Chapter 3
“I greet the Empire’s beautiful moon.”
…She knew. In the Empire, this was a very ordinary greeting—one that male nobles offered to women as a sign of respect. That must be why her mother flinched slightly, yet couldn’t show it.
But even so… wasn’t this excessive, considering how cold he usually was—even toward his own wife?
More than anything, Eleanor—who knew the true relationship between the two—found even this seemingly ordinary scene utterly repulsive.
Suppressing the nausea rising in her throat, she turned her head—only to meet eyes with Prince Cosimo. Eleanor quickly composed her expression.
“Thank you for inviting us, Marquis Klein.”
“Not at all, Your Majesty. It is my honor that you have come all this way.”
“Ah, Marchioness Klein.”
At that moment, Empress Julia recognized Eleanor’s mother and stepped forward to give her a light embrace.
“It feels like it’s been a while. How has your health been?”
“Thanks to Your Majesty’s concern, I’ve improved greatly.”
“That’s a relief. I was worried I might have forced someone unwell to come out…”
“Not at all. When Your Majesty visits personally, it is only proper that I present myself.”
Empress Julia smiled, the corners of her lips lifting elegantly.
“Yes, I like that sense of duty… It seems Lady Eleanor takes after her mother.”
“Ah…”
At those words, the Marchioness offered a slightly awkward smile, and the Marquis quickly changed the subject.
“Your Majesty, you must be tired from the journey. Perhaps you should dine first.”
Empress Julia nodded in agreement.
Soon, the six of them moved to the dining room. The Empress sat at the head of the table, with Marquis Klein on her left and Prince Cosimo on her right.
“Ah, just a moment.”
Eleanor was about to help her mother sit beside her father when—
“Wait.”
At the Empress’s interruption, everyone turned to her in confusion.
With a gentle smile, the Empress addressed the Marchioness.
“Madam, wouldn’t this place the Prince and the young lady too far apart?”
“Pardon?”
“I think it would be better if Lady Eleanor sat in the middle.”
If they followed that suggestion, her mother would be pushed to the lowest seat.
It was an absurd situation. Eleanor was about to protest immediately when—
“That would be best. What are you doing? Why aren’t you switching seats with Eleanor?”
The Marquis agreed first, making it difficult for Eleanor to object.
She stared at him in disbelief, but he looked back as if nothing was wrong.
“This is, after all, a gathering arranged for your marriage to His Highness. How can you sit so far apart?”
“Even so, Father, giving my seat to Mother goes against proper etiquette.”
“Are you saying Her Majesty’s words go against etiquette?”
“If that’s the case, then please give me your seat instead. Sitting face-to-face would be closer than diagonally.”
“What? You—!”
“That’s enough, Eli.”
At that moment, the Marchioness stopped Eleanor in a soft voice.
Eleanor turned to her in surprise, but her mother was smiling gently, as if it didn’t matter.
“Her Majesty is right. Since this is for your marriage, you should take my seat.”
“Mother, but—!”
“Eleanor, how much longer do you intend to keep Her Majesty waiting?”
With her father’s sharp remark added in, she could no longer resist.
In the end, Eleanor took her mother’s seat and sat right beside her father.
She tried not to show her discomfort, but she couldn’t stop her lips from stiffening.
She’s doing this on purpose.
To pick such a petty power struggle with her mother—who knew nothing.
Eleanor felt her teeth tremble with anger at the Empress’s pettiness.
If she could, she wanted to expose everything and cause a scene right here.
But—
“I’m really fine, Eli.”
Her mother gently held her hand and smiled.
Eleanor forced herself to return a faint smile.
Endure it. Mother’s health comes first, Eleanor.
Unlike the tense beginning, the meal that followed proceeded relatively peacefully.
But that was only because the conversation centered around her wedding schedule and arrangements.
As the marriage began to take on a more concrete shape, Eleanor struggled to hide her unease.
She had even considered running away in the middle of the night—but she couldn’t act recklessly because of her sick mother.
Regardless of her feelings, the luncheon ended in a pleasant atmosphere.
Eleanor tried to relax, thinking she could finally breathe once the Empress and the Prince left.
But then—
“This mansion is truly beautiful.”
Empress Julia suddenly said this.
“If it’s alright, I’d like to look around before I leave. Would that be acceptable?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
“Then I shall guide you—”
The Marchioness was about to offer, as courtesy dictated, but the Empress shook her head with a smile.
“That’s quite alright, Madam. You’ve already done more than enough by coming out to greet us.”
“Pardon? But—”
“I say this out of concern for your health, so please understand my intentions.”
With that, the Marchioness could not insist further.
From Eleanor’s perspective as well, it would be physically exhausting for her mother to walk around such a large estate.
Just as Eleanor was about to offer to guide her instead—
“If it’s alright, I’ll look around on my own. As for the Prince…”
“I’m a bit tired. I’ll head back first.”
“Very well. It shouldn’t take too long.”
Probably, the Empress added, exchanging a brief glance with the Marquis.
In the end, the family dispersed, and Eleanor escorted her mother back to her bedroom.
Only after helping her lie down did Eleanor feel like she could finally breathe.
“You must be very tired. Please get some rest.”
“It seems Her Majesty holds you in high regard. I feel a bit relieved.”
Just as she was about to leave, her mother’s words stopped her.
After a brief hesitation, Eleanor gave her an awkward smile and stepped out.
She was exhausted. Thinking she needed some rest, she headed toward her room, when one of her mother’s maids approached her.
“Miss, Madam has recently been wanting to go outside for walks.”
“Mother? She hasn’t mentioned anything like that to me.”
“She knows it would trouble you if you heard. The physician did say it’s still too early for her to be exposed to the outside air.”
It was true that the scenery outside had been beautiful lately. Flowers were in full bloom, and butterflies and bees flitted among them—it was that kind of season.
“I understand. I’ll take her out sometime.”
Though the physician had warned against walks, perhaps it would be alright now that the weather had grown warm.
Eleanor nodded, deciding she would ask the doctor next time he visited.
The problem arose that very evening.
“Miss, Madam is refusing to eat.”
“What?”
Eleanor’s heart dropped.
This wasn’t like her mother at all. Throughout her illness, she had always made sure to eat—so as not to worry Eleanor.
“Did something happen?”
“I’m not sure. She’s been resting in her bedroom ever since the luncheon with Her Majesty…”
Eleanor immediately went to her mother’s room.
After knocking and entering, she saw her mother sitting on the bed, gazing out the window.
Something about her figure seemed more fragile than usual, sending a chill down Eleanor’s spine.
“Mother, why aren’t you eating?”
“……”
“Do you have no appetite?”
Worried, Eleanor approached her. At last, she placed a hand on her mother’s shoulder.
The moment her mother turned around, Eleanor’s expression froze.
“…Mother.”
Bloodshot, reddened eyes. A swollen face. A look of utter despair.
At that moment, a realization struck her.
Her mother had found out.
About her father and the Empress.
