Chapter 108
Chapter 108
“My lady, more letters have arrived.”
Albert placed a tray piled high with letters on the desk. Eleanor stared at the mountain of letters with a look of exhaustion. My goodness, what is all this?
“Again? I haven’t even replied to half of them yet.”
“For a while, your days will feel too short just for writing replies.”
“I suppose so. Refusing is work in itself.”
Eleanor let out a deep sigh. After the academy exam results were announced, dozens of letters began to flood the county estate every day.
「My child is nine years old this year…」 「I would be delighted if you would become my son’s teacher.」 「As for compensation, whatever you wish…」
Seven out of ten were requests for her to become their child’s teacher. It was a natural outcome, given that all three of her students had passed, and Damian had even been accepted as the top student.
‘The truth is, that’s just because Damian is a genius… but people don’t care about such details.’
So, what about the other three out of ten? They came in a variety of types.
「If you are considering a new business venture, how about joining us at the Rossiel Merchant Guild? We are prepared to match the contract terms to your needs as much as possible…」
The most common type was, of course, business proposals. They were suggestions to launch a business together or requests to hear her esteemed opinion, but Eleanor naturally had no interest.
‘No, thank you.’
「The Everett County has had ties with our family since the time of our ancestors… Please grant us the honor of treating you to a fine meal sometime.」
The second type was a bit more unique. Most of the people in this category were those with whom she had a slight acquaintance. The letters, which began as friendly greetings, gradually shifted to emphasize the connection between the Everett County and their own family.
‘In short, they want to curry favor, don’t they?’
Eleanor was once again made aware of her family’s changed status. The Everett County was reasonably wealthy, but it was a family that didn’t particularly stand out. This was because Count Everett had no ambition and was stability-oriented, always keeping a step back from politics. However, with Dwight becoming the crown prince’s aide and Eleanor receiving a royal medal, there was no one in the capital who didn’t know the Everett name. On top of that, the Everett County had forged strong ties with the Valentine Duchy, respected by all citizens of the empire, and the Blake Marquisate, which owned one of the top five merchant guilds in the empire. This made it so that even a marquisate—no, even a duchy—could not easily disregard the Everett County.
‘This is a bit burdensome.’
But it wasn't as burdensome as the final type of letter.
「I am always cheering for you from afar! I saw you at the banquet, and you are so beautiful. I really want to become friends with you. If I see you at the next banquet, I will say hello. Please accept my greeting.」
The pink, apricot, and sky-blue stationery gave off a faint floral scent. The letters, written in cute, rounded handwriting, were distinctly different from the others.
‘How should I describe this?’
Fan mail. Yes, in Korea, this would typically be called fan mail. Eleanor shivered as she read the letters that went on and on about how amazing, pretty, cool, cute, and wonderful she was. Her face was flushed red, as if it would burst at any moment.
‘It’s appreciated, but…’
「Hello. This is Eleanor Everett. Thank you for your letter. Thank you for thinking so kindly of me.」
Eleanor, who had been writing a reply with her pen, slammed her forehead onto the desk. It was so cringeworthy she couldn't stand it.
‘If I were to die right now, the cause would be mortal embarrassment…’
Though Eleanor was unaware, among the young noble ladies of the capital, ‘Eleanor Everett’ was becoming an icon. It was standard for the dresses she wore to official events to sell like hotcakes, and her simple half-up hairstyle had also become a trend. The number of girls hoping to attend the academy also increased.
If there were people who liked Eleanor, there were bound to be those who disliked her. In a corner of the capital, a dark and gloomy energy began to rise.
Anais looked at Duke Izent, who had just entered the hall, with a puzzled expression.
‘It’s still early evening…?’
Every Thursday was the day the social club was held. Duke Izent usually mingled with people and returned late at night.
“Father, why have you returned so early?”
As Anais approached, the Duke snapped at her.
“I can’t stand the sight of you, so get away.”
The social club was a place only a select few permitted nobles in Bellium could enter. To put it simply, it was like a salon for high-ranking male nobles. There was a hierarchy within the club, and Duke Izent held the top position as its president. This was because he invested an enormous amount of money and time into the club, and because many men coveted his beautiful daughter, Anais.
But today was a little different. A lavish betting game was held at the club as usual, but the Duke couldn't join in as he normally would. His financial difficulties had become severe recently. As the Duke sat in a corner, trying to suppress his humiliation, Marquis Croban approached him. He was a man aiming for the club's next presidency.
“Your Grace, why aren't you joining in today?”
Just as Duke Izent was about to open his mouth, the Marquis put on a look of pity, as if he had just noticed his predicament.
“Ah, my apologies, I was being insensitive. Please forgive me. If you don’t mind, I will cover your drinks for today. I hear some expensive and fine liquor has come in. I would be happy to treat you.”
“That’s not necessary. I just don’t feel well today and wish to rest.”
Duke Izent answered as if nothing was wrong, but inwardly, his pride was deeply wounded. It was an infuriating situation.
‘How dare a nobody like him ignore me?’
In the midst of this, when he ran into Anais who had presented him with that damn business proposal, his anger exploded.
“I shouldn't have listened to you seriously in the first place. Coming back with your head full of nonsense…”
The Duke berated Anais in a voice full of rage.
“Do you have any idea how much money we lost because of this? We had to sell two villas! I can’t even show my face outside.”
“But…”
Anais frowned in frustration. It was true that she had proposed the business, but it was her father who had reviewed and approved it. Anais protested meekly.
“But Father, you also said it was a good plan, didn’t you? It’s not like I carried out the business all by myself…”
“How dare you talk back to me!”
The Duke bellowed. He pointed a finger right in Anais’s face.
“This is the second time. Stay confined to your room and do not involve yourself in family affairs ever again!”
The Duke turned away sharply and muttered under his breath.
“Count Everett is thriving these days thanks to his one good daughter… Mine only knows how to spend money and does nothing right, tsk.”
At the Duke’s words, Anais’s face turned deathly pale. The comparison to Eleanor hurt more than any other insult.
Returning to her room, Anais trembled with humiliation and thought. ‘Eleanor Everett… This is all because of that lucky little wench!’ Those business ventures that had caused immense harm to the duchy’s finances were all Eleanor’s ideas. Though she knew it was impossible, it felt as if Eleanor was intentionally attacking her.
The man she had a lifelong crush on, Kaidel, was in love with her. The attention that used to be focused on her was now flowing to Eleanor. As the duchy’s finances tilted due to the business failures, the young ladies who had stuck to Anais, showering her with flattery, no longer showed their faces.
‘This is so humiliating!’
And now, even her own father was comparing her to Eleanor.
Throughout her confinement, Anais remained cooped up in her room, grinding her teeth in anger. Chloe, who had been Eleanor’s maid, became the target of Anais’s venting. Anais, who had entrusted Chloe with her hair, scowled. Her hair had only been pulled ever so slightly, but that was enough to find fault.
“Ah!”
“I-I’m sorry…”
“You can’t even do hair properly, how useless. Is it because you take after your former master?”
Chloe bit her lip hard at the insult directed at Eleanor.
“Since I took in a thing like you, you should try to be of some help to me. Tell me something I should know about Eleanor Everett. Like if she ever hit her maids…”
Chloe immediately shook her head.
“Not at all. Lady Eleanor always treated us well, like friends.”
“Like friends, you say. Well, I suppose the standards match.”
Anais scoffed at Chloe’s words.
“Tell me more about that. How on earth did Eleanor Everett end up playing with all those men?”
Chloe shook her head, her face pale.
“My lady is not that kind of person…”
“What do you mean, not that kind? She went around wagging her tail everywhere with that innocent face, pretending to know nothing.”
That hypocritical wench. Anais spat sharply. Otherwise, there was no way such prominent men would be head over heels for such an ordinary woman.
‘Yes, that’s right.’
An idea of how to ruin Eleanor suddenly popped into Anais’s head.
‘Everyone needs to know what a hypocritical fraud Eleanor Everett is.’
Anais glanced at Chloe. Since she had come from being under Eleanor, it seemed she couldn't be fully trusted.
“Go out and tell Jeanne to come in.”
“But the hair ornaments aren’t finished yet.”
“Just get out. How many times do I have to tell you not to make me repeat myself? Lowborns are so uneducated…”
Chloe’s face reddened as she bit her lower lip hard.
“…Yes, Your Ladyship.”
「Eleanor Everett, Her Private Life」
A few days later, a tabloid newspaper featured an article about Eleanor on its front page. It was the most malicious and persistent newspaper in Bellium.
「If one were to name the person receiving the most fervent attention in Bellium recently, it would undoubtedly be Lady Eleanor Everett, the daughter of the Count. Known as the teacher of His Highness the Prince, as well as the young masters and ladies of a ducal and a marquisate family, she has recently expanded her activities into social projects. She was even awarded a royal medal in recognition of her contributions to the literacy movement. The star of the ‘Everett Syndrome,’ she is literally ‘monopolizing’ the love of both commoners and nobles. Eleanor Everett, is she truly as good a person as she seems? We have secured the testimony of a person said to be her closest confidant. The judgment of the truth is left entirely to the reader.」
“Hah.”
A hollow laugh escaped Eleanor’s lips as she read the article. It was utterly absurd.
“What are these idiots talking about?”
Eleanor frowned in annoyance. It was an act that lacked all courtesy, sense, and journalistic pride. It was a clear invasion of privacy and defamation of character. Eleanor read through the article with a cold expression.
“Let’s just see what kind of nonsense they’ve strung together so elaborately.”