Chapter 76
Eliana gave a wry smile as she covered the kiss mark Gredi had left on her hand last night.
It was true that his attitude toward her had suddenly become more generous, despite their contractual relationship.
“Is this what they mean by adult conversation?”
It had been Eliana who first desired Gredi. So she did not regret being the one to tempt him first.
She had offered the best she had, and Gredi had simply fallen into the trap. At least when she was in his arms, she felt loved, so there was no reason to complain.
All the choices were hers alone.
“How many guests are coming?”
Gredi’s voice pulled Eliana out of her thoughts. He was lounging on the sofa with his legs on the table, only turning his head to look at her.
“Not many, just one. But they’ll probably stay for quite some time. Sorry for not mentioning it earlier.”
“Stay for a long time?”
“It’s Lady Orante. Actually, there was an incident at the palace while you were away.”
Eliana briefly explained what had happened at the dinner. Gredi listened quietly, nodding along.
“I see. But will that be alright?”
“For what?”
“Do you know why Count Orante doesn’t come to the capital?”
Eliana shook her head. She knew nothing about noble society. She had recently been hearing bits and pieces from the housekeeper and Sylvia, but it was still far from enough.
“The Crown Prince was murdered in Orante territory.”
“…….”
“Because of that incident, Count Orante was suspected by the previous emperor for a long time. He had to undergo a lengthy investigation, and during that period, his family declined.”
Eliana nodded silently. Now that she thought about it, Delina’s dress had seemed too plain to belong to a countess’s daughter.
“During social season, the daughters and the Countess stay with acquaintances in the capital, but the Count and his heir haven’t been able to come to the capital even once in ten years.”
Eliana swallowed hard at Gredi’s continued explanation.
“…….”
“The Empress knows this better than anyone, so she may have deliberately blocked the connection between you, a capital noble, and Lady Orante.”
“…Are you saying Her Majesty humiliated me on purpose to help me?”
“Don’t misunderstand. Eliana, I’m just discussing various possibilities.”
“…….”
“Count Orante has been isolated for a long time. If you were to grow close to such a lady, other nobles in the capital would avoid you as well.”
“The Empress sent a hawk to attack me.”
“What?”
Gredi set his feet down from the table and stared at her intently.
“She lured me to the lake under the pretense of a good hunting spot, then sent a hawk at me.”
“My goodness.”
“I don’t think it was a simple accident, Gredi.”
Gredi sighed. Couples may resemble each other, but the resemblance between Mateo and Rosella was extreme.
“While trying to kill you, did Her Majesty almost drown too?”
“I flailed around and ended up grabbing Her Majesty’s gown and falling backward with her.”
Even after hearing about everything that had happened in two days, it was hard to believe. During the day, the Empress tried to kill Eliana, and at night, the Emperor had attempted to assault her.
“I just can’t believe it.”
Gredi buried his face in his hands. He had no idea what the Emperor and Empress were thinking.
“They must be children you’d never be able to take your eyes off.”
Maurice’s words echoed vividly in her ears.
While Gredi was despairing, Eliana interpreted his despair differently.
“So he still doesn’t believe me?”
She had called him her first love. It seemed painful for him to be forced to doubt the Empress, his first love.
Eliana felt a little resentment toward Gredi as he buried his face in his hands and writhed in distress.
“This is maddening.”
Gredi removed his hands and abruptly stood.
Eliana, staring blankly at his back as he walked out of the office, glanced at the pink bouquet occupying half of the desk. It seemed out of place, as if it had the wrong owner.
“This….”
Thump.
“Take it.”
Eliana spoke as Gredi closed the door and left. Perhaps he didn’t hear her in time, because he disappeared without taking the bouquet.
The abandoned bouquet sat on the desk.
It was so large that she hesitated to touch it, convinced it wasn’t hers.
“One petal won’t hurt.”
Eliana plucked a petal from one of the pink roses.
Her heart fluttered as if she were stealing something. With no one watching, she glanced around nervously and placed the petal inside a book from the desk drawer.
It was the first gift she had ever received.
“Silver invitation?”
“Yes.”
Eliana nodded as she lifted a yellow-tinged teacup. Several weeks had passed since Delina had arrived at the Duke’s residence.
“The palace… it feels like a dream.”
“Good thing you seem to like the palace.”
Eliana handed Delina the silver invitation she had received from the Empress.
“What is this? Could it really be for me!?”
Eliana nodded, smiling. She hadn’t expected Delina to be so thrilled. Delina unfolded the invitation with a bright smile, while Eliana’s own smile was tinged with bitterness.
She had never had a pleasant experience at the palace.
‘Will it be different this time because I’m going with Delina?’
Thinking of the Emperor brought back memories of that horrifying day. Eliana closed her eyes.
Thankfully, there had been no further contact from the palace since then. The culprit who had stabbed the Emperor and escaped remained unknown, and the investigation had made little progress.
The hunting tournament had been canceled, leaving Orante territory to endure the worst winter in years. Delina had agreed to go to the capital mainly to reduce the number of mouths to feed.
“I never imagined Her Majesty would invite me too.”
Delina blushed.
“How’s the itching?”
“Ah! Thanks to the aloe, it’s much better. Look at my hair—it seems thicker, doesn’t it?”
Indeed, the red spots had shrunk, and fine hair was sprouting like little waves. It was a comical sight, but exactly what Delina had hoped for.
“How did Your Grace know about this?”
“Someone told me when I was young. They were very interested in beauty.”
“Maintenance? Even Your Grace maintains herself?”
Delina looked at Eliana in disbelief. She quickly scanned her from head to toe, shaking her head.
“Of course.”
Eliana nodded. Though some of it was natural, the effort she put into maintaining herself was enormous.
‘If I had known it would ruin my life, I would never have done it.’
Eliana smiled bitterly.
“A person like Your Grace actually works at it.”
“It’s natural for those who have much to work to gain even more.”
Eliana lifted her teacup, causing the yellow tea to ripple slightly.
“I really envy you, Your Grace.”
Eliana looked at her as she sipped tea.
“What is there to envy?”
“Your beauty, your husband like the Duke, and your kind heart.”
Delina twisted her body as she spoke.
By now, several weeks had passed at the Duke’s residence, and Delina had heard various rumors about the love between Eliana and Gredi.
Her eyes fell on the transparent vase in the living room, filled with pink petals tightly dried and tangled together—a gift from Gredi to Eliana.
Since then, Gredi had continuously presented gifts to Eliana like a courting bird.
Each time Eliana received a gift, she couldn’t hide her complicated emotions.
Coincidentally, the days he gave gifts often overlapped with the nights they spent together. It felt as though the gifts were payment for those nights.
“That necklace is a gift you received too, isn’t it?”
The green peridot sparkled elegantly.
“Yes.”
“But why green? Sapphire would suit you better, Your Grace.”
Eliana smiled at Delina, who tilted her head in curiosity.
Green matched Empress Rosella’s eye color. She didn’t want to even imagine that she had received a gift intended for the Empress.
“What will you wear to the palace?”
Delina blushed at the question.
Having lived in isolation for so long, she didn’t have a proper dress. The one she was wearing was already out of fashion by the capital’s standards.
“Wouldn’t just wearing something clean and neat be enough?”
Eliana shook her head.
She hadn’t forgotten what happened at the palace. The Empress had humiliated Delina merely for being friendly with her. If Delina arrived unprepared, it would surely be another insult.
“Then, will you grant me one wish?”
“A wish?”
Delina’s eyes widened, her lips forming a perfect circle.
“Yes!”
“You don’t have to call it a wish. If Your Grace wants something, I’ll do it!”
Eliana shook her head. Delina looked briefly tense, unsure if someone like her, a mere countess, could fulfill a wish from a duchess.
“Go shopping with me.”
“Huh? That’s your wish?”
“Actually, Delina, you’re the first friend I’ve ever shopped with.”
“Excuse me?”
Delina stepped back in disbelief. Eliana’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at her, hands clasped together like a girl.
“I want to go shopping with a friend! We’ll link arms and choose dresses together. You pick one for me, and I’ll pick one for you.”
“But—!”
Delina frowned, worried about her finances, but Eliana jumped up.
“Let’s go!”
Grabbing Delina’s hand, Eliana shouted. Delina hesitated briefly, then followed with a resigned expression.
