Chapter 8: Lonely Art

Duke Creed is bringing us to his mansion, which is where we will be staying.

I can barely concentrate filled with worry for the Prince.

Maybe he is just happy because he’s getting married. Or maybe he didn’t get enough sleep because he’s scared of thunderstorms. I roll my eyes. Who was I kidding, he probably isn’t scared of thunderstorms. I wonder if it even has anything to do with the Princess at all.

‘Was he upset because I didn’t go see him like he said?’

I thump my head on the window again and again until my father blocks my head with his hand.

“Are you alright? Did you forget something back home?” he asks. His worry isn’t even guarded this time.

“Oh, no, sorry. Lost in thought.”

Father frowns and looks over at the Duke who also seems lost in thought.

“Are you alright, Your Grace? I apologize for my daughter’s behavior.”

“Sorry.” I slip in quietly.

Duke Creed looks between us and shakes his head. “It’s nothing, I’ve just been having strange visions.”

“Visions?” My father inquires. Duke Creed shakes his head and points up the stone walkway.

“We’re here, welcome to my home.”

When the carriage stops, we get out. People have already come to collect our bags and shuffle them inside. Maids and butlers alike.

The mansion is two stories tall but takes up an entire street of space. Surrounded on all sides by forest, and well-maintained shrubbery. My flats click on the stone. Servants bow as we pass them in line. A few eye my father and I. Most keep bowed right until we reach the tall, double doors suited with lion-head knockers.

One heavily gray butler opens the door for us and ushers us inside.

The floor is marble.

A large chandelier hangs overhead. Connected circular stairs lead up to the second floor. The ceiling is open and surrounded by the banister of the second floor.

The walls are blue and painted with classic art dupes. While some also hang on the wall.

Even the air inside is warm, filled with cinnamon and whatever stew is brewing for dinner.

“This place is amazing,” I say. The duke grins.

“Thank you, I may have gone a tad overboard with the art. But what is a home if not personal?”

I feel a bit of guilt for never decorating my bedroom at home. We never had the funds really. Most would think divers make good money. But we don’t. Even with all the jewels in the world. Divers will never get the same respect that fishermen, tailors, or any other professionals do.

Duke Creed leads us to the two rooms at the end of the second floor. The spiral banister looks down into the living space on the first floor, and we get easy access from our rooms.

I ogle all the art that covers the expansion of the ceiling.

“You see that man, he was our former king. My father’s father, and he was the one who married my brother off to the wealthy Queen Corediela and merged the kingdoms on our island.”

He goes into some spiel about it being honorable to marry other royals for money. I listen half-heartedly.

“Isn’t it lonely all the way out here?” I ask the Duke, looking up at the painting of his grandfather.

“Most nobility live in secluded manors. For privacy reasons.”

I turn to the Duke and bow my head. “I meant, your island is so far away from everyone else. Even the fastest boat took a fortnight to get here. Is it not lonely, to be the only ones here? People find it too worrisome to travel all this way unless that’s how they do business.”

“Mhm, most have their family or have grown comfortable alone. There is nothing wrong with a little solitude.” He says.

I gaze out at all the staff members bustling around his home.

‘But you are alone. Your family is in the palace, and you have no wife nor kid to speak of.’ I look back towards the Duke who has excused himself down the hallway. ‘You must be lonely.’

My father pats my back.

“The Duke lost his wife last year. He’s probably still in mourning.”

I frown. “I did not mean to be insensitive.”

“He knows that.” My father assures me.

As an apology, I pull together all the materials we’ve brought with us and start working on a pendant. When you pray to the Holy One while crafting, your intentions are supposed to imbue into your craft. I hope it’s true so that prosperity and family will come to the Duke.

***

Much later in the week, once we’ve settled in, father and I get to see the shop the Duke is sponsoring for us. It’s a shop he already owned but it has been renovated with all the tools we need.

“Thank you so much, Your Grace. We are indebted to you,”

“Think of it as a business investment. My only expectation is that you do your best to make the business flourish.” He says with a chuckle. He clasps his hands together behind his back and stands tall, as many royals and nobility do. I wonder if they do the same around each other, or if that form is reserved for those of lesser status.

“Duke Creed!” I call before he gets a chance to walk away. I take a bow at the ninety-degree angle as I have been practicing all week. I keep my hands outstretched to present my gift.

He raises a brow and nods his head for me to continue.

“I made this for you, as a thank you gift. For everything.”

“You didn’t have to.” He says. Gently he raises the box from my hands. “May I open it here?” He asks.

I nod.

Duke Creed pulls the jade, clam-shaped pendant out. It swings lightly and reflects back his image.

“It’s beautiful, thank you.” He says with a warm smile.

“It’s the best I could do on sure short notice. I asked the head staff for your favorite color and went off that.”

“You did well. Now go in and explore.” He says. He puts the necklace on and gets into his carriage. My father pats my back.

“You did well.” He echos. The two of us embark into the empty shop. Putting all our materials away. We organize the storage space with labels, put a few pieces in the display boxes, and wipe down all the surfaces.

Once we’ve emptied our bags, and organized every surface we could find we break for lunch.

“Let’s go out on the town. There’s this great place that Duke Creed recommended. He said all the nobility love to eat there. All of them.”

I don’t bother to ask why he put emphasis, the only thing that matters right now is finding out if they have good fried food. If not, I will be on the first boat back to Selkie in the morning.