Eleanor headed with Adrian to the house where Siena and Hestia lived. It was the day the four of them had promised to have dinner together.
When she knocked on the door, Hestia came out with a bright face to greet the two of them.
"Welcome. The weather has gotten quite chilly, hasn't it?"
"It really has. It feels like winter will be here in no time."
Eleanor greeted her with a wide smile of her own.
"Siena, your teacher and uncle are here. You should come out and say hello."
Hestia said in a loud voice, looking over her shoulder. At that, Siena came down the stairs and walked toward Eleanor.
Eleanor greeted her with a light wave of her hand.
"Hello, Ena."
"Hello."
"Have you been well?"
Siena nodded her head. Normally, Siena would have run out and jumped up and down the moment she knocked. Eleanor wrapped an arm around Siena's shoulder and entered the house.
"I hope it suits your tastes."
"Wow, it looks so delicious it's making my mouth water."
The four of them sat facing each other at the well-set table. While Adrian and Hestia chatted softly about how they'd been, Eleanor carefully studied Siena's face. Her once-plump cheeks seemed to have gotten a little thinner. It felt somewhat awkward that her mouth, which was always chattering nonstop, was firmly closed.
Eleanor served a little salad onto Siena's plate and struck up a conversation.
"Have you been resting well? Your teacher was sick in bed for about three days. Long-distance travel is really not an easy thing, it seems."
"Yes, I've rested well."
"What have you been up to?"
"Um… I just took naps, went for short walks, and went to my grandpa's house."
Siena answered while nibbling on a tomato. Siena answered every question Eleanor asked and even smiled brightly at times, but she wasn't as energetic as before.
"What are Luke and Demi up to?"
For the first time, Siena asked something first. Eleanor answered with a glad heart.
"Luke is doing well at the Imperial Palace. I saw him a few times, and it looked like he was just lazing around. His cheeks have gotten incredibly plump."
"I'm curious. I want to see him."
"Luke seemed to miss you a lot too. How about we meet up sometime and have fun?"
At Eleanor's words, Siena nodded her head vigorously. Talk of her friends seemed to be lifting her spirits a little.
"What about Demi?"
"Demi is…"
Eleanor, who was about to continue speaking naturally, paused. It was because a face she had tried so hard to push to the back of her mind had resurfaced. After taking a moment to compose her breathing, Eleanor replied with a bright smile.
"Demi went down to the duchy. She's staying with Mrs. Orly."
"Wow, I'm jealous."
Siena said, her eyes widening.
"I want to play at the ducal castle again, too. It was so much fun back then. And all the food was incredibly delicious. Right?"
"…Yes, it was."
Eleanor forced the corners of her mouth to lift. The memories from the ducal castle remained vivid for Eleanor as well. So vivid, in fact, that they were a little overwhelming.
The scenery of the domain, viewed from the ducal castle, unfolded in Eleanor's mind. The forest she saw while riding her horse, the lake that appeared before her eyes as if by magic, and the one person who was by her side through all those moments.
Thinking of Kaidel made her heart ache. She could forget for a while when she was buried in work, but whenever the smallest gap appeared like this, memories of him filled her mind.
'Is this something to be this concerned about…?'
Eleanor tilted her head slightly. Although she was always one to worry a lot, she had never been so swayed by her emotions before.
"Eleanor?"
Adrian called out to Eleanor, who had suddenly fallen silent.
"What are you thinking so hard about?"
"Hm? Oh, it's nothing. I just space out for a moment."
Adrian chuckled and chided her.
"You were thinking about work again, weren't you?"
Eleanor smiled and nodded.
"You caught me."
"I told you to take it easy. Do you have that much to do?"
"Yes. Since it's national work, the procedures are quite strict. But my commute to the Crown Prince's Palace will be over soon."
"That's a relief."
The rest of the meal proceeded in a comfortable and pleasant atmosphere. As Siena regained her spirits, bright smiles appeared on everyone's faces.
After the meal, while the carriage was being prepared, Eleanor held Siena's hand and strolled through the small garden.
"It was so good to see our Ena after so long."
"It was good to see you too, Teacher."
Siena said, looking up at Eleanor. Her rosy cheeks were lovely.
"It's hard, isn't it?"
Eleanor said casually as she gently combed through Siena's cotton-candy-like pink hair.
Siena silently tapped the dirt with the toe of her shoe.
"This will all pass."
Eleanor whispered softly to her.
"It's too early to be frustrated. There are still endless opportunities for a thrilling comeback ahead of you."
At Eleanor's words, Siena lifted her head.
"…A comeback?"
"Yes, a comeback."
Eleanor nodded her head firmly. Siena slowly blinked her eyes, as if deep in thought about what Eleanor had said. Eleanor lightly ruffled her hair.
"Cheer up, Ena. This is just the beginning, after all."
The proposal for the supplementary textbook for literacy education targeting commoners passed the monthly meeting. A large part of moving the votes of the notoriously difficult ministers was due to Ismel's contribution. An atmosphere had been created to support it, as it was the first public project Ismel was promoting as Crown Prince. In addition, the quality of the documents, completed under Ismel's intensive coaching, also played a part. Even the ministers who had scoured the documents with their eyes wide open to find fault with it, ended up nodding with reluctant expressions. There was nothing to criticize.
'It was worth being put through the wringer.'
Eleanor felt as if all her hardships had been washed away.
"Good work, Eleanor."
"You worked hard as well, Your Highness."
Ismel's expression was also very bright, as if he too was pleased. As he relayed the compliments about Eleanor that had come out of the meeting, he looked even happier than Eleanor herself.
"It's really rare for something to pass in one go like this. They are not your ordinary, stubborn old men."
"Really?"
"You can be proud. It means you did that good of a job."
Ismel praised Eleanor to the fullest. Eleanor swept her hair back and smiled broadly. Normally, she would have shaken her head in embarrassment, but this time, it felt okay to be a little proud. After all, she had truly poured her heart and soul into it.
Ismel said with a gentle smile.
"It's great that the work went well, but this means today will be the last day I see you in the office."
"I suppose so."
"Perhaps I should have made you prepare a little less thoroughly, so you'd have to come in for a few more days."
"Your Highness!"
Eleanor shot Ismel a light glare. Ismel burst out laughing.
"It's a joke."
Although, of course, there was a little bit of truth mixed in.
"Well then, since it's the last day, how about we have a glass of wine together after work? To celebrate, and as a farewell. What do you think?"
Eleanor nodded at Ismel's suggestion.
"Sounds good. A celebratory drink is perfect for a day like today."
"I'll have to prepare the very best. Since it's a good day."
"Wow!"
Eleanor clapped her hands with a wide smile.
Ismel dismissed his aides early and had a simple table with drinks and snacks prepared in his office. With the curtains drawn and candles lit, the office felt like a restaurant with a decent atmosphere. Ismel personally opened the cork and filled Eleanor's glass.
"How much should I pour?"
"To the brim. Completely full."
Ismel chuckled at Eleanor's words.
"You'll get dead drunk if you do that."
"Lately, I've been wanting to get a little drunk."
After filling his own glass, Ismel sat down across from Eleanor.
"You've truly worked hard. I'll be counting on you until the very end, Eleanor."
"You've worked hard as well, Your Highness. I'll be in your care in the future, too."
"To celebrate overcoming one hurdle."
Ismel held out his glass. When Eleanor clinked her glass against his, a pleasantly clear sound rang out. He had said it was a good wine, and indeed, its aroma was different from the moment it touched her lips. When Eleanor showed a surprised expression, Ismel's eyes curved into crescents.
"So, why is it that you've been wanting to get drunk lately? Did something happen?"
At Ismel's words, Eleanor just smiled silently. Ismel tilted his head and asked again.
"Your cheeks seem a little gaunt. Did I work you that hard?"
"You certainly were a demanding superior. It's been a long time since I've worked this hard."
Ismel muttered in a voice tinged with apology.
"It really would have been fine to take it slow."
"I know. It's just that I wanted to do it that way. In fact, it was better because I could focus solely on work. And I learned a lot."
Eleanor replied with a smile. Ismel, who had been staring at her, asked carefully.
"It seems you have a reason for wanting to focus only on work, don't you?"
"…"
"Because I'm the same way. When my mind is troubled, I escape into work."
It seems you are similar to me.
Ismel took a sip of wine and held her gaze intently. Eleanor could feel that he was genuinely worried about her.
"You can tell me any worries you have. We're friends, after all."
"Any worries at all?"
"Yes, anything."
Ismel nodded.
'Is it okay to tell His Highness about what happened with Adrian and Kaidel?'
After pondering for a moment, Eleanor shook her head internally. Even if he hadn't confessed it out loud, knowing that he had even a little interest in her, it didn't seem polite.
"It's nothing."
"Why? Are some other guys upsetting you?"
But Ismel was sharp as a tack. As Eleanor tried to gloss over it, he hit the nail on the head.
"Who is it? The young Marquis?"
"It's not like that."
"It's Kaidel, then."
Ismel gently swirled the wine in his glass. His voice was filled with conviction.
No, how on earth does he know?
Eleanor's eyes trembled slightly as Ismel saw right through her.
"It's alright, tell me. The story of those bastards shooting themselves in the foot is always quite amusing to hear."
"But…"
"We can just trade. One of your worries for one of my worries."
He grinned and tapped the table, as if urging her on. With that much persuasion, Eleanor no longer had a reason to refuse.
"Well, you see…"
Eleanor briefly explained what had happened in Deln. Ismel nodded along, listening intently to her words.
"I thought it was a misunderstanding that could be cleared up quickly. But Kaidel isn't there when I go to the ducal residence, and there's been no word from him about returning."
The energy drained from Eleanor's voice.
"I think he might be avoiding me."
A flicker of hurt appeared on her small face. He could clearly picture her suffering alone, agonizing over it. Ismel, who had been watching her silently, spoke in a deeper, more subdued voice.
"And you find that unbearably distressing."
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