Chapter 3 – Unrequited Love, That Difficult Path (Part 5)

Empress Dowager Eleanor rose quickly to greet Monica and Lorraine as they entered.

“Welcome.”

“Thank you for inviting us.”

Although her hair was streaked with white, Eleanor’s dark hair, tinged with blue, was elegantly tied up. She smiled warmly.

“Beautiful and smart people are always welcome.”

Her deep blue eyes sparkled, even deeper than Lorraine’s light blue ones. Monica responded playfully.

“Is it because a new person has come that I am already out of sight, Your Majesty?”

“Monica, I never knew you were so jealous.”

Eleanor muttered in an exaggerated tone. After standing face-to-face for a while, they both chuckled and linked arms.

“Don’t worry. You’re always my number one.”

“Well, that’s a relief.”

Monica and Eleanor burst into cheerful laughter simultaneously.

“Oh dear, Yvette must be waiting. The seat is prepared further inside.”

“Is she never busy? She seems to be getting more diligent.”

Despite arriving ten minutes before the appointed time, Monica clicked her tongue at the news that Yvette was already seated. Eleanor whispered softly.

“Indeed.”

After laughing together for a while, Eleanor and Monica slowly began to walk towards the prepared seats inside the garden.

“Anyway, the jasmine is very pretty these days. You’ll like it.”

“Yes.”

Lorraine followed quietly behind them, only answering occasionally.

As they reached the inner part of the garden, they saw a woman sitting alone at a large table, enjoying herself. It was Yvette Rochester, with her light platinum blonde hair cut in an Eton crop and thin silver-rimmed glasses.

“Yvette.”

At Eleanor’s call, Yvette’s bored eyes turned towards them.

“You’re late.”

Yvette lightly gestured for the maid who was about to pour more tea to stop.

“Don’t you think you arrived too early?”

Monica replied sullenly, and Yvette pushed up her glasses with an indifferent face.

“I barely made time.”

“Yes, yes. We’re really sorry for being late.”

“…”

“And this is.”

At Yvette Rochester’s nod, Monica Duncan turned around and clapped her hands as if she had momentarily forgotten.

“Oh, this is….”

“Lorraine Wiig, the second daughter of Count Wiig.”

Yvette intercepted Monica’s introduction lightly.

“Oh…?”

Before Monica could express her surprise, Lorraine stepped forward and extended her hand to Yvette.

“It’s been a while, Your Grace.”

Yvette also naturally extended her hand to Lorraine and inquired about her well-being.

“How is your father?”

“Yes, he’s always in good health.”

Lorraine nodded with a bright smile.

“…So, you two know each other?”

Empress Dowager Eleanor, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, asked.

“Count Wiig’s estate is within Rochester’s territory.”

Yvette shrugged with her usual indifferent expression and then asked Lorraine,

“Is the Duchess of Duncan treating you well?”

“Oh, yes. Of course.”

Lorraine nodded vigorously. Yvette then sighed dramatically, resting her chin on her hand and muttering as if Monica could hear.

“Neither you nor your sister ever came out into society secretly to ask for my help.”

Monica’s eyes sharpened like a cat protecting its kitten.

“Don’t covet her. Lorraine belongs to the Duncan family.”

It was a phrase that could easily be misunderstood by others.

Lorraine looked at Monica with wide eyes, but Monica was focused solely on keeping Yvette in check. Despite this, Yvette smiled leisurely and said to Lorraine,

“Come to me if you ever need anything.”

“Ah….”

“Anything she needs, our family can provide, so Rochester can stay out of it.”

‘How did it come to this?’

Lorraine looked at the two women with a troubled expression. Empress Dowager Eleanor, who had been quietly watching them, clapped her hands twice and said,

“Now, now. Let’s stop making things awkward for our guest.”

At Eleanor’s admonition, Monica and Yvette fell silent.

Satisfied, Eleanor gestured, and the maids began to bring in tea foods one by one.

“I heard you like desserts?”

‘Where did she hear that?’ 

Lorraine hid her surprise and nodded.

“Yes, I do.”

“The Imperial Palace patissier is quite good at their job. I think you’ll like it.”

Eleanor, who referred to the skills of the Imperial Palace patissier as “quite,” pushed a plate towards Lorraine as if to invite her to take some first.

“Help yourself.”

Lorraine carefully picked up a chocolate-coated éclair from the shiny, glossy tea foods.

“I heard you graduated at the top of your class from the academy?”

As the four of them each tasted a dessert, Eleanor began to ask more pointed questions.

“Yes, but it’s not something to boast about. I was just lucky….”

Her answer would have astonished her peers, but Lorraine remained calm.

Yvette responded to her modesty.

“According to Arnaud Latour, you’re a genius who will go down in the academy’s history.”

“Ho….”

“It’s not to that extent. It’s all thanks to Her Majesty’s grace. Everything is due to being admitted to the academy.”

Lorraine smiled warmly at Eleanor. If Edwin had seen it, he would have grabbed the back of his neck, wishing she would speak to him that way too.

Eleanor smiled bitterly and muttered,

“Everything is due to your hard work. What I did was very small.”

Having spent most of her life devoted to that “small” thing, she was now weary.

Lately, Eleanor had been feeling skeptical about her accomplishments.

「There’s an exceptional graduate from the academy. Would you like to meet her, Your Majesty」

Monica had introduced Lorraine for that very reason.

Eleanor put down her teacup and replied,

“Still, I feel somewhat at ease knowing you’ve established yourself in society.”

“Soon, someone will take over the head of the family.”

“Indeed.”

Eleanor’s deep blue eyes grew somber.

「Do you think those who only care about their own interests will allow this? Ellie, you should reconsider. You’ll only hurt yourself.」

「No, they will allow it.」

Her husband, the emperor, had initially shown reluctance when she proposed the idea. After days of contemplation, he finally—

「What do you think about allowing women to enroll in the academy?」

—reluctantly submitted it to the House of Nobles.

Clatter—

At that moment, a gold eagle-shaped ornament rolled to the center of the table.

「Duke Duncan!」

Despite being called in a shrill voice by Marquis Roben, who sat next to him, Owen Duncan remained calm.

「I’m in favor.」

His low, resonant voice echoed through the chamber.

「What are you so afraid of? If you are truly superior, you should compete based on merit….」

Owen clicked his tongue in disdain and shook his head.

Then, as if on cue, a gold ornament shaped like a balance scale rolled to the center of the table.

「I also support it.」

She looked at each face sitting at the table as if daring anyone to object.

The result was as everyone had expected; it was passed. But it took a long time for that provision to be fully realized.

During that time, Eleanor had to face articles like [Is Allowing Women to Enter the Academy a Benefit or a Detriment?], [Women Entering Society], and [Shaking the Gateway to Success].

“Indeed, it’s a relief….”

Lorraine thought Eleanor looked somewhat weary as she muttered that it was a relief.

But only for a moment; Eleanor soon smiled brightly and said,

“Anyway, I plan to step down after this season.”

“Are you going down alone?”

“…Yes, I want to live quietly….”

Although she said that, Eleanor seemed somewhat uneasy. Only Monica and Yvette noticed that her gaze had shifted towards the palace where Princess Philippa resided.

“His Majesty the Emperor will be disappointed.”

Monica said lightly. Eleanor replied with a sarcastic tone.

“That boy will be thrilled. The nagging mother telling him to get married is leaving.”

Monica and Eleanor sighed simultaneously.

“Was that ever something that could be achieved by human effort?”

Yvette, who had set down her teacup with a nonchalant face, said.

“It’s amusing how those who had love marriages themselves force arranged marriages on their children.”

“…….”

“Just as shoes come in pairs, they too will find their match.”

‘Ah, this is good.’ 

Yvette ordered the maid to bring more madeleines.

“I’m worried it might take a very long time.”

At Eleanor’s murmur, Yvette glanced at Lorraine and replied.

“Everyone will find their match. If not, you can pin your hopes on Princess Philippa.”

Eleanor’s face momentarily hardened but soon relaxed again.

“…Indeed.”

***

It was the day the Count Wiig couple returned from their month-long trip. That evening’s dinner table was a bit more lively and abundant.

Clatter—

But the atmosphere broke in an instant.

“I can’t accept this.”

Diana’s voice was sharp. She glanced at Olivia, who was sitting next to their mother, and continued.

“Father, do you even know how old Livvy is….”

“Diana.”

Count David Wiig sighed as he called his daughter’s name. He was relieved he had sent the servants away early and continued.

“Olivia is not a child.”

David wiped his mouth with the napkin on his lap and sipped his wine.

“She is of marriageable age, and there’s no reason to stop her. Anyone can get married.”

“But….”

He raised his hand to stop Diana’s words. David, who usually listened well to his daughters, was unusually firm today.

“Do you think women’s rights will remain stagnant forever?”

“….”

“It’s not like she’s getting married right away. She’s just going on a concert tour as an engaged person, and you’re overreacting.”

David looked at Diana with a meaningful gaze. Diana, at a loss for words, looked dumbfounded.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen that face.’

Lorraine thought to herself just as Victoria leaned in and whispered in her ear.

“She’s been hit hard.”

Lorraine responded while looking at Diana, who looked more defeated than a fallen soldier.

“Indeed.”