"What are you doing in here?" Aric spoke after the two of them, Elira and Aric, shared a brief moment of confusion.
"I was working... I just finished, so I was about to leave," Elira said, truthfully.
Aric's gaze pierced into Elira as he pushed her inside the room, closing the door behind them.
"Tell me the truth. What were you doing in here?" The irritation could be heard in Aric's voice.
"I- I swear! I started working for the Duchess to help her with her paperwork! My work is on her desk! You may even ask my maid Lily, or perhaps Barand... I..." Elira's voice dimmed. She recognized that there was no trust between the two of them.
"Why would My Mother, the Duchess, trust a Veylen with confidential tasks that are to remain in the Duchy!? Why would she trust the filth of noble society? Tell me why she would trust you!"
"I don't know! Okay!? I don't know... but I swear, on my beating heart, that I am telling the truth. T-the proof is all around y-you."
"Speak properly," Aric said firmly, grabbing her wrist.
Feeling his rough hand wrap around her wrist, Elira's knees began to tremble, unsure what to do in the face of someone physically stronger than her.
Aric took notice, feeling her body ripple into his. Grunting angrily, he drops her wrist, turning around.
"I'll talk to the Duchess about this. Should you be lying, I will spare you no hell."
"Yes..." Elira said, rushing out of the room.
_________________________________________________________________________
Aric sat alone in the room, his mind rampaging with thoughts. He glanced at the stack of papers on the Duchess's desk, dismissing it after a moment.
[I need to find Serenya.]
Aric walked out of the room, his hands curled into fists, searching for Serenya.
On the other side of the estate, Serenya was walking with the Duchess.
"Ah, by the way, Serenya, now that I've started receiving assistance from Elira with the Duchy's paperwork, I suppose it is about time that you start learning a little bit more about what the Duchess does, seeing as that will be your future role," The Duchess spoke calmly as she examined the flowers.
"I'd be happy to start anytime soon. Perhaps a tutor would be better for me so that I wouldn't take up too much of your time." Gracefully, Serenya delivered a clean response as the duo stopped at a patch of blue flowers.
"I was thinking the same." The Duchess caresses one of the flowers while speaking.
Out of nowhere, Aric rushes into the garden. His face was slightly pale, and his eyes were frantically darting between the Duchess and Serenya.
"O-oh... Mother, you're here too. I have something to talk to you about. Sorry for calling out to you, Serenya. I was merely saying hello, but I actually have business with my Mother, so if you don't mind, I'll find you later to talk with you."
"Um... ok. I guess that concludes our walk, Duchess. I'll see you at dinner!" Serenya calls out before leaving.
"See you too!" The Duchess replies, before her face turns to her son, slightly annoyed. "What could be so important that you run in her without any grace and interrupt my evening walk?"
"Did you let Elira touch the Duchy's documents!?" Aric says loudly.
"Calm down. And well... yes, she asked for some work to do, so I gave her some documents regarding the finances of the garden and estate decor. Is something wrong?" The Duchess places her hand over her son's, trying to soothe him.
"Yes, something is wrong! You left her alone in your office! A Veylen! A spy! Mother, this is an oversight!"
"You think I don't know that? We have people monitoring the mail she sends out and receives. If she tries to leak anything, we'll know. Do not worry, my son, everything is fine. If something bad happens, punishment will follow accordingly. Perhaps it's about time I return to my office then, since you've brought it up."
"Alright then. I'll leave it to you, Mother." Aric, now slightly soothed, walks back in the direction he came from, seemingly heading to his bedroom.
The Duchess sighs, looking off into the distance. "Not even an apology for interrupting my walk. I should teach that boy some manners."