episode_0005

Before reaching the townhouse of Beaurnga, the residence of Lady Lorsua.

Eleanor asked Sophie about her mentor who was coming to visit the mansion.

“Sophie, that person called Lady Lorsua. Who is she?”

“Lady Lorsua?”

“Yes, Lady Lorsua of Lorsua.”

Just a while ago, the young lady seemed disinterested. Sophie, pouring tea from the teapot into an empty cup, paused her actions and looked at the young lady.

The freckled young girl soon began to roll her tiny head vigorously.

Eleanor, on behalf of her, gently poured tea from the teapot into the empty cup.

As the crimson tea overflowed in the cup,

the freckled young girl, having finished her thoughts, raised her small red lips.

“Hmm… She’s very elegant and graceful. Overflowing with dignity. Isn’t that right, Miss? Lady Lorsua was known as a lady quite famous in the capital since her maiden days.”

“Oh, really?”

Disappointed by the unexpectedly one-dimensional response, Eleanor showed signs of disappointment.

Sophie, seeing the darkening expression of the young lady, didn’t know what to do.

In place of Sophie, a stern voice came from behind.

“Edelvice Lady Lorsua was the second daughter of the renowned scholar of Bruanyu, who has produced several generations of distinguished scholars.”

Adjusting her square glasses, Manuela approached Eleanor, leaning comfortably against the sofa.

As her superior approached, the freckled girl sprang up from her seat. Eleanor picked up the teapot she had set down, Sophie disappeared somewhere, and Manuela took Sophie’s place.

“Is that so?”

Manuela would surely provide a clear answer.

Eleanor’s sky-blue eyes began to sparkle subtly.

“She was proficient in various fields of study since her youth. Equally skilled in dance, music, and artistic aesthetics. Furthermore, she excelled in etiquette, making her a remarkable figure in high society as a well-known lady.”

Manuela’s voice, laden with compliments, was no different from usual.

However, Eleanor could sense it.

In that stern voice, there was a hidden admiration.

Perhaps that was the appearance Manuela desired. Sorry, Manuela. It’s difficult for Eleanor to understand such things.

Eleanor suppressed her unattainable second-person cuteness inwardly.

“Such a talented individual?”

Manuela remained silent, only nodding her head.

“But why is someone like her now involved in educating noble children and moving around aristocratic families?”

Eleanor tilted her head slightly as she spoke.

Given the diverse worldviews, capable women were scattered throughout society.

Even in the newspapers Albrice read daily, the faces of female managers often appeared prominently on the front page under headlines, and the gender ratio of figures visiting the mansion to discuss public matters with Albrice was 6:4, almost half.

Therefore, Eleanor’s question arose naturally, not intended to belittle anyone.

However, Manuela’s expression upon hearing the question did not seem favorable.

Frowning slightly with a bitter air, Manuela began to answer the young lady’s question.

“If you fall in love, everything else fades away. Unfortunately, she fell head over heels for the seemingly insignificant Lady Lorsua.”

It seemed truly regrettable.

Despite being in front of the young lady she served, Manuela let out a deep sigh.

“Even though Lord Brueta mentioned his interest, Lady Lorsua spent a night with Lord Lorsua. Since then, she has earned Lord Brueta’s displeasure, leading to this situation.”

“What’s this? I feel like our author might be a romance novelist.”

Even the passing characters are so dramatic, really!

Manuella continued speaking.

“Originally, Lady Jajak does not meet just anyone. Even if someone offers millions, she would refuse unless it’s a promising young talent.”

“And what about that Brustanga fellow, who doesn’t interfere with your tutoring activities?”

“The education of descendants was the responsibility of the host. No matter how influential the fellow may be, that much should be out of reach.”

In response to Manuella, Eleonore nodded gently.

Yes, that’s the extent of the resources.

Might as well extract some information from Lady Jajak while we’re at it.

Watching the sinister smile on the lady’s face, Manuella began to worry slightly if there might be trouble in front of Lady Jajak.

#.

“Hehe. Is our Eleonore finally waking up from her dreamland of a flower garden?”

The gaze looking at her changed in an instant.

Different from before.

Under that penetrating gaze, Eleonore froze.

However, despite that gaze, the voice that flowed past her lips was still as ethereal and delicate as ever.

Lorsua soon turned around subtly.

She smiled warmly at the maid standing neatly behind the sofa with her hands clasped.

“Hey, could you bring yesterday’s newspaper? It’s called Le Capital. If you don’t understand, there’s a picture of a man with short black hair and black eyes on the front page.”

Upon hearing Lady Jajak’s request, the maid swiftly left the reception room.

When Lorsua faced Eleonore again, her gaze had returned to its original softness.

“Eleonore. Did you know that the Viscount Balati is an imperial bastard? You’re aware of that, right?”

“Yes, I know.”

Between her gentle words, Eleonore’s platinum blonde hair swayed softly.

“You do. The current situation in the capital is quite intriguing. Power struggles are eternal entertainment intertwined with human history – Ah, thank you.”

The maid returned with the newspaper, offering the grey bundle of papers politely to Lorsua.

Lorsua gave a slight smile towards the maid.

That seductive smile was no joke when directed at a woman.

Flipping through the handed newspaper, Lorsua pointed to a large photo under the headline with her fingertip.

“This man here is Major Karnat, responsible for military operations in the eastern sector. He’s of common birth, but at least he’s quite skilled in military strategy, as the rumors go.”

Following Lorsua’s slender finger, Eleonore shifted her gaze.

In the black-and-white photo, a stern general with white hair was staring intently at Eleonore.

“Lately, pirates meddling with the southeastern trade port have increased rapidly. They land and plunder surrounding villages.”

“Is that so?”

“Well, it might not be an interesting story for the ladies of the capital.”

Slightly sarcastic, Lorsua moved her finger from pointing at the photo to a small text below it.

“And here. Read the part I’ve touched.”

With a grin, Lorsua extended the newspaper to Eleonore.

Her sky-blue eyes soon started skimming over the strange characters beneath the touch of Lorsua’s slender finger.

– Under the dedicated command of General Karnat and Viscount Yulian de la Valleti, the Imperial Army secures stability in the Barsea Strait in the southeast of the Empire ~

The finger pointing towards the knight disappeared, and Eleanor raised her head to look at Lorsua.

Lorsua wore a solemn expression.

“Now the capital is divided into two major factions. The former nobles who support the first princess, the daughter of the late empress and the current leader of the Red Faction. And the outer faction supporting the second prince, the son of the current empress,” Eleanor said.

“Succession… competition?”

“Yes. It’s a succession competition. The Emperor, as always, takes a step back, playing a passive role,” Lorsua continued, emphasizing the word “Emperor” with a hint of resentment.

“And there’s a man named Yulrian. Well, he’s ambitious and capable, but still an outsider in that race.”

Lorsua gestured towards the old general in the picture as if he were Yulrian, tapping his finger.

“Even if he’s the Emperor’s son, he’s still a bastard.”

The yellow chiffon dress fluttered up and down.

Lorsua crossed her legs, leaning comfortably against the backrest, looking at Eleanor.

“However, whether it’s a scheme from the Viscount Balati’s side or not, Yulrian’s popularity among commoners has been rising suspiciously. The commoner-born General Karnat I mentioned earlier also supports Yulrian,” she explained.

Listening to the lengthy explanation, Eleanor closed her eyes briefly.

Political discussions always left her mind in a whirlwind, just like in her past life and here as well.

Really! Isn’t this supposed to be a world of romantic fantasy? Weren’t the male and female leads supposed to meet and fall in love? Why is everything so complicated!

It’s not like I wrote a 5700-character comment.

Venting internally won’t make the author hear, anyway.

Whether Lorsua knew about Eleanor’s thoughts or not, the current conversation seemed enjoyable to her, awakening the clueless lady’s eyes.

“That’s why your actions during this social season are crucial, Eleanor.”

“Me?”

“Yes. If Eleanor were to enter the ballroom holding hands with Yulrian, it would greatly strengthen Yulrian’s faction.”

“No, what am I…”

Lorsua moved closer to Eleanor, leaving the backrest she was leaning on.

“Of course, Eleanor is just a debutante in society now, not yet known for anything, but she comes from one of the two factions in the Empire with independent military power since the disbandment of the local noble militias by imperial decree,” Lorsua explained.

Huh? Was the Beauren family that influential?

Although Eleanor had lived as the youngest daughter of the Beauren family for almost two weeks, no one had brought up the family’s story in front of her.

Of course, they didn’t do it out of malice. They simply couldn’t bring themselves to burden the girl who had just recovered from amnesia with the complexities of reality.

“It seems you’ve truly lost all your memories.”

Lorsua looked at Eleanor with a sympathetic gaze.

Before losing her memory, Eleanor, like many aristocratic young ladies in the capital, had a mind filled with flowers.

She knew why she was separated from her parents and brought to the capital, aware that she was being held hostage.

Because of this, she often asked Lorsua about etiquette and arts, occasionally questioning real-world issues.

Lorsua held Eleanor in high regard for these qualities.

“Well, you can hear the family stories directly from the Marquis. Even if the Viscount Balati claims to be an outsider in the race, his achievements stack up quite well compared to the princess and the prince.”

“The Marquis?”

“Yes. As the emperor’s son and daughter engage in a power struggle within the palace, Duke Sogong has grown stronger in reality. Furthermore, the emperor is pouring all his efforts into that fox rather than his own family.”

In the midst of the lengthening narrative, it seemed as though Lorsua’s throat was parched, as she swiftly gulped down the lukewarm tea that had been sitting cold at the bottom of the teacup.

“In this situation, if Bearen Gag reaches out to Sogong, then Sogong will gain the power to ascend above that race of destruction.”

Clank.

The sound of the teacup hitting the saucer filled the space between the two women.

“Simply put, during this social season, your father, Obert Raul de Bearen Changbaek, has become the kingmaker.”

Lorsua slightly raised the corners of her eyes at her serious-faced disciple.

“And the stamp to be affixed on the document deciding the crown prince is Eleanor, which means it’s you.”

Eleanor nodded her head up and down as if entranced by those seductive purple irises.

So this was Albries’ point.

That the empress was anticipating my debut.

“If that’s the case, besides Duke Sogong, even the prince could approach me.”

“Oh my. Only the prince approaching? Rumor has it that from the princess’s chambers in the palace, the muffled moans of maids can be heard every day.”

No way, seriously. This married woman is something else!

She was doing so well, and now why this again!

Lesbian drift, stop!

Looking at Eleanor’s thoroughly flustered face, Lorsua chuckled softly and continued speaking.

“Since the internal affairs of the empire have stabilized, marriages within the royal family have shifted from being mere ceremonies to diplomatic endeavors. With the disbandment of the military, the threat to the emperor has vanished, but the borders surrounding the empire are still tumultuous.”

Lorsua paused for a moment and took a deep breath.

Then, she clasped Eleanor’s small, white hand neatly laid on her sky-blue skirt.

“So if the princess or prince were to aim for someone, the prey wouldn’t be Eleanor but Obert Changbaek.”

At those words, Eleanor let out a sigh of relief.

Among all the conversations she had shared with Lorsua, this was the most reassuring.

Even Yulrian is troublesome, but if the prince or princess were to get involved…

Ugh. It was too dreadful to imagine.

Wait a minute. If royal marriages are about diplomacy, then if Yulrian becomes the prince, does that mean I become unnecessary?

Suddenly struck by the thought, Eleanor met once again with those violet eyes.

“Just a thought. If after progress is made in my relationship with Duke Sogong, and he rises to a high position, wouldn’t that be quite awkward?”

“It would indeed. It would be awkward. After all, the imperial law prohibits divorce and separation.”

Her grip tightened on the held hand.

Lorsua gazed piercingly into Eleanor’s sky-blue eyes, her lips moving ever so gently.

“But, Eleanor, that doesn’t mean they prevent remarriage.”

And in those eyes was a tender concern, like an older sister worrying about her beloved younger sibling.

That was the look.

“When considering all the things Duke Sogong has done so far, it’s entirely possible. That’s what I believe.”