014

Knock, knock.

"Enter."

I took a deep breath to calm myself before slowly pulling the handle of the black mahogany door, and responding to the firm voice of the Marquis.

As I stepped inside, my feet moved awkwardly, entering the study belonging to the head of this residence. To my surprise, the furniture was simpler than I had expected. There were no excessive or flashy decorations in this spacious room, and the walls were painted a dark brown instead of the typical red associated with this family. My nervousness began to ease as I surveyed my surroundings.

In front of a large window stood an imposing office desk, facing away from me. A cozy black couch occupied the center of the room, paired with a coffee table made of dark orange glass. On the couch sat Alger, relaxed yet elegant, focused on reading the documents stacked on the table as he occasionally sipped his coffee.

Meanwhile, the room's owner, my father the Marquis, was seated in his office chair, exuding a dominant aura as he signed a mountain of documents that surpassed Alger's stack.

"What's the report?" Marquis Elandro asked without looking up.

Both men seemed indifferent to my presence as if I were an inconsequential interruption in their busy schedules.

'... They didn't even bother to glance at me, is this their true nature?' I thought, feeling nervous again as my courage waned beneath the tense atmosphere in the study.

"Uh, you both look very busy," I said, still gripping the door handle, my feet planted firmly at the threshold, hesitating to step further into the room.

'Retreat! I'll speak with them when the Marchioness is by my side later!' I decided, changing my earlier impulsive plan as anxiety washed over me.

Finally, they shifted their gazes toward me, looking momentarily stunned, as if frozen in place.

Their reaction only intensified my anxiety, and I swallowed hard. "I'll come back later—"

"Elen!" Marquis Elandro and Alger suddenly set their papers aside, springing up to rush towards me just as I prepared to turn away.

Alger gently took my thin arm, guiding me to sit on the inviting couch, mimicking his gesture from this morning in the family room.

Meanwhile, Marquis Elandro beamed with satisfaction as he saw me comfortably settled on the couch. He quietly signaled the knight guarding the door to inform the chef to prepare Eleanor's favorite cookies for a leisurely snack while I was in his study.

"What are you doing wandering around alone without your maid?" Alger asked, his blue eyes assessing my movements attentively.

"I just finished relaxing on the balcony with them. I told them they could take a break for a while because I wanted to see Father," I explained calmly as both men took their seats beside me, looking at me as if I were something to be scrutinized—remarkably different from their earlier indifference.

Marquis Elandro smiled happily; this was the first time Eleanor had taken the initiative to seek out her father. His stern face could not conceal the wide grin that spread across it.

"So, what did Elen want to discuss with me?" he asked in a soft, caring tone.

"Um... You mentioned that I have a fiancé, John Burbom, right?" I asked bluntly.

I had thought carefully about how to address the Marquis without arousing suspicion regarding John Burbom. However, after much deliberation, I concluded that a straightforward approach was best.

"But I've been home for two days, and my fiancé hasn't come to visit me yet," I continued innocently.

It was essential to infuse my words with an air of genuine concern so that no one would suspect my motives!

"I'm curious and worried at the same time. Is he alright?"

Alger briefly rolled his blue eyes, a reaction I didn't miss as I observed their responses closely.

'Did something happen to him?' I wondered, my heartbeat quickening with anxiety.

Marquis Elandro maintained a calm demeanor, smiling slightly in response to my question.

"Yes, he's involved in a rumor. Are you asking because you've heard what they're saying? From your maids?"

I was slightly slow to respond, taken aback by my father's nonchalant attitude towards the rumor.

"... Yes, I heard it, and I couldn't help but feel worried," I admitted, swallowing hard.

'I'm worried about my future!'

"Father, this is strange. Even after we confirmed the truth and instructed people to ignore the rumor, it seems there are still those who believe it or intentionally spread it," Alger chimed in, diverting attention from my question and making my curiosity grow.

"... Perhaps it's from another party who disapproves of Eleanor being engaged to a baron's son, our noble vassal," Marquis Elandro mused, offering his thoughts before turning to smile at me, still holding onto my silence as I observed the two of them curiously, careful not to raise any suspicions.

"I'm sorry, dear. It was I who forbade John from coming two days ago out of concern that your condition might worsen." Marquis Elandro gently stroked my blushing cheeks, causing my eyes to widen in surprise at his confession and clearing my mind of its fog.

"Your mother and I agreed that you should only meet family for this month for your health. Are you upset with your father?" he continued, his voice soft and pleading.

"Of course not, Father! I'm actually grateful that you and Mother care so much about me," I replied, closing my eyes to savor the gentle caresses on my cheeks, which melted away the fatigue and anxiety that had previously haunted me.

'... But if that was your plan, why did you almost let me meet the heroine yesterday?!' I screamed inwardly, remembering the heroine's sudden visit that had nearly made my heart leap out of my chest in shock.

"Regarding Cecillia, she is your childhood friend, so of course, she's an exception. However, your reaction to her visit made your mother even more convinced to reject all visits from non-family members for this month," Marquis Elandro explained as if he could sense the turmoil in my heart.

I nodded silently, preparing to voice my thoughts. However, Alger, having listened to our conversation, suddenly offered me a butter cookie that the maid had brought earlier, attentively feeding it to me. I could only chew and relish the sweet flavor that began to calm my agitated emotions.

"Don't worry. The rumor isn't true. As your father, I won't allow you to be engaged to a man like that."

I want to correct him, as the Marquis is unaware of what John Burbom was truly plotting against Eleanor and Cecillia. He dared to deceive and manipulate two esteemed ladies from high-ranking noble families, an act that nearly caused an uproar in high society.

This disruption even led to the temporary postponement of the Crown Princess Selection Tournament to address the punishment John would inevitably face!

Yet I found myself speechless, unable to provide a valid reason when the Marquis inquired how I could possibly know John Burbom's cunning intentions after being away at the academy and only recently returning due to an accident.

In the end, I merely nodded reluctantly while continuing to chew the butter cookies that Alger was diligently feeding me.

While chewing the cookies Alger was feeding me, I couldn't help but secretly reflect on how accustomed I had become to their habit of taking turns feeding me every time I was with them, as though I were still a child. It felt embarrassing, especially when I remembered my real age, yet strangely, I couldn't bring myself to refuse this treatment.

'At least I have confirmed that John Burbom is not visiting the slums to meet prostitutes.'

'I just need to investigate more thoroughly what he's up to there and stop him early, so he doesn't do something that would turn Eleanor into an unfortunate character like in the original plot!'

I raised my head to observe my father, who seemed to enjoy his coffee with a tranquil expression as if relishing the moment spent chatting with his daughter, who was now more engaged in conversation than ever before.

Feeling hesitant to disrupt my father's good mood, I opted to stay silent and savor the butter cookies that Alger continued to offer until I finally tugged gently on his sleeve to signal my departure.

"I'll take Eleanor to her room first, Father," Alger announced as he stood and I followed closely behind.

"Okay," Marquis Elandro replied, nodding in satisfaction as he watched us disappear through the doorway of his study, before returning his focus to the stack of papers he had earlier neglected.

***

"Are you still worried about your fiancé?"

I was taken aback, not expecting Alger to be the one to break the silence. All the topics I had considered to alleviate the awkward atmosphere vanished in an instant!

"Yes... I feel close to him, yet also distant," I answered hesitantly.

"Hmm. It's natural to feel that way, especially since you've only seen him during the engagement ceremony," Alger mused before pausing. "Oh, didn't you mention in your letter that he visited you once while you were at the academy?"

At his words, it felt as if ice water had been poured over me, silencing the chaotic thoughts racing through my mind.

'John Burbom visited Eleanor at the academy? What is he up to? And why are there no traces of this visit in Eleanor's memories?!'

I swallowed hard, struggling to maintain my composure, but it was already too late. The weight of the shocking revelation shattered my calm facade, and the disbelief was now written all over my face, even to Alger, my second eldest brother in this place.

All I could say was, "Really...?" in a tone as if I were suffocating.

Alger frowned at my reaction as if he had purposely spoken to gauge my current state of memory.

"You forgot, didn't you, Eleanor?"