episode_0098

“I also had some feelings… No, moreover, Brother, Oppa. Wasn’t it Mother and Father who pushed Dimitri and me together?”

Eleanor retorted with a flushed face. Her voice was just as prickly as her expression.

From Brother to Oppa, Eleanor, who had become closer in terms of address, was now offering fewer words to Albris.

Normally, Albris would have welcomed this change in his lovable youngest sister with open arms. But now, he couldn’t just smile and brush off Eleanor’s prickly, not-so-cute voice.

Of course, as Eleanor said, it was true that Albris himself, as well as Father and the family, had marked Dimitri Verbritz as a potential suitor for Eleanor.

Last spring, their parents had openly invited Eleanor and Dimitri to the mansion to bring them together. Father, realizing that time was running out, had pushed the hesitant Dimitri forward.

In fact, finding a suitable groom like Dimitri within the vast Galatea Empire was a challenge. Despite the Verbritz family’s noble status, their land was lacking in many aspects.

Naturally, Eleanor’s match should be someone who could match her status, and even listing potential candidates in his mind did not satisfy Albris.

Just as Albris had never taken a woman by his side until now.

Of course, Grand Duke Dimitri was not perfect either. Despite his reputation, the Verbritz family’s territory was lacking in many ways. The thought of sending delicate Eleanor to the cold grand duchy made Albris dizzy.

But if the power of the Beorn family was involved, the problem could be easily solved. The Beorn family would not allow some upstarts to block the warehouse for their beloved youngest daughter and sister.

Still…

No matter what, isn’t this moving too fast?

Albris looked at his sister, whose cheeks were puffed up, her blonde hair falling neatly over her eyebrows. He glanced at the platinum ring on her finger.

Sigh…

They’re not commoners from the streets. Neither Ellie nor that Dimitri guy are in a rush to get married.

To give a grand ducal ring to a debutante who has just made her debut, that kid.

And Eleanor was the same.

She didn’t even know the feelings of this orphan who hoped to enjoy a free life with the Beorn name.

Apart from Eleanor, whose mind was already complicated, there was another person in the reception room whose heart was also in turmoil.

“Master, may I have a moment to speak with Miss Eleanor alone?”

Unlike his hesitant demeanor just moments ago, the foreigner spoke clearly and confidently, his eyes sharp. Albris was taken aback by the difference and stumbled over his words.

“Uh, um. Alone with her?”

“I am truly sorry, but it concerns matters of the ladies.”

“Y-yes. Then I should excuse myself for a moment.”

Albris quickly drank the remaining cold tea in the cup on the table. The once fragrant tea had lost its aroma, leaving only bitterness in his mouth.

Nevertheless, Albris’s expression was strangely cool, with a smile tinged with something refreshing.

The foreigner valued Ellie as much as the Beorn family did, so he would probably convey the message Albris wanted to deliver.

“There are many things to discuss about the future schedule, so once the conversation is over, please call me back.”

With a noble demeanor, Albris walked out of the reception room and addressed the two women left on the sofa.

After confirming the blonde man had left the room, the foreigner approached Eleanor closely, enveloping her in his violet eyes.

Eleanor slightly withdrew her waist as the sharp gaze made her feel like she should speak formally, even though he was a friend and a maid.

A moment of silence followed.

Eleanor widened her eyes in surprise at the foreigner’s carefully chosen words.

“Elli, you didn’t go all the way, did you? Did the Grand Duke allow it to the point of-.”

“Hey! You, you, you! What is that sound!”

Unexpectedly, Eleanor’s delicate hand covered Eugenie’s lips in response to that statement. Eleanor screamed, preventing any more words from coming out of Eugenie’s tiny mouth.

With sharp purple eyes scanning around, Eleanor cautiously removed her hand from Eugenie’s lips after checking if anyone had heard the words.

“What are you talking about! If you accept a ring so suddenly… You’re not, right? Really not?”

“No, I’m not!”

With a tearful expression, Eleanor vigorously shook her head. Her neat platinum hair swayed in accordance with the movement of her head.

“Then where did you go?”

“Uh, what?”

“With His Majesty! And that man, Dmitry! Where did you two go? How did that wolf cook you to the point of giving you this ring…”

Eugenie stared at Eleanor with wide eyes. Although she was not in a position to inquire about such matters as a maid, facing those purple eyes, she felt compelled to answer.

“Just… we watched the fireworks together. Dmitry confessed and gave me this ring. And…”

“And?”

“And…”

The end of her words trailed off slightly. As the silence grew longer, Eleanor, feeling somewhat embarrassed, hesitated to speak about the truth, even though they were close friends.

But that was Eleanor’s perspective.

Eugenie, who needed to know what had happened last night and about the ring on her dear friend’s left fourth finger, saw nothing visible.

“And what else!”

“A kiss! We only went as far as a kiss…”

Blushing intensely, Eleanor answered and then lowered her head.

Thank goodness, they didn’t cross any lines.

Seeing Eleanor sobbing with her head down, Eugenie felt a bit harsh now.

“You’re so mean… Eugenie too… and even my brother… everyone is really mean…”

With a choked voice, Eleanor repeated those words to herself.

In the townhouse of Beaurne, the peaceful morning teatime continued to flow.

#.

Eleanor was sulking. She was truly in a sulking state.

After the questioning during teatime ended, Eleanor ignored Albris’ words and ran to her room, locking the door tightly and starting a protest inside.

“Really… everyone is so mean.”

Lying on the bed, hugging a large pillow to her body, Eleanor murmured to herself in solitude.

Finally, their hearts understood each other…

Instead of celebrating, they pushed her away like this.

Of course, Eleanor knew that they were worried about her. Even looking at herself, Eleanor Arène de Beaurne was not a particularly attractive lady for a noblewoman.

But still…

Isn’t this a bit too much?

“Hey… Ellie. I’m sorry…”

Eugenie’s voice came from beyond the door. Eleanor had decided not to easily open the door today, despite Eugenie’s apologetic tone.

So she just snorted and ignored Eugenie’s voice, hugging the soft pillow tighter to her chest.

“Miss Eleanor, I’m sorry to disturb you, but there is a visitor…”

Eugenie’s voice changed. Even with the polite tone, Eleanor didn’t bat an eyelid.

Do they think I’ll fall for their lies?

Sticking out her tongue, Eleanor turned her back to the door completely.

But the voice that echoed from behind her back melted her frozen heart instantly.

“Ellie, it’s Dmitry.”

In that deep and thick voice, Eleanor’s heart began to flutter. The chest that had settled down began to beat again.

Dmitry?

Dmitry is here?

As Eleanor jumped up from the bed, her gaze fell on the mirror in front of the dressing table.

Her platinum hair was disheveled from tossing and turning on the bed. Her lips were smudged here and there.

‘Oh!’

Perhaps afraid that the eerie sound might slip out through the door, Eleanor held her breath and carefully modulated her voice. The voice that flowed out through the crack in the door was as clear and pure as usual.

“Dmitri, I have something to prepare, could you wait for me in the reception room? Ojegni, please come inside for a moment.”

“Of course, Eli. I’ll wait downstairs.”

Eleanor gently unlocked the door. With a crisp click, she left behind Dmitri’s muffled voice and immediately began to think about what she needed to do.

First, she needed to brush her hair.

Hmm… yes, I should touch up my makeup a bit too.

The heavy bedroom door slowly creaked open.

The door opened so slowly that you could almost feel the tension in the air. And the voice that came from close by was much softer than Eleanor had anticipated.

“But, Eli.”

Startled by the voice, Eleanor turned around to find Dmitri still standing there.

“I was planning to, but I waited quite a while.”

With a puzzled look, Eleanor gazed at the dark man in front of her. Dmitri tenderly embraced Eleanor and placed his hand on her waist.

With a gentle gaze, Eleanor looked at the dark man in front of her. Dmitri lovingly held her in his arms and placed his hand on her waist.

“You don’t need to dress up, Eli. You are truly beautiful as you are.”

Thump.

Eleanor, with her lips tightly sealed, blinked her large eyes, wondering if her heartbeats could be heard.

Dmitri gently pulled Eleanor closer to him. Soon, his moist lips lightly touched her forehead.

“I’ll be waiting downstairs, Eli.”

The two ladies left behind in the room could only watch in astonishment as the departing man’s back disappeared from view.