episode_0020

Upon white gloves, Dominique delicately escorted Eleanor, holding her small, fair hand.

Following Dominique’s kind and considerate escort, Eleanor arrived at a terrace in front of a garden blooming with vibrant spring flowers.

Amidst the various colored petals surrounding her, Eleanor let out a soft gasp.

“Wow… it’s filled with flowers.”

Observing Eleanor captivated by the sight before her, Dominique smiled brightly.

“Yes, Ellie. Unlike here, there are lilies planted in the palace gardens behind us. In summer, white flowers bloom abundantly, quite beautiful!”

Soon, his gentle touch led Eleanor under the terrace’s roof.

Beside a table displaying moist cakes and well-baked cookies, Dominique finally released Eleanor’s hand.

Of course, maintaining the gentlemanly concept, he pulled out her chair until the very end.

Eleanor lifted her skirt slightly and nodded graciously.

“Thank you for your care, Your Highness.”

“Oh, don’t be so formal.”

With a playful smile, their private gathering began.

#.

Subsequently, light-hearted conversations ensued.

The princess before them may have been dressed as a man, but her demeanor was that of a youthful maiden.

Her golden eyes sparkled as she bombarded Dominique with questions like whether men approached her after, or if there was anyone she fancied.

While the lady, delicately cutting her cake with a fork, wore a billowy dress but harbored a commoner within.

The questions posed by Dominique didn’t seem particularly engaging to the 21-year-old Sir Juha.

Yet, as Eleanor found herself engaged in conversation with the feminine princess, her mind wandered.

Enthralled by Dominique’s eloquence, she found herself laughing and conversing for quite some time.

As the girls’ chatter continued, it momentarily paused at Dominique’s graceful posture while sipping from a teacup.

Only belatedly did Eleanor realize the self-reproach in their exchange thus far.

And just like Sophie’s words in the carriage.

Dominique’s golden eyes gleamed.

“So, have you not encountered Louis Edmond Sohu?”

At the mention of an unfamiliar name, Eleanor raised her head from her self-reflection.

The atmosphere from Dominique towards her had subtly shifted.

His voice, the careful placement of the teacup on its saucer, all remained elegant.

However, a weighty undertone emerged through his words that hadn’t been present in their previous conversations.

“No, we haven’t met separately. I received invitations to parties but ignored them.”

Her response grew noticeably stiffer.

Upon Eleanor’s reply, Dominique mumbled under his breath, fingertips touching his lips.

“I see. You received invitations, you crimson sow.”

The word was entirely out of character.

Gazing at the tea leaves, Dominique suddenly clapped his hands together, meeting once more with sky-blue eyes.

“Oh, right! What about our youngest? How is Julian doing?”

Wait, wait. Why is Julian coming up now?

At the unexpected name, Eleanor coughed awkwardly.

“Ahem. Y-Julian… Are you referring to Viscount Valaes?”

“Yes! My youngest brother.”

The princess’s pink lips curved upwards, filled with a smile.

But her gaze remained unchanged.

“Hmm… Does Elly not know because she’s the youngest? I don’t know, but as the youngest in the family, she’s a bit dear to me. I heard that you were talking at the ball. Rumor has it that Julian even kissed Elly’s hand.”

The excited princess, who had turned into a girl full of excitement, continued speaking with a light laugh.

“Yes, Elly. In fact, that’s why I tried it today too.”

Looking naturally at Dominic who was smiling, Eleanor let out a soft sigh.

“…I couldn’t respond to the invitation sent to the sickbed, I’m not feeling well so I can’t dance together, that’s what I said before we parted ways. After that, it was quiet.”

The teacup on the saucer made a clinking sound.

Dominic’s voice that followed became somewhat serious.

“Elly. Julian, that child is truly a pitiful one. He may have some talent, but he’s still a bastard.”

Dominic lightly tapped the empty teacup with a teaspoon.

As the spoon made a clear sound, the Viscountess Violet, who had approached unnoticed, began to pour tea into the empty cup.

Like the tilted teapot, Eleanor’s head gently inclined at Dominic’s words.

Does the princess not see Julian as a rival?

In the original work, Julian would eventually ascend to the throne… Is this the result of ignoring him like this?

“It’s just believing in a little talent and dreaming in vain as a family; it’s too sad. Even if that bastard child gains power in the west, nothing will change.”

Once again, clap!

Dominic clapped his hands, bringing back Eleanor’s distracted sky-blue eyes to himself.

“Moreover, you were with Dmitri on the balcony, and you even planned to have a meal together this weekend?”

For a moment, a shiver ran down her spine.

Inside the sky-blue eyes, the black pupils shook greatly.

Her affair with Julian was tolerable.

After all, it happened where many eyes could see.

But what happened on the balcony was different.

The incident on the balcony was a fact known only to herself, Grand Duke Dmitri, her father, and the woman named Daphne.

Although her father, Obert, laughed quite loudly, there was no hint of a gaze towards them.

Furthermore, the dinner arrangement with the Grand Duke was a schedule decided only before leaving for the palace today.

Looking at Dominic’s brightly shining golden eyes, Eleanor spoke.

“Excuse me, Your Highness, how do you know all this?”

In response to her question, Dominic winked playfully.

That smile was clearly as refreshing as when he kissed her hand in front of the palace.

However, the excitement in Eleanor’s heart did not return as before.

“Well… I wonder if I should tell you this….”

With a childish tone, hiding a small smile on her lips, Dominic chuckled.

Soon their gazes met.

With a genuine smile, Dominic looked at Eleanor.

“Yes. If Elly calls me ‘Dommy’ as a nickname, I’ll tell you!”

Dommy?

The tension that had filled her mind melted away at the sudden fish name.

Of course, there wouldn’t be a fish by that name in this world, but…

Still, Dommy. It’s quite a delicious nickname compared to Her Highness.

Unaware of Eleanor’s disrespectful thoughts, Dominic continued speaking.

“Elly. I’ve always been aware of my status, so I never had any close friends growing up. Occasionally, the Grand Duchess, who visits once a season, was the only girl my age who would talk to me. This nickname ‘Dommy’ was something my mother called me a few times when she was alive.”

With a wistful expression that hadn’t been seen until now, Dominic looked at Eleanor.

“So I’d like it if Ellie called me ‘Domi.’ It would be nice to have a close friend who calls each other by nicknames.”

“…Friend, you say?”

“Yes, a friend. That kind of friend who never betrays you.”

Those final words weighed heavily on Eleanor’s heart.

Her golden eyes seemed eager for an immediate response, sparkling towards Eleanor’s sky-blue eyes.

A brief silence enveloped the two women on the terrace under the warm spring sun.

The princess’s words were far from casual.

A friend who would never betray her.

She was practically asking me to stand by her side, wasn’t she?

Does the princess really need a friend who would call her by such an endearing nickname?

Or does she need the power of my father, Baron Baek?

With her small mind, Eleanor pondered earnestly.

It was Dominic who broke the ensuing silence.

“Phew. Phew. No, just kidding. Kidding! Ahaha! Why are you taking things so seriously? Cute.”

The platinum strands of hair, previously deeply contemplative, once again rose upwards.

What was so amusing, Eleanor wondered, as the princess laughed heartily, slapping her knee.

“Haha! Ellie, you’re just too cute. Oh, I’m laughing so much I might cry.”

Indeed, as she said, Eleanor’s golden eyes glistened with tears.

Dominic picked up a clean napkin from the table, dabbing at her eyes as she continued speaking.

“I know, Ellie, that your family will continue to remain neutral like this. Of course, I would love it if Ellie came over to my side, but even if I try to persuade her, Ellie doesn’t have the power to make that decision.”

Dominic, who had been standing tall with a dignified posture, subtly leaned in.

Her noble face drew closer to Eleanor’s, their sky-blue eyes meeting.

“But, Ellie, when I said I wanted to be friends with you, I meant it.”

The two women were so close that they could hear each other breathe. Their gazes locked in between.

The golden eyes seemed almost voracious, as if wanting to devour the sky-blue eyes.

Despite trying to evade, the sky-blue eyes stood steadfast, refusing to back down.

And it was Eleanor who first averted her gaze.

“Ha. Okay, Domi. Is this enough?”

“Wow! I really like it, Ellie!”

Before the words could finish, Dominic suddenly sprang up from her seat.

In one swift motion, she approached Eleanor and enveloped her slender frame in a tight embrace.

The princess’s embrace was incredibly soft and warm. Unlike her frail self, it felt almost maternal.

As a blushing Eleanor tried to pull away, flustered, Dominic held her tightly in her arms and whispered softly in her ear.

“Elli, don’t trust anyone while Baron Baek is in the capital. There are many watchful eyes around. Me included, the Scarlet Pig Year of the Empress’s Palace, the Fox Year of Valatie Manor, and probably even our father…”

A moist and soft something gently brushed against Eleanor’s flushed cheek as Dominic’s lips met hers.

The sound of their kiss vividly echoed in her ears.

Struggling with all her might, the ripe-red Eleanor squirmed to break free from that warm embrace.

“W-what are you doing, Dominic!”

“It’s not Dominic, it’s Domi! This is a breach of contract, Ellie!”

Chuckling, Dominic released Eleanor from her embrace.

She then rose from her seat, adjusting the disheveled hem of her jacket.

“Elli, I had a wonderful time today. As the one who extended the invitation, I want to take responsibility until the very end, but I have another commitment after this. I’ll invite you again next time, so please don’t refuse.”

“Ah, there, Princess. Dominique, no, Domi!”

Eleanor shouted towards the now distant Dominique, but all she received in response was a grin and a wave of the hand.

In the spacious garden of Lily Palace, only Eleanor and the politely standing Sophie remained.

Even in this brief tea time, the platinum blonde lady slumped deeply on the rattan chair she was sitting on.

Author… No, you scoundrel!

Is this really an NL novel? Did I accidentally step into a novel drifting with yuri themes?

With words she couldn’t let slip out, Eleanor gently touched her cheek with her small hands, tracing the marks left by her newly made friend.

#4. And behind the stage, 完