clan by his side. He wanted a woman that would help him raise a successor he would feel comfortable leaving behind his legacy.
However, the most important condition was extremely private and difficult to fulfill. Like his parents, and even his grandparents, Kuhn wanted to marry for love, not due to necessity.
His wife would always share his bed. She was someone with whom he'd share the rest of his life. She would have to be someone that his body and heart craved. He needed to desire her naked body. He had to have the desire to embrace her, kiss her, and love her.
Chapter 2: To Open One's Eyes
South of the Imperial Palace stood a cluster of manors. The owner of these magnificent manors were either rich nobles or highly ranked aristocrats. However, the southernmost manor that stood right on the southern border was not owned by aristocrats nor was it close to the Palace. It was famous for a whole different reason.
Unlike the other manors, which were named after the family that resided in it, this manor was called the Crimson Ivy Manor for the densely packed vines of ivy climbing up its walls.
The Crimson Ivy Manor was very old and worn down, but it was gigantic. After the last owner, a duke, passed away, it remained empty for ten years. This was because the duke's will stated that only those that preserved the manor and kept it intact would inherit it.
Because the manor was so large, the cost of maintaining it was enormous. Also, antiquated buildings were not in fashion at this time. It wasn't worth the time nor the money. The duke's descendants gave it up, but no one stepped forward to purchase it.
However, a few years ago, a buyer appeared. A line of carriages was seen carrying luggage into the manor. This caused quite a stir among the onlookers.
A few years had passed, and still, no one knew who the new owner of the Ivy Manor was. They only heard that it was a wealthy merchant from another country.
Walter, the butler of the Ivy Manor, was walking along a corridor when he suddenly stopped to observe a stain on a window. Taking out a handkerchief, he wiped the window until it was squeaky clean. He looked at it from different angles before he nodded with satisfaction.
Walter recently discovered a new skill. He used to be someone that had to deal with many people, and would therefore always be active and on his feet. However, one day, he suddenly received the order to be a butler. In the beginning, he grumbled about it, but now he was well on his way to becoming an amazing butler.
He became a busybody that couldn't ignore a speck of dust on a windowpane. He never knew he'd become somebody like this. He began to like the proper butler's uniform and monocle as he said, 'A proper butler needs to be like this!'
Walter frowned as he saw someone coming around the corner. He increased his speed as he approached the man.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Kuhn glanced at Walter's obvious displeasure and passed by him.
"The Imperial Palace."
Walter quickly followed after him.
"Again?"
"Dian wants to see me."
"You were there not that long ago."
"Even if I was there yesterday, I need to go back if I have business there."
"You shouldn't meet with him often. You should just send an errand boy."
"Why should I do that?"
"Why is that person ordering you to come and go?"
"Me going to see him or Dian coming to see me. Which one is easier? Dian has many eyes on him. He needs to be careful."
"Has there ever been a time when there weren't any eyes on him? I'm worried about you entering the Palace so often. Maybe you should take someone with you."
"Who?"
"Someone we can leave behind as fodder if anything goes wrong. That way, you can escape. There are many candidates for this position. Everyone's going to have such a laugh no matter who you pick."
Kuhn sighed. The fact that Walter was saying this with a straight face was chilling.
"Even if something goes wrong, Dian is a prince. He will be able to stop anything bad from happening."
"I don't trust him."
"Dian would be disappointed if he heard you. He thought you were on his side."
Walter snorted.
"Why would I be on his side? Stephan was badmouthing him so much that I only said a few words in his defense. Don't even think about getting rid of me. I'm never going to let you out of my sight."
Kuhn began to laugh.
"If I lose such a talented butler, it'll only make trouble for me."
Walter let out a long sigh.
"How did I become like this?"
"Only you'd know."
"Yes, yes. I'll take care of you till the day I die, so please just bring back a mistress for us."
Why did the conversation veer in this direction?
Kuhn kept his mouth shut. Ever since he had turned twenty, the pressure to get married became greater by the day. He wasn't sure if they all gathered together and planned this, but every time he spoke, they would all change the subject to marriage.
He wouldn't have minded it too much if they only talked about it a few times. However, all this marriage talk was making him neurotic.
'Even if you say that, I can't just bring any woman back and marry her.'
As the head of his clan, Kuhn had a duty to leave behind a successor. However, just because he wasn't fulfilling his duty now didn't mean that he planned to stay a bachelor. When he envisioned his future, he always saw himself having a wife and children.
It was just that he hadn't found her yet. He wanted a unique woman. He wanted a woman that could govern his clan by his side. He wanted a woman that would help him raise a successor he would feel comfortable leaving behind his legacy.
However, the most important condition was extremely private and difficult to fulfill. Like his parents, and even his grandparents, Kuhn wanted to marry for love, not due to necessity.
His wife would always share his bed. She was someone with whom he'd share the rest of his life. She would have to be someone that his body and heart craved. He needed to desire her naked body. He had to have the desire to embrace her, kiss her, and love her.
