Chapter 023: Griffith
A while after the incident with the trio of viscountesses, Atthy sat cross-legged by the window, holding a book whose contents she didn't understand. With her gaze focused outside, watching a scenery unfamiliar to her, her mind was busy contemplating many things, her dangling leg swinging back and forth.
''Should I?!''
''But, he left without saying anything to me...''
''Although... he did it because there was an urgent matter.''
''But... this marriage was sudden for me too. So, what should I do now?''
''How should I explain this to Father... to Grandfather... to...''
Atthy murmured seriously, throwing various questions to herself. So deep in thought, she forgot that she was wearing a glory gown and was in the Manor. While there wasn't a written rule, her posture as a lady sitting in this manner seemed unconventional.
''Duchess...''
''Duchess...''
Lily called out several times to Atthy, who was lost in her dilemma.
''Hmm!'' Atthy was startled when Lily finally dared to stand right in front of her. ''Lily, Miriam?!''
Instantly, Atthy stood up, correcting her unusual sitting posture as she realized there were two maids in her room.
''Apologies, Duchess, for entering without waiting for your answer...'' Lily quickly stepped aside with a slight bow. ''We entered because the door was open, and we saw you by the window.''
''Ah, no... it's fine, Lily,'' Atthy responded, slightly embarrassed, her face blushing. ''It's my fault for not paying attention to my surroundings... What is it?'' Atthy asked, now correcting her expression from before, when her sitting posture was rather odd.
''Dinner will be ready soon... is there anything specific we should pay attention to regarding your food?'' Lily asked. ''Miriam will pass it along to the kitchen as a note for you.''
Atthy didn't answer immediately. She was thinking about something before responding to Lily's question.
''Lily, Miriam, I usually don't have food preferences. I'm used to eating whatever is served to me and have never had any issues... but... here. I don't know, Lily... I've read a few things in a book. The variety of food here is different from where I'm from... So for now, just serve it as usual. I'll find out once I try it...''
''Understood, I'll pass it along...'' Miriam quickly responded after Atthy finished her explanation.
Atthy nodded her head in acknowledgment toward Miriam.
Miriam then left to deliver Atthy's message to the kitchen.
''Lily, how long have you been working here?'' Atthy asked as she sat back down, gesturing for Lily to take a seat on the chair in front of her.
''Not long,'' Lily replied, politely nodding as she accepted her mistress's invitation to sit. ''I used to work at an orphanage for war orphans run by the Griffith Clan.''
''Ah, I see... What about Miriam?''
Atthy initially just wanted to make small talk, but she became intrigued and wanted to know more when she heard Lily mention working at an orphanage for war orphans.
''Miriam was one of the children taken in there...''
''Really?'' Atthy replied, raising her brows in surprise. ''I didn't know... She's so cheerful...''
Lily smiled, responding to Atthy's enthusiasm, which seemed very innocent.
''It's alright, Duchess... I worked there when I was thirteen. Two years later, Miriam, who was eight at the time, came along with several other children. Like Miriam, many of the workers in the Griffith families are children of war victims...''
''Is it the same at the Grand Duke's residence?''
Atthy was curious because usually, for high nobility, especially those at the Grand Duke level—comparable to a prince—staff members typically have special training. Such training is expensive, and typically, only the wealthiest aristocrats can afford such education.
''Hmm,'' Lily nodded, smiling as she responded to Atthy.
Atthy furrowed her brow briefly, noting Lily's response. However, she didn't want to rush to judgment, especially after hearing her talk about the workers from Griffith families. This only piqued Atthy's curiosity to learn more from Lily.
''Lily, tell me more about the orphanage!''
''At first, it was just a temporary shelter,'' Lily replied casually, ''Because many children were separated from their parents while fleeing and then encountered Griffith soldiers. However, some of them were unable to find or reunite with their parents. Miriam was one of them...''
''Since when has the orphanage been around?''
''Since the day I was born, the orphanage has existed. My parents also worked there. From the stories I've heard from my parents and the elders, the orphanage was established by the late Duchess Leona. She was the great-grandmother of the current Grand Duke Griffith. Not only did she establish and provide facilities, but she often visited and even played with the children. She was known to be very kind and always smiling...''
''Impressive...''
Atthy couldn't hide her admiration, her expression clearly showing her awe, with sparkling eyes.
''So the orphanage has been there since then?''
''Yes, Duchess...''
''That means, it has probably been over fifty years...''
''More precisely, eighty-seven years... As is commonly known, Alpen was obtained through a long-standing conflict between four kingdoms over hundreds of years. During that time, countless lives were lost... Initially, the children who were found by soldiers returning from the battlefield were taken in by the Griffith families. However, as time went on, the number of children found and taken in grew. Griffith has vast power, but few of them have lived long enough to see old age like Grand Duke Griffith.''
''Why is that? Is it due to illness? Hereditary traits?!''
Atthy couldn't hide her curiosity, as she didn't know much about Alpen or the Griffiths, since nearly all the books she had read didn't cover these topics in detail. Today, exactly two days after she had assumed the position of Duchess, it sparked her curiosity even more, especially since she might also bear Griffith descendants.
Lily smiled again at how innocent her mistress was. Since Lily hadn't received any special training to be a maid in a great noble house, she just assumed Atthy's curiosity was normal and didn't suspect anything.
''It's not like that, Duchess... Physically, Griffiths have above-average records. So, don't worry about that...''
Lily responded with a smile, thinking that perhaps Atthy was concerned about the vitality of men. Unfortunately, Atthy, being so innocent, didn't think about that at all.
''Duchess, did you know that Griffith is called the Wolf of Alpen?''
Atthy shook her head, answering Lily's question.
''Before Griffith, some of the ruling nobles fled because they were afraid—they couldn't withstand the onslaught from those trying to conquer Alpen. Many of those who were brave were wiped out because their descendants couldn't survive. Over time, Griffith managed to lead those who survived and slowly but surely pushed back those who tried to invade with brutal methods... The kingdom had once given up, deciding to abandon the people of Alpen and the surrounding areas, which had already fallen under the control of the Kingdom of Xipil. Griffith repeatedly asked for help, but the kingdom rejected him because they didn't want to waste resources on a battle with unclear results. However, the brave ones didn't give up and continued the fight. In the end, Alpen was fully conquered...''
Lily proudly shared the history of Alpen, which was also the history of the Griffith family, leading them to become such a powerful force.
''Lily, you know so much about all of this...''
''Of course, Duchess... I've told you before, my parents worked at the orphanage. I've been working there since I was thirteen... The orphanage and the workers of the Griffith families are mostly people who weren't abandoned by Griffith, the Wolf Ruler of Alpen. Naturally, the older generation never tires of telling stories about their past... which have been passed down to the next generation until today.''
''Hahaha... you're right, Lily. My grandfather is the same way—he never gets tired of repeating the same stories about his youth whenever the opportunity arises...''
''Isn't that so...'' Lily responded with a smile.
''But Lily, that still doesn't answer my question—why is it that so few live to old age?!''
''The ongoing war is the cause...''
''War?!''
''Due to the lack of elite personnel on the battlefield, the Griffith children who have come of age are sent to war. This is done so that when those Griffith children who had already been sent to the battlefield fall, there will immediately be successors to continue their efforts, ensuring the fight doesn't stop...''
''Duke Hugh too?'' Atthy asked with an eager gaze.
''Yes, Duchess. All the Griffith children will go when the time comes...''
''Why only the Griffiths? Are there no other noble families...?''
''Some do, but not many... The predecessors of Griffith often asked for help from the central government. The kingdom did assist, giving a large compensation for the wars in Alpen. But what could they do? Everyone was afraid and handed everything over to Griffith. Because of this, Griffith had no choice but to send his children, even though they were still very young. This is also what has made the people of Alpen so loyal to Griffith. One of the reasons Griffith is called the Wolf is because of the loyalty of the people of Alpen to their leader. Without Griffith, I too might have become a slave if captured by another kingdom...''
''Is that true?! I thought it was just a rumor...''
''For that, Duchess, you could ask Lady Helena directly...''