Chapter 3 – A Distant Relative

Almost immediately after Elaria was given permission to stay at the mansion temporarily, another problem presented itself.

“We’ll need an explanation,” Cedric said after the tea had been cleared away.

Elaria turned to him.

“An explanation for what?”

“For your staying here, miss.”

“Oh.”

She nodded.

“Vaelor already gave me permission.”

Valerian, who had been opening a document a servant had just brought in, stopped.

“Valerian.”

“Yes.”

Elaria corrected herself without difficulty.

“Valerian already gave me permission.”

He looked at her for a moment, as though unsure whether he should be pleased that she had accepted the name more easily than expected.

Elaria saw no problem with it.

If he wanted her to call him Valerian while they were in human lands, she could do that. A name was something used to identify a person. Calling him something different did not turn him into someone else.

Cedric continued.

“There is no problem within the household itself. But an unknown young woman suddenly staying in the home of an unmarried man—especially when that man is a duke—will naturally invite questions.”

Elaria considered this.

“Who will ask?”

“Quite a few people.”

“Why?”

“Because society would consider the situation unusual.”

That answer was clear enough.

Elaria nodded again.

“I understand.”

Valerian set the document down.

“Even if I say you’re only staying here temporarily, rumors will spread faster than we can correct them if we offer no explanation at all.”

“What kind of rumors?”

He paused slightly.

“About our relationship.”

“We’re mates.”

Cedric lowered his eyes to the papers in his hands.

Valerian sighed quietly.

“That is exactly what we should avoid telling people outside this house.”

Elaria frowned.

“Because humans don’t know what a mate is?”

“That is part of the problem.”

“Then I can explain it.”

“Please don’t.”

His answer came a little faster than usual.

Elaria stopped.

“Why?”

Valerian looked at her like a man carefully choosing his words.

“Because your explanation begins with dragons.”

“Yes.”

“And as far as most people are concerned, dragons aren’t real.”

“But they are.”

“I’m aware that you believe that.”

“I don’t believe it. It’s a fact.”

He went still.

Elaria looked calmly back at him.

Valerian closed his eyes for a moment, then apparently decided not to walk back into the same argument again.

“Whether or not it is a fact as you understand it, I don’t want you discussing dragons with other people.”

“Because it would attract attention?”

“Yes.”

That matched what Maeryn had taught her.

So Elaria agreed immediately.

“All right.”

Valerian appeared not to have expected her to accept the rule so easily.

“You really understand?”

“Yes. Maeryn also told me not to tell humans that dragons exist.”

Silence fell again.

Cedric continued looking at his documents.

Valerian looked at her.

“Then why did you tell me?”

“Because you’re a dragon.”

“…”

“I thought the rule didn’t include you.”

Valerian raised a hand to the space between his brows.

Elaria waited.

She could not see anything wrong with her logic.

If someone said, Don’t tell humans about dragons, that naturally did not mean, Don’t tell dragons about dragons.

The problem was that Vaelor thought he was human.

“Let’s put it this way,” he said at last. “From now on, don’t talk about dragons with anyone else.”

“Anyone at all?”

“Yes.”

“Including people in the mansion?”

Valerian glanced at Cedric.

“Including them.”

“What about you?”

He was silent for a beat.

“If necessary.”

Elaria considered the answer.

“What counts as necessary?”

Valerian did not respond immediately.

She was not asking to be difficult. Necessary covered far too many possibilities. If she misunderstood the boundary, she might break the rule without meaning to.

Eventually, he seemed to realize that.

“If it concerns why you came here, or information you believe might help prove what you’ve been telling me, then you may tell me. But don’t discuss it with anyone else.”

“I understand.”

“Good.”

“What about mates?”

The hand he had just lowered from his brow stopped again.

“Don’t talk about that either.”

“With anyone else?”

“Yes.”

“Can I talk about it with you?”

Valerian looked at her.

“I doubt I could stop you anyway.”

Elaria thought about that.

“You could, if you had a reason.”

That made him pause.

“But you don’t have one yet?”

“Not yet.”

Cedric coughed softly once.

Elaria turned toward him, but his expression was perfectly composed, as though nothing had happened.

Valerian moved on.

“As for what we tell everyone else, we’ll say you’re a distant relative of mine.”

Elaria immediately turned back to him.

“But we aren’t related.”

“I know.”

“We’re mates.”

“I also know that you think—”

“I don’t think—”

“Yes. That it is a fact.”

Elaria stopped.

Then she nodded, satisfied.

“Yes.”

Valerian was quiet for a moment, as though only now realizing that adopting her terminology merely to move the conversation along might create new problems later.

Still, he continued.

“‘Distant relative’ is simply an explanation for society. It doesn’t mean we actually have to be related.”

“So it’s a lie?”

The atmosphere grew slightly quieter.

Valerian did not evade the question.

“Yes.”

Elaria thought about it.

Dragons were not incapable of withholding information. There were matters concerning the pack that outsiders did not need to know, and Maeryn had just spent two years teaching her what she should and should not reveal in Avelorne.

So the problem was not withholding the full truth.

The problem was replacing it with something untrue.

“Is it necessary?”

“In this case, I believe it is.”

“Why not simply say I’m a guest?”

“A young unmarried woman with no family or attendants staying indefinitely in the home of an unmarried man would raise more questions than a relative would.”

“I’m not staying indefinitely.”

Valerian raised an eyebrow slightly.

“When are you leaving?”

“When you come with me.”

He went silent.

Elaria waited.

“A distant relative will do,” he said.

Apparently he had decided that particular subject should go no further.

“What kind of relative am I supposed to be?”

“We don’t need to be very specific. You came from the countryside to visit family.”

“But I didn’t come from the countryside.”

“You said you came from the north.”

“Yes.”

“For people in Aster, that will be sufficient.”

Elaria was beginning to understand the structure of the story.

“So if someone asks, I should say I’m your distant relative from the north.”

“Yes.”

“What if they ask how we’re related?”

Valerian paused.

Cedric answered smoothly in his place.

“You may say you’re a distant relation through His Grace’s mother, miss. There is no need to explain every branch of the family line to everyone who asks.”

Elaria turned to him.

“What if someone checks?”

Cedric was silent for a moment.

Valerian looked at her with a slightly different expression.

“You thought of that?”

“If we’re going to lie, shouldn’t we think about how someone might verify it?”

“Yes.”

He answered immediately.

“I’ll have Cedric arrange whatever information is necessary so everything remains consistent. You don’t need to invent details yourself. If anyone asks too many questions, simply tell them it is a private family matter.”

“I understand.”

This time, Elaria had all the rules straight.

Do not talk about dragons with other people.

Do not say Vaelor was her mate in front of other people.

If asked about their relationship, say she was a distant relative.

If someone asked for too many details, do not invent more. End the conversation by saying it was a private family matter.

It was not particularly complicated.

“What if no one else is there?”

Valerian, who had been about to pick up his documents again, stopped.

“What do you mean?”

“If we’re inside the house and it’s just you and me, I can say ‘mate,’ can’t I?”

“Yes.”

“What if Cedric is here?”

He looked toward the man in question.

Cedric continued to maintain his excellent professional expression.

“Cedric already knows.”

“So I can?”

“…”

Elaria waited seriously for an answer.

Valerian sighed.

“In this case, yes. But I’d rather give you a simpler rule.”

“What rule?”

“If someone is present and you aren’t certain you can trust them, don’t say it.”

Elaria nodded.

That was much easier to understand.

“All right.”

Not long afterward, the door opened.

A middle-aged woman dressed in dark clothing entered with a younger woman beside her. Both stopped at an appropriate distance and bowed to Valerian.

“You called for me, Your Grace?”

“Yes, Beatrice.”

Valerian turned toward Elaria.

“Miss Elaria will be staying here for a while. Please prepare a guest room for her.”

The middle-aged woman turned toward Elaria.

Her gaze was not rude, but it was extremely thorough, taking in Elaria’s clothes, luggage, and shoes as though assessing everything that would need to be dealt with in a single glance.

“Of course.”

“This is Beatrice Rowe, the head housekeeper.”

Elaria stood.

“Hello. I’m Elaria.”

Beatrice paused slightly before replying.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Elaria.”

“You can just call me Elaria.”

“I’m afraid that wouldn’t be appropriate.”

Elaria thought the answer sounded much like Cedric insisting on carrying her bag.

Human duties and standards of propriety really had a great many details.

“Then whatever you’re comfortable with.”

Something in Beatrice’s eyes softened just slightly.

Valerian introduced the younger woman next.

“And this is Clara Bell. She’ll assist you while you’re staying here.”

Clara bowed.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, miss.”

“It’s nice to meet you too.”

Clara raised her head, and Elaria noticed that the young woman’s gaze lingered briefly on her sleeves.

“Is something wrong?”

Clara startled.

“My apologies.”

“It’s all right. You were looking at my dress.”

The young woman immediately looked uncomfortable.

“It’s a very lovely dress. I simply haven’t seen that style much in Aster lately.”

Elaria looked down at herself.

That was something she already knew.

“Yes. The previous owner told me the fashion had already passed through a cycle.”

Clara looked surprised.

“You knew?”

“Yes.”

“And…”

She stopped the question halfway.

Elaria finished it for her.

“Why am I still wearing it?”

Clara’s face fell slightly.

“I didn’t mean—”

“Because it’s cute.”

Elaria lifted the edge of her skirt slightly to look at the stitching along the hem.

“I like it.”

Clara blinked.

Then a small smile escaped her.

“Yes. It really is cute.”

“Isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

Elaria was pleased.

At least clothing seemed much easier to understand than mates.

Beatrice turned toward Cedric.

“Is this all of Miss Elaria’s luggage?”

“There are two more bags outside.”

“I can carry them myself,” Elaria said.

Beatrice turned back to her.

“That won’t be necessary, miss.”

“But they aren’t heavy.”

“I know.”

Almost exactly the same answer Cedric had given her.

Elaria looked between them.

“Is it your duty?”

Beatrice paused slightly.

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

Elaria nodded.

“Then I’ll leave them to you.”

This time, she did not reach for the bags herself.

The rule had already been explained.

Valerian watched the exchange in silence before turning back to his documents.

“If you need anything, you can tell Beatrice or Cedric.”

“What about you?”

He looked up.

“Me?”

“If I want to ask you something.”

“What about?”

Elaria thought.

There were quite a few things.

Why he could not remember.

Why he believed he was human.

Whether his mission was finished.

And where exactly he had sealed his power to hide it so thoroughly.

But those questions were unlikely to be resolved today.

“I don’t know yet.”

Valerian was quiet for a moment.

“If it’s important, ask Cedric to inform me.”

“All right.”

Elaria picked up the small bag that was still beside her.

Clara stepped forward as though to take it.

Elaria looked at the bag.

Then at Clara.

“Is this your duty too?”

Clara tried not to smile.

“If you’ll allow me, miss.”

Elaria handed it over.

“All right.”

She followed Beatrice out of the room, with Clara carrying the bag behind her.

Before the door closed, Elaria looked back one more time.

Valerian was already speaking to Cedric about the documents, his expression returned to the calm seriousness she remembered, even if so many other details about him were different now.

He did not look up.

So Elaria continued on.

The room prepared for her was on the second floor of the eastern wing. Its windows overlooked the side garden, and it contained a large bed, wardrobe, writing desk, and a small dressing room connected to the main chamber.

“If anything is inconvenient, please tell me immediately,” Beatrice said. “Dinner is served at seven. If you prefer, you may also dine in your room.”

“Where does Valerian eat?”

Beatrice paused.

“His Grace usually dines in the dining room, provided no urgent work requires his attention.”

“Then I’ll eat there.”

The answer came without any need for thought.

Beatrice nodded.

“Of course.”

Clara began unpacking Elaria’s clothes.

Elaria automatically stepped forward to help.

“You don’t need to do that yourself, miss.”

“But they’re mine.”

“I can arrange them for you.”

Elaria stopped to think.

“Your duty again?”

A soft laugh escaped Clara before she quickly covered her mouth.

“My apologies.”

“It’s all right.”

Elaria did not understand what was funny, but Clara did not seem to be laughing at her, so she did not mind.

“Then what am I supposed to do?”

That question made Clara pause.

“You could rest, miss. You’ve traveled a long way, haven’t you?”

That was true.

So Elaria sat down on the edge of the bed.

Clara took the dresses from the bags one by one while Beatrice inspected the room once more before preparing to leave.

At the door, the head housekeeper turned back.

“One more thing, miss.”

“Yes?”

“If anyone outside the household asks about your relationship with His Grace…”

Elaria answered immediately.

“I’m his distant relative from the north. If they ask too many questions, I should say it’s a private family matter, and I shouldn’t talk about dragons or mates with anyone I’m not sure I can trust.”

Beatrice was silent for a moment.

“Yes.”

“I remember.”

“That is quite clear.”

Elaria smiled at her.

Beatrice gave a small bow and left the room.

Clara continued arranging the clothes.

After a while, the young woman asked carefully,

“Miss Elaria?”

“Yes?”

“How should I refer to you in front of other people?”

Elaria tilted her head.

“Elaria?”

“I mean… in your position as His Grace’s relative.”

Oh.

Elaria thought back over the rules she had just learned.

“Wouldn’t ‘Miss Elaria’ still be fine?”

“Yes.”

Clara nodded, visibly relieved.

Elaria watched her for a moment before another thought occurred to her.

“Or am I supposed to call you ‘distant relative’ too?”

Clara’s hands stopped.

“No!”

The answer came very quickly.

Elaria blinked.

Clara drew in a breath, then repeated herself in a more composed tone.

“No, miss. That phrase is only used to describe your relationship with His Grace.”

“Oh.”

Elaria nodded.

Understood.

She turned to look out the window. The afternoon light was slowly sinking over the mansion gardens.

She had learned quite a few things about humans today.

Some people carried bags for you because it was their duty.

Some people arranged your clothes because it was their duty.

A young woman staying in the home of an unmarried man required an explanation.

And if the true explanation sounded too strange, humans apparently replaced it with an untrue explanation that sounded more normal.

Elaria still was not entirely sure how this system was simpler than simply saying, He’s my mate.

But the rule had been explained.

She would remember it.

At least now everyone knew who she was.

Valerian’s distant relative from the north.

Even though, in truth, they were not related in the slightest.