Isabel, who had just participated in an on-site operation to arrest a suspect, led three guards from the Duke's Court to gallop back to Nottingham Castle. After reining in his horse in front of the stairs of the main building, a manservant of the living room trotted forward and saluted, saying, "Your Excellency, Madame said that she would let you go to the parlor as soon as you returned." ”

"I didn't expect Mary to wake up quite early." Isabel jumped off her horse in thought, and after a few words of instruction to the guard beside her, she followed the valet in the living room towards the parlor in the main building.

At this time, Duchess Mary Fitzroy, who sat on the right hand of the empty Duke of Richmond's throne, was maintaining her elegant manners as a lady of the lord. Whenever a retainer saluted her, Arthur Field, the butler and chief servant standing on her right hand, whispered to her the name, rank, and overseeing of the retainer. When the butler had finished speaking, Mary gave each of her retainers a smile and words of blessing.

"Madame, Miss Isabel, Privy Counsellor and Duke's Secretary, is here." The living room manservant walked into the drawing-room, saluted Mary, and spoke aloud.

"Why has she been around for so long?" A question mark flashed through Mary's mind, but she still smiled and nodded, "Let her in." ”

By the time the living room manservant was reporting to Isabel, she had already arranged her armor, arm guards, dagger and longbow on her back. When the valet returned to the waiting area outside the hall, Isabel strode calmly into the packed hall.

"Good morning, Duchess." Isabel stood in front of the manservant and saluted Mary to the right of the duke's seat.

All the retainers present turned their faces to her one after another. However, apart from the courtesy greetings to her, the crowd did not show any surprise at her quasi-lancer dress and the weapons she was wearing. Obviously, the only people present were the lord's wife, Mary, and her two personal maids, who looked very surprised.

Amy, the maid standing to the left behind Mary, stared intently at Isabelle's armor, longbow, and two daggers at her waist. Kelly, who was standing to her right, was very curious about her masculine dress.

The Duchess, who had just arrived, had almost entirely heard of Isabel from the Countess of Surrey. Before coming to Richmondshire, she thought Mrs. Surrey's description sounded exaggerated, but now she began to believe Mrs. Surrey's words a little.

"Good morning, Miss Isabel, come over here." Mary gently held out a hand and pointed to the open space in front of her right, beside the butler.

"Isn't it? You woke up so early today just to show me your status as a duchess? Isabel muttered to herself, but came to the butler with a smile on her face.

Just as she was standing in her assigned position facing the retainers, she heard Mary command, "Arthur, have the Privy Councillor's high-backed chair be moved." ”

Isabel had no choice but to turn to Mary and salute again. When a valet brought in a Gothic high-backed chair she used to sit in, she took off her longbow and handed it to the valet. Unexpectedly, Mary smiled at this time: "Your Excellency, I have finished this morning's affairs, and you will preside over the meeting of the retainers next." ”

Isabel looked at Mary and frowned slightly, instantly understanding what the other party meant. Mary had told her yesterday that she did not intend to live in the north for long, and it seemed that she was not willing to take on all the responsibilities of overseeing the affairs of the dukedom. Looking at the other party's slightly immature face, who was only 20 years old, she just nodded calmly: "Yes, madam." ”

Isabel then began to meet with each of her retainers and make her own judgment on the questions and opinions raised by each retainer. Then, they listened to the report of the housekeeper and put forward their opinions based on the daily activity account provided by the housekeeper. Except for particularly important issues that need to be decided by the Duke of Richmond, general questions can be solved on the spot.

After more than an hour, the retainers and butlers left the drawing-room, and Isabel went straight to the high table covered with blankets and cushions placed against the wall on the right side of the drawing-room. When a manservant saw her about to pour a drink, he walked over. Isabel waved her hand for the valet to leave, then picked up a can of cider and poured half a glass into the glass, then picked up another can of pear wine and poured half a glass into the glass.

Mary, who sat on the lady's throne, was fresh to all of this. After waiting quietly for more than an hour, he looked at the superintendent of the territory standing at the high table, "Your Excellency, this is what you have to do every morning?" ”

Isabel took her glass to the clearing a few paces away from Mary, "Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry, ma'am, and I hope you'll forgive me for being a fool of myself. ”

"It doesn't matter, you are the custodian on your behalf, as long as the decisions you make will not infringe on the interests of Your Highness and the territory, everything else is completely fine."

"Thank you for your kindness, ma'am."

At this moment, Mary stood up and walked to her side, glancing at the cup in her hand, "Isabel, matters of etiquette are only for stewards, retainers, and servants. I hope that when no one is around, we can enhance the opportunity to get to know each other,"

Isabel pursed her lips and shook her head back and forth, "Of course, as long as you're happy." ”

"What did I mean when I saw you pour two wines together?"

"What, do you want a drink too?"

Mary, who was still in adolescence, immediately had a girlish smile on her face, and asked in a curious whisper, "You didn't tell me what it was at all, how do you know that I want a cup too?" ”

Isabel took a sip from her glass and glanced at Mary with a light smile, "You'll definitely want it." ”

"Well, okay." Mary turned her face to look behind her and at the maid, "Amy, go and pour me a glass...... Bring me a glass of wine, as your Excellency does. ”

"Yes, ma'am." Although Amy agrees very well, she does not know how Isabel made the wine. As she walked towards the high table, she looked at Isabel with a wistful look.

Isabel could see something in the maid's eyes, "Uh, Amy, you can pour some cider and pear wine into the glass." ”

"Oh, that's how you did, pour two kinds of wine on some to taste?" The dignified and beautiful Mary asked again.

"Well, it does taste good. You can't drink more, though, just taste a little. ”

"Oh? Why is that? ”

Isabel looked at Amy, who had brought Mary a glass of mixed wine, "I'll tell you when you've tasted it." ”