episode_0059

“I apologize, Your Highness. I am Eleanor Beorn.”

Thump.

The clear voice that seeped through the tightly closed door gap made the once quiet heart start beating excitedly again.

The arms and legs that had weakly slumped under the sofa began to tremble slightly.

Thump.

It wasn’t because of the whiskey he had just drunk. Dmitry, who usually enjoyed his drinks fairly well, could assert that the current excitement was different from that caused by alcohol.

Extremely uncomfortable yet exhilarating to the point of making his chest tingle, this excitement in his heart was distinct from the effects of alcohol.

Thump.

The black-haired man who had been half-lying on the sofa gently rose. Despite the messy bangs poking his eyes, Dmitry regained composure by roughly sweeping them back over his forehead before taking a deep breath.

Phew.

Why has Eleanor come here in the middle of the night? No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t guess the reason at all.

Could it be because of the conversation he had with Albriss earlier? Could it be that the scheming author sent his younger sister here to lure him?

As the thought reached that point, Dmitry vigorously shook his head from side to side.

Pull yourself together, Dmitry. The Beorn family’s men selling their youngest daughter like this? It’s an unimaginable statement even if the world were turned upside down.

“Uh… Have you already gone to sleep? It seems like the lights are on in the room…”

Soon enough, her voice resurfaced. Dmitry abruptly stood up at the sound of her clear and serene voice that organized the chaos in his mind. His body reacted before he could realize it.

He shouldn’t have stood up. He had to let her go like this. Facing Yeongae alone in the middle of the night? Even if this is the Beorn estate…

However, contrary to his thoughts, his body was inexplicably moving towards the door. As he approached the door, the pounding of his heart intensified, and as he heard her footsteps, his breathing grew heavier.

When he came to his senses, he found himself turning the doorknob, and before him stood a petite lady with platinum blonde hair trying to turn away.

Looking at the neatly arranged platinum blonde hair cascading over her shoulders, Dmitry unconsciously moved his lips.

“What brings you here in the middle of the night?”

#.

No matter how many times she knocked, there was no answer. Eleanor sighed softly as she gazed sadly at the firmly closed wooden door.

Frankly, it took great courage just to come this far.

Her only female friend, Oejenny, who had promised to help, had fallen asleep due to exhaustion. Consequently, after pondering alone in the room for a while, she mustered the courage to step out.

Handing over a handkerchief in front of others might lead to unnecessary misunderstandings.

And now, to return so anticlimactically…

Well, there’s nothing to be done about it.

Like a child whose homework test got postponed for a day, Eleanor smiled faintly in regret as she turned to leave.

At that moment, as she was about to take a step, she felt the firmly closed door behind her gently creak open.

Subsequently, the steadfastly settled male voice persistently penetrated Eleanor’s heart.

“What brings you here in the middle of the night?”

It was a somewhat gruffer voice than usual. However, within it, there seemed to be a hint of restlessness. In Dmitry’s voice, filled with conflicting emotions, Eleanor elegantly turned around to face him.

Leaning against the doorframe, Dimitri appeared slightly different from his usual self. His disheveled bangs were carelessly swept back behind his forehead, and for some reason, his face was flushed.

He was dressed casually unlike his usual attire, wearing a loose shirt and wide trousers that provided comfort.

Taking a step closer to Eleanor, Dimitri’s scent of sweet whiskey wafted through the air beyond his rumpled collar.

Observing this sight, Eleanor bowed her head deeply.

“I-I apologize, Your Grace. I hope I am not disturbing your rest.”

Her actions aimed to sincerely convey an apology, yet her flushed face was more about concealing than honesty.

Then, Dimitri’s voice broke the silence.

“I was just discussing matters with your father and happened to come in. You need not worry about any disturbance.”

Dimitri’s response was curt, a stark departure from his usual affectionate, somewhat mischievous demeanor towards her, whether in the royal palace, his estate, or even the mines the day before.

His sudden aloofness seemed to create a sense of distance that Eleanor couldn’t quite place.

“So, what brings you here at this late hour?”

“Ah…”

The small white handkerchief held politely in front of his waist trembled slightly in Eleanor’s small hands.

Despite psyching herself up before leaving the room, her stiffened body refused to cooperate. Merely lifting her head gently to meet his dark eyes was a challenge.

Was it his uncharacteristic brusqueness or the lingering scent of whiskey swirling around them that caused her hesitation?

Her lost sky-blue eyes searched for excuses, while her mind tried to rationalize her current state.

“Eleanor? Are you alright?”

As his moist lips uttered her name, Eleanor finally snapped out of her daze.

“Your Grace, there is something I wish to convey…”

“Just a moment!”

In an instant, his broad chest filled Eleanor’s sky-blue eyes, his rough yet warm hand resting on her lips.

Eleanor cautiously raised her head. Dimitri, with a stern expression, turned his head from side to side, scanning the corridor behind her.

Her warm breath collided with his chest and returned to her. Through the slightly open shirt, she caught a glimpse of his white undershirt. Despite not having taken a sip of the sweet whiskey, Eleanor felt intoxicated.

That brief moment felt eternal to Eleanor. The scene before her overlapped with memories from the previous night, forming a new recollection in her mind.

His embrace was vast, warm, and comforting, exuding a sweet fragrance.

Confirming that the mysterious rustling above the dimly lit corridor was merely a beetle’s movement, Dimitri subtly distanced himself from Eleanor.

“Why linger in the corridor? Would you care to come inside?”

Startled by his voice, Eleanor, now fully alert, responded in a surprised tone, “Oh, inside?”

No matter how much Eleonore may seem ignorant about love, she knew well what this meant. To enter a man’s room in the middle of the night. It’s like saying, “Just let me have a taste of you.”

“Although it’s quiet now, if someone happens to witness this scene, it could be troublesome for both of us.”

However, his voice had softened slightly compared to before.

His sweet scent, gradually fading away.

His face, now showing a smile as usual.

Eleonore was gently pulling Dimitri into his room. Any hesitation in their entanglement had disappeared somewhere.

“Dmitri, are you crazy? Did you bring a woman into your room right now? Why? If that’s the case, why not just devour her completely today!”

Dmitri secretly shook his head while looking at Eleonore’s back, wearing a white dress under a beige knit cardigan.

Of course, he was more impulsive than he thought. Thanks to that, when he was in the north, he heard various stories from Daphne. Most of them were scoldings.

But that was clearly what Dmitri intended.

For Dmitri, who had to play the role of a despicable villain among the nobles of the capital, there was no choice but to be a scoundrel. A smart beggar like him couldn’t be found in the luxurious mansions of the capital.

But now, it seems I truly am a scoundrel.

Whether she knew her own heart or not, Eleonore, who had been cautiously observing the items in the room despite it being her own mansion, let go of her remaining guard and stared blankly at the two swords placed on the table.

“Is that your sword?”

Her voice had changed. Unlike the tension-filled one from earlier, it had returned to the tone she used when talking to Dominique and her maid.

And Dmitri had heard that voice once before.

Yes, that’s right. That’s who Eleonore Yeong-ae was.

“It’s a bit bigger than the black one mainly used in the north. It seems a little shaky for cutting off demons and monsters.”

“Really? But yesterday, you swiftly cut off the legs of that huge spider. To save me…”

Perhaps a memory from that time returned. Once again, her face began to blush.

Despite being tense and trembling, she fluttered like a child, then returned to her original state. Eleanor in front of her was truly a very busy young lady.

The woman with pale golden hair blushing in her heart.

Thanks to Dmitri, his tension eased. Smiling gently at her cute blushing face, he slowly approached her side.

“In fact, the Shilovgnoms are a bit nasty in appearance but not as strong as they seem. Of course, their poison is a bit annoying. You must know well since you’ve experienced it.”

Blushing Eleanor nodded quietly.

“So, what brings you here?”

“Ah… Yes, Your Highness.”

Dmitri’s eyebrows twitched slightly. He didn’t quite like being addressed as “Your Highness.” It was a common title he often heard, but hearing it from her made it feel somewhat stiff.

Unaware of Dmitri’s feelings, Eleanor extended the white cloth she had been holding carefully in her hand towards him.

“Thank you for saving me… I feel like I didn’t properly convey my gratitude.”

A small white handkerchief neatly folded on her small hand. In one corner, embroidered with black thread, were the initials of Eleanor.

“I think… my lack of eloquence towards men made me want to express it like this.”

Thump.

Looking at her face, which had turned red as if it would burst, Dmitri’s heart began to beat loudly once again.

“I will treasure this. However, there is one more thing I would like to ask of you, Yeong-ae.”

Her small, gentle hand was as hot as her face. Accepting the handkerchief, Dmitri unconsciously gently pulled her hand.

“Y-Your Highness?”

With a flustered voice, Dmitri took another step towards her, facing her sky-blue eyes.

“It’s about that title. Instead of ‘Your Highness,’ I would prefer if you called me Dmitri, Yeong-ae. Eleonore. No, Ellie.”

After a long hesitation, Dmitri conveyed his best intentions to her in a quiet voice.

#9. Echoes of Hesitation End.