Chapter 31

Eliana called his name.

“Oliver.”

Ulysses alighted the carriage, bowing politely to the name known only to them.

“I will greet you formally. This is Duke Oliver Norton from Conter. May I be given a chance to save the lady in trouble?”

Ulysses politely bowed his back and held out his hand. He meant to ride the carriage together. Eliana said, holding his hand lightly.

“Of course.”

Ulysses gently kissed the back of her hand and guided her into the carriage with honor. Benny lifted Eliana’s dress. Since the carriage was so spacious, she was able to board without crumpling her dress. Ulysses said as she sat across from him.

“You look so beautiful today.”

“Thank you. The Duke looks nice too. Like…….”

“Like?”

“Like a prince on a white horse.”

A prince on a white horse. Ulysses burst into laughter at her play on words. It was  humor that only the two of them could understand.

Benny said she would speak with Joseph, who would return, and move with him. Eliana nodded her head and departed for the castle with Ulysses. The carriage, whilst fast, was stable.

“Who did such a cruel thing? Is it the Baron?”

“He’s not such a bold person. It’s his lover that’s a little jealous.”

“Aha.”

“If I hadn’t met Oliver, I would have been in trouble. All my plans would have been ruined.”

“But if it’s Eliana, the pieces of the ruined plan would have been put back together and progressed. That’s what I think.”

Eliana smiled a little at Ulysses’ words. Could she really? She was Eliana. She didn’t have much. She used all sorts of tricks, but those were the things she managed to create to the best of her abilities in her current state.

Let’s not let our guard down.

Eliana tried to get her thoughts straight. She ruminated on the result of her momentary inattention and felt the cold wind in her bones. While Eliana firmed her resolve, Ulysses opened his mouth.

“By the way, you are so beautiful, however, that hairpin is the only blemish.”

“Do not speak about something you know nothing of. This hairpin is the highlight of today’s outfit.”

“Well, I like it.”

Ulysses said while he swept his lips. The smile couldn’t be erased from the corners of his mouth.

Eliana took a slow look at his outfit. His clothes made of a unique material drew attention as they contrasted with his beautiful blonde hair. Moreover, the shirt that wrapped around his neck completely covered the royal pattern on the back of his neck.

He had completely transformed into Duke Oliver Norton, not Prince Ulysses Mill. Eliana found it cute that Ulysses kept using the name she gave him randomly.

“Is Duke Adam Norton a close friend? Or is he investing in the future?”

“Well. It could be both, but it could also be neither.”

“What do you mean?”

“He might have just let it pass without thinking. I didn’t choose the Norton family for a specific reason.”

“That… Isn’t that even greater?”

“Greater?”

“To make a light choice without doubts. That’s only possible in a very deep relationship of trust.”

Ulysses received a mischievous gaze. He meant to exaggerate but Eliana knew that that was the essence.

‘I can’t get anything past this woman.’

Ulysses shrugged his shoulders and continued.

“Eliana really sees through everything.”

“The relationship is not hidden. The Nortons are particularly strict in that regard.”

Eliana answered briefly, then turned her head and looked out the window. The horses ran briskly, and their carriage approached the castle much faster than the other carriages. Ulysses said to her.

“I really like that you can perceive all these things.”

“It’s an easy problem that anyone can recognize with a little observation.”

“But it’s my first time meeting someone. Someone like you.”

Eliana looked at Ulysses. Her green eyes twinkled with a soft light. There were indescribable emotions in the gaze that passed between the two. However, neither of them spoke of it.

***

“What? My goodness. Does she not realize it’s her own stepmother? How dare they torment a person so much!”

Gillian shouted. Eliana didn’t arrive on time so he was trying to find out what was going on. At that time, Joseph appeared, unable to catch his breath, and urgently reported the situation.

“Brother, what should we do? It will be too complicated to pull out the carriage now.”

“This is insane. We should at least go in.”

“But…….”

“We cannot show the host, Count Odelli, that we’re late to the ball.”

Gillian bit his lip while speaking rationally. He wanted to hold off as long as they could. But what if she never comes? Gillian let out a long sigh. Numerous nobles had already entered.

“We can’t. Helen, let’s go in first. Then I will leave the banquet hall alone and bring her back.”

“Brother, is that possible?”

“It is possible. We have to make it possible. Did you say your name is Joseph? I’ll borrow your horse later.”

“Yes.”

Gillian sighed. Other than that, he couldn’t think of any other way. Gillian Hutt was fond of Eliana, but more than that, he was responsible for his own family.

‘D*mn it, d*mn it, d*mn it.’

If he could have his way, he would have gone and picked her up right now. However, he had to think of the Hutt family’s reputation. Moreover, as he was on the verge of receiving the Viscount title soon, he had to think of how he looked in front of other nobles.

The moment Gillian was forced to move, a large carriage stopped with a loud cry of the horses. It seemed to be the largest of the carriages that came today. Gillian looked at it for a moment.

A young blonde man got out of the carriage. He was so good-looking that it was dazzling. The unidentified handsome man opened the carriage door widely and held out his hand for someone inside.

She grabbed the man’s hand and descended from the carriage. The woman was wearing a voluminous dress; it had a slender waist and a captivating beautiful rose.

“Eliana!”

Gillian uttered her name in surprise. Eliana smiled and walked over to Gillian and Helen.

“I’m not too late, am I? There was an accident. Joseph, you worked hard.”

“No, Madam. Are you alright?”

“Thanks to Duke Oliver, I was able to avoid trouble. This is Duke Oliver of the Norton family, a noble family from the country of Conter.”

“This is Gillian Hutt.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. However, we’re running out of time, so shall we enter first?”

“That’s great.”

Eliana immediately turned around and held Helen’s hand.

“Helen, your hands are cold. To keep a beautiful lady waiting like this, I’m not worthy to be your friend.”

“No. I’m glad Eliana arrived safely.”

“The dress suits you really well.”

“Thanks to someone who made it for me.”

Helen laughed bashfully, and Gillian laughed dejectedly. He had been nervous because of that someone and it had been a long time since Helen smiled so brightly.

“Duke of Norton, please go in first. Followed by the Hutts. Then I, the tardiest, will enter.”

“As you say.”

Ulysses jokingly greeted the rest of them, and headed to the entrance of the banquet hall with the two knights who were waiting for him. Eliana fixed Helen’s hair and her clothes once. Then she touched Gillian’s collar as well.

“I, I’m ready.”

“First impressions are very important at a ball. Everyone will have their eyes on Gillian Hutt.”

“I’m not very popular.”

“I guess that’s your opinion. Have you ever seen a navy so handsome, Helen?”

“I don’t think so.”

As the two women burst into laughter, Gillian cleared his throat.

“Come, let’s go.”

Eliana gently pushed the two into the banquet hall. Helen took a deep breath, then exhaled and looked at Eliana.

“Go ahead and show them. Helen Hutt is still so beautiful.”

“Eliana.”

“Isn’t that right, Gillian?”

“Of course. Never for a moment was she not beautiful. My lovely sister.”

Helen’s cheeks were dyed red and moved forward as if she had gained courage. Eliana looked at the back of the two and said to Joseph.

“Joseph, poor Benny is waiting alone. Can you go see her?”

“But… If I do that, Madam’s entrance…….”

“Don’t worry about that. It’s going to get everyone’s attention.”

“M-Madam.”

“Please come to the banquet hall with Benny. Because I need two people.”

“Yes, we’ll be there soon.”

As Joseph headed for his horse, Eliana looked at him until he left, then turned around. The man guarding the entrance glanced at Eliana and looked at the list.

“Are you going in? Madam.”

“Yes.”

“Which family are you from?”

“Eliana Rose of the Rose family.”

He suddenly turned as he heard the name Eliana Rose and looked at her again. She’s the rumored vicious stepmother. Eliana smiled at him and stood in front of the door. The doorkeeper handed a note with a name to the person inside. As the door swung open, bright light poured out.

Eliana Rose took a step forward into the light. The loud-voiced attendant who received the note from inside shouted her name.

“From the Rose family. Lady Eliana Rose!”

Everyone’s eyes fell on Eliana as they heard that voice. At the center of the door wide open on both sides, a beautiful and glamorous woman stood. Eliana looked down and smiled most brightly.