Chapter 114
“I wish Ena would grow up a little more slowly.”
“Hmm?”
At Eliana’s words, Elena seemed puzzled and reflexively let out a sound that was neither quite a groan nor a hum.
“Because I want to see Ena’s small and cute childhood for a little longer.”
Eliana sat back down on the sofa. She thought she should ask a maid to bring some simple medicine and bandages in a little while.
“What kind of thing is that?”
“Oh my, why? Is it strange?”
Eliana instead widened her eyes and looked down at Elena.
“You’re going to become the Grand Duke after Father, right? They said that then I should also get married and help you from another family.”
At the foolish words of adults who pressured a child by forcing responsibilities onto her, Eliana secretly clenched her fists.
“I would be really happy if Ena helped me, but more than that, I would like Ena to stay with me for a long, long time.”
“Why?”
“Of course. Ena and Heti are both my lovely younger sisters.”
At Eliana’s words, Elena lowered her head.
“Ena.”
Eliana placed her hand on top of Elena’s head. She gently stroked the pure white hair that was similar to her own.
“You can take your time. Slowly, see and feel many things, and become a strong person.”
Because somehow, I’ll be able to stay with you until then.
At Eliana’s words, Elena smiled brightly.
“You’re the best, Sister!”
“You’re the best too, my Ena.”
Elena buried herself in Eliana’s arms. Eliana smiled as she enjoyed the small warmth she could feel in her arms.
However, her eyes were thinking about something else.
A while later, after meeting with Elena’s etiquette teacher, the teacher admitted that she had been teaching her too advanced material. She said that she had thought it would be fine because the young lady was clever and followed along well.
It did not seem to be a complete lie, but Eliana learned that Marella had influenced the process of hiring her.
Recognizing the work the etiquette teacher had done until then, Eliana gave her enough money to live on until she could find another job, and dismissed her.
However, Eliana knew she could not simply leave the child without a teacher, so finding a new teacher was added to her duties.
After reviewing quite a large number of applications, the person who became Elena’s new teacher was surprisingly the Viscountess Melitier.
The Viscountess Melitier was from the Central region and was highly skilled in Central etiquette. It was a stroke of luck, as Eliana had not even considered asking a vassal’s wife to do such a thing because it was not something that was usually requested.
Since she had also helped prepare Eliana’s welcome banquet, Eliana trusted her even more.
Elena often followed and treated the Viscountess Melitier, her new teacher, with respect. It was not that she had been bad to her previous teacher, but it was obvious that she liked the Viscountess Melitier more than her former teacher.
Now the New Year’s banquet was just around the corner.
Eliana was wearing a dark navy dress. It was made of high-quality silk, and jewels were set along the lower part of the skirt, sparkling whenever she moved.
At the center of the collar, which came all the way up to her neck, she wore the brooch given to her by Empress Illiciana. It was the same color as Callis’s eyes.
Knock, knock.
“Eli. May I come in?”
Callis’s voice came along with the knock. After checking that her preparations were mostly finished, Eliana dismissed the maids and allowed him to enter.
Callis entered wearing formal banquet clothes with a design that clearly showed they were a matching set with hers. The brooch given by Empress Illiciana was also attached to his collar.
“It’s almost time for us to go down, so I came to get you.”
As he said that, Callis held out his hand toward Eliana. Eliana smiled and placed her hand on his.
With a charming smile, Callis kissed the back of Eliana’s hand. The maids and attendants watching them let out small gasps.
The affectionate behavior of the handsome couple, who were famous for their beauty, was enough to make anyone watching them feel excited and fluttering.
Eliana held Callis’s hand and slowly walked down the stairs.
Callis went down two or three steps first, and Eliana followed behind him. Even though their hands were held loosely, as if they might separate at any moment, she could feel a subtle warmth from them.
Even though she was wearing gloves of a color similar to her dress.
“Lady Eliana La Winter and her husband, Callis de Varman Winter, are entering!”
When they arrived at the banquet hall, the doors opened with the attendant’s announcement. The nobles who had already arrived and were having light refreshments or talking turned their eyes toward the two of them.
The two looked into each other’s eyes and smiled before walking into the banquet hall.
From a distance, Eliana could hear the whispers of people wearing the uniforms of the Knights and feel their gazes as they looked at her.
Callis tightly gripped Eliana’s shoulder.
“Calli?”
Eliana looked up at Callis. Startled, Callis loosened his grip. His behavior was puzzling, but soon her attention was drawn to a guest who had come to greet them.
“Greetings to the Lady and her husband.”
Helicia, who had noticed her and approached, gave a small nod. Eliana and Callis also nodded.
“Please take good care of me this year too, Hesha.”
“I should say the same. Please take good care of me this year as well.”
Eliana and Helicia smiled warmly at each other. Callis, who was watching them, stopped an attendant passing by and had him give the two women champagne.
“You achieved quite a great feat this time. My father was absolutely furious.”
Helicia laughed. She remembered her father making a huge fuss, saying there had been no results even though he had worked together with Baron Arenta.
She had pretended not to know anything, while her half-brother had eagerly insulted Baron Arenta to please their father.
“I was lucky.”
“Regardless, that luck saved Winter from the danger that almost befell it and saved many knights from danger. That is still your achievement, Lady.”
“If you think so, then I won’t bother refusing the credit.”
“How wise.”
At Eliana’s answer, Helicia nodded with an exaggerated expression. Eliana laughed quite happily at the sight.
“It’s a secret, but the Crown Prince deserves a great deal of credit for this.”
“His Highness?”
Helicia turned toward Callis. Callis shrugged with a charming smile.
“It was thanks to Eli trusting me.”
“If I don’t trust my husband, then whose words should I trust?”
“I only meant that I don’t know what to do with myself because you trust me so much.”
Helicia gave a low laugh as she listened to the two of them smoothly exchanging words. She remembered the letter in which Eliana had once said that perhaps her fiancé would no longer look at her face.
And had she said that she had to accept it?
At that time, Helicia had been trying to cut off her relationship with Eliana, so she could not know the details.
But looking at them now, she thought Eliana’s prediction back then had been completely wrong.
Even now, he behaved as if Eliana were the only person he could see. There was no way he would stop looking at her.
She remembered the letter filled with calm resignation.
She had not been able to send a reply.
Since Eliana did not seem to care, Helicia thought there was no need to bring it up.
“Hesha.”
Helicia heard the voice of her older brother calling her.
“My brother is calling me. I’ll excuse myself now.”
“Go ahead.”
Helicia greeted Eliana before walking away. Eliana silently watched her leave.
Huh?
For a moment, their gazes seemed to cross, and surprise briefly appeared on Eliana’s face. Others probably did not notice, but Callis, who was nearby, noticed it and asked,
“What’s wrong?”
“No. It’s just that someone’s gaze…”
Eliana trailed off. Puzzled, Callis looked toward the place where Eliana’s gaze had remained.
He saw the older brother of Lady Shellita.
Callis silently clenched his fist.
Even though they had formally married, and had become husband and wife under the blessing and declaration of the High Priest, there were still far too many men who desired his wife.
At this moment, Callis was actually grateful for the imperial bloodline he had once cursed.
“The Grand Duke of the North, His Highness Hashent Le Winter, has entered!”
Once again, an announcement rang out. The doors opened, and the Grand Duke entered wearing formal banquet clothes. Just as one could tell from the appearance of Eliana and Elena, the Grand Duke looked magnificent when dressed up.
He did not look like the father of a grown daughter.
“He looks magnificent. I’ve always thought so.”
Callis whispered to Eliana as he watched the Grand Duke walk toward the center. Eliana also shrugged.
Eliana, Elena, and even Hestin, although a little more distant from them, were all people who did not fall behind anyone when it came to beauty.
It was probably because of their genes.
“Even in the Imperial Capital, the women’s attention never stopped. They all wanted to become my stepmother.”
“Haha!”
Callis burst into hearty laughter at Eliana’s shameless remark.
The Grand Duke had attracted quite a lot of attention even in the Imperial Capital. It had been the same at the reception held after her wedding.
Young ladies who were already somewhat past the usual marriageable age, widows, and women acting as heads of their families in place of their male siblings would blush and steal glances at the Grand Duke.
There were also those who approached her, subtly hoping that she would connect them with him.
Of course, after Emperor Calertes declared that Eliana had officially become the heir to the Grand Duchy, their number had dropped sharply to one-third.
They must have had ambitions.
Eliana understood those women.
A man who had lost his wife and had not looked at another woman for seven years. On top of that, he held a high position and possessed considerable wealth.
Although there was an age difference, he was not too old to have children. Even if the Grand Duke took another Grand Duchess and had children, he was a man who would still be alive until that child reached adulthood.
Moreover, anyone who formally married him would be treated as a semi-royal and called Her Highness the Grand Duchess. To women, the Grand Duke was one of the most desirable marriage prospects.
Those who cleanly withdrew after hearing from Emperor Calertes that Eliana had officially become the heir to the Grand Duchy had ambitions, but they were at least clever.
Even so, half of those who had approached either her or the Grand Duke and whispered sweet words had ambitions of overthrowing her succession later.
They wanted to make the son they would someday give birth to the heir of the Grand Duchy.
The other half simply wanted to become Grand Duchess, enjoy a suitable married life, and then be honored as the former Grand Duchess once Eliana inherited the title.
The Grand Duke reached the highest seat in the banquet hall and turned around.
“A lot has happened in the days gone by. There have been happy occasions, tragedies, and even events that almost became tragedies.”
The Grand Duke’s solemn voice echoed through the banquet hall, quiet yet heavy.
“But do not lose the pride of protecting the Empire’s northernmost border.”
Grand Duke Hashent raised his glass as he said so.
“May the Northern Wall stand forever!”
“Forever!”
The attendant who had been watching the Grand Duke’s movements met the conductor’s eyes and gave him a signal. Receiving the signal, the conductor waved his baton.
The music began.
“Eli.”
Callis held out his hand to Eliana. Eliana happily took it.
As she danced with Callis, Eliana looked around.
Helicia was also entering the center with her older brother for the first dance. She did not look particularly willing, but she showed nothing and wore a perfect mask.
Soon, Eliana spotted Marella standing with Baron Arenta. She had expected something like this to happen to some degree, but the atmosphere between the two was not good.
From the moment they entered, Marella had not stood beside him. Instead, she followed Baron Arenta around from one step behind.
And now she was not even dancing the first dance with him.
For a moment, Eliana felt sorry for Marella.
“Baron Arenta finally threw Viscount Nite away.”
At Eliana’s words, Callis spun around and looked toward Baron Arenta and Marella.
After confirming the same thing Eliana had seen, Callis gave a charming smile.
“Anyone would do the same.”
He said it as if comparing Marella with the daughter of Count Filer, whom he had supposedly been courting.
“I suppose so. Especially someone like Baron Arenta.”
“For someone who still carries the label of being, no, merely looking like the son of the former Grand Duke, a long-established noble family from the Central region would naturally be more appealing than a viscountess born from commoners.”
“He would certainly need that as well.”
Callis answered as if he already knew.
