Episode 11
In her previous life, it was about one month after Eleonore and Walter held their wedding.
Walter finally found that child—his nephew—and brought him to the Ducal Castle.
— From now on, this child will be raised in the castle.
And he said it to Eleonore almost like a notice.
— You want me to raise a child? Even though the Duke and I haven’t even shared a bed yet?
At that time, Eleonore was already under extreme stress from the harsh treatment of her in-laws and Walter’s cold indifference.
So the moment she heard the word child, she exploded.
— If you had an illegitimate child, you should have told me before the marriage!
Eleonore screamed.
Because Walter had not explained anything properly, she had no choice but to assume the child was Walter’s illegitimate son.
— I will never treat a child born from another woman as my own!
For the head of a noble house to raise an illegitimate child inside the family, there was only one possible method.
The child had to be formally registered under the legal wife.
So Eleonore naturally thought Walter was demanding exactly that.
— Duke? Duke! Say something!
Eleonore shouted.
But Walter said nothing.
Even while watching Eleonore screaming, he remained silent.
As always, he just kept silent and delayed his response.
— I said I will never raise an illegitimate child!
Walter’s silence drove Eleonore almost insane.
— Some child with unknown background like that…!
The reason she spoke so harshly about the child was because she desperately wanted Walter to break his silence and answer her.
She simply couldn’t endure his silence any longer.
Walter’s brows slowly knitted together.
— Enough. Never speak about my nephew like that again.
From Walter’s perspective, he felt disgusted that Eleonore spoke so recklessly about a child she knew nothing about.
— …Nephew?
By the time Eleonore realized what he meant, Walter had already left the room with the child.
‘After that, my strange cohabitation with that child began… in the castle without Walter.’
Returning from the memory to the present, Eleonore smiled bitterly to herself.
“What did you just say, Miss Vianello?”
Walter asked in a frighteningly low voice.
“I said that I know where the Duke’s long-lost nephew is.”
Eleonore repeated her words with a confident smile.
The fact that Walter had asked again meant she had already gained the upper hand.
“……”
Walter remained silent, staring at Eleonore with sharp eyes.
Inside his gaze were intense suspicion and doubt.
“…Perhaps I should imprison Miss Vianello.”
“Because I know too many secrets? Or because you think I might be a suspicious element that could harm Pertitz?”
Even though Walter’s words seemed abrupt, Eleonore immediately understood his concern and smiled again.
Walter’s eyes slightly trembled.
“I cannot understand this.”
Walter muttered.
Eleonore watched with amusement as the man who normally stood like an unmoving mountain was actually shaken because of her.
“The Duke himself personally investigated my background. You should know better than anyone that there’s nothing suspicious about me.”
“……”
Walter fell silent again.
Her words were correct.
Walter had investigated Eleonore thoroughly before agreeing to the marriage.
His conclusion had been simple.
She was a woman raised like a decorative doll, meant only to be used for political marriage.
A woman who was arrogant and temperamental.
Yet someone who had no real abilities, and therefore posed no real threat.
That was the person Walter believed Eleonore to be.
But now…
She was completely different.
Eleonore calmly revealed secrets Walter had protected with all his strength—and even presented a deadly deal he could not refuse.
This… made no sense.
“So what will you do? Please answer quickly.”
While Walter was thinking, Eleonore urged him.
“If Miss Vianello truly knows my nephew’s whereabouts.”
No one had dared to rush Walter like this for years, so he answered her a moment later.
“I will accept your proposal. In exchange for telling me where my nephew is, I will act as your husband.”
Then his blue eyes sharpened.
“But… if Miss Vianello is lying.”
Suddenly goosebumps rose on Eleonore’s arm.
Walter had released killing intent as a warning.
“I trust you can imagine what will happen afterward.”
It was a terrifying threat.
In her previous life, Eleonore had seen many people who opposed Walter—or harmed Pertitz—meet terrible ends.
He is decisive… and cruel only when necessary.
Eleonore looked at Walter thoughtfully.
Sometimes controlled cruelty was far more frightening than unpredictable brutality.
Eleonore knew that better than anyone.
“I will never deceive you about your nephew. I promise that much.”
Eleonore spoke slowly.
Because I also want to resolve that child’s situation properly.
After all, Eleonore herself owed that child a debt.
“So where is the child now?”
Walter asked immediately, unwilling to waste even a moment.
Eleonore carefully searched through her memories from her previous life again.
“You already know that the child recently entered somewhere within the Pertitz territory.”
“Yes.”
That was the reason Walter had secretly entered the outer castle—to quietly search for his nephew.
“The child is currently with a group of traveling musicians who arrived in Pertitz a few days ago.”
Eleonore said.
Walter’s eyes widened.
“Traveling musicians…”
“The child joined them only recently. Before that, he wandered alone without a destination.”
“I see.”
Walter finally looked as if everything made sense.
Soon, a dark shadow fell over his face.
Thinking about the difficult life his nephew must have endured filled him with guilt and pain.
“Then let’s go immediately.”
Eleonore said quickly.
She also didn’t want to leave the child in that situation any longer.
“Do not bring your subordinates or knights. Just you and me—only the two of us.”
She continued.
“Traveling musicians are easily frightened. If knights suddenly surround them, they will hide the child.”
Walter, who had been about to call his men, stopped.
“We don’t have much time, but at least take off that sword and those blood-stained gloves.”
“That isn’t necessary—”
“It is.”
Walter tried to question it, but Eleonore cut him off firmly.
“If you were a child who had been chased your entire life, how would you react when a fully armed adult man with a frightening face approaches you?”
She answered herself.
“You would run away immediately.”
“…That makes sense.”
Walter admitted.
He removed the sword at his waist and took off his leg guards.
“We’re in a hurry, so I’ll help you remove the breastplate.”
Eleonore stepped behind him naturally and reached for the pin connecting the armor plates.
“……!”
Suddenly Walter grabbed her wrist roughly.
“Ah! What is this? I was only trying to help.”
Eleonore groaned in pain and frowned.
Walter realized he had used too much strength and quickly loosened his grip.
“If you didn’t want me to come close, you could have just said so—or avoided me. Someone like you should easily read my movements.”
Eleonore complained while glaring at him.
But Walter couldn’t respond.
She’s right. I could have avoided her easily. Then why did I remain still until she stood behind me…?
He himself did not understand why he had allowed her to approach.
“I…”
“So? Should I help you or not?”
“…I will call Benjamin.”
“Please hurry and finish preparing.”
Eleonore shrugged and left the room without hesitation.
Even though Walter knew they needed to find his nephew as soon as possible, he stood there for a moment before finally calling Benjamin.
—
“This way.”
As soon as Walter came out dressed in ordinary clothes, Eleonore led him outside the inn.
Soon they saw a group of traveling musicians resting under a large tree.
Some were lying down on blankets, while others were sitting.
There were about fifteen or sixteen people, and their ages varied widely.
Among them were three boys around the early teenage years, all possible candidates for Walter’s nephew.
But one boy caught Eleonore’s attention immediately.
He was slightly smaller than the others.
That’s him.
