WBESFL 35

Chapter 35

Eleanor’s aunt, furious as ever, handed down rather heavy sentences to the culprits. At least in connection with the charges, the harshest penalties were imposed one after another.

Things weren’t smooth for the Duchies of Revin and Tess either.

Eleanor had sent a letter filled with the intention of retaliation to Lydia. Fortunately, the letter seemed to have reached her well—news soon followed that the Tess Duchy had been thrown into turmoil.

An article in the newspaper reported that the young Duke himself had returned from the capital to his territory and uprooted a “currently popular hobby” from its roots, eradicating it entirely.

At the same time, Sinclair criticized the fact that only Revin, and not Oklahoma, had been provided with taxidermy animals.

The Dubar Viscount family rushed in a panic to apologize to the Duchy but were humiliated by being turned away at the gates, and the gossip magazines milked that for all it was worth.

Later, a letter arrived for Eleanor from Sinclair.

“It’s all handled. See you soon.”

Reading the short letter written in elegant handwriting, Eleanor tilted her head slightly.

That young master never says empty words, so what’s with the cliché “See you soon”?

“Thank you, Sinclair. I hope you stay well, always.”

Eleanor left out any direct reply to the “see you soon” part and sent back a similarly generic well-wishing message. Then she stretched with satisfaction.

‘It’s all over.’

Thus, all the major and minor incidents had been wrapped up.

The wild beast incident that had shaken the territory was resolved. Her relationship with Vanessa had reached a ceasefire, and accordingly, the surrounding reactions had also cooled.

With her injuries fully healed and no more conflicts brewing, Eleanor spent a peaceful month and a half in Oklahoma—the most peaceful days she’d had.

As midsummer settled in, the Oklahoma sun grew even hotter and more piercing.

Eleanor spent her time learning the basics of territorial management from Kenis. Her aunt had personally allocated her aide’s time for Eleanor’s education.

Rather than diving straight into administrative duties, she received lectures on the structure of Oklahoma’s taxes, its history, and economic trends.

It was better than wasting time doing nothing, so Eleanor eagerly took the classes.

Today’s lesson was about Oklahoma’s cultural traditions.

While Kenis was explaining their agrarian and nature-friendly culture, the local festival was brought up.

“Every year, from late July to early August, we hold an apricot festival in Oklahoma.”

Apricots were the most harvested fruit in Oklahoma and its specialty. Eleanor already knew there was an annual apricot festival.

“Have you ever participated in it, my lady?”

“No. I usually came either too early or too late.”

She had always been curious, but the timing never aligned, and she didn’t want to travel all the way just for a festival.

But this time, she was staying in Oklahoma during the festival period—of course, she could attend.

“This year, you’ll get to see it.”

“That’s great. It’s worth attending at least once. On the final night, people float apricot blossom-shaped lanterns on the Serne River and make wishes.”

It was an interesting story, and Eleanor’s eyes sparkled.

“Do those wishes come true?”

“I’ve heard there’s a 50% chance.”

At that vague probability, Eleanor’s expression became equally ambiguous.

Considering how desperate people must be to make wishes, 50% sounded like good odds. But thinking of the effort involved in making a wish come true, it also felt stingy.

“Since it’s the territory’s main festival, we have a lot to do. We need to inspect public safety for the influx of outsiders and make sure everything runs smoothly.”

Though it was a civilian festival centered around the residents, there was much the lord needed to oversee.

Leaving the territory fully open without restrictions could lead to serious accidents, so it was crucial that the lord managed it thoroughly and responsibly.

Moreover, there was something that needed special care in Oklahoma, and Kenis left that explanation to the Baroness.

Eleanor would have to hear it directly from her sooner or later.

“This year’s festival will be overseen by the Baroness and me.”

That implied it would have been Eleanor’s responsibility otherwise.

But she had lost two weeks to an ankle injury, and there wasn’t enough time left before the festival to assign it to her.

Realizing what he meant, Eleanor looked disappointed. Had she been in charge, it would have been a great opportunity to establish herself further in Oklahoma.

“Another case of bad timing, I guess.”

“There will be plenty of chances in the future,” Kenis replied with a soft smile as he wrapped up the lesson.

As the busy aide packed his things and left, Lisa entered in his place.

“My lady, Miss Stella sent you a letter. Also, the Baroness is calling for you.”

“Really?”

Eleanor checked Stella’s letter first. After reading it with a faint smile, she stood up to go see her aunt.

Cool tea, suitable for the heat, was served to both the Baroness and Eleanor.

The Baroness took a sip first, followed by Eleanor.

“How are your lessons with Kenis going?”

“They’re informative and enjoyable. I’m benefiting a lot from having such a capable aide.”

Eleanor wrinkled her nose playfully. Seeing her teasing, the Baroness smiled too—it seemed the lessons weren’t bad.

“The apricot festival is coming up, isn’t it?”

“Yes. That’s one of the reasons I called you.”

The Baroness set down her cup and paused. Since Eleanor had already heard from Kenis that she wouldn’t be involved in organizing the festival, she was curious what this was about.

Was there something else for her to handle?

“Once the festival begins, outsiders will enter the territory.”

“Yes.”

“But as you know, there are two children of Haitar living in Oklahoma.”

It was the first time her aunt had directly mentioned the Yahin siblings.

Eleanor suddenly remembered what Kenis had said, which she had pushed to the back of her mind due to all the previous incidents.

He had told her to hear it directly from the Baroness.

She hadn’t found the right time to ask, but now the Baroness had created that time for her.

“Eleanor, those children have been granted protection.”

“…What?”

Eleanor thought she’d misheard, but her aunt sipped her tea calmly, confirming she had not.

If she had heard correctly, then the “protection” meant…

Haitar protection was only granted by royalty. That made it all the more shocking.

Historically, there had only been one case of Haitar people being granted royal protection and allowed to stay in the Empire.

“May I ask who gave them the protection?”

“It’s too soon for that. But as you guessed, a royal stepped forward as their guarantor and sent them here to Oklahoma in secrecy.”

Children of Haitar personally protected by a royal and hidden away in a remote rural territory.

That explained why they could live openly here despite everything.

The mysteries she’d had about them were suddenly cleared, but they were replaced by a new concern. If their identities were ever revealed, the consequences could be catastrophic.

If outsiders visiting during the festival discovered the Yahin siblings and reported them…

“That person especially requested their existence remain secret. So every year during the festival, we bring them into the castle for hiding. We plan to do the same this year.”

While the festival opens the territory to outsiders, the lord’s castle remains closed.

As more outsiders enter, the security of the castle tightens to ensure no one accidentally wanders in.

While the children were usually allowed to roam the land freely, they were hidden in the castle during festival times.

But since the castle was still a place people lived in, someone was needed to watch over Yahin and Yasmin.

“Eleanor, I’d like you to look after them during the festival.”

The Baroness believed Eleanor was the right person for the job.

Not only because they had a close relationship, but also because as the heir, it was her rightful duty. The Haitar siblings were essentially a royal mandate sent to Oklahoma.

Eleanor’s expression turned complicated as she listened. She was, once again, impressed by how the timing between her and the apricot festival just never seemed to work out.

How could she be this unlucky with timing?

Then she handed her aunt the letter from Lisa.

“What’s this?”

“A letter from my friend, Stella.”

It had arrived just before Eleanor came to see the Baroness.

“She says she’ll be coming down this weekend and staying for a week.”

“…Oh dear.”

The Baroness clicked her tongue. The timing coincided exactly with the apricot festival. But that wasn’t the real problem.

Stella, unexpectedly…

“She’s coming with her third brother.”

“With family?”

“Yes. Sir Cain Maxill. Deputy Commander of the Imperial Knights.”

The same brother her mother used to complain about endlessly had suddenly declared he’d be joining her.

Since Eleanor herself had once told Stella to come with her family, she couldn’t really object. That made this situation more stressful.

They were about to bring the hidden children into the castle, and now they’d have outsiders arriving at the same time.

Not just anyone—Stella, daughter of a Marquis, and Cain, deputy commander of the Imperial Knights.

“I want to ask her to postpone, but she already sent their luggage. It should arrive today.”

“The god of coincidence is not on our side,” the Baroness sighed deeply and fell into thought.

Eleanor also considered the worst-case scenario—if the Maxill siblings and the Haitar children crossed paths.

Stella, she could probably persuade to keep silent.

But Cain was the real issue. Eleanor wasn’t close to him.

They’d seen each other often when she visited Maxill, but they were nothing more than “friend’s older brother” and “younger sister’s friend.”

‘Why is he even coming here?’

If the whole Maxill family were visiting, that would make sense.

But just Cain coming alone with Stella was odd.

They weren’t particularly close, and as a knight of the Imperial Order, he surely wasn’t idle.

Still, considering how much the brothers in that household adored their sister—to the point her fiancé lived in constant fear—it was… understandable, to a degree.

‘I wish Stella came alone. Things would be simpler.’

Still, Cain’s presence was a shame.

Any other time, Eleanor wouldn’t have cared, but this timing was the worst.

“They’ve already decided to come, so we have no choice,” the Baroness concluded.

One was Eleanor’s close friend, the other the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Knights. If the secret was exposed, they might actually be easier to silence.

“We’ll just have to ensure they don’t cross paths.”

“Yes, Aunt.”

There’s a saying that the darkest place is beneath the lamp. Hiding someone in plain sight sometimes worked best.

As long as Eleanor kept a tight grip on them, it would be fine.

A few days later, on the weekend,

The Maxill siblings arrived at Oklahoma Castle.

“Stella!”

“Eleanor!”

Despite their worries, the joy of seeing each other again overwhelmed everything else.

The two girls hugged and jumped around excitedly. Eleanor stroked Stella’s fluffy, lavender hair. Even the usually fussy Stella didn’t complain.

“Thanks for coming all this way.”

Eleanor held her friend’s cheeks and smiled, then turned to Cain, who stood behind his sister.