NRAL | Chapter 69 – Novelish Universe Translations

~Chapter 69~

The Day of Decision

Arlo’s fox-like eyes curved into a playful smile—one that could easily sweep most ladies off their feet.

Many noblewomen had long envied Eleanor for being engaged to him. They were drawn to his rebellious yet dreamy looks and his bold, teasing personality, hoping that one day he might settle down—with them.

But Eleanor had never wanted to be the one he settled down with.

His smirking grin, arrogant tone, and the casual way his hand stroked her cheek were nothing but disgusting to her. Everywhere he touched felt as though crawling with ants; every word that reached her ears made her want to rip them—or his tongue—off.

Arlo mistook her stiff reaction for shyness and went on smoothly.

“Are you free this weekend? I booked tickets for a good opera at the Delira Grand Theater. Come with me.”

“…I can’t do that.”

“Is it because you’re afraid the duke will notice? We’ll have a private box, so—”

“That’s not it. I want to ask you: Arlo, why are you doing this all of a sudden?”

Eleanor clenched her fists and raised her chin.

“I told you—I’m letting you go. I said I wouldn’t cling to false hopes anymore. So why are you saying these things now?”

“—Because I regret it!”

He raised his voice, then quickly lowered it, remembering they’d sneaked away from the duke and Nora.

“I regret being so cold to you and not taking your hand at the masked ball. I did it for your sake—I thought being firm was better—but I didn’t have to be that harsh.

“It wasn’t easy for me either. We were engaged for eight years—I thought I’d marry you. Do you think I could forget those feelings so quickly? I kept thinking about the hurt look on your face; it has haunted me ever since.”

Eleanor scoffed inwardly. Listening to him, one might think he was the victim, forgetting he’d been secretly seeing someone else.

“…You said you liked Nora. Why are you doing this to me?”

“That was because of our situation! I had to marry the real Astria lady, so I tried to feel something for her. Why else would I choose Nora over you? Compared to tall, elegant you, she looks barely grown and was raised a maid—she has no grace.”

Comparing women to praise another was his habit.

Once he’d called Eleanor a skinny beggar; now Nora was the immature one.

He probably thought this would flatter her, but it only made Eleanor angrier.

“Give me another chance, Ellie. I don’t want our relationship to end like this—I can’t let you go. I know we can’t return to the past, but I’d at least like to bring our feelings back to how they used to be.”

In other words, he wouldn’t break off the new engagement, but wanted the pleasure of both women.

Eleanor suppressed the impulse to snap.

“…I’m not interested in opera. Watching people sing isn’t my taste.”

She turned away and spoke as though mumbling. Arlo brightened at her softer tone.

“I find opera boring, too. Let’s see—what else would you like?”

“I heard the restaurant in Hotel Mercedes is excellent.”

“…Hotel Mercedes?”

His eye twitched. The restaurant was one floor below the top suite and was known to accept only selective guests.

He could easily get a reservation, but dining there alone with his ex-fiancée would surely spread gossip. Even he knew it didn’t look good.

Seeing his hesitation, Eleanor snorted quietly.

Arlo might not be as simple as Damian, yet one thing always triggered him: jealousy.

“Actually, someone’s already asked me to dine there next Tuesday…”

“What? Another man? Who is he?”

She deliberately moved her lips without answering.

“…Don’t tell me—Karsian Royster?”

When Eleanor again didn’t answer, fire blazed in Arlo’s golden eyes. You could almost hear him grinding his teeth.

She felt slightly guilty for dragging Karsian’s name into her game, but it was too effective a weapon to ignore.

“Go with me. To that restaurant. On Tuesday.”

“…Tuesday? Of all days?” Eleanor tilted her head. “I was planning to decline his offer anyway… But isn’t that a bit cruel?”

“What’s cruel about it? So, are you saying no?”

His long fingers toyed idly with a strand of his golden hair. He leaned in toward her, wearing a confident smile that assumed rejection was out of the question.

“…Tuesday. Seven in the evening. But don’t tell Nora or my father.”

Why bother keeping it a secret when the entire empire would gossip about it? Still, Arlo didn’t question it and simply nodded.

“Of course, my beautiful Lady Ellie.”

He whispered flirtatiously and touched his forehead to hers, as if sealing a kiss.

The contact made Eleanor’s stomach churn again, but she kept her expression neutral.

‘Not long now.’

The day of revenge was truly approaching.

Next Tuesday, Arlo would finally face the consequences of everything he’d done.

That thought alone helped settle her nausea and even made her heart beat a little faster—with anticipation.

She gave Arlo a bright smile, and he grinned back, clearly pleased.

But one person couldn’t share in their laughter—the woman eavesdropping from just beyond the wall.

Nora.

Suspicious when her fiancé claimed to be visiting the restroom, she followed him. What she overheard wasn’t just betrayal—it was insult upon insult.

“Eleanor…”

All the venomous words had come from Arlo’s lips, but Nora’s rage was directed at Eleanor.

Anyone else might have stormed out and confronted the two on the spot—but not Nora.

“Why else would I choose Nora over you? Compared to your tall and elegant self, she’s just an undergrown girl raised as a maid, with no grace at all.”

Nora refused to admit in front of Eleanor that she’d heard those words with her own ears. That humiliation was worse than betrayal.

Besides, those words alone wouldn’t be enough to make the Duke angry. She needed real evidence.

A secret meeting at a hotel. That would be enough to set him off.

‘He’ll beat Eleanor nearly to death, then sell her to some old, fat nobleman like a slave.’

Nora knew the Duke well enough to believe he would.

If she couldn’t redirect Arlo’s attention, then at the very least, she could use this opportunity to destroy Eleanor for good. Especially with Eleanor still holding dangerous information about her—this had to end.

‘I won’t have to see that face much longer.’

Tuesday. It would be the day of decision.

Just like Eleanor, Nora silently repeated this to herself as she clenched her trembling hands.

***

The first Tuesday of July arrived with clear skies.

There were no clouds in the sky, and the air was occasionally cooled by a light wind, as if to bless the events that were to take place.

Even by evening, it was still warm and pleasant. Eleanor didn’t even bother with a shawl as she made her way to Hotel Mercedes.

She stepped lightly from her carriage and made her way to the restaurant on one of the highest floors—her spirits ascending, as if the breeze itself were carrying her.

“Ellie, over here!”

Arlo, already waiting inside, beamed when he saw her. She was more beautiful than he’d imagined.

Her long hair was styled in deep waves, and she wore a dress that shimmered like the night sky. Her makeup was bold and glamorous.

This look was crafted by none other than Lady Corcos and Hilda—Eleanor’s rare request to “look as stunning as possible” had fired up their creativity. The fact that she was meeting her cheating ex-fiancé surely fueled their motivation.

The result? Arlo couldn’t take his eyes off her.

“Sorry, I moved the time an hour earlier. I hope that wasn’t too much trouble?”

“Oh, no! I was hungry early anyway. I already ordered the wine—hope that’s okay?”

“Of course. Everyone knows your taste is flawless.”

Arlo was so infatuated that he was even hesitating with speech—something very unlike him.

Midway through dinner, while staring at Eleanor with a dumbstruck expression, he even dropped his knife.

Clatter.

The metallic clang snapped him back to his senses. Born a royal, Arlo—unlike Nora—did not stoop to pick it up himself. But the moment his gaze left the table, an opening appeared.

And Eleanor moved.

Splash!

“Oh my!”

The glass in her hand tilted, spilling wine all over Arlo’s sleeve. Like at Nora’s debutante ball, the crimson liquid soaked his pale clothing in an instant.

“I’m so sorry, Arlo! The sound startled me, and I just… Oh dear, your clothes!”

“It’s okay, Ellie. These things happen.”

The fiery temper he was known for had vanished. He responded like the perfect gentleman.

“I’ll just pop into the lounge and clean up. I’ll be right back—don’t go anywhere.”

“Of course not. I wouldn’t dream of it.”

He winked and walked off.

Eleanor picked up both her and Arlo’s water glasses to help the staff wipe the table.

“You don’t have to, miss. We’ll take care of it.”

“I caused the mess. This is the least I can do. Please allow me—I just want to ease the awkwardness.”

Her warm smile stunned the server into silence. He even whispered that he’d never met such a kind guest before.

Little did he know that beneath the table, something wicked was happening.

Drip, drip…