CH 41

The god taking care of Eleanor must have had an extreme personality.

After making Go Yeo-jin go through all kinds of hardships, he made her reincarnated as Eleanor Everett and made her walk on a flower path, and threw the two best gentlemen in the Empire to Eleanor, who hadn’t even ridden the ‘d’ of date for 24 years.

“Let’s not be conscious of it. I didn’t ask for a date right away, it’s just that I’ve developed a slight, subtle crush, well.”

She tried to go to sleep, thinking it was no big deal, yet strangely, her eyes went blank as soon as she lay down.

When she lay on her left side, Kaidel’s voice lingered in her ears, and when she turned to the right side, she heard Izmel’s voice. After tossing and turning like that, it was a repeat of the night when she ended up burying her face in the pillow and rolling her feet.

‘Ugh, dark circles…!’

Eleanor’s eyes grew darker day by day. There was a clear pink air current in her, yet Eleanor’s face became crumbly instead of shiny.

The two were difficult opponents for Eleanor, whose love experience was converging to zero. It feels like a newbie who barely finished the game tutorial faced a boss mob right away…

She decided to confide in Adrian about her troubles. Adrian was much more sociable than Eleanor, and had been tempted a lot, so he would be more familiar with this situation.

She also thought that he might be able to judge Kaidel and Izmel a little better than Eleanor, who is of the opposite sex.

After class, seeing Lucas and Damian back, Eleanor stood up and approached Adrian.

“Rian.”

“Why?”

Adrian, who was organizing the messy sheet music on the piano, immediately raised his head. Eleanor asked cautiously, helping Adrian.

“Are you busy today?”

“Now? After taking Enna home…”

“No!”

At that time, Sienna, who was half-lying on the sofa, jumped up. Sienna, who rushed towards Adrian, shook her head with fervor as if she would run out of the room at any moment.

“Uncle, I can go alone!”

“Still, how can I send you alone?”

“Then I’ll go with the butler. That can do.”

At Sienna’s words, Adrian scratched the back of his head. Of course it should be, but… Sienna’s eyes twinkled more than usual, which was strangely uncomfortable.

As if guessing Adrian’s feelings, she quickly added.

“Don’t worry. I’m not a child.”

You’re still a child, Sienna.

Before Adrian could answer, Sienna shot open the door and disappeared. Adrian and Eleanor looked at each other blankly and burst into laughter.

“What is Sienna in such a hurry for?”

“I don’t know. Sometimes she acted like that on a whim.”

Adrian shrugged his head slightly.

“By the way, what time is it? Do you have something to say?”

Eleanor shook her head.

“Yeah, I have something to tell you…”

“Don’t stand, sit down and talk.”

Creak. Adrian removed the piano chair for Eleanor to sit on.

Eleanor, who sat quietly, passed the time by pressing various keys on the piano for no reason. When she was about to say her words, she was strangely a little embarrassed.

“What are you talking about? Anxiously.”

“It’s nothing. I just wanted to ask your opinion.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Eleanor. The strangely flushed cheeks, the fidgeting fingers, the gestures that kept twisting around. Everything was different from the usual Eleanor.

“So, this is about my friend… I wanted to hear your opinion because you seem to know this better than I do.”

Even the way she insisted on emphasizing that it wasn’t her story, but a ‘friend’ story. Adrian, who was suddenly playful, threw a fastball at Eleanor.

“If it’s your friend, I’m the only one. Am I not?”

Eleanor, stabbed in the face, shrugged her shoulders. Before long, her face turned red.

“Y-You’re not the only one, you know? I have many friends, you know? It’s just that you don’t know, you know?”

“Really? Who?”

“I won’t tell you.”

“Aren’t you going to teach me?”

His grinning face as he picked on her narrow human relationship was snarky. Even his childlike tone of voice scratched Eleanor’s stomach.

However, the fact that she couldn’t refute that statement was the point that sparked her passion the most. Adrian knew her needlessly too well.

“I’m not talking to you…”

Eleanor, who had been glaring at Adrian for a long time, seemed resentful, and bit her lip tightly, avoiding her gaze from him. Adrian finally noticed that it had passed by and relaxed his expression.

“I will stop teasing you and listen to you seriously. So what about your friend?”

Adrian asked kindly, yet to Eleanor it still sounded like he was making fun of her. Eleanor snapped a sharp shot, pushing away the large hand that rested on her head.

“Enough. Cut it off!”

“I wasn’t really kidding. You know best that my friends are only you and Dwight.”

“That…”

“Since I was young, you have seen the most embarrassing side of me. So you can just talk casually, Ellen.”

Eleanor’s ears perked up at Adrian’s gentle words. She tried to pretend it didn’t, but her melted heart eventually showed through to her face. Adrian was also unnecessarily good at cheering her up.

As if Eleanor begged him to come closer, she gestured toward Adrian. Adrian, with a puzzled look on his face, leaned over and put his ear near Eleanor.

Eleanor, holding Adrian’s sleeve lightly, whispered softly.

“Yeah, it’s actually me… It may sound a bit crazy to you. It’s absurd, ridiculous, and I wonder if I’m sick anywhere…”

What really happened?

Adrian was starting to get worried. She was like an anxious adolescent girl, Eleanor, who had always been wild and grown-up, was now somehow insecure.

“What is it?”

“If you like someone. Are you supposed to make it obvious? Be it facial expressions or actions.”

Eleanor opened her mouth cautiously. Adrian nodded her head, feeling some uneasiness.

“…Yeah.”

“Every time I meet someone, I keep feeling that way. I haven’t felt it myself, so I’m not sure… It’s like a gut feeling.”

Adrian’s fingertips twitched. He barely maintained a calm expression and asked in a subdued voice.

“Who is that?”

Eleanor looked around and lowered her voice as much as she could.

“Don’t be too surprised and listen. Understand?”

Adrian nodded his head. Her pink lips, which had been twitching nervously, slowly opened.

“Rian, it seems that the Duke and the Crown Prince like me.”

Thump.

At that moment, Adrian’s heart crashed to the floor. Only then did he fully understand Eleanor’s mysterious expression.

Embarrassment. Shame. And some excitement.

Yes, it was thrilling.

Adrian’s mood, which was a little more excited than usual, sank heavily. Neither the sweet scent that wafted from Eleanor nor her little hands clinging to the sleeves could ease his mind.

“Rian, are you okay?”

“…Mm.”

Adrian knew he would look a little strange in Eleanor’s eyes, but he couldn’t quite capture his own expression.

“I’m not sure. I’m just… guessing.”

Eleanor blushed at Adrian’s gaze, staring at her face without a word. She had talked with him about all sorts of things, but it was her first relationship counseling.

She thought something violent would follow.

Adrian’s reaction was too static. Perhaps it was because he was so surprised that it was difficult to react, thinking about it, Eleanor opened her mouth again.

“You can’t believe it, can you? I understand. I don’t believe it either But no matter how you think…”

“I believe it.”

Adrian said, interrupting Eleanor.

“Huh?”

“I believe in your words. So there’s no need for you to say anything more.”

Adrian’s voice had been quiet for a while compared to before. Eleanor stared blankly at her childhood friend with an unfamiliar expression. He was different from usual.

Adrian let out a small sigh and continued.

“I was guessing. I’m not sure of His Highness’ feelings, but I know you’re probably right. His Grace is so obvious, it was hard not to know.”

“You knew…? Since when?”

Eleanor’s eyes widened. Seeing her like that, Adrian smiled bitterly.

“Actually, I didn’t expect you to notice it so quickly. I thought it would take at least a few more months.”

I shouldn’t have let my guard down just because you’re clueless

Adrian murmured lowly. Eleanor blinked slowly, dazed.

She didn’t know that Adrian knew.

Judging from his words, it was something he had known for a long time. Maybe even before Eleanor noticed.

Her mind was intricately entangled.

‘I only found out a while ago, am I really the kind of blunt person in this direction? But why didn’t Adrian tell me when he knew?’

Adrian, who had been watching her quietly, slowly opened his mouth.

“Then you should know that too.”

“…Is there anything else I don’t know?”

“Yes, there is.”

Quite a lot actually.

A faint smile appeared on Adrian’s lips and then disappeared.

The eyes of the two met. Warm sunlight streamed in through the large windows.

The sight of Eleanor’s light blonde hair, fair skin, and small lips dyed in the orange sunset was captured by Adrian’s eyes for a long time.

Beautiful.

I’ve kept it a secret to myself for so long, but now I know she was seen as such not only in my eyes.

Adrian, who was staring at the green eyes that were transparently shining at him, finally burst out the words he had endured.

“I like you too, Ellen.”