~Chapter 105~
The Purpose of the Visit
The first time isn’t really that special.
Everyone has their first time, and not all of those “firsts” hold meaning for everyone.
Eleanor had always been skeptical about placing too much importance on “firsts.” She particularly disliked the idea of giving meaning to first love, first kiss, or first relationship. It reminded her of Arlo, who had once demanded her “first” for himself.
But now, Eleanor realized something.
She, too, was just like everyone else—someone who placed meaning on her “firsts.”
“The first person I’ve ever loved is you.”
That low voice had been echoing in her mind for days. Although she hated giving significance to something so trivial, she couldn’t stop thinking about it.
How could she not think about it? The fact that someone like him had loved her for so long…
Every time she thought of it, her heart would race, and it started to annoy her.
Eleanor slowly reflected on her own “firsts.”
The first person to embrace her was Luke. The first friend who shared food with her was Theo, the boy from the orphanage. The first person she gave her heart to after leaving the orphanage was Nora. The first person to kiss her, against her will, was Arlo.
There had been many others who had passed through her life, each with their own firsts. Some, like Luke and Nora, still held significant places in her life. Others, their faces faded from memory.
As she had always thought, not every “first” held deep meaning.
But how will Karsian remember me?
Would she be a special person to him? Someone he would remember as meaningful?
Eleanor was lost in thought, staring out the window, unsure of the answers.
“We’ve arrived, Miss!”
The carriage driver, Tobias, announced their arrival, breaking her from her thoughts.
Eleanor snapped back to reality and looked out the window. The familiar sight of the grand Hayden Palace, the symbol of Juvenile, greeted her.
The carriage had quickly reached the palace, and Eleanor was forced to face reality, forgetting her fleeting worries.
Her once bright lavender eyes now lost some of their sparkle as she gazed at the palace’s grandeur.
That’s right. What really matters to me is not this.
Her thoughts turned back to Karsian—how he would remember her, and what their relationship would become. But for now, all these concerns and expectations weren’t what she needed.
What she needed right now was focus and willpower—something to keep her grounded so she could finish her revenge without a hitch.
She had been too caught up in emotions lately. Realizing this, she judged her own state with a sense of self-awareness.
When she was distracted, things always went wrong. And this time, her opponent was someone much more wicked and cunning than Damien. She had to remain cold and rational.
Eleanor walked down the familiar halls of the palace, determined.
Her destination was the Crown Prince’s palace, where the poor man who had been repeatedly cut by a cruel mistress was waiting.
“Please wait here, Miss.”
Following the servant’s instructions, Eleanor took a seat in the waiting room and slowly began to observe her surroundings.
The Crown Prince’s waiting room—she had been there many times, but something about it felt unfamiliar. It wasn’t just that it had been a while; the décor had changed quite a bit.
As she glanced around, Eleanor quickly realized what was off. There were no delicate porcelain vases, mirrors, or frames—things that could easily be broken.
It looks like he’s been causing quite a mess.
Eleanor smirked, piecing things together.
It was clear. Someone as violent as him would have caused chaos after becoming impotent. The servants had probably removed anything that could hurt someone. It worked out for her.
At least it seemed like he could still move. Eleanor found comfort in that.
“I’ll announce His Highness now.”
After a while, the servant finally came in and announced the arrival of Arlo.
Eleanor, who had been relaxing on the soft couch, stood up gracefully and awaited his arrival.
“You…”
Arlo, now a very different person than the last time she saw him, looked much worse.
His once smooth face lacked life, his cheeks were sunken, and his body had lost muscle after spending so much time in bed. His once confident golden eyes were now dull and sunken.
“What are you doing here!”
As soon as he saw Eleanor, he immediately started yelling.
Of course, his anger was even more intense now due to his current situation.
“You didn’t show up when I was sick, and now you come here?!”
Arlo marched toward her, shouting without offering her even a cup of tea. His fury made him seem ready to strike her at any moment.
Eleanor, noticing the servants discreetly leaving, lowered her long lashes. She answered in a calm voice.
“I couldn’t help it.”
“What?”
“I’m not your wife or fiancée. According to you, I wasn’t even worthy of being here to visit you, so how could I come to see you? Especially with Father and Nora watching me closely.”
She wanted to tell him the truth right then.
It was me who did this to you. I planned everything, and you were just a pawn in my game.
But Eleanor bit her lip, stopping herself.
Losing his reproductive ability, along with his honor, meant Arlo would no longer hold the same power. But she knew well enough how the world worked. One wrong word could turn everything around.
So, she had to keep her arrogance in check for now.
“I wanted to visit you sooner, but this was the only way I could avoid Father’s eyes.”
“Stop joking! Do you think I’m stupid?”
Despite her calm tone, Arlo’s fury didn’t subside.
His next words revealed the true reason for his anger.
“I heard rumors in Cardiff’s high society! That you became that lowlife’s mistress! Ha, that’s ridiculous! Was that really your best option?”
Arlo was furious that Eleanor had ended up with someone he despised so much. He probably thought she chose Karsian over him. But Eleanor had never belonged to him.
“Arlo, do you think this happened because I wanted it?”
Eleanor asked, looking up at him from only a step away.
“You know my father. Given who he is, is it my fault that I was sold for money?”
Arlo flinched, realizing there was some truth to her words.
It wasn’t lost on him that his own downfall played a big part in the Astria family’s financial troubles. If he had any sense, he should have felt some guilt.
But Arlo was someone whose emotions always took precedence over logic, and it didn’t take long before he started shouting again.
“You should have told me! You should have told your father that you decided to become my mistress!”
Arlo grabbed the armrest of the couch beside her, his voice filled with desperation.
When he mentioned that “day,” Eleanor had to bite her lip to stop herself from laughing.
She glanced at the clock, realizing that time had passed more quickly than expected. Arlo had arrived late.
“…It won’t change anything. If I had wanted to be your mistress, you would have had to offer more than what Duke Astria offered me.”
“So now, it’s my fault?”
“No, that’s not it. I’m just saying it’s the reality.”
Eleanor shrugged lightly, her calm demeanor completely out of place for someone who should be feeling regret.
“Besides, don’t you no longer need a mistress? Or is that not true?”
She tilted her head with a fake innocent look.
“What are you talking about?”
Eleanor smirked.
“Why, Arlo, it seems you have ears to hear the rumors…”
The reason she was doing this was simple.
She wasn’t holding back information about her revenge yet, but she certainly didn’t need to hold back in mocking him.
“That’s what you need, right? A mistress?”
Eleanor stood and pointed playfully at his lower body.
“When you can’t even stand, how can you take on a mistress?”
When Arlo realized what she meant, his eyes went wide.
Slap!
Without warning, Arlo slapped Eleanor’s cheek hard.
Her slender body collapsed onto the couch, her light blonde hair scattering.
Eleanor held her sore cheek, not as hurt as when her father had hit her. It was pathetic that someone so young could be weaker than a man in his fifties.
“You dare…”
But Arlo’s anger didn’t end there. His fist clenched again, and before she knew it, another punch was headed her way.
Thud!
But this time, it didn’t hit Eleanor. Instead, it slammed into the armrest of the couch she had just been sitting on.
No more reason to stay here.
Eleanor quickly moved to the other side of the room, running toward the door while shouting.
“Help! Help!”
Despite her calm appearance, her voice sounded like a woman in real distress.
She ran to the door, and Arlo, still sluggish from his injuries, tried to follow.
Eleanor was fast, but she knew Arlo wouldn’t be able to catch her before she left the palace.
All the servants and guards in the palace were loyal to her father, not Arlo.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Arlo shouted, but Eleanor was already out the door.
Suddenly, someone unexpected blocked his way.
A man who was neither a servant nor someone to be ignored.
