episode_0077

“Miss, is there anywhere else that’s uncomfortable for you?”

Handling awakened Eleanor’s body like fragile glassware, Eilis’ movements were incredibly delicate, as if examining each part with great care.

Even in her voice asking about Eleanor’s condition, caution filled every word, even within her deep crimson irises.

“The child says she’s fine.”

And such an appearance was not exclusive to Eilis alone.

Albrice, the blond young man who stood a step back to avoid disrupting Eilis’ treatment and gazed at his younger sister from afar.

Jenney, who, like Eleanor, was shivering all over her body but still holding her ground.

Sophie and Manuela.

Even the maids who usually kept Eleanor close.

The eyes of those gathered in Eleanor’s room were filled with worry.

However, Eleanor seemed uncomfortable with such gazes. Sitting on the bed, she turned her shoulders slightly and responded confidently.

“Look at this! I’m really, truly fine!”

She sent a reassuring smile to those looking at her with concern.

Of course, she had also said to let go of their worries a bit. However, that wasn’t her only intention.

In truth, Eleanor felt that her current physical state was quite… no, very much okay.

She still felt sore and achy all over.

It was as if a huge carriage had collided with her, nearly breaking her. In a way, her body had been in a sort of accident, so naturally, it wouldn’t heal quickly.

Especially irritating were the bandages tightly wrapped around her neck; every time she tried to move her neck to speak, the rubbing was quite bothersome.

Yet, despite all this, Eleanor felt fine, speaking with a cheerful laugh, as something that had been weighing on her body had disappeared.

Until now, Eleanor had often felt frustrated when moving her body.

Unlike her thoughts, controlling her body was far from easy.

So, apart from dancing ingrained in her body, using her body had always been a challenge.

But Eleanor hadn’t thought much of it until now. Having lived for 21 years in a male body, she had simply brushed off the differences in having a female body.

Unfortunately, her body had become even more sluggish around the time of her bothersome monthly visitor, without even questioning her thoughts on the matter.

Her once sluggish body.

Since awakening from sleep and conversing with the original owner somewhere between dream and reality, it had miraculously recovered.

Naturally, she could only feel refreshed and in good spirits.

Eleanor’s smiling face was almost unbelievable, considering she had been kidnapped not long ago.

“You know, I want to talk with Uncle and Jenney.”

Thus, despite Eleanor’s laughter and her words, those watching over her couldn’t help but retain a sense of unease deep within their hearts.

What if the shock had been too much for the miss to handle? Everyone couldn’t help but show hesitant expressions at Eleanor’s words.

However, that was just one side of the story.

In this very place, excluding the cow owner Albris, she was the top person. Moreover, that Albris was also in Eleonore’s hands.

One, two.

The people of Beaurng-ga, who left their seats with worried expressions.

Finally, as Ailey entered, only Eleonore, Albris, and Oejini were left in Eleonore’s spacious bedroom.

After confirming the closing of the door, Eleonore spoke first.

“Brother… Brother too. And Oejini too. Were you all very worried because of me?”

Albris gently tilted her golden head at her sister’s lovely voice.

Even the word “brother,” which she didn’t want to say out loud, and speaking so casually instead of using honorifics, were different from usual.

Most of all, the words she blurted out upon waking up saying “I love you” were also strange.

Eleonore was very unusual right now.

Of course, it wasn’t that he disliked that appearance. Rather, Albris wished that this appearance would remain the same forever.

Nevertheless, there was something different from usual.

Albris cautiously placed his hand on Eleonore’s forehead and asked with a worried voice, “Hey, Elli. Are you really okay?”

“Oh, I’m fine, really! How many times do I have to repeat that!”

Knowing where Albris’ worries came from, Eleonore, with a slight blush on her cheeks, continued in a muffled voice, “That word… Anyway, I said it without thinking because I woke up disoriented!”

Only after seeing her face looking back at herself so freshly could Albris finally let go of some of his worries.

“Ahem… Anyway! I’m sorry for worrying you in many ways, brother. You look like you’ve been through a lot.”

“Hey, Elli. That word ‘brother’? Informal language?”

Seeing that Albris seemed comfortable with the informal tone, Eleonore’s sky-blue eyes passed Albris and turned to her childhood friend who was standing next to him.

“Oejini, you too. You’re hurt a lot too, why are you here without resting?”

“Well, Miss-”

“Elli.”

Eleonore cut off Oejini’s words with a firm voice.

“From now on, call me Elli. Not ‘Miss.’”

Surprised by Eleonore’s unexpected statement, Oejini blinked her eyes wide and looked at Eleonore with a startled expression.

“W-what do you mean, Elli-”

“Oh, and I don’t like honorifics either.”

Eleonore interrupted again.

Like a mischievous child, she continued to speak with a slightly anxious voice while looking at the violet eyes in front of her.

“Oejini… Please don’t create distance with that word ‘Miss’ and formal language.”

Not knowing how to respond to Eleonore’s antics, Oejini hesitated to refuse but raised her lips slightly, indicating her refusal.

“That… That’s not something I can say. I’m your siste-”

“Elli!”

Firmly uttering her nickname, Eleonore. Watching her sister’s behavior, Albris gently interjected.

“Hey, listen. Elli.”

“Yes, brother.”

Having called Eleonore, Albris softly asked with an expectant voice, “Did you happen to regain your memories?”

So it was.

With a face full of cuteness, the current appearance of mischief closely resembled Eleanor’s before she fell ill and lost her memory.

No, it was more like Ellie from back then.

However, her platinum blonde hair simply swayed neatly from side to side.

“Uh-huh. I still have no memories.”

Eleanor continued speaking, placing her hand on her chest over the white night dress.

“Even so… When I see Albrice and Oejini, I feel some old emotions resurfacing, you know? It’s a bit hard to express. Hmm…”

As Eleanor’s words trailed off, she soon turned to Albrice with a somewhat serious tone, posing a question.

“Oejini, what happened to Violet and the other knights?”

Albrice, burdened by the weight of the topic, only nodded silently.

Of course, Eleanor was aware as well.

The chilling image of Violet cooling in her arms remained vivid in her memory.

However, confirming it from someone else made that fact all the more real.

She really is dead, Violet.

For my sake…

It wasn’t just Violet.

Four knights sacrificed their lives for just one young lady with platinum blonde hair.

“Oejini, after this… What will happen to the knights?”

“We must properly hold a funeral for those we lost.”

“Then, before the funeral, could I meet them one last time?”

At Eleanor’s words, in a moment when Albrice seemed to nod, a knock interrupted.

Knock, knock, knock—

“Lady Eleanor, Miss. It’s Manuel.”

Following a polite knock, Manuel’s voice from outside the door halted Albrice’s words.

“What is it?”

“Lady, Sir Julian Vallatier and Duke Dmitri have arrived.”

At this news, Albrice subtly glanced at Eleanor.

He wanted to say go back; Eleanor had just woken up and was disoriented. He wished she could rest peacefully.

However, neither Julian Vallatier nor Dmitri Verberitz were opponents Albrice could easily dismiss.

Moreover, Julian had personally intervened to rescue Ellie, and Dmitri had assisted in the search alongside him.

“Oejini, I’m fine. There are thanks to give and stories to share.”

“In that case… Manuel, please inform the lady once she’s ready.”

In response to Eleanor’s words, Oejini raised her voice towards Manuel outside, making sure Dmitry and Julian, who had come to visit, could hear. She then approached Eleanor with a beige knitted nightgown in hand, hanging next to the dressing table.

“As you can’t change clothes immediately, please wear this for now.”

With the beige knit gown handed to Eleanor, Oejini diligently began brushing Eleanor’s tousled platinum hair.

Eleanor gazed at herself in the mirror, silently uttering self-talk while entrusting her body to Oejini.

Although Oejini’s formal language bothered her a bit, that wasn’t the main concern right now.

‘You should be satisfied with this, Eleanor. I thought I would die of embarrassment.’

Certainly, it was a question she wouldn’t hear an answer to.

On the other side of the mirror, the elegant platinum-haired lady, Eleanor, sent a bright smile towards herself, the Sovereign, Juha.