WBESFL 03

Eleanor refrained from going out for a while.
It wasn’t just because of the direct warnings from the male leads.

In general, society believed that a noble lady who had broken off an engagement should remain quietly at home.

She decided to stay indoors, partly to wait for the wildfire-like frenzy of the press to die down.

About a month after the broken engagement, the gossip columns and high society both lost interest and quieted down.

Eleanor stretched her limbs, taking it as a sign to move on, especially after watching society buzz over some noblewoman’s affair with her coachman.

Things had settled faster than expected.
Perhaps because it was her third broken engagement, or maybe because the real reason was never revealed.
Interest had flared up quickly—and burned out just as fast.

Either way, it was a relief that attention had shifted elsewhere.
A broken engagement was just that—a broken engagement. Eleanor had to move on with her life.

Eleanor paid a visit to the Marquess household to see Stella for the first time in a while.
She’d limited her outings so much that she hadn’t even been able to meet her friend.

With the four male leads constantly visiting the Stikoff residence, she couldn’t very well invite Stella to her home either.

So as always, Eleanor made the trip to the Maxille Marquisate instead.

“For Lady Stikoff’s sake, maybe they should be the ones refraining from visiting.”

Stella crossed her arms with a displeased expression.
When Eleanor had written a letter explaining the situation, Stella’s reply had been filled with angry scrawled curses.

Knowing her friend’s personality well, Eleanor had refrained from inviting Stella.
If they had run into each other, a verbal war would have been inevitable.

Especially with the Crown Prince involved. That couldn’t happen.

Eleanor didn’t want to cause trouble for Stella because of her own issues.
She shrugged as she bit into a butter cookie.

“They all said what they did because they care about Lydia. I don’t take it badly.”

“Still, they should stop dropping by the house of an unmarried lady with no fiancé. It’s too much.”

“Stella, you do realize the Crown Prince is among them?”

“He’s not here now, is he? They say people will even curse the Emperor when no one’s listening. The Crown Prince is no exception.”

Eleanor smiled faintly at Stella’s boldness.
Her friend’s sharp tongue and combative nature had always been a comfort.

Where Eleanor, in her role as the female lead’s older sister, could only sigh inwardly, Stella would say everything out loud.
It often felt like a relief.

“Tell your sister to stop inviting those men over, too.”

“Lydia doesn’t invite them. They just come on their own.”

“Well then tell her to stop letting them come. A word from her and they’d all drop dead at her feet.”

Eleanor simply sipped her tea with a smile.
Speaking harshly of her sister was not something a proper older sister—especially one in a story—should do.

If she slipped into the villainess role, things would get far more complicated.

It was easier to keep playing the sister role, like always.
She was exhausted, but with no clear way out, sticking to what she knew was best.

After all, Eleanor was just a supporting character.
There were plenty of others who could take her place.

Most of the women in this world weren’t Lydia—they were all extras.

“It’s fine. I’ll be inviting guests soon too. I don’t want to give anyone a reason to talk.”

“That’s a proper tea party you’re hosting. This is different—these are uninvited visits.”

“They’re people who can make different things seem the same, and the same things seem different.”

Stella had no retort to that.
Images of their dazzling status and powerful families flashed through her mind.

They were the type who could twist perception however they liked.

Since it involved Lydia, Stella couldn’t push her opinion any further.
She didn’t want to seem like she was meddling in someone else’s family matters.
And Eleanor and Lydia were known to be close sisters—too much criticism might even offend her.

She glanced at Eleanor, who was munching on cookies with a complicated look in her eyes.

Outwardly, Eleanor was the perfect picture of a kind sister.
But there was something oddly off about her at times, though Stella couldn’t pinpoint exactly what.

Eleanor always sounded like she cared deeply for Lydia.

“So, how’s party planning going?”

It was smart to change the subject when things had no clear conclusion.
Eleanor, thinking the same, took the cue.

“I’m debating whether to hold it outdoors or indoors.”

“Wouldn’t indoors be simpler? You’re expecting quite a few guests, aren’t you?”

It was the first party since her engagement with Edward had been broken, but neither of them mentioned that out loud.

They focused on practical matters—how to manage the large guest list.

After some discussion, they decided to host the party indoors and were chatting away when suddenly Stella’s maid knocked and entered.

Her urgency raised questions, and moments later, Eleanor’s own maid, Lisa, appeared with a pale face.

“Lisa, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“M-my lady…”

Lisa looked like she was about to burst into tears.
She’d been cheerful just earlier that day, so Eleanor was taken aback.

Concerned, she gently grabbed Lisa’s arm.
Stella’s maid looked equally grim, which gave Eleanor a bad feeling.

“What’s going on? Tell me.”

“We just heard from Sandra, who got back from town…”

Stella’s maid took a deep breath and answered when Eleanor pressed.

Lisa sniffled and grabbed Eleanor’s hand—like she was bracing her for a blow. Eleanor tensed.

“Master Hans proposed to Miss Stikoff.”

The maid shut her eyes as she delivered the news.
Stella’s face froze over, and Eleanor slowly turned her body.

Her mind grasped the situation—but her heart demanded confirmation.

“Could you be a little more specific? Who proposed to whom?”

“Well, it was Master Edward Hans… and he proposed to Miss Lydia Stikoff…”

“That son of a—!”

Stella couldn’t hold back her curse.
Even the maids didn’t stop her this time. They swallowed hard, nervously watching the two ladies.

“They say he claimed he broke off the engagement with you because he loved Miss Lydia.”

Lisa added, her voice trembling.
In a public street—no less.

Eleanor felt like the ground had disappeared beneath her.
How in the world was she supposed to deal with this? Her vision darkened.

“…When did this happen?”

“About two hours ago. The rumors spread fast—it’s already in the headlines.”

The maid took a newspaper from her waistband, hands shaking.

Stella snatched it up and read first, immediately cursing Edward Hans again.
Eleanor calmly took the paper and read the article.

Breaking News
Eleanor Stikoff’s Third Ex-Fiancé Actually Loved Lydia Stikoff! A Love Triangle Between Sisters?!

At approximately 1 p.m. today in front of the Melrua Dessert House, Edward Hans (22) proposed to Lydia Stikoff (19).

Only a month earlier, he had broken off his engagement with Lydia’s elder sister, Eleanor Stikoff (21).
Witnesses were shocked by the bold scene.

Kneeling on one knee and offering a bouquet of roses, Edward Hans declared,
“You were always the one I loved. I only got engaged to Eleanor because she liked me. I thought maybe I’d get to see you more that way. I love you, Lydia. Will you marry me?”

Eleanor tore the newspaper in half.
The end of the article even speculated that Eleanor had gotten engaged to Edward just to block Lydia, knowing full well he loved her.

The article was written gleefully, and Eleanor could already picture the fallout.

“Edward Hans, you bastard,” she murmured.

So he begrudgingly got engaged to her because she liked him?
Yes, she had proposed it first—but it wasn’t forced.

If he’d shown even a hint of hesitation, she would’ve broken it off herself.

She had brought it up, yes—but he had agreed without resistance.

“Even someone like me… If you still want me, thank you, Ellie.”

That’s what he had said.

Now he was making it sound like she’d clung to him, forcing an engagement while he secretly loved Lydia.
The sheer arrogance made her blood boil.

The crumpled newspaper in her hand was shredded beyond recognition.

“Sorry, Stella. I think I have to go.”

Eleanor forced a smile and stood up.
With this kind of disaster, she couldn’t afford to stay at the Marquis’ house.

Lisa wiped her tears and rushed to get the carriage.

“Will you be alright?”

“Yeah. I’ll call you later.”

Stella saw her off with a worried face.
Eleanor gave her a final smile—and erased it the moment the carriage door shut.

She was dizzy from the bomb Edward had dropped while she let her guard down.

All the way back to Stikoff, Eleanor’s legs bounced with nervous energy.

And when she arrived, she nearly bit her tongue at the sight of carriages already gathered in the garden.

“Miss Eleanor, the young lady…”

The butler greeted her with an awkward face. He didn’t finish the sentence, but she didn’t need him to.

Maids were clustered here and there, stealing uneasy glances at her.

“I’ll go myself.”

Eleanor handed her shawl to Lisa and went upstairs.

She knew exactly who she’d find in Lydia’s room—but she had no choice.

If she was truly the doting older sister of the female lead, she had to go to Lydia. Lydia was surely crying.

As she entered the hallway, faint voices reached her ears.
She knocked on the door.

“Lydia, it’s me. Can I come in?”

The voices inside abruptly stopped.
She heard running footsteps.

The door burst open and a small, pink bundle launched itself into her arms.

“Sis!”

Eleanor hugged her trembling little sister.
Lydia buried her face into her shoulder, her body quivering.

Eleanor gently stroked her long, silky hair until Lydia lifted her head.

“Unnieee…”

Even when she cried, she looked beautiful.

Her nose and eyes were tinged red, as if kissed by flower petals.
Her tearful, shining eyes looked like emeralds.

Though it was clear she’d been crying a lot, Lydia’s face wasn’t unsightly—it was lovely.

Eleanor pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped her sister’s tears, careful not to irritate her delicate skin.
Lydia lowered her head, still sniffling.

“Unnie, I…”

“I know. Let’s go inside and talk.”

If they stood around, Lydia might cry herself unconscious. That would only create more problems for Eleanor.

It wouldn’t look good to others. So even if she didn’t want to, she had to go in.

Eleanor gently led Lydia into the room.

Just as expected.

The usual suspects were seated on the sofa, each taking a spot—watching her.