Chapter 71
Moving to the slow rhythm of the melody, Ernst placed one hand on Eleanor’s waist and clasped her other hand.
This time, it was a relatively simple dance—just moving together while staying close.
It felt strange to dance with Ernst for the first time. Even though she had known him for years, he had always been by Lydia’s side.
Unless the three of them were playing together, she had hardly ever met him alone.
Other than holding hands when they were children at play, this was the first time she had direct physical contact with him.
Now that their hands were joined and their bodies pressed close, she could clearly feel that Ernst had become someone completely different from the boy she once knew.
“Thanks for helping me.”
When Eleanor whispered, Ernst gave her a gentle smile.
The chandelier’s light fell upon his silver hair, sparkling like glitter.
His golden eyes shone brightly, like staring straight at the sun in the sky.
“Not at all. Did you get home safely yesterday? I heard you hurt your ankle.”
“That? I only made it up because I wanted to go home early. I was just tired, that’s all.”
“I see. Sinclair told me a little about it.”
When Sinclair explained things to Lydia, Ernst had been there as well. He had heard about the quarrel with the Countess Grace’s daughters and how Eleanor had tried to avoid Crown Prince Ilya.
“Sister.”
“Yes?”
Ernst lowered his gaze to look at Eleanor. Her long, honey-colored hair shimmered faintly gold under the light. Her face looked innocent.
Even though she wore a dress completely different from her usual taste, when he met her eyes, she was still the same Eleanor.
Except for the man she had entered the ballroom with.
Still, she was the Eleanor he knew.
Ernst was careful not to grip her hand too tightly.
But he couldn’t stop the questions rising inside him.
“What is your relationship with Sir Maxiel?”
“With Cain?”
“I know you’re close with Lady Maxiel, but… it seems you’ve grown quite close to Sir Maxiel as well since before going to Oklama.”
Eleanor nodded in agreement. Compared to before Oklama, she had certainly gotten closer to Cain.
Unlike before, Cain had started approaching her more actively, and while in Oklama, they had often spent time alone, becoming closer.
He had even confessed to her.
“…Yes, we’ve become closer than before.”
“Are you friends?”
“Of course.”
“You could be lovers as well.”
Ernst’s voice was calm, without a hint of agitation. Strangely, it was Eleanor who flinched in embarrassment.
She tried not to think about it, but Cain’s confession would occasionally resurface sharply in her mind.
Like now.
If it had been before the confession, she would have just laughed it off as nonsense from a friend’s older brother.
But since Eleanor still remembered Cain’s words vividly, hearing Ernst bring it up made her heart skip.
“…Cain and I…”
After a slight hesitation, she continued.
“We’re friends.”
Compared to the past, when he was just her friend’s brother, this was still progress.
Now, she thought of Cain as someone she had a one-on-one relationship with, without going through Stella.
“You’ve gained a good friend.”
Ernst narrowed his eyes but then smiled kindly, as if nothing had happened.
“Sir Maxiel is a promising talent expected to become the future Commander of the Knights.”
His words slowed.
“Having such a friend will surely be of great help to you.”
“Yes. Even aside from his position, Cain is a very good person.”
Eleanor wholeheartedly agreed.
Cain, who had become the youngest deputy commander of the Imperial Knights, was also the strongest candidate to become its youngest commander.
He might even take the position before turning thirty.
Then, she probably wouldn’t see him as often.
The Commander of the Imperial Knights was always stationed in the capital, guarding the Emperor.
“The song is nearly over.”
Ernst gently brought Eleanor back from her thoughts.
“When our dance ends, you should immediately accept another partner. It looks like His Highness the Crown Prince is about to ask you.”
“Got it. Thanks.”
When the music ended, Eleanor parted from Ernst and immediately went to Stella.
Normally, dances were performed in male-female pairs, but sometimes men danced with men, and women with women.
“Lady Maxiel, may I have this dance with you?”
With a playful smile, Eleanor held out her hand to Stella.
“Oh my, I’d love to. Sorry, Daniel—I’ll be dancing with her.”
Stella grinned mischievously and teased Daniel as she spoke.
To onlookers, it might have seemed like they were sneaking off for an affair right under her fiancé’s nose.
“Ah, alright… enjoy yourselves, Stella…”
Daniel waved helplessly, looking utterly dejected as his fiancée was “stolen” away before his eyes.
Clicking her tongue at his pitiful look, Stella muttered,
“He looks like a puppy abandoned by its master.”
“Hasn’t he been like that lately?”
Just then, the orchestra switched to a cheerful tune perfect for friends.
“What are you talking about?” Stella raised her brows. Eleanor, holding her much smaller friend’s hand, moved in rhythm.
“You two seem quite close.”
“Same as always.”
“Closer than usual.”
Eleanor spoke with conviction.
“Isn’t it more than affection? Maybe even love?”
“…It’s not like that.”
Despite her denial, the tips of Stella’s ears flushed red. Eleanor narrowed her eyes, amused.
“Your ears are red, Lady Maxiel.”
“…Lady Stikoff. If you don’t want me to step on your toes with my heel, maybe we should dance quietly?”
Fine, then quietly.
Eleanor immediately shut her mouth, though she couldn’t help finding her beloved friend a little cute and a little irritable at the same time.
“You were dancing with Marquis Runner earlier.”
“He saved me from the Crown Prince.”
“And where was your brother during that?”
My brother…
Eleanor looked around the crowded hall. It was hard to find even familiar faces among so many.
Near Sinclair, she spotted a bit of fabric matching the color of Lydia’s dress.
“Lydia should be with Vincent or Sinclair.”
Ernst was probably there too, since he had only briefly come to help Eleanor.
“What about the Crown Prince?”
“Hm?”
“He hasn’t been seen by your sister’s side this entire ball.”
Now that she mentioned it…
Eleanor let out a small, dumbfounded sound. She had been so distracted by the Crown Prince on the first day that she hadn’t noticed.
Before Oklama, Leopold had always been Lydia’s partner.
But this time, she hadn’t seen him come to fetch Lydia from the Count’s estate, nor the Imperial carriage parked outside.
It was unusual—he had always come and gone from the Stikoff estate like it was his own home.
Perhaps it was because of the delegation’s welcome ball, though usually those were overseen by the Empress, not the Crown Prince.
Still, as heir, he surely had many matters to attend to.
Even so, Eleanor hadn’t seen him with Lydia once during the ball.
Although she had left early two nights in a row, she had been present when the dancing began, and still hadn’t seen them together.
‘…Is it because of me?’
The first night, she had danced with him. The second, she had been with him behind the garden.
It felt like, for three days straight, she had spent more time with him than the actual heroine had.
Though unintentional, if it really was because of her, she felt uneasy.
‘I just want to go back to Oklama quickly.’
She didn’t want to feel like she was interfering with the main couple, didn’t want to be mistaken for the Crown Princess, and didn’t want to deal with the sharp atmosphere hidden behind Beiren’s smiling face.
“When you’re done dancing with me, will you dance with Daniel next?”
Looking up at Eleanor’s serious expression, Stella asked softly.
Eleanor shook her head.
“I don’t want people saying Eleanor Stikoff is after her friend’s fiancé.”
“Over one dance? Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I didn’t read today’s paper, but it seems they’re making plenty of money off my name already.”
The young lady who had broken off three engagements was now linked to the Crown Prince, the Imperial heir, the young duke, and the deputy commander. The gossip rags were having a field day.
Even without more scandals, they’d be full for the rest of the year.
“And I don’t want to step on a budding love.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean… I don’t want Daniel to hate me.”
Eleanor smiled faintly, drawing out her words.
Most likely, Stella’s next dance partner would be Daniel. And the one after that too. Maybe even Cain after that.
Remembering Daniel’s sulky face earlier, Eleanor shrugged.
Since they were going to marry anyway, it was better if they loved each other.
Arranged marriages were common among nobles, but whether a couple truly cared for one another could decide whether their marriage was bliss—or hell.
Forcing a marriage with resentment on either side was a shortcut to misery.
Eleanor wanted Stella to be truly happy with Daniel, to live a loving married life.
After all, the Marquis and Marchioness Maxiel had married much the same way, but fell in love and raised four children together in harmony.
If Stella followed her parents’ path, she and Daniel would be fine.
Stella, unaware of Eleanor’s thoughts, tilted her head curiously.
“Then who will you dance with next?”
“Since all the young ladies are swarming His Highness, I think I’ll slip away to the terrace for a bit of rest.”
After three consecutive dances, Eleanor was starting to tire.
Though each dance wasn’t long, keeping perfect posture and moving in harmony was exhausting.
Catching sight of Ilya dancing with a lady she barely recognized, Eleanor quickly planned her escape.
If she slipped away right after the song ended, no one would notice her leaving.
“I’ll rest a bit and come back.”
“Alright. I’ll be near that table earlier, so come find me.”
“Okay.”
The two spun once more and then waved each other off.
Stella moved forward, Eleanor slipped back.
Weaving through the crowd, Eleanor found a quiet terrace.
Heavy curtains muffled the noise, and since it was an inner terrace, people rarely came there.
She silently pushed open the door.
Warm midday sunlight greeted her. From here, she had a sweeping view of the western castle’s gardens.
Leaning on the railing, Eleanor basked in the peace and freedom.
Of the three balls, none had felt as tranquil as today.
Of course, there had been the difficulty of meeting and speaking with Ilya, but compared to the first two nights, this was still far calmer.
Looking up at the clear sky as the heat began to fade, Eleanor thought:
‘I should return to Oklama the day after tomorrow.’
The longer she stayed in Beiren, the greater the risk of being dragged into becoming Crown Princess.
From the start, she had only planned to rest a few days after the ball before returning, so leaving early wouldn’t matter.
Now that she was officially recognized as the young duke, it was best for her to return quickly and begin her successor’s training.
‘Maybe I’ll tell Vanessa to stay longer?’
Vanessa’s crimson eyes had burned like lit matches, fueled by her passion for study.
Eleanor remembered the heavy stack of books Vanessa had been carrying last night when she greeted her.
‘Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity, my lady.’
Her smiling face hadn’t seemed to feel the weight of those books at all.
Even in Oklama, she could exchange letters with Professor Iberin, but she wouldn’t be able to meet him as freely as she could here in Beiren.
‘I don’t yet have the power or resources to invite the professor. But if I left Vanessa here even for a year, she’d probably master everything and return.’
As the young duke, Eleanor didn’t urgently need a deputy yet.
And since Vanessa already knew much about estate matters, it didn’t matter if her training was delayed.
‘I’ll have to talk to my parents.’
Though they weren’t as unconditionally supportive as Lydia, they never outright opposed her either.
If she said she wanted to train an able aide, they’d gladly keep Vanessa for a few years.
Having sorted her thoughts, Eleanor pushed herself off the railing, ready to head back.
Creak.
The terrace door, which had made no sound earlier, suddenly groaned on its hinges as it opened.
Turning to see who it was, Eleanor froze.
“…Eleanor.”
Edward Hans.
“Let’s… talk for a moment.”
Her damned ex-fiancé stood there.
