episode_0082

Foreigners, alongside her, stood Sophie and the maids. Observing the lady, whose figure was reddened by droplets of water cascading down, Eleanor refrained from making any comments.

“You’ve been in the tub for quite a while.”

“Ah… yeah. The temperature was quite nice.”

Sophie, drying Eleanor’s heavy wet hair, despite her usual remarks, Eleanor glanced at her through the mirror, surprised.

Fortunately, Sophie’s face, as she gently dried Eleanor’s wet hair with a towel, did not reveal any different emotions.

In truth, Sophie and the maids were unaware of what had transpired in that steam-filled bathroom.

The bathroom was spacious.

Moreover, Eleanor’s voice, muffled by the double doors, could not escape outside due to her intoxication.

Furthermore, Eleanor had strictly instructed the maids not to come close to the bathroom area.

Sophie’s touch softly moved from the hair over the neck. After thoroughly drying her hair, Sophie began applying moisturizing oil on the lady’s body.

“Hah.”

And through slightly parted pink lips, a somewhat sticky moan escaped.

Eleanor overlooked one fact.

Unlike a man’s body that sinks deeply once extinguished, a woman’s body, even after reaching its peak, continues to hold a peculiar heat within.

Startled by that licentious voice seeping through her lips, Eleanor raised her hand to her lips.

Not only Eleanor but others were also taken aback by that sound.

“Oh, Miss! Did I scrub too hard? Are you in pain?”

“No! It’s not like that.”

Eleanor was relieved that moans weren’t just reserved for lewd situations.

Their voices filled with embarrassment.

Standing a step back, the foreigner discreetly intervened between the two women.

“It seems like you’re still not feeling well, Miss.”

With a peculiar smile, the foreigner lightly patted Sophie’s shoulder. There was nothing unusual, but it seemed so to Eleanor. The foreigner’s smile reflected through the mirror seemed to penetrate everything.

Her thoughts.

The deeds committed in the bathtub.

Even the name she had whispered.

Gazing at Eleanor, who hung her head low, the foreigner looked at Sophie, full of embarrassment, with a gentle smile.

“I’m still sore in various places.”

“Indeed… I understand.”

“I’ll finish up here, so you two go and tidy up the lady’s bedroom quickly.”

Upon the foreigner’s words, Sophie and the maids nodded and hurriedly left.

Alone in the bathroom antechamber.

Without a word, the foreigner applied the moisturizing oil left by Sophie onto Eleanor’s curved waist.

“Elli.”

“Yeah…”

At Eleanor’s kind yet slightly sharp voice, she gently lifted her head to look at the mirror.

“Have you truly made up your mind now?”

Facing her friend’s eyes in the mirror, Eleanor, with a face still flushed as if about to burst, nodded slightly.

#.

The luxurious bathroom with a large tub.

Eleanor’s white nightgown, heated by embarrassing passion.

That hot and sticky night passed quietly.

The following early morning.

The Beauregard townhouse bustled since dawn for the arrival of a distinguished guest.

Though a viscount, the Beauregard viscountcy, not lacking in power or honor compared to any noble household in the empire.

Then who was it that caused such a commotion from the early morning?

“Which chair is designated for Her Highness the Princess? How should the dessert table be arranged?”

“Since Her Highness the Princess does not particularly enjoy sweet foods, the sweetness of the desserts should be adjusted accordingly!”

“Lord Sokaju, the palace guards have already arrived at the main gate of the royal palace.”

The visitors were from the Hwang clan. Not just any Hwang clan member, but Dominique Ayrallatea Hwang, the daughter of Emperor Edward and a prominent candidate for the imperial succession.

To ensure that Her Highness the Princess did not receive a bad impression upon her first visit to the Beauregard mansion, the steward Geoffrey and housekeeper Manuela had been diligently overseeing the servants since dawn.

Of course, this was not Dominique’s first visit to the Beauregard mansion, albeit discreetly concealed under her princess status.

Thanks to this, both Eleanor and Ogenie were impeccably dressed and made up more elaborately than usual since early morning.

After finishing a slightly busier breakfast than usual, Eleanor was enjoying tea time in the reception room with Albrice and Dmitri.

“By the way, it’s quite noisy outside, isn’t it?”

Eleanor remarked, looking at the black-clad man seated beside her.

Unlike yesterday when she called his name and touched between his legs, he appeared remarkably composed today.

However, his current demeanor was partly due to Dmitri feeling unwell in the morning.

Silently lifting and setting down his teacup repeatedly, Dmitri seemed absent-minded for some reason.

But… looking at him like this, he’s somewhat cute…

Observing Dmitri with a slight smile, Eleanor looked at Albrice, who gently placed the teacup on the table.

“It seems our Princess intends to make a proper impression on the nobility of the capital.”

As Albrice set down the teacup with refined movements, Eleanor, startled by the subtle sound, flinched her shoulders.

“What’s wrong? Elli? Why are you so surprised?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Really.”

She couldn’t possibly say she was surprised by Dmitri’s face as she stared at him.

With a fluttering heart, Eleanor shifted her disappointed gaze from Dmitri to Albrice. Although Oraibi’s expression was not particularly bright.

“Ah… Our Beauregard family has not yet agreed to hand over the West to you…”

Through Albrice’s soft sigh, a servant suddenly rushed into the reception room.

“The Princess’s carriage has arrived nearby.”

At the sound of that voice, both Eleanor and Dmitri, still showing signs of fatigue, set down their teacups.

“Shall we go out, Elli?”

“Oh, wait! Before you leave, let’s double-check everything.”

Eleanor and the two men stood up from their seats.

Throughout the morning, Ogenie, who had been sticking close to Eleanor, gently took her hand and led her into the adjacent lady’s room, where she tidied up Eleanor’s lipstick-stained lips and disheveled clothes with tea stains.

As vast as the estate grounds were, the grand avenue that split the garden in half and led from the main gate to the mansion’s entrance was considerable in width and length.

On either side of this grand avenue stood the royal palace guards, lined up in formation. Adorned in splendid, shining armor and holding long spears aloft, they presented a magnificent sight even to modern Eleanor’s eyes.

Nobles from nearby, gathering beyond the black iron fence to admire this spectacle, could not help but show respect.

In visiting the Beauregard townhouse, Dominique had ensured that her procession was splendidly prepared.

Of course, there were political reasons behind it.

The kidnapper of Eleonore was Louis Edmond. Although he had been exiled from Edmond, he still retained his status and name.

As a result, the prince’s cousin had kidnapped the youngest daughter of the Beaurne family. This would sever the ties between the prince, Empress Jin-young, and the Beaurne family. Given Albert Changbaek’s deep affection for his youngest daughter, the outcome seemed inevitable.

Therefore, in selecting a successor, the Beaurne family, and further, the western part of the empire, prepared such a grand procession to make it known that Dominic was on their side.

The reason Albrice had been in a bad mood since morning was precisely because of this.

Unlike Albert Changbaek, the current head of the Beaurne family, Albrice’s interests differed slightly from those of his father due to his long-standing involvement in the capital’s political scene.

While his father excelled mainly in physical pursuits, Albrice excelled in the political arena.

Albrice clearly saw significant gains to be made by balancing between the Empress and the Princess. However, due to that damned redhead who should have been easily dealt with, the tilt towards the Princess’s side felt unjustifiably empty.

Yet, there was no thought of pandering to the redheads again. Like Albert, Albrice was a renowned cynic.

However, Dominic did not prepare this show solely for political reasons.

He was concerned that rumors circulating in high society might tarnish the honor of his dear friend. As a candidate for the throne and the Empress, Dominic was determined to assert his authority and position among the nobles in the capital.

Eleanor Arène de Beaurne was a woman so precious that even the Princess herself took care of her well-being.

Hence, the warning not to casually mention Eleanor’s esteemed name above your cheap lips.