episode_0095

A small black box approached in front of her.

Wrapped in glossy black velvet, the box looked extremely luxurious, with the emblem of the crow of Verberitz elegantly embroidered in gold thread on its surface.

Eleanor could immediately tell what the box in front of her was. She could also roughly guess what the box meant, as well as the words that would follow.

It was clear…

Dmitri, who had risen from his seat, gently bent his knee towards Eleanor, who was sitting on the bench. His black eyes met Eleanor’s sky-blue eyes horizontally. Even though he bowed, their eyes were locked.

Eleanor took a deep breath.

Her heart, which had been pounding at the sight reflected in his black eyes, was now difficult to control.

“No matter how hard I try, I’m not sure if the North… if my territory will please Eli’s heart.”

Dmitri’s voice, which sank low, weighed heavily on Eleanor.

“I will do everything I can, just know that.”

Thump.

His rough and coarse hand, slowly approaching.

The black velvet box in his hand.

As the distance closed, the amplitude of the trembling increased.

A hot sigh escaped beyond her pink lips.

Her vision spun.

Her forehead, pulsating with blood, felt like it would burst.

Her face was burning hot, and the sound of her breath, even when it entered her own ears, sounded pitiful.

Calm, composed, and sticky.

In the face of Dmitri’s heartfelt confession, Eleanor could only crumble helplessly, even though she had expected it.

It was the moment she had been waiting for.

A contradictory feeling emerged in Eleanor’s mind, hoping that the conversation would not continue from his lips.

As a man who never stopped once he had grasped the hilt, Dmitri carefully opened the black velvet box. Inside was a silver ring, thin and elegantly crafted to fit a woman’s finger.

Eleanor let out a hot sigh.

A platinum ring with a blue diamond in the center.

The prongs holding the main stone, and even the guard ring that prevented the main ring from easily slipping off the finger, were all exquisitely beautiful and sophisticated.

That’s how it appeared to Eleanor.

Dmitri carefully took the ring out of the box and continued speaking.

“Eli, this is the ducal ring passed down in the Verberitz family for generations. It was worn by my mother and my grandmother.”

Placing the box aside, Dmitri extended his hand politely towards the woman in front of him, who was staring blankly at him.

“I would like Eli to take this ring. Unlike me, I hope that one day Eli will personally hand this ring over to the next duchess.”

With those words, a moment of silence ensued.

As if in response, a single beam of colorful light shot up from the palace in the distance.

“I love you, Eleanor. I hope you will stay by my side forever.”

Dmitri quietly awaited Eleanor’s response. His heart, like Eleanor’s on the other side, was pounding. Their hearts seemed to resonate with each other, drawing each other in.

The sound of fireworks continued.

The muffled sound resonated in Eleanor’s chest, as if urging her, pushing her forward.

Yes, it’s because of the large fireworks exploding over there! It’s definitely not something else.

“I, I like you too.”

Eleanor’s small voice was drowned out by the sound of fireworks, unheard by Dmitri.

However, the delicate white lace glove placed on his rough hand, which did not match Eleanor’s delicate and beautiful hand, spoke in place of her voice.

In the midst of the light flowers blooming in the distant black sky, Dmitri gently pushed the silver ring onto Eleanor’s slender and graceful finger.

As if drawn by a magnet, Eleanor nestled into his broad and firm embrace, lifting her head to his shoulder and whispering her heart once again.

“I love you, Dmitri.”

Just in case it gets drowned out by the fireworks again.

The two of them didn’t get up from the bench until long after the fireworks display had ended.

The superficial reason was that the colorful fireworks decorating the dark night sky were so beautiful.

Even though they were quite far from the palace, the array of lights in the night sky seemed to open up the surroundings, making the night sky adorned with various colors of light look extremely beautiful to Eleanor, who had just reached the threshold of womanhood.

However, the reality was a bit different.

Both Eleanor and Dmitri didn’t want to let go of each other’s hands. Unlike the nervous trembling of their hearts just a while ago, it was so sweet this time.

The impending separation was so regrettable.

Using the excuse of savoring the afterglow, the two of them held hands and gazed at the night sky long after the fireworks had ended.

Looking at the twinkling stars, Eleanor gently leaned her head on Dmitri’s shoulder as he sat beside her. Dmitri was gently caressing Eleanor’s hand.

As they watched the stars, the two of them finally got up from the bench and started to make their way back to the mansion as the lights of the starlit pavilion had all gone out, and it had become late at night.

Walking side by side on the promenade, Eleanor and Dmitri. There was still a lot of awkwardness between them. The only thing flowing through their joined hands was the steady sound of their breathing.

After walking quietly for a while, as the mansion came into view in the distance.

Feeling regretful about parting ways.

“Um, Dmitri.”

“Hey, Eli.”

Their voices overlapped.

Their eyes met and were filled with each other’s colors.

Summoning up the courage to speak…

Eleanor turned her gaze away from Dmitri again.

But she didn’t feel bad about it.

Dmitri’s embarrassment was a new sight for Eleanor, and it was quite cute, considering his stature.

“You go first, Eli.”

Dmitri said with an awkward smile.

“Well… about what you said earlier, Dmitri.”

Eleanor cautiously raised her lips. She let go of their joined hands and looked at Dmitri while sliding the precious blue diamond ring off her finger.

“It’s about the ring you gave me, saying that you would like to personally hand it to the next Duchess.”

Dmitri hesitated at Eleanor’s words. He then smiled and looked at Eleanor.

“Eli, are you already worrying about that?”

Wait, what’s with that uncomfortable expression.

But Dmitri didn’t give any room for hesitation and continued speaking.

“I do. I hope you won’t suffer, Eli. A boy who looks like you and a girl who looks like you-”

“No, no! That’s not it!”

At Eleanor’s serious tone, Dmitri burst into laughter. He wanted to hold his cute lady, who was slightly flustered by his laughter, in his arms.

Then a sudden thought crossed his mind.

‘I don’t need to be cautious anymore.’

With a smile on his face, Dmitri turned around and hugged Eleanor from behind.

“Wow! D-Dmitri?”

Startled by the sudden back hug, Eleanor jumped in surprise and shook her shoulders, but Dmitri gently lifted her hand that was trying to push him away and brought it in front of her sky-blue eyes.

“Eli, do you see this? It’s a guard ring that is added to the outside of the ring to prevent it from slipping off your finger.”

“Ah… yes…”

With his soft voice tickling her ear, Eleanor answered with a small sigh.

“Ellie’s ring that she hands over to the next Grand Duchess is only the solitaire ring inside the guard ring. The blue diamond and the guard ring belong to Ellie. If you ever have to hand over the ring, you can just take out the ring inside and replace it.”

“Is, is that possible?”

At Dmitry’s words, Eleanor looked at the Grand Duchess’s ring on her finger without widening her eyes.

But, this ring… no matter how you look at it, it doesn’t seem like it will come off…

“Well, that’s something the craftsmen will take care of. I just inserted the gem into the empty prong of the ring.”

Dmitry released Eleanor from his embrace. Then he returned to his original position and faced her.

“Alright, can I ask one more thing?”

“You may.”

Nodding his head, Dmitry signaled that it was Eleanor’s turn this time, taking a step closer to her.

“Then, Dmitry, when did you prepare this ring?”

That question seemed unexpected. Watching Eleanor’s black pupils tremble, Dmitry thought.

“When did Dmitry start to hold me in his heart?”

Showing signs of being taken aback by Eleanor’s question, Dmitry soon regained his composure and met her sky-blue eyes.

“I have held you in my heart for quite some time, but I made the decision recently. When you gave me the handkerchief you embroidered by hand.”

Dmitry took out a neatly folded white handkerchief from his pocket and said. The handkerchief he gifted in return for the mining incident seemed to be carefully preserved, as there were no signs of use.

And when she saw her initials embroidered on the handkerchief, Eleanor’s face turned red again.

“Ah… I will embroider it properly again.”

Perhaps it was because of the elegant crow perched on the velvet box. Even though it was just embroidered initials, it looked very shabby.

“No, I like this handkerchief.”

“Ugh… just take it!”

“This is mine now, why are you asking for it back? I absolutely refuse to give it up. Look at how cute this crooked, pointed part sticks out.”

“Ugh…”

Eleanor puffed up her cheeks. Dmitry couldn’t help but find her pouting appearance so cute that he couldn’t resist teasing her.

But now it was really time to bring Ellie into the mansion.

“Alright, Ellie. If you grant me one request, I will return it to you.”

“A request?”

“It’s a simple one, so don’t be nervous.”

Saying that, Dmitry gently bent his knee and met Eleanor’s gaze.

“Could you close your eyes for a moment, Ellie?”

Without any response to Dmitry’s words, Eleanor lowered her eyelids.

Feeling the unfamiliar yet sweet sensation on her lips, Eleanor opened her eyes wide and took a step back from him.

“W-what are you doing! Right now!”

“I felt a little jealous. The kiss on the back of the hand was stolen by the silver-haired guy, but the kiss on the lips is mine now.”

Dmitry looked at Eleanor with a mischievous face. But that expression didn’t last long.

Approaching her again, Dmitry’s face, the face of the dark man, drew closer.

Eleanor could tell.

This time, it would be different from the light bird kiss just now.

Now, it would not be possible to go back to the same relationship as before.

Well, whatever. I wanted this too.

Closing her eyes softly, Eleanor thought so.

Finally, her soft lips, moistened by his, met Dmitry’s.

Eleanor raised her heels slightly. As Eleanor, who might fall over, mixed their sweet breaths, Dmitry gently held her body in his arms.

That moment was when Eleanor Arnaud de Beaurevoir-Breitberg became the lady of the Grand Duke of Verbrivritz.

#13. On a night like this when the stars twinkle, The End