Chapter 61
With just two days left until the ball, Miguelon sent the finished dresses to the mansion.
They were delivered on mannequins tailored exactly to each body shape, clothed in dazzling gowns.
Afraid they might get so much as a scratch, the liveried servants carefully lifted the mannequins with gloved hands and carried them to each room’s dressing chamber.
Lisa circled around the dresses, unable to hide her delight. She was already busy fretting over hairstyles and accessories, wondering what would go best.
Eleanor, on the other hand, lost interest after trying hers on once. It was indeed a magnificent dress made by the Imperial tailor, but the second time she looked at it, the thrill was gone.
“Oh my, my lady! You mustn’t lounge around like that!”
Since Eleanor had been sprawled out lazily on the sofa, Lisa planted her hands on her hips and began nagging.
“You never know who might come by—please sit properly.”
“At best it’ll be Lydia or Vanessa. Who else would visit?”
During her stay here, those two were the only guests she had received.
Lydia barged in whenever she was bored, but the Count and Countess seemed content with just seeing her at mealtimes and never visited separately.
Vanessa had at first been sent out sightseeing in Beiren, but soon grew tired of it and sought something else.
Eleanor had then connected her with Professor Iberin, an economist who had once been Vanessa’s professor at the academy.
Though only an “extra” character and a dropout herself, Eleanor still had enough influence to arrange that much. Not much else, though.
“Thank you so much, my lady!”
Perhaps the saying was true—that the path of learning has no end. Vanessa had been overjoyed at the chance to learn from an academy professor again, showing such enthusiasm that Eleanor was left bewildered.
It wasn’t as if the woman would be doing anything fun—attending dull debates one after another, most likely. How could she enjoy that…?
Back in her academy days, Eleanor had suffered terribly enduring Iberin’s classes. Still, since Vanessa was pleased, she decided she would be, too. A good thing is a good thing.
Professor Iberin, though an illegitimate noble child, showed comparatively little discrimination or arrogance. That was why Eleanor had introduced her to Vanessa, a common-born orphan.
The fact that the professor even answered a letter from a long-ago dropout showed her generous nature.
And so, Vanessa frequently went out to meet with Iberin.
Eleanor, not needing her aide’s help for much, let her do as she pleased.
Though she often left early in the morning and returned late at night, Vanessa never failed to stop by Eleanor’s room each day to greet her.
Thus, Eleanor’s only visitors were Lydia and Vanessa.
“Still, you never know,” Lisa persisted.
Since Lisa wouldn’t back down, Eleanor finally sat up. Experience had shown it was always better to listen to her maid.
The moment she obediently straightened herself and smoothed her hair, there came a knock at the door.
Lisa, finishing with Eleanor’s hair, went to answer. She cracked the door just enough so her lady was hidden and saw the butler.
“A servant from House Tess has come at the young duke’s order. He waits for Lady Eleanor in the drawing room. Go and tell her.”
Lisa returned and relayed the message.
“Who was it?”
“The butler. He says a servant of House Tess, sent by the young duke himself, is waiting for you in the drawing room.”
“Sinclair?”
What reason could he possibly have to send someone to her? Perplexed, Eleanor went down with Lisa.
A servant wearing the Tess family crest stood up at once and bowed deeply when he saw her.
“Greetings, Lady Eleanor Stikoff. I am Jimmy, a servant of House Tess, here by the young duke’s command.”
Eleanor walked gracefully to the sofa and sat. With a slight nod granting permission, she allowed him to sit as well.
“What has the young duke sent you for?”
“I was commanded to deliver a gift to you, my lady.”
A gift? What gift?
Puzzled, Eleanor watched as a green case was presented before her. It reminded her of the bracelet she had once received from Ernst.
Without a word, Jimmy confidently opened the case.
Inside lay a pair of oval sapphire earrings, blazing blue, each surrounded by diamond petals.
“These earrings are from the young duke.”
“…”
“They are a custom order from Sapino Jewels of District 2.”
At the name Sapino, Eleanor remembered meeting Sinclair there yesterday.
“Don’t buy earrings.”
His voice replayed in her ears. She had thought it was just pointless provocation, but clearly it was because of these.
Looking down at the sapphire earrings, so blue as his own eyes, Eleanor was at a loss for words. Why… why to her? She had no reason to receive such a gift from Sinclair.
“You must be mistaken.”
“Pardon?”
Eleanor assumed the earrings were meant for Lydia instead. Even if he had said otherwise in the shop, there was no way Sinclair Tess would be sending such things to her.
“You must have confused me with my sister. He meant them for her.”
It was an easy mistake to make, since both bore the Stikoff name.
But when Eleanor smiled kindly and offered to call Lydia, Jimmy panicked.
“No, not at all! I’m certain. The young duke clearly instructed me to deliver them to Lady Eleanor Stikoff!”
Terrified of failing his errand, Jimmy trembled. The arrogant young duke would never forgive a blunder like this—especially not when it concerned a jewel gift so obviously meant for a beloved woman.
“This gift is indeed for you, my lady.”
“…Why.”
“Eh?”
“Why give it to me?”
Why not to the heroine? Why me?
He had sworn he would make things work with Lydia, take her title, and drag Eleanor off to Beiren.
So why earrings to her now?
Eleanor grew deeply suspicious of Sinclair’s intent.
“Take them back.”
She could not accept such a dubious gift.
“Wha—?! N-no, I’ll be killed if I return with them!”
Jimmy suddenly dropped to his knees. Lisa snapped at him for his insolence, while Eleanor stared awkwardly at the sweating servant.
“Please believe me. These earrings truly were sent for you.”
His near-tearful face made Eleanor sigh and rub her forehead.
She didn’t think Sinclair would actually strangle his own servant over this, but from the servant’s perspective, who knew? She couldn’t just throw him out.
She gazed at the sapphire earrings, each bigger than her thumbnail, her thoughts churning. Why…? With the sender absent, the question had no answer.
“…Fine. I’ll accept them. Get up.”
Relieved, Jimmy rose, beaming.
“They are finely crafted by Master Sapino himself, and will match your beautiful eyes perfectly, my lady!”
Though he gushed, Eleanor forced a smile, still uneasy.
“Go back and thank Sinclair. Tell him I’ll make sure the gift reaches its rightful owner in time.”
“But—again, these are meant for you—”
“Just say that. He’ll understand.”
Eleanor snapped the case shut, cutting him off. The warning in her tone silenced Jimmy, who only nodded tightly.
“I’ll take my leave. Thank you, my lady.”
He bowed low and departed. Eleanor, left with a pounding headache, muttered a half-hearted farewell.
She was about to order Lisa to stash the case away when the butler returned.
“My lady, another visitor has arrived.”
“Who is it? If it isn’t important, tell them to come back later.”
The butler gave a troubled smile.
“They are from the Imperial family.”
At that, Eleanor shot upright from the sofa.
“From the Imperial family? Who?”
Could it be Leopold?
Heart pounding, she asked.
“A servant, my lady. Specifically… His Highness the Crown Prince’s personal attendant.”
“Has my luck completely run out?”
Two days in a row, people connected to male leads were showing up. Eleanor’s nerves frayed.
“…Fine. Show him in.”
Before a male lead, Leopold was the Crown Prince. Eleanor was merely the powerless daughter of a count.
Who on earth would dare slam the door in the face of the Crown Prince’s envoy?
Moments later, Paul, Leopold’s longtime attendant, entered.
“It’s been a while, Lady Eleanor.”
“Indeed, Paul.”
His face was kinder but a little more lined since last she’d seen him. For someone serving under such a severe master, he was gentle.
“What brings you here?”
“His Highness has sent a gift for you.”
Another gift.
Eleanor barely stopped herself from blurting it out. Not long ago, all they did was try to humiliate her. Now they were competing to send presents.
She almost missed Vincent, the rude mage—at least he was consistent.
“What kind of gift?”
“A necklace, perfect for you to wear at the ball.”
At Paul’s signal, two servants carried in a veiled object. When they pulled off the red cloth, a glass case with a mannequin neck inside was revealed.
Around it glittered a necklace of rubies and countless diamonds, cascading like a jeweled net.
“My word…”
Lisa gasped involuntarily.
Even Eleanor herself was taken aback. Dazzling yet not gaudy—it was exactly her taste.
“It’s… completely my style.”
That only unsettled her more. The piece was worth more than an entire mansion.
“This necklace was commissioned from the most renowned jeweler of the Southern Empire, by His Highness personally.”
Paul explained proudly, watching her stunned expression.
“It was ordered even before the shoes were sent to you, but took longer to complete, so it arrives now.”
Eleanor’s eyes widened. Before the shoes? Leopold had been planning this that long? Why… for her?
“His Highness apologizes for the delay.”
He bowed. Eleanor’s mind reeled.
The Crown Prince’s man delivering apologies—while presenting a necklace worth a fortune.
Had the recipient been Lydia, the heroine, it would have been a beautiful scene. But Eleanor was just the heroine’s extra sister.
“This is… too much, Paul. I can’t possibly accept it.”
“If you refuse, His Highness told me to discard it on the way back.”
“What—! That’s insane… you’re joking, right?”
But Paul only smiled.
“There is one more thing.”
Eleanor braced herself. Another servant entered, carrying a bouquet of blue roses.
“No romantic gift is complete without flowers.”
“…What.”
Why would Leopold send her something so romantic?
Eleanor numbly accepted the bouquet.
“Thirty-one blue roses, my lady. Please accept His Highness’s sincerity.”
All the servants bowed together. Refusal was impossible now.
She caught sight of Sinclair’s earring case nearby. Trapped between Sinclair’s earrings, Leopold’s necklace, and Ernst’s bracelet—she felt dizzy.
“…Paul, very well. Thank His Highness for me. But tell him such excessive gifts need not be given again.”
Forcing a smile, she dismissed them. They bowed deeply and withdrew.
Pale and trembling, Eleanor shoved the flowers into Lisa’s arms and collapsed back onto the sofa.
“My lady, are you alright?”
“Yes… I’m fine.”
But her face was paper white.
Lisa, staring between the glass case and the green box, asked cautiously, “What shall we do with all these?”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“They’re far too extravagant for me… so we must keep them safe.”
In other words: put them away, out of sight. Lisa quietly obeyed, carrying both the earrings and the necklace to the dressing room.
Eleanor pressed her throbbing temples, then opened her eyes again to the thirty-one roses.
“…Why thirty-one?”
Seven in Oklama, thirty-one now—such odd numbers. The thought nagged at her.
At last, Lisa removed the flowers as well, giving Eleanor a little peace.
That evening, Eleanor had Lisa lay out all the gifts before her.
A topaz bracelet.
Sapphire earrings.
A ruby necklace.
Any one of them could buy a mansion in the capital.
Wrapped in a negligee and shawl, Eleanor crossed her arms and stared down grimly at the collection.
Lisa watched nervously. They suited Eleanor perfectly, but the givers were the problem.
“Each one… has ties to the younger lady.”
She worried Eleanor would end up fodder for gossip columns. At least in Oklama, she hadn’t needed to fret over such things.
“Lisa.”
Lost in her thoughts, Lisa flinched at Eleanor’s sudden call.
“Yes, my lady?”
“Do you remember the topaz set I received at my coming-of-age?”
“Yes, of course.”
It was a gift from the Count and Countess Stikoff three years ago—earrings, necklace, and bracelet of topaz, diamonds, and pearls.
“I’ll wear that with Miguelon’s dress on the first night of the ball.”
Lisa blinked, then nodded quickly.
