Chapter 10: Ch. 10 I Have A Place To Go Back (1)
The wind gently caressed Elena's face as she leaned her head against the carriage window and watched the passing landscape. She had a spectacular view of the lush forest in refreshing weather, but she was in no mood to appreciate it.
After saving Carlisle's life, Elena had collapsed as soon as she entered the inn. From the moment when she rescued him to the moment he had accepted her proposal, she felt as if her body was being torn in all directions by a leash. It was hard on her poorly trained physical condition.
"…Haaa."
She sighed. She recollected her conversation with Carlisle, but deciphering it was like falling into a maze. Why did he accept the proposal? She had a clear reason to marry him, but the crown prince himself had no reason to accept. With that handsome face, his skill in the battlefield, and the fact that he was the crown prince, he could choose someone better than Elena. When he first questioned her for saving his life he didn't seem to believe her very easily. Which part of her did he like?
'I have no idea what the Crown Prince is thinking.'
He had been disgusted with her until she took of her helmet. Perhaps it was because of incompatible sexual orientation because she looked like a man in that armor? A variety of thoughts around in Elena's head. Their encounter had been brief, and she didn't fully understand his intentions.
She remembered the image of him when she looked back at his figure for the last time. Despite blood seeping through the white bandages, what stood out in her mind was those blue eyes that looked straight at her with an undaunted expression. She felt as if she had seen them somewhere before. Had they really met in the past? It was driving her crazy, but there was no way to find out.
'That's enough. Stop thinking about it. Everything went my way anyway.'
Anything else could be forgotten. If Carlisle became emperor and removed Paveluc from power nothing else was needed so long as her family was kept safe. If she could make herself a princess, she could assist him and eventually make him emperor. After that, she didn't care whether she was banished out or not. No, maybe it was better to go back to her family. She was busy thinking about how to change her future. It wasn't too late to think about the details. As long as her family was all alive, any life would be happier than her previous one.
'He said he would meet me in ten days, so I'd better be prepared then.'
Sophie looked at Elena staring out of the carriage window, then spoke to her in a careful voice.
"My Lady, you're not still sick, are you?"
Sophie was the only one who knew that Elena had gone that night without anyone else knowing. After disappearing like smoke and returning at dawn the next day, Elena had been in dazed state ever since. She looked like a lovesick girl and Sophie was curious about that night's events, but she couldn't ask her directly and instead asked her in a roundabout way.
Elena noticed Sophie's strangely shining eyes and knew her maid was curious about her movements that night.
"Unnecessary curiosity only brings bad luck, Sophie. You're a smart girl and I know you know that."
"O-Oh yes, My Lady,"
Sophie answered reluctantly, but she did not accept it from her heart. Something must have happened to Elena that night, otherwise there was no reason to skip Glenn's wedding when they had been in such a hurry in the first place.
After returning back to the inn for a late night's sleep, Elena suddenly said she was not feeling well and wanted to return to Blaise Castle. Not only did Elena not eat properly on the way back, but she just stared blankly out the carriage window the entire time.
Who was the man that was keeping the young mistress away? Did Elena happen to get caught up in the atmosphere that night? What if she had a baby? Sophie's mind ran wild with imagination. Thanks to this mysterious lover even Sophie's motion sickness was forgotten.
The two of them lost in their own worlds as the carriage quickly took Elena and Sophie back to Blaise Castle.
"…Ah."
A breath of fresh wind tickled Elena's cheek. She turned her face towards it and appreciated the endless array of trees passing by. The clear cloudless sky and tranquil breeze made her strangely excited. While her mind was caught up in her complicated thoughts, her heart knew this road was headed back for the family. The thought of seeing her father, her brother and her sister again made her smile faintly. It was nice to have a place to go back like this. She would endure thousands or even tens of thousands of trials to protect it.
*
*
*
As soon as the carriage arrived at the castle, the door opened and Mirabelle's voice rang out.
"Sister!"
Mirabelle ran towards Elena and flung herself in her sister's arms before Elena could fully disembarked from the carriage. They held on to each other as if they had been apart for years, and Elena squeezed Mirabelle tightly and smiled.
"I'm home, Mirabelle."
"Yes. I missed you so much."
"Me, too. Anything happened while I was away?"
"Uh-huh. Father kept sending messages that was coming home, but now he said he would really come home today."
"Father…?"
Her father was always busy as the head of the Fourth Order of Knights and most of the time he stayed at a residence in the capital city to work there. Elena was in charge of the household at Blaise Castle, while Derek was in charge of the knights belonging to the family. In the past it was normal to not have seen her father's face for a long time, but the situation was different now. From Elena's point of view she had not seen her father after twenty years. There was a pit of nervousness and excitement twisting in her stomach.
"Then I guess I'll pay special attention to the menu tonight."
Mirabelle spoke up confidently as if she had already made plans.
"I already asked the chef in advance to prepare father's favorite fish stew."
Mirabelle's proud and expectant look for praise was so cute that Elena gave a smile and stroked Mirabelle's hair with one hand.
"Well done. Now, can I leave the rest of the housework to you?"
"I have an older sister, I don't have to do that."
Elena felt a pang of guilt at Mirabelle's innocent words. If Elena truly married Prince Carlisle, then managing the Blaise household would fall to Mirabelle. Elena swept Mirabelle's hair again, her heart bitter. Her little sister still looked so young and fragile.
"Someday, if I get married, you will be in charge. So from now on you should learn more about the housework."
"Oh, that's too far away."
"No one really knows. Maybe one day I'll fall in love with someone at first sight and want to get married. Maybe you'll do that too–"
"I'll never do that!"
"I hope you'll getting married, even if there's no guarantee."
"No! I'll never have someone I love more than my sister!"
Elena looked at Mirabelle with a little worry, but on the other hand she was grateful for her sister's kindness. Elena was overwhelmed by the feeling that she was as important to her family as they were to her.
"…Me too. I don't think I'll ever have someone more precious than my family."
"Oh, please. You have to say Mirabelle is the most precious thing out of the whole family."
Mirabelle's point made her laugh. Her cute little bird of a sister always did. Elena took a step towards the castle, slowly taking Mirabelle's small hand.
"Let's go inside now."
"Yes, sister. Tell me how your trip was."
"Ah, well…"
Mirabelle's question reminded her of those long, arduous days in the carriage. Elena had met with Prince Carlisle and fought off assassins, but that was hardly a story for her.
"…Nothing special."
Elena didn't speak after that. The servants, who had been waiting for their conversation to be over, soon approached them.
"My Lady, where should we move the luggage from the carriage?"
"Move everything to my room."
At her order, the servants held one of the large luggage trunks in each hand in an orderly fashion. They followed after Elena and Mirabelle who were walking hand in hand. The pair was a beautiful sight to behold.
Elena found adjusting her mannerisms difficult as she had not lived for a long time as a noblewoman, but she didn't let it show on the outside and walked gracefully. She was the beloved daughter of a count and the woman who was in charge of the household, and she had to keep her balance.
It was also important to understand the grievances of the people of lower status and to not act overbearing. Since she was young, she had been paying more attention to this area since childhood. As she played this role well in her past life, now the Blaise' servants were well organized and disciplined.
Mirabelle spoke again, swinging Elena's arm.
"How was your trip, sister? Hmm?"
"Well, I don't know. I had an upset stomach in the middle of it…"
Mirabelle had been curious why Elena had to return in the middle of her trip. But Mirabelle's reaction was a bigger storm than Elena had anticipated.
"What? Did you eat something wrong?"
"I'm all better now–"
"So that's why you got home earlier than I expected. I'm going to call the doctor and ask him to see you right away."
"That's not necessary–"
"Wait in the room, sister."
Mirabelle brought in the most famous doctor in the south to see Elena. Elena had a lot of work to do, but she was forced to lie down in bed and rest until sunset. The problem did not end here. Something was happening elsewhere that she didn't know about.
"Did I not ask you to put your life on the line? How bad did it get if she had to come home?"
Unlike Mirabelle who had learned about the reasons of Elena's early return later, Derek had been briefed on what had happened in advance. As soon as they arrived at the castle, the knights who escorted Elena had to go through hell for failing to perform their duties properly.
"I'm sorry, sir. From now on, I'll risk my life…"
"It's too late. Starting now you will run ten laps around this training hall then line up accordingly to who finishes first and so on."
When Derek made up his mind no one could one make him budge. It was a memorable event for those who trained and those who watched them. Just like that Elena had been turned from a simple young lady to someone they would risk their life for, all of which was unknown by Elena.
As the day passed and night descended, Count Alphord Blaise soon arrived at the castle.
Chapter 11: Ch. 11 I Have A Place To Go Back (2)
"Welcome, My Lord."
All the servants stood in a line with the senior butler, Northman, at the head of it. They all bowed respectfully as Alphord walked inside his home. In reality Alphord didn't really like this kind of grand welcome, but Elena had also prepared this for her father in her previous life. After his long absence few new employees were aware of his face, and Elena had thought of this as a way to give such a grand welcome in her father's honor.
And it was the same today. At the end of the long line, Elena, Mirabelle and Derek stood waiting for him. Elena cheeks were flushed with joy at the thought of seeing her father for the first time in a long time.
"It's strange. No matter how often Father comes home, I feel like I haven't seen him in years."
Elena smiled at Mirabelle's astute words. From Elena's point of view her sister wasn't completely wrong. When Elena began to see her father's approaching shadow, she hurried to tidy her clothes.
"Mirabelle, do I look okay?"
"Yes, you look pretty. How many times have you asked me that today?"
"Oh, have I?"
Mirabelle tilted her head at her sister's unusually nervous demeanor. When Mirabelle had heard that Elena became sick during her trip she tried to make her rest all day, but Elena finally stood up and said, "I can't lie down anymore with Father coming."
Elena had been acting very strange since. She wasn't usually fashion-conscious, but she had changed her dress several times and kept asking what looked good on her. Everyone envied Elena's beautiful appearance. And the envy of others was Mirabelle's pride. She had never seen a prettier woman in the world than her sister.
Despite Elena's natural beauty, however, she was not very interested in taking care of herself. It was the first time for her to pay attention to her appearance, which she had always been so embarrassed about. If the occasion had been meeting another man, then Mirabelle would have thought Elena had fallen for someone…
Mirabelle could never have imagined that the man she was seeing was their father, whom they hadn't seen for a few weeks. Mirabelle stared up at Elena with a look of curiosity, but could not discern her thinking.
The sounds of Alphord's foosteps became closer when finally he appeared. Though middle-aged, her father still retained his handsome features. He stood tall and had dark green eyes like Mirabelle. Thanks to his long career as a knight he had a strong physique, but at the moment looked like a gentleman with his coat instead of his armor. He had the same stoic expression as Derek, but his stubborn jawline bore a curious resemblance to Elena.
Elena became overwhelmed with emotion as she looked at her father The last image she remembered was his cold body hanging on the wall alongside her brother. The day Blaise Castle was invaded her father was still not in the castle, so she wasn't sure how exactly how he ended up there. She was hiding in the place where Derek had told her to, and was told there would be a letter from her father but she never received it. Finally, after finding the bodies of the family members on the wall, Elena had to flee far away. She couldn't stay in Ruford Empire. She was curious about the contents of that last letter, but now she would never know.
'Well, it doesn't matter now what it is about. They're all alive and with me now.'
She secretly swallowed a happy smile looked up with clear eyes at Mirabelle and Derek standing next to her. This will do. She won't be greedy.
At Alphord's appearance Derek gave a short bow and Mirabelle lifted her skirt to curtsy like a grown-up. Elena spoke with affection thick in her voice.
"Welcome home, Father."
Chapter 12: Ch. 12 My Greed Was Endless (1)
"Welcome, Father."
"Thank you,"
Alphord said curtly, then immediately strode towards Mirabelle. She looked cutely up at him as she held the skirt of her dress and Alphord's stern expression gently relaxed. He gently patted his daughter's head with a large hand.
"Have you been well?"
"Yes, I'm doing well."
"Did you feel any pain? "
"Sister took good care of me, so I feel much better now."
Mirabelle was the youngest child, and even her graceful way of answering was as pretty as could be. Elena watched the two of them talking before her father's eyes turned towards her. She spoke in a slightly shaky voice.
"I hope your journey wasn't too difficult."
Alphord nodded lightly. She couldn't breathe for a moment. Her heart was full. She had a father she thought she'd never see again.
"Have you taken a meal yet?"
"No. I suppose you were all waiting for me because I arrived later than expected. Let's start with the meal. "
With that Alphord made to the dining hall first, followed by his three children. He would often arrive at the castle late at night and would go to the dining hall as soon as he arrived. No one knew how special this dinner was for Elena today. She walked quietly behind him as she tried to hide the moisture forming in her eyes.
They arrived in the hall, the centerpiece of it which was a long table covered in white tablecloth. The table was large enough to accommodate twenty people, and it was neatly decorated with candles and flowers. Before Alphord had arrived Elena had taken care of the arrangements.
As usual her father was seated at the head of the table and Derek sat on his right, while Elena and Mirabelle were seated on his left. The servants began to bring in the food, and as soon as they finished their plates the next course would come in. In the past when they celebrated Alphord's homecoming the family would enjoy dinner because of Elena's careful preparations, but tonight she had pulled out all the stops. No one would say it, but the large table was so full it looked practically miniscule underneath the huge feast. Mirabelle mumbled "There's something wrong" while Alphord and Derek enjoyed their meal silently. It was Alphord who broke the familial silence.
"Are you going to participate in this year's sword fighting competition?"
Everyone at the table knew he was talking to Derek. Derek hadn't been able to in the competition in the capital city because of an injury he suffered during a training session. Her father and brother didn't speak about it, but that she knew Derek had deep regret for being able to participate.
"Yes, I'm thinking of going this time."
"If you decide to participate, try and perform well."
"I will."
Maybe this was just how a conversation between a father and a son went. Elena pressed down a smile as she listened conversation between the two extremely similar men. In the past she felt conversations between the two stern-sounding men were uncomfortable, but now she simply smiled. As the meal went on, Alphord turned his attention towards Elena.
"You were to attend Glen's wedding, weren't you?"
"Ah, yes."
"I heard you came home because you had an upset stomach on the way. I know you're trying to take care of others, but do not leave this place. You've probably learned from this, but we need to learn how to manage our own lives."
"…Yes."
"If Derek participates in this sword fighting competition he may have to live with me in the capital city in the future, and you will have more duties here at home. Don't pay attention to any more unnecessary things, and concentrate more on the housework."
Elena paused as she held her fork. After a moment she replied in a subdued voice.
"Yes, Father."
"I'm glad Mirabelle's health is improving, but don't forget that you have to care for your sister all of the time."
"…I will."
"Your brother is the pillar of our family. He will follow my footsteps later and lead the Fourth Order of the Knights of the royal family. As I have said, women do well in the homes and with children. I don't expect much from you, but work hard on the housework until you get married."
She heard this all the time in her previous life, but suddenly she couldn't figure out why these words weighed so heavily on her chest now. Elena's expression turned sullen, and Mirabelle burst open in anger.
"Why is it only women is doing all the housework these days? Even though Father opposes it, women can also practice sword fighting and have professional jobs."
"Because those people don't come from noble birth. You don't have to go to such trouble."
"And can't you just let sister choose her own marriage partner?"
"You're talking nonsense. Elena, what do you teach your sister at home?"
Elena glared at Mirabelle to stop. Then she answered to her father in a soft voice.
"I'm sorry. Mirabelle is still young."
"Mirabelle, don't take after your sister."
"…Tch."
Even with Alphord's firm tone, Mirabelle simply pouted her lips. If it were Elena who did this she would have been reprimanded within an inch of her life, but Mirabelle had never been scolded because she was sickly and hadn't been expected to live long. As usual, Alphord stared at Mirabelle in a disapproving manner but quickly moved on as if things were fine.
Since Elena's childhood she had had a lot of responsibilities to fill in her mother's absence–the care of the family, the care of the family men, and the care of her younger sister. It was all up to her, but she had never been dissatisfied with her life. She was simply living out her destiny. But tonight she felt disappointment at what her father had said… Perhaps she wanted to be recognized her sacrifice. She had endured so much when her family had died in the future, and there was some hope he could appreciate the tears and sweat she had given for this family. She was just as capable as her father.
Elena swallowed a bitter smile. It was like a dream to have a meal together like this. There was no end to human greed. She wanted her family to be ignorant of the life she lived, but at the same time she wanted to be rewarded? Elena laughed inwardly at her selfishness. This was alright. She didn't want any more than this. Elena swallowed the lump in her throat and tried to be fine with her meal.
Dinner concluded with a brief chat with one another along with the occasional clattering of dishes. Finally each family member dispersed into their own rooms while Elena had to stayed behind in the dining room to clean up. Although she did not work with her sleeves rolled up, it was her job to distribute jobs and supervise the servants.
After she finished her work and left the dining room, she saw a steaming mug waiting for her at a table. As soon as she saw it she knew immediately that there was sweet cocoa in it. It was the kind of gift that Derek would sometimes leave for Elena. Since she was a little girl, when she heard something that made her angry at a family gathering he would give her sweet cocoa. Perhaps the conversation at dinner was on Derek's mind.
'…I haven't received cocoa in a long time. Why haven't I recognized my brother's kindness before?'
She warmed her hands around the mug, and the comfort seemed to seep into her thoughts.
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