NRAL | Chapter 39

~Chapter 39~

Accusation of Instigating Murder

The request that came out of Eleanore’s mouth was something Hilda hadn’t expected at all.

It wasn’t just unique—it was almost confusing.

Still, it wasn’t laughable or silly in any way.

“…I’d like it like this. Would that be possible?”

After Eleanore finished her rather lengthy explanation, Madam Corcos replied with a dazed expression.

“Time is a little tight, but… yes, it’s possible. But just to be sure, I’d like to confirm again—you’re ordering this dress for the debutante ball, right?”

Eleanore, understanding how confused the Madam must be, kindly nodded a couple of times.

“Yes. I want it to look lovely—I plan to wear it to my sister’s debutante ball.”

She smiled brightly and gently touched a soft, white fabric sample.

***

A great commotion broke out once again at the Astria Duke’s residence.

It was such a big commotion that even the servants—who had grown used to all kinds of scandals—were shocked.

It started when Eleanor returned, her clothes covered in dust, completely different from when she had left.

The startled servants then saw knights of the Astria family being dragged in, bound in chains.

Everyone began throwing out wild guesses about what had happened.

About thirty minutes later, someone knocked at the main gate, and when it was opened, police officers suddenly stormed into the mansion.

“What is the meaning of this?! You can’t just come here unannounced!”

Young butlers quickly stepped in front of the officers to block them.

But what needed blocking wasn’t their feet—it was their mouths.

“We’re here for the young master of this house. We need to investigate him on suspicion of instigating murder, so please step aside.”

The mouths of the butlers and staff fell open. Instigating murder? That didn’t suit the noble Astria family at all.

And yet, many of them found themselves thinking: “If it’s Young Master Damian…”

After all, they had seen how he behaved.

The loyal butlers quickly came to their senses and blocked the officers again.

No matter what the charges were, they couldn’t just let them see the young master like that.

Thanks to their efforts, the officers said they would return after getting proper permission and left.

But the news spread quickly, and soon it reached the Duke himself.

“Damian Astria—!!”

As expected, the Duke exploded in anger.

“Bring that brat to me! Now!”

The attendants scattered in a hurry, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire, and began searching for Damian.

But he had already disappeared without a trace.

“Young master! Where are you, Young Master Damian!”

“Damian!! His Grace is urgently looking for you!”

While everyone frantically called his name, Damian was in a place no one would have expected—

In the room traditionally used by the young ladies of the Astria family.

It used to be Eleanore’s room, but now it belonged to Nora.

“Damn it, damn it! What do I do? What do I do?!”

Damian paced nervously around Nora’s bed, biting his thumbnail.

Ugh, he’s so annoying.

Nora suppressed her rising irritation and placed her hand gently on his arm.

“Calm down, Dami.”

“How can I calm down?! The police came looking for me!”

Watching him shout, Nora felt indescribable disgust.

She had warned him to prepare backup plans in case the plan failed, but he had dismissed her advice as a girl’s silly worry.

Now look at him, whining and panicking—it was pathetic. But since he still had some value left, Nora couldn’t let her feelings show.

Worse, if he said the wrong thing, she might get dragged in too.

So now was the time to soothe him.

“Take a breath and listen. They only said instigating murder. There’s no solid evidence, right? You didn’t actually tell anyone to kill, and even if those thugs lie, you don’t need to worry. You’re the heir of the great Astria family. Who’s going to dare arrest you?”

“R-Really?”

“Of course. Your father may be furious, but he won’t let them drag you to court. You’re the beloved son—unlike me, someone he doesn’t trust yet.”

Thinking about it, it made sense.

It wasn’t actual murder—just attempted.

There was no clear evidence, no real victim.

They couldn’t possibly bring him to trial for that.

Damian, simple as ever, felt relieved just from hearing a few comforting words.

Seeing the tension leave his face, Nora leaned gently against his arm and continued.

“Speaking of which… Dami, if your father questions you, please don’t mention me. Promise me, okay?”

“H-Huh?”

As her soft skin brushed against him, Damian forgot everything and started stammering like a fool.

His eyes filled with desire, staring right at the deep cleavage between her breasts.

“As you know, your father doesn’t like me much. He still treats Ellie like his real daughter. If he hears my name, he’ll be furious. He might even try to make Ellie the official Lady again…”

Looking up at him with big, sad eyes and droopy eyebrows, Nora looked stunning.

She was beautiful.

A cute, youthful face with a curvy, full figure— she was exactly Damian’s type.

“She’s arrogant, thinks she’s better than everyone, and even looks down on you, Dami. We can’t let someone like her become the Lady of Astria, right?”

As always, Nora used Damian’s inferiority complex to steer him the way she wanted.

The visual temptations were just part of her strategy.

But there was one thing she hadn’t considered—

Damian was so weak to physical temptation that he didn’t even have time to feel insecure.

He was already consumed by his desire.

“If I do that for you… what will you do for me, Nora?”

For a moment, Nora’s carefully composed expression twisted.

‘This bastard…!’

She knew his voice was soaked in lust. She had thought he would at least draw a line somewhere, but it seemed his idea of a line was much farther than hers.

Should I put him in his place now? Nora considered briefly.

But now wasn’t the time. Crushing the spirit of this foolish and reckless Damien would have to wait until later—until she had gained more of the duke’s trust and was acknowledged as the future empress.

So, Nora hid her disgust and smiled sweetly.

“I know what you want, Damien.”

“You do?”

“Yes. It’s embarrassing to admit… but I want the same thing too.”

“Nora!”

Excited, Damien reached out to hug her, but Nora quickly shook her head and pushed him away hard.

“But this… this would be going against heaven’s will. I’m just not ready yet.”

“If you’re not ready yet, then…”

“When enough time has passed and I can truly trust you, I’ll give you what you want.”

Gulp. Damien swallowed, his throat bobbing as he stared at her.

He took slow steps toward Nora. Since they were already standing close, she instinctively stepped back until her back hit the wall.

His short fingers gently stroked her soft cheek.

“I’ll need some proof.”

He might be foolish, but he wasn’t a complete idiot.

As proof, he already knew that the beautiful woman in front of him wasn’t really his sister.

It wasn’t because he had any solid evidence or information. Still, he was sure—Nora wasn’t the real Eleanor Astria. That made it easier for him to get close to her.

“The clearer and more solid the proof, the better.”

He couldn’t just trust her words and let this go. At the very least, he needed some kind of pledge or token.

As Damien grabbed her chin, Nora smiled as if she had been expecting it.

Her glamorous shoes shifted, and her heels rose into the air.

“Of course, my dear young master.”

***

Damien, who had been impossible to find earlier, eventually showed up in the duke’s office on his own.

The Duke of Astria, who had been speaking with Eleanor and Ernst, exploded the moment he saw Damien’s face.

“Damien Astria! Is it true you hired thugs to attack Eleanor? Did you really pressure the knights of Astria?!”

“Who says that? Who says I did it?”

“The thugs testified at the station! They said you were the one behind it!”

Even after all the money he’d paid them, they still opened their mouths. Damien clicked his tongue. At this rate, he needed to change his strategy.

“I’m sorry, Father. I just got so mad because Ellie was being so hateful. But attempted murder? That’s going too far. I only told them to scare her.”

“You call that an excuse?!”

The duke naturally exploded at Damien’s shameless response.

Papers, a pen, and an ashtray flew off the desk toward Damien. He was hit in the arms and legs and cried out in pain.

Meanwhile, Eleanor sat quietly, eyes narrowed, observing Damien.

Strange. That’s not like him.

The Damien she knew would normally be trembling with fear. Or he’d be on his knees sobbing, claiming he was innocent and blaming someone else.

But today, he came in acting bold, and his flushed face was bothering her.

Seems like things between them are better than I thought.

For someone as self-centered as Damien to take a beating and still not mention Nora… it meant he’d gotten something from her.

Good. If it’s revealed now that Nora was behind this, it would be bad for me too…

Since they had already announced Nora as the real daughter of Astria, they couldn’t just cast her aside. But it would have made it harder for Eleanor to leave Astria. If the duke was disappointed in Nora’s failure, he would only cling to Eleanor more.

If we want Nora’s debutante ball to go as planned, it’s better to let that fool take the blame.

With that thought, Eleanor stood up.

Just then, Damien was desperately trying to insist on his innocence.

“F-Father! I really only told them to scare her!”

“You told them to scare her, and they showed up with knives? And the knights just happened to pull out at the right time? Do you think that makes any sense?!”

“I really didn’t think it would go this far—!”

“Lies!”

A sharp cry echoed through the office, and both the duke and Damien froze in shock.

Everyone’s gaze turned to Eleanor.

As if she’d been waiting for this moment, Eleanor clutched the front of her dress and let tears fall.

Then, in a voice full of sorrow, she shouted,

“Stop lying! I heard it all…!”