episode_0085

Three individuals sat around a spread of snacks, engaging in lively conversation. Despite the laughter, all three seemed to have a touch of age about them, making it hard to label them as mere girls.

Even Eleanor, fresh from her debutante ball, seemed to carry herself with a certain maturity. And even Dominique, rumored to have long entered the realm of a common noblewoman, according to the grapevine in the world of high society novels frequented by the upper class.

If someone were to post their profiles on the novel community Dominique often visited in the world of high society, comments criticizing them would surely flood in.

However, despite their advancing years, the essence of a girl had not completely vanished from their hearts. After all, women were mysterious creatures who held onto the heart of a girl until their dying breath.

Moreover, Eleanor had only just opened her eyes to the world of girls, making her still very much a girl at heart.

As these young ladies, whose hearts remained girlish despite their age, conversed, naturally the topic shifted towards Dimitri Verbritz, the man Eleanor was said to have fallen for.

“So, imagine Pierre, the Viscount, and his lady friend embracing each other as they exited the tavern.”

Though Eleanor didn’t seem thrilled by the tale of the man Dominique harbored feelings for.

Dominique, lips poised to share a story about a nobleman from the northern regions she had recently heard of, continued with an expression of great interest.

“That gentleman, after preparing himself in the bath to spend the night together, emerged from the bathroom to find Dimitri mysteriously gone.”

Given the nature of the discussion, Dominique, who usually led the conversations, was well-versed in the tales surrounding Dimitri, whom she had known for a long time. Her stories mainly revolved around the rumors circulating about Dimitri wandering the capital.

“Supposedly, they had agreed to spend the night together. But when Pierre went to greet the man outside, he had vanished.”

The gossip about Dimitri persisted.

Initially, it started as tales of his exploits battling monsters in the north. However, gradually, the narrative evolved into scandalous rumors.

Eleanor pursed her lips, her sharp gaze fixed on Dominique, who was animatedly chattering away, arms folded beneath her modest bosom.

“And so, the startled lady, abandoning all pretense, searched for Dimitri, only to find him getting drunk at the tavern!”

Finally, Eleanor’s sky-blue eyes reached their limit, trembling within her large white irises.

“Why are you saying such things!”

Eleanor exclaimed loudly, her face now as red as when she had confessed her feelings earlier.

However, the emotions she harbored were vastly different this time.

Dominique gazed back at Eleanor, who was scolding her, with a calm demeanor.

That figure glaring at her, a princess herself, with such intensity. Perhaps because she seemed like a lovestruck girl, reacting so sensitively to the gossip about her precious man, Dominique’s heart began to flutter inexplicably.

“Oh, miss, if you put it that way…”

“Hmph! I don’t know!”

Seeing Eleanor flustered, Foreigner tried to console her, but Eleanor turned her head away abruptly.

Like a squirrel hiding nuts, puffing up her cheeks, Dominique couldn’t help but smile softly.

Subtly rising from her seat, Dominique approached the side of the adorable squirrel.

“Are you sulking, Ellie?”

“Ah! No, no, let go! It’s suffocating to be held like this! Besides, I’m not in the mood for this right now!”

In truth, Dominique was aware that the tone of their conversation had become quite intense.

However, it was not to tease Eleanor, nor just for fun. It was a story pulled from the constant thought of Eleanor.

Contrary to the grand epithet of being the Empire’s sword and the guardian of the North, the perception of Dmitry Verbriz, the Duke of Lutess here in the capital, was far from flattering.

Just a swordsman with a knack for swordplay.

To put it harshly, his head was emptier than a hollow gourd compared to his martial skills.

Of course, all of this was brought upon by himself.

“Eli, I was a bit harsh, right? Sorry. But it’s there.”

In a serious tone devoid of the earlier playfulness, Eleanor turned her pale face to look into the golden eyes.

“If you become involved with Dmitry, rumors will surely spread throughout the capital. Whether behind your back or to your face.”

Feeling jealousy towards the accomplished was human nature. When she first saw Eleanor in the Empress’s palace, she briefly harbored feelings of envy towards her appearance.

Except for the Emperor, if anyone in the Empire could not stop Eleanor, the youngest daughter of Baron Beorn, from being connected to the highest Duke of Verbriz, how intense would the jealousy be, excluding the Emperor?

Naturally, there would be various rumors, and compared to Eleanor, who showed nothing, Dmitry had quite the history.

So, he had to reveal the truth himself.

Contrary to the wandering rumors, Dmitry was quite a decent man. No, it would be hard to find a man like him in Galatea.

“W-what are you saying?”

“Well, Verbriz’s domain truly has nothing. Endless sprawling deciduous forests. Countless monsters and creatures living there. A massive barrier built to keep them at bay. And the ducal castle. That’s all there is to the land.”

Listening to the weighty tale, Eleanor simply nodded without a word. In her demeanor, Dominic revealed a faint smile.

“For a long time, Dmitry faithfully fulfilled his role of going to the barren land of Verbriz. The waves of monsters that came down every winter have now become stories of folklore. The people of the capital may never see their forms in their lifetime.”

As the story grew longer, Dominic took a sip from his teacup before continuing.

“So naturally, memories of the North have faded from people’s minds.”

“I-is that so?”

The land covered in snow. The much-criticized Duke. The numerous monsters and creatures he dealt with.

It was certainly a cliché easily found in fantasy novels, something she had read many times during her childhood.

Eleanor swallowed dryly.

Now that story was becoming her reality.

Her beloved was the protagonist of such tales.

“As forgotten memories dwindle, so does support for the North. Even my father no longer pays attention to the North these days.”

At the end of his words, Dominic let out a small sigh. Her expression was subtly displeased.

“Dmitry started his reckless actions because of that. Once his reputation soars, people will overlook his abilities. With the esteemed Duke around, who needs support, right?”

Dominic exaggerated her tone as she spoke. It was Eugenie, not Eleanor, who responded to her.

“So, the Duke has heard such rumors.”

Eugenie subtly nodded her head up and down. Having lived in this world for a long time, she naturally knew a lot about Dmitry.

Behind the illustrious title of the Imperial Sword, people label Dimitri as promiscuous, a playboy, and lascivious. Some may gossip about his frivolity and superficiality, but soon Dominic approached Eleanor closely, locking her hand in his and meeting her sky-blue eyes and gaze.

“As a princess, I assure you. Dimitri isn’t as bad a man as rumors suggest.”

Sky-blue eyes gazed back at him intently.

Matching those eyes and gaze, Dominic pondered. He vowed to settle scores with Dimitri later on.

In this slightly melancholic atmosphere, a knock was heard.

“Miss, it’s time to start preparing for dinner,” Manuel’s polite voice prompted Eleanor to rise abruptly from her seat.

“Oh… Sorry, Domi. Seems like there’s much to prepare for dinner,” she said.

“Yeah, sure. Dress up nicely! Let Dimitri enjoy watching those pretty eyes of yours wander!” Dominic teased Eleanor until the very end. However, Eleanor, who had stood up, only responded with a shy smile full of embarrassment.

“Ha… If I were a man, royal or not, I would have been drunk right now,” thought Dominic, understanding Louis Edmund’s resentment a bit.

#

While three women chatted and laughed in Eleanor’s chamber, Albrice and Dimitri sat calmly facing each other over tea in Albrice’s study.

“I’m thinking of hosting a small party inside the mansion on the night of the Founding Festival,” Albrice stated in a rather dry tone.

“Oh, really?”

“We’ll send invitations to a select few whose identities are verified.”

Albrice abruptly cut off his words with an uncomfortable expression.

Dimitri gently tilted the whiskey glass he held in his hand from side to side. Whiskey spilled over the rim as he did so.

Although Dimitri couldn’t fathom Albrice recommending such strong liquor before dinner, his principle was never to refuse alcohol as long as he lived as a libertine.

Eventually, Albrice cautiously resumed the paused conversation.

“Of course, Your Highness plans to stay here for the Founding Festival, correct?”

“Indeed.”

“Do you have anyone specific you wish to invite separately?”

“Just Daphne.”

“The blonde lieutenant, is that correct?”

“Yes.”

Albrice nodded subtly in understanding. Then, he brought the whiskey glass to his lips, concealing a deep sigh trying to escape.

Oh…

To think that his precious Ellie would be taken away by another man in his own mansion.

After that night, their relationship would undoubtedly undergo a dramatic change. The dark-haired man must have been aware of the implications of a man and a woman being alone on the night of the Founding Festival.

“Your Highness.”

Albrice set down his whiskey glass and looked at Dimitri.

“How much do you truly care for our Ellie?”

Dimitri responded with a smile in his eyes, offering no verbal reply.

“If your smile isn’t meant for Ellie, and if you’re merely here to exploit the resources of the West, speak now.”

Albrice continued, locking eyes with Dimitri’s deep black gaze.

“If that’s the case, even after I’m gone, I’ll ensure my child maintains ties with the North. So tell me.”

“What nonsense are you spouting now! For Ellie, I’d give up even the Grand Duke’s position, I swear.”

“In that case, if Lady and Ellie were to fall into the infamous depths of Lake Ragblet together, whom would you save first?”

Feeling stifled, Albriss wondered if he was already drunk from the few glasses of whiskey he had downed.

Albriss found himself blurting out words that even he considered quite childish.

“Why have you been spouting such frivolous nonsense since earlier?”

Dmitri, with a mischievous grin on his face, upon hearing the question, lifted the whiskey bottle placed on the side table and poured whiskey into Albriss’s empty glass, saying,

“The answer is obvious, isn’t it?”

Looking at Dmitri’s smiling face, Albriss thought to himself,

The man in front of him was truly an annoying little brother.