episode_0097

The long and quiet morning meal that felt like a bed of thorns for Eleanor came to an end without much fanfare.

Fortunately, Albrice did not bring up anything more about Dimitri. Instead, he casually shared stories that could be discussed during mealtime, such as Eleanor being surprisingly good at drinking alcohol or stories about people they both knew.

However, Eleanor couldn’t help but be on edge even if the conversation veered in that direction. Albrice, having felt how much the people of this family loved him, understood why.

Sigh… How should I bring up the topic with my parents? Father won’t collapse, right…?

After the uncomfortable morning meal, there was a tea time in the morning.

Normally, Eleanor would have been accompanied by either Eugenie or Albrice, but now she was alone. Sitting in the spacious drawing-room, she sipped on the steaming hot black tea.

Albrice had mentioned that he needed to check on something after the meal and had gone to his study. Eleanor would have usually asked what was going on, but today she let Albrice go without a word.

If she were to take on the task that Albrice needed to check on, she wouldn’t have to face him for the rest of the day.

Eugenie was still missing in action.

Putting down the fragrant teacup on the table, Eleanor wondered if Eugenie had finished the broccoli soup she had sent up.

Leaning back on the sofa, Eleanor stretched widely. She had always been surrounded by people as a lady, so sitting alone in the drawing-room made her feel somewhat awkward.

I wonder if Dimitri is doing well…

That kiss from yesterday… really, truly.

Unconsciously, Eleanor raised her finger to her lips.

As she traced the moist and plump lips that had met hers yesterday, Eleanor recalled that memory once again.

The dark night filled with starlight. Their soft lips embracing each other. The warm and cozy feeling that filled her, filling her being with a mysterious sensation she had never experienced before.

And that sensation wasn’t all that bad.

If the sensation as a man was somewhat one-dimensional. The warm feeling that flowed through her entire body, gently enveloping her slender figure, was a higher-dimensional sensation.

But starting with a kiss right after a confession might have been too hasty…

Just then, Eugenie suddenly appeared in the drawing-room. Supported by Sophie, Eugenie entered the room looking rather unwell.

Wobbling like that, she might fall over, Eleanor pushed aside the faint heat in her body and looked at Eugenie with a worried expression.

Although she had neatly tidied up, her ivory-colored hair had lost its luster.

Her purple eyes, which used to sparkle, had lost their shine.

And her movements seemed somewhat sluggish.

Like a zombie from a movie, Eugenie’s appearance as she approached Eleanor brought back a memory from the past.

The day after the freshman party in college, when the hungover students stumbled in like that.

But even in that state, she still looked so beautifully put together. Was that what it meant to be a lady?

Without realizing it, Eleanor lifted her hip slightly to make room for Eugenie to sit next to her.

“Are you okay? Did you finish the soup? Is there anywhere that hurts?”

“I… I don’t know… I don’t know…”

Eugenie slumped down on the sofa as if she had given up, eventually falling over onto Eleanor’s soft thigh.

Eugenie had always presented herself in a dignified manner in front of Eleanor. Even though they were probably the same age. No, if she thought about it, Eugenie was probably younger than the possessed Eleanor, but she always seemed to act like an older sister. Seeing Eugenie in this disheveled state, Eleanor couldn’t help but smile.

“You should rest in your room if you’re feeling this unwell. Why did you come down here?”

“U-uh… Lord Dimitri said there was something to discuss…”

“Ah… I see.”

Eleanor gently stroked the ivory-colored hair perched on her thigh. Worried that the foreigner’s ring might touch her head like it did that morning, Eleanor quickly changed the hand that was petting her head.

As she continued to stroke the foreigner’s hair on her thigh, filling the void left by Dimitri’s return to her mansion, Eleanor was engrossed in her thoughts.

“Foreigner, it seems like you have a weak tolerance for alcohol compared to Ellie.”

At the faint voice of Albrith that echoed in the reception room, the foreigner quickly stood up and corrected his posture.

“Ahaha… Y-yes.”

Was it embarrassing to show a disheveled appearance in front of another man, or was it embarrassing to have abandoned the lady he was escorting and fallen down?

Correcting his posture, the foreigner lowered his purple eyes and replied to Albrith. There was a subtle blush on his cheeks, perhaps still feeling the effects of the alcohol in his body.

With his eyes downcast, the foreigner couldn’t help but think about the intertwined fingers that seemed to be moving on their own.

“I used to handle alcohol better than most men… Is this the price of turning back time?”

Of course, the two blonde siblings, oblivious to such thoughts, looked at the foreigner with worried eyes, and Albrith approached the sofa where they were sitting and continued the conversation.

“Foreigner, this might be your first time drinking, but since you are in a position to take care of Ellie, you should exercise some restraint.”

“Yes… I’m sorry, sir.”

“No, it’s understandable. It’s good that you realize it now rather than later.”

With a voice urging him not to be discouraged, Albrith replied. Then, he turned his innocent blue eyes to his brother, who had become a true nuisance, glaring at the cursed blue diamond ring on his brother’s finger.

“Besides, that’s not the most important thing right now.”

Embarrassed, Eleanor’s head naturally turned down under the gaze of her brother, who was looking at her with concern.

“So, Eleanor. Don’t you have something to say first?”

In response to Albrith’s gentle voice, Eleanor raised her eyes slightly and looked at him. The blue eyes directed at her were warm and affectionate as usual, but she could sense some sharp emotions hidden within them.

“Uh… th-that…”

Eleanor stuttered. Beneath her flustered voice, her hand was caressing the ring on her finger.

The touch of Eleanor’s hand naturally caught the attention of the foreigner, who had been bowing his head next to her.

“Wait a minute, Ellie, what’s this?”

“Oh, huh?”

“This, this ring! Is this… you?”

Not having heard the news of the previous night due to being passed out from drinking, the foreigner raised his head in surprise and looked at Eleanor, who was full of confusion. He then grabbed her wrist and brought the sky-blue diamond ring, proudly displayed on her slender finger, into view.

“Ahaha… It turned out like this…”

That was all Eleanor could do, just let out a forced laugh. Facing the sharp gaze directed at her, Eleanor suddenly felt a strong longing for Dimitri at this moment.

#.

While Eleanor was struggling with all sorts of troubles due to the new piece of jewelry suddenly appearing on her finger.

The man who caused the problem was enjoying a peaceful morning unlike her.

Having spent a calm morning at the townhouse in Verbritz, Dimitri, who had just come out, was teasing the blonde beauty sitting at the desk in the office of the contact point all morning.

“So, Daphne. Ellie handed me the Grand Viscount’s ring and looked up at me. How cute was that?”

“Yes, yes, it must have been.”

“Her eyes were trembling with excitement. Right?”

“Yes, yes, I suppose so.”

“Hey, Daphne… Are you listening? Are you listening?”

Daphne let out a small sigh as she put down the documents in her hand.

“Ha… Yes, I’m listening, Your Highness.”

Various documents were piled up on her desk. Most of them were necessities for wintering at the northern barrier. From food to warm fur, bedding and curtains for the new host, and even sweet treats.

Daphne glared at Dmitri, who was leaning back comfortably on the sofa, his black hair swept back unlike yesterday, and she spat out in a cold voice.

“If you keep ignoring me like this, you’ll be in for a whole morning, no, a whole day of torment.”

“Congratulations, really.”

“Thanks.”

“So, did you finally gather up the courage and confess your feelings?”

“Haha… well, you know.”

“You used to say nonsense like ‘would anyone mistake me for a woman?’ but now you’re all out in the open. Your Highness.”

Dmitri seemed to finally catch on to the sarcastic congratulations. He straightened up, lowering his crossed legs, and looked at Daphne. She was already cold in demeanor, but today she seemed to exude even more chill.

“Um… Daphne. You seem really angry about something.”

“Angry? No, it’s refreshing not to have to see Your Highness’s frustrating face anymore.”

“You’re angry, right? That’s it, isn’t it?”

Daphne chuckled at Dmitri’s unsure voice.

It was a face she had seen often until recently. The rough exterior, the way she used to follow behind Dmitri as his adjutant, all of that. Even though he had found a woman to love, Your Highness hadn’t really changed.

Afraid that she might reveal that smile to the man in front of her, Daphne quickly forced a smile and picked up the documents again.

“So, do you plan to visit the Beorn estate before heading north?”

“I suppose so. I was planning to visit anyway.”

Dmitri spoke lightly, his voice losing some of its strength, as he looked at Daphne’s slightly softened face.

“But it’s a bit scary, isn’t it?”

“What’s so scary? If they invited you to the mansion in the spring, and if Lord Albrice has said what he said, then they must also see you as a potential suitor, right?”

“Well, that’s true. But you know, that family is quite extraordinary to Elly. Honestly, meeting Albrice at the Beorn estate later is a bit scary for me.”

Dmitri stretched, raising his hand above his head, and said, “Well, I am the Grand Duke of the Empire. Worst case scenario, they’ll just scold me for trying to steal their daughter and that’ll be the end of it.”

“That’s true. Well, Your Highness is quite resilient, so even if you get a few hits, you’ll be fine.”

“As expected of you, Daphne… You’re angry, right? That’s it, isn’t it?”