Chapter 53
The day of departure for Beirn.
Two knights of escort, including Gale who had come down with Elinor, along with Vanessa and Lisa, were to accompany her.
There wasn’t much luggage, nor anything particularly important, but Elinor still made one last check before leaving. Just in case she had forgotten something essential or accidentally packed something unnecessary.
While Lisa inspected the inside of the carriage, Vanessa approached Elinor, who was standing a little apart near the baggage wagon.
Elinor, ready to greet her cheerfully, tilted her head when she noticed the odd expression on Vanessa’s face. It was the look of someone who had something to say but didn’t want to.
“Vanessa, what’s wrong?”
“My lady, there’s something I need to tell you…”
After making sure no one nearby was listening, Vanessa leaned in closer. “Yahin wishes to see you for a moment.” She whispered quickly, then looked into Elinor’s face.
Ah, Yahin. Elinor nodded without resistance.
She thought simply that it wouldn’t hurt to see him, since she would remain in the capital until the ball was over anyway.
“Let’s go.”
She accepted readily, though Vanessa’s expression remained conflicted as she led the way.
She had sensed Yahin’s feelings, and couldn’t help but wonder if this was really a good idea.
A runaway slave harboring futile feelings for a noble lady of another country… this isn’t right.
Cruel as it might sound, the affection Yahin held for Elinor was nothing but futile. And yet, when he had bowed his head so desperately and begged, Vanessa hadn’t had the heart to refuse.
Though she didn’t know the siblings’ true identity as Hightar people with guaranteed status, she had cared for them under the belief they were runaway slaves.
The bond built in that time had swayed Vanessa’s heart—and so she was now bringing Elinor to him.
Am I really doing the right thing, when my first priority should be the young lady?
While sneaking glances at the blissfully oblivious Elinor, Vanessa wrestled with her guilt.
Even so, her steps carried her steadily forward, and before she could settle her doubts, they arrived at the meeting place.
“Yahin.”
Elinor called out when she saw the tall figure standing beneath a tree.
Yahin turned around, having been facing away.
As he approached, Vanessa instinctively stepped back, watching the two of them from a distance of three paces.
“Are you here to see me off?”
Elinor smiled brightly. Yahin, gazing down at her pale little face, nodded slowly.
“You must’ve heard from Yasmin.”
“……”
“I won’t be gone for long anyway. Hmm, maybe two weeks or so.”
With the preparations for the ball, that much time would be needed. Speaking lightly, Elinor accepted the situation without worry. Yahin, however, silently held something out to her.
Inside a fanfold of white paper, tiny flowers, no bigger than fingernails, were tucked together.
Elinor accepted the clumsy bouquet.
“For me? Forget-me-nots?”
“……”
Yahin was unusually silent today. He didn’t even take out his notebook to write anything down, only nodded.
Still, Elinor was delighted with the uneven bouquet of forget-me-nots tied with mismatched ribbons.
“Thank you.”
As she beamed, showing her neat teeth, Yahin hesitated as though he wanted to say something. But when his eyes met Vanessa’s, the words disappeared.
Through the rim of her silver glasses, her crimson gaze seemed almost a warning.
He merely clenched and unclenched his hand, looking at Elinor with subdued eyes.
“So you came to give me this, because I’ll be attending the imperial ball.”
“……”
“Thank you so much.”
Her snow-white smile drew a faint, awkward smile from him as well. He wanted to ask her to promise she’d come back, but feared sounding like a whining child, so he held it in.
She had said she’d be back in two weeks.
He could endure that without complaint. After all, even in Oklama, he didn’t see her every day—it wasn’t such a long wait.
“My lady, it’s time to leave now.”
“Alright. See you later, Yahin.”
Elinor waved before leaving with Vanessa. Yahin stood watching her small figure as it slowly grew distant.
Her words of “see you later” were enough—she had promised a next time.
He stayed until her carriage disappeared with Vanessa and Lisa, then turned and left the castle grounds.
At the time, he had no idea that this wait would become a long one.
By the time they arrived at Beirn’s train station, Elinor was swaying with inevitable motion sickness.
A butler from House Stikoff had come to meet them at the station. After a brief exchange of greetings, Elinor was carefully helped into a carriage, too exhausted to manage much else, and taken to the count’s estate.
“Welcome home, Elinor. Go in and rest right away.”
Since they had departed in the late morning and only arrived in the late evening—and knowing their daughter’s tendency for severe motion sickness—her parents kept their greetings short and let her go.
“Sis, let’s talk lots tomorrow, okay?”
Even Lydia’s farewell carried obvious reluctance, her voice dripping with regret.
Elinor stumbled straight to her room and collapsed into sleep, waking the next day with her strength restored.
“This is my aide, Vanessa.”
During tea time after breakfast, Elinor introduced her family to Vanessa. When she explained that Vanessa was the same age as Lydia and had once been a ward of their aunt, curious gazes turned toward her.
Especially Lydia, who found it remarkable that someone her own age was her sister’s aide. She smiled brightly and extended her hand first.
“You’re my age! Nice to meet you, I’m Lydia.”
“Hello, Lady Lydia. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
As the two shook hands, Elinor secretly tensed.
She had often seen people who, though initially by her side, would drift toward Lydia the moment they met the world’s true center.
If Vanessa wasn’t needed by Lydia, she would stay with Elinor. But if she was… Vanessa might go over to her as well.
Since she wasn’t a character in the original story, the likelihood was higher that Lydia wouldn’t need her.
“……”
Vanessa looked at Lydia with indifferent eyes, then suddenly turned her gaze to Elinor.
When their eyes met, Elinor was startled to see warmth spreading in Vanessa’s expression—like sunlight slowly flooding the earth at sunset.
So indifferent to Lydia, yet showing fondness toward her. Realizing this, Elinor’s heart fluttered.
After Stella and Lisa, Vanessa was now the third person to remain by her side even after meeting Lydia.
Elinor raised her teacup to hide the twitch of her lips, suppressing the laughter that threatened to escape.
Meanwhile, Lydia glanced at her sister and cautiously spoke.
“How is life in Oklama, sister?”
“Ah.”
Caught off guard, Elinor swallowed the tea in her mouth.
“It’s wonderful.”
It was a simple answer, but her emotions were thick in the words. It was so wonderful that she couldn’t say anything else. Lydia’s expression dimmed.
“I see… You don’t plan to come back, then?”
Her large, gentle eyes drooped plaintively as she asked.
For a moment, Elinor hesitated—not because she didn’t know what to say, but because instinctively, she worried about what answer the protagonist’s sister should give.
“Well… I like living in Oklama.”
It was a hard-won answer. And the moment she finished, Elinor consciously forced a smile.
For once, in front of Lydia, she wasn’t answering for Lydia’s sake, but purely for her own.
Lydia’s eyes widened slightly, surprised.
“But you’ve been hurt in Oklama, haven’t you…?”
“Lydia, I already explained everything in my letters. Can’t you try to understand me a little?”
Even as she spoke, Elinor could hardly believe herself.
Am I really telling the heroine to understand me?
Her insides were in turmoil, yet the words came smoothly. Still, when Lydia remained silent and just looked at her, Elinor felt a cold sweat forming.
In the original story, Elinor always replied to Lydia’s words with a gentle “Of course.”
She was Lydia’s unwavering supporter—never someone who would dare ask her younger sister to understand her.
Yet here she was, stepping outside that role, letting her true feelings spill forth.
“I feel freer and happier in Oklama than I ever did in Beirn.”
At that, Lydia smiled faintly, looking somehow lonely.
“I see… Sorry. I know we’ve already talked this through, but seeing you made me want to complain again.”
Seeing her lashes droop, Elinor flustered to reassure her.
“No, Lydia. No matter how many letters we exchange, it’s never the same as speaking face to face.”
Perhaps because they were in Beirn, seeing the heroine look like that filled Elinor with guilt, as though she had done something terribly wrong.
Well, I’m not supposed to be like this, after all.
She smiled gently. Vanessa, at her side, glanced at her.
“Thank you for taking care of Stikoff in my place.”
“What are you saying? It’s my duty too. But sister, even after becoming a baroness, you’ll come back once in a while, won’t you?”
Though she had no intention of coming often, Elinor nodded contrary to her true feelings.
“Of course.”
The words came so easily—clearly, the habits of being the dutiful extra sister weren’t gone yet.
“Then that’s fine.”
Lydia relaxed and smiled warmly.
Her smile lit the room like spring’s return, even easing the heavy summer heat.
“But they were right, you know.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sinclair and Ernst said you’ve changed.”
At the sound of those two names—ones she’d been trying to forget—Elinor nearly grimaced. She forced her expression smooth.
“Speaking of which, did they return safely?”
She didn’t care in the slightest, but asked out of courtesy.
“Yes. Though Sinclair seemed a bit angry.”
Lydia looked at her with puzzlement.
“Did something happen in Oklama?”
“…Not really?”
Elinor avoided the truth; she couldn’t very well admit they had fought constantly the moment they reunited.
So he hadn’t even hidden his temper in front of Lydia… He must have been deeply wounded by his failure to take her with him.
He probably thought an extra like me would bend to his will, and was furious when I didn’t.
From what she knew of Sinclair, it made sense. He didn’t know she was an extra, but to him she was still just a count’s daughter, weaker in power than the duke’s house of Tess.
Not being able to control even a mere count’s daughter must have stung.
None of which mattered to Elinor.
“I’ll make sure to drag you back to the capital.”
The memory of that elegant, quiet voice made her shiver.
“Lydia, if Sinclair is upset with me, could you… smooth things over for me?”
Just in case, she asked her sister to act as a safeguard. Naturally, Lydia agreed. With the heroine as her insurance, Elinor felt relieved—Sinclair would have no room to take personal revenge.
“It’s about time we get going.”
Their parents, who had been listening to their daughters’ conversation, rose to leave for their duties as count and countess.
“My daughters, make sure you get along well.”
“Since you’re home for once, Elinor, take good care of your sister.”
Smiling with her usual mature gentleness, Elinor replied,
“Don’t worry and go about your business.”
“As expected, it feels so reassuring to have our eldest back!”
The count laughed heartily, and the countess echoed his joy with a laugh of her own.
When they left, a quiet settled over the room.
Hardly had Elinor sat back down when Lydia’s brilliant emerald eyes turned toward her.
“Sis, do you have plans for the afternoon?”
