CH 86

“What on earth have you been doing? You should do your best not to tarnish our family’s name. I’ll make you the concubine of a local noble next month, so get yourself together.”

When Eirin heard that, she recklessly headed to Eragost County.

Seriously! As if it’s not enough to marry me to an old man, you wanted me to become a concubine? There was no room for rational thinking. All she could think of was that if she could clear this ridiculous misunderstanding, she could escape this terrible situation.

However,

“…Yes?”

Eirin lifted her head and looked up at Camilla, who was smiling.

“W-w-who?”

“The daughter of Viscount Waieos. I heard that Lady was a close friend of hers. Aren’t you?”

“…”

Why all of a sudden the daughter of the Waieos family? It was so long ago that she couldn’t remember. She had only been close to her for a year or two at most. And since they were very young, it was ambiguous to call her a close friend now. But what if she said they weren’t friends here? What would happen if she said she didn’t know?

A squeezed voice flowed from her mouth. “Y-you mean… Elusiana?”

“Yes.”

Eirin felt a chill run down her spine at Camilla’s gentle smile.

“W-why… Elusiana?”

“It was just in time when Lady said that you would do anything for me. Do you know she works at a flower store, pretending to be a commoner?”

“…P-pretending to be… commoner?”

“Yes. Sadly, she became the branch owner of the Fragrant Garden.”

“…!”

Elusiana Lottie Waieos. Even though the Waieos family was only a viscount, their family stood side by side with high-ranking nobles. Despite her common brown hair, for some reason, she was a lady who shone like sunlight, as if there was a halo behind her. However, Eirin couldn’t meet her again due to a series of sudden accidents in the Waieos family, which has continued to this day.

Eirin swallowed her dry saliva and asked as if to shake off her anxiety. “…W-what can I do?”

Originally, Eirin was soft-hearted. The reason why she became a good friend of Elusiana was because her good personality matched her well. So this question took great courage from her.

Camilla folded her eye and gently smiled. “I don’t want you to do anything. I just hope you will be as close with her as you used to be.”

“…Close?”

“Yes.”

“W-why?”

Camilla took another sip of her teacup and lifted her head slightly.

“If you’ve made up your mind, you should’ve grabbed hold of her somehow. How can you not find fault from a lady of a fallen family?”

Camilla erased Count Eragost’s quiet voice that lingered in her ears like tinnitus and raised the corners of her mouth. “Why? I feel sorry for the two of you, so I want to help. It’s a small courtesy for me to forgive that lady.”

“…!”

She knew that nonsense was just an excuse. Wasn’t Camilla’s hypocrisy driving her to the corner? Even at this moment, she may be fooled by her benevolent words. But if this really could end her misfortune… If that’s the case, I— 

Eirin asked with a feeling of grasping at straws. “I-if you want that, I-I will do it.”

“Three days later, there is a party I’m invited to. The scale is quite large, and many young ladies will attend. Would you like to come with me?”

“Really… Are you sure?” Eirin asked again in disbelief at Camilla’s words. “Are you sure you want to go with me?”

“I won’t lie, Lady.”

“Heuk. Heuk. Thank you. Lady Camilla, I-I really… Thank you.”

Eirin bowed several times and shed tears. Her once-in-a-lifetime situation wouldn’t improve, but if the opportunity came again, her father would be able to change his mind.

By the time her crying stopped, Camilla had added her words. “At that time, I hope Lady Waieos will also attend.”

“…!”

Eirin’s hand, which was wiping the tears from her eyes, stiffened for a moment.  

* * *

Elusiana stopped her stride. Today was the third day. As soon as she left the mansion, she saw someone running off.

“…What is it? Is it a stalker?”

The lady carefully caught her breath as if she thought she had hidden well. Still, the hem of her dress peeking out from behind the tree and her figure sweeping her chest was quite obvious.

She’s really clumsy. Could it be that she was a local resident who came after hearing rumors?

Elusiana let out a shallow sigh without realizing it. They were almost gone, but a few years ago, there were often people who came after hearing of Simon’s reputation as a pushover. I haven’t seen that since last year.

However, it seemed the lady hadn’t heard of the rumor that Waieos’s family had been ruined. What a waste of effort. Elusiana shook her head and called the lady. “Excuse me.”

“…!”

Perhaps perplexed, the lady’s body flinched noticeably. She seemed to have convinced herself that she wouldn’t be caught.

Is she stupid? Seeing the tree was too small to cover the lady, Elusiana felt her back ache for some reason.

“Can’t you hear me? I know you’ve been following me for a few days.”

“…”

“Hey, if you keep pretending not to hear, should I call security?”

As soon as she said that, the lady hiding behind the tree came out quickly. “I-I’m sorry. It’s not because I have bad intentions.”

“I don’t know if you have bad intentions or not. Why do you keep snooping in front of someone else’s house?”

“I’m really sorry.” The lady bowed her head and repeatedly apologized as if she was very embarrassed.

Outwardly, she looked like a very ordinary lady. She was ragged but neatly dressed. She wasn’t even ignorant of etiquette as Elusiana saw her hands folded in front before she bowed her head. Even more, her hands looked so pretty.

Elusiana narrowed her brows as she looked at the lady, who looked like a commoner but was definitely not a commoner. Why was a noble spying on my house? She felt suspicious, but the lady was somewhat too sloppy to cause a problem.

Is it true that she’s been following me secretly? Such doubts felt weird when she saw that lady’s eyes which contained no malice at all. Hmm. Still, it’s very awkward to be followed.

Elusiana drew closer to the lady, not letting her guard down. “You seem to be a noble lady, but what brings you here?”

“Ah! That’s h-how.”

The startled woman stamped her feet with a flushed face. Her face, which had already been flushed, turned even more red, perhaps because of embarrassment.

“Excuse me.”

“…”

“Hey.”

“…”

“Sigh.”

Elusiana’s head ached at the lady’s motionless behavior with her head bowed down.

Tsk. I don’t have time for this. Elusiana, who checked her pocket watch, 10 minutes had already passed, clicked her tongue. The grand duke was generally docile, but he was morbidly strict about ‘time.’ No, he was strict.

Elusiana had once been surprised when she was late for a meal and thought she had moved to the Siberian plains. It was because the grand duke gave off a cold air and didn’t even say a word, which made him  scarier. Still, when she thought about that time, her body trembled as if chills ran through her peripheral nerves. It all happened because of the grand duke.

How surprised Elusiana was to see Noel, who suddenly came to visit the grand duchy. Noel had no reason to confront the grand duke and provoke his temper. It only made Elusiana feel guilty because he committed a sinful act. Who told him to live a full life like that? It was a fairly unfair incident from my point of view, who barely persuaded the man who refused to be sent back.

Anyway, Elusiana, who quietly sighed, spoke to the lady who bowed her head. “If you have nothing to say, I’ll continue going.”

“No!”

The lady’s shoulder visibly twitched as she screamed. However, her agitation was brief, and the woman, who should have added her words at any moment, remained silent again. Elusiana shook her head as if frustrated and once again checked her pocket watch.

“I’m a bit busy. If you’re here for business, tell me now. Five minutes will be the max.”

Then the woman, who had been waiting all the time, said in a voice the size of an ants pea. “I, E-Elusiana.”

“…Yes?”

Huh? What is this? I think she just called my name. Does this person know me? Elusiana’s brow wrinkled slightly as she measured the time. Since she possessed this body, not a single noble lady had met Elusiana personally. Initially, It was her intention, but her family’s fall made it easier.

It’s something to be wary of.

Elusiana asked, taking a step back. “Do you know me?”

“It’s me… E-Eirin.”

“Eirin?”

“Yes.”

The woman said so. She was a pretty lady who looked like a girl. But the problem was.

Who is Eirin? Do you think everything goes well just by showing your face? I don’t remember anything at all.

However, the lady with a nostalgic feeling choked up and reached out her hand. Tears streamed down her face. “Elusiana… really, long time no see.”