"I can bring Elenor back to her room." Richard suggested as they returned back to the manor.
"It is alright my lord. I am Milady's butler so I will be taking care of her. If you will excuse me." Alec bowed before easily carrying Elenor back to her room.
"Alright.."
Alec entered Elenor's room and delicately placed her down on the bed. He carefully removed her makeup and cleaned her face with warm water. Making a mental note to himself to prepare a drink for her headache the next day. He stared at her before sighing. He knew this would happen and even when he did try to prevent it, it didn't work out.
Alec was about to leave when he felt something pulling his coat. Gazing down at the fingers that held onto his coat, he turned to Elenor who had one eye open.
"Are you going to leave..?" she asked faintly.
Alec nodded and began to slowly pry her fingers away from him but she held on.
"Could you...stay until I fall asleep again?" she murmured, gazing down at the floor.
"..."
"I..I don't feel like being alone right now.."
"Are you sure you want me here?" Alec spoke in a whisper, carefully bringing a small chair over to the side of the bed.
Elenor nodded. "Yeah. I like your company."
Alec's lips twitched, "Then..I will be here until you fall asleep, Elenor."
"Haha thank you Alec." Elenor softly laughed before shutting her eyes.
"I'm...glad to have you..with me.." Elenor trailed off, falling into a deep slumber.
Alec didn't get out of his seat. He went on and touched her hair, pushing it away from her face. A tender smile made its way up to his face as he ever so gently touched her lashes which trembled.
"Me too..I'm glad as well." he whispered, planting a kiss on her fingertips before finally leaving her room.
-
Elenor woke up with a massive headache that she could barely get out of her bed. She didn't remember anything up until she danced with her brother. Her memory of last night was quite faint and trying to remember about it caused her even more pain.
"I already told you not to drink so much." Alec lectured as he came in with a drink to help soothe her headache.
Elenor didn't even have energy to roll her eyes at him and drank whatever he prepared for her. She continued to lay in bed, only moving when she had to change out of her dress since she didn't last night.
"I haven't drank in such a long time okay?" she grumbled trying to defend herself for her mistake.
Elenor buried her face into her pillow, "Can I just stay in here the whole day today?" she asked, her voice muffled.
She heard some rustling sounds before a voice spoke, "Unfortunately, his highness has decided to visit."
"...How long has he been waiting."
"About more than an hour."
"Ask him to leave then,"
"Elenor!" Lloyd burst into her room without warning.
"Speak of the devil.." she sighed, opening one eye at him.
"I have been patiently waiting so you can't just kick me out!!" Lloyd protested, walking over to her bed.
Elenor looked away, burying her face into the pillow once more. "You were the one who came. I didn't ask."
"But I know you want to hear what happened last night!"
Elenor clicked her tongue, annoyed by the fact that he was spot on. She slowly got up and lazily looked at him. She crossed her legs and waved her hand.
"So what happened?"
Lloyd began telling her everything that happened. Elenor attentively listened to him, nodding once in a while to show she was still listening to every detail he told her. Alec poured the two of them a cup of tea and stayed in the room, not leaving once.
"Do you like her?" Elenor decided to cut to the chase.
Lloyd smiled and shrugged, "I can't say I don't but it's too early to say,"
Elenor nodded in agreement, "Yes I agree with you. She sounds lovely though."
"She is! I think you will get along with her very well."
"Hm..maybe,"
"It's not, maybe it's definitely!"
Elenor chuckled at Lloyd's positive outlook and nodded. She wasn't quite sure if she truly would be able to get along with her protagonist. A small part of her fears that when she is close to the protagonist, she might put her in danger and get the blame for it.
The world was following the story. Only her and Alec weren't.
Elenor glanced over at Alec. Maybe he will follow the story soon. Maybe the world will force him to follow the story like how she wrote it. And if he soon follows the story once again, she will die in his hands.
But for now there were no signs of him following the story flow and she hopes it stays that way. Alec glanced over at Elenor.
"Is something the matter milady?"
She shook her head, taking a sip of her tea. "Nothing."
This time, she glanced at Lloyd who was drinking his tea. What if he began to distance himself from her once he thinks she could have endangered the protagonist? Elenor didn't know if she could handle that. Not when she finally had another friend in this world.
Elenor rubbed the teacup with her index finger. Perhaps it was the safer option to not become friends with Rosina, the protagonist. She will just watch over them unfold their romance. Just like how she wrote it. She won't disturb them and only look from a safe distance.
"Alec," Elenor called out, placing her cup down.
Alec poured more tea into it before responding to her, "Yes milady."
"Could you please leave the room? I need to discuss something with Lloyd. Privately."
Alec briefly glanced over at Lloyd before turning his attention back at Elenor. He nodded and bowed.
"Very well. Please excuse me." Alec proceeded to leave the room, not forgetting to glance at Elenor one last time before shutting the door shut.
"What's so important that you needed to kick your own butler out?" Lloyd asked, amused at this new development.
She rolled her eyes before speaking. "Is it possible for a fallen household to get back up?"
Lloyd tilts his head to the side, confused by her question.
"A baron's household. If there is a real legitimate heir for it, can they take back everything that was theirs?"
Lloyd paused and thought about her question before slowly nodding. "Certainly it is possible…though it will be a bit tricky to be successful like previously."
Elenor nodded at his answer, her mood lifting up more. "I see, that's good."
Lloyd narrows his eyes, "Why are you suddenly asking? Did you find a legitimate heir for a household?"
"Yes I did," she answered swiftly.
"..What?" Lloyd didn't expect her quick answer.
"I said I did. I found the legitimate heir for a household that fell into ruins." Elenor folded her arms and sighed.
"However I still have to find more information before I can properly confirm and try to give them the title."
"What's the name of the household?"
"Baron Cullingford."
"Baron Cullingford? Didn't they all die due to an incurable illness?"
"Yes but their son is still alive and well. He is the sole heir of that household."
Lloyd leaned back on the chair and tapped his chin lightly, "I think their house is still there with their name on it."
Elenor's eyes brightened up. Excitedly, she leaned closer, "Really?!"
He nodded, "Yes so if their son is able to confirm his identity as Baron Cullingford's son, he will be able to take back everything that was theirs including the title."
Hearing this made Elenor even more excited. Her smile grew wider and she thought of being able to help Alec become a Baron.
"Thank you." Elenor thanked Lloyd who smiled and shook his head.
"No need to thank me. I'm helping out a friend so it isn't a big deal."
Elenor lightly laughed. "Then in return, if you need anything just tell me. I'll try my best to help you as well."
Lloyd soon left after that. Elenor saw him out before she headed back to her bed since her head was still pounding because of how much she drank the day before.
"What did you talk about with his highness?" Alec asked as he tidied her room up.
Elenor who was lying on her bed again, took a small peek over at Alec before looking back up at her ceiling.
"Some stuff."
Elenor knew Alec wouldn't pry into it if she vaguely told him about something. He respected her and so did she. She turned her gaze back to him again. His figure was elegant and graceful. A butler with such polished skills. Becoming a noble wouldn't be hard for him since he was skillful in almost everything Elenor could think of.
She was happy that she was able to fulfil something she promised herself when she came into this world. The promise of giving Alec a better life and the happiness he deserved. She's going to help him take back his household and everything that was supposed to be his.
Elenor had a bitter smile on her face. Albeit, she wanted him to become a Baron, she still wanted him as her exclusive butler. It was a selfish thing to think about but she couldn't help wish for it. Her life as Elenor since a year ago, she has always been with him. Thinking about him not being with her every day made her mood gloomy. Her heart felt heavy every time she thought about it.
It was selfish thinking. She was being selfish. And she disliked that.
Elenor heaved out a loud sigh which caught Alec's attention. Stopping whatever he was doing, he made his way over to her.
"Is there something wrong?"
Elenor was about to reassure him that nothing was wrong but stopped herself from doing so. She stared at him for a good amount before speaking up about what she wanted to say.
"..If...you were able to become a noble..would you like that?"
Alec kept silent and gazed at her. Elenor played around with her fingers, pretending as if she wasn't on edge as she waited for his answer.
"If I was able to become a noble, would I like it?" he asked again.
Elenor nodded.
"Yes, if I could become a noble. I would like that."
Alec's answer was expected yet it sullen her mood even more. She pressed her face into her pillow even further. She knew he would say that but she did wish he said he would be by her side instead.
Feeling a bit down now, Elenor decided to take a nap to ignore her problems and emotions she was feeling. In a blink of an eye, she fell asleep while Alec continued to tidy up her room.
When she woke up again it was already in the evening so she cleaned herself up before heading over to the dining hall to have dinner with her family. After dinner, she headed back to her room and fell asleep again. She didn't feel like dealing with anything at the moment.
'As always sleeping is the best thing.'
sleep is always the best
if you enjoy this chapter or book please do consider giving a vote to this shameless author (〃` 3′〃) it would mean a lot <3
Elenor began searching for more information about Baron Cullingford once she had enough of lazing around the whole day. She didn't want Alec to find out what she was doing so she had to be secretive and look for it whenever he was busy.
Coincidentally, Alec has been busy for the past few days and sometimes he would have to leave somewhere. This of course was an advantage for Elenor since he wouldn't be with her when she was looking for more information about his own family.
Elenor was curious as to why he had been going out more often than usual but she could always ask another time. Right now she had to focus on looking for more information about the Cullingford. She needed something that would be able to show that Alec was truly the legitimate heir of the Cullingford but she didn't know what.
"There's nothing here as well." she muttered to herself, defeatedly.
She had been in the royal library for hours, looking through history books to see if there was anything about the Culllingford but so far there wasn't that many other than a few achievements the Baron household had done for the kingdom.
Elenor left the royal library afterwards. There wasn't much she could find there as well. Elenor sighed as she headed back to the estate.
"Maybe Alec has something that can prove he's the heir…" she mumbled to herself while staring out of the carriage, watching the trees go by.
Elenor got off the carriage once she reached back. At the same time, she saw Alec arriving back as well. With a mischievous grin on her face, she slowly crept up behind him.
"Alec-"
She was about to playfully touch his shoulders when he suddenly turned around and held her wrist tightly. Elenor could feel the murderous intent coming from him as he nearly twisted her wrist.
The look on his face just before he twisted her wrist…
Was terrifying.
She could feel her face turning pale in fear. Her heart was beating loudly against her chest as the murderous intent slowly suffocated her.
"Milady?" Alec called out in surprise.
Instantly the murderous intent she felt, disappeared. Her wrist that Alec nearly twisted was now being gently held. But she still couldn't help but tremble in fear. This was what she would feel if he ever wanted to kill her.
This was the first time she ever felt the true killing intent from him.
When Alec released her wrist, she held it in her free hand. It was bruised from his strength. She could feel the pain from it so she massaged her wrist while trying to calm herself down.
"Milady.." Alec called out, taking one step closer.
Elenor flinched, taking a step back. She looked at Alec with fear in her eyes. Hurriedly, she looked down, "I'm...I'm going inside!"
She sped off inside, not glancing back at Alec. She was scared. She was scared of his murderous aura around him. It was as if she was truly about to die in his hands. The fear of her being killed by Alec came back.
She didn't feel safe around him right now.
-
Alec watched as Elenor ran inside the manor. He gazed down at his hand that held her wrist tightly. He thought it was an intruder so he nearly twisted it but when he realised it was Elenor he immediately released it.
He frowned at himself. The fear in her eyes was obvious. She was afraid of him now.
"Fuck…" he cursed to himself.
-
"Please do be careful next time, my lady." one of the maids said as she wrapped Elenor's bruised wrist in bandages.
Elenor awkwardly laughed and nodded. "Yes I will be more careful next time."
"How did you even get such a bad bruise on your wrist?" she sighed as she finished bandaging it.
Elenor just smiled at the maid before dismissing her from the room. Elenor sat on the couch and blankly stared at her wrist. The memory of how Alec looked at her came back. She shuddered in fear.
Half of her knew he only looked at her like that because he was caught off guard. When he realised it was her, the intent disappeared instantly but another part of her couldn't help but still feel scared.
Elenor groaned, covering her face with her palms. How was she going to face him now since she blatantly ran away from him.
Then a knock on her door was heard. She glanced at the door, "Come in."
Alec walked in causing her to freeze in her seat. She stared at him before looking away. The air was awkward and uncomfortable. She didn't know what to do or say to him.
Elenor pressed her lips together before finally speaking up, "Um..Alec-"
"You have a letter milady." Alec handed her the letter.
"Oh thank you." Elenor took the letter from him.
Before she could say anything, Alec bowed and left the room, leaving her alone in her room. Elenor blinked a couple of times before looking down at the letter.
"He just left like that?" she muttered to herself.
She brought her focus back to the letter in her hands and tore it open. She read the contents inside the letter. Her eyes widened in shock before quickly heading over to her desk. It was a tea party invitation from Rosina.
Elenor remembered this part of the story. In the book, Rosina had invited many nobles around her age for a tea party at her household. Including Elenor. Rosina also sent a letter to Lloyd, inviting him although she knew the chances of him getting and reading the letter was slim, she did try.
Lloyd, of course, received the letter and agreed to come. If anyone else invited him, he would have declined but it was Rosina so he agreed. It was a romance book, things would obviously work in their favour.
Elenor stared at the letter once more before deciding to write back to her, agreeing to go for the tea party.
In the book, Elenor would be extremely jealous and furious when she sees Lloyd and Rosina talking with each other. She would then order Alec to purposely lure her away from where the tea party was held and once Rosina was out of people's sight, she would push her into the lake.
But she would get caught by Lloyd who stopped her from pushing Rosina into the lake. Elenor would then proceed to pretend she wasn't about to push Rosina into the lake and ran off. Rosina thanked Lloyd for saving her from a disaster that could have happened if he hadn't come earlier. This development brought the two closer and became better friends.
However, since Elenor was not the book Elenor, she was a bit worried of how the development between them will happen. She knew she said she wouldn't butt in but she obviously still wanted to watch the couple she wrote about fall in love whenever she had the chance to!
"The world is following the plot so there might be another way for them to get that event." she faintly murmured.
She sighed to herself. Hopefully, everything will be alright.
poor elenor :( the thought of being killed arise once again
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