Chapter 144

The First Breach

Karsian ignored the reactions around him and smiled softly at Eleanor before striding through the stunned crowd.

The chief butler, whose hair had turned completely white, and the sharp-eyed head maid were equally shocked; even after he left, a heavy silence lingered.

At last, the chief butler, Harvey, recovered from the shock and let out a hearty laugh.

“Miss, you must be exhausted after such a long journey. Please go upstairs and rest. The head maid will show you to your room.”

“Yes, please follow me.”

Prompted by Harvey’s gentle urging, the head maid, Amira, finally came to her senses and began to walk.

Eleanor dipped her head politely to the butler and followed Amira. Hilda, Ernst, and Russell trailed behind them.

“On the way, I’ll give you a brief introduction to the palace interior. The building you see closest over there is the Trava Palace chapel. We hold weekly services for the goddess Triton.”

Amira did not take her straight to the room but began showing her around the palace.

Her body ached everywhere from spending so many hours in the carriage over the past two days, but Eleanor hid her discomfort and listened attentively. She knew better than anyone that if she wanted to adapt well here, Amira was the first person she needed to impress.

“This is the dining room His Highness mainly uses. If you’re done here, next I’ll show you the Great Hall.”

But as the tour dragged on, Hilda’s posture gradually began to collapse. Eleanor was holding on by sheer will herself, so she decided it was time to gently speak up.

Before she could, someone unexpected opened their mouth.

“The Great Hall is quite far from here. It would be better to let the young lady rest. His Highness said he would give her a proper tour tomorrow anyway.”

The person who spoke was none other than Russell.

Was he helping her because he felt guilty about yesterday? Eleanor couldn’t know the reason—but she welcomed the intervention all the same.

“…Very well. Then I’ll take her straight to her chambers.”

Amira narrowed her eyes, clearly displeased, but perhaps unable to openly contradict Russell, she turned sharply. Her suddenly quickened steps made her irritation unmistakable.

Eleanor followed her swiftly, taking in the palace as they moved.

The Trava Palace was far more splendid and beautiful than she had imagined. Elegant, expensive decorations filled every corner.

It was lovely to look at, but somehow, it didn’t suit Karsian at all. The man she knew, despite having a dazzling face, disliked flashy things. He preferred clean, simple, and understated surroundings.

“What you’re looking at is a two-hundred-year-old porcelain piece imported from the East. It was greatly loved by the former Grand Duchess.”

Noticing Eleanor’s gaze, Amira seized the chance to explain further.

“The former Grand Duchess had an exceptional appreciation for the arts. Her presence is everywhere in Trava Palace. Ah—this painting beside it was brought from the East by our master a decade ago.”

For the first time, the head maid’s previously cold expression softened into a proud smile. She seemed to want Eleanor to know how long she had served here, and how devoted she had been to the previous mistress.

Eleanor observed her calmly and offered an appropriate response.

“I see. It’s very beautiful.”

It became clear why the atmosphere felt so unlike Karsian: they had simply kept everything as it was from the previous Grand Duchess.

This was not normal. Usually, when the owner of a household changed, the interior changed to match their preferences.

“As you stay here, you’ll grow accustomed to such art pieces as well. Now, shall we continue?”

Amira smiled. For a brief second, her eyes flickered over Eleanor from head to toe, as if assessing her.

‘Did you see that? She totally glared at you just now! With such disrespect too!’

Hilda hurried to Eleanor’s side, fuming silently. The murderous glare she shot at Amira’s back was sharp enough to pierce.

Eleanor subtly shook her head, signaling her to stop.

She had known from the moment they met that the head maid did not look kindly on her.

It was natural. Amira had served Royster for many years; she had every reason to be wary of Eleanor.

Still, she treated Eleanor with impeccable formality—never giving her a fault to point out. There was nothing Eleanor could do about it.

‘Honestly, being treated as a mistress like this isn’t so bad.’

She truly believed that. As long as no one harmed her or openly insulted her, she could endure it. She had chosen to follow Karsian to Royster, determined to live quietly as a polite, unobtrusive mistress.

But Karsian seemed to have a very different idea.

“Here we are.”

The moment Eleanor saw the room assigned to her, she suddenly sympathized with every ounce of Amira’s discontent. She understood exactly why that cold glare had been aimed at her.

It was several times larger than the room she used at the Astria estate. It had three adjoining chambers, a separate room for a dedicated maid, and a powder room that directly connected to Karsian’s bedroom.

Even in a palace, a room like this was anything but common.

“Surely… this is…”

“Yes. This is the chamber the former Grand Duchess used. His Highness personally ordered it prepared for you.”

Eleanor stared at her in shock. Amira, unable to restrain herself any longer, added quietly:

“…Please be careful while you stay here.”

Russell flinched. This was not something one said to an honored guest—and worse, it implied Amira believed Eleanor would not be staying long.

He looked anxiously at Eleanor, but she remained calm and nodded.

“I will. Thank you.”

Amira seemed surprised by her unbothered reply. She raised a brow, then bowed stiffly.

“I’ll take my leave. If you need anything, pull that cord.”

She withdrew, her expression unreadable.

But Russell did not leave with her. He remained standing awkwardly, drawing the attention of everyone else.

“Um… Sir Russell? Aren’t you going?”

Unable to hold it in, Hilda finally asked.

Surprisingly, Ernst flashed her a hidden thumbs-up.

Good, Hilda. Show him the same fire you show me, he mouthed silently.

“…I actually have something to say to the young lady.”

“Go ahead.”

Russell clenched his fists, took a breath—and suddenly dropped to his knees in front of her.

“I’m sorry!”

Eleanor blinked in shock as his loud apology filled the room.

“I apologize for what the knights said to you… no—for everyone’s disrespectful behavior. There is no excuse. It was rude and unacceptable. I know you must have been angered—please forgive us. I will gather those knights and make sure they apologize properly as soon as possible.”

Hilda and Ernst exchanged a startled glance.

Eleanor looked down at the knight bowing deeply before her and let out a quiet laugh.

‘As expected of a Royster knight. Even his apology feels like Karsian’s.’

Before meeting Karsian, she had never once received a proper apology. Even those who had caused her far greater harm—those who had ruined her life—had never apologized.

This knight was clearly different.

“Please rise, Sir Russell. I’m not angry. And there’s no need to order the other knights to apologize.”

Having compared him to Karsian in her mind, her voice softened naturally.

“P-pardon? But my juniors were so rude—”

“It wasn’t that serious, and… I’m used to hearing things like that. I won’t be telling Karsian either, so please don’t worry. Go on and get up.”

“Still…”

“I know you said it because you care about Karsian. I probably would’ve reacted the same in your place. In a way, I’m relieved. It means he has many people who care about him.”

Eleanor smiled. The sight was so graceful, so beautiful, that it stunned Russell into silence.

For a moment, he forgot she was his superior’s woman. Her beauty felt like something pulled out of a painting, stealing his breath.

He snapped out of it eventually, eyes trembling with emotion. Never in his life did he imagine the Astria young lady—the one from all those rumors—would speak like this.

“But if a similar situation happens with someone else, especially a noble of Juvenile, it could become a serious problem. Something meant to protect Karsian might end up harming him instead. So… some moderation would be wise.”

It was a gentle, thoughtful, and perfectly reasonable warning.

Russell nodded firmly, voice full of conviction.

“Of course! I’ll make sure to keep tighter control from now on. Thank you for your generosity, my lady.”

A bold smile blossomed on his face.

‘I can’t believe he’s smiling at me now.’

His unexpected warmth lifted her spirits. She suddenly felt she might truly manage well here in Royster.

“And thank you, for apologizing properly.”

Her bright smile made Russell’s pale blue eyes tremble.

‘What in the world did the Astria family do to this girl…?’

She was so used to being insulted that she felt nothing—and so moved by a simple apology.

The rumors about her had to be wrong. Russell was now certain.

The story he’d heard claimed she used the Grand Duke’s influence to destroy her own family, that she accused her father of abuse out of resentment at being a “fake” daughter.

The public had only heard a simplified version of the trial. They knew the duke tried to kill Eleanor during the hunt, but not the abuse she had endured all her life.

Russell didn’t know the full details either, but he knew one thing for certain: Eleanor Astria was not the villain the rumors painted her to be.

And so he made a vow. Since he had misjudged her once, from now on—no matter what happened—he would stand by her side and speak for her.