Chapter 91. The Calm Before the Storm

“Are you feeling better now?”

Ellen quietly nodded in response.

Enoch draped a cashmere shawl over Ellen’s shoulders and called the maid on night duty to bring a cup of warm milk with honey.

He actually wanted to go to the kitchen himself to heat the milk, but Ellen was holding onto him tightly and wouldn’t let go, so he had no choice but to rely on the maid.

Enoch, who felt the need to personally do everything for Ellen, was a bit disappointed.

“What kind of nightmare did you have?”

Enoch gently stroked Ellen’s back and carefully asked. Ellen, who was sipping the warm milk that was steaming, lifted her head absentmindedly. Her face still bore the remnants of the nightmare.

“…It wasn’t a big deal.”

“Tell me.”

Enoch insisted, staring intently into her eyes as she tried to avoid answering. Every time she acted as if she was hiding something from him, he grew anxious. He wanted to peel away all the layers surrounding her to uncover every secret.

You’re already mine, but it’s not enough.

He didn’t feel like he had completely possessed her. He often felt anxious and impatient, as those who are more desperate usually do.

“……”

Ellen hesitated with a pitiful expression, then lowered her head deeply. She placed the cup of milk on the side table and stretched out her arms to hug his waist tightly.

Enoch flinched and stiffened momentarily. Ellen’s trembling was transmitted directly to him, causing his throat to bob.

“…Your Highness, I know it’s late to say this, but…”

Ellen began in a faint voice.

“Thank you for loving me.”

Even if the emotion was created by magic, she whispered, she was grateful. She never did tell him what the nightmare was about.

Enoch sighed heavily and tightened his arms around her.

The secrets deep in her heart, which he hadn’t yet reached, bothered him immensely. It even gave him a strange sense of foreboding.

But Ellen was in his arms. She was his person, who would never leave his side for the rest of her life.

So, it would be fine.

Enoch dared to believe there were no variables he was overlooking.

* * *

A splendid dress.

New shoes.

A pearl and emerald necklace and earrings.

A mother-of-pearl hairpin.

All were gifts from Angela Besnard’s tea party. Melissa looked at them with satisfaction.

The conversation she had with Angela naturally came to mind.

‘I have a favor to ask of you, Melissa.’
‘Of me…?’
‘It’s not a difficult task. I just want you to be on my side.’

Then Angela confessed.

She felt sorry for the misfortune of the Lopez family and Melissa.

Even though they were family, she thought the Grand Duchess had gone too far.

And she cautiously added,

‘Actually, this is just my guess, but… I think the Grand Duchess deceived the Grand Duke into marrying her. I think the closure of the Lopez family was also instigated by the Grand Duchess. The Grand Duke I know… wouldn’t have done such a thing.’

Though she said it was a guess, Melissa believed Angela was telling the truth. She was sure Angela was secretly conveying the truth she knew, wrapped in the guise of speculation.

Melissa had no particular affection for the Lopez family. But she didn’t dislike her life as a noble lady. Although there were many annoying and complicated issues, she enjoyed the benefits of noble status.

But suddenly, she could no longer enjoy those pleasures.

She thought it was all Ellenore’s doing. Ellenore held a grudge and took revenge on her and her family by seducing the Grand Duke of Bayern…

After hearing Angela’s story, she became even more certain. Ellenore was a villainess. Melissa envisioned herself as the heroine and Ellenore as the villainess from a novel she read recently.

Her situation seemed so pitiful and endearing. If this were a novel, she would be the unfortunate heroine.

So, what should the heroine do? Naturally, save the male protagonist from the clutches of the villainess.

That role had to be hers. Only then would the Grand Duke of Bayern recognize her.

Melissa recalled the time she met him at the Lopez mansion. He was a very kind person. Even to someone like her, who was always awkward in social interactions, he was kind. Such a wonderful person being deceived by Ellenore… was something she couldn’t just stand by and watch.

How did Ellenore even seduce the Grand Duke in the first place? What method did she use?

The answer was surprisingly close. It was the rumor about the love potion that had recently become popular among the young ladies in the capital.

—’The’ Grand Duchess used this to seduce the Grand Duke and marry him!

The origin of this bizarre rumor was unknown, but it was spreading like wildfire.

Melissa decided to believe it was the truth, not just a rumor. She even felt a sense of duty. To save the male protagonist from the villainess. And to become his true love… She believed that was her destiny.

“…Crazy woman. What kind of delusion are you having now that you’re grinning so disgustingly?”

Helene, who had not gone outside since the large scar on her face, sneered at Melissa.

Melissa ignored Helene, who was no longer worth being jealous of, and walked past her. With such an ugly face, the best she could hope for in a marriage partner would be someone from the working class. Or perhaps an old bachelor or an elderly man looking for a second wife to bear children.

A smirk naturally formed on her lips.

Helene was completely ruined, now only Ellenore remained.

Melissa left the Palmen mansion and headed for the slum area, which she usually avoided.

Dressed as a man with her hood pulled low, she barely avoided the thugs’ harassment and finally arrived at her destination.

In a small, shabby shop made of roughly nailed wooden planks, an illegal merchant of unknown origin was selling the so-called ‘love potion.’

“One bottle. How much?”

“1500 lupin.”

“……”

This filthy foreign hag must be crazy… It was an outrageously high price. 1500 lupin was equivalent to a factory worker’s annual salary.

Melissa bit her lip hard. She had borrowed 1000 lupin from Angela, stolen 300 lupin from Aunt Beatrice’s purse, and received 250 lupin as an allowance from her uncle.

If she spent 1500 lupin here, she would only have 50 lupin left. She might have to borrow money from Angela again. Or beg Aunt Beatrice… Both options were extremely humiliating.

But… she had to buy it. This was her only method.

Melissa paid for the love potion and left the shop. She couldn’t help but smile as she looked at the small glass bottle in her hand. The pinkish liquid inside sloshed with her steps.

Now, I will be the Grand Duke’s lover.

I am the heroine, not Ellenore.

She felt elated, as if she were flying. Like someone intoxicated by drugs, Melissa left the slum area.

That evening, Melissa told her aunt she would attend the Werner family’s perfume launch event.

Beatrice Palmen, who wanted to see at least one of her nieces married into a good family, welcomed the decision with open arms.

Thus, another storm was about to strike in the ever-changing future, just like the fickle weather.

* * *

It was unexpected.

That is, Enoch’s decision to accept the invitation to the Werner family’s perfume launch.

‘I thought he would avoid meeting Felix…’

It was indeed unexpected, but the mystery was soon solved. Enoch explained it nonchalantly.

“I have money invested in Werner’s perfume business.”

Ah, I see.

He was what you call a diversified investor. He had invested in at least 50 businesses. The amazing part was that most of these investments were highly successful, and if they seemed likely to fail, he would withdraw his funds immediately, so there were no losses.

Given that he already had a natural instinct for investment, did he really need my foresight? Still, I think I was somewhat helpful with the Lotery affair…

“Actually, I wasn’t planning to take you to the Werner party.”

“Oh… I see.”

“What’s with that tone?”

“What do you mean…?”

Feigning innocence with wide eyes, Enoch chuckled in disbelief. He muttered in a low voice that I was increasingly picking up useless tricks.

“I didn’t want you to meet that guy. But later, I changed my mind.”

“…In what way?”

Feeling a vague sense of foreboding, I cautiously asked, and Enoch, who was perfectly adjusting the collar of his tailcoat, turned to me and grinned.

“I’m going to kiss you in front of him. Very deeply.”

“…What?”

For a moment, I thought I had misheard.

But Enoch’s eyes were serious.

“I’m going to show him clearly whose woman you are.”

“…Are you crazy?”

“Are you just realizing now that I’m crazy?”

He whispered mischievously, with a hint of laughter, telling me to prepare myself. Then he suddenly nipped my earlobe. Startled, I covered my ear with my hand and protested in shock.

“What about my opinion? I don’t want that! You’re not really going to do it, are you? You said Felix is just a friend! If you do that in front of a friend, I won’t be able to face him out of shame…”

“That’s perfect. Cut ties with him.”

This madman… I trembled with anger and indignation. Standing still, Enoch strode over and lifted me up.

“Let go, let go of me. I don’t want to go. I’ll just stay home.”

“That’s not possible. You’re so stunning today that I have to show off how beautiful my wife is to feel satisfied.”

“Please… don’t do that in front of Felix. Are you trying to kill me with shame?”

“You should be a little more bold. Why are you so timid?”

“This isn’t about me being timid or not…”

Despite my continued efforts to persuade Enoch, our conversation fundamentally did not align.