NRAL | Chapter 58

~Chapter 58~

Are You Hurt?

Yes. Eleanor was trying to fish for information from Madame Corcos.

Her goal was to find out the exact day Countess Annabelle was scheduled to have her dress fitted. Knowing the countess’s impulsive nature, Eleanor assumed she would try to meet her lover and show off her new dress as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, Madame Corcos wasn’t an easy person to deal with.

“People often say that every dress has its rightful owner. And this dress—it’s meant for Lady Eleanor.”

If she couldn’t catch on to such tactics, she wouldn’t have survived as the owner of a dress shop in Cardiff’s high society. Having dealt with countless noblewomen and risen to the top of Juvenile’s fashion scene, Madame Corcos was already a master of such mind games.

“I see. Thank you for making me such a beautiful dress, Madame.”

Eleanor gave up gracefully. She could’ve pressed further, but she didn’t see any benefit in doing so. Pushing more would only irritate Madame Corcos.

As Eleanor stepped back without pushing further, Madame Corcos raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“But Madame, I’m asking this purely out of curiosity… is the hair accessory you’re wearing available for purchase?”

She glanced over Eleanor’s face, trying to read her intent. After all, she knew that Princess Astria wasn’t usually one to show much interest in accessories.

Still, there was no reason to hide her answer.

“It’s not officially for sale yet. The long, sharp shape is quite unique, isn’t it? I personally brought it from the East. It’s great for styling hair like this.”

“I thought it looked unusual. I’m not very familiar with hairpieces, but it seems elegant and alluring at the same time. Though… the ends look rather sharp. Isn’t it dangerous?”

“That’s exactly why I haven’t released it officially. As you can see, the ends are quite pointy, so if you’re not careful, you might get hurt. It’s not ideal to sell it as a regular hair accessory. Still, it’s so beautiful that I’d hate to give up on it. But if I just rush into it, I worry how the noble ladies might react.”

Eleanor nodded in agreement. The noblewomen of Cardiff made a fuss even over the tiniest scratch. If someone bled because of a hair accessory, there’d be chaos. Some might even sue Madame Corcos for compensation.

She stared closely at the unique, Eastern-style ornament holding Madame Corcos’s hair tightly in place. Its distinct and exotic shape seemed like just the kind of thing someone she knew would love.

“…If you swung it hard enough, it could be pretty dangerous.”

“Well, I can’t imagine anyone would go around swinging a hairpin…”

“It’d be perfect to buy one just in case—like for self-defense. You wear it in your hair normally, and if something dangerous happens, you just pull it out and swing.”

When Eleanor added that with a soft smile, Madame Corcos’s eyes widened.

Self-defense? Even she, a savvy businesswoman, hadn’t thought of that.

It sounded absurd and yet somehow convincing. Knowing how noblewomen eagerly bought anything pretty or unique—regardless of practicality—it could definitely sell.

And if she marketed it as useful for both style and safety, she could protect herself from complaints later about the sharp edges. It wasn’t something that would sell for long, but it could definitely be a high-profit item for a season.

“Lady Eleanor, thank you. How should I repay this favor?”

Madame Corcos’s silvery-gray eyes sparkled as she asked.

She already had a good guess at what Eleanor would say. She assumed Eleanor would now ask about Countess Annabelle. But Madame Corcos had no intention of revealing that information.

But surprisingly, Eleanor just waved her hand and answered humbly.

“It’s not a favor. I’ve already received so much from you, Madame. Please don’t worry about it.”

“…No, as I said before, everything I gave you was an investment for my business. This is a different matter. So please, let me repay you.”

“Well, if you insist…”

Eleanor paused.

This time for sure, she’ll ask about Countess Annabelle, Madame Corcos was certain.

“Could you sell that hair accessory to me first? I want to give it to someone as a gift.”

And once again, Eleanor smiled kindly—catching Madame Corcos completely off guard.

How did she know I have a soft spot for polite, well-mannered people…?

Ha… Madame Corcos let out a small laugh.

At this point, there was no choice. She had to raise the white flag and surrender.

“Yes. I actually have one more piece that I brought in as a sample. I’ll send it to your house next Tuesday.”

“Thank you, Madame.”

“I wish I could send it sooner, but unfortunately, I have an important client’s appointment on Monday, so I won’t have time before then.”

This time, it was Eleanor’s eyes that widened.

Madame Corcos never mentioned other clients during appointments.

Which could only mean one thing—

So, it’s next Monday.

This was Countess Annabel’s schedule.

***

After fitting a few dresses, Madam Corcos hurried off, saying she had other appointments lined up. It seemed she had lost track of time chatting with Eleanor.

Eleanor changed back into the clothes she had arrived in and stepped out of the large dressing room. In the drawing room, there was a man whose appearance she could never quite get used to, no matter how often she saw him, sitting on the sofa waiting for her.

Karsian Royster, sitting with one leg crossed and reading a newspaper, looked like he had stepped straight out of an advertisement. Just crossing his legs made him seem sensual, and just holding a newspaper made him look intellectual. Eleanor once again thought how unfair the world was.

“Your Grace.”

Eleanor swallowed dryly and walked toward him.

At that, Karsian raised one eyebrow, seemingly displeased. Eleanor easily guessed the reason for his displeasure.

“It’s not ‘Your Grace’ or ‘Duke.’ Just call me Karsian. Please remember that next time we meet.”

She had promised to call him that, yet still addressed him formally, which probably made him think she was being petty. But what could she do? He was the one who said she didn’t have to if it made her uncomfortable.

Eleanor planned to be even more brazen from now on. Although she was meeting him today to return something, she had already decided this would be their last meeting.

But, as always, Karsian disrupted her plans with just one sentence.

“…Are you hurt?”

His sharp gaze quickly landed on her injury.

“Your leg seems to be bothering you. What happened?”

How could this be? Arlo hadn’t noticed even after walking with her for ten minutes, but this man figured it out in less than one?

A warm, unsettling feeling stirred deep in her chest. Eleanor bit the inside of her lip.

“It’s nothing serious. It’s the same ankle I injured before—it just aches sometimes. Don’t worry, it’s not bad.”

Eleanor smiled brightly and began to walk again, trying hard not to show any pain, stepping lightly. But Karsian still looked skeptical.

‘The ankle?’

Karsian had both hit others and been hit plenty himself. So he could easily tell Eleanor’s excuse wasn’t believable. The way she was moving stiffly didn’t match someone with an ankle injury.

His red eyes calmly, coldly studied her face.

She wore a perfect smile—one so flawless, as if measured by a ruler. The same smile she often showed to other nobles, including him.

“More importantly, Your Grace.”

His dark brows tilted. But Karsian didn’t question her further and instead listened.

“Here, take this.”

Eleanor pulled a small pouch from inside her dress and held it out to him. Without hesitation, Karsian reached for it.

Clink.

The pouch landed in his palm with a heavier weight than expected.

“This is…”

“I told you, I’d repay my debt no matter what. This should be enough.”

When Karsian looked inside, his eyes widened slightly in surprise. It wasn’t much for the ruler of Royster, but it was a considerable sum for a fallen noblewoman without even a title.

“My financial situation may not be as desperate as you think.”

Eleanor spoke confidently, like someone who had never once been whipped by her father.

In terms of finances alone, she wasn’t unlucky. Years ago, when she first vowed to leave the Astria household, she had quietly and steadily hidden away money without anyone noticing.

Some might call what she did stealing, but Eleanor felt no guilt about embezzling from the Astria estate.

A woman can’t survive in a foreign land with no money. Unlike other noble ladies, Eleanor had lived in the Merilbone poorhouse before becoming the grand lady she was today. She had learned early what survival required.

Of course, if she could safely escape Astria with nothing, she would’ve accepted that gratefully. But since there was a better way, why choose the harder path?

‘This was my share to begin with.’

Besides, the money she took was rightfully hers.

It was the inheritance that should have come to her from the Marchioness of Alcastis—not from Asteria. She had merely reclaimed part of it.

Over twenty years ago, before the current Duke was married, House Asteria wasn’t nearly as prestigious as it is now. Back then, all it had was the honor of being a founding noble house of the Juvenile Empire. It didn’t have the power to put the Second Prince on the throne, nor the wealth to rival others.

What brought Asteria to its current position was undeniably the alliance with House Alcastis.

Who were the Alcastis family? Though now vanished and ruined, they had once been known as the most powerful family in the empire.

Their Bauer Mine alone brought in enormous profits every year, and every business they touched turned to gold. With only two children to inherit all that wealth, nobles throughout Cardiff had vied for a marriage alliance with them.

Meredith Alcastis—the beloved only daughter of the marquis, a beauty who received dozens of marriage proposals the moment she debuted in society—was desired by every eligible bachelor. But Meredith gave her heart to only one man.

The renowned general Caleb Asteria.

With a handsome face, impressive achievements, and a noble lineage, Eleanor’s father was everything a woman could dream of.