Chapter 6: Ah, My Hated Enemy
Eleanor felt dizzy.
It was like sinking into deep, dark water.
Her body was heavy. Her heart ached.
She felt like she was being suffocated by the hatred, anger, and resentment of many people.
Voices echoed in her mind, screaming at her.
“Eleanor! You wicked thing!”
“Look at that shameless face!”
“A duchess ignored even for the duke’s mistress? What a joke! Does she even belong in the Carniel family?”
“You useless girl! You’re my loyal daughter. Bring me what I want—something to destroy the duke’s family! Bear the seed of that power!”
Stop it. Please… stop!
I died, didn’t I? Isn’t that enough?
But even in death, her body refused to forget.
It began piecing together broken memories again.
Shock. Hatred. Death.
She remembered now—Eleanor had definitely died.
She had died miserably in prison, without ever telling anyone the truth.
Then… why can I still think?
She remembered drowning.
The fear rising in her throat.
A hand pulling her back up.
The pain of coming back to life.
And then… she bit the lips of a young man who had appeared like a miracle.
She remembered the sharp taste of blood and her fading consciousness.
Yes, I was alive. I lived again.
That clear realization hit her—and her eyes flew open.
“Hah!”
She sat up suddenly. The world spun around her.
“W-What’s going on…”
But Eleanor, who had survived by never showing weakness, quickly regained control.
She pressed her palm with her fingernails to steady herself.
Think. Use your head.
Her heart pounded as her mind raced to figure out what was happening.
Where am I? What’s going on?
Her last memory was falling into the canal.
And then seeing him—her husband.
Kylus. I saw him again.
It wasn’t a dream.
It had really happened.
Eleanor’s face twisted with pain.
But… is that even possible? Can something like that happen without turning back time?
Her vision blurred, but she forced herself to look up.
She considered a more realistic explanation.
Maybe I didn’t die in that prison. Maybe someone saved me?
Her eyes darted around the room—until they landed on the ceiling.
That pattern…
She suddenly realized where she was.
This was her bedroom at the count’s estate—before she married into the duke’s family.
Why am I here?
Her lips twisted and she felt like throwing up.
Then she spotted a thick book on the nightstand.
Her green eyes lit up with madness.
That book…
If this was just an illusion, pain would be the way to know.
She grabbed the book, ready to slam it on her hand.
If it hurts, this isn’t a dream.
But—BAM!
“Eleanor!”
The door burst open.
A sharp voice stabbed her ears.
“You pathetic girl! Are you trying to hurt yourself now? Rebelling again?”
Eleanor froze.
She saw something she never expected.
Why…?
Cold sweat ran down her face.
She slowly looked up—and saw a middle-aged man.
His frown, sharp eyes, and cruel mouth made him look heartless.
He walked proudly, like someone used to commanding others.
Then he slammed his cane against the floor.
“Focus, Eleanor! You ran away again like a rat, didn’t you?”
How is he alive?
Is this really… the past?
Her mind was in chaos.
But her body, her senses—everything told her this wasn’t a memory.
This was real.
She had really come back to life.
I don’t know how this miracle happened… but does it matter?
There was only one thing that mattered now.
She had a second chance.
A chance to get revenge.
A chance to live without being controlled by love.
“What’s that look in your eyes? When did you start going so wrong?”
“……”
“Ha! Foolish girl.”
“…You…”
SLAP!
“How dare you!”
“You called me ‘you’? Have you lost your mind? I’m your father!”
Yes—this was real.
Eleanor now knew it for sure.
Somehow, she had come back to life.
Returned to a point in the past… but this time, with an advantage.
Her emotions surged and then calmed.
She held back tears, and laughter too.
She had to focus.
On the present. On this reality.
“You should be on your knees, begging! Don’t you know how hard I worked to keep your face hidden?”
“…Father.”
“Finally calling me that? You idiot.”
Her voice was hoarse, as if she were being strangled.
She was staring at the man she hated more than anyone—her father.
Count Grace.
The enemy Eleanor had once destroyed with her own hands—was now standing right in front of her.
Ha. How did I take you down before?
The hatred inside her blazed brightly.
“You! I had to waste resources sneaking you out of the temple. How long do you plan to keep playing this ridiculous game of hide-and-seek? I fed you, clothed you! As the Count’s daughter, it is your duty to obey!”
His voice was sharp like metal—it meant his anger had reached its peak.
Eleanor’s thoughts raced.
Why did I try to run away around this time back then?
She had to remember fast.
The fox in front of her must not realize anything had changed.
Ah. The marriage.
Back then, she ran away to protect someone.
She didn’t want to be used by this man and ruin the family of the person she had once cared for.
It didn’t work out perfectly, but she had managed to hold out for a few months.
She ran away, got beaten, was dragged back.
Then escaped again, and got captured again.
In the past, Eleanor had foolishly done all that.
How stupid I was.
And in the end, she had a wedding without a groom.
Her mother-in-law showed up in a funeral dress.
None of the duke’s supporters blessed the wedding. They just glared and mocked her the entire time.
No flowers, no joy, no celebration.
A ghost-like wedding.
Then, when she entered the duke’s mansion after that miserable wedding, her husband’s mistress was already there—settled in and waiting.
Katrina. His dear friend, his savior, his everything.
Eleanor laughed bitterly.
What was the point of me struggling so hard back then?
Meanwhile, Count Grace’s face had turned red with anger.
But when he saw her smiling, he paused. His expression changed.
“You. Why are you smiling?”
“Because it’s funny.”
His jaw tightened. He looked like he wanted to hit her with his cane.
“Hah! So now you’re mocking me like this?”
“No, Father. I’ve learned my lesson the hard way. I now know I’m just a puppet in your hands. I can’t escape. I understand that now.”
She forced a bitter smile. She was used to hiding her anger behind fake obedience.
First, I need to get out of this place.
She had things to do.
The only one who could bring the Count down… was her husband.
And she couldn’t skip the marriage.
But if she acted fast? If she sped up everything?
Forget emotions.
After that, she could save people like Shiran who had suffered because of her.
And then live the rest of her life for herself.
Everything I do now is for that moment.
Running away wasn’t real rebellion.
True rebellion was striking when the enemy never saw it coming.
She had done this once before—she could do it again.
Eleanor’s green eyes sparkled with clarity.
“I’m sorry, Father. I’ve been foolish. My life starts and ends with the Count’s family. I didn’t see that reality before.”
There had never been real affection between them.
So this sudden change would make him suspicious.
“What are you up to now? Planning to escape while my guard is down?”
His expression darkened, just as expected.
“Do you remember? I was a good daughter before you started talking about marrying me off to the Duke’s family.”
The Count’s lips twisted.
“If you dare disobey me again—”
“I’ll do whatever you say.”
“What?”
“Anything.”
Eleanor nodded sincerely, watching his narrowing eyes.
“Do you want an engagement? I’ll do it.
No—better yet, since you wanted to humiliate the duke’s house, we can make the wedding as crude and shameful as possible. Wouldn’t that be even better?”
“You—!”
He stormed over and grabbed her hair.
“What are you playing at, Eleanor?”
“I’m serious.”
His sharp, hawk-like eyes pierced her, but Eleanor stayed calm.
She had no power yet.
But she was determined.
If this marriage would start with her being thrown out anyway, then she would make it happen early—and use it.
She no longer cared for the emotions that once held her back.
With her death, her love had died too.
“Don’t doubt me, Father. I refused before because I wanted to live.”
Her eyes gleamed slyly.
The Count trusted no one. He judged everything by gain and loss.
He was that kind of man.
Then—
“If everyone in the empire knows you killed the former Duke of Carniel and his son—but couldn’t be punished because of lack of proof—what would it mean for the enemy’s daughter to marry into that family?”
“Oh? So you didn’t want to die? That lazy girl now says she wants to live?”
“Yes. I want to live.”
It was her true feeling.
The cruel Count could tell when someone was being honest.
So Eleanor laid her soul bare.
“I want to live. I mean it.”
SLAP!
Her cheek burned.
“I don’t like the look in your eyes.”
But Eleanor didn’t flinch like before.
“Do whatever you want. Just let me live.”
Blood dripped from her torn lips, but she stared at him steadily.
“Please… let me live.”
“…Hah.”
Finally, after seeing that raw, burning desire in her eyes, the Count smirked.
“Ha! I like that. Finally, you’ve realized who holds your leash.”
“I realized it too late.”
“Ha ha ha! Good. Very good.”
As he laughed in satisfaction, Eleanor felt sick inside.
But she stood up from the bed like nothing was wrong.
She looked at the man she had once defeated—and said,
“But I have a condition.”
“What is it?”
She swallowed her blazing hatred.
“Give me authority. Give me the honor of being the beloved daughter of the Count’s house.”
