episode_0102

In truth, Eleanor grumbled a bit in Odgen’s arms due to the shaking and noise of the train, but the compartment she was staying in was first class, spacious, comfortable, and luxurious.

The double bed in front of the large window that perfectly captured the scenery of the running train, the stylish wool carpet on the compartment floor, the sofa and table on top of it. None of them were lacking compared to those of a townhouse.

Not to mention the compartment itself. The dining car exclusively for first class passengers that Eleanor entered after opening the door was even more splendid than the compartment.

The large chandelier hanging in the center was something you would see in a sophisticated salon. The elegant table and chairs inside, along with the waiters who politely bowed their waists upon seeing Eleanor enter the car, left nothing to be desired.

It felt as if the interior of the dining car had been directly transferred from a famous upscale restaurant in the capital.

“Um… Isn’t this too extravagant for a moving train?”

Eleanor confidently opened the door, only to widen her eyes at the sight of the dining car in front of her.

Having lived as the youngest daughter of the Bearen family, she was somewhat accustomed to such things. However, the stuffy harmony that greeted her with “Welcome, Miss Eleanor,” ultimately made Eleanor take a step back.

“Oh, Ellie. Why are you making such a fuss about this?”

The voice coming from behind was Odgen’s.

Even if Eleanor couldn’t remember, she had already traveled by train to the capital.

“Ellie, more importantly, over there! His Highness is waiting.”

Saying so, Odgen carefully adjusted the friend’s bare shoulder that was exposed on her dress.

“Ah, okay. I got it. Then, what about you, Odgen?”

“I’ll have a separate meal at a different table so as not to disturb you, don’t worry!”

Odgen took a seat at a table in front of the dining car door, sending a meaningful smile towards Eleanor.

As it was mealtime, the shaking of the train was much less than before. The shaking had subsided to the point where one could walk easily without holding onto anything, even wearing high heels.

In the now quiet dining car after the stuffy harmony that welcomed Eleanor, the sound of Eleanor’s heels echoed once again.

Dmitri, who was approaching Eleanor cautiously, smiled warmly at her.

“You look beautiful, Ellie.”

At that smile.

At those words of beauty, Eleanor’s heart started to beat faster once again.

Eleanor sat down on the chair offered by the waiter, tucking the hem of her dress neatly as she tried to calm her heart.

“I made you wait a lot, didn’t I? I’m sorry.”

Blushing, Eleanor offered an apology.

In fact, quite some time had passed since Dmitri had come to the compartment to inform her that dinner was ready.

And as time passed, Eleanor’s appearance had changed significantly from what Dmitri had seen in the compartment.

Unlike the somewhat comfortable attire she had on during the long journey, with a long skirt under her blouse earlier, Eleanor was now heavily adorned like a woman invited to a banquet.

Under her platinum blonde hair neatly styled, her slender neck and shoulders were exposed without a blemish. The sky-blue dress below her collarbones accentuated the curves of the few women present.

In fact, Eleanor had grumbled a bit about receiving makeup, apologizing to Dmitri.

But at the mention that one should show a beautiful appearance in front of their loved one, Eleanor took a step forward.

And at the mention that a woman should make a man wait a bit, make him impatient, Eleanor, who saw through it, was once again one step ahead.

In the perfect battle-ready appearance of Eleanor, Dmitri managed to hold back a rising smile and replied.

“No, Ellie. I didn’t realize how time flew by while admiring the passing scenery.”

At Dmitri’s response, a disrespectful thought suddenly crossed Eleanor’s mind.

If she were to ask that man with a twisted face, “So, you didn’t think about me at all?” what kind of reaction would he show?

With his cheeks puffed up and a spring in his step, Dimitri wondered what sweet words he could use to melt me away.

Just the thought of it made my heart tighten. My stomach gently clenched, and my pink lips, moistened with a rosy tint, began to tingle.

But the thought that came to mind was nothing but a sly trick no matter how much I thought about it.

Eleanor blushed at the realization that she had thought of such a sly trick herself and lightly patted her cheek with her hand.

And in response to Eleanor’s mysterious behavior, Dimitri blinked in confusion.

“Um, hey. Uh, Ellie?”

“Oh! Um… this… it’s nothing, really. It’s just something ladies do to relieve the blush on their cheeks.”

“Is that so…?”

What do ladies do?

Watching from behind, the eavesdropping Eugene chuckled at his cute friend’s excuse. But Dimitri, who was clueless about ladies’ behavior, simply let it go.

And so began the awkward atmosphere.

Both Eleanor and Dimitri were tight-lipped, avoiding each other’s gaze.

The two men in smart black uniforms who approached Eleanor’s table with military-like decorum were the ones who broke the sweet yet uncomfortable silence.

“Dimitri Verberitz Grand Duke, and Eleanor Arena de Beaune. I am Marco, the conductor of the train that will be hosting you on your journey to Beaune.”

The man with a neatly buttoned shirt up to his neck and a white beard peeking through his well-groomed beard introduced himself in a calm voice.

Dimitri gestured for them to rise. The two men straightened up at the signal, and Dimitri extended his hand to thank them.

“I am Dimitri. Thank you for taking care of us in this journey. I heard that a separate car has been connected for us in this dining car as well.”

“No, it’s only right to take care of you. You are our most valuable customer at the railway.”

However, the conductor’s brown eyes were not on Dimitri.

With curiosity filling his beautiful eyes, innocent Eugene, like a cloudless summer sky, gazed at the conductor, who once again politely bowed to the waist.

Eleanor glanced at Dimitri for a moment.

Having learned from her ladyship lessons that a man bowing in front of a lady was an expression of respect, Eleanor cautiously extended her hand to him, and the conductor kissed the back of her hand on the white lace glove.

“I hope for good results from our railway this year as well. Please convey my regards to your father.”

“Oh, my father?”

“Yes. Tell Baron Blanc that I hope for good results in various ways.”

The conductor stood up again and looked at the two men and women with a polite voice.

“In case you feel uncomfortable due to the swaying, lunch has been prepared mainly with light dishes. If you want something different, please let the staff here know.”

After the meal, with peach tart and fragrant black tea for dessert, Eleanor cautiously looked at Dimitri across from her.

It wasn’t really expected to be a light meal, but the well-cooked white fish and fresh salad suited her queasy stomach very well.

But was this diet lacking for a man in his prime?

Claiming that he didn’t like sweet things, Dimitri, who only had a cup of black tea in front of him unlike Eleanor on the opposite side, didn’t look very pleased.

“You know, Dimitri.”

At his dark expression, Eleanor carefully set down the fork in her hand and spoke.

“Yes, Ellie.”

“Have you ever been to the west?”

Dimitri, who had been absentmindedly staring out the window at the scenery, turned his black eyes to meet the platinum-haired lady.

“As you know, the junction to the north is located in the west, so I’ve only seen it a few times.”

“Then it’s the first time for both of us.”

What’s so great about it? Eleanor smiled broadly at Dimitri’s words.

Her laughter was like the song of a legendary siren. Forget the awkward greeting that just moments ago had made him uncomfortable, Dmitri stared blankly at her large eyes drawing a beautiful line.

“Ah… I see.”

“Yes, Dmitri. How long do you plan to stay in the West?”

“To be honest, I’m not sure.”

To break away from her magic, Dmitri took a bitter sip of black tea before continuing.

“First, we need to get permission for our relationship. Before that, I have no plans to leave the West.”

At the mention of their relationship, Eleanor’s pale face flushed red in an instant. Gently touching the signet ring on her fourth finger, nestled on her white lace glove, she waited for Dmitri’s next words.

“But I can’t stay for long. As you know, we need to return to the North to prepare for winter.”

Eleanor cautiously raised her lips in response to his words. In a hesitant voice, she voiced the thoughts she had been holding onto.

“Well… yes. The nobles in the capital… they say they go on vacation in the summer… and the North… they say it’s cool even in the summer.”

Dmitri let out a small sigh at Eleanor’s words. She was thinking of spending the summer together.

However, his next words were quite different from what she had expected.

“That’s not possible, Ellie.”