CH 12

Eleonora waited for her father, stepmother, and half-sister at the entrance hall of the main residence in order to attend the ball together, but she knew she was considered an outsider to the ducal household.

More than anyone, she was brilliant, beautiful, and quiet.

In the first place, her father, Demetri, who succeeded the Purpleus dukedom, was the third son and wasn’t meant to be the Duke’s successor. He was terribly spoiled as the youngest child, and after dropping out of the academy he spent his time studying abroad domestically and internationally.

The reason why he was currently the head of the Dukedom was because his eldest brother fell ill and the second eldest died in war.

The only reason why Demetri, who was obviously incapable of being the head of the Dukedom, inherited the position was because his mother, Eleonora’s grandmother, married him to a well-educated woman. That was Eleonora’s mother, Emilia.

Although facing financial difficulties, Emilia, raised under the strict education of her family, which had an ancient and distinguished background, was married off to Demetri without consideration for her own wishes.

In the stead of her idiot of a husband, Emilia was forced to undertake harsh education from her mother-in-law in order to take the reins of the dukedom.

Her husband, who should’ve originally had these responsibilities, went so far as to keep a lover. Even after her mother-in-law passed away, Emilia couldn’t forgive her.

It was difficult to say that her short marriage life had any happiness. Even after her mother-in-law’s death, she never looked back.

At some point, the small portrait of Emilia in the hall was taken down and her existence was soon forgotten by everyone. Only Eleonora would never forget, looking at the place where her portrait once was.

“Ew, she looks like a lost prostitute.”

She was amazed at her stepmother and half-sister who were ridiculing her red dress which was apparently popular among prostitutes.

(I didn’t even choose this red dress. Why do these noble ladies even know what was popular among prostitutes in the first place-dabe?)

It was useless to say anything and it would take time to speak without her dialect coming out so in the end Eleonora just sighed, covering her mouth with her fan.

(Honestly, this is so annoying. I don’t even want to go-pe. It’d be so much more fun playing with Ikkaku-chan­-be.)

The castle placed upon the hill in the center of the imperial capital was not a white castle, but a sturdy fortress-like building made of grey stone. For several generations, the emperor did not live in this castle, but a palace slightly outside of the imperial capital. That palace, with its vast gardens, was much more modern, extravagant, and splendid than this old castle.

“Mother, that palace over there would’ve been fine, wouldn’t it? This castle is kind of eerie after all.”

“Right. Before, there would be balls held at that palace nearly every day, but since the new emperor came into power, there haven’t been any events like that at all. Those of the anti-emperor faction have been continuously getting executed as well. What will we do if that fearsome demon emperor falls for you at first sight Sofia?”

The Duke joined in on the two’s conversation.

“Hahaha. Don’t worry. Our Purpleus ducal household is a true member of the emperor faction. If it’s our adorable Sofia, even the demon emperor will fall.”

“Right, if it’s Sofia, she’d make a fine empress.”

Eleonora knew that her father Demetri wasn’t part of the anti-emperor faction because he just didn’t do anything.

The nobles of the anti-emperor faction all had their own ability which led to them having greater desires. They had planned to turn the emperor into a puppet for their own deeds but ended up having the tables turned on them.

(Even so, will this family be okay-pe? Even if it’s between family, you have to speak respectfully[TN1]  when mentioning the emperor-dabe. The emperor’s name is Alexei Glakius Wildes. He is 27 years old. There’s a ten-year difference between us-dabe.)

As she was gazing out of the carriage window dazedly, her father began speaking to her. When she faced him, he was frowning with his arms crossed.

“Eleonora, you better not try to stand in Sofia’s way. Honestly, your face is exactly like my mother’s, but you have the same hair and eyes as that woman, truly annoying. An utterly unpleasant existence.”

‘That woman’ he was referring to was her mother, Emilia. They would never call her name. Eleonora quietly nodded.

Thus, the carriage entered the castle grounds.

[TN1]There are different ways of referring to the emperor. Eleonora uses the proper way of addressing him but the others don’t which is why she’s worried they’ll disrespect him.