episode_0053

Eleanor might not have realized it yet, but her betrothed, Albriss Raul de Beaune, was not a man known for displaying his emotions readily.

Apart from his family, especially his cherished younger sister, few had seen him smile in the capital. The rumor that the woman who could make the corners of his mouth turn up was the next hostess of the Western District had spread through the social circles of the capital.

It wasn’t just about smiles.

Outbursts of anger or intense emotions were rare occurrences. Regardless of the situation, Albriss would handle things quietly without changing his expression.

His contrasting personality with his father, known for his fiery temper, made him even more intriguing. Furthermore, the fact that the Countess of Eti, in her maiden days, was referred to as the “mad dog of Lutes,” added to the intrigue.

Among the high society of the capital, there were often discussions about how such a man had emerged between those two individuals.

Some speculated that Albriss’ reserved nature stemmed from being entangled in the political turmoil of the capital from a young age. They suggested that rather than concealing emotions, he had given up expressing them altogether.

Due to inheriting the family at a young age due to the premature death of the previous head of the house, Albert Encinas de Beaune, without undergoing hostage situations, this theory gained traction.

And now.

The sight of Albriss, known as the “mechanical doll of Beaune House,” erupting in anger was an unfamiliar spectacle to everyone present.

“Commander! What did you just mutter? Elly collapsed from Shilov’s poison?”

The companions of the Beaune House who were with Eleanor all bowed deeply before him. Even the knights clad in white robes and the Adjunct Roelcerar standing beside him did the same.

Even Princess Dominic hesitated, despite her assurance to persuade Albriss, as she watched his reaction closely.

In place of those bowing deeply, the commander cautiously responded to Albriss’s displeasure.

“It is reported that Shilov has established a nest in the mine where Her Highness headed.”

“Why there, of all places! No, no. Leaving that aside! What were you all doing while Elly was falling victim to Shilov?”

Albriss’ furious voice echoed through the quiet dawn sky. His voice, which disturbed the peaceful mansion, began to cast light on the windows behind him one by one.

Dominic took a step forward towards the enraged Albriss.

“Ahem. Ah, Albriss. Please calm down a bit.”

“Your Highness. I mean no disrespect, but this is a matter concerning the Beaune House.”

Despite the words of the princess, Albriss replied to Dominic in the same tone he used to scold others, fully aware that she was a person who had been present at that moment.

Perhaps fearing that he might be seen as the heir of the Beaune House rumored to be untrustworthy, Albriss raised his blue eyes and stared at Dominic.

“It’s just a scratch on the leg, not a venomous sting. Dmitri administered an antidote before taking her away, so it shouldn’t be too dangerous.”

Despite such disdainful glances, Dominic spoke gently to Albriss, as if soothing a child.

Though she said so, in reality, even Dominic couldn’t be certain of her words.

On their way back to the capital, upon hearing the knights’ stories, they found out that the village was indeed quite large, but the response that it was just a rural hamlet kept coming back.

Fortunately, it seems that Dominique’s words have had some effect, or perhaps the other party has just realized she is a princess. Albrice calmed down his anger a bit.

“Prepare the carriage. I must confirm it myself. How about Her Highness the Princess returning to the palace?”

“Oh, I see. Don’t worry too much. Dmitri is by her side.”

Between their voices, a woman’s voice interjected.

“Lady Sogaju. I will… I will go with you.”

Upon hearing Oejeni’s voice, Albrice paused for a moment and turned around. Even towards her, who had not properly attended to her mistress in the presence of the maid, Albrice was extremely angry.

However, upon seeing her face, the anger that had risen to his throat vanished like mist.

Her once fair face as white as Eleanor’s was covered in dirt. Streaks of dry tears ran through, making a mess of it.

Seeing such a pitiful Oejeni, Albrice bowed his head slightly.

“I will send a separate carriage behind. Follow that way.”

“Lady Sogaju. I will accompany Lady Sogaju.”

Looking at Oejeni’s sorrowful violet eyes fixed on him, Albrice took a step towards her.

Then, the voice that came from him was not the stern Sogaju’s voice but Eleanor’s older brother’s voice.

“Oejeni. I know you find our Ellie terribly frightening. That’s how much you are worried about her now. But you know it’s not a situation where we can talk calmly, right?”

Despite Albrice’s Tyir-like voice, her gaze remained fixed on Albrice’s blue eyes.

“Sigh… Do you really have the confidence not to fall behind?”

In Albrice’s sigh-mingled voice, Oejeni nodded in response.

“I will be prepared to follow, even if it means death.”

“Prepare your words as well, Oejeni. Commander, do you have any antidotes on hand?”

“Just in case of unforeseen events, I have a few vials of antidote prepared.”

“Take all of those. Send a carriage with Manuella and Sophie following behind.”

As Albrice conversed with the commander and moved away, Oejeni bowed her waist respectfully. Dominique approached Oejeni and gently held her cold hand.

“Oejeni Roelselar, Viscountess of Loyalty. Please take good care of my precious friend, Ellie.”

The golden eyes were no longer playful but had a serious look unlike before.

“I will make sure to convey Lady’s worries to Her Highness the Princess.”

#.

A secluded rural village on the outskirts of the capital, a little far from the townhouse in Beaurnga.

On the bed, Eleanor looked at Ailey, the red-haired girl on the bed, with a troubled expression.

“Um, Ailey. Do you have any other clothes besides that?”

Looking at the beige frilly dress in Ailey’s hand, Eleanor just shook her head gently.

Except for the bandages around her waist, Eleanor was currently in a state of undress.

Of course, the bandages were also wrapped around her chest. Thanks to them, only the silhouette of her chest was visible, and the top of the ripe fruit was not visible.

However, she couldn’t receive men in this state.

Although Ailey, who was similar in size, pulled out a few relatively clean clothes from her own wardrobe, Eleanor just kept shaking her head.

“I’m sorry, miss. Since these are my clothes, they may look too shabby.”

“Oh, no, it’s not that. *Sigh*.”

A deep sigh followed beyond her pink lips. Eleanor bowed her head and looked at the dress held by Ailey and the child’s hands.

It wasn’t about being shabby.

The clothes in her hands now were incredibly feminine.

Certainly, it wasn’t that the clothes Eleonore had worn before weren’t feminine. If anything, the clothes she usually wore could be considered even more feminine than the dress she held now.

However, while the clothes hanging in Eleonore’s dressing room focused on the elegance of a woman, the dresses Eilie presented emphasized girlishness.

Their femininity was vastly different. Especially considering Eleonore had lived as a man for 21 years.

Despite that, she wore elegant dresses well.

“I understand, please hand me that dress.”

“Then I’ll help you, miss. It would be difficult for you to do it alone.”

Though she wanted to reject the unfamiliar touch, upon reflection, this bandage must have been wrapped by that child. She wouldn’t have touched my chest or anything, right?

Whether Eleonore knew such thoughts or not.

Feeling like she had become a maid, Eilie approached Eleonore with a bright smile.

On her sleeves. And on her hem. After changing into a cute beige dress adorned with plenty of frills.

Eilie brought her grandfather, Doryo, who had treated Eleonore last night, into the room.

“Are you feeling okay?”

“My head is a bit dizzy… but bearable.”

“You probably still have some of Shillob’s poison in your system. Is there any discomfort when you move?”

“Well… actually, I haven’t tried getting up from the bed yet.”

Doryo smiled gently at Eleonore’s words.

“From what you’re saying, it seems like you’re improving quite a bit. I’ll go fetch Lady Yeongae from outside.”

“Yes. Yeongae… Wait! What did you say? Yeongae?”