NRAL | CH 29

~Chapter 29~

Not Mine

“What? What did you say?”

“I entrusted everything to you because you said you would handle it, but I’ve already heard that the budget is almost gone. If Ellie had been in charge, there would have been plenty left. Just how extravagantly did you spend it for the budget to run out so quickly! And now you’re asking for more earrings?”

The Duke of Astoria’s initial annoyance grew larger as he continued speaking, his anger swelling like a raging fire. Even Damian, who had known him for a long time, seemed to think it was pointless to try calming him down and simply averted his gaze.

‘See, I told you that trying to gain sympathy wouldn’t work,’

Eleanora thought to herself with regret as she sliced her roasted vegetables.

Nora’s face flushed red with embarrassment. However, the only thing she could say in the end was an apology.

“I’m sorry, Father. I spoke carelessly without knowing my place…”

“…Tsk! Even now, it would be better to leave the debutante ball preparations to Ellie.”

“N-no! It was my mistake, Father. This won’t happen again. Th-there’s not much left that requires a budget anyway… Besides, as the lady of the house, I need to learn how to manage things. I’ll learn a lot from this opportunity. Also, it would be too cruel to ask Ellie to handle my ball preparations. Please let me continue. I’m begging you.”

Eleanora’s lips curled up involuntarily. She quickly grabbed a napkin to cover her mouth, pretending to wipe it.

Nora, you’re really becoming just like me!

“I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.” It was a phrase that Eleanor had always said. She had to say it for her father’s anger to subside.

At some point, that habit of hers had passed on to Nora. Seeing it with her own eyes made it all the more real.

Turning Nora into “Eleanor Astria.” Making Nora take on her misfortune. The fact that the first step of her revenge had succeeded was now clearer than ever.

‘It’s time to move on to the next step.’

The second stage was to make those who had planted hatred and pain within her pay the proper price. This was the step she had longed for, and it was also the most delicate one. If she wasn’t careful, the whole plan could fall apart.

As she considered many possibilities in her mind, Eleanor continued to watch Nora and the Duke.

“…Fine, I understand. But if I hear anything else like this, Ellie will take over the ball preparations immediately.”

“Yes, Father.”

Nora nodded weakly.

If she’s struggling this much already, it’s going to be a real problem later.

Eleanor clicked her tongue internally.

Once all the revenge was complete and Eleanor left the Astria household, Nora would have to handle all the responsibilities of a lady. Preparing for a debutante ball would seem trivial compared to the mountain of tasks waiting for her.

Nora didn’t seem to realize that yet. She was probably still expecting a life where she could wake up late, wear pretty clothes, drink tea, and sometimes attend parties with her lover and friends.

She had never wondered why Eleanor always slept later and woke up earlier than her. Nora had ignored all of that and only envied the shiny things Eleanor had.

So, everything that would happen next would be her own fault.

---

“Hilda, this.”

After finishing breakfast and returning to her room, Eleanor removed the earring dangling from her earlobe and handed it to Hilda.

“Put it in the jewelry box.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Hilda, who was about to take out the large jewelry box, hesitated. Then she turned her head to look at Eleanor, as if asking for confirmation.

In response, Eleanor gave her a bright smile. The clever Hilda quickly understood and went to retrieve a small jewelry box hidden in a discreet place.

The diamond-studded earring, faintly shimmering, was placed inside the box. Hilda carefully hid the box again in a suitable spot.

Now, all that was left was to trust and wait for Nora.

The next day, Eleanor woke up late and suggested to Hilda,

“Hilda, the weather’s nice today. Shall we go for a walk? Maybe even a picnic.”

“Sure, miss. I’ll pack the almond cookies and tea you like. Sir Ernst can come along too.”

“Great. He could use a break too.”

With that, Eleanor and Hilda packed delicious cookies and headed out for a picnic, dragging along the confused-looking Ernst.

The guards stationed near her room were told to keep an eye on her door from time to time.

Ernst suggested posting more knights, mentioning past incidents with thieves, but Eleanor ignored him and pulled him along with her.

By now, spring was in full bloom in the garden. The refreshing breeze carried the scent of flowers, and the sunlight was warm and pleasant.

The two women sat on a picnic mat spread over the green grass. Eleanor suggested that Ernst sit with them and relax, but he stubbornly refused. Seeing that forcing him to sit down might make him even angrier, Eleanor stopped insisting on him.

The weather was comfortably warm, and the chocolate almond cookies and tea were sweet with just a hint of bitterness. It was a perfect picnic.

They returned to the room only after enjoying a sweet nap under the shade of a large tree.

Hilda neatly folded Eleanor’s outerwear and then quickly brought out the jewelry box.

Click. The small jewelry box opened with a cheerful sound.

“It’s gone.”

“Really?”

Eleanor leaned in to take a look.

Indeed, it was gone. The golden earrings she had placed in the box yesterday had vanished without a trace.

It was exactly what they had expected.

“Well then, shall we go catch the culprit?”

A mischievous smile spread across Hilda’s face.

If it had been any other piece of jewelry, it might not have mattered. But since it was a gift from Duke Astria for her birthday and also a present from the royal family, they could make a big deal out of it. Once it was revealed that Nora was the real culprit, her reputation would take a nosedive.

Hilda was itching to run off and catch the thief, her excitement almost visible. Eleanor’s face also brightened in anticipation.

Just then, there was a sudden knock at the door.

“Miss, may I come in for a moment?”

“Come in, Mary.”

It was the head maid, Mary. It seemed urgent, considering she was visiting during what should have been a busy time.

Something didn’t feel right.

Hilda sensed it as soon as she saw Mary entering the room.

Sure enough, Mary looked very troubled. After hesitating for a moment, she finally spoke with a sigh.

“By any chance… have your earrings gone missing, miss?”

How does she know? Hilda’s wide eyes reflected her shock.

Seeing her reaction, Mary squeezed her eyes shut. “Oh no…” she muttered, her voice filled with gloom.

“What’s going on, Mary?”

“Well…”

She hesitated again, which was unlike her usual quick and efficient self.

“Lady Nora has gathered the servants. Apparently, an unknown pair of earrings has appeared in her jewelry box, and she’s saying they seem to belong to you, Miss Ellie. She’s insisting that someone is trying to frame her and demanding that the culprit be found.”

Hilda gasped, her mouth falling open. Stealing the earrings herself and then accusing someone of framing her? Only someone completely crazy would think that way.

“Master Damian… he’s saying this must be something you did, Miss Ellie. I think you need to come out and address this.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

Eleanor immediately stood up. Hilda was about to follow her, but Eleanor stopped her.
“Hilda, stay here for a moment. And a little later…”

A secretive whisper followed. Hilda nodded firmly, and Eleanor gave a light smile before quickly leaving the room.

It didn’t take long to reach the source of the commotion. Nora was using the room Eleanor had previously occupied, and the room Eleanor now had wasn’t far, being in the same wing of the building.

As she approached Nora’s room, she saw a large group of servants gathered around.
They had already assembled an audience to witness the drama unfold. Eleanor could easily figure out what was going on.

Nora, who was proudly standing in front of the crowd, spotted her and came forward.

The main players were finally on stage. The first line of the play was about to begin.

“Ellie! You’ve finally come.”

Eleanor had accepted many changes over time, but she still wasn’t used to Nora speaking to her in such a casual tone.

It didn’t annoy her, but it did feel strange. Since the day they had brought Nora from the slums, Eleanor had always seen her as a much younger sister.

Somehow, they had ended up becoming real sisters.

“What’s all this commotion about? Father clearly told us to keep things quiet until the ball.”

As Eleanor’s cold voice echoed, the people who had been whispering while avoiding the gaze of the young lady and young master immediately shut their mouths.

Eleanor had an aura of authority that neither Nora nor Damian possessed. With just a few words, everyone’s attention shifted to her, and just a glance from her made their lips press together.

“She’s different, having grown up as the lady of the house since childhood.”

“Well, she’s always been the one managing the household properly.”

The servants whispered quietly to each other.

Fortunately, their voices were so soft that Nora didn’t hear them.

“I wanted to let this go too, but something happened that I just couldn’t ignore.”

“Yes, you can’t let it go,” Eleanor replied.

Nora spoke in a calm tone, and Damian, standing beside her as if in support, nodded in agreement. It seemed that these two had grown quite close recently, likely plotting together to get rid of Eleanor.

“This… this earring is yours, right?”

The gold earring with diamonds sparkled in Nora’s hand.

Eleanor remained silent in response. Seeing this, Nora furrowed her eyebrows in a sad expression and continued speaking.

“When I came back from a short walk this afternoon, I found this unfamiliar earring in my jewelry box. I didn’t want to believe it, but… it seems like someone deliberately placed it there to frame me. And it just so happens to be your earring. That’s a really cruel thing to do.”

“So, sister. Do you have any idea who could’ve done this? I’m thinking it might be someone who would suffer the most now that the real lady has returned.”

Damian pointed his chin at Eleanor, openly implying that she was the culprit.

Gasp. The sound of people inhaling in shock could be heard all around.

The audience couldn’t tear their eyes away from this confrontation between the two women—one the real lady, the other the fake. They were excited, thinking that what they were witnessing might soon make the headlines in the papers.

Only Mary, the head maid, felt deeply uncomfortable with the situation, but instead of dismissing the servants as usual, she just sighed heavily and let things play out. This was because Damian had recently threatened her, warning her not to interfere with his plans.

As everyone eagerly awaited Eleanor’s response, she finally opened her mouth.

“That’s not mine.”