Episode 48
Eliano slept almost nonstop. Her fever went down quickly, but her body still felt as heavy as cotton. She just couldn’t stop feeling sleepy.
Even though she had planned it this way, Eliano felt a little awkward.
She just didn’t want to seem like one of those ladies who showed up at every event from day one, trying so hard to catch his eye.
Everyone was working hard to impress him, and doing the same wouldn’t give her any advantage.
Eliano knew she wasn’t good at competing like that. Trying to win a man’s heart had to be done only once—at the right moment, and with the right impact. That was the only way it would truly work.
For that, everything needed to be perfectly prepared. There could be no mistakes. Eliano understood men well, and in her own way, she was confident.
Since she said she would attend but hadn’t shown up, Flint Howard would surely wonder why. To him, she wasn’t just any noble lady—there was already something between them. Even a man like Flint, who seemed made of stone, would feel curious.
If he heard from someone else that she was sick, he might feel concerned. If he got a letter from her directly explaining why she couldn’t come, he would surely feel moved.
Still, she had planned to show up starting from the third day. With so many beautiful ladies around, Flint might forget about her quickly.
But what if she showed up in that condition? A graceful beauty with a pale face, clearly forcing herself to come despite being ill—he would definitely be touched.
Still, Eliano wasn’t completely sure when she thought about Flint’s personality.
“Even if he doesn’t fall for me, won’t he at least care?”
In her previous life, Eliano had pretended to be sick to catch her husband’s attention. He had taken so much poison that even when he was with other women, he would rush over if she said she was about to die.
But it never lasted. At first, he’d panic and come running, but later he just lost interest. All men were like that.
“I should get moving soon… but my body’s too heavy.”
She ate a light meal, took some medicine, and tried to wash up to wake herself. Instead, she fell into an even deeper sleep. Every time she woke, she would eat, take medicine, and fall asleep again.
Because of this, Duke Rosana didn’t come to drag her out or shout at her. It was strange—he hadn’t even come near her room, and the mansion was unusually quiet.
She had faked her illness knowing only something this serious would stop him… but now, things were getting tricky.
“My lady, are you coughing? Your meal is ready—”
“Never mind that. Didn’t you say there was a letter? Show it to me.”
Still sleepy, Eliano took the letter from Jane. It was a reply from Flint Howard.
“He wrote back right away. But since you were sleeping so deeply, I couldn’t give it to you until now. I’m sorry.”
Eliano sat up and took her medicine from Jane.
“It’s fine. I was the one sleeping like the dead.”
The letter wished her a speedy recovery and told her not to force herself to attend the banquet.
“I’m so sleepy… this medicine is too strong.”
Hearing her weak voice, Jane looked worried.
“My lady… I overheard Lord Damien and Miss Emma talking…”
As Jane continued, Eliano suddenly froze. She spat out the sip of medicine she’d just taken.
“Damien told her to give me sleeping medicine?!”
No wonder she’d been so tired. Her head had been foggy, and her body too heavy…
Eliano’s expression turned sharp. Jane quickly tried to explain.
“He said to give you sleeping medicine, but it’s not really that! Miss Emma said the drowsiness is just a side effect—wait, my lady!”
Eliano got up, holding the medicine bowl. She walked over to the window and dumped it all into a flower pot.
Then she said coldly,
“If it makes me sleep, it’s no different from a sleeping pill. Damien got exactly what he wanted. That horrible man.”
“My lady, I swear… Miss Emma said it’s harmless and actually helps with your recovery. That’s why you’re sleepy…”
Eliano pulled the curtains slightly and looked outside. It was dark. The banquet had definitely already started.
How long had she been asleep?
“Jane, what day is it?”
“It’s Water Day.”
‘Water Day’ was the fifth day of the week.
The banquet had started on Star Day, the third day—so this was already the third day of the event.
“I meant to start attending today…”
Eliano sighed deeply. Jane glanced at her nervously and added,
“My lady, Lord Damien really did try to help. I think he gave you the sleeping medicine for a reason…”
“What are you talking about?”
Eliano scowled. She had missed her chance because of that medicine, and now Jane was defending Damien?
Jane spoke in a small voice.
“When the Duke tried to wake you by force… Lord Damien stopped him.”
“So?”
“So maybe he asked Miss Emma for the medicine on purpose, to keep you asleep… If you stayed asleep, not even the Duke could force you to go…”
It was the kind of thought only someone kind like Jane could have. Eliano waved her hand to stop her.
“There’s no way Damien meant well. You’re too kind, Jane.”
Because Jane was such a sweet girl, she always saw the good in people.
Eliano muttered to herself.
“What’s he really planning…? I even worry he might have slipped in some poison. I did say something harsh to him the other day.”
She regretted not testing the medicine with a silver stick first. Jane quickly shook her head at Eliano’s scary words.
“N-No way! You were born on the same day—you’re his other half. He wouldn’t…”
Eliano laughed bitterly. Their bond had never been real—that’s why everything went wrong.
In her past life, she had done what her father and Damien wanted—she betrayed Zacador and handed over military secrets. But when Rosana cut her off and abandoned her, Eliano turned on them too, giving Damien false information and stabbing him in the back.
Rosana’s betrayal hadn’t been a surprise—Eliano had already learned about it through her spies.
It ended up ruining Damien.
She even wiped out all the spies Bianteca had planted and cleaned out the Zacador imperial palace.
“I’m the Empress of Zacador. Bianteca isn’t my nation anymore. Why should I tolerate their spies in my palace? Even if it’s Rosana, they’ll pay for this!”
By using Damien as bait, Eliano had secured her unstable position.
Damien had been foolish—he still trusted the information she gave him even after throwing her away.
He hadn’t realized Eliano had changed.
When she heard that Damien had almost died in battle and suffered a crushing defeat, Eliano had laughed loudly.
She even said it was a shame he didn’t die, calling him hard to kill.
With that history, it was no wonder she couldn’t trust him in this life either.
Seeing Eliano’s sour expression, Jane kept talking, trying her best to comfort her.
“Please don’t worry, my lady. Lord Damien may have suggested it, but Miss Emma made the medicine. She said you were under so much stress, and this might help you get real rest. It’s harmless. You’ll be okay.”
“I guess… but I’m still so sleepy.”
“You’ll feel better soon. Don’t you feel lighter than when you first woke up?”
Now that she thought about it, Eliano’s body did feel lighter. Earlier, she couldn’t even move her fingers, but now she was doing much better. Her fever was almost gone, and the coughing had stopped too.
But she was still sleepy…
After giving Jane a few instructions, Eliano fell asleep again.
The banquet at the royal palace was just as grand as expected. Heriath had done an amazing job making the place look romantic and magical.
Everyone said it was the perfect setting to choose a bride. When the groom appeared, everyone’s excitement reached its peak.
Flint Howard was taller than most men and had a strong, dignified presence. His bold features looked even more handsome under the lights. His dark blue formal wear fit him perfectly, making him look even more striking. His silver-gray eyes, shining under the lights, moved slowly from one lady to another. He really did look like a man searching for his bride.
Who would he choose for his first dance?
Everyone watched with shining eyes.
But Flint, after greeting the main guests and announcing the start of the banquet, left without dancing with anyone.
Thanks to Crown Prince Heriath, who kept the mood cheerful, most guests didn’t even realize the host had left.
But the ladies dreaming of becoming the future duchess were the first to notice. They waited, thinking he’d return soon—but he never did.
By the time the banquet ended, he still hadn’t come back, and they were full of frustration.
But Flint Howard was frustrated too.
“She’s so sick she can’t even breathe…”
At the banquet, Duke Rosana had told Flint that Eliano couldn’t come because of her illness. The look of sadness on his face made him seem like a truly caring father.
Feeling guilty, Flint wondered if the Duke knew about his relationship with Eliano. Maybe he was keeping her away on purpose?
He watched the Duke carefully. But the man just smiled as usual and introduced his other children.
Flint found it fascinating that neither of them looked anything like Eliano. Even their eye and hair colors were slightly different.
Then Damien dropped a bomb.
“My sister won’t be attending. Her fever is so high she can barely breathe. No matter what our father wants, she won’t be coming to any of the events.”
His tone was polite, but distant.
As twins, they called each other “halves,” so it sounded like Damien knew everything about Eliano’s condition.
Flint wanted to ask more, but Damien walked away.
Because Eliano had said she would attend, Flint had rushed back to the capital just in time for the banquet. He had been looking forward to seeing her—but now, all his excitement was gone.
Just as Eliano had planned, the letter Jane brought at dawn deeply moved Flint.
He wrote a reply right away and handed it back to the maid.
Maybe Damian just wanted to prevent Eliano from meeting Howard to prevent any chance of escape ?!