Shall We Date, Duchess? - Chapter 6

Ellen doesn’t even remember getting married in the first place.

“He died during the reception.”

The man turned to look at her again.

“It was an accident.”

“I see.”

A husband who died at his own wedding reception, and a wife who didn’t seem particularly sad about it. It was an odd combination—one that made it hard to decide whether to offer condolences or congratulations. Unsure what to say, the conversation faded out.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before they reached the exit of the maze.

At the end stood a wide, long staircase leading up to the mansion.

From a distance, it had looked like nothing more than a large house, but up close it was enormous. So grand and extravagant that it was impossible to count how many rooms it might have.

“We’re here. Since you’ve come this far, why not stay and enjoy yourself?”

“I just need to borrow a carriage.”

She rejected his generous invitation immediately.

The man didn’t seem offended. He had probably meant it lightly anyway. Instead of saying goodbye, however, he tilted his head.

“That might be difficult.”

“What do you mean?”

“Everything’s fully booked tonight. It’s vacation week. There won’t be any spare carriages lying around, and even calling one might be hard.”

The sun had already set. She had wandered here by accident, and now night had fallen.

Even if she tried to go back, there was no guarantee she would find the right way. On top of that, her strength—and her feet—had already reached their limit.

“Is someone waiting for you?”

“I got separated from my maid…”

“Is there really a maid in this world who patiently waits for her master? She’s probably out having fun herself. If you go looking for her, you might end up wandering around all night.”

It was a fair point.

If that was the case, she needed somewhere to stay for the night. No matter how mild the weather was, she wasn’t in a position where she could confidently spend the night outside.

“Can I stay here for the night?”

It looked expensive, but she had technically been a Duchess. She felt confident she could manage the cost somehow.

“Hard to say. We can ask. And if there aren’t any rooms, you could sleep in mine. The bed’s big enough for ten people to lie down in zigzags.”

“I decline.”

And there were no rooms available.

Ellen stood in front of the counter in despair. All that effort climbing here had been for nothing.

The staff at the counter explained politely but firmly. No matter what she did, there were simply no carriages or rooms available. They also added that the other establishments nearby were likely fully booked as well unless she had made reservations earlier.

Among all these countless rooms, why was there not even one place for her to rest?

Ellen let out a long sigh.

She wasn’t so exhausted that she wanted to die, but she felt tired enough to collapse at any moment.

In the lobby there was a sofa for guests waiting for assistance. As luxurious as the lobby was, the sofa looked large and comfortable enough to spend the night on.

“Then I’ll just rest in the lobby for a while.”

“I’m very sorry, ma’am. Some of our guests prefer not to run into others in the lobby… so we cannot allow anyone to stay here for long.”

“I’ll pay.”

“I’m afraid our policy… truly, I’m sorry.”

Nothing was working. She had thought that after surviving that earlier crisis, things might finally start going well for her.

But she had been mistaken.

Of course. Her life was never going to go smoothly.

The man who had been listening beside her spoke up again.

“Do you want to sleep in my room?”

Thousands of thoughts rushed through her mind.

What reason do I have to trust this man? Then again, I’m already someone who could die at any moment—why bother protecting myself now?

But objectively speaking, the man was the one who had just saved her life. If he wanted to take the life he had saved, she could simply let him.

“Then… I’ll accept your kindness.”

Ellen was so exhausted that even her thoughts felt heavy. She gave in quickly.

She just wanted him to show her the room already. She truly didn’t have the strength to lift even a finger.

“Yes. Right this way, my lady.”

The man smiled faintly and approached.

Before she could react, her body lifted off the ground again.

This time, she simply clung to his shoulder without protest.

Under the bright lights, she could see that his neck, shoulders, and arms were thicker than they had appeared before. The muscles under her hands shifted with every movement.

Energy radiated from him with every step—a deeply masculine presence, like the word man made flesh.

Each step he took up the stairs made her body sway slightly. The arm supporting her hips was strong, but she still gripped his shoulder tightly. Each time she did, he tightened his arm as if reassuring her she was safe.

As the view rose higher step by step, a brief unease stirred in her heart.

But the man climbed steadily.

His room was at the very end of a long hallway lined with doors.

Even with his hands full of shopping bags, he opened the door easily. His hands were simply that large.

“Here we are, my lady.”

He closed the door behind them with his foot, speaking playfully.

His first impression had been fierce, but the conversation they had shared while walking had been full of teasing. Perhaps that was his true personality.

Still in his arms, Ellen looked around the room.

Given the nature of the place, she had expected something dim and unpleasant. Instead, the overwhelming grandeur of the mansion extended all the way inside.

And it was astonishing.

Even someone with no real sense for luxury could instinctively tell how lavish it was. The interior design, the furniture—everything was elegant and extravagant.