episode_0103

“That’s not possible, Ellie.”

At the resolute voice, Eleanor’s sky-blue eyes began to tremble. It seemed that she hadn’t even considered the possibility of rejection, as she looked at Eleanor with a very puzzled expression.

In the world of the nobles, a man who doesn’t come when a beloved woman calls is a rare sight indeed.

Dmitri, facing Eleanor’s trembling and bewildered eyes, softly pronounced that name, which had never been heard by her before, in a serious voice reminiscent of a starry night.

“Ellie.”

“Oh, yes, yes. Dmitri.”

The tremor in Dmitri’s voice gradually subsided.

“Do you remember when I confessed my feelings to you?”

Eleanor nodded slightly without saying a word.

“As I said that night, the North is still a land lacking in many ways. It’s not suitable for a precious woman like you to stay.”

In a calm and composed voice, Dmitri continued, and Eleanor raised her voice in opposition.

“But there’s also Lady Hilda!”

“Hilda is a woman from the North. She may be noble by blood, but she did not grow up as such.”

Facing Dmitri’s sharp sky-blue eyes, Eleanor thought to herself as Dmitri continued speaking in a somewhat dazed manner.

“In fact, I have made preparations in various ways to honor Ellie. I have even changed the structure of the manor and ordered new furniture to fill it.”

“But!”

“But I have not seen it with my own eyes yet. I’m not sure if Ellie will be satisfied.”

“Yes, Dmitri. I’m fine. As long as I have you by my side-”

“I’m not trying to insult Ellie. It’s just that for someone like you, who grew up in the sheltered environment of the Count’s estate, the North’s grand manor may be quite difficult to endure.”

Dmitri cut off Eleanor’s following tender voice with a sharp remark. No matter how determined she was, if Eleanor had listened to the rest of her words, she would have easily fallen prey to that devilish sky-blue gaze.

Looking at Eleanor with her confused eyes, Dmitri gently folded his hands on top of her white lace gloves and continued speaking.

“That land is a place where even a child born of a mother’s pain is abandoned and left to run away.”

As he finished his story with a voice more desolate than the black tea in front of him, Eleanor looked at him with slightly angry eyes and thought to herself.

Dmitri’s words were half true and half false.

While Eleanor, a lady who grew up delicately in the western region of Beorn, was correct, the personality within her was not so delicately nurtured.

“Dmitri. I’ll be fine wherever it is.”

“I, on the other hand, will not be fine.”

“I don’t want to part like this.”

“It’s not a permanent parting, is it?”

“But… you said that once summer ends in the North, winter comes immediately. That means we won’t be able to meet until winter ends.”

Eleanor leaned in closer to him, her face blushing at her shy words, and continued to speak slowly, meeting Dmitri’s gaze.

“You did the same in the capital. You left after taking my heart and suddenly returned to the mansion in Verbritz. I really… I really…”

Despite starting off with a confident tone, by the end, the fire had dwindled.

“I really… I really don’t want to be separated from you.”

“Ellie, let’s make a decision after safely arriving in the West.”

And in the midst of his beloved’s poignant gaze, Dmitri found himself unable to stand firm and had to take a step back, contrary to his firm resolve.

#.

The tense standoff between the two lovers continued even as the train raced through the vast plains of the West after a sweet and bitter lunch.

In truth, it was a bit ambiguous to call it a standoff. It was more like one side unilaterally cutting off communication, in other words, sulking.

Like a child throwing a tantrum, Eleanor chose to retreat after hearing the rejection.

Since that lunch, Eleanor had chosen to stay holed up in her cabin. With all the necessary amenities in the first-class cabin, she had not stepped outside even once.

Of course, with her pink lips quivering, she made the excuse of feeling nauseous due to the swaying train, but even from the way she chased Dmitry out of the room, it was clear.

Well, whether it was a breakup or a cold war.

It had only been a short while since they had confirmed each other’s feelings, but the victim caught in the sudden chill between them was the foreigner, Elly.

The gentle knocking on the door of the room. Now, just from that sound alone, Elly knew who was standing outside the door.

“Elly. I’ll be back in a moment.”

“Hmph!”

Eleanor turned her head sharply, clutching the blanket tightly. In fact, her appearance was somewhat cute, but the situation was far from ideal to entertain such thoughts.

Elly cautiously slipped out of the room and met a tall man outside.

“Your Highness.”

“Um, Elly… I heard that the meal was ready…”

Dmitry’s face didn’t look too good either. He stared at Elly with a frozen expression, as if standing on a cold winter wall.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I’ve been trying to persuade her, but she’s been quite stubborn.”

His expression mirrored Elly’s.

The obedient Eleanor, who had always listened well, had suddenly grown into a stubborn four-year-old, refusing to listen to her mother. That’s how it seemed.

“Well, I see.”

“I’ll try to persuade her again. Your Highness, please don’t worry too much and go have your meal first.”

“Alright. Thank you.”

As he said that, Dmitry tightly held Elly’s hand. He felt like he wanted to pull her into the room and push her into the arms of the stubborn girl who would pout and resist, but he couldn’t.

That man seemed to have made women cry quite a bit.

Watching Dmitry walk away, Elly sighed. The current situation seemed hopeless.

“Why not just come in and apologize to Elly?”

With a trembling tongue, Elly entered the room. The train running on a smooth track didn’t feel any shaking, but her lady was still wrapped in blankets on the bed.

“Elly…”

“I’m fine, go and eat.”

Like a tragic heroine. Eleanor looked out the window next to the bed and uttered those lonely words. If she had been a strict lady, she would have scolded and pushed him away immediately, but unfortunately, the man standing in front of her was a childhood friend.

Despite Eleanor’s pitiful appearance, Elly approached her with a controlled expression.

“Really… Elly, stop this.”

“I’m fine, so go and eat.”

Even Elly’s tone had turned into that of a lady. Her violet eyes began to sparkle.

“Ha, this is really! We can’t just talk about it anymore.”

Eleanor, sensing something ominous, turned her head cautiously. But the dark shadow had already cast itself over her pale face.

“Eleanor Arène de Beaune. Are you really going to be like this?”

“W-what!”

“How long are you going to stay holed up in the room!”

“T-that’s…”

“Eleanor! Get up right now and change your clothes. No, I’ll dress you myself, so just wait there.”

“W-wait. I-I’ll dress myself!”

#.

Although Elly’s maid, Elly, told him to eat first, Dmitry couldn’t easily ask the staff to bring the food.

He sat in front of the table, waiting for Elly to come out of her room, wondering if she would show up, if Elly would bring her out, and spent his time absentmindedly.

Waiting for a guest who didn’t show up was a common occurrence for the staff in the dining car. After waiting alone for a long time, the steward would finally say it was time to finish, and then the meal would be served in front of him.

Today was no different… no, it was the same. The steward, who had been anxiously looking at the pocket watch in his vest pocket, finally started to move his heavy steps.

Creak.

The dining car door opened.

“Oh, Elly.”

Dmitry, who had been sitting like a statue in front of the table, suddenly stood up. The woman who entered the dining car with a shy look avoided his sky-blue eyes and replied.

“Oh, it’s been a while. Dmitry.”

Her face turning red, she took hesitant steps towards Dmitri. Of course, there was Eugenie’s hand urging her to move faster from behind, but Dmitri didn’t notice it.

“Are you feeling better now?” Dmitri asked, looking at Eleanor’s approaching face. Eleanor had only left her room due to seasickness, so naturally, his first words were about her well-being.

But seasickness, really!

Since the train had stopped shaking, Eleanor had been rolling around on the wide bed in the first-class cabin. She may play the tragic heroine, but she couldn’t help but be amazed by the vast horizon outside the window, a sight unseen in Korea.

So, her blushing face wasn’t just because she had seen Dmitri’s face after a long time.

“I-I’m fine now.”

“Excuse us for interrupting your conversation.”

The steward approached the two who had finally sat down, with a slightly refreshed expression. His voice was much softer than yesterday.

“If you could please choose your menu now.”

“Oh, sorry. We kept you waiting. Shall we order something light for Ellie?”

“I-I’ll have what Dmitri is having.”

Eleanor, who had been suffering from seasickness, or rather acting like it, had been eating light meals all along.

Understanding, the steward bowed slightly, called for the chef, and returned to his place.

Dmitri was the first to speak again between the two facing each other.

“Elli.”

“Yes, Dmitri.”

Perhaps because of what had happened before, Dmitri’s gaze and voice towards the woman across from him were as delicate as handling fragile porcelain.

“No matter how much I think about it, I can’t bring myself to feel comfortable taking Ellie to the North.”

“Dmitri… I really am okay.”

“But… Ellie’s words are important.”

Carefully picking up Eleanor’s words, Dmitri continued.

“I don’t want to part ways with Ellie. I really don’t.”

“T-then…”

“There’s a small lake on the way to the North. It’s called Seraphon, and the scenery is very beautiful, often visited by the nobles of the capital.”

Eleanor blinked her large sky-blue eyes. It was clear what Dmitri’s words implied.

“It’s not too far from the palace, how about spending this summer together?”

“O-okay, Dmitri.”

As Eleanor spoke, the expression she showed was the brightest since boarding the train.

However, the two lovers looking at each other with happy expressions were unaware.

Eleanor’s parents, her little brother, they were not easygoing people when it came to matters concerning Eleanor.