Chapter 79
Chapter 79
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 79
“It was her then! The person who always sent you letters!”
Adrian’s eyes shook greatly at the man’s words.
“Hello. I’m Mars Delion. “I was Adrian’s roommate.”
Adrian’s roommate.
Eleanor quickly smiled and greeted.
“Hello, Mars. I’m Eleanor Everett.”
“We finally meet. The main character of the letters that Adrian read every time he had time.”
“Every time he had time?”
She glanced at Adrian. He scratched his head shyly.
‘Even though you didn’t reply, you read it diligently.’
Eleanor smiled lightly. Although it was a long time late, she felt like the disappointment she felt at that time was melting away.
Mars smiled brightly and continued.
“Everyone was curious. When I asked him if it was his lover, he said no, yet the look on his face as he read the letter was extremely suspicious.”
“Leave us alone, Mars.”
Adrian thumped Mars on the shoulder with his fist to dissuade him. His ears were bright red.
At that time, Jeffrey, who was next to him, added.
“She’s Dwight’s twin brother.”
“Ah, really?”
Everyone seemed to know Dwight well. In the noisy atmosphere, Eleanor awkwardly wiggled her fingers.
The man sitting across from her spoke to Eleanor.
“I thought your face looked a bit familiar. You came on graduation day, right?”
“Yes, I did.”
Eleanor nodded. He glanced at Adrian and opened his mouth.
“I fell in love at first sight and asked Dwight to introduce me, but…”
“Oh my, is that so?”
Eleanor’s eyes widened. Adrian growled lowly.
“Shut up, Griffin.”
“For some reason, I got hit in the back by Adrian.”
Eleanor’s gaze fell on Adrian’s cheek. He was glaring like he was going to kill the man who was smirking and laughing across from him.
“Only today did I find out why I got hit. Haha.”
Maybe it was because it had been a while since they had seen each other, but an hour passed just by exchanging updates on what they had been up to. Eleanor sat blankly, sipping a glass of fragrant wine.
There was nothing special about the party on board, except for the occasional loud rolling of the ship. Eleanor’s fantasy was broken slightly.
But she wasn’t bored or anything. This is because stories about Adrian’s school days, which were hidden behind a veil, poured out endlessly.
Adrian, surrounded by his male friends, looked a little different than usual. He was blunt and harsh, similar to his adolescence, but he seemed much more mature.
‘Did I drink too much? I want to go to the bathroom.’
She drank quite a bit, sipping little by little. She glanced and raised her body.
Adrian asked, grabbing Eleanor’s wrist.
“Where?”
Because all the attention was on her, she was embarrassed to say out loud that she was going to the bathroom. Eleanor looked around roughly.
“Ah, just watching around.”
“Let’s go together.”
Yeah, we can’t go together.
Eleanor shook her head and pressed his shoulder to sit down.
“No. You’re sharing stories. I’m just going to watch around.”
Only then did Adrian, who realized Eleanor’s intentions, let her go.
“Alright. Be careful.”
After completing her business, Eleanor started to walk back to the table where Adrian was sitting with her.
‘Who is it? Are they friends?’
Well-dressed women were surrounding Adrian. It was unusual for him to smile and gently touch his shoulder.
It certainly didn’t seem like they approached him purely because they were happy to see a friend they hadn’t seen in a long time. They were very forward, even though they must have seen he came with Eleanor.
“Hmm, I heard he was popular, so it’s true.”
Eleanor muttered softly and slowly tilted her head. It was somehow subtle.
Should she go through all those people and sit down, or should she wait for a while to go back?
That was when Eleanor stopped and thought for a moment. she saw a familiar figure in the distance.
“Dahlia Morris?”
It seemed like the other person had also discovered Eleanor. The two people who were looking at each other from a distance slowly narrowed the distance.
“Hello.”
Eleanor greeted first. Dahlia lifted her hand and lowered it.
It was the first time she had seen her since their meeting at the Duke’s residence. Eleanor, knowing that Dahlia was involved in the development of the textbook, felt a little uncomfortable seeing her.
Dahlia asked after she hesitated for a moment.
“Are you here with your brother?”
“No, Adrian.”
At her words, Dahlia made an, ah, sound.
“You’re the partner everyone is curious about.”
Eleanor nodded wordlessly. Dahlia suggested.
“Do you want to go out on deck for a moment and talk?”
“Alright. Let’s do that.”
The two came out onto the dark deck. As she stood there feeling the cool breeze, she felt a little relieved.
Eleanor held on to the railing and looked down at the lapping, shimmering waves. It was beautiful.
Then Dahlia carefully opened her mouth.
“I’m talking about that textbook.”
“I didn’t know you would bring it up first.”
Dahlia shrugged her shoulders.
“…That’s a shame. I think it was a shameful thing to do.”
Eleanor locked eyes with Dahlia without saying a word. The nervous Dahlia lowered her eyelashes as she spoke.
“I tried to refuse. I really didn’t want to do it, but I had been teaching the youngest prince for a long time…”
(prince in this context is duke’s son)
Dahlia rambled on about the words that came to her mind. At some point, she didn’t even know what she was talking about. But if not now, she didn’t know when she would see Eleanor again.
Eleanor, who had been listening to the ramble, raised her hand and stopped her.
“So… You feel sorry for me?”
There was no word of apology, but that’s what it boils down to. Eleanor crossed her arms tightly and waited for Dahlia’s answer.
Dahlia, whom she had hit the nail on the head, slowly nodded.
“…That’s right. I’m sorry.”
Hmm. Eleanor pursed her lips with an indifferent expression. Dahlia glanced at her, yet when their eyes met, she immediately looked away.
“Alright. I forgive you.”
After thinking for a moment, she accepted her apology.
“…Really?”
Dahlia slightly furrowed her eyebrows as if confused. Eleanor shrugged her shoulders.
“You apologized first. I understand that your position was difficult. It doesn’t feel good, but there is someone else who is really at fault.”
Despite this, Dahlia still had an uneasy look on her face.
“Why do you look like that?”
“I don’t know. Just, I thought… you’d be a little more angry.”
It might be a bit bland.
At Dahlia’s words, Eleanor placed her hands on her waist.
“Do you want me to be more angry?”
She shook her head quickly. Before she knew it, her face had a gently melted look. Eleanor said with a grin.
“I don’t know. Life is short. I don’t want to stay angry for long.”
Eleanor straightened her body, leaning against the railing. It was quite late for her to get back to Adrian right away. He might be worried.
“I’m going to go in.”
Eleanor waved her arm roughly at Dahlia in greeting. Just as Eleanor was turning around, she called out to her.
“Eleanor.”
She turned her head as if asking why.
“If you want to protect what’s yours, be careful around your surroundings. Don’t trust people too much.”
“What are you talking about?”
Eleanor narrowed her eyes at the meaningful words. Dahlia slowly shook her head.
“…I can’t go into detail. But mark my words. Take a good look around.”
Dahlia hurried away from her spot. Eleanor stood there blankly, thinking over what she had said.
She doesn’t think she just said it, but there was nothing to point out. This is because Eleanor’s daily life these days was all about peace.
‘Who is she talking about, around me?’
The faces of Adrian, Kaidel, and Izmel passed through her mind one after another. There was no one among them who could be suspicious.
‘From what Dahlia says, it seems like Anais is planning something again…’
It was when Eleanor was deep in her thoughts. Someone next to her called her.
“By any chance, are you Eleanor Everett?”
It was an old white-haired man. Eleanor asked, tilting her head.
“Who are you?”
“You’re grown just like when you were young. I don’t know if you remember, but I visited you even when you were young. My name is Aster Logostoa. Do you remember?”
Aster Logostoa.
Although she didn’t know much about him when she was younger, Eleanor now knew him well.
He was a legendary scholar who served as a counselor to the previous emperor of Bellium and former principal of the Academy. Not only was his knowledge deep, but his reputation was also wide, so many people followed him. There was even a school named after him.
“Ah, it’s an honor to meet you. I’m Eleanor Everett.”
Eleanor quickly grabbed the hem of her skirt and greeted him politely.
“You were a cute little girl back then, yet now you’re such a sophisticated lady. Maybe time flies so fast…”
Aster chuckled and ran his hand down his abundant beard. Seeing him as friendly as the grandfather next door, Eleanor’s tension slowly eased.
“I saw your current situation in the newspaper. I suddenly wondered how you were doing, and at some point, I heard your story here and there. It was so nice to see you.”
“Thank you.”
“From the moment I first saw you, I knew you were no ordinary child. I still remember what you said in response to the last question in the interview.”
Eleanor’s eyes widened.
“I don’t even remember the questions I was asked back then?”
“I asked you if today was the last day on earth, what would you do?”
Eleanor seemed to know exactly what she would have answered. It was a remnant of cramming education.
“…I would have answered that I would plant an apple tree.”
“Oh, do you remember?”
She does, every time. If someone asked her now, she probably would have given them the same answer.
Eleanor laughed awkwardly.
“It was the most impressive answer I heard that day. Through your answers, I was able to find the answer to the philosophical question I had been thinking about. Thank you, Eleanor.”
It was too much praise for someone who secretly borrowed someone else’s famous quote. When Eleanor bowed her head, he praised her even more for her humble self.
“You’re teaching children, right? Do you have any good children?”
Eleanor nodded her head confidently.
“All of my students are outstanding talents. They’re so great that they can’t even be compared to me.”
“I’m looking forward to it since you said so.”
Aster laughed cheerfully. He asked.
“Have you thought about what happens next? After you’re done teaching the kids.”
Eleanor shook her head. Even so, it’s the issue she’s most concerned about these days.
“I’ve been thinking hard about it these days.”
“Really? Then I’d like to make a suggestion.”
Aster looked at Eleanor and smiled at her.
“Don’t you want to travel the world freely and study?”