NRAL | Chapter 73

~Chapter 73~

The Impotent Fiancé 

“Yes, it’s true! They say she took a dagger and—snip!—cut it clean off!”

The rumor began when, during the chaos of the incident, the security momentarily lost control, and people without suite access managed to reach the scene.

They saw the Crown Prince’s lower abdomen, from below his belly button down to his thighs, drenched in blood. And unfortunately, that part of the body included something very… essential.

Those who saw it couldn’t wait to tell others. Their stories spread through Cardiff like wildfire.

Producing a healthy heir is one of the Crown Prince’s duties. Using that as an excuse, people gossiped even more furiously.

Some confidently claimed that the Crown Prince’s main part had been completely cut off. Others scolded them for speaking so disrespectfully and insisted that there was no damage to his sexual functions at all.

People had different theories, but no one dared confirm the truth directly. No noble was brave enough to ask the royal family such an impolite question, and the royal palace kept its lips sealed.

Only one man—the Duke of Astria, who had placed Arlo on the path to the throne—had access to the truth.

And it was a brutal truth.

“They say… he won’t be able to have children.”

“Yes, the nerves down there were severely damaged. Even with continuous treatment, they say recovery is impossible. You could say he’s completely lost his sexual function…”

The Duke’s thick arm trembled with rage. His butler, noticing this, immediately fell silent.

Maybe he should’ve waited until after breakfast to deliver the news. But if he had, he might have been scolded for not reporting it immediately. Either way, there was no escaping the Duke’s wrath.

Meanwhile, at the breakfast table, Eleanor and Nora had also overheard the conversation—and wore visibly shocked expressions. But their feelings behind that shock were very different.

Nora was frustrated that her fiancé had become impotent. Eleanor, on the other hand, was thrilled.

‘What a shame… If it really had been cut clean off like the rumors said, that would’ve been even better,’

Eleanor sighed in mild disappointment. But honestly, even this result was more than satisfying. Even she hadn’t expected things to go so perfectly.

The reason she had gifted Countess Annabelle the ornamental hairpiece was merely in hopes that she wouldn’t be completely powerless like Eleanor had once been. She thought maybe Arlo might get slightly hurt, but she hadn’t placed much hope in it—she left it up to luck.

But Countess Annabelle had gone far beyond expectations. Eleanor felt like visiting the monastery just to shower her with kisses.

According to a secret royal informant from the palace, Annabelle had repeatedly slashed Arlo’s abdomen and lower region with the sharp ornament, even after he lost consciousness.

Because the weapon wasn’t a proper blade, Arlo’s life wasn’t in danger—but the wounds were in such a sensitive area that something nearly as important as his life had been destroyed.

From now on, Arlo would never again assault another woman.

He wouldn’t be able to experience intimacy or have children.

After learning this, Arlo screamed and destroyed things around the Crown Prince’s palace daily.

To Eleanor, there was no better news. She felt so good that even the pain from her bruised legs—beaten by the Duke when he returned home fuming the day before—felt almost pleasurable.

She bit down hard on the inside of her mouth to stop herself from laughing. If she slipped up and smiled now, she might get beaten again—this time too badly to walk.

Then, unexpectedly, Nora—whose face was pale and stiff—spoke up.

“It’s fine, Father. We can just make up a story.”

“I’ve heard His Majesty hasn’t been fully informed of Arlo’s condition yet. So first, silence the physician. Then tell the Emperor and nobles that Arlo is fine. Once he becomes emperor, we can worry about the succession later.”

Eleanor was honestly shocked.

Nora, Eleanor thought, would surely scream and fall apart in despair all day after hearing that her fiancé had become impotent—or she’d simply throw him away and look for another man. But apparently, she had underestimated Nora.

To live as the wife of a man who couldn’t even stand, pretending nothing was wrong for the rest of her life—Eleanor couldn’t understand such a decision. Still, for whatever reason, Nora’s determination to become empress seemed very real.

At that moment, Nora’s plan was the most reasonable solution. The only problem was the timing of her suggestion.

“…Did I ask for your opinion?”

“Pardon? I was just…”

If only she had waited a few hours. Eleanor clicked her tongue inwardly as she saw the rage bubbling over in Duke Astria’s eyes. It was never wise to speak when that man was in such a state.

“Are you okay? The Crown Prince is in that state, and you’re still okay?! I put a lowborn girl in a high seat, and now she dares to speak out of turn?!”

Unfortunately, Nora’s seat was the closest to the Duke.

Without hesitation, he raised his hand, and Nora couldn’t avoid the blow.

Smack!

“Aaagh!”

He hit her so hard that her small, thin body was flung from her chair and rolled on the floor. If Eleanor couldn’t withstand that man’s strength, there was no way Nora could.

Thud! Her head hit the floor with a harsh sound. Blood dripped from her chin as her lip split open.

The Duke, breathing heavily, stared at the bleeding girl before abruptly turning and storming out of the dining room.

Eleanor watched his back with icy eyes.

‘So he was being nice to Nora because he was worried she might change her mind after marrying Arlo. Now that there’s no need for that… he’s done with her.’

‘But what if she gets her revenge someday?’ Eleanor sneered at her father’s retreating back.

But no, that man never worried about such things. To him, she and Nora were nothing more than expensive belongings—and who worries about revenge from an object?

“…You planned this, didn’t you?”

Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out from below.

“What are you talking about?”

Eleanor replied indifferently as she watched the servants silently slipping away.

Not a single maid approached to help Nora—not even her personal ones.

They all scurried away, afraid of the duke’s wrath.

“The accessory the Countess used during the attack. You gave it to her, didn’t you? This was all your plan, wasn’t it?”

Nora didn’t seem willing to get up. She pushed herself up with her arms and looked up at Eleanor from the floor.

“You’re making me repeat myself. I told you already—there’s no way I could’ve planned all of this. Even Father admitted it was impossible.”

“Don’t lie. I can tell just by looking at your eyes. You’re lying.”

Her voice was low and hollow. That emptiness in her eyes was scarier than her usual fiery glare.

“Was it that disgusting to see me become empress and bear his child? Is that why you planned all this?”

“Of course not. But from the way you keep talking nonsense, it seems you’re quite heartbroken that your fiancé became impotent. If I may offer comfort—don’t mourn over a child you couldn’t have anyway.”

“…What?”

“You didn’t know? The tea that Countess Annabel gave you—it causes infertility in women. So don’t waste tears on a child you’d never have. Worry about yourself instead. Look at you—what kind of noble lady looks like that?”

Nora’s large eyes trembled. She clearly didn’t know.

Of course, drinking that tea once or twice wouldn’t cause permanent infertility. Eleanor knew that—but Eleanor acted like it had, smiling sweetly at Nora.

“…I warned you, Nora. There will be much more pain ahead.”

Her gaze slid across Nora’s bruised and swollen face. It looked pitiful.

It must’ve hurt a lot. Eleanor could imagine it well—she knew how big and heavy her father’s hand was.

“Do you still believe pain is brief, and power is forever?”

Nora stared blankly at Eleanor. Then she burst out laughing.

“Ha, hahaha… ahahaha! Hahahaha!”

She clutched her stomach and laughed wildly. Eleanor wondered if she’d lost her mind.

But in this place—Astria—it wasn’t surprising. It drove people mad. Eleanor had once lost her sanity here, too.

“Eleanor! Our precious Lady Eleanor!”

Rustle. The sound of dragging fabric echoed through the dining room, where only the two Astria daughters remained.

Dragging her legs, Nora crawled to where Eleanor sat and gripped her knee tightly.

“You think this is pain? This is misfortune? You once told me to endure misfortune; you mean this, right?”

“…”

“No, Ellie! This can’t be called misfortune! This isn’t even close! You were pampered like a flower in a glasshouse your whole life, so you mistake this for suffering! But it’s not!”

Her voice cracked, almost a scream.

It was the first time Nora had ever expressed herself with such raw emotion.

What had pushed her over the edge? Learning she might be infertile? The idea of spending her life with a broken man?

No… Eleanor instinctively realized it wasn’t that.

This—what Nora was about to say—was the true cause of everything.

“…Ellie, you once said your benefactor’s last words were ‘I’m sorry.’”

That name. That person.

For the first time, Eleanor’s composed face visibly twisted.

“What would she be sorry for? She saved you from starving to death. She raised you, even helped you find your birth father. Why would she feel sorry?”

Nora wouldn’t bring up Luke for no reason.

Eleanor’s mind spun as she recalled voices from the past.

“Nora… that child… she’s a year younger than you said.”

“That so-called sister of hers left her with us and stopped sending money…”

“They had a big age gap. Her sister’s name was… Lucy? Or Sia…?”

Thud. It felt like something dropped.

And then… her beloved benefactor’s face merged with Nora’s.

“No way… you…”

“That’s right. She’s my sister. The one who abandoned me in hell when I was just four years old. My one and only family—my sister, Lucrecia.”