Chapter 88
“I heard about Miss Clarence.”
“Yes. She left for Perix today. Since you already know, I suppose that’s not what you came here for.”
“You seem to think Miss Clarence left for Perix because of me. Am I right?”
“It’s not entirely that, but I can’t really deny it either.”
“May I ask why you think so?”
She looked at him as if not understanding why he was asking such a thing, then let out a short sigh.
“Are you really asking because you don’t know? She may just be another person to Your Highness, but to me, Eiela is my precious daughter. That child left for a distant foreign country because of you. Do you think I could look kindly upon you?”
“Are you saying she went to Perix because of me?”
“Do you remember what Your Highness said to us when we were worried about the issue with the portrait?”
‘It’s not as if there’s a law that only men can enter the Royal Academy of Arts. If a young lady’s skill is outstanding, there’s no reason we can’t admit female students in the future.’
Laura recalled the words Franz had spoken.
“But when negative rumors about Eiela spread among society, what did you do? She endured cold stares directed at her until, in the end, she chose the National Academy of Arts of a faraway country. That was her only option.”
The problem with the Royal Academy wasn’t that Franz had no intention of protecting her—he had simply thought it was too early. It would have been easy to ignore all procedures and admit Eiela right away. But if he had done that, she would never have been able to stand on her own. It was something that required preparation to silence all objections. Still, it was difficult to explain that now.
Franz recalled the first day Eiela had gone out to Manches Street. Both nobles and commoners looked at her strangely, unwilling to approach. Yet Eiela endured it all without flinching. She stood alone for hours, like someone isolated from the world.
Back then, he had thought her to be an unusually strong woman. But was she really unaffected? Now, he could see at least a little of the loneliness and despair she must have felt.
“And I hadn’t wanted to bring this up, but I have no choice. Since she was young, Eiela never thought about marriage, nor did she have any interest in love or men. For a girl like that to face down countless rumors and meet Your Highness—do you think she could have done that without some feelings for you? And yet, you told her you had no thoughts of marriage. When I think of the wound those words must have given her, my heart still aches.”
Laura’s long-suppressed feelings burst out as she showed tears before Franz. He could not say anything in return.
No one knew about the contract between himself and Eiela. So it wasn’t strange that he was being blamed like this. Yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had indeed done something terribly wrong to Eiela and her family.
Leaving the mansion and stepping into his carriage, Franz sat in silence, his face heavy with worry.
The resentment wasn’t directed only at him—it was aimed squarely at Eiela, who had started it all.
When he first saw the letter she left behind, he had been dumbfounded, even baffled. If she was leaving, then she must have been preparing for a long time. And yet she had said nothing until suddenly—she was gone? Why? At the time, all he could think was, Well, she must have her reasons.
But now, he was angry. Angry because he didn’t understand why. Angry because Eiela had given him no explanation before leaving.
You planned to leave from the beginning, didn’t you?
If life in the capital was that unbearable, shouldn’t she at least have confided in him? And if she was going to leave, she should have closed things properly.
But instead—she left him branded as a scoundrel, then fled, as if she could live happily ever after on her own.
How could she? How could she do this to me, after everything?
Franz trembled with betrayal, struggling to calm himself down. Honestly, it wasn’t something he should be this sensitive about. He tried to pass it off as usual, with his normal composure.
Damn it. Fine. Go, then. Your leaving won’t change a single strand of my life. Do you think I’ll regret you?
But instead of easing the bitterness, the thought only made it worse. He grew even angrier, not understanding why he felt such disappointment when, in truth, there had never been anything between them.
And then, suddenly, a sense of déjà vu washed over him.
Are you really going to let her go like this?
Forget it. Let her go. My life won’t change just because Chloe’s gone. Do you think I’ll regret her?
The very same words he had once spoken after Chloe’s betrayal came back to him.
His clenched fists trembled, the knuckles white with strain. The unbearable sense of betrayal wrapped around him like a shroud.
Staring out the carriage window, Franz wondered where to go next.
“Shall we go to Grenville?”
Hans, seated in front, asked cautiously. One wrong word and he felt like the air would freeze, but he had to ask. When no reply came, he asked again, this time naming a different place.
“Shall we go to Eaton?”
At that, Franz finally raised an eyebrow, as if only now hearing him.
“I’ve already reserved a ship to Perix, departing three days from now.”
Franz thought to himself that he had chosen his attendant well.
“Perhaps…”
Under Franz’s silent gaze, Hans suddenly worried he had made a mistake.
“No. You did well. Let’s go to Eaton.”
The unexpected praise made Hans falter into heavy thought.
Did I really do well? The young lady won’t be put in danger, will she? An uneasy feeling gnawed at him.
To Miss Clarence, Hans thought silently, I’m sorry.
Because the prince, for all his charm, wasn’t as kind or good-hearted as he seemed. Outwardly, he looked broad-minded, but in truth, he was narrow-spirited, quick to repay wrongs in kind, and sometimes obstinate like a stubborn child.
It made him seem like a villain, perhaps, but it was simply the one flaw in a man otherwise blessed with everything. Yet that one flaw sometimes eclipsed all his virtues. Hans had a bad feeling this was one of those times.
Forgive me, Miss Clarence. If the sacrifice of one person can bring happiness to many… then perhaps this is the happiest ending of all.
When Eiela first arrived in the capital city of Rouen, it was raining. After days of travel—train, carriage, and ship—the rain-washed streets of Rouen felt refreshing, so beautiful and romantic that her exhaustion melted away.
Even just watching through the carriage window brought a smile to her face. The signs written in unfamiliar letters and the foreign scenery felt strange, yet she felt as if she could fall in love with this city.
The next day, the weather cleared, and she was able to go out again in high spirits. In any weather, the city overflowed with charm.
Over the following days, Eiela studied Perix’s history, culture, and language, while also exploring the streets of Rouen with her tutor, Bianca, and Betty. She admired the architecture, so similar yet different from Lapland’s, and stopped to shop in salons that caught her eye.
The desserts of Rouen, in particular, were pure bliss—melting sweetly on the tongue, incomparable delights.
Of course, Lapland’s bread and cakes were delicious too, but nothing could surpass the confections of Grenville.
Ah…
Inevitably, thoughts of Grenville led to thoughts of someone else. The taste in her mouth turned bitter, and the sweetness of the cake was lost.
“Are you not going to finish that?”
Bianca asked when Eiela set her fork down, and Betty too looked surprised.
“I think I’m still full from breakfast.”
Eiela made an excuse.
“To be fair, it’s about time you grew tired of them. You’ve been eating them every day since we arrived.”
Bianca chuckled softly. She wasn’t wrong, and Eiela laughed too.
“Still, they’re delicious. And I love hearing the stories behind the food.”
“You’re a diligent student. If all my students were like you, my job would be very easy.”
At Bianca’s exaggerated sigh, Eiela couldn’t help but laugh again.
“Today, I’d like to visit the art supply street you told me about last time.”
“But haven’t you already had everything you need prepared?”
“It’s different seeing them for myself. I’ve wanted to go since the first day, but I held back so I could learn at least a little of the language first.”
“How did you manage to wait so long? Very well, let’s go.”
At Bianca’s cheerful answer, Eiela’s face lit up.
“Thank you, Miss Bianca.”
“You’ll certainly enjoy it. But watch your belongings—pickpockets are common there. We wouldn’t want a dream outing to become a nightmare.”
“Yes, I’ll be careful.”
They left the salon and were passing through the city center when Bianca stopped, pointing at a magnificent building ahead.
“That’s a Baroque-style hotel, built by the architect who designed the royal palace. It’s one of the finest works of architecture in all Perix, admired for its grandeur and classical beauty.”
“Yes. I noticed it from a distance too—it really stands out. And its location is perfect, so close to the national museum and art gallery.”
“It originally belonged to the royal family, then passed into the hands of nobles after the revolution. But due to financial troubles, the ownership changed again. There were rumors that it was bought by a man of incredible wealth, but no one knows for sure.”
“For such a hotel to fall into financial hardship… what a shame.”
Eiela sighed, as if personally grieved. It was tragic that such a beautiful building had to be sold.
“According to rumor, it was because of a mountain of gambling debts. So perhaps it doesn’t deserve much sympathy.”
“Oh dear…”
At Bianca’s cold remark, Eiela nodded quietly. They were just about to start walking again when—
“Eiela Clarence!”
A voice called from behind.
