Episode 15
Isabella’s maid quickly brought over a teapot and cups. Eliano waved away the maids who were drying her hair. She poured the tea herself, and Isabella’s eyes widened in surprise.
“How can you do it so perfectly without even making a sound? You look like someone who’s practiced this her whole life.”
Was she always this chatty? Eliano tried to remember, but in her past life, she had barely spoken to Isabella, so she couldn’t recall clearly.
“You’re not wrong. You’re the same way, aren’t you?”
“Nope. Father never expected me to be as perfect as you. I’m a wild child compared to you.”
Isabella watched again as Eliano silently set down her teacup and gasped.
“Seriously, how do you do that?”
“I assume you came here for a reason. We’re sisters, so you can get to the point.”
“Come on, tell me your secret! The etiquette teacher won’t stop praising you and keeps nagging me in comparison…”
She really seemed curious. But for Eliano, it was second nature — there wasn’t really a “secret.”
“Um… maybe just relax your hands a bit…?”
The answer came out of nowhere, just to say something to those curious eyes. Eliano smiled awkwardly. Isabella smiled back, her green eyes similar to Eliano’s.
“Sis, I’m debuting in society soon. Just letting you know — I’ll never live like you. I’ve got a terrible temper. So don’t try to lecture me, okay?”
Eliano felt something strange in her chest. In her past life, Isabella had said almost the same thing — though much more harshly.
— “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.”
Watching Isabella giggle now, Eliano felt uneasy. What had happened to her half-sister in that life?
Then Isabella’s next words brought her out of her thoughts.
“I heard Pamela’s on probation. And not because of Father — but because you said so! I was shocked.”
Eliano didn’t reply, calmly sipping her tea. She was thinking about which maid to choose when Isabella said something that nearly made her choke.
“You did great kicking that hag out. Don’t let her back in. She was blocking your eyes and ears.”
Isabella even clicked her tongue and muttered, “About time.”
“Don’t you want to get rid of Pamela for good? I’ll help.”
Eliano didn’t trust kindness without reason — not even from family. In her past life, the moment her husband became heir, his own brothers tried to kill him. She needed to understand why Isabella wanted to get rid of Pamela.
“Pamela will stay on probation until I say otherwise.”
“But what if Father calls her back? He probably knows about the probation by now. Oh, and your command was justified. I mean, she dared to go against a noble lady’s authority!”
“Isabella.”
“You need to get rid of Pamela. If she comes back, she’ll blind you again.”
Isabella looked at her with a strangely pitying expression.
“Thanks for worrying, but… my eyes and ears move according to my will.”
Just then, there was a loud knock — and the door burst open. Despite the maids’ protests, someone barged in.
“Oh, my Lady… Lady Lia… this old nanny has done wrong!”
Pamela fell to her knees, crying in front of Eliano.
“Oh, my dear Lady. I kept thinking of you as a little girl… I forgot you’ve grown up. Please forgive this old woman…”
She looked pitiful, tears running down her face. Eliano’s eyes wavered for a moment, unsure what to say. Sensing this, Pamela cried louder.
“You’re right, I should just die of old age. What kind of excuse is that anyway?”
Isabella scoffed.
“You’re right, Lady Isabella. I should just die… but Lady Ria, I can’t live without you. You’re like a daughter to me…”
Daughter? Eliano’s face hardened.
“Nanny, you seem confused… but I’m not your daughter.”
“Y-yes, of course. Of course, you’re not…”
Pamela hung her head and started sobbing again, out of words. Her acting was terrible. Eliano slowly lowered herself to make eye contact. Isabella gasped, calling out, “Sister!” but Eliano ignored her.
“I know you raised me like your daughter.”
“Yes! Yes, Lady Lia…”
“You said you can’t live without me?”
“Yes! I… I really can’t…”
“But I can’t live with you around. What do we do about that?”
Eliano’s eyes sparkled coldly. Pamela started hiccupping in shock.
“I didn’t release your probation… So you’re here because of Father?”
“Y-yes. He said, you must accept this nanny, hic… because the Duke wants it, hic…”
Pamela’s pitiful mask dropped. Her face turned sharp and cold. In the past, that look had always made Eliano shrink back. But now, an old woman hiccuping and scowling had no power over her. Eliano was no longer that frightened girl.
“I’m enjoying tea time with my sister. Please leave.”
At her signal, two maids grabbed Pamela by the arms.
“My Lady!”
She struggled and shouted, but the maids held her tighter. Isabella added mockingly,
“What are you waiting for? Drag that old woman out already!”
Pamela screamed that Eliano shouldn’t treat her like this — but it changed nothing. As she was pulled out, silence filled the room.
Eliano spoke calmly.
“Now, Isabella. How exactly were you planning to help me?”
At her question, Isabella grinned brightly.
— “I’ll take care of Pamela for you. But you have to help me too, okay? …It’s simple. At the royal ball tomorrow, get Viscount Albich to propose to you. Oh, wait — don’t make that face. I don’t mean to seduce him…”
Isabella had boldly promised to remove Pamela. In return, she wanted Eliano’s help with someone their father had chosen for her — Viscount Albich.
And how was I supposed to “take care” of him?
— “Do you want me to hire an assassin? You want him dead?”
Eliano had spoken before thinking. Clearly, she’d spent too long as Zacador’s Empress. Isabella’s eyes went wide, shaking her head.
— “No, no! Not kill him! Just… get him to propose to you instead!”
So basically, seduce him. Eliano refused, saying she’d handle Pamela herself. Isabella looked desperate.
— “Please, Sister! I don’t want to marry that guy!”
— “We were both born and raised here. That means we have to marry whoever Father chooses. Take it from your older sister — that’s just how it is.”
— “Come on! He’s the type who’d fall for you if you just said a few nice words! It’s that easy!”
That’s the guy they picked for her? Eliano was stunned. Then again, Isabella was the Duke’s legitimate daughter, unlike Eliano.
— “If you ever really need help, I’ll help you. Even if you ask me to kill someone. Just dance with him, please?”
Her eyes were determined. People with that kind of gaze always kept their promises. Even if she couldn’t kill someone, she’d at least try to hurt them for Eliano. So if a simple dance could buy a favour from her — it was worth it.
But still… could a man like Viscount Albich really propose after one dance? Was he that foolish? He was the heir of a marquess, after all. Eliano was doubtful.
And then…
“Lady Eliano, you’re so… so beautiful! Every time I see you, I go blind! Talking to you feels like a dream! I must be blessed by a lucky fairy… I should go to the temple. Oh, and you go often, don’t you? So pious, and so beautiful, and… wow…”
He was that foolish.
As soon as she asked him for a dance, he spilt his drink and dropped his glass. Eliano sighed. She had briefly considered marrying someone else before Zacador’s proposal came… but not someone this foolish.
He was the type who would return her right away if her father demanded it. She couldn’t rely on a man like that.
“To be dancing with you… it’s like a dream… I can’t even… whoa!”
Eliano couldn’t even imagine having such a man as her husband. Ever since she came back in time, she’d been carefully choosing possible suitors — to avoid becoming Crown Princess of Zacador again.
Her tragic end in the last life was all because of her husband, Marcel Zacador. So the solution was simple: never marry him.
If she married someone else before Zacador could make a proposal, the royal family wouldn’t be able to claim her.
Viscount Albich smiled brightly.
“My father might be a marquess, but… compared to your noble house, we’re nothing. I’ve only admired you from afar.”
Yeah… you and half the nobles in this country.
“I fell for you three years ago when I first saw you. I’m so glad our hearts connect!”
He thought she liked him just because she danced with him. Eliano had to stop herself from sighing again.
“Our hearts connect, Viscount? That’s quite a bold thing to say. Someone might overhear.”
“A-ah! I spoke too soon. I just meant…”
