BVSWM 20

Chapter 20

Eleanor wondered what was wrong and casually lowered her gaze, but there was nothing particularly unusual.

“Is something the matter?”

A fleeting look of disdain passed through Madam Pereto’s eyes, but it vanished too quickly to call out.

Deciding to ignore it, Eleanor stepped into the bath. However, a short groan escaped her lips almost immediately.

“…The water is a bit lukewarm.”

The temperature felt as if only the chill had been barely taken off, and Eleanor shivered reflexively. Her already weakened body made the cold feel even harsher.

But Madam Pereto feigned ignorance.

“Oh my, is it? I can’t really tell. You must be quite sensitive to the cold.”

So this is how she’s been irritating the Crown Prince all this time.
The method was so petty and childish that Eleanor almost laughed.

If I ask for new water, she’ll probably bring it boiling hot.

Then there was only one solution.

“Come in, Madam Pereto.”

At Eleanor’s request, Madam Pereto looked as though she had misheard. But Eleanor shook her head with a gentle smile.

“You heard me correctly. Take off your clothes and come in. You can attend to me from inside.”

“Lady Eleanor, that would be improper. It goes against court etiquette.”

“But it’s just the two of us here. As long as we both keep quiet…”

Eleanor tilted her head with a kind smile.

“No one else will ever know. And when I become Crown Princess, you’ll be my head maid.”

Looking at her with a warm, almost affectionate gaze, Eleanor took her hand and gently pulled. She could feel Madam Pereto flinch.

“I just want to get closer to you. And as you said, the water isn’t so cold that it needs to be replaced. If you come in, your body heat should help.”

“……”

“So, will you join me?”

The soft request left no room for refusal, and Madam Pereto’s expression grew troubled.

When she still couldn’t decide, Eleanor decided to help her along.

“I understand. To someone as loyal to His Highness as you are, I might not be very likable. After all, I was once engaged in marriage talks with Prince Cosimo. That could reflect poorly on the Crown Prince.”

Lowering her gaze with a deliberately pitiful expression, Eleanor continued,

“So if my presence makes you uncomfortable, I should respect your feelings as well. I wouldn’t want unnecessary conflict because of me. I’m sure you, who cares so much for His Highness, would agree. Wouldn’t you?”

The implication was clear—if Madam Pereto had no intention of getting along with her, she might very well be replaced as head maid in the future.

Having inadvertently given Eleanor justification, Madam Pereto’s face stiffened.

Meanwhile, the already cool water continued to grow colder, and Eleanor sighed as she felt the chill seep deeper.

Taking it as a prompt, Madam Pereto began removing her dress. Eleanor watched her quietly.

At last, when Madam Pereto stepped into the bath, she flinched at the cold and trembled.

Eleanor cast her a look as if to ask why she wasn’t coming in further. Madam Pereto let out a short sigh and spoke.

“It seems the water has cooled. I’ll have more hot water brought in.”

Eleanor smiled and nodded.

“…Oh my.”

After finishing her bath, Eleanor sat before the vanity and finally understood why Madam Pereto had looked at her with such an improper expression.

Her neck and collarbones were covered in red marks, blotched all over. Her naturally delicate skin made them stand out even more vividly.

“Let’s make it certain.”

The low voice that had whispered in her ear resurfaced, and Eleanor’s face flushed involuntarily.

There was no need to make it this… certain.

“I’ll prepare your dress.”

At that moment, Madam Pereto returned with a dress for Eleanor to wear. Seeing what it was, a faint laugh escaped Eleanor.

“I’d prefer a different dress, Madam Pereto.”

The dress in question was an off-shoulder gown that left her shoulders and neck completely exposed.

While it might be useful to let word of last night spread, she had no intention of doing it so blatantly.

And why was it such a bright yellow, of all colors?

But Madam Pereto looked at her with a mocking expression and spoke as if offering advice.

“I’m certain this dress will improve your current situation.”

“That may be true.”

Eleanor sighed lightly.

“But wearing this outside would not align with court etiquette. At least, that’s what I was taught.”

Using the etiquette she had learned for her marriage to Prince Cosimo, Eleanor saw Madam Pereto’s expression twist for a moment.

After watching her quietly, Eleanor spoke again.

“Still, if you insist, I suppose I cannot refuse. You would know court etiquette better than I do.”

“It may not strictly follow etiquette, but in order to provide a proper justification for the two of you to marry—”

“No matter how important the goal is, we cannot act against etiquette. It would reflect poorly on His Highness.”

Eleanor continued in a soft voice,

“Bring me a dress that covers me completely.”

If she couldn’t reveal it openly, then covering everything would stimulate people’s imagination far more effectively.

Reading her intent, Madam Pereto looked displeased.

“Wouldn’t that seem too stifling? It’s already spring.”

“That’s fine. I tend to feel cold easily.”

“……”

“And something in a modest color. Just not black.”

With such specific instructions, Madam Pereto’s expression worsened further.

After a while, she returned with a dress that met Eleanor’s requirements.

It was an old-fashioned design, overloaded with frills as if it had been popular a century ago. Still, Eleanor chose not to nitpick any further.

She quietly allowed Madam Pereto to tend to her hair.

Just then, a servant hurried in and whispered something urgently into Madam Pereto’s ear.

Eleanor looked at her questioningly.

“Prince Cosimo has arrived.”

“……”

“What shall we do? Should we turn him away like we did with Her Majesty the Empress and Marquis Crain?”

Cosimo was different from the other two. Publicly, they were the ones who had forced the marriage against her will—but in a way, Prince Cosimo could be seen as a victim.

She didn’t want to create unnecessary sympathy for him.

Of course, if he met her and left in tears, then public opinion might shift regardless—but Eleanor didn’t think he would go that far.

If anything, he was probably the one most likely to accept this situation rationally.

“We should at least explain things to him. Escort him to the drawing room.”

Wearing the unfashionable olive-colored dress chosen by Madam Pereto, Eleanor went to the Crown Prince’s drawing room.

Upon seeing her, Cosimo sprang to his feet. Eleanor greeted him properly.

“Greetings to the Star of Mestre, Prince Cosimo.”

“…You.”

“Please leave us, Madam Pereto.”

Madam Pereto complied willingly, as if expecting Cosimo to strike Eleanor once they were alone.

Eleanor didn’t think he would do such a thing—but even if he did, she was willing to accept it.

“I’m sorry.”

After all, he had effectively been forced into a broken engagement without understanding why. Eleanor did feel guilty about that, regardless of his feelings toward her.

“….”

Cosimo stared at Eleanor, who bowed her head in apology, his lips pressed tightly together before he finally spoke.

“Since when were you planning this?”

“I told you before.”

Eleanor replied calmly.

“That I would never marry you for the sake of revenge.”

“…That—”

Only now did Cosimo seem to realize that it didn’t mean she had given up on revenge.

Eleanor quietly looked at the man she now faced as an enemy.

He had come all this way, yet he didn’t seem particularly shocked, nor overwhelmingly angry.

Then why did he come?

Just as that question crossed her mind, the heavy sound of footsteps echoed from behind.

Seeing Cosimo’s startled expression, Eleanor easily recognized who it was.

“Alber.”

Renatus spoke in a cold voice.

“I clearly ordered that no outsiders be allowed entry.”