Episode 16
Viscount Albich stood there, awkward and unsure — it was honestly painful to watch. Eliano stared off into the distance. Then, her eyes met someone else’s. Out of habit, she smiled. Smiling whenever someone met her gaze was a habit she’d had even in her past life.
“I really need to stop smiling so easily… but I just can’t seem to fix it.”
She looked away from those silvery-grey eyes that shimmered under the light. Even while lost in thought, her dancing remained graceful. Her dress twirled like a flower blooming in motion.
That night, Eliano danced with several young nobles — not just Viscount Albich. Usually, the Lady of House Rosana only danced with hosts or men her father selected. So when she danced with Albich, it gave many others the courage to ask her.
Was Lady Rosana looking for a husband?
Rumors began to spread, though Eliano returned home completely unaware. When she got back to her room, Pamela was waiting — fully reinstated.
“My Lady, your nanny is back right on time!”
Pamela had hair dye in her hand and quickly ordered the other maids to leave. They only obeyed after Eliano nodded. Pamela gently removed Eliano’s bonnet.
“Your roots have grown out a lot. I was relieved to see you kept your bonnet on so often.”
Once the bonnet was off, it revealed hair with pale pink roots. Eliano hadn’t dyed it in a while, and seeing it again brought back memories.
“This nanny can’t ever be away from your side. Who else would help you become the perfect Lady of House Rosana?”
Pamela spoke sweetly as she applied the dark black dye. Eliano stayed silent.
“If people saw this weak-coloured hair, they’d question your birth.”
In her past life, Eliano had been ashamed of her pale pink hair — mostly due to Pamela’s constant brainwashing.
— “Nanny, why is my hair this colour?” — “Poor child, you were born with a pigment deficiency. It’s a kind of illness.”
And she believed it. At that time, her world was only what Pamela told her. After her husband forced Pamela to leave, no one dyed Eliano’s hair anymore. The pink roots started to show. But instead of mocking her, her husband had admired it.
He said the colour was beautiful and asked why she had hidden it. Eliano had been moved. After that, she stopped dyeing it and began to see it as something beautiful instead of shameful.
Later, the truth behind her hair was revealed.
— “So that lovely hair wasn’t an illness — it was proof you’re an illegitimate child. You weren’t born to the Duchess. And yet you dared to steal her heirloom and marry me?”
Eliano had been raised as the proper daughter of the Duke — but she wasn’t the Duchess’s child. The Duke had secretly brought her in as an illegitimate twin of the young Lord. And she learned that truth in the worst possible way.
A letter from House Rosana to the Empress of Zacador: “House Rosana demands the return of a magical heirloom that alters hair colour. It belonged to the late Duchess and should not be in the possession of Eliano of Zacador, who has no right to it.”
It was a polite letter at first, signed by Demian Rosana. But Eliano had completely forgotten about the magical item. She remembered wearing it as a child, but Pamela had taken it away and replaced it with hair dye.
At that time, Eliano was furious with Demian Rosana. After using me and throwing me away, now you want to pull this? So she ignored the letter.
That polite letter soon turned into public accusations. Since the two countries were enemies, House Rosana didn’t hold back.
“Return the heirloom you stole, illegitimate child! Have you even forgotten the kindness of the mother who raised you? Repent! Return the item!”
A thief. An illegitimate child. Eliano was in shock. The truth of her birth was revealed to the entire world. And in Zacador, where illegitimate children were treated as less than human, it was deadly.
Not just shameful — dangerous.
She didn’t even have time to process the truth. She had to act. She couldn’t help being born out of wedlock, but she could try to erase the label of being a heartless thief.
Digging into her childhood memories, she remembered Pamela taking the magical item. So she sent a letter explaining that her nanny had taken it. Eliano even felt relief — thinking the truth would come out soon. She truly believed the nanny who had loved and cared for her would explain everything. But instead, House Rosana responded with rage, accusing her of having killed Pamela to silence her.
Eliano was shocked — she hadn’t killed Pamela! She had given her money, jewels — told her to live peacefully in Bianteca. But when Eliano denied the accusation, Rosana’s family only mocked her more.
“So greedy for treasure, you even killed the one who raised you? Thief.”
They called her a “bastard” so many times, Eliano started to wonder if it was even about the heirloom. Maybe they just wanted to tear her down. There was no escape from the situation. The court began calling for her removal as Empress — not because of theft, but because of her birth.
That was what truly broke her. The Empress of an enemy nation, who had struggled to keep her position, began to fall. It had been horrible. Even now, her hands trembled remembering it. Her noble birth was revealed to be a lie, and shame buried her completely.
If the magical item wasn’t with her, it could be used against her again. If she married and the Rosana family demanded the return of the heirloom, what would happen then?
Even Bianteca, while less cruel than Zacador, still looked down on illegitimate children. She had to get that item back from Pamela.
While Pamela worked to dye her hair, Eliano thought, “I need to talk to Isabella. How can I get the magic item back without revealing I’m illegitimate?”
She had already searched Pamela’s side room while the nanny was on probation, but it hadn’t been there.
Does she carry it with her? Is it in her private room? Or… has she already sold it?
If she had sold it, Father would’ve noticed and punished her — probably.
“All done, My Lady.”
Pamela’s words pulled Eliano back to reality.
“You could start a hair salon after retiring, Nanny.”
She ran her fingers through her freshly dyed hair, not a single strand missed. Pamela didn’t catch the sarcasm and replied with a smile.
“Me? Retire? Never. I’ll always be by your side.”
Like a leech, Eliano thought as she let Pamela massage her scalp. Her head throbbed — probably from how strong the dye was.
“Shall we go to bed now, My Lady?”
Eliano quietly followed and lay in bed. Pamela tucked her in and placed a warm water bottle under the blanket. She even sang a lullaby — one that once brought Eliano comfort but now felt bitter.
Eliano entered Isabella’s room for the first time. It was as luxurious as her own. She sat down.
“I have something important to discuss. Please clear the room.”
“You heard her, Emily. Make sure no one hears. Especially Pamela.”
At Isabella’s command, the maid named Emily left.
“Viscount Albich looked at me like a dead fish. I think he’s completely fallen for you.”
“You’ll have to marry eventually. Viscount Albich isn’t the worst match.”
“Then you marry him.”
Eliano didn’t respond. That kind of man wasn’t her type at all.
“Isabella, how do you plan to get rid of the nanny?”
“Don’t worry. I’ve got a plan.”
“I’d like to know the plan, actually.”
Eliano sipped her tea, waiting. Isabella smiled sweetly.
“We’ll chase out the thief in our house.”
From that one sentence, Eliano could guess the plan — they would frame Pamela as a thief.
“We’ll expose her soon. Just wait. I’ll take care of everything while Brother is out.”
Eliano had planned to suggest doing it when their brother wasn’t home, but Isabella beat her to it. For the first time, she felt impressed by her sister’s cleverness.
Still, Eliano felt that something stronger was needed.
“Stealing a Lady’s item isn’t enough to fire a nanny who’s served the family for so long.”
“What if she also stole from the young Lord?”
“There’s something even better.”
Isabella’s face changed, realizing what Eliano meant.
