The Duchess - Gruvia

Chapter 05

"Come in." Gray sighed and got up from his chair. It had been five minutes since Loke left his office, so he knew that it was the Porle guy outside. And he was right.

The man was tall, Gray gave him that. His face was long, making his really long chin seem even longer with the thin mustache. His black hair was straight and almost hitting his shoulders. His eyes were a bit too small and weirdly shaped, but what brought Gray's attention, was the way that the man thought he owned everything around him.

And that bothered Gray somehow.

"Duke Fullbuster." The older man bowed a little and Gray nodded, acknowledging his presence. And usually, he would ask to not be called Duke, just Gray, but his gut screamed to let it be perfectly clear who was the higher ranked there. And his gut was yet to let him down.

"You must be Jose Porle." He said, using the 'Duke-Tone' as Gray called; it was the way his voice would be automatically cold and distant, to put people in their places. It was quite rare for him to use it, but Gray found himself uneasy in the other man's presence.

"It's Porla. Lah." The older man's eye twitched a little and Gray continued to look stoic as ever, but wondered why Loke had wronged the name. It had to be intentional; Loke had a very good memory and to tell Gray the wrong name; he must have had his reasons.

"I was informed that you wanted to talk to me, Porla." Gray said, not that patient.

"Yes." Master Jose looked to the chair in front of the Duke's desk and Gray nodded, sitting in his own chair. After the Duke sat, the older man did the same. "I want to talk to you about the March of Rain."

"Talk."

"Our land is having a bit of a money problem right now." Jose said and Gray frowned a bit. That place and its Islands were rich in blue diamonds, why were they having problems? "Our ships are getting robbed more and more often. And I humbly request the help from the Ice Lands."

"You're asking for help?" Gray raised his eyebrows. "A better strategy would be to make my future wife ask it when I am pleased with her. So, why are you the one asking?"

"Because the Marchioness is a little... light headed." Jose sighed with sorrow. "She's a good girl, but she was not cut to be a Marchioness. That's why I was the one running the March up until now." Gray narrowed his eyes. Even though he hadn't met his fiancée, he felt insulted by this.

"Then why didn't you try to teach her how to run her own lands?" The Duke asked, still cold.

"She didn't want to know, sir." Jose looked to Gray right into his eyes and then down. "She wanted to learn how to sew, and how to be a proper lady. How could've I said no?"

"I see." Gray nodded. "So you're the one who took over and managed the March but then the ships began to get robbed?"

"Yes." Porla nodded.

"I'll see what I can do." Gray said and Jose got up from the chair.

"Thank you, sir." He bowed once again, but in his eye, the Duke saw that he preferred to be taking his own kidney with his bare hands than bowing.

When Porla was finally gone, Gray let out a breath.

"That is one creepy man."

#

Juvia sat looked down, seeing that her aya was asleep. She was designed to be in a very fancy room and Marge was sleeping with her, of course. The woman was her shadow since the moment that her marriage was announced and the Marchioness was sure that Master Jose was the one who put her into it, afraid that Juvia might run away.