episode_0101

Eleanor’s journey back to her hometown was as extravagant as the affection shown by her family. They had rented an entire first-class carriage, connecting three cars together from front to back. A whole carriage, not just a compartment!

The reason for such a lavish arrangement, even for a prestigious noble family like the Beaumonts, was due to the incidents that had occurred around Eleanor recently. It might have been more cost-effective than dealing with the aftermath of those incidents.

Of course, the three rented carriages were not just for Eleanor, Eugene, Sophie, and Ailey who followed her. Half of the knights who had been stationed at the townhouse to guard Eleanor were also scheduled to board the rented carriages, split in front and back for her protection.

Thanks to the Beaumont family who had rented the entire first-class carriage, the platform at the central station reserved for first-class passengers was now occupied by knights dressed in white uniforms.

The onlookers couldn’t help but stop and stare at the sight, resembling a royal procession. However, the white waves surrounding them shielded their gazes from prying eyes. Eleanor and her companions could share their farewell moment without worrying about the stares of others.

Soon, the loud sound of the train horn echoed through the station. It was a signal that the train would depart soon.

Standing next to Dimitri, Eleanor hesitantly lifted her heavy foot towards Albreis.

“Eli.”

“Oppa…”

In the brief or long time spent at the townhouse, Eleanor had unknowingly filled herself with affection and warmth towards her new family.

Therefore, as in their farewell at the Lily Palace’s garden, her nose tingled and eyes welled up with tears.

But they were siblings, so it was a bit embarrassing to express her true feelings. It didn’t apply to Albreis, but at least Eleanor felt that way.

Bowing deeply in front of Albreis, Eleanor, with Dimitri by her side, took a step towards Albreis.

When Albreis turned to look at her, his frowning expression softened as he tenderly embraced Eleanor, who had approached him.

“Eli, be careful in the west. It’s not entirely safe there either. Don’t get into trouble and stay safe.”

“Hmph! W-what’s that supposed to mean! If someone hears that, they’ll think I get into accidents every day.”

“Send letters once you arrive. I’ll make sure to reply promptly.”

“L-Letters… that’s so bothersome…”

Nestled in her brother’s wide and warm embrace, Eleanor nuzzled her forehead against his chest, murmuring softly. Despite her words, Albreis knew that his dear sister would send letters with beautiful handwriting.

Before losing her memory, the old Eleanor might not have done so. But the current Eleanor was still a considerate person.

Then it was Eleanor’s turn.

“Take care of yourself too, Oppa.”

“Yeah, Eli.”

“Don’t stay up late gossiping. Drink moderately and go to bed early.”

“Y-yeah, got it.”

“And, be a bit lenient towards other women as you do towards me. Right? You’re at the age to get married now, Oppa.”

Looking at his little sister who seemed to be nagging for some reason, Albreis smiled gently and left a tender kiss on Eleanor’s forehead.

“Ouch, really!”

Eleanor raised her hand to her forehead as if it was annoying, but a faint smile lingered on her lips.

Soon, the station attendant pierced through the white waves and hurriedly informed them that they needed to board.

“Then I’ll really go now, Oppa.”

“Yeah. I’ll also send my regards to Mother and Father!”

Fortunately, this parting was quiet and warm, unlike the time at Hwangseong’s Baekhwa Palace, and it ended somewhat emotionally.

#.

The train running on the tracks shook and rattled more than the memories of SRT that lingered in the hazy recollections. Eleanor, who blinked her surprised eyes at the shaking and rattling when they first departed, was now enduring the continued shaking, although the noise had somewhat subsided. The constant swaying still troubled Eleanor. If she missed even a single sight passing by the window, she felt like she might get motion sickness.

To spend almost four days on this train… Eleanor sighed softly, resting her chin on her armrest.

“Elli, are you okay?”

At Eleanor’s sigh, Eugenie, who was sitting beside her, looked at Eleanor with a worried expression.

“Eugenie…”

“Yeah, Elli.”

“I wonder if I can survive until we reach Beorn?”

With a voice full of distress, Eleanor turned to Eugenie, who smiled warmly at the whining lady. Then, she gently held Eleanor’s cold hand.

“Just a little more suffering. Once we pass the tracks connected to the north, it’ll be smooth sailing.”

“So, how much more shaking do we have to endure?”

“Well… even so, we’ll have to endure another day, right?”

“Ugh!”

At the hopeless answer, Eleanor slumped onto Eugenie’s soft thigh.

Eugenie stroked Eleanor’s small head on her thigh and said, “If it’s hard, close your eyes for a bit. There’s nothing to do inside anyway.”

“There is… Eugenie.”

Eleanor, who was holding onto the end of her words, turned her head and looked at Eugenie above her head. Meeting Eugenie’s bright purple eyes, Eleanor continued.

“Sorry, Eugenie.”

“Oh, what are you sorry for!”

“Traveling with such a big baby like this…”

Eugenie, whose mouth involuntarily curved up at the cute voice, said, “Is there another baby who listens so well?”

Receiving gentle strokes while leaning on Eugenie’s soft thigh, Eleanor, who had been staring blankly out the window, softly pronounced that name on her lips again.

“Eugenie.”

“Yeah, Elli.”

In her now calm voice, Eugenie paused for a moment while stroking Eleanor’s head.

“You know… when we parted in my hometown, it was the same, right?”

‘That’s right,’ that word contained so much.

Even with Dominic alone, Eleanor, who cried her heart out in Eugenie’s arms, then scared Eugenie waiting at Baekhwa Palace with swollen, bloodshot eyes.

Even in the recent parting, they showed a sweet sibling-like appearance.

Eugenie smiled sadly and carefully brushed Eleanor’s disheveled platinum bangs to the side.

“Yeah. It wasn’t like that then.”

To be honest, there was a hint of jealousy.

Albris, well, even though they were blood relatives. Pouring out such emotions even to Dominic.

Although she felt a bit jealous, she was a woman herself, and if she wasn’t upset, it would have been a lie.

However, knowing that Eleanor had changed drastically after losing her memory. Somehow, she felt that the current Eleanor was a bit different from the past Eleanor.

Without showing any signs of resentment, Eugenie silently looked into her sky-blue eyes. The trembling eyes that were shaking stopped moving as they focused on her.

“But you know… if I were to part with you now, I’d probably cry and make a fuss.”

After uttering those words, Eleanor blushed and turned her embarrassed face towards Eugenie’s soft belly.

The sight of her cheeks blushing all the way to her ears was so adorable that Eugene once again took her hand to gently stroke her neat hair.

“Elli, don’t say that. That we’re breaking up….”

“Someday, won’t we also break up?”

“I’m your maid, how could we break up?”

“No…. You also have to get married….”

Her face buried in his chest, her pronunciation was a bit muffled.

“I’ve decided to live this life for you, Elli.”

At Eugene’s words, Eleanor finally turned her head slightly to look at Eugene.

“What’s that, a little creepy.”

“You’re too much, Elli. Selling my sincerity like that.”

Eventually, Eugene’s hand moved a bit lower from her head, towards that soft and fluffy spot that only a woman has.

“Hey!”

“Geez! Hey, Eugene! What are you touching?”

“Where am I touching! I’m just checking because they say a woman’s body changes everywhere when she’s in love!”

“Hey, wait! It tickles!”

“Come to think of it, your chest does seem bigger than before!”

“Hey, if you do that, it’ll get messed up!”

The laughter of the two women filled the room, making it too noisy to hear the sounds coming from outside the door.

“Hey, Elli.”

The door to the compartment opened quietly.

Dmitri, looking like a child, quickly turned his head to the side at the sight of the two women entangled with each other.

Seeing the man who opened the door, Eleanor stood up abruptly and straightened her posture, while Eugene stood up from her chair and faced the tall man in her place.

“Your Grace. Even though you two have formed a bond, it is not proper to enter a lady’s room without even knocking.”

“Oh, sorry sorry. It’s just that…. the meal is ready, that’s why.”

Disheveled appearance.

Especially with the front of her chest exposed, even though Dmitri was quite familiar with women, his face turned red.

And the following response came from Eleanor, who carefully adjusted her clothes behind the woman with ivory-colored horns.

“I’ll tidy up and leave right away, Dmitri. Please go ahead and wait for me.”

Perhaps because they were worried about being seen as lovers, Eleanor’s face was also blushing.