Chapter 34
(34) Overwhelming Affection (5)
Before Eleanor could even ask why she had come, Greta spoke first.
“I heard about the commotion with the Second Consort yesterday. Was the maid I sent you of any help?”
Greta mentioned the favor she had done for Eleanor before getting to the point.
“Of course. She was very helpful. Thanks to her, I was able to shake off that unpleasant false accusation.”
“I never imagined the Second Consort would try to frame you like that. You must be going through a lot already, and with her acting that way too, I was worried it might be too much.”
“It is hard… but His Majesty is by my side, so it’s bearable.”
“Oh, right!” Greta clapped her hands together. “How was it?”
“What was?”
“I heard you went on a date with His Majesty. I mean, the Emperor who only knows blood, destruction, and war—does he even understand what a date is? Or… did he confuse a date with a duel or something?”
Eleanor chuckled softly at Greta’s brutally honest evaluation of Heraith. What on earth did this woman really think of Heraith?
“Fortunately, he didn’t draw his sword. He bought me a dress.”
“Not an armor?”
Again, Eleanor laughed a little. Watching her while blinking innocently, Greta giggled.
“You really smile a lot, Lady Snow. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen someone in the palace smile so freely.”
“Is everyone gloomy here?”
“Well, they smile when they have to. But usually, they look like this.”
Greta scrunched up her brows and forced a tense smile, imitating the stony faces at court. It made her resemble Heraith a little, which made Eleanor laugh again.
Once her expression softened, Greta said,
“I heard you met the Empress Dowager this morning. How was it? Was it scary?”
“She’s His Majesty’s mother. Of course I wasn’t scared. She was kind and warm—we had a lovely time.”
“Oh… really…”
Greta didn’t look entirely convinced.
“Are you afraid of Her Majesty?” Eleanor asked.
“Yes, a little… I don’t see her often, but there are occasional gatherings. And every time I see her, well…”
Eleanor waited while Greta searched for the right word.
“She’s like a snake.”
A snake.
In sorcery, creatures with cold blood—snakes, frogs, fish—were easier to manipulate. Eleanor wondered if Greta knew that or was simply speaking from instinct.
Then Greta quickly covered her mouth with both hands.
“Oh! Forget I said that. I tend to say ridiculous things sometimes.”
Is she warning me about the Empress Dowager? Or trying to stir up trouble between us?
Eleanor wanted to understand Greta’s intentions better, but it was nearly time for her luncheon with Heraith.
“I’m not one to gossip. And though I’m enjoying this conversation, I have a prior engagement with His Majesty.”
Greta’s eyes went wide.
“A prior engagement… with His Majesty? Oh…”
Greta probably thought Eleanor and Heraith were going off together to do some… swordplay.
“We’re having lunch together.”
“Ah, lunch. Yes. Lunch is… nice.”
Greta had the look of someone who thought ‘lunch with the Emperor’ meant watching him slaughter a beast in front of you.
“Oh, right! I brought you a congratulatory gift.”
Greta handed over a box. Inside was a beautiful bottle made of pale pink glass, capped with gold, and studded with rubies around its neck.
“This is a tonic made by the House of Leblanc.”
Now that she thought of it, Greta’s family did run a large cosmetics business.
“I did think a perfume might be a bit inappropriate after what happened with the Second Consort… but this is the best thing I had. If you use it regularly, it’ll clear your skin and leave it silky smooth.”
After saying that, Greta studied Eleanor’s expression carefully.
Eleanor realized Greta was testing her—probably deciding how to treat her based on her reaction to the gift.
Feigning ignorance, Eleanor lifted the bottle, opened the cap, and took a whiff.
“It smells like roses. I love rose scents. Thank you very much.”
“Oh, don’t mention it. If I get any other good things, I’ll share them with you. Let’s meet more often, alright?”
After Greta left, Eleanor poured a little of the perfume into her palm. She rubbed it in gently with her fingers and… nothing happened.
The only noticeable change was that her skin felt more hydrated.
Eleanor poured a little more into her palm and stuck out her tongue, intending to test it internally. But before she could, Caron suddenly appeared and grabbed her wrist.
“Ca…”
Before she could speak, Caron lifted her hand and lowered his head. His lips parted, and without hesitation, his tongue licked her palm.
Startled by the unexpected act, Eleanor stiffened, staring at him.
Caron still held her wrist tightly. He glared at her with an intense expression, then swallowed the tonic in his mouth.
Eleanor saw his throat move slowly. Finally, he spoke.
“It doesn’t seem to be poisoned.”
“Let go of my hand.”
As soon as his grip loosened, Eleanor pulled her wrist away.
“What the hell was that?”
“I was protecting you, my lady.”
“I told you—I’m resistant to most poisons.”
“This might not be an ordinary poison.”
“Then you might die. Don’t you want your freedom?”
Caron studied her face for a moment, then asked:
“Do you want me to live?”
“Why else would I have kept you alive?”
“I’m of no use right now.”
“I decide your usefulness, Caron. I haven’t given you your freedom yet. So you don’t even have the right to die for me.”
If she freed Caron now, she knew exactly what he’d do.
He would go after the people who made him this way, even knowing he couldn’t hurt them. He’d run toward death out of vengeance.
Eleanor didn’t want to see that happen. She didn’t want to watch Caron, who ate simple meat pies like they were the greatest delicacy in the world, die without ever knowing what true freedom was.
“Don’t touch me without permission again.”
“If it’s to protect you, I will.”
“Didn’t you say you wanted to kill me?”
Caron’s eyes gleamed with danger.
“I will kill you. But I won’t let anyone else do it.”
***
As she headed to the Emperor’s palace, Eleanor thought about Caron. Why would he act like that?
It was clear Caron wanted her dead, she could feel his killing intent sometimes.
He must know dying makes freedom meaningless.
Caron had no real reason to protect her. He was only staying because he didn’t want to die.
‘He probably thinks I planted something in his head.’
In truth, she hadn’t done anything of the sort. There was no terrifying brain-exploding spell that punished disobedience.
‘If he’s only pretending to be loyal, then why go this far?’
“You seem troubled.”
A voice from behind reminded her she wasn’t walking alone. Eyo Bastid, who hadn’t acted much like a bodyguard for a while, was now faithfully escorting her.
“Sir Bastid.”
She composed her expression and looked back. Eyo smiled.
“Is something bothering you? Perhaps I can help you find a better solution if we talk it through.”
Eleanor regarded him quietly, then resumed walking.
“My dog isn’t listening. I can’t read him at all.”
“Oh, the dog. It’s more of a wolf than a dog, isn’t it?”
“At a glance, yes. But he’s like a dog when he eats meat pies.”
Eyo chuckled.
“Have you ever raised an abused dog before?”
“No.”
“When a dog that’s been beaten its whole life meets a new owner, it trembles with fear—but still loves them. It’s tragic, really. They’re born with the instinct to love humans.”
“But my dog isn’t like that, I think.”
“Then you’ve never been abused yourself.”
“…”
“Abused humans can be the same. They live in pain and isolation, and when sudden warmth and light appear, it blinds them. They try to hold on, not knowing why they’re doing it.”
Eyo quickened his pace and stepped in front of Eleanor.
