TEWRIT 15

Chapter 15

Isabella’s maid quickly brought over a teapot and several cups.

Eliano waved away the maids who had been drying her hair.

“I’ll do it.”

She poured the tea herself.

Not a single drop spilled.

The porcelain cup made barely a sound as she placed it in front of Isabella.

Isabella’s eyes widened.

“How can you do that so perfectly without making a sound?”

She leaned closer.

“You look like you’ve practiced this your whole life.”

Was she always this talkative?

Eliano tried to remember.

But in her previous life, she had barely spoken to Isabella.

She couldn’t recall what her younger sister had been like.

“You’re not wrong.”

Eliano picked up her own cup.

“You’re the same way, aren’t you?”

“Nope.”

Isabella shook her head immediately.

“Father never expected me to be as perfect as you. I’m a wild child compared to you.”

She watched Eliano again.

The older girl silently lifted her teacup and took a sip.

Isabella gasped.

“Seriously. How do you do that?”

“I assume you came here for a reason.”

Eliano set the cup down.

“We’re sisters. You can get to the point.”

“Come on! Tell me your secret!”

Isabella’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“My etiquette teacher won’t stop praising you. Then she turns around and lectures me by comparing me to you.”

Eliano stared at her.

For her, there was no secret.

This was simply how she had been taught to behave.

“Um…”

She searched for an answer.

“Maybe you should relax your hands a little?”

It was the first thing that came to mind.

Eliano gave an awkward smile.

Isabella smiled back.

Their green eyes were remarkably similar.

“Sis, I’m debuting in society soon.”

She leaned back.

“Just so you know, I’ll never live like you. I’ve got a terrible temper.”

She pointed at herself.

“I’m a wild child.”

Then she narrowed her eyes playfully.

“So don’t try to lecture me, okay?”

Something strange stirred inside Eliano’s chest.

In her previous life, Isabella had said almost the same thing.

Only back then, her words had been much harsher.

Yeah! Everyone says it.

I was born rotten, unlike you!

You think I’m the problem?

I’ll never live like you.

Do you know how much I…?

Do you think everyone really cares about you?

Stupid.

I’ll never be like you.

Eliano stared at Isabella.

The girl sitting before her now was smiling brightly.

Almost carefree.

What had happened to her in that other life?

What had turned this lively girl into someone so bitter?

Before Eliano could think any further, Isabella spoke again.

“I heard Pamela is on probation.”

Eliano calmly sipped her tea.

“And not because of Father.”

Isabella’s eyes widened.

“Because you said so!”

She looked genuinely shocked.

“I couldn’t believe it.”

Eliano said nothing.

She was thinking about which maid she should choose as her personal attendant.

Then Isabella said something that nearly made her choke on her tea.

“You did great kicking that hag out.”

Eliano slowly lowered her cup.

“Don’t let her come back.”

Isabella clicked her tongue.

“She was blocking your eyes and ears.”

She muttered under her breath.

“About time.”

Eliano looked at her.

“Don’t you want to get rid of Pamela for good?”

Isabella smiled.

“I’ll help.”

Eliano’s expression didn’t change.

She didn’t trust kindness without a reason.

Not even from family.

In her previous life, the moment her husband became heir, his own brothers had tried to kill him.

Blood relations meant nothing when power was involved.

So why did Isabella want Pamela gone?

“Pamela will remain on probation until I say otherwise.”

“But what if Father calls her back?”

Isabella frowned.

“He probably already knows about the probation.”

Then she quickly added,

“And your command was completely justified! She dared to go against the authority of a noble lady!”

“Eliano.”

Isabella leaned closer.

“You need to get rid of Pamela. If she comes back, she’ll blind you again.”

There was something almost pitiful in her expression.

Eliano stared at her for a moment.

“Thank you for worrying.”

She smiled faintly.

“But my eyes and ears move according to my will.”

Before Isabella could respond—

Knock! Knock!

The door suddenly burst open.

The maids immediately protested.

“My Lady!”

“You can’t enter!”

But the person who had entered ignored them.

“Oh, My Lady…”

Pamela stumbled into the room.

“Lady Lia…”

She immediately dropped to her knees.

“This old nanny has done wrong!”

Tears streamed down her face.

“Oh, my dear Lady…”

Her voice trembled.

“I kept thinking of you as a little girl. I forgot that you’ve grown up.”

She bowed her head.

“Please forgive this old woman.”

She looked pitiful.

For a moment, Eliano’s eyes wavered.

She didn’t know what to say.

Pamela noticed.

And immediately cried louder.

“You’re right…”

She sobbed.

“I should just die of old age. What kind of excuse is that?”

Isabella scoffed.

Pamela glanced toward her.

“You’re right, Lady Isabella.”

She sniffed.

“I should just die…”

Her eyes turned toward Eliano.

“But Lady Lia… I can’t live without you.”

She pressed a hand against her chest.

“You’re like a daughter to me.”

Eliano’s expression hardened.

Daughter?

“Nanny.”

Pamela looked up.

“You seem confused.”

Eliano’s voice was cold.

“But I’m not your daughter.”

“Y-yes…”

Pamela lowered her head.

“Of course. Of course you’re not…”

She began sobbing again.

Her acting was terrible.

Eliano slowly lowered herself until they were eye to eye.

“Sister!”

Isabella sounded alarmed.

Eliano ignored her.

“I know you raised me like your daughter.”

Pamela immediately nodded.

“Yes! Yes, Lady Lia…”

“You said you can’t live without me?”

“Yes!”

Pamela’s eyes filled with tears.

“I really can’t…”

Eliano smiled.

It was a beautiful smile.

And utterly cold.

“But I can’t live with you around.”

Pamela froze.

“What should we do about that?”

A sharp light flashed in Eliano’s eyes.

Pamela began hiccupping.

“I…”

“Hic.”

Eliano tilted her head.

“I didn’t release your probation.”

She smiled.

“So you’re here because of Father?”

Pamela’s face twitched.

“Y-yes.”

“Hic.”

“He said… you must accept this nanny…”

Another hiccup.

“Because the Duke wants it…”

The pitiful mask finally slipped.

Her expression became cold.

Sharp.

That was the face Eliano remembered.

In her previous life, that look alone had been enough to make her shrink back.

But now?

An old woman standing before her, hiccupping and glaring, had no power over her.

Eliano wasn’t that frightened girl anymore.

“I’m enjoying tea with my sister.”

She turned away.

“Please leave.”

At Eliano’s signal, two maids immediately grabbed Pamela by the arms.

“My Lady!”

Pamela struggled.

“Lady Lia!”

The maids held her tighter.

“My Lady, you can’t treat me like this!”

Isabella crossed her arms.

“What are you waiting for?”

She smirked.

“Drag that old woman out already.”

Pamela screamed as she was pulled from the room.

But no one listened.

The door closed.

Silence returned.

Eliano calmly picked up her teacup.

Then she looked at Isabella.

“Now.”

She took a sip.

“How exactly were you planning to help me?”

Isabella’s expression brightened.

A mischievous grin spread across her face.

“I’ll take care of Pamela for you.”

She raised one finger.

“But you have to help me too.”

Eliano stared at her.

“It’s simple.”

Isabella leaned closer.

“At the royal ball tomorrow, get Viscount Albich to propose to you.”

Eliano’s expression immediately changed.

Isabella waved her hands.

“Wait! Don’t make that face.”

“I don’t mean seduce him.”

Eliano stared at her.

Then what exactly do you mean?

Isabella wanted Eliano to deal with a man their father had chosen for her.

Viscount Albich.

Eliano narrowed her eyes.

“And how am I supposed to ‘take care’ of him?”

Isabella smiled nervously.

Eliano spoke before thinking.

“Do you want me to hire an assassin?”

Isabella’s eyes widened.

“You want him dead?”

Eliano paused.

I’ve spent too long as Empress of Zacador.

“No.”

She corrected herself.

“I was only asking.”

“No, no, no!”

Isabella shook her head violently.

“Not kill him!”

She took a breath.

“Just get him to propose to you instead.”

Eliano stared.

So basically…

Seduce him.

“No.”

Eliano immediately refused.

“I’ll handle Pamela myself.”

Isabella’s face fell.

“Please, Sister!”

She clasped her hands.

“I don’t want to marry that man!”

Eliano looked at her quietly.

“We were both born and raised here.”

She spoke with surprising calm.

“That means we have to marry whoever Father chooses.”

She paused.

“Take it from your older sister.”

A bitter smile appeared on her lips.

“That’s simply how it is.”

“Come on!”

Isabella looked desperate.

“He’s the type who would fall for you if you said a few nice words!”

She waved her hands.

“It’s that easy!”

Eliano stared at her.

That’s the man they chose for her?

Then again, Isabella was the Duke’s legitimate daughter.

Her father would probably be far more selective about her marriage.

“If you ever truly need help,” Isabella said seriously, “I’ll help you.”

Her eyes became determined.

“Even if you ask me to kill someone.”

Eliano raised an eyebrow.

“Just dance with him.”

Isabella clasped her hands.

“Please?”

Eliano studied her expression.

People with eyes like that tended to keep their promises.

Even if Isabella couldn’t actually kill someone, she would probably try to hurt them for Eliano.

A simple dance in exchange for a favor like that…

It wasn’t a bad bargain.

“Fine.”

Isabella’s face lit up.

“Really?”

“One dance.”

“Yes!”

Eliano sighed.

But she was still doubtful.

Could a man really propose after a single dance?

Was Viscount Albich truly that foolish?

He was the heir of a marquess.

Surely he wasn’t—

“Lady Eliano!”

The answer came immediately.

“You’re so…”

The young man’s face was bright red.

“So beautiful!”

Eliano stared.

“Every time I see you, I feel like I’m going blind!”

His hands trembled around his glass.

“Talking to you feels like a dream!”

He looked toward the ceiling.

“I must have been blessed by a lucky fairy.”

Then he turned back to her.

“Oh, and you go to the temple often, don’t you?”

He smiled foolishly.

“So pious.”

He clasped his hands.

“And so beautiful.”

He looked as though he might cry.

“Wow…”

Eliano sighed inwardly.

He really is that foolish.

The moment she had asked him for a dance, he had spilled his drink.

Then he had dropped his glass.

Eliano looked at the shattered pieces on the floor.

For a brief moment, she had considered marrying someone else before Zacador’s proposal arrived.

Anyone.

As long as she didn’t become Crown Princess of Zacador.

But not someone like this.

Viscount Albich was far too foolish.

More importantly, he was weak.

If Duke Rosana demanded that he return Eliano, he would probably obey without hesitation.

She couldn’t rely on a man like that.

“To be dancing with you…”

Albich looked at her as though she were an angel.

“It’s like a dream.”

He swallowed.

“I can’t even—whoa!”

He nearly stumbled over his own feet.

Eliano caught his arm before he fell.

She quickly let go.

This is hopeless.

Ever since returning to the past, Eliano had carefully examined possible suitors.

She needed someone.

Anyone.

As long as he could prevent the Crown Prince of Zacador from claiming her.

Her tragic end in her previous life had begun with one man.

Marcel Zacador.

So the solution was simple.

She simply had to make sure she never married him.

If she married someone else before Zacador could make his proposal, the royal family would have no legitimate reason to claim her.

Viscount Albich smiled shyly.

“My father may be a marquess…”

He lowered his voice.

“But compared to your noble house, we’re nothing.”

He looked at her dreamily.

“I’ve only admired you from afar.”

Yes.

And you’re hardly the only one.

Half the nobles in this country have probably admired me from afar.

Albich continued.

“I fell for you three years ago.”

Eliano blinked.

“The first time I saw you.”

His smile grew wider.

“I’m so glad our hearts have finally connected!”

Eliano almost sighed.

He thought that because she had danced with him, she must have feelings for him.

How simple-minded.

“Our hearts have connected?”

Her tone was gentle, but there was a warning beneath it.

“That’s quite a bold thing to say, Viscount.”

She glanced around.

“Someone might overhear.”

Albich’s face turned bright red.

“A-ah!”

He immediately lowered his voice.

“I spoke too soon.”

He scratched the back of his head nervously.

“I just meant…”

Eliano watched him silently.

This was going to be much harder than she expected.