Chapter 7 – Part 8

“I can’t give a definite answer, Prince.”

“I see. Well, there will be opportunities if we make them. I’ll be off then.”

Elesio turned away, returning to the VIP section, leaving everyone behind.

“Your Highness,“ some of the young ladies followed after him, eager for any chance to speak with him.

“Let’s head out,“ Calix said to Eliana, still watching Elesio’s retreating figure.

“Alright.”

Eliana said her goodbyes to Maria and the other young ladies, and together with Calix, they made their way toward the exit. The sight of the two of them walking naturally together as if they were a couple shocked everyone. It was the first time Duke Vartica had ever left a party with a noble lady.

“…”

Maria glanced between Calix and Eliana’s retreating figures and the furious Bonita, who stood fuming. Quietly, she went over to Bonita and gently patted her back.

“Don’t. Stop it. I don’t need your pity.”

Bonita snapped at Maria, clearly upset.

***

Eliana stepped outside to catch her carriage. She noticed a couple standing off at a distance—the pair she had seen earlier hiding in the bushes. Now, they were acting distant, pretending they barely knew each other. The woman’s eyes briefly met Eliana’s, and Eliana gave a silent look, promising to keep their secret. The woman nodded in gratitude.

“Eliana.“

“Hmm?”

“Are you close with Prince Elesio?”

Of course not.

“No. Not at all.”

However, unlike before, when she had distanced herself from Elesio due to Cedric’s feelings, there was no longer any reason to avoid him so vehemently. Elesio was Elesio, and Cedric was Cedric.

“Then why was he whispering in your ear?”

“…“

“Why does he talk to you so familiarly?“

“I don’t know.”

Eliana shrugged her shoulders.

“He’s a hard person to read. He once gave me a ride home from the palace.“

“When?”

Calix looked at her, urging her to explain.

“It’s nothing major.”

Eliana said she’d tell him more once they were in the carriage.

On their way home, Eliana told Calix about the times she’d encountered Elesio: how he’d helped her when she was in trouble without her bag and offered comfort after hearing about her engagement being broken off.

“That’s all.”

Even though Eliana had answered, Calix still couldn’t shake the feeling.

‘Something about it bothers me.’

***

Matilda was waiting in the living room for her children to arrive.

“Madam, the young master and young lady have returned,“ Oliver, the butler, announced.

Matilda stood up, closing the magazine she had been reading. As she went to greet them, Sylvia ran up to her and hugged her tightly.

“Sylvia, did you enjoy the party?“

“Yes, Mother.”

Sylvia was bursting with things to tell her mother. She was particularly excited because things were going well with a certain nobleman she had her eye on.

“Tell me everything slowly, Sylvia. This mother of yours is ready to listen.“

“I might have to stay up all night to tell you everything!“

“If it’s about you, my dear Sylvia, what wouldn’t I stay up all night for? I’m ready for it.“

Matilda’s affectionate reply made Sylvia beam with happiness.

“And you? Was everything fine?”

Matilda also asked Paul, who was following her.

“I didn’t have much going on, but something big happened with Eliana.”

Paul smirked as he spoke.

“What happened?”

Paul told Matilda that Eliana had danced in direct competition with Cedric.

“What?“

“Everyone was whispering about it. She shamelessly danced before the Crown Prince and refused to stop until the end. Even with the Duke of Vartica, they looked like they wouldn’t step down unless forced.”

Matilda, who had momentarily been pleased thinking Eliana would have been embarrassed, paused at the mention of the Duke of Vartica.

“The Duke of Vartica? You mean Calix Vartica?”

“Yes, that’s right.“

“I thought he was a man of integrity, befitting his title as a duke, but it seems I was wrong.”

Matilda stiffened as she agreed with Paul’s comment.

“Exactly!”

Paul shook his head as he excitedly recounted everything at the party. The more Matilda listened, the more displeased she became. The Duke of Vartica wasn’t just from any noble family but the only son of a family with royal blood. After his father’s death, he became the head of the household, and he had been getting involved with Eliana several times.

It wasn’t even by coincidence. The Duke himself took the initiative, and Matilda found that unsettling.

“Of all the noble ladies around, why would he dance with Eliana? He should have ignored her completely in front of the Crown Prince.”

Though she knew they had a bond from childhood, she wondered, ‘What’s so important about childhood friendship?‘

“It looked like a fight could break out at any moment. His Highness, Prince Cedric, was visibly angry; later, even the royal guards came over to the stage. If it weren’t for Marchioness Vivian stepping in, who knows what could have happened,“ Sylvia asked, tattling.

“Mother, you must tell Father that Eliana should never attend any important parties again. She needs to be locked in her room until she senses it. Her disgraceful behavior is embarrassing the family.”

Paul added forcefully, and Matilda nodded in agreement.

“I will tell him everything that happened today, not leaving out a single detail. We can’t let this continue.”

She had sent Eliana to the party hoping she’d be humiliated and treated coldly, but instead, she had caused more chaos than Matilda could have imagined.

Matilda needed to convince the Count to take more decisive action against Eliana, but the Count had been too preoccupied with his health to focus on her.

‘He used to be so full of advice and orders, but after the broken engagement, it’s like he’s given up.’

Even if the Count had given up, Matilda had no intention of leaving Eliana alone. It wasn’t a new idea, but something she had wanted to do for a long time: sending Eliana far away, so far that she would never return to the Count’s estate.

From the moment Eliana entered the household, she had been a thorn in Matilda’s side. A new husband, a new family.

‘Everything would’ve been so perfect without that little girl.’

She had contemplated driving her away countless times, but when Eliana connected with the royal family, it had seemed impossible. However, now that her reputation had hit rock bottom and she was embarrassing the family wherever she went, it was the perfect excuse to send her away to a remote convent under the pretense that a tutor couldn’t handle her anymore.

“I actually have a good idea, Paul.“

“What is it?”

As Matilda was about to respond, the door opened as if on cue. Eliana walked into the house. Though her appearance was slightly disheveled from when she had left, the slight messiness only made her more striking. Her pale cheeks were flushed with a delicate pink, and a faint smile lingered in her eyes.

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