episode_0126

Dmitri couldn’t sleep after receiving a handwritten letter from Eleonore expressing her excitement, which made her heart flutter.

Despite their reassurances that everything was fine, Eleonore impulsively opened the door and found herself standing in the hallway, not knowing where Dmitri was or even hearing about his whereabouts.

The place where she now stood was not a sophisticated and elegant townhouse in the capital, nor a grand and glamorous mansion in the western region.

The neatly cut square stones stacked layer upon layer in the hallway were a sight unlike any other mansion she had seen before.

While lacking in elegance, grandeur, sophistication, and refinement individually, when combined, this place was no less impressive than the mansions Eleonore had frequented – it was the Grand Castle of Verbritz.

And so, Eleonore…

Could not know where Dmitri’s room was or what lay beyond the hallway at that moment.

Fortunately for her, a middle-aged woman with a hint of gray hair was waiting for Eleonore at the junction of the hallway that extended alongside the bedroom.

“Miss Eleonore.”

A polite voice echoed through the long hallway.

The voice, filled with the passage of time, was one that could be guessed at one’s age without seeing them up close.

Eventually, the gray-haired woman approached Eleonore slowly.

With sky-blue eyes fixed on her, the woman, dressed in a white blouse and a long skirt, which seemed somewhat uncomfortable for movement, exuded a subtle smile and a dignified air even as a mere servant.

Therefore, Eleonore found it difficult to speak to the woman who had approached her.

“Um, well…”

“I am Lady Margarita of the Grand Castle.”

The woman who stood before the flustered Eleonore bowed politely first.

Lady Margarita of the Grand Castle.

Having been a noble lady-in-waiting in the capital, she had risen to the harsh northern lands alongside the former Grand Duchess.

Unlike her mistress who abandoned the north and her children, she continued to serve the north.

It was she who had taught the noble manners and ways of life to the orphaned siblings Dmitri and Hildegarde in their childhood.

She had protected Dmitri, who had not been able to withstand the harsh northern nobles, and had assisted Hildegarde, who was left alone in the Grand Castle.

She had raised the abandoned siblings with affection and sometimes strictness in this desolate land. If a nobleman’s children call their nanny their mother, Lady Margarita was like a fatherly figure to the Grand siblings.

However, Eleonore was unaware of this fact.

Dmitri had never mentioned anything about the people in the north, except for his younger sister Hildegarde, in front of her.

“I am Eleonore Arena de Beaurene.”

Introducing herself somewhat stiffly, Eleonore’s voice remained rigid thanks to the older woman in front of her.

This was due to the difficulty created by the memories of living as a man for 21 years. Despite interacting with many women in the western social circles, Eleonore found it hard to overcome the closeness that made her feel like a daughter, no matter how hard she tried to adapt.

On the contrary, although it was a bit uncomfortable, it was much easier for the men of her father’s generation to deal with.

Lady Margarita, who raised her waist that had been lowered in response to Eleanor’s awkward words and expression, gave a faint smile, wondering if the new mistress might feel burdened.

“Miss, you can speak comfortably.”

“Oh… Yes. For now, this side is a bit more comfortable.”

“Is that so? Understood. Please call me as comfortably as you wish.”

With a gentle voice, Lady Margarita continued, bowing her head towards Eleanor, who was becoming the new mistress of the estate.

“Shall I guide you to the bedroom to rest, Miss?”

“Oh! That’s right, Margarita. Rather than the bedroom…, um.”

At the end of her hesitant words, there was a hint of hesitation. But everyone in the estate already knew that she and Dmitri were lovers. They had embraced so passionately at the entrance.

“I actually want to see Dmitri first.”

The voice of the girl in love lightly brushed Lady Margarita’s ear. Anticipating the sound, Lady Margarita nodded her head and raised the corners of her lips slightly.

“In fact, the master is in the bedroom prepared for Miss Eleanor.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. Then please go.”

Eleanor’s voice trembled at the unexpected answer. The subtle trembling in her voice made Lady Margarita, who stood in front of her with a smile hidden from the young lady following her, also tremble slightly.

And with the news that Dmitri was waiting in the room, the low walls she had built up so far crumbled.

“Yes, Margarita. Is Dmitri waiting for me?”

Eleanor, who was following Lady Margarita closely, was filled with excitement in her voice. Hearing her words, mischievousness rose in Lady Margarita’s heart.

“Well, how could I know what’s in the master’s mind.”

“Right…”

Eleanor’s voice faded away.

Suppressing the laughter spreading over her lips at the sight of the adorable new mistress, Lady Margarita stopped in her tracks and turned around.

“In fact, Miss Hildegard has something she wants to share with the master, so she took him to your bedroom.”

“Is that so…?”

On Eleanor’s turned face, a look of disappointment was clearly visible.

I shouldn’t tease her anymore, Lady Margarita thought, looking at the sky-blue eyes that spread below. Now she was the cute lady who would become her new mistress.

She straightened her posture and began to move her stopped steps.

“But, you know, the master has been waiting for you to come up north.”

At that word, the clacking sound of the shoes following her regained their strength. When the enchanting scent of roses approached and lingered around her nose, Lady Margarita continued speaking.

“Not only the master, but everyone in our estate, all the people in the northern territories, have been waiting for you.”

“Me?”

Eleanor was taken aback by the sudden change in scale. Her slender shoulders rose slightly, and Margarita slowed her steps, turning her head to face her.

“In truth, it’s not quite appropriate to call His Highness the Crown Prince ‘Your Grace.’ It’s more fitting to welcome a companion overflowing with grace and charm,” Margarita said.

Eleanor’s white face flushed at the weighty word ‘companion,’ wondering why it made her heart flutter so. In the end, she lowered her head.

#.

“Dmitri Crown Prince, Miss Hildegarde. I’m Margarita.”

“Oh, Margarita! You can come in.”

Behind the dull knock, a voice that was very familiar to Eleanor echoed. Just hearing that voice made her heart race, and she quietly regulated her breathing, wondering if the lady standing next to her could hear it.

As Dmitri gave his permission, Margarita cautiously raised her hand above the latch. The bedroom door, thicker and heavier than those in the townhouse, seemed to be there to block the cold northern wind.

Eleanor, looking at her slender arms, wondered if she could open the door by herself. But as she faced the man on the other side of the now-open door, her doubts vanished.

“Oh, uh, huh? Elly?”

Was he surprised because he didn’t expect her to be here? His black eyes were filled with surprise. Finding his reaction quite cute, Eleanor couldn’t help but smile.

“Why are you so surprised! Dmitri, is there another woman in the room besides me?”

“W-What are you talking about, Elly!”

“Hmm? You seem so surprised, it’s suspicious.”

Eleanor opened her eyes slightly. But with mischief evident in her voice, both Dmitri and Margarita knew it wasn’t serious. Well, Dmitri seemed a bit unsure.

Had she learned the northern way of speaking in this short time walking down the hallway, Eleanor, with her eyes wide open, looked at Margarita with a satisfied smile.

“Well then, I’ll excuse myself. If you need anything, just pull the bell cord.”

“Thank you for guiding us, Margarita.”

“It’s nothing. It’s just what I should do. Have a good time, both of you.”

Although she exuded elegance, she was still an elderly woman. Leaving the room, she found herself giggling involuntarily at the sweet atmosphere between the young man and woman. Her laughter even made Eleanor, who was trying to captivate Dmitri, falter a bit.

But now, nothing else mattered.

From now on, in Eleanor’s bedroom, there were only the two men and women facing each other.

“So this is my bedroom.”

Eleanor was the first to break the silence. Her sky-blue eyes began to dart around busily, taking in her surroundings.

The room was quite lavishly decorated. Of course, there was no way for Eleanor to express it beyond this.

Having lived as a man for so long, she didn’t have any particular taste in furniture or decorations.

She had recently started to take a bit of interest in clothes and accessories, but as a woman, Eleanor was still quite inexperienced in the realm of interior design.

So this should suffice.

Her platinum blonde hair began to sway gently up and down.

“I’ve tried to pay attention to various things for Elly. How do you like it?”

However, Eleanor’s heart was suddenly filled with mischief at the changed, enthusiastic tone of voice.

The truth was, she wasn’t sure why her mischievous side had surfaced.

Perhaps it was because they had made me wait for over a month despite promising not to make me wait for long.

Or maybe it was because the news they had shared was nothing but a cold and endless fragment of information.

Could it be due to my own pathetic heart, unable to sleep from the excitement even from the emotionless and cold news?

Was it necessary for time to pass so slowly after we had faced each other, just to have a moment alone together?

Or was it because of my own heart, unknowingly smiling so brightly, wanting nothing more than to punch that handsome face.

“What about the princess?”

“Oh, you mean Hilda?”

Although Eleanor’s voice had become somewhat stiff, Dimitri, facing his lover, seemed unable to notice anything beyond that.

“We just talked and then she left.”

“Is that so?”

Dimitri’s response was met with gradually widening eyes.

“More importantly, you.”

Eleanor immediately approached Dimitri. She then grabbed the cravat with a sapphire in the center of her neck and held it up, lifting her chin towards his face.

“What were you doing here!”

Of course, she knew there was nothing going on. She had heard from Magarta, and she knew Dimitri was not that kind of man. Nevertheless, Eleanor raised her voice and glared at him with all her might.

Surely, she could have easily brushed off his touch with her own strength, but Dimitri chose to hold onto her collar.

“W-What are you talking about! We were just talking with Hilda.”

“Just that?”

“Y-Yes, just that. What else could I possibly be doing here…”

The black eyes that were once confident now seemed filled with injustice. Seeing the frustration in his eyes, Eleanor’s heart melted like snow.

“I missed you, Dimitri.”

Releasing the cravat from her hand, Eleanor embraced him. Dimitri realized the fact that her soft body was pressed against his thin shirt.

“I felt the same way, Ellie.”

“You made me wait for so long.”

“I did my best to come as soon as possible, didn’t I?”

“To be honest, it didn’t really matter to me.”

Eleanor’s hand reached for Dimitri’s cheek. He gently lifted her chin with his hand.

“Do you know what kind of room this is?”

“I heard, it’s the Duchess’s room, right?”

Dimitri nodded quietly.

“It is indeed the Duchess’s room, and from now on, it will be the room where you will stay for the rest of your life.”

“Oh my, are you planning to lock me up here?”

As Eleanor’s playful voice mixed in, Dimitri slowly leaned in towards her lips.

Eleanor closed her eyes tightly at the approaching shadow of the man. Even if her heart was stolen by the man approaching her, the memories of living as a man for 21 years unknowingly made her furrow her brows.

But as his breath filled her ears.

As their lips met in excitement.

As Dimitri’s scent tenderly bloomed from his strong chest.

The muscles around her eyes, which had been tensed, relaxed and melted away.