Chapter Seventeen: Dining.

After chatting for a while, it was nearly lunchtime. The Duke of Leslie had already asked the butler to prepare a lavish meal in advance. He now rose and invited Lu Xia to dine in the dining room.

As they approached, two young women sat at the table who bore some resemblance to the Duke. Even without introductions, Lu Xia knew these must be the two elder sisters Grace had mentioned.

Noticing their arrival, the two glanced over at Lu Xia with a hint of disdain and reluctantly rose. "Mother, good day, Duke Lu Xia," they said coldly.

The Duke smiled at his daughters and introduced them to Lu Xia. "These are Kelly and Kaya. Knowing you would come today, I specifically kept them at home. Please, everyone be seated."

The Duke was about to pull out a chair for Lu Xia when she turned to Grace and said, "Sit next to me."

Her words fell into a sudden silence; none had expected such a statement. Yet Lu Xia’s expression was perfectly natural, as if there were nothing unusual about it.

Grace obediently took the seat beside Lu Xia, as if this were customary. It was the others who made a fuss.

"Hah, Grace lets you sit, and you actually dare to? Leaving home and forgetting all manners?" Kaya sneered from the opposite side at Grace, her eyes full of contempt.

Lu Xia glanced at her, fully aware that while the words seemed aimed at Grace, they were also directed at herself since she had invited Grace to sit.

She didn’t need to think hard to understand the reason: after all, males were not allowed to sit at the table to dine with females.

"So, what? Grace is now part of the Duke Lu Xia household. Should she still abide by the Leslie Duke household rules?" Lu Xia looked innocently at the Duke, as if she truly didn’t understand why this needed discussion. She didn’t even glance at Kaya.

The Duke hadn’t expected Lu Xia to allow Grace to sit at the table. In the Empire, except for males who served as househusbands, males of other statuses were forbidden from dining alongside females at the table. Even in public restaurants, males and females were seated separately.

Many restaurants even displayed signs prohibiting male entry.

However, in that moment, the Duke felt less uncomfortable and rather proud of how much Lu Xia valued Grace.

Grace, considered a “defective,” was destined to be Lu Xia’s servant, yet she was so highly regarded by the Duke—a true honor for the Leslie household.

“The Duke Lu Xia is right. Grace is now a member of the Duke Lu Xia household. She should follow your wishes. Kaya, mind your own business regarding Grace from now on,” their mother said sharply.

Kaya’s expression soured instantly. She hadn’t expected a mere comment about Grace to draw her mother’s reprimand. She shot Lu Xia a glare before falling silent.

Lu Xia’s face remained unchanged, but she suddenly grew curious about the two sisters. “Kelly and Kaya, where are you working now? Have you both married and moved out, living independently?”

The Duke, thinking she was just making casual conversation, replied, “They’ve each married and have their own househusbands, but neither of them has much ability, so they still live at home. They’re nothing like Duke Lu Xia, who I hear has restarted the family’s research institute?”

“Oh, so that’s how it is. I thought your elder sisters had their own jobs and lives. But they’re still living with you, Duke Leslie. I didn’t expect that. I do think it’s good to work outside and see the world sometimes; otherwise, the only sky you’ll ever see is the size of this courtyard. What a waste of precious time,” Lu Xia said sincerely, as if truly concerned.

Yet Kelly and Kaya heard only mockery in her words—mockery of their lack of experience and their living off their parents despite being married.

The Duke, unaware of the sarcasm, smiled and said, “Duke Lu Xia is right. I often tell them no matter what you do, you need to be busy and not laze around all day. But they won’t listen, and I have no control. Not like Duke Lu Xia, who shoulders the entire responsibility of the dukedom!”

“I wasn’t born knowing all this. My reputation outside, although others may not know, Duke Leslie certainly does—and it’s quite a tale. But one can muddle through life for a while, not forever. Since the dukedom is entrusted to me, I certainly won’t let it be ruined under my watch. By the way, I brought some new products from our No. 1 Institute—scar removal creams, quite effective. Duke Leslie, if you like, you can try them,” Lu Xia said.

The Duke immediately perked up. “From your No. 1 Institute, you say?”

Clearly, Lu Xia’s recent activities had reached the ears of high society.

Lu Xia did not hide it and nodded. “Yes, this is our first-generation beauty cream. It currently removes scars and whitens skin. Later versions will include spot fading and wrinkle reduction. Duke Leslie, if you like it, don’t forget to recommend it to everyone.”

“Of course, of course. Our families’ ties make this natural. Oh, by the way, mid-next month is Prince Li Mang’s 40th birthday. We can attend together,” the Duke said.

Hearing this, Lu Xia knew her visit’s purpose was nearly accomplished.

She had come to ask the senior Duke of Leslie to introduce her to the higher social circles of the Empire’s elite, where the true wealth and influence resided.

“That sounds wonderful. I hope Duke Leslie will continue to guide me,” Lu Xia said with just the right humility, satisfying the Duke’s vanity greatly and making him think she was a person worth befriending.

After the meal, Lu Xia and Grace did not stay long. Once they left, Kelly and Kaya couldn’t help but complain, “We always knew Duke Lu Xia was a mess, but now we see how much she pretends. She’s been around these circles long enough to know everyone, and now she’s lecturing us.”

The Duke put down his teacup upon hearing this. “What she said isn’t wrong. Since you’re both married, you should have proper responsibilities. Don’t keep coming home when you have your own lives. Duke Lu Xia may have been a mess before, but look at her now—her manners and conduct are something you should learn. Yet here you are, whining. If I had a daughter as outstanding as her, I wouldn’t be so embarrassed.”

He raised his cup to drink but then paused, looking at his two dissatisfied daughters. “Mind your own business when it comes to Grace. Can’t you see what position she holds with Duke Lu Xia now?”