ELIZABETH SWAN'S

Chapter 4 - Art Exhibition

That morning after breakfast Elizabeth chose a new dress in her closet. After successfully throwing out all her old dresses that did not fit her style, she filled her wardrobe with a variety of new dresses with a simple but elegant design.

"Where are you going, miss? Isn't this a formal dress?" leila asked as she helped Eliza put on the dress.

"Meeting Grand Duke Dominique." Eliza replied casually.

Meanwhile Leila becomes frozen made, "Grand Duke?" his question confirmed if he had heard wrong.

Eliza nodded twice, "Are you going to her residence? I'm sorry Miss but I think that if you go there it will only cause bad rumors about you to become." Leila reminded Eliza of her concern for the owner.

Eliza smiled, "Leila, thank you for worrying about me, while the other servants can only laugh at me from behind. But take it easy, I'm not that stupid" he said with confidence but of course Leila remained hesitant considering Elizabeth was as stupid as ever.

"Y-yes?" leila replied confused as to what kind of reaction she should react to.

"Did you remember a few days ago I asked you to gather information about the Grand Duke?"

Leila nodded, "Yes, I remember."

Eliza sprayed the perfume she had just bought yesterday onto her wrist, "Didn't she really like the art of painting and literature? In the capital, today there is an exhibition of paintings from various artists. He'll definitely come there."

Leila tidied Eliza's hair and added a small hairpin as a last touch. Eliza walked towards the large mirror beside the dressing table, making sure that her appearance was good enough to meet the famous cold Grand Duke.

Upon his arrival in the capital he headed straight for a place in his exhibition title. Eliza already remembered the names of some artists whose works were always in later by the Grand Duke. He deliberately went straight to a painting in the corner. Waiting for the Grand Duke to approach the painting. He wanted to make his first meeting with the Grand Duke look natural.

"It's not always raining" Eliza said suddenly, making the Grand Duke who had just been standing next to her turn his head towards her, "Oh, sorry if I startled you. It's just that every work of A.L. reminds me of the books by John Steinbeck." he said.

In one shot, Eliza managed to attract the attention of the Grand Duke. All this time the girls who were huddled around her only talked about their own merits in order to attract the attention of the Grand Duke. But the more they praised him, the more disgusted Sebastian was with the bunch of noble girls.

"Have you ever read it?" ask Grand Duke Dominique, Sebastian, "Don't you feel that way, at least you've read those books once." her question makes sure that Eliza is not just nonsense because she just wants to attract her attention like other girls.

Eliza smiled, "I think my life is like music. It may not be good music but it still has shape and rhythm" he said, "East of Eden is a masterpiece, although reading it repeatedly I never get bored" said Eliza.

Sebastian is stunned for a split second when Eliza repeats the contents of John Steinbeck's book. It turned out that the girl in front of him was not just the origin of speech and really understood a slick art.

"I'm sorry for my discourtesy" said Sebastian, "Include me Grand Duke Dominique, Sebastian. May I know the name of the Lady?" ask the Grand Duke to Eliza who indicates the man has eaten his bait well.

Eliza tried to keep her calm so that her graceful image was not destroyed even though she was currently overjoyed as her plan went smoothly, "Sorry for my ignorance, Grand Duke. How can I not know who I am talking to. Once again forgive me, sir." said Eliza trying to be natural, completely natural. He kept emphasizing the word in his mind.

"No problem, in exchange can I know your name Lady?" his question once again, he really made Eliza curious.

"I'm just following you, because you keep calling me Grand Duke so I'll also call you Lady Eliza" Sebastian said.

"There's no way I'd dare call you without your title, sir." Eliza said.

"Why not? Can't a friend call a name like that?"

"Friends? You and I met once, here."

Sebastian slightly tilted his head slowly, "Hmm, alright. How many times does it take to be a friend?" sebastian asked seriously.

Eliza was astonished, this way too smooth actually made her a little worried. At least he had to make the Grand Duke curious even longer for his bond to also get stronger.

"Look, it's Elizabeth. After crawling to the feet of the Crown Prince in order to become a noble, he now approached the Grand Duke after getting tired of His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Lady, you forgot to call her Lady. She's the Count's daughter now."

"What's that important? After all who does not know his true identity, only the families of ordinary people buy titles in order to become nobles."

The girls' voices were so loud, it was clearly implied their intent and purpose for the Grand Duke to know who he was talking to. Elizabeth was not disturbed at all and remained focused on seeing the painting in front of her.

Sebastian looked at Elizabeth fixedly, questioning why the girl beside him was so different from the other girl. He remained calm even though he had been demeaned like that. Is it true that they say that Eliza is just a girl from the common people? But why does she look more ethical than the ladies just now? Sebastian muttered in his mind.

"I think my face can be hollow if you look at me even longer, Grand Duke" said Elizabeth who immediately made Sebastian wrong, not realizing how long he had been fixated in his daydreams looking at Elizabeth.

"I'm sorry for my impoliteness, Lady." Sebastian said in his distinctive baritone voice while enduring embarrassment, "I was just wondering why you didn't react to the ladies just now.

Eliza raised the tip of her lips, "I don't feel the need to hear a vain word from their mouth" Elizabeth said, "People usually see what they are looking for, and hearing what they wanted to hear." he added, turning to Sebastian with a friendly smile, "Isn't that the Grand Duke?"

Once again, Elizabeth made him even more curious, "You've also read To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee?" sebastian said with sparkling eyes, excited to find someone with a frequency.

No time passes when they are together. The Grand Duke intended to invite her to dinner at his residence that was in the capital. But because Elizabeth did not want to make this easy for the Grand Duke, she reasoned that her body was tired so it was impossible to accept the invitation of the ruler Duchy Domonique. Inevitably the Grand Duke must allow Elizabeth to go home even though she still wants to talk to the girl for longer.

Grand Duke Sebastian Dominique in his spare time, prefers to be with a pile of books rather than out of the palace to meet other people who are not as thoughtful as him.