NRAL | Chapter 55

~Chapter 55~

Two Mothers-in-Law

Wow, this is an unbelievable mess.

The empress’s maids couldn’t even look up—they kept their eyes down.

If the man who had just yelled so loudly weren’t Arlo, they might have clicked their tongues at how immature young people are these days. But sadly for them, he was the heir to Juvenile’s throne and the second son of the very Empress they served. So their best option was to pretend they hadn’t seen anything and keep their heads bowed.

“Mother, why are you here…?” Arlo seemed so focused on Eleanor that he forgot this garden belonged to his mother.

If that was all he forgot, it would be fine. But it seemed he also completely forgot that his future wife and his mother were supposed to meet today. Nora had mentioned it many times already.

“Greetings to the moon of the empire,” Eleanor said, lifting her skirt slightly and bowing her knee to the empress.

“The Princess Astria…?” The empress seemed unable to believe that Eleanor Astria who Arlo had just declared his love for was really standing in front of her.

Eleanor looked very different from before, and the empress knew how much Arlo disliked her.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I was busy with family matters, so I’m late in greeting you. I hope you have been well,” Eleanor said in a graceful voice, with perfect manners like a noblewoman.

This meant that Arlo had just flirted with a fake in front of the real Princess Astria.

The empress’s eyes quickly turned to Nora’s face. She frowned deeply. Nora’s expression was fierce and deadly, like she wanted to tear Eleanor’s face apart. Even the experienced empress felt intimidated.

‘She’s not an ordinary woman.’

No matter what Nora said with her cute, lovely smile, she clearly hid many dangers inside.

The empress’s suspicion of her new daughter-in-law grew stronger. Even though the real troublemaker was her son, not the daughter-in-law.

“Arlo, I was just about to come to your palace. Follow me.”

“You should have called first, Mother. Sorry, but I have things to do right now and can’t make time. Come back later,” Arlo said boldly, smiling as he refused the empress’s help.

Like he had any work to do.

If he cared even a little for his mother or Nora, he should have backed down and been more careful. But Arlo wasn’t obedient to anyone, not even his own mother.

“Arlo Fernandite de Juvenile!”

The empress suddenly shouted in anger.

Doing this in front of two Princess Astrias and the maids was an insult to her as the nation’s mother and his own mother.

“Should I go find the emperor right now to make you come to your senses?”

When she mentioned the emperor, Arlo realized the seriousness. He ran his hand through his hair, sighed loudly, and looked very annoyed.

“Talk to me later, Ellie.”

He gave Eleanor a casual glance and reluctantly followed the empress.

He didn’t care at all how Nora felt, left behind without any explanation or greeting.

Eleanor silently applauded his consistent carelessness inside her heart. She wanted to clap out loud but held back because many eyes were watching inside the palace.

So she stood quietly where the empress had left, and smiled gently at Nora, who was glaring at her like she wanted to kill her.

“Well, we meet again, Nora. What a coincidence. Shall we ride the carriage home together?”

Like sisters getting along. Eleanor added in a soft voice.

Nora scoffed and quickly replied.

“Is it fun? Wagging your tail shamelessly at the man who dumped you?”

“Yeah, it’s more fun than I thought.”

Eleanor nodded innocently and walked toward Nora.

“I haven’t even started wagging my tail yet, but the man who dumped me is already running away from you again. Isn’t that funny to you?”

Eleanor mocked her sharply.

Nora ground her teeth hard.

She took a step forward, not backing down at all.

The two women stood facing each other with the beautiful Blenheim Garden behind them.

“Ellie, even after getting beaten so many times, you still don’t get it? Even if Arlo gives you cheap attention, do you think you can really be Eleanor again?”

Nora started attacking again.

“Try using that good brain of yours properly, okay? No matter how hard you try, all you’ll ever get is the role of a mistress. Got that, you filthy woman?”

She crossed her arms and lifted her chin proudly, but the words from her pretty lips were crude and harsh.

Eleanor gave a short laugh at her.

“It seems I’ve become quite pretty. You, who were so sure Arlo wouldn’t care about me, are even thinking of giving up your spot as his mistress.”

Eleanor had no desire to be Arlo’s mistress at all. But if it could make Nora uneasy, she didn’t mind saying anything.

“Don’t worry about my legs. If I become Arlo’s mistress, he’ll protect my smooth skin, just like you said.”

“Hah! Aren’t you ashamed? Is that how nobles behave, throwing their bodies around so cheaply?”

“I find it amazing that you know shame. You eagerly spread your legs for someone else’s fiancé just to get cheap attention. Oh, maybe you don’t count as a real noble? With your lowborn nature, it wasn’t a big deal since you did it so many times, right?”

“Y-You—!”

In this fight where the goal was to hurt the other’s feelings, Eleanor was the clear winner.

It was natural—Eleanor knew exactly what Nora wanted and hoped for, but Nora didn’t even guess.

Unable to hold her anger any longer, Nora raised her right hand.

But suddenly, a strong grip grabbed her wrist tightly—it was Eleanor.

“Ah…!”

“Be careful, Nora.”

The strength squeezing Nora’s thin wrist was surprising. She almost screamed but managed only a whimper.

“This is in front of the Empress’s palace. What if someone sees you like this and tells your mother-in-law?”

“You…! Let go of me!”

Eleanor released her hand calmly. Nora’s missed strike made her lose her balance for a moment, but luckily she didn’t fall.

Eleanor chuckled softly, making Nora’s pale face flush red with anger.

Nora wanted to shout insults at Eleanor, but the only true thing Eleanor said was that causing a scene here would get back to the Empress.

Unlike Eleanor, who could only hope for the role of mistress, Nora would one day become Empress herself. So she had to be more careful.

Suppressing her rising fury, Nora turned sharply away, thinking that associating with such a lowly woman would only harm herself.

“Come with me, Nora. We’re going to the same place anyway, no need to rush ahead.”

It seemed Eleanor was determined today. She nagged annoyingly, following Nora closely.

As the two Astria princesses quickly crossed the palace a few steps apart, all eyes followed them. The palace staff whispered, comparing the near-future mistress with the current one—head to toe.

Nora’s patience was about to run out.

“Princess Astria.”

A brilliantly dressed woman suddenly blocked their path.

“Are you leaving without even greeting me?”

The woman spoke softly—someone Nora had never seen before.

Her deep honey-blonde hair and unusually thick eyebrows for a woman stood out. Every piece of jewelry she wore was unique and expensive. She was fairly pretty and seemed about their age, so it was strange Nora had never met her in society before.

But when Eleanor spoke, Nora understood why.

“Countess Annabelle, what a surprise to see you here.”

Nora had heard the name from Lady Geoffrey many times—she was said to be the emperor’s favorite mistress, who acted like she was the empress. People warned never to get close to her, but also not to ignore her.

“I came to see the girl who will be my daughter-in-law. Since she hasn’t come to greet me since entering the palace, I decided to come in person.”

Eleanor snorted softly at the arrogance.

Glancing sideways, she saw Nora’s face twist in embarrassment and anger. It was understandable—meeting two unreasonable mothers-in-law in one day was enough to ruin anyone’s mood, just like Eleanor’s past experience.

But Eleanor felt refreshed and calm.

“I see. Then I will take my leave first. As you know, I am no longer connected to the royal family. I hope you both have a pleasant time.”

She quickly left Countess Annabelle with Nora, whose face darkened even more.

But knowing Eleanor had no reason to stay, Nora couldn’t hold her back. Instead, she politely greeted the Countess.

“By the way…”

As Eleanor walked toward her carriage, she suddenly turned back and asked the Countess casually:

“Countess Annabelle, will you be serving that tea to Nora today? You know, that precious tea you brought from the East.”

The Countess’s confident face suddenly stiffened, her blue eyes flashing with caution.

“…Why do you ask?”

“Oh, no particular reason. I just remembered how nice the scent was. If you have the chance, please invite me to tea again sometime. I’ll be waiting.”

Eleanor smiled sweetly, bowed slightly, then turned and walked away.

She could feel sharp gazes burning into her back, but her steps out of the palace were lighter than ever.