The Duke's Imposter Sister

Chapter 6 – The Byrenhag Grand Mansion (2)

The coach stopped and the front doors were flung open. The grand butler and the servant bowed their heads to greet their Master.

“You have returned, Marquis Talsbarg.”

Stephan stepped out of the coach and took off his black robe. He then offered his hand to Gris, to help her down the steps, as if she was a princess.

“Mind your steps.”

Startled, Gris took his hand and walked down slowly and deliberately. She was nervous and focusing on his cold and clammy hands when Stephan suddenly ordered the servants to move away.

“You may go inside now.”

Gris followed Stephan into the mansion. Stephan walked briskly in front of her, through the lobby, stopping only when they where in front of a room at the far end of the corridor.

“This was Yuliana’s room. I’m going to speak with Grandmother first, so please go inside and have a rest.”

He opened the door for her and walked back to the lobby. Gris watched him walk away and quietly stepped inside. On the bed were two rag dolls, and on the table next to the window was an embroidery hoop. There was a crystal vase with a nameless white flower on the windowsill.

It must have been the room of a young girl.

It isn’t fussy but cozy, she thought despite the high ceilings.

A grand, clean and beautiful place. It held the same semblance of a forgotten home Gris had been dreaming of all along.

But she was nervous that Stephan had gone immediately to speak with his grandmother. Recalling her days as the princess of Grandia, if she remembered correctly, the grandmother would have been the eldest of the Byrenhags, Paola Byrenhag.

Although appearing to be an old and weak widow who had lost her husband in the war, she was in fact a strong and wise woman who almost singlehandedly turned her family name into the most powerful one in the area through military acumen and sound business sense.

Could Gris manage to trick this woman and act as her granddaughter? That would be a feat!

Gris walked over towards the window. The gentle chirp of a few crickets in the garden mixed with the baying of a hound becoming louder as she neared.

It was a sound that she could never appreciate back at the brothel. Perhaps this is a tiny gift from God. She had gone through so much during the past eleven years…

Right then, the door opened and Stephan entered the room, breaking her from her musings. He looked tired after hours spent on the coach.

“Grandmother just went to bed.”

“…”

“Spend the night here.”

It was close to midnight, so the offer seemed reasonable. But Gris hesitated to sit or even lie on the bed, so she looked out the window once more.

A mystic full moon hung bright in the night sky. Beneath it was a garden full of spring blossoms, swaying gently in the breeze. The wooden platform in front of the garden looked like a temporary structure that didn’t seem to belong there.

On either side of the platform stood armed soldiers waiting for something. A bishop holding a bible stood on the platform.

Stephan kindly explained what Gris was seeing.  “They are preparing for a ceremony before the war. The knights are heading off to battle tonight.”

At that moment, a young man in a white robe walked into the garden. His pale face contrasted with his black hair. His long limbs gliding across the grass.

Thanks to her time in the brothel, Gris could predict a man’s personality just by looking at his face. But Gris had never seen anyone like this person, with features so delicate he looked as if he had been crafted by the gods. Unable to analyze the man, Gris continued to listen to Stephan’s explanation.

“Ah, Vianut is here. He’s the man who will become your brother,” Stephan said.

“…”

“That is, if you’re fortunate enough.”

Gris said nothing and her eyes continued to follow the man in the garden. Despite her silence, Stephan continued speaking.

“He’s every woman’s dreams. The future head of the Byrenhag family.”

Inwardly, Gris caught her breath. The head of the Byrenhag family. Sir Vianut Byrenhag… she mumbled to herself.

She remembered she had heard of his name as a princess of Grandia. As she searched her memory, the armed soldiers by the platform kneeled and bowed their heads to show obeisance and respect to Vianut.

The head of the Byrenhag family walked past the men on the floor and nobly stepped on to the platform. The Bishop took Vianut’s robe.

As he took the robe off, his bare body glistened in the moonlight. This was a body that was trained to withstand the heavyweight of the suit of armor. As he stood there bare-chested, Gris forced herself to look away.

For some reason, her heart started pounding, her lips drying.

“So, do you remember anything?”

Stephan’s face was reflected in the window. Gris didn’t have to turn around to know that he expected her to admit she was Yuliana at any moment.