Episode 49
From the next day on, Flint didn’t appear at the palace banquet hall. He only entered the palace to save the Emperor’s face, since it had been lent out for the banquet. But instead of greeting guests himself, he left everything to Crown Prince Heriath and stayed holed up in the VIP lounge doing paperwork.
From the third day, he didn’t even bother going to the palace. He locked himself in his study at the estate.
The fourth day was the same. And during that time, Flint started thinking seriously—Is there a way I can visit Eliano?
On the fourth night of the Howard banquet, Eliano woke up and drank a stimulant Jane brought her. It was something the servants used when they were exhausted from hard work.
“I can’t believe I gave you something this cheap… I’m a failure as your personal maid…” Jane mumbled.
But there was no choice—Emma would never agree to stronger medicine, so Eliano had asked Jane to get whatever she could. With Jane’s help, Eliano bathed and began getting dressed. Usually, several maids would help, but tonight, Jane had to do everything alone, so it took longer.
While Jane worked quickly, Eliano asked about her family.
“Father went to Marchioness Albiche’s salon, right?”
“Yes, he went with the lady too. They probably won’t be back until very late.”
Jane answered quickly as she finished helping Eliano change. Her lady looked as beautiful as ever, but Jane tilted her head.
Is this really okay for the banquet? Is this a new fashion she’s trying?
The silver robe Eliano wore was certainly fancy. The glossy fabric was embroidered with colorful patterns—it probably cost more than most dresses.
But in the end, it was still a robe. There was no bustle to puff up the skirt, and the cape-like design didn’t show her figure. Of course, Eliano looked elegant without needing any of that.
As Jane continued doing her makeup, Eliano asked again.
“What about Damien and Isabella? Did they go to the Howard banquet?”
“Miss Isabella went again today. Lord Damien didn’t. Bellita said he stopped by the salon briefly and then went to his club. Um… Miss Bellita said young men his age are busier at night, but I’m not sure what that means…”
Probably meeting Liliana in secret, Eliano thought. She had already told Jane to keep the makeup light.
Damien seducing the Crown Prince’s fiancée was bad enough. But Liliana agreeing to it? That was beyond foolish.
Eliano clicked her tongue and looked in the mirror to check her outfit.
There wasn’t much to fix—it was a robe, after all. It dragged a bit on the floor, but that wasn’t a problem. Eliano could walk gracefully no matter how long or heavy her cape was.
“No bonnet tonight. I’m wearing a veil.”
Instead of her usual bonnet, Eliano wore a black veil. Her obsidian earring sparkled for a moment in the mirror. Jane looked at it curiously.
“My lady, it really doesn’t look mismatched. One’s the original you had, and the other’s the one from Elegante, right?”
“That’s right.”
Eliano always wore the earring she had found through the Astor Guild. The sapphire set into the pendant she received from Astin had been replaced with obsidian. When the hook was adjusted, the gem perfectly fit into the pendant’s slot—it had been surprising to watch.
In the end, this earring really was the magical item she had searched for. Now, her light pink hair was hidden, appearing completely black.
She no longer had to dye her hair to hide it. She no longer had to wear a bonnet. Free from the strong dye, her mind felt clearer—like clouds had lifted and sunlight poured in.
But she still hadn’t found the matching earring. So she ordered a similar one to wear on the other ear. It was a relief that it didn’t look mismatched.
“My lady, just a moment.”
Jane placed three long pillows under Eliano’s blanket. With a few adjustments, it looked just like someone was lying there. While Jane worked, Eliano pulled her long, black cloak over her head.
They stepped into the hallway. It was quiet. No one was around, so Eliano led Jane into a hidden room at the end of the corridor. Her footsteps were confident—she knew exactly where she was going.
Inside were a bunch of random items. Jane thought it looked like a storage room, but Eliano, holding a candle, whispered,
“There should be a door under that carpet.”
Jane placed her own candle down and pulled back the carpet—just like Eliano said, a small handle appeared.
Jane’s eyes widened.
“It’s a secret escape passage. Open it.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Jane pulled the handle, and the trapdoor opened. Eliano held her candle close and saw stairs leading down. Jane went first, holding the light. They followed the dark path until they saw a door.
As Jane tried to open it, Eliano stopped her with a hand.
They passed several more doors—each one a different color. At last, they reached a gray one.
“Remember that door. Open the wrong one, and it’ll be trouble.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Opening the gray door, they found themselves outside the estate. Jane’s eyes grew wide—she had only heard rumors about nobles having secret exits like this.
A black carriage was waiting nearby. Jane looked shocked, but Eliano looked completely calm. It had arrived faster than expected, but that was all.
“Jane, go back the way we came. The last door is easy to find.”
“Yes, my lady.”
After sending Jane off, Eliano walked toward the carriage. Inside sat a man.
“Count Evans.”
Eliano reached out her hand, and Adell took it, helping her into the carriage.
“My lady, what would you have done if I hadn’t come? This is reckless.”
“But you came. Thank you, Count. I’m grateful you agreed.”
The carriage began to move.
“Please call me Adell. And weren’t you going to drop the formal tone?”
Eliano only smiled, her red lips curving. She wasn’t duchess yet—she couldn’t be too casual. Adell gave her a curious look.
“My lady… Don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind?”
“If I had, I wouldn’t have asked for your help sneaking out, would I?”
“Well, who knows? Maybe you were just going to use our lord for one night and toss him aside.”
Eliano ignored his crude wording. Was he saying Flint had been bad in bed?
“You were the one who confidently praised the Duke, Adell. Are you saying that was all talk?”
Adell’s face turned strange. Eliano saw the uncertainty and added playfully,
“They say the Duke is Bianteca’s strongest warrior. Doesn’t that mean he’s strong in… other ways too?”
It was as polite a way as Eliano could manage to say it. Adell, catching the full meaning, burst into laughter.
Eliano added coolly, “But it doesn’t matter. I don’t care about that at all.”
What mattered to her was escaping her father’s control—and the Rosana family. Marriage was simply a means to that end.
“That doesn’t matter? My lady, that really matters.”
Adell began passionately explaining the importance of a good night life in marriage. Eliano looked awkward but stayed silent—her face hidden by the veil.
“Think about it. You’ll spend your whole life with one man. What if the two of you aren’t compatible? You can try to work through it… But what if the guy’s, well, completely useless? There’s no fixing that.”
Adell shuddered like someone who had suffered before.
Eliano couldn’t quite relate. She had only ever been with one man—her husband from her past life.
Still, remembering his many wives and mistresses, she could see how people like that existed.
“Men who are bad in bed should wear a sign that says so…”
“…”
“You know why I won’t get married? Because I don’t want to be stuck with one man forever. I’d rather stay free.”
“…Right…”
By the time they arrived at the Howard estate, Adell had gone on a full rant about staying single. For a moment, Eliano wondered if he was trying to talk her out of marrying Flint.
But then he said seriously,
“If I think about my lord, I have to beg you to marry him. Please forgive me.”
“Even if I want to, it won’t happen unless the Duke wants it too.”
“Our lord would never make you unhappy.”
Eliano couldn’t help but laugh.
“You should say he’ll make me happy. That’s how you convince someone. Adell, persuasion is not your strength. You’re better off staying quiet.”
The carriage neared the front gate. Eliano checked her veil and cloak. Adell, looking like he had been hit in the head, tried to speak again, but instead turned to the gatekeeper.
“Good evening, Count Evans.”
Eliano entered the estate without any trouble. It was clear Flint trusted Adell deeply.
“It’s a little quiet. Most of the staff went to the palace tonight. Our lord didn’t go, though. Skipping his own banquet—he’s amazing, isn’t he?”
They stepped inside. Adell whispered,
“Looks like luck is on our side. Gilbert and George aren’t around—oh wait, those are the head butlers. One manages the estate in the north, and the other handles this one.”
They climbed the stairs. A few servants passed by but simply bowed to Adell and walked on.
“My lady, you can wait in the bedroom. When our lord returns, you’ll surprise—”
“Uh-oh.”
Adell froze as an old man appeared at the top of the stairs. With white hair and quiet steps, he bowed politely.
Eliano thought he moved like a royal palace veteran.
“Count Evans. Late-night visit, I see.”
“Sir George. I thought you were at the palace…”
“I couldn’t leave while the Duke is here. Gilbert is managing the palace.”
Eliano blinked at the title “Sir” for a butler, but then she remembered—the Emperor had gifted this mansion to Flint.
It used to be a royal villa for the previous crown princes.
A long-serving butler here deserved an honorary title.
“But who is your guest? No matter how trusted you are, I can’t allow someone with unclear identity to enter.”
Adell looked flustered, but Eliano stepped forward.
She lifted her veil, revealing her beautiful face.
“Eliano Rosana.”
Then she lowered her cloak, letting her dark hair fall free.
George stared at her black hair and green eyes, then bowed deeply. Eliano smiled gracefully.
“Is that enough proof of who I am?”
“Of course, my lady. But… why would you visit the Duke so late at night…?”
“Why do you think?”
Her innocent reply left the old butler speechless.
Yeah, George why do you think she is here at night