Chapter 3 – Part 5

“You seem very curious, Your Highness.”

“It’s about my family, after all. You will become part of it, too.”

Elesio mentioned family with a gentle smile, which was quite incongruous considering his harsh treatment in the palace.

“Since you’ll be coming to the palace anyway, it’s not bad to be honest with each other, right? I can also share as much palace gossip as you wish with you.“

Elesio leaned back in his seat as he spoke.

“Prince Cedric says he doesn’t like my attitude. To the point where he wants to end all relations.“

“Attitude?”

“Yes.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“In my eyes, no woman in this empire takes care of my brother more than you do. You’re kind, self-sacrificing, and give your all. And yet, he’s still not satisfied?”

Elesio knew things Cedric did not, even after speaking with Eliana only a few times.

“He doesn’t know how fortunate he is,“ he said, shaking his head.

“I thought it was always Cedric pushing you away, but today you say you had a fight?“

“Yes, he severely criticized me, and I retaliated. He was distraught because he felt I had insulted him.”

Elesio was surprised. Though he had asked, he hadn’t expected Eliana to be so candid.

‘A timid woman who hides everything for fear of being hated by Cedric.’

That was her reputation in social circles. Although everyone knew the Crown Prince and his fiancée were not on good terms, Eliana Leiberte desperately tried to hide that fact.

‘It’s not like it could be hidden anyway. But today is different.’

The usual reputation was shattered in just a few conversations.

‘She doesn’t seem to want to hide the discord at all. In fact, it seems like she’s willing to talk about it more.’

Elesio was pleased to hear criticism of Cedric.

‘I had expected her to refuse and just watch her struggle for amusement…’

His initial plan had gone astray. For the first time, Elesio found himself genuinely interested in the seemingly passive and foolish Eliana.

“Now I understand why Lady Leiberte was wandering around without a carriage. Perhaps you couldn’t endure it anymore. You expressed your feelings, which made my brother explode. He would have been even more irritable if he was unwell today.“

His words contained both correct and incorrect points. In her previous life, Eliana would have taken his words sensitively and responded seriously, thinking that Elesio was pointing out Cedric’s weaknesses.

But now it was different. To her, he was an appropriate conversation partner to share her dislike for Cedric.

“You got many points right. You’re quite perceptive, Your Highness.“

“I often hear that. I take it as a compliment.”

Elesio smiled at Eliana’s response.

“Living in the palace does that to you. No one includes you in conversations, so you have to be desperate. If you don’t think one step, no, two steps ahead, no one will open their mouths.”

He spoke with a slight frown but didn’t seem particularly sad about it. Cedric always gathered information about him, fearing his existence might hinder his own path.

‘Wouldn’t Elesio be the same…?’

He had to be desperate beneath the surface like an animal paddling underwater. Elesio had to defend himself from Cedric’s attacks.

“Anyway, I think having disagreements with my brother is good for you, Lady Leiberte.“

“In what way?“ Eliana asked.

“Any relationship where only one side is dominant is not desirable. Even if it’s a publicly acknowledged one.”

Eliana listened quietly to his words.

‘A relationship where one side desperately seeks love, and the other coldly returns death.’

That was the relationship between Eliana and Cedric. They were parallel lines that could never meet.

Eliana might have been the only one in the Moira Empire who believed such a relationship could improve. Even Elesio pointed this out so accurately.

“I didn’t expect you to give such advice. I thought you wouldn’t care.“

“Why wouldn’t I care? This concerns the future of the royal family. I take great interest in everything that happens in the palace.“

Elesio’s piercing gaze indicated he was paying more attention to Cedric and Eliana than she had realized.

‘To live longer as a royal…? Or perhaps for something more?’

Eliana could only speculate. As they reached her estate, she smiled at Elesio.

“There, I can see our estate. We’re almost there.“

“Should I tell my brother that I gave you a ride?”

Elesio asked, curious about her reaction.

“Do as you wish, Your Highness. Even if you mention it, Prince Cedric won’t care much.“

“Oh.”

“If he cared, he wouldn’t have left me alone like this. But thank you for the ride. I will repay this favor in the future.“

Eliana’s words made Elesio nod.

“I look forward to seeing how you repay it.”

Elesio personally escorted Eliana to the door of her estate. The sight of him surprised the butler, Oliver, who hurriedly greeted him.

“Prince Elesio, what brings you here? It’s an honor to meet you. Please, come inside.”

The second prince’s appearance in a mansion that even Cedric had visited only once was surprising. According to protocol, Oliver wanted to formally invite the prince inside.

“No, it’s fine. I’m busy today, so I’ll be on my way.”

But Elesio left the place without further ado.

In the carriage back to the palace, Elesio propped his chin and thought about his conversation with Eliana. When he suggested he might tell Cedric that he had given her a ride, he expected her to ask him to convey a message of reconciliation.

‘But she shook her head as if she had no lingering feelings. It didn’t seem like she was just putting on a show.’

Elesio already knew about Cedric and Rachel’s sordid relationship. The reason for Eliana Leiberte’s fight with Cedric was likely related to that affair. But her reaction was far beyond what he had expected.

‘Can Cedric’s misdeeds really change a good person’s heart?’

Elesio’s lips curled into a smirk as if mocking the situation.

* * *

“My Lady, a letter has arrived.”

The next day, Oliver brought a letter addressed to Eliana.

“Oh, thank you.”

Eliana opened the letter from the jeweler, Sadie, first. Sadie informed her that the money had been successfully transferred to Legrin, and he had departed for the Kingdom of Tempton.

– Legrin sent a letter saying that everything is going well. Please wait a few more days, and I will contact you as soon as we receive confirmation and the goods arrive.

‘Everything is going according to plan.’

Eliana had a specific reason for asking to purchase raw gems from a particular region in the Kingdom of Tempton.

‘Ruby from Azilend will soon become a popular topic among the nobility.’

Rubies from Azilend were already popular in Tempton and neighboring countries. But their popularity skyrocketed after the Queen of Tempton wore a necklace made of these rubies.

‘Everyone tends to notice what kind of jewelry a Queen wears.’

Everyone wanted to wear the same jewelry, causing the price of rubies to soar. While there were other rubies besides those from Azilend, none could match the luxurious, unique red hue that was said to resemble the eyes of a white dragon. If it had been that, the value of the rubies might have only increased temporarily.

However, the Empress Heather of Moira also expressed her interest in the popular jewelry from Tempton, subtly hinting that she wanted it too.

‘She is very greedy, especially for jewelry. She’d probably wear them on all ten fingers if she could. She is indeed that kind of person.’

Eliana thought of Empress Heather, who had always been cold to her. Tempton wanted to maintain good relations with Moira, so they sent rubies to the empress.

‘This will make the value of Azilend rubies soar in Moira.’

If the transaction went well, the raw stones could be sold for more than ten times their original value in Moira. Money that would have just sat in the bank could grow significantly. Eliana planned to use this money as a seed fund to prepare for leaving the empire in the future.

‘If only I had more money to buy more raw gems.’

It was unfortunate, but there was nothing she could do.

‘The only money I could use was what my aunt had left me.’

– It’s a relief that the transaction is going well. Please continue to proceed smoothly. I will be waiting for your contact.

Eliana wrote a reply to Sadie. She then read the other letters that had arrived. None of them were significant. As she was organizing the letters she had read, there was a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

Oliver was standing at the door again.

“What is it?”

Usually, he wouldn’t interrupt her while she was reading letters, so this was unexpected.

“My Lady, you need to come out. The Count is calling for you.”

Eliana went to her father, Count Austin’s, office. The Count was also reading the letters that had arrived.

‘A letter from the palace…’

In his hand was an invitation to a hunting tournament. The purple envelope, used for essential invitations, made it immediately recognizable.

“Eliana, an invitation to the hunting tournament has arrived, but something seems strange.”

Count Austin’s expression was quite serious. The hunting tournament was held three times a year on a fixed schedule. The invitation was usually a formality, and there was no reason for the Count to look so grave.

“There is also a letter from Crown Prince Cedric enclosed with the invitation.“

“Eliana Leiberte. I expect you to attend the hunting tournament with your father, the Count. If you fail to attend, there will be severe consequences for you.”

TL NOTE: A more advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories.