After chatting for a while, it was almost lunchtime. Duke Leslie had instructed the butler in advance to prepare a lavish lunch and now stood up to invite Lu Xia to the dining room.
When they arrived, two young Females who bore some resemblance to Duke Leslie were seated at the table. Even without an introduction, Lu Xia knew these must be the two elder sisters Grace had mentioned.
Noticing their arrival, the two cast somewhat disdainful glances over Lu Xia before reluctantly rising. “Good day, Mother, Duke Lu Xia.”
Duke Leslie looked at her two Female offspring and smiled as she introduced them to Lu Xia. “This is Kelly and Kaya. Knowing you were visiting today, I specifically kept them at home. Everyone, please take a seat.”
After speaking, Duke Leslie was about to guide Lu Xia to sit when Lu Xia turned to Grace, who had accompanied them, and said, “Sit beside me.”
This single sentence caused everyone present to fall silent. Clearly, none of them had expected Lu Xia to say such a thing.
Yet Lu Xia’s expression remained perfectly natural, as if she saw nothing unusual about the statement.
And Grace obediently took a seat beside Lu Xia, as if this were their usual practice, making the others seem overly sensitive.
“Hah, Grace tells you to sit, and you actually dare to sit? Have you forgotten all decorum since leaving home?” Kaya, seated opposite, sneered mockingly at Grace, her eyes filled with contempt.
Hearing this, Lu Xia looked over. She understood perfectly well that while the remark was directed at Grace, it was also aimed at her, since she was the one who had asked Grace to sit.
As for the reason, Lu Xia didn’t need to think deeply—it was simply the old notion that males were not allowed to eat at the table.
“What’s the matter? Grace is now a member of Duke Luxia’s Mansion. Must he still abide by the rules of Duke Leslie’s Residence?” Lu Xia looked innocently at Duke Leslie, as if genuinely seeking clarification, not even glancing at Kaya.
Duke Leslie hadn’t expected Lu Xia to allow Grace to eat at the table either. In the Empire, aside from the Main Husband, males of other statuses were not permitted to dine at the same table as Females. Even in public restaurants, Females and males were segregated into separate halls.
Most restaurants even posted signs prohibiting males from entering.
However, at this moment, she didn’t feel particularly uncomfortable. Instead, she felt somewhat proud of the importance Lu Xia placed on Grace.
After all, Grace, as a ‘defective product,’ could only ever be a Husband-Attendant to Duke Lu Xia. Yet, as a Husband-Attendant, he was held in such high regard by Duke Lu Xia—wasn’t this an honor for their Duke Leslie’s Residence?
“Duke Lu Xia is right. Grace is now part of Duke Luxia’s Mansion. He should follow your instructions as you see fit. Kaya, from now on, you and the others should interfere less in Grace’s affairs.”
Upon hearing this, Kaya’s expression immediately darkened. She hadn’t expected a mere comment about Grace to draw reproach from her mother. She couldn’t help but shoot a glare at Lu Xia before turning away and falling silent.
Lu Xia’s expression remained unchanged, but she suddenly grew curious about the two sisters, Kelly and Kaya. “Where are Kelly and Kaya currently employed? Have they both married, moved out of the Duke’s Residence, and started living independently?”
Upon hearing this, Duke Leslie simply assumed she was making casual conversation and replied, “They have both married and have their own Main Husband males, but neither of them has much ability, so they still live at home. They are nothing like Duke Lu Xia, who is so capable. I heard you have reopened the family Research Institute?”
“Oh, I see. I thought both sisters had their own work and lives, but it turns out they still live with you, Duke Leslie. I hadn’t expected that. Still, I think it’s good to go out and work to broaden one’s horizons. Otherwise, the sky you see is only as big as the courtyard—what a waste of precious time.” As Lu Xia spoke, she seemed genuinely concerned for Kelly and Kaya, her smile appearing utterly sincere.
Yet to the two sisters, Kelly and Kaya, these words were filled with mockery, ridiculing them for their lack of ambition—married yet still living at home, relying on their family.
Strangely, Duke Leslie failed to detect this and genuinely believed Lu Xia had the sisters’ best interests at heart. He laughed and said, “Duke Lu Xia is right. I often tell them that no matter what they do, they should have something to occupy themselves with. They can’t just idle around all day. Unfortunately, they don’t listen, and I can’t control them. They’re nothing like Duke Lu Xia, who can single-handedly manage the Duke’s Residence!”
“I wasn’t born knowing how to do it either. My reputation outside—others may not know, but Duke Leslie, you must be aware of how it’s been portrayed. But a person can drift for a while, not a lifetime. Since the Duke’s Residence has been entrusted to me, I certainly can’t let it fall apart under my watch. By the way, I brought some new products from our Yihao Yuan this time—they can remove scars, and the results are quite good. If you need them, Duke Leslie, feel free to try them.”
Duke Leslie immediately perked up upon hearing this: “Developed by your Yihao Yuan?”
Clearly, the upper-class circles had heard about Lu Xia’s recent activities.
Lu Xia had no intention of hiding it and nodded. “Yes, this is the first generation of beauty cream we’ve developed. Currently, it has scar-removing and whitening effects. Later, we’ll add spot-fading and wrinkle-reducing benefits. If you try it and find it effective, Duke Leslie, please don’t forget to recommend it to others!”
“Of course, of course. Given the relationship between our families, it’s only natural. Oh, by the way, Prince Li Mang’s 40th birthday is in mid-next month. We can attend together then.”
Hearing this, Lu Xia understood that the purpose of her visit today had largely been achieved.
The reason she had come to visit Duke Leslie was to have the Empire’s more senior Duke Leslie introduce her into higher social circles. After all, the upper echelons were where the truly wealthy resided.
“Wonderful. I hope Duke Leslie can guide me more then.” Lu Xia appropriately displayed humility, greatly satisfying Duke Leslie’s vanity. He felt that Duke Lu Xia was someone worth associating with.
After the meal, Lu Xia and Grace did not linger long. After they left, the two sisters, Kelly and Kaya, couldn’t help but complain: “We only knew Duke Lu Xia was a troublemaker before, but now we see how well she can pretend. Everyone in these circles knows each other—who does she think she is, lecturing us?”
Upon hearing this, Leslie set down the teacup he had just picked up: “What she said isn’t wrong. Since the two of you are married now, you should focus on your own affairs. Stop running back home all the time and live your own lives. Duke Lu Xia may have been unreliable in the past, but look at him now—his manners, his speech, his conduct—there’s so much you could learn from him. Yet here you are, still complaining. If even one of you were half as outstanding as him, I wouldn’t feel so ashamed!”
At this point, Duke Leslie raised his teacup again, but before taking a sip, he seemed to remember something. He looked up at the two displeased young women and added: “As for Grace, stay out of his matters from now on. Can’t you see the position he holds with Duke Lu Xia now?”