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Chapter 11
Eleanor removed the candy from her mouth, then bent her knees in a graceful curtsy.
“Greetings to the Empire’s little sun.”
“That dress…”
At Renatus’s reaction, Eleanor’s eyes wavered slightly.
“…You knew?”
“How could I forget?”
Murmuring to himself, Renatus’s lips curved faintly upward.
“It resembles the dress the Empress wore on the day my mother was executed fifteen years ago.”
Eleanor’s expression stiffened. She had heard he wasn’t even there that day—so how…?
Meanwhile, Renatus calmly asked,
“Who told you that information, my lady?”
“I happened to remember a conversation some noblewomen casually shared at a tea gathering once…”
Eleanor replied cautiously, as if making excuses while watching his reaction.
Her original target had been Empress Julia. She had firmly believed he hadn’t been present at the execution.
But it seemed she had been wrong—and unintentionally inflicted a deep wound on him.
The realization left Eleanor shaken. It meant Renatus had witnessed his own mother’s death with his own eyes.
“…Your Highness, I apologize.”
“This isn’t the time to worry about me.”
Renatus responded indifferently.
“You’ve likely fallen out of the Empress’s favor.”
“Yes. At this rate, my engagement might be broken.”
Eleanor replied lightly with a small smile, and Renatus’s expression turned strange.
“If today’s incident cancels your marriage, it won’t be easy to arrange another.”
He spoke slowly.
“Unless, of course, it’s with someone who stands against the Empress.”
His words sounded almost like gentle concern, making Eleanor smile.
Though he didn’t know it, that was exactly what she wanted.
“For example… the Crown Prince, Your Highness?”
Eleanor asked playfully.
She expected a blunt denial—but instead, he let out a clear, refreshing laugh.
Surprised, Eleanor’s eyes widened.
Renatus stepped closer.
“You understand well.”
Then he leaned down and whispered softly by her ear.
“That is… if you’re confident you can make the Empress your complete enemy.”
At the same time, their hands brushed.
The sensation of his soft, delicate fingers covering hers sent a strange ticklish feeling through her.
By the time Eleanor came back to her senses, the candy she had been holding was already in his hand.
No—before long, he casually placed it into his mouth.
Caught off guard, Eleanor froze.
Meanwhile, Renatus simply left with an elegant smile.
Eleanor watched his retreating figure, frowning slightly in confusion.
Her heart was beating fast.
She didn’t know why—but what had just happened had undeniably unsettled her.
* * *
—Smack!
The moment she returned home, Marquis Kline strode toward Eleanor and slapped her across the face.
He must have wanted to do that ever since he saw her without her shawl.
Eleanor calmly touched her cheek and met his flushed, furious face.
“You—how dare you…!”
“What did I do to deserve this?”
Her feigned innocence only fueled his anger further.
With bloodshot eyes, the Marquis snarled,
“Who told you such insolent information?!”
“I truly have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Steward!”
Unable to tolerate her persistent denial, Marquis Kline shouted.
“Lock this girl in her room until the wedding. Without my permission, she is not to step outside! Do you understand?”
As expected, Eleanor allowed herself to be led away by the maids and confined to her room.
There’s nothing I can do right now anyway.
For the time being, she decided to quietly observe how things would unfold.
She was especially curious about what Prince Cosimo would think now that he knew of his mother’s wrongdoing.
Her curiosity was answered a few days later.
The same Marquis who had locked her up suddenly sent maids in a hurry to dress her up.
A guest important enough to show me off, then…
Eleanor guessed it was Prince Cosimo.
“Prince Cosimo wishes to see you.”
The Marquis looked uneasy.
“You didn’t say anything unnecessary to His Highness, did you?”
Eleanor gave him an innocent look, and he frowned before sending her off.
She entered the drawing room with a composed expression.
Meanwhile, Prince Cosimo seemed restless, repeatedly reaching for his teacup.
At the sound of her arrival, he stood abruptly—then let out a sigh and sat back down.
“Eleanor of House Kline greets the shining star of Mestre, Prince Cosimo.”
Eleanor performed a graceful greeting and waited for his permission to sit.
But no response came.
When she looked up, their eyes met—his expression troubled.
“…Sit.”
Eleanor sat across from him as a maid placed a cup of tea before her.
“Who else knows about that?”
Though vague, Eleanor understood immediately.
“Well, the parties involved know, of course.”
“……”
“What do you intend to do? If Your Highness wishes to break the engagement over this matter, the Empress will not be able to oppose it.”
“I…”
Cosimo bit his lip, clearly conflicted.
From his reaction, Eleanor had already found her answer.
This man…
“I understand Your Highness’s intentions.”
He didn’t have the strength to go against his mother.
“Don’t worry. I won’t reveal this matter to anyone.”
She spoke quietly and stood, as if she had nothing more to say.
Suddenly, Cosimo grabbed her hand.
Startled, she turned to him.
“Your mother’s death… is it related to that as well?”
Eleanor didn’t answer—but he understood.
Letting out a hollow laugh, he asked,
“Do you want revenge?”
“Please don’t worry about that either.”
Eleanor gently pulled her hand away.
Cosimo stared at her in disbelief.
“I won’t marry Your Highness for such a reason.”
The condition didn’t matter.
In the end, Eleanor had no intention of becoming Julia’s daughter-in-law.
She turned to leave.
“I’m sorry.”
His unexpected words stopped her.
“I’ll apologize on their behalf. I’m truly sorry.”
Eleanor turned back with a faint, incredulous smile.
His eyes looked so sincere—almost as if he were on her side. It felt strange.
“Apologies and death are not things one can do on behalf of another, Your Highness.”
“……”
“You don’t need to apologize. You, too, were hurt by their relationship.”
But as long as he was Julia’s son, she could never stand on the same side as him.
* * *
As expected, Cosimo took no action.
Surprisingly, neither did Julia.
I thought she wouldn’t make the foolish choice of accepting a hostile daughter-in-law.
Perhaps she’s confident that once I enter the palace as the Crown Princess, she can control me as she pleases.
So Eleanor obediently followed the Marquis’s wishes, learning court etiquette while remaining in seclusion.
“Well… what could someone like me possibly do anyway?”
As she continued to act docile, the Marquis’s guard gradually lowered.
And finally—
The wedding was just one day away.
