NRAL | Chapter 136

Chapter 136 

One Week and Three Days

Time passed quickly, and the day to leave for Royster was suddenly only one day away.

During that week, Eleanor had been quite busy. She originally thought there wouldn’t be much to organize, but checking the assets she had hidden away and converting them into cash took much more time than expected.

She wasn’t the only busy one. Ernst and Hilda also spent their days running around meeting people before leaving, and sorting out what to bring and what to leave behind. Everyone seemed hectic.

No one knew how long they would stay in Royster, and crossing the border required a lot of preparation.

And today, with all preparations finished, Eleanor had one last appointment. Like Ernst and Hilda, she too had someone she needed to see before leaving.

That person wasn’t Arlo, nor Nora…

“Lady Ellie! You finally called for me!”

And it wasn’t even this man who had worked as the Astria family’s personal physician until recently.

“I have been waiting eagerly for the day you would call me! I had so much I wanted to tell you!”

Eleanor had only summoned the physician to confirm something—nothing serious. But for some reason, he approached her with sparkling eyes, as if expecting something great from her, making her uncomfortable.

She frowned in irritation.

It was obvious he was hoping to get a position through Karsian, but Eleanor had absolutely no intention of offering him any favor. Especially not to someone who had already been fired from the Astria mansion and was now completely useless.

“Haha… I, um, you received the letter I sent last time, didn’t you?”

Seeing Eleanor’s disinterested reaction, the physician hurried to remind her of the “excellent work” he had done—meaning that he was the one who told her first about Nora’s pregnancy.

“Yes. I received it.”

“If you have anything else you’re curious about, please let me know! I still have a friend working in the Astria mansion. I can get you any information you need!”

Eleanor narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. In response, the physician quickly began listing the recent situation at the mansion as proof.

“You may have heard, but the mansion is a complete mess right now. Most of the remaining servants are focusing on caring for young master Damien under the duke’s orders. And without the head maid, the management has fallen into total chaos.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, and that’s not all. The couple you sent are supposed to be taking care of Lady Nora, but all they do is toss leftover food into her room. Even so, Lady Nora doesn’t complain. Because of that, the servants are saying she must be being blackmailed by that crude couple.”

Judging by how much he knew about the Chesnut couple, the physician really did have an informant inside the mansion.

Blackmailed… it was actually a very accurate guess.

The Chesnut couple knew Nora’s real name, age, and family background. If they spread that information, Nora would lose the few things she had left—like the last bits of reputation the falling Astria house still held, or the title of “Duke Astria’s daughter,” which she needed for marriage negotiations.

If the Astria family were still powerful, Nora would have found a way to shut their mouths. Until recently, she had been the crown prince’s fiancée and the eldest daughter of one of the most powerful houses in the empire.

But things were different now. Neither the crown prince nor the Astria family could protect her anymore. All Nora could do was live in fear, waiting for the day the Chesnut couple might expose everything.

Eleanor had expected this outcome—and even intended it—but hearing it with her own ears still felt strange. It was satisfying, yet uncomfortable at the same time. Especially because she had met Smith and Jane Chesnut once before.

They were trash—similar to the Duke of Astria, but in a slightly different way. The kind of people who could easily treat a child like a slave.

And now, Nora was living under the mercy of such people. Just as Eleanor once had.

‘Useless emotions.’

Eleanor cut off the rising sense of familiarity in her chest and focused on the physician again.

Even while she was lost in thought, he kept babbling on about the fall of the Astria family and Nora’s situation.

“—and then the maid said—”

“That’s enough. I didn’t call you here to listen to stories about the Astrias.”

Eleanor sharply interrupted him. The physician froze, blinking like a confused dog.

“T-then… why did you call me?”

If she wasn’t calling him for information or a job, why summon him?

The physician stared at her, waiting for the answer.

“Why else would someone call a physician? I want a medical examination.”

“…Pardon? Are you unwell?”

He looked her up and down. She seemed perfectly healthy.

“Besides, Royster must have its own physicians…”

He muttered, clearly suspicious. There was no reason to call him just for an examination.

“I just thought your mouth would stay more tightly shut.”

Eleanor smiled faintly. The physician finally understood.

Noblewomen sometimes consulted physicians in secret rather than the family doctor—usually to hide certain illnesses from their husbands out of fear it could damage their marriage.

This case was similar enough.

“My concern is whether I’m infertile or not. Even if it takes time, check me thoroughly.”

The physician gasped.

The grand duke’s lover… infertile? And hiding it from him?

That was information potentially worth a lot.

Trying to hide his greed, he spoke in a gentle, serious tone:

“You must have been very worried. Yes, I will examine you very carefully. And don’t worry—my lips are sealed.”

“Yes. I trust you.”

Eleanor smiled softly as she shook his hand.

Of course, she didn’t trust him in the slightest. Anyone moved by money could easily betray. He might keep quiet for now since she was paying him, but if a better opportunity came, he would switch sides immediately.

But it didn’t matter. Even if he betrayed her, it wouldn’t be a big problem. Unlike what the physician thought, Karsian already knew she was infertile.

The real reason she didn’t go to a Royster physician was simple:

She didn’t want Karsian to hear that she had rechecked her infertility and misunderstand her intentions. She didn’t want to give him unnecessary burdens or cause awkwardness between them.

‘Things are perfect the way they are.’

If she expected too much, or if either of them brought up the idea of a serious long-term commitment, their sweet and comfortable relationship would crumble. A noble’s romance and marriage were two very different things. As someone who survived ten years in the highest level of aristocratic society, Eleanor knew this reality better than anyone.

She just wanted Karsian to keep liking her for a long time—without any pressure.

That morning, the physician gave her the confirmed result.

“I’m sorry, but you are infertile.”

He said sadly. Eleanor quietly nodded.

She already knew. There was no reason to be disappointed. In a way, it was even better. She could love Karsian without complications.

After sending the physician away, she headed to visit the person she truly meant to see.

***

Eleanor had been the Crown Prince’s fiancée for a long time, so she had visited nearly every part of the imperial palace—his palace, the emperor’s palace, the empress’s palace, and all the gardens in between.

But this place—the prison—was one she had never once entered.

“This way,” said the guard in a stiff voice.

The inside of the prison looked better than she expected. It was dark since no sunlight entered, and the iron bars were cold and gloomy, but it wasn’t filthy, nor were there bugs or rats everywhere. Through an open cell door, she saw that even the empty rooms had basic furniture.

“That room.”

The guard stopped at the innermost cell. It was isolated from the others—it was rarely used.

“I heard you requested a private meeting. The prisoner is in poor condition, but he was restrained beforehand, so he shouldn’t be dangerous. Even so, be careful.”

“Yes, I will.”

“His Majesty allows ten minutes. Do not exceed even one minute.”

“Of course. Please thank His Majesty on my behalf.”

She bowed politely.

The guard quickly looked away when her pale neck caught the light.

With a clank, the door opened.

Eleanor stepped inside without hesitation.

The cell was extremely dark. No windows, almost no light. She had to stare carefully to make out shapes.

But aside from the darkness, the room wasn’t bad. A small bed, a table, a chair, even a tiny bathroom. The room was actually larger than a maid’s quarters at the duke’s mansion.

Someone could live here for a while. Somehow, the clothes hung on the chair and the blanket on the bed were even expensive.

But even fine clothes couldn’t erase the loneliness that seeped into a person’s bones.

“It’s been a while, Father.”

Duke Astria stared up at her with a hollow, wasted face. His unfocused eyes made him look insane.

“E… Ellie…?”

“Yes, it’s me. Your daughter, Eleanor Astria.”

When Eleanor smiled gently, the duke’s gaze finally sharpened. He had regained his senses.

“You—how dare you…!”

He wheezed through his damaged voice, and his chains clattered as he tried to move.

Yes, this was the father she knew. Eleanor smiled even more deeply.

“Oh dear, Father. It’s only been three days since I last saw you. How did you grow so weak so quickly?”

She spoke in a concerned tone, and his purple eyes trembled violently in the darkness.

She knew exactly why.

There were no clocks in the prison. Especially not in a windowless cell like this. Unless meals were served on schedule, the prisoner had to guess the time only from changes in temperature.

Just like Eleanor had when she was thirteen.

‘If he finds out only three days have passed, how horrifying must it be?’

In truth, a full week had passed outside.

But there was no reason to tell him that.

As she told Karsian, she wished for the duke’s suffering to feel as much like hell as possible.