Chapter 69
Sinclair closed his mouth and cooled his gaze.
Before the Crown Prince, he didn’t hold his usual arrogant posture, but at the same time, his eyes did not yield in the slightest.
Leopold emerged slowly from the bushes.
Stepping into the brighter light, his handsome features became fully visible.
“So the young marquess was Eleanor’s partner today?”
“Yes, Your Highness. He partnered with Miss Stikov.”
Sinclair deliberately emphasized “Miss Stikov,” the way Leopold normally referred to Eleanor. Leopold’s eyebrows twitched.
He closed the distance gradually, and when only five steps remained between them, he stopped abruptly.
“Leaving your partner alone… it seems the young marquess lacks a bit of competence.”
Leopold smiled coldly, as if mocking him. Sinclair lightly frowned.
He hadn’t intentionally left Eleanor alone.
He only meant to explain the situation to Lydia… but somehow, the words didn’t come out in front of Leopold.
Facing him, any excuse felt awkward, which only irritated him further.
“My chance was taken before I could even prove my competence.”
“Isn’t taking the opportunity itself part of competence?”
“Well…”
“You’re showing your shortcomings in multiple ways today.”
Sinclair tried not to scowl. A lazy, irritating tone directed at him, of all people, the Crown Prince, required him to manage his expression more carefully than ever.
Leopold regarded him with a relaxed smile.
Seeing Sinclair’s faintly displeased expression, it felt as though he were being repaid in kind for giving up the chance to be Eleanor’s partner.
“What exactly are you thinking?”
“About what?”
“About approaching Eleanor now.”
Sinclair erased all prior emotion and expression, staring at Leopold with cold, empty eyes.
“I am extremely curious about what thoughts Your Highness harbors.”
Silence fell over the garden, where not even the sound of insects could be heard. It was so quiet that one could hear the absence of breathing. Leopold remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Sinclair’s bright teal eyes patiently waited for his answer.
“And you…”
“…”
“Coming now, aren’t we all the same?”
Leopold’s words struck at the core, causing a ripple across Sinclair’s face. He leaned forward slightly, as if offended.
“That’s because of circumstances…”
“Whatever the reason, it’s true that we’ve all turned our backs on Eleanor under the excuse of ‘we had no choice.’”
“…”
“From Eleanor’s perspective, it will all seem like ‘coming now.’”
Leopold recalled the strong wariness in Eleanor’s eyes.
Since the opera theater, whenever Leopold approached, Eleanor looked at him with fear in her eyes, bristling at his sudden changes in behavior.
Knowing the source of that fear, Leopold could only take one step instead of three.
He didn’t want to frighten her as before.
He stepped forward to seize a new opportunity, not to make her tremble in fear.
‘I don’t know what the young marquess thinks, but at least the Marquess of Lerner thinks the same as I do.’
Recalling the conversation he had accidentally overheard between Eleanor and Sinclair in the pergola, Leopold’s expression shifted subtly.
At that time, Sinclair had left Eleanor and gone to Lydia.
Leopold, more than anyone, was curious about what Sinclair intended in approaching Eleanor.
Ernst’s behavior had always been consistent, leaving little to guess, but Sinclair was different.
Leopold didn’t know much about the situation between him and Eleanor. As the Crown Prince, he hadn’t enrolled in the academy, having received private lessons instead.
What he knew was limited.
Eleanor had suddenly withdrawn from the academy just before graduation.
And Sinclair was involved.
‘And…’
Under the night sky, Sinclair’s face glowed pale. Leopold swallowed the words he most wanted to say, knowing full well which words were proper and which were not.
Instead, he said what he wanted to say second most.
“Still, personally, I appreciated you stepping in earlier before the Crown Prince.”
Seeing Sinclair intervene while watching Eleanor entangled with the Crown Prince, Cain, from a distance, allowed Leopold to relax.
He himself couldn’t step in for a second day in a row. On the first day, he could make excuses and manage, but not today.
Had he intervened again today, a scandalous love triangle involving him, Eleanor, and the Crown Prince would have erupted.
The gossip tabloids would have gone wild, covering the ground of Baern with headlines.
Leopold wanted to avoid putting Eleanor in a difficult situation because of him.
Having already caused her trouble once, he was more cautious now, wanting a fresh start.
“That’s not something you need to thank me for.”
Sinclair replied coldly. From his perspective, it felt like Leopold had done something he should have handled himself.
If anyone had to intervene, it was undoubtedly him.
Being Eleanor’s partner today gave him the strongest justification.
“Of course, it was my duty.”
“That’s true.”
Leopold conceded that point.
“I’m not sure if you really want to know what I’m thinking, though.”
Their violet and teal eyes clashed sharply in midair, like blades striking.
“You should clarify your stance, young marquess.”
“You mean my stance is unclear?”
“To me, yes. Whatever it is you want…”
Leopold’s eyes darkened like water absorbing ink.
“Stop hurting Eleanor. I regret those things now.”
“…”
“If you can’t handle that, step back and live as you have been.”
Leopold left, leaving sincere advice behind.
Alone, Sinclair clenched his fists until his skin turned pale. The whole day had been utterly frustrating.
From Clara to Leopold.
Except for becoming Eleanor’s partner, nothing had gone as he wanted.
‘Eleanor.’
Ruffling his well-kept hair, Sinclair’s eyes darkened.
‘Eleanor, Eleanor.’
Even he couldn’t fully comprehend the feelings he mulled over, repeating her name three times.
‘Regret?’
Leopold’s words stirred a storm in Sinclair’s chest.
I…
‘I don’t regret it.’
Sinclair didn’t regret any of his actions toward Eleanor.
At least, not up to this moment.
Eleanor sent a letter to Cain timed with the end of the party.
He had come to help faster than anyone else, yet she hadn’t properly thanked him, which weighed on her.
She included her gratitude and reassured him that he didn’t need to be her partner tomorrow.
The tabloids would immediately spread news that Eleanor, paired with the young marquess, had been asked to dance by the Crown Prince, and that the vice captain of the royal knights had promised to partner with her on the last day.
Even if Eleanor didn’t attend the final ball with Cain, she didn’t want to tarnish his reputation.
“Should I sneak over to the newspaper and set it on fire at dawn?”
Lisa’s serious face made Eleanor chuckle.
“No need.”
She couldn’t sacrifice her precious maid for that.
Lisa, pouting, brushed Eleanor’s hair. Thinking of the journalists who did nothing but eat and defecate, then write vile articles, made her blood pressure rise.
There should be a rule: one gold for every mention of Eleanor. That might stop them from exploiting her for profit.
“The ball is at noon tomorrow. You’ll need to get up early and get ready.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll take care of everything.”
More accurately, Lisa, dedicated to adorning Eleanor, would handle everything herself.
Feeling reassured, Eleanor smiled.
Lisa would surely make up for what she couldn’t do today and put extra effort into her appearance.
Out of the three balls, tomorrow would be the one with the most effort.
As Eleanor prepared to retire early, someone came to her room. Lisa opened the door to find Lydia.
“Sis, are you okay?”
“Yes. You’re back.”
She hadn’t even washed and went straight to her room; Lydia was still in her ball attire.
“I heard your heel broke and you slightly hurt your ankle. Leopold told me.”
Leopold must have made up a story, knowing a simple “it hurt” wouldn’t suffice. Eleanor roughly went along.
“Seeing it, it’s fine. She must have been so surprised she just wanted to go home.”
“You’re not seriously hurt, right?”
“No. Look, I’m fine.”
Lydia examined her sister carefully and, seeing no injury, was relieved.
“That’s good… Oh, Max said to give this to you.”
Receiving the letter from her maid, Lydia handed it to Eleanor.
Cain?
He must have already read her letter and replied.
Eleanor accepted the letter and sent Lydia away with a gentle “good night.” She sat on the bed and opened Cain’s letter.
< I thought you might refuse to be my partner tomorrow, so I’m sending this.
It’s fine, so don’t worry. I want to help you, and being helpful to you is better. And everyone already knows I’m your partner tomorrow.
Help me so I don’t make you look ridiculous, Eleanor.
I’ll come to get you tomorrow. >
He had sent the letter anticipating her thoughts before even reading hers.
Given this, it felt wrong to refuse the partnership. Eleanor’s letter had likely reached Cain as well, and he would come for her tomorrow.
‘Positively thinking, Cain won’t betray me.’
He wasn’t the male lead.
Eleanor folded Cain’s letter neatly into an envelope. She needed as much rest as possible for tomorrow.
The final welcome reception for the delegation from the Kingdom of Lairaple.
Eleanor skipped reading the morning newspaper, which must have been stuffed with gossip for her mental health.
What good would reading insults do?
Preparing for the noon ball left no time even for a drink.
She rose before dawn and finished preparations, changing into her final dress: a red velvet gown with a décolleté neckline.
Though slightly draped over the shoulders and not a perfect off-shoulder, it highlighted her neck, collarbones, and shoulders.
The dress had a very different atmosphere from the first day’s. While the Miguelon dress was elegant and pure, this one was alluring and mature.
She wore her hair long, tucked one side behind her ear to show off her glamorous diamond earrings.
She picked only the bold, striking accessories she owned.
Lisa, choosing accessories for Eleanor, felt a pang of regret.
This dress’s only decorations were a satin ribbon at the waist and chiffon along the neckline, making the choice of accessories crucial.
But Eleanor’s jewelry collection was limited, and few pieces matched the dress.
The style she usually wore didn’t help, either.
‘That ruby necklace would suit it well.’
Lisa glanced at the inside of the dressing room while searching for necklaces to match the dress.
The color would match, and it would suit perfectly if worn.
But Eleanor disliked gifts from the Crown Prince, making it difficult to suggest it.
Lisa rummaged through the jewelry box, unable to hide her dissatisfaction.
“What’s the matter, Lisa? No suitable necklace?”
“Huh? No, it’s not that…”
Eleanor quickly noticed that there wasn’t a proper necklace.
The sapphire necklace was flashy but didn’t match the dress. The diamond one sparkled but lacked presence when worn.
Leaving her neck bare wasn’t ideal with the deep neckline, so an accessory to draw attention was needed.
Watching Eleanor, Lisa cautiously spoke.
“Um… Miss…”
“Yes, what is it?”
“How about this necklace…?”
“What necklace?”
“The… ruby necklace.”
Lisa’s eyes darted toward the dressing room. At first confused, Eleanor soon understood and shrugged.
Leopold’s ruby necklace.
It would indeed complement the dress well: the neckline matched, it was striking, and its length would balance the deep cut of the gown.
But…
‘If word gets out that I’m wearing something from Leopold…’
