True to his word, the man from Duke Orla's estate returned with an ornate horse-drawn carriage. The wood was painted black with gold trim. There were jewels embedded in the crest boldly displayed on the door. I was impressed! Duke Orla was trying to show off and impress me. I had always wanted to ride in a fancy carriage, so I accepted his hand and entered in a ladylike fashion.
I had seen many historical movies and imitated the noble ladies and nodded slightly at the man who helped me. After I was seated on the plush cushion inside the carriage, Zed climbed in the front with the man, and we began the ride through town. The townspeople stared at the carriage and wondered who was inside.
A few of them noticed Zed from earlier. He stood out with his silver hair and purple eyes. Most of the people around this kingdom had shades of blonde hair and blue eyes. The man who was steering had dirty blonde hair and slate blue eyes. I later found out his name was Reginald, Duke Orla's right-hand man.
The ride to the Dukes' mansion was bumpy despite the cushion. It would be better if the roads were smoother. They had cobblestone streets, combined with the wheels without rubber and air to soften them, it was not the most comfortable ride. I should mention those to the Duke. Maybe he can improve this kingdom even more.
I could always tell him that my inventions were from Stanarussi. I doubt that he would know. Katie had blamed all of her inventions on the country, and they were in the same kingdom. As she neared the mansion, she noticed more servants lined up to greet her.
She could see rows of neatly trimmed shrubs with red and yellow flower bushes. The mansion was made from dark grey stones with a wooden trim. It had pointed arches and was elaborately decorated in a Gothic Victorian style. It looked like something from a movie. She could hardly believe that she was actually here! Even if the Duke was arrogant, at least he had a nice house. She could just focus on the decorations if the meal was awkward.
When they came to a stop, Zed jumped down and opened the door for Alisa. He offered her his hand, and she thanked him. She didn't really need help getting out of the carriage, but it was the lady-like thing to do. She was already underdressed, she planned to say that was the style back home, but she couldn't appear to have no manners as well.
Reginald led them inside the mansion while the servants bowed to greet Alisa. She felt like a visiting dignitary. She would get tired of this if it were an everyday occurrence, but for now, it was fun to experience it once. She could pretend to be a noble lady for a night.
Once she was inside, Duke Orla appeared at the top of the carpeted staircase. He wore a dark grey suit with a purple vest with an elaborately tied cravat with an amethyst jewel in the center. He bowed and descended the stairs. Once he was in front of Alisa, he took her gloved hand and kissed the back of it as he introduced himself.
Alisa raised her eyebrows in surprise. Isn't he being too formal? She didn't know the proper etiquette, so she stayed silent for now. "I am Duke Charles Orla. Welcome to my home. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Lady Alisa."
I tried to remember how to address him. Oh yeah, it's your grace! I remember Katie called him that when she first met him. "Thank you, your grace. It's a pleasure to meet you. This is my companion, Zed of Shibatsu." I tried to take some of the attention off me and towards Zed. When Duke Orla stood straight, his eyes drifted towards Zed, and I saw a flicker of a smirk. He greeted Zed briefly and returned his gaze towards me.
It was a little unnerving to have such an intense gaze on me. He was described as tall, dark, and handsome in the novel, but he had a creepy stalker vibe. I could see why Katie wanted to avoid him from the beginning.
Even though he was no longer the prince's aide, he was still the second most powerful man in the Kingdom of Annalaias. The prince was still too young to be considered in the list of powerful men of the kingdom.
He just stared at me until I became uncomfortable. Zed was about to step in and say something when Reginald cleared his voice. Our attention was drawn to him as he announced that dinner was ready. The Duke led me into the dining room.
I was taking in all of the over-the-top decorations inside this mansion until we arrived at the dining room. The smell of fresh-baked bread and a roasted bird delighted my senses as soon as the doors opened. I loved pastries, but I hadn't had meat since I came to this novel world. We had survived mostly on dried rations of crackers, nuts, and berries for most of the journey across the ocean.
My stomach growled at the smells, and I smiled sheepishly to hide my embarrassment. The Duke laughed lightly, but covered it with a fake cough. "I had the chef prepare a little of everything since I didn't know what you liked." He admitted and led me to a seat close to his. Zed sat on the other side of me without being asked to sit.
He was my bodyguard on this trip, and it made sense for him to stay close to me. Duke Orla didn't say anything and motioned for the waiters to serve the food. The meal began with a creamy potato soup with fresh bread. It was good, but my mom's was better! I remember her making it when I was younger. I tried to get the recipe, but she never measured her ingredients. Mine never came out quite the same.
After the soup, we were served a slice of the roasted bird, which looked like a duck or a large chicken. Roasted vegetables and a small side of greens were added next. It was good, but a little bland. I could think of a few seasonings to make the food better, but I chose to stay silent. The less attention that I drew to myself, the better.
Next, we were served a small bowl of pudding along with various desserts and cheeses. I tried a little of everything. I felt like Belle in Beauty in the Beast when they served her all the dishes. The pudding was a little grey, which was actually delicious! I could hear the song in my head. Be our guest, be our guest.....