episode_0121

In the first-class compartment of the train, there was a large window that allowed a view inside. Of course, one could cover it with curtains, but since the train had just departed, the curtains were not drawn.

Eleanor softly whispered his name at the sight of the dark figure on the other side of the large window.

“Dmitri….”

Certainly, her voice wouldn’t reach inside the compartment, blocked by thick glass and steel. Yet, somehow, the two lovers’ gazes met across the distance.

Dmitri, on the other side of the window, pursed his lips into a large smile. Eleanor could easily discern the message he was trying to convey with that exaggerated mouth shape. Soon, tears began to trickle down beneath his large pupils.

This scene seemed like something out of a drama… Eleanor wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and approached the front of the train.

Under the scorching summer sun, the train emanated a metallic smell that bothered Eleanor’s delicate sense of smell.

It wasn’t just the smell.

The heated metal plates were so close that the intense heat was palpable.

“Oh, miss.”

As the lady approached the front of the heated train, Oejeni gasped and tried to stop Eleanor, but upon meeting her gaze with his bloodshot eyes, he wordlessly let her go.

Dmitri, sitting in the compartment, also looked at her with a slightly worried expression. This prolonged separation was a first for him in conveying his feelings. His heart was in a tumultuous state as well.

Eleanor, tears streaming down her face, raised the corners of her mouth in a reassuring smile towards her worried lover.

Of course, Eleanor knew how pitiful she must look, shedding tears but only managing to lift the corners of her mouth. Nevertheless, she maintained a brave smile and placed her palm against the large glass window.

It was a decision already made. Eleanor didn’t want to needlessly worry Dmitri, so she mustered the biggest smile she could manage.

Although Eleanor was somewhat petite for a lady, she was fortunate enough to be able to place her palm on the lower window among the two divided windows.

Dmitri, afraid that her small hand might get caught in the window, carefully opened it and wrapped Eleanor’s hand in his beneath the white lace gloves.

Despite the noisy surroundings of the bustling train station, Dmitri’s voice clung steadfastly to Eleanor’s heart.

“Elli, please wait a little longer. I won’t make you wait too long, I promise.”

Since switching to informal speech, his voice became sweeter and more affectionate. Eleanor closed her eyes tightly against the tears welling up and nodded vigorously.

“Yes, Dmitri. I’ll wait. No matter what.”

The bustling platform just before the train’s departure was now filled only with the sight of each other through the window for the two of them.

“Miss, it’s time for the train to depart. It’s a bit risky to stay like this.”

As the station attendant approached Eleanor, their own world came to an end. Dmitri gently released her small, white hand that he was holding.

Eleanor stepped back, embraced by Oejeni, as the train’s horn blared loudly, signaling its departure.

Her sky-blue eyes followed the train’s receding figure heading north, chasing after it endlessly.

#.

After her lover headed north, Eleanor’s heart felt incredibly restless as she returned to the mansion.

Until she received word that he was ready to welcome her back, how was she supposed to pass the time in this long wait? She gazed at the slowly disappearing train station, with a single tear rolling down her moist cheek.

Looking back now, the worries she had back then seemed trivial.

Recently, Eleanor had been so busy with her daily schedule that she couldn’t even fathom such sentimental emotions.

As a noble lady of Beauren, it was a given that she would accompany her mother to the social gatherings in the west. Eleanor realized how difficult it was to smile at the approaching women with warmth.

She wondered how Dimitri felt when he interacted with the nobles. She regretted not being more cordial.

But that wasn’t all.

Unlike the capital, the west was quite busy during the summer season, so the social gatherings didn’t happen every day. Even on days with no events, she spent her time with noble ladies in etiquette classes.

And today, without a social gathering, the classes continued.

On the second floor of the mansion, in the study of her mother Etienne Blanc, Eleanor sat at her desk with a frown.

A luxurious fountain pen spun around on her slender finger. The notebook spread out on the desk, with a line drawn in the middle, was none other than the ledger of the Beauren Viscount.

The steward standing straight beside the desk raised his glasses and pointed his rough finger towards the ledger.

“Miss, on the left side of this ledger, known as the debit side, the increase in assets is recorded.”

“Increase in assets…?”

“Last week, do you remember the new knights who came to the mansion?”

“Yes. There were several carriages coming and going, it was a bit noisy.”

“If you look at this entry, you’ll see the details of that time.”

Eleanor’s sky-blue eyes followed the steward’s finger. Although the characters were not present in the world of Serjuha, perhaps due to the privilege of the possessor, Eleanor could easily understand the contents.

“And on the opposite side, the credit side. Ah, here it is. This entry shows the expenses incurred for the knights, right?”

“Is that so?”

“For a transaction to be perfect, the entries on the debit and credit sides must match. If you find any discrepancies while examining the ledger, it means something is amiss.”

“I see.”

Even with Eleanor’s brief response, the steward’s enthusiastic education continued.

For him, this lesson was a particularly special time.

The cute little girl who used to run around the mansion with light steps was now preparing to become the lady of the house.

In the steward’s wrinkled eyes behind his thick glasses, there was a hint of emotion. Thanks to this, his attitude towards Eleanor was filled with a sense of respect.

However, despite the steward’s sincere teachings, the results were quite minimal. Eleanor deliberately brought the ledger with mistakes, but she still couldn’t figure out where she went wrong.

From the start, the studies Eleanor had pursued in Serjuha had nothing to do with ledgers or accounting.

Furthermore, despite studying science, Eleanor was never good with numbers.

“Sigh…”

“There’s no need to be too disheartened. Everyone starts off that way.”

Eleanor, who was completely taken aback, bowed her head deeply. The butler was offering words of comfort to Eleanor, who was in such a state.

Watching quietly, Ojessini approached the two cautiously and spoke gently.

“Miss, are you feeling overwhelmed?”

At the sound of Ojessini’s voice, Eleanor raised her head abruptly. The fact that her voice was heard meant it was break time. Even on the tray held by Sophie, there were teacups, a teapot, and a cake covered in white cream.

Seeing this, the butler respectfully bowed and made way for the ladies’ time.

“Well… I’m not used to this kind of thing.”

Eleanor, with sky-blue eyes rolling from side to side, seemed exhausted just from glancing at the ledger.

Soon, Sophie began setting up teacups and cake on the coffee table in the study, and Eleanor walked wearily to the sofa and collapsed onto it.

“Ugh. Why do I have to learn this kind of thing!”

Stretching from her fingertips to her toes, Eleanor yawned widely. Her small feet, tucked tightly under her beige long skirt, wiggled in the air in annoyance.

“Miss, even though the butler or the housekeeper is responsible for writing the ledger, you should know how to verify it.”

At that, Eleanor, who had stretched out her arms and legs, let them fall back down. Her brown shoes, worn over white stockings, slipped off her petite feet and rolled onto the floor.

“Ugh…”

Annoyed, Eleanor, even with her shoes off and feet still wiggling, continued to act up.

With a motherly smile, Ojessini carefully sat in front of Eleanor. The sight of her, stretching even her words cutely, was so different from the Eleanor Ojessini had met in the capital after a long time.

After confessing her feelings to her beloved, her lady had transformed into such an emotional woman.

Of course, what woman of this age wouldn’t be like that? The Eleanor Ojessini met in the capital, who seemed to have lost her memory and was hiding her feelings even from herself, was so different.

Seeing such a change in her precious friend, Ojessini wanted to embrace her in her arms. But now, with many eyes looking around through the crack in the study door, she had to be a lady’s maid, not her childhood friend.

Ojessini carefully gathered Eleanor’s shoes scattered on the floor in front of her, suppressing the emotions that filled her heart.

“Moreover, you are supposed to become the mistress of the Verbreitz Ducal House. The Ducal House is as prestigious as the Baron of Bearn, so you should learn in advance.”

At those words, Eleanor, who had reacted to the word “mistress,” responded.

“Mistress, me?”

Although she was well aware of this fact, Eleanor asked in a fresh expression, wanting to hear it from someone else.

“Yes. You even decided to get engaged this summer.”

It was true.

The day before Dimitri left for the north, she had made a bombshell statement that she would get engaged this summer. Since then, Eleanor’s mother and the mistress of the Bearn family had hastily prepared for bridal training.

In fact, one could say that all of this was the consequence of her actions.

And the bride training of this era was a bit different from what Eleanor had seen and heard through Seojuha’s body.

After all, when it comes to bride training, it’s not about studying housework like cooking, cleaning, or organizing the refrigerator.

In childhood, in the weekend dramas that the family used to watch after dinner, everyone would gather around and watch together. It was definitely like that.

However, the bride training here was different from those memories. Even if commoners’ bride training was different, at least the noble family bride training that Eleanor was learning was very different from her memories.

Reviewing and confirming the ledger that was previously learned.

The roles of the servants working in the mansion, and how to treat them and give orders.

Even evaluating luxury items such as jewelry and art pieces.

“Oh, I don’t know! The Ellie back then will take care of it. The current Ellie just needs a sweet rest and Dimitri!”

Eleanor exclaimed with a squeak, spitting out a line she had heard somewhere before. Then, she scooped up a spoonful of cake filled with cream in front of her and stuffed it into her small mouth.

Eleanor usually didn’t like such sweet things. Whether it was because she was getting closer to sweets, or because she had been under a lot of stress lately, she would lose herself at the sight of sweet snacks these days.

And in that moment when she felt the sweet and smooth sensation of the cream filling her mouth, she had a happy expression on her face.

“Oh, Miss! A message has arrived from the North!”

Despite the maid’s disrespectful attitude as she entered without knocking, the people in the study couldn’t blame her. After all, the Miss had suddenly stood up with cream all around her lips.

“W-what is it?”

“Miss! First, swallow what’s in your mouth. Oh, goodness, your lips are covered in cream!”