episode_0031

In front of the gates of Hwangseong, the road splits into two paths.

One path leads to a side street designated for carriages to park separately.

And the other leads straight to the gates.

At the crossroads, Yulrian paused for a moment. Then, he turned around to look at the woman following him.

Clad in black attire, his new subordinate and an official from the Ministry of Internal Affairs appeared visibly weary.

“I have somewhere else to visit. I will return on my own, so please go ahead and check the office first.”

With a nod to Yulrian, she then bent slightly at the waist and made her way towards the courtyard where carriages were lined up waiting.

Alone now, Yulrian walked towards the gates where Christian awaited, calmly organizing his chaotic thoughts.

Initially, his sole intention was to block Louis Edmond’s dagger. There was no hesitation in facing him.

The opponent was Viscount Edmond, none other than the Queen Mother’s family.

Yulrian knew that his power was insufficient to compete with the Princess and Prince.

He lacked the support of former nobles like the Princess and the backing of a prestigious family like the Prince.

His assets consisted of long-time friend Christian and Ernst, who harbored resentment towards the Emperor.

Apart from them, he had only built connections with commoners throughout the Empire.

However, he couldn’t just let this situation pass by without acting.

As Ernst had pointed out, the western regions beyond the Emperor’s reach were essential for achieving great feats.

Even if it wasn’t Ernst, Yulrian was already aware of this fact.

Thus, sticking to his original plan, he could have simply blocked Louis Edmond’s dagger and smoothly moved on.

By doing so, he could have left a good impression on Beaurne’s youngest daughter by blocking the dagger and subtly indebted Louis Edmond with a quiet resolution to move past this incident.

It was a golden opportunity to put the arrogant Queen Mother’s confidante in her place.

Except for his father, the gods who had always been on his side seemed to have arranged this position for him today as well.

However, the outcome took an unexpected turn.

His voice unintentionally carried anger, leading to a scuffle with Louis Edmond and causing a commotion around them.

While Eleanor Yeong-ae and her mother seemed to have developed some fondness for him, the Queen Mother’s disapproval was evident.

Well, their relationship was never particularly good to begin with.

Yulrian lowered his head, his neat silver hair falling forward.

He stared blankly, observing his right hand that had grabbed Louis Edmond’s wrist.

When Louis Edmond raised his hand towards Eleanor, her large eyes confidently met his, slightly squinting in anticipation of the impending shock.

Witnessing this scene, Yulrian felt an intense emotion he had never experienced before.

In retrospect, that feeling was similar to the emotions he had felt from his father.

Finally, Yulrian arrived at the fundamental question.

Why was he angry in that moment?

Yulrian’s legs, momentarily still beneath his white trousers, began moving again.

For Yulrian, women and children were just people, like men.

Therefore, even if a woman wielded a dagger, Yulrian did not feel uncomfortable or see her differently.

After all, Yulrian was not a knight.

He stood with the weak, always showing kindness to women and orphans.

Living by that tiresome creed, he kept his distance from those eccentric individuals who embraced such beliefs.

Ironically, Christian, a commoner, seemed closer to being a knight than Yulrian himself.

With each step, his thoughts delved deeper.

That thought soon materialized into a sigh that flowed out into the world.

It was undoubtedly something that could turn out for the better.

Undoubtedly, he could have rescued his mother from the cage a little earlier.

Amidst his measured footsteps, his deep sigh seeped into the shadows.

Just as the grand castle gate reflected in his eyes.

Suddenly, another thought surfaced and dominated Yulian’s mind.

What was that fluttering sensation from earlier?

What was that fluttering feeling every time he looked into those sky-blue eyes?

What is this emotion still surging within his chest?

And that was true for Yulian himself.

For his only confidant, Ernst.

And for his friend Christian, waving at him in the distance.

Surely, some things were best left unexplained.

“Why are you so late! You said you’d be here soon. Ugh, I waited for ages.”

Christian, waiting for Yulian at the entrance of Hwangseong, approached his friend who was receiving salutes from the guards, grumbling.

“There was a bit of trouble.”

Yulian replied curtly as usual.

“Trouble? Did you get into an accident?”

“Not so much got into an accident as resolved one.”

“Huh? Resolved an accident? Wait, what does that even mean?”

At Christian’s words, the image of the sky-blue eyes he had encountered earlier came to Yulian’s mind.

He recalled the girl who had thanked him and dashed towards her mother, a sight that lingered vividly in his memory.

Thanks to her, Yulian found himself wearing a smile as beautiful as the eyes he had unknowingly met.

“Let’s talk about it inside. It’s not something to discuss out here. Besides, Ernst needs to know too.”

“Wait. By saying that, you’re making me curious. Y-Yulian, stop!”

#.

Before long, night had deepened.

Through curtains as thin as the seasons, the blue light of the moon spilled generously onto Eleonore’s white night dress.

Beyond the window, only the quiet chirping of crickets enveloped the sleeping mansion gently.

Eventually, the light in the first-floor study room beyond the window went out.

Eleonore smiled softly. It seemed her brother was finally going to bed.

Leaning back in the armchair, Eleonore carefully rose and adjusted her posture.

Approaching the window, leaning her arms on the sill, Eleonore gazed down at the garden in the dead of night.

Sleep eluded her.

Whenever she closed her eyes, the image of those red eyes flashed before her.

The sticky, sweet voice seemed to linger in her ears.

Each time, her heart raced, and her face flushed red.

Oh, Eleonore. How much did you love him?

She tried speaking to the silhouette of the girl reflected in the half-open window, but there was no response.

The girl with platinum hair reflected in the window merely sighed in response.

And the sound of rustling sheets came from the bed.

“Eli… What are you doing up instead of sleeping?”

On the large bed where mother and daughter lay side by side, leaving plenty of space.

Etienne tossed and turned under the covers, then turned around to look at her daughter sitting in the armchair by the window.

“I can’t seem to fall asleep.”

Eleonore answered honestly, omitting the real reason, of course.

“Oh… Can’t… sleep?”

“Yes. I think I ate a bit too much for dinner, hehe.”

Smiling awkwardly, Eleonore rose from the armchair.

Etienne opened her arms towards her daughter. Seeing that gesture, Eleonore smiled broadly.

In truth, the idea of being embraced by Etienne bothered Eleonore in many ways.

A grown man being held in the arms of a woman who was supposed to be his mother was odd in itself.

After all, he was an unwelcome guest in Eleonore’s body.

In many ways, she was filled with a sense of guilt towards her family, especially her mother.

However, such thoughts did not linger for long.

It was difficult at first, but once embraced, it became easier thereafter.

Acknowledging herself as Eleanor, the unfamiliar woman before her naturally transformed into her beloved mother.

Eleanor climbed onto the bed and nestled in her mother’s embrace.

“Our daughter must have been startled during the day.”

Eleanor chose not to respond.

It was better for her mental health than losing sleep over a man’s face.

Lately, she had been struggling in various ways due to court affairs and other matters.

Soon, she felt the warm touch of her mother’s hand on her back.

Gently, her mother brushed Eleanor’s back under her flowing blonde hair.

“Yes, Mother.”

“…Hm?”

The response was slow in coming.

The warm hand on her back gradually slowed down.

“If… if I were to say…”

“Go on. If… if…”

Etienne’s voice was already halfway gone.

Eleanor gazed at the woman before her.

With closed eyes, the woman in front of her, softly snoring, seemed captivated by a dream once again.

Only after confirming her mother had fallen asleep did Eleanor continue.

“Yes, Mother. Even if the person I desire is not to your liking… would you still… permit it?”

There was no response.

Only an increase in pressure on Eleanor’s waist from her mother’s arms wrapped around her.