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Chapter 14
Eleanor stared up at the ceiling that swayed and rippled above her, recalling the wedding dress she had tried on today. The sensation of the fabric clinging to her body, the heavy weight of all those expensive jewels dangling from it. The lace woven by a master craftsman, the embroidery stitched into the dress.
Swallowing a groan, Eleanor reached out her hand.
“Hold me, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
She whispered sweetly, her face full of charm. The dress she had worn today—just as she had glimpsed herself enjoying it—was something this man could give her. Eleanor smiled prettily. Frederick looked at her as though she were the loveliest thing in the world, warmth flickering in his eyes.
Among the many things Eleanor desired, this man was one of them.
The Crown Prince. If it was Frederick, he could make her the Crown Princess. That sweet temptation pulled Eleanor in.
Frederick buried his face against Eleanor’s shoulder. Eleanor’s mermaid-like arms wrapped around his neck as he licked his lips.
“Ha. Is there something you want?”
He asked softly. Belissa was difficult, but Eleanor was easy. That satisfied Frederick. At least in this moment, he felt willing to give Eleanor everything she wanted.
Eleanor narrowed her eyes, choosing her words carefully.
A man like Frederick disliked women who were greedy for power and women who desired too much. The very fact that he was embracing Eleanor instead of Belissa already told her plenty. Eleanor was here because she was easy to gift things to—easy to hold.
But if she showed no desire at all, Frederick would lose interest.
Desire… slowly.
Eleanor parted her lips.
“I want to call Your Highness by your name.”
“…That’s your gift?”
“You’ve already given me your brooch, haven’t you? It still remains in my heart. So your name will do.”
Eleanor breathed her sugary-sweet breath against Frederick’s ear. His body trembled as he let out a sigh. Pressing Eleanor’s soft body firmly beneath him, Frederick smiled.
Smart.
She desired just enough. And was just adorable enough.
“My name is Frederick, Eleanor. In bed, it’s better than ‘Your Highness.’ You may call me Frederick.”
“Wow.”
Eleanor beamed brightly. Meeting Frederick’s eyes, she pronounced clearly:
“I’m so happy! Frederick, Frederick…”
“Just for a name?”
“It makes me feel closer to you.”
Eleanor kissed Frederick’s palm pitifully and then smiled bashfully. Belissa was a princess who had everything. That meant Eleanor had to become a pitiful woman with nothing.
Holding the image of the dress she tried on today close to her heart, Eleanor smiled.
***
Jane’s crying grew louder as Dixie spoke firmly.
“…I’ll be back, Your Highness.”
Dixie spun around and left the room. In the past, she would never have thought to assign someone to watch Eleanor or suspect her behavior. If anyone had suspected Eleanor, she would have made a foolish excuse for her: ‘My sister would never do that. Eleanor is such a sweet child. It must be a misunderstanding.’
A cold sigh escaped.
I patted Jane soothingly and turned my head toward the window.
Because Jane was crying in my place, I couldn’t shed tears.
Even if I had wiped out the remnants of affection from my heart, I was still hurt. Eleanor. Frederick. They had played with me and deceived me from the beginning. How ridiculous I must have looked, smiling foolishly in ignorance.
I slowly closed my eyes.
It felt like grains of sand were scraping inside my chest. I thought I could hear the siren’s song. My sister, who grew up hearing the same song, betrayed me.
“Haha…”
Life really is impossible to predict.
“Stop crying, Jane. Did someone die?”
“I wish they had!”
Jane sniffed loudly.
“If it weren’t for you and the late Queen, how could that woman have ever lived in the royal palace? She doesn’t even remember the grace Her Majesty showed her in taking her in… She’s worse than an animal. I really want to kill her!”
Jane cried as she spoke.
Jane and Dixie had been my friends since we were children. We grew up together. Because of that, they knew exactly how Eleanor came into the royal family and how she was raised.
And Jane was right.
My kind mother had taken Eleanor in. Feeling sorry for the little child, she had fed her and tucked her into bed herself. She had said that if anyone was to blame, it was my father. My mother… always too softhearted. I covered my mouth and swallowed.
My mother was a good person and a good mother, but unfortunately, she had no talent for raising children.
My older brother abandoned his sister for personal gain. And my younger sister betrayed her older sister for her own benefit.
And I—plan to kill them.
“…Your Highness, how can you be so calm? Are you all right?”
“Eleanor isn’t the only wretched one.”
I murmured softly.
“The Crown Prince, who’s rolling around with her, is just as vile.”
Jane blinked tearfully.
“Jane.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“If you must resent someone, resent them both. If you must kill someone, kill them both.”
“…But…”
Jane burst into tears again.
“The Crown Prince is supposed to be your future husband! If that bastard dies, what will happen to you?”
She cried indignantly. Sweet Jane.
“Don’t worry.”
Because I will never marry that bastard.
The carnivorous rabbit clung to my skirt. Its eyes were heavy with sleep. When I lifted it onto my lap, it licked my fingers.
“…Are you comforting me?”
“…Never forget that everything you do comes back to you.”
The carnivorous rabbit murmured in a drowsy voice.
“It’s fine.”
Even if the place I go is hell, I am not afraid. I already live in hell. The rabbit leaned against my palm. Yes, this was comfort.
And now, I wasn’t alone.
That was why this moment was far better than the past when Dixie and Jane had died and I was left by myself. My heart warmed.
***
The day after Eleanor spent the night outside the palace, a massive bouquet arrived from Frederick. Yellow freesias, just like the Crown Prince.
In the past, receiving a gift like that would have made me endlessly thrilled.
But now I knew this bouquet was sent from the last shred of guilt in Frederick’s heart.
He sent it as payment for the night he spent with Eleanor. Just as he sent me a wedding dress as payment for spending that night with her. How amusing.
The gifts Frederick used to shower me with drifted through my mind.
Necklaces. Rings. Shoes. Flowers. Handkerchiefs…
All the things I believed were unchanging affection were nothing more than pretty wrapping paper used to hide something filthy.
Dixie and Jane glared at the bouquet the attendant had brought in, their faces hard and cold.
“Um.”
The attendant, startled that the maids didn’t move to take the bouquet but only glared at it, gave an awkward smile.
“His Highness the Crown Prince sent these flowers for you, Your Highness.”
Thinking we didn’t understand, the attendant repeated himself.
“Where, um… where should I put them?”
“Take them back.”
“…Pardon?”
The attendant’s eyes widened. His face went pale.
“I’m allergic to flowers. Cough. And not just me—my maids are allergic too.”
“Cough, cough!”
“Kehloc!!”
Jane and Dixie put on the performance of a lifetime. The attendant looked flustered, clearly not fooled by their terrible acting, yet unsure what to do.
“B-but His Highness sent—”
“It concerns life and death, doesn’t it? Either take them back or keep them yourself.”
Not wanting to deal with it anymore, I turned away and headed back into the mansion with the maids, who were still coughing loudly. I heard the attendant’s voice behind me, trying to stop me, but I didn’t pause.
I hated anything that came from Frederick.
Even if it were the whole world.
He must lose as much as I have lost.
