episode_0118

It was truly strange. Despite the sunny weather outside, the scenery beyond the window appeared gloomy.

The clear blue sky spread around the intense sun. Occasionally, small clusters of fluffy, white clouds drifted by, creating the typical scenery of a bright summer day in the western region.

Eleanor gazed out at the scenery beyond the window with a sullen expression.

Beyond the somewhat noisy courtyard, a gardener wearing a straw hat, deeply shaded, was muttering under his breath while wiping the sweat off his face with a towel draped around his neck. The maids doing laundry were chattering loudly, saying that the laundry would dry quickly in the good sun.

Yet, at this moment, an inexplicable darkness seemed to settle over Eleanor’s view of the sunny summer day.

“Is this how summers are in the west?”

Wrapped in a light chiffon curtain, Eleanor sat by the window, basking in the softened summer sunlight, murmuring to herself.

Her lips, moist with a deep sigh, were tinged with a reddish hue. The rosy blush on her white cheeks was subtly applied to enhance her natural beauty.

Under her slender shoulders, the dress draped in pure white fabric had a light blue accent on the lining and ribbon, resembling her sky-blue eyes.

Eleanor was now in perfect battle mode.

However, despite her elegantly dressed appearance, her face bore a sullen expression.

“The weather feels heavy…”

Of course, as already described, the weather outside the window was sunny. Only a few fluffy clouds drifted across the blue sky. The weather she described as heavy was far from the reality of the sunny day.

Thus, the darkness looming under the intense sunlight only reflected in Eleanor’s sky-blue eyes.

Today was the day when Dimitri Verbrügge, Eleanor’s lover, was leaving to return to the north, leaving her behind.

#

Finally, that day arrived.

Once again, Eleanor let out a deep sigh at the thought.

Suddenly, she met her gaze in the mirror on the dressing table. The platinum-haired lady on the other side of the glass was looking at her with a gloomy expression. Leaning her chin on her hand on the dressing table, she seemed displeased with the current situation.

After a brief staring match with the lady, Eleanor let out a soft sigh. Her sky-blue eyes drifted away from her, towards the window. Once again, the sunny summer sky in the west seemed to mock her situation.

Although Dimitri had whispered sweet nothings in her ear, promising not to keep her waiting after their sweet kiss, Eleanor could not bring herself to believe his words.

As a survivor of the dreadful confrontation that took place on the train heading north, sweet whispers and sticky kisses from her lover did not satisfy her.

“Ah… I wonder if it will rain heavily all of a sudden and damage the railway tracks…”

Uttering a naive remark, Eleanor glanced down. The courtyard in front of the mansion was bustling with people and stacked luggage more than usual.

The mansion’s servants had been busy since dawn. Not only the servants but also her father, Hubert von Bergheim, her mother, and her younger brother. Even her maid, Eugenie, who had to take care of the lady she was supposed to serve, was bustling around below.

The Duke of Bergheim, returning to his homeland in the north, was not just taking his intact pride with him.

The resources he had obtained by selling his face to the nobles in the west had arrived at the Von Bergheim estate since yesterday.

Moreover, the items prepared in a hurry by Hubert for his daughter’s explosive statement about spending the summer in the north were being loaded onto the luggage carts one by one.

But that was not all.

There were also men who were fascinated by the name of the Imperial Sword and came to protect the northern barrier, seeking an audience with the Duke.

As Eleanor, who had no interest in the complex politics and power dynamics, could not understand why they were gathering here instead of at the train station.

Anyway, the front yard of the vast Beauren mansion was packed with busy people and luggage carts moving around.

Amidst the bustling atmosphere, Eleanor’s bedroom seemed to be in a different world, calmly sinking like her expression.

“Sigh… It’s so much. When will I have to pack that up and load it onto the train again?”

Eleanor left a brief comment and then leaned out of the window. Despite it being morning, she was worried that her makeup might be wiped off by the strong sunlight, so she moved to the sofa in front of the bed where the sun didn’t reach.

Of course, Eleanor wasn’t procrastinating like this because she didn’t want to part ways.

Her task was to be a beautiful flower in front of people’s eyes. It was what unmarried noble ladies should do, and it was what Eleanor had to do.

She didn’t want Dmitri to leave, but as his lover, she couldn’t show a pitiful appearance in front of him. So, Eleanor had diligently prepared since dawn more than anyone else in the mansion.

She got up from the bed before the maid Sophie came to the room, took a clean bath, wiped her body with rose-scented lotion, dried her hair with the help of the maids, and did her makeup and dressing.

As the youngest daughter of the Beauren family and as Dmitri Verbritz’s lover, Eleanor had completed her tasks.

“So, what should I do… Being alone like this without Dmitri…”

No one appreciates it even if I dress up nicely…

The following thoughts couldn’t flow past her lips due to the polite knock that was heard, preventing them from coming out.

Knock knock-

“May I come in?”

At the dull knock followed by the voice, Eleanor’s heart started to beat faster. Even though they lived in the same house, they hadn’t even officially engaged, so Dmitri coming to her room like this was a first.

“Well, just a moment.”

In response, Eleanor got up and approached the dressing table. She checked her appearance again to make sure her makeup wasn’t smudged and her dress wasn’t wrinkled, then cautiously opened the tightly closed door.

“Dmitri.”

Eleanor called out the man’s name shyly as she stood in front of the door. Dmitri also looked somewhat surprised, just like Eleanor.

Dressed in a white thin dress shirt that showed off his firm shoulder line, Dmitri had neatly arranged his long black hair.

“Uh, Elli.”

Dmitri seemed quite surprised as well as he came all the way to her room and looked Eleanor up and down with his black eyes widened.

“If you look at me like that… I feel a bit embarrassed.”

“Oh, sorry.”

“So, what brings you here?”

“Well, it’s just that…”

Dmitri took a deep breath after Eleanor’s playful voice and then spoke in a low voice that pressed on Eleanor’s chest.

“I think it might be difficult to have a private conversation today.”

Indeed, there were many eyes watching them even inside the mansion. It seemed a bit difficult to have some time alone together.

The reason Eleanor felt a bit down was also because of that.

However, just the fact that she was alone with Dmitri made Eleanor’s heart start to tremble for some reason.

“Please come in. Then.”

Eleanor moved aside to make way for him. Dmitri cautiously started to walk out of Eleanor’s bedroom.

Even though they were staying in the same house, it was impossible for a man to enter his lover’s room without permission, especially when his lover was not just any woman but a nobleman’s daughter.

Perhaps it was because they were breaking such a strict rule.

Sitting facing each other on the sofa with a table between them, the two remained silent for a while.

Occasionally, they would glance at each other while pretending to be distracted. If their eyes met, they would startle and quickly look away.

However, they couldn’t stay like this forever. Their time together was limited.

In the uncomfortable yet sweet silence that lingered, Dmitri was the first to move his lips.

Dmitri looked at her and spoke softly.

“Elli. I won’t make you wait long, as I mentioned last time.”

At that voice, Eleanor turned her head to meet his gaze.

“R… Really? Can we spend this summer together?”

“Absolutely.”

With twinkling sky-blue eyes, Dmitri smiled and got up from his seat to sit next to her.

“Elli… The truth is, until recently, it was just talk. I didn’t plan on keeping you in the North for long.”

With a sincere confession, Eleanor looked closely into his dark eyes.

“At most, I was thinking of keeping you in the North for just this week.”

“See, really….”

Disappointed, Eleanor lowered her head. Dmitri, who had approached her side, quickly lifted her chin with his hand and softly said, “But you see, Elli. You’ve changed me.”

His sharp black eyes captured Eleanor’s face.

“Elli. I won’t hold back anymore. I won’t think of anything else but you.”

Mesmerized by his intense voice, Eleanor nodded her head. Her platinum blonde hair, neatly combed, swayed up and down.

“So… just wait a little longer, Elli. It’s really just a little bit.”

The approaching black eyes. Looking at his long eyelashes, Eleanor gently closed her eyes.

Having lived as a woman for seasons, Eleanor now knew well what it meant for his sharp nose to approach her.