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Chapter 10
Eleanor’s eyelashes fluttered softly before her eyes slowly opened.
She blinked two, then three times, her mind sluggish and hazy as she pushed herself upright.
“…Where am I?”
Tilting her head, she glanced around the unfamiliar room.
Let’s see…
I was chased by wolves…
Spent the whole night in a tree…
Then I met that silver-white-haired man for the first time—the one who called me Ellie…
And then…
Ah!
I saw Grand Duke Einhardt.
Then that disgusting snake bit my hand.
After that…
Eleanor counted on her fingers as she tried to piece together her memory, only for one brow to furrow in confusion.
“…Huh?”
Why can’t I remember what happened after that?
And where exactly is this place?
The last thing I remember is that man calling me Ellie… and Grand Duke Einhardt.
…Since this clearly isn’t the forest anymore, they must’ve brought me here.
Are Sharmel and Sir Ranster alright?
Without wasting another second, Eleanor climbed out of bed and headed for the door.
She cautiously cracked it open, poked her head out, and after confirming no one was nearby, slipped into the hallway.
“…Which way do I go?”
“I’d rather ask where exactly you’re trying to go.”
“Well, obviously I’m trying to— …Huh?”
Eleanor instinctively answered before freezing.
Slowly—
Very, very slowly—
She turned her head toward the voice behind her.
Grand… Duke… Einhardt…?
“…Hiiik.”
A beat of silence.
“KYAAAAAH! IT CAME OUT!!”
As though she’d seen a ghost, Eleanor flailed both arms wildly, shrieked at the top of her lungs, and bolted.
“….”
Ren stood there in complete silence, watching her flee.
Then—
He covered part of his face with one hand.
“…Pfft.”
A laugh escaped.
“She really ran from me.”
His shoulders shook slightly.
“For someone who spent two days delirious with fever, she’s awfully fast.”
And then, with another amused chuckle—
“‘It came out’… What am I, some kind of ghost?”
“Your Highness.”
“It’s fine.”
Ren waved to Hugo.
“I’ll go after her. Inform Allen that Sleeping Princess has finally awakened.”
“…Sleeping Princess?”
“She ran toward the rear garden.”
And with that, Ren leisurely headed after the fleeing Eleanor.
“Haaah… haaah…”
Eleanor finally stopped running, bracing both hands against her knees as she gasped for air.
“I… escaped…”
After a moment, she collapsed right onto the grass.
Completely.
No elegance.
No dignity.
No noble-lady composure whatsoever.
She sat first—
Then simply flopped backward until she was lying flat on the lawn, staring up at the drifting clouds.
“…What do I even do now…?”
If any proper noble lady had seen her, they likely would’ve fainted.
But Eleanor was far beyond caring.
Then—
A shadow fell over her.
…No way.
She jolted upright.
And there he was.
Ren.
“KYAAAAAH! IT CAME OUT AGAIN—!”
She tried to bolt once more—
But this time, Ren was faster.
He grabbed the back of her clothing before she could take more than half a step.
“W-What are you doing?! Let me go!”
“Ah. My apologies.”
His voice was maddeningly calm.
“I was merely preventing your escape.”
“Are you not letting go?”
“If you keep screaming and running every time you see me, it rather makes me seem like a villain harassing a young lady.”
“….”
“…Promise not to run, and I’ll release you.”
He leaned slightly closer.
“Besides, neither I nor the owner of this castle particularly enjoy people rampaging wildly through it.”
“…Fine! I got it, so let go already!”
Though…
Wait.
Owner?
Isn’t he the Grand Duke?
Why is he talking like this isn’t his castle?
As if reading her thoughts, Ren released her and answered immediately.
“This is the castle of Duke Ridevain of Winterfencer.”
“…Winterfencer?”
“I usually reside in the ducal estate in the capital, Atilantica, so this place is rarely used. Only on special occasions.”
Winterfencer…
Wait.
The four territories surrounding the Grand Duchy of Astrian—
This Winterfencer?!
And… Duke Ridevain’s castle?!
They brought me here?!
Why?!
“Whether you realize it or not,” Ren continued, “the snake that bit you was venomous.”
“…What?”
“You were brought here for treatment.”
…It was poisonous?!
So I almost died?!
“Th-Thank you for saving me.”
“You should thank Count Philemon.”
“…Huh?”
Ren’s answer was immediate.
“He is the one who sucked the venom from your wound. I merely brought you here.”
…Wait.
Count Philemon?
Who?
And—
My brother?
Eleanor’s head practically filled with question marks.
“Don’t you know?”
Ren tilted his head slightly.
“Though… I suppose nine years apart may blur memories.”
…Nine years?
Well… Eleanor did have an older brother…
But Sharmel said no one knew where he was.
So where did he suddenly come from?
And wait—
That man in the forest…
The one who called me Ellie…
“…Why is my brother called Philemon?”
Shouldn’t it be Ricardo?
Eleanor is Ricardo.
So if they’re siblings—
Wouldn’t he also be Ricardo?
Ren paused.
“…That is something you should hear directly from him.”
In other words—
Not his place to explain.
“…Then why did you bring me here, Your Highness?”
Ren blinked.
“….”
“No—I mean! It’s not that I’m complaining! I just—well—if my brother was there too, then why was it you specifically who brought me?”
The words came tumbling out in panicked disarray.
Ren stared at her for a moment.
Then—
“Because when Allen went to search for you, he left his horse behind and entrusted you to me.”
“…Oh.”
“You needed a physician immediately, and among the horses present…”
A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
“Mine was the fastest.”
…Fair enough.
Still—
Couldn’t he have just lent Allen the horse?
As though hearing that exact thought—
“For reference,” Ren added dryly, “my horse becomes violent if anyone besides me attempts to ride it.”
“….”
“It only allowed it because I was with you.”
…Right.
Of course.
Naturally.
Because apparently even horses in this world have dramatic personalities.
“I-I see…”
Eleanor awkwardly straightened.
“Then… my brother may have saved me by removing the venom, but you are the one who brought me here to receive treatment.”
“…Correct.”
“…Then thank you very much. Truly.”
She bowed her head.
No matter how desperately she wanted to avoid involvement—
He had, in fact, saved her life.
Gratitude was only proper.
“Though delayed, I should thank you as well.”
“…Pardon?”
Ren’s expression shifted, becoming unexpectedly solemn.
“His Majesty is safe because of you.”
…Ah.
Right.
The Emperor existed too.
“I thank you,” Ren said formally, “for saving His Majesty.”
Eleanor blinked blankly.
Wait.
Why is he thanking me?
“Personally, His Majesty is my cousin,” Ren said evenly. “But had he failed to return safely, the nobles who despise me would have gained reason to attack both me and Astrian.”
His gaze sharpened faintly.
“Because of you, they lost that chance.”
…Though apparently they’d rather attack me instead.
“Your Highness. Ellie!”
A voice rang out.
Ren turned slightly.
And Eleanor, peeking from beside him, looked too.
Silver-white hair.
Blue eyes.
The young man from the forest.
…So it really was him.
My brother.
The one who called me Ellie.
The one who sucked poison from my hand to save me.
Then…
He doesn’t hate me?
Maybe…
Maybe he hadn’t broken his promise because he found me annoying.
“Miss!”
Sharmel’s familiar voice snapped Eleanor from her thoughts.
“My lady, why can’t you stay still even for a moment?! Every time someone looks away, you disappear! Honestly…”
Sharmel let out a long sigh of relief.
“…Still, thank goodness you’re awake.”
Then—
With unmistakable gentleness—
“Lady Eleanor. This is your elder brother… Young Master Allen Walker.”
Eleanor stared at him.
Brother…
Even if he was Eleanor’s brother—
He wasn’t hers.
All she truly had were fragments.
Dreams.
A silver-haired boy leaving in a carriage.
A little girl crying, begging him not to go.
So…
How was she supposed to react?
“Um… Sharmel…”
“It’s probably because it’s been so long,” Sharmel said with a soft smile. “He must feel unfamiliar.”
…Yes.
Very unfamiliar.
“…I suppose that’s unavoidable.”
Ren glanced at Allen.
“The years apart were long.”
Allen exhaled quietly.
“…Yeah.”
Then Ren clapped him lightly on the shoulder.
“Well then. Since she’ll need time to grow accustomed, let sibling conversation come first.”
“…What?”
Eleanor froze.
Wait.
What did he just say?
“His Majesty wishes to meet you,” Ren said.
“….”
“…What?”
“I intended to delay informing him until later so you could rest at least one full day.”
He sighed.
“But after your earlier screaming escape…”
…Ah.
Right.
“…He likely already knows you’re awake.”
Allen frowned.
“You could delay it a day.”
“His Majesty himself may not mind,” Ren replied, “but the nobles are already making enough noise.”
“I’ll speak with His Majesty personally. And I’ll ensure the nobles stay away.”
Then, to Eleanor—
“For today, it would be best if you do not leave your room.”
“…Wait!”
Without thinking, Eleanor grabbed Ren’s long outer robe.
Hard.
The force actually yanked him back a step.
Ren turned, mildly startled.
“…Yes?”
“…Why do I have to meet His Majesty?”
No.
No no no.
I absolutely do not want to meet the Emperor.
“Well… because His Majesty wishes to meet you.”
“I mean WHY?”
Why me?!
“Can’t I just… not?”
Please.
Anything but that.
Ren’s expression softened—
But only slightly.
“If His Majesty issues a formal imperial command…”
His words were calm.
“Then even if your brother tried to stop it, you would still be brought before him.”
…Right.
Because Emperor.
“….”
“That said,” Ren added, “your brother and I will both be present.”
That is NOT the issue!
The problem is WHY DOES THE EMPEROR WANT TO SEE ME?!
Eleanor turned desperately toward Sharmel.
“…My lady.”
Sharmel looked genuinely apologetic.
“That look won’t help. I have absolutely no power here.”
Then—
Ren spoke.
“I swear upon the name of Rayen Arsen D. Einhardt…”
Both Allen and Eleanor froze.
“…That His Majesty will not be permitted to harm you.”
“Ren!”
Allen’s shout was immediate.
A promise made in a Grand Duke’s name—
Carried enormous weight.
This wasn’t casual reassurance.
This was dangerous.
Potentially treasonous.
And yet—
Ren didn’t waver.
“You’re insane.”
Allen stared at him.
“You are Astrian nobility and heir to House Philemon,” Ren replied. “And she is the younger sister of my friend.”
His gaze sharpened.
“If I cannot protect even that much…”
A dangerous stillness entered his voice.
“Then I lose both a friend and one of my own people.”
…My people?
“In Astrian,” Ren said firmly, “I guarantee no one will touch her.”
Then—
Because trust mattered more than fear—
“I do not make promises in my name lightly.”
Allen groaned, rubbing his forehead.
“…If Kyle heard this, he’d lose his mind.”
“Likely.”
Ren actually looked amused.
“But whether it were Kyle, Ruby, Isaac… or anyone else I claim as mine…”
His expression turned firm again.
“I would do the same.”
Because if he broke a promise made in his own name—
His credibility would shatter.
“…Haaah.”
Allen sighed deeply.
And Eleanor—
Still staring blankly—
Could only watch as Ren turned away.
“So.”
His final words were simple.
“Try not to worry too much.”
And then he left.
Eleanor stood there, dazed, watching his retreating back—
Before finally returning to her room…
With Allen and Sharmel beside her.
