NRAL | Chapter 56

~Chapter 56~

The Sin of Countess Annabel

As soon as the door to the reception room closed behind them in the Crown Prince’s palace, the Empress began scolding Arlo as if she had been waiting all day to let it out.

“How dare you have a secret meeting with another woman in front of the Empress’s palace? And on the very day I was having a meal with the real noble lady! Are you out of your mind?!”

Her sharp voice kept stabbing at his ears, and Arlo pressed his fingers hard against his head, as if he had a headache.

“A Crown Prince, unable to tell right from wrong, and humiliating me in front of the maids—!”

‘That jerk’.

He had lost count of how many times she had used such vulgar words today.

At this point, Arlo couldn’t hold back his anger any longer. It seemed like he would have to put her in her place at least once to finally shut that noisy mouth.

“Please lower your voice, Mother. Perhaps it’s because you’re always so sharp that Father’s attention was stolen by a woman just two years older than me?”

“…What did you just say?”

“Why don’t you try to see things clearly, Mother? You’re the one who should get your priorities straight. How can you grab your son by the collar in front of his future wife? A man who loses the respect in front of his wife can’t accomplish anything great—that’s what I’m saying.”

Hearing these unbelievable words, Empress Genevieve trembled with rage, her thin lips moving soundlessly.

“I’m not a child anymore. And stop threatening to tell Father every time something doesn’t go your way. If rumors start about me because of this, and the throne ends up going to that woman’s son, it’ll be your loss. I’m the only son you have left now.”

“I…! I lost my son because of you! How dare you…!”

The Empress exploded with fury and grabbed the collar of her ungrateful son with her bony hands. But the weak strength of the small, frail woman had no effect—Arlo easily removed her grip.

“What do you mean, because of me? People might misunderstand if they heard that. Harrison’s madness was just a terrible misfortune, nothing more.”

“Arlo!”

“Yes, Arlo. Your one remaining son. Your only hope. Arlo Ferdinanite de Juvenile.”

Arlo’s older brother, the First Prince Harrison, wasn’t dead. But because of his severe madness, he had been locked away in a distant villa. It was as good as being dead.

That meant the only way the Empress could keep her position was for Arlo to become emperor. And he made sure to remind her of that fact.

“You don’t want that lowly woman to become the emperor’s mother, do you? I certainly don’t want a two-year-old half-brother to steal the throne from me. So please, Mother.”

Arlo gripped the hand that had grabbed his collar tightly.

“Please, I’m asking you—cooperate with me.”

***

A few hours later, Nora returned to the Duke of Astria’s mansion looking extremely worn out. It seemed Countess Annabel had given her quite a hard time.

But even in her tired state, her hatred toward Eleanor hadn’t lessened in the slightest. As soon as she entered the mansion, she went straight to find the Duke.

The reason was obvious—she wanted to report today’s events and make sure Eleanor suffered again.

Sure enough, before long, Duke Astria summoned Eleanor.

Eleanor, who had changed into comfortable clothes and was resting, calmly headed to her father’s study, thinking, Here we go again.

But to tell you the result—Eleanor wasn’t hit even once that day. She had already prepared her arguments and managed to convince the Duke.

“I was just as surprised, Father. I knew Arlo was unpredictable, but how could I have known he’d suddenly change his mind like that?”

She put on a perfect show, pretending to be utterly upset.

“If I had done something to Arlo, I wouldn’t be so frustrated. But honestly, Father, I did absolutely nothing. Even when we met at the ball, we didn’t exchange a single word. Then suddenly, he sent a letter saying he had something urgent to tell me, and when I went—thinking it might be about the wine business—he said all that. I was just as shocked as anyone.”

The Duke of Astria watched Eleanor closely, but he couldn’t find any trace of falsehood in her face as she expressed her frustration. Naturally so—most of what she said was true.

The only thing Eleanor had deliberately done was present herself beautifully at the ball. And even that had been under the Duke’s orders to find a new husband for her.

So if anyone was to blame for what happened, it could only be Arlo.

“It’s true I acted a little petty out of jealousy toward Nora at the ball… but that doesn’t mean I’m foolish enough to try and take Arlo’s place now. If I really had that kind of ambition, I wouldn’t have so easily given up my position to Nora in the first place. Please, Father, try to understand how I feel.”

There was nothing to argue with in Eleanor’s explanation. And it helped that the Duke’s opinion of Arlo had recently grown quite negative.

So, the Duke withdrew his suspicion and gave her a short warning.

“Fine. I’ll let this go for now, but always be careful with your behavior. Remember, I’m always watching you.”

“Yes, Father. If Arlo approaches me again, I’ll make it clear—I have no interest in power or becoming the crown prince’s wife.”

Eleanor nodded obediently, and just like that, the punishment Nora had been eagerly waiting for ended without incident.

Nora ground her teeth in irritation when she saw Eleanor walk out unharmed—but what could she do? That was the Duke’s decision.

Eleanor smiled sweetly at her, showing her white teeth. Nora began spitting insults in anger, but Eleanor passed by her calmly, as if she were simply listening to a lovely piece of music.

But that didn’t mean she felt calm inside.

This is troublesome. There’s still so much I need to do.

The Duke had caught on too quickly. As long as his suspicion lingered on her, she wouldn’t be able to move as freely as before.

It was all very annoying. But still, when you desperately seek a way, you usually find one.

If I can’t move myself, I’ll have to use someone else.

If she could hide her intentions completely and have someone else act for her, she might achieve what she wanted without drawing the Duke’s attention. It wouldn’t be easy—but it was worth a try.

And so, Eleanor began to consider who she could use, based on a few conditions:

First, the person had to have influence. Without that, they wouldn’t be able to cause any real damage to the Astria or Juvenile royal families.

Second, they had to be smart—but not too smart. If they were too clever, they’d be difficult to manipulate. If they were too foolish, they’d be unpredictable.

And third…

They must not be innocent.

This was the final line Eleanor had drawn for herself.

She wouldn’t use someone who had done nothing wrong, even if it would make her revenge easier. Even if it was the fastest way to get what she wanted, Eleanor was determined not to become like the people she hated. If she crossed that line, she would become just like them—lower than animals.

Thankfully, she didn’t have to think long. One person came to mind immediately.

Someone who fit all three conditions—and who had already stepped into Eleanor’s trap:

Countess Annabelle.

As the emperor’s most favored mistress, there was no doubt about her influence. And from Eleanor’s experience, the woman was clever enough to scheme and try to harm others behind the scenes—but foolish enough to be caught by her targets.

Eleanor opened her wardrobe, recalling the countess’s sly eyes as she offered her tea, and the voice with which she spoke.

From deep inside the closet, Eleanor pulled out a box. Inside the box was a small pouch. And inside the pouch—tea leaves.

They gave off a faint, unique fragrance. These were the very same leaves Countess Annabelle had boasted about, saying she had brought them from the East.

‘How bold of her, to try and make the crown prince’s fiancée infertile.’

That was Countess Annabelle’s crime.

The tea leaves she had given Eleanor were indeed rare, just as she claimed. But their effects were peculiar—they caused infertility in women and had a mild increased effect of libido on men.

Because the countess offered the same tea every time they met, Eleanor had grown suspicious. She secretly stole a small portion of the leaves and had them analyzed.

The results confirmed her suspicion.

She must have thought that, to remove Arlo and put her own son on the throne, Arlo had to remain childless. Since Arlo wouldn’t meet her in person, she went for an easier target—me.

A truly wicked plan.

When Eleanor discreetly visited a physician, they couldn’t determine the exact damage to her uterus. She had drunk the tea three times. Once, she had noticed something odd and barely drank it. But still, three times was enough to cause possible infertility.

She might never be able to bear a child. It was a shocking diagnosis, but Eleanor wasn’t heartbroken.

Actually… this might be for the best.

She even thought that. Back then, the idea of bearing Arlo’s child was more horrifying to her than anything.

The thought of carrying the child of a man she hated—or of growing to hate an innocent child because of their father—was unbearable. If that was the case, never being able to get pregnant was far better.

And so, her thoughts on infertility ended there. Rather than grieve or search for a cure, Eleanor pondered a new question: Should she expose Countess Annabelle right away, or hold onto the evidence and stay silent?

In the end, she chose the latter. The reason was simple: exposing Annabelle would only help Arlo.

Even back then, Eleanor had a quiet but deep hatred for Arlo. She had no desire to do anything that would benefit him.

So, she tucked the pouch of tea leaves deep into her closet and lived as if she had forgotten about it—waiting for the perfect time to use it.

And finally, it seemed that time had come.