Chapter – 13
The tension and fear Eleanor used to feel whenever she looked at Logan had completely disappeared overnight. In their place was a hangover. Her head throbbed as if someone had struck it with a hammer. Still, the pain was tolerable.
“You barely touched your meal.”
The maid who had brought breakfast to Eleanor’s room asked with wide eyes. Except for the soup, almost nothing on the tray had been eaten.
“I’m just not feeling very well.”
Eleanor forced an awkward smile. She couldn’t exactly say she had ruined her body with a hangover. She stood up, thinking maybe a walk in the sunlight would help her recover.
“Lady Hudson, did you sleep comfortably?”
As she reached the lobby, George happened to be there and asked with a pleasant smile. Eleanor returned the smile and nodded before stepping outside through the servants’ entrance.
It was already full summer, and the sunlight felt rather harsh. After a brief hesitation, Eleanor opened her parasol and stepped out from the shade. She needed to recover as much as possible before Olivia’s lesson.
“…?”
She had just reached the middle of the garden when she stopped blankly. Her hangover was getting worse, yet she had already walked too far to easily turn back.
At that moment, the heavy iron gates surrounding the Claiborne estate opened. At the same time, a boy riding a bicycle sped down the neatly maintained path. Half turning her body, Eleanor watched the direction he went.
George, who had been guarding the gate, seemed to have been waiting. He received a bundle of weekly magazines and letters from the boy. It looked like something important had arrived.
George sorted the mail by importance and brought it in. Logan, who was seated at his desk reviewing a security budget proposal, accepted the letters absentmindedly.
“There is one letter from the royal family, Your Grace.”
It was not something that could be ignored. At George’s additional explanation, Logan shifted his gaze to the top envelope. It was firmly sealed with the royal crest. Using his slightly prominent knuckles, he deftly picked up a letter opener. His hands were undeniably masculine rather than elegant.
“…An invitation?”
Inside the neatly opened envelope was a luxurious invitation. It was for the wedding and reception of Princess Daphne, the only princess of Reden.
“So Princess Daphne is finally getting married.”
A dull tapping sound echoed as he lightly drummed his fingers on the desk.
“A joyful occasion for Reden.”
George spoke with a gentle smile. He was someone who still supported the existence of the monarchy even in this capitalist age.
“More like the king’s joy.”
Logan responded with slight cynicism.
Although the noble bloodlines had been mixed and fragmented over time, most of the few remaining ducal families in Reden still traced their roots back to the royal family.
The Claiborne family was no exception.
That was why the king was wary of and disliked the Claiborne family, who possessed such wealth and influence. Of course, the conflicts Logan had with him back when he was crown prince were also part of the reason. Even if it was mostly ceremonial now, the position still seemed precious to him.
‘Logan, marry me.’
Even amid all that, Princess Daphne had approached Logan boldly, unconcerned with political tensions or family lineage.
‘I’m sorry, Your Highness.’
Logan’s refusal reassured the king, but at the same time made him resent Logan. How dare he reject a princess’s love? Of course, the king would likely have opposed it even if Logan had agreed.
“You will need to prepare to attend the ceremony and reception. Shall I call Jeffrey?”
George asked perceptively.
“Please do.”
Logan replied with a tired sigh. George bowed and quickly left the study.
“Your Grace, it’s Jeffrey.”
“Come in.”
Soon, Logan’s secretary Jeffrey appeared. He had been away for about two months caring for his wife after her miscarriage.
“We’ve received Princess Daphne’s wedding invitation from the king.”
“You’ll need a partner for the party. I’ll start looking immediately.”
Even after his absence, Jeffrey easily understood Logan’s intentions. They had worked together for a long time.
“Please look for someone from a modest family.”
“I will prepare a list.”
Jeffrey immediately understood Logan’s reasoning.
Recently, the king had been interfering with Logan’s business ventures. When that didn’t work, he manipulated the administration to delay permits. To avoid provoking him further, Logan had little choice but to be cautious.
“And I also looked into the port city of Dove.”
“Is there a problem?”
Logan set the invitation aside and looked at Jeffrey. As usual before reporting, Jeffrey adjusted his round glasses.
“No major issues. However…”
“Yes?”
“It seems to be an internal issue within Rouen.”
Jeffrey spoke calmly.
“While I was caring for my wife, her cousin who lives in Rouen came to visit. He said he sensed a strange tension there and left early as a precaution.”
Rouen was a country across the sea from Reden. Though it took a full day by ship, if their guns were ever pointed toward Reden, safety could not be guaranteed.
“Is Rouen facing any serious problems?”
“As you already know, the biggest issue is the power struggle between the king and the parliament.”
Parliament wanted to remove the constitutional clause stating:
“The king’s divine authority is delegated to parliament, the judiciary, and the executive.”
They did not want to admit their authority came from the king.
Meanwhile, the royal family wanted to keep it. Naturally. And Rouen’s crown prince was known to be more aggressive and greedy than the current king, unwilling to relinquish future power.
“It does not appear likely to affect Reden.”
For now, it remained their internal conflict. Their fight over the crown was not Reden’s concern.
“You must have had a hard time caring for your wife. I’m sorry to burden you immediately after your return.”
Logan spoke stiffly. His tone wasn’t gentle, but Jeffrey understood the sincerity behind it.
“It’s my duty. And regarding Miss Olivia’s tutor…”
“You don’t need to search anymore.”
Logan raised one hand slightly, naturally cutting him off.
“Cindy Claiborne already hired one.”
“But didn’t you say her choice might be unreliable?”
Jeffrey asked, puzzled. Like Logan, he didn’t trust Cindy and had quietly been searching for alternatives.
“At first, yes.”
“…”
“But from what I’ve observed, she seems trustworthy enough that Olivia relies on her.”
It was a polite way of saying the matter was settled.
“If Your Grace trusts her so quickly, I understand. I will cancel the tutor search and focus on the other matters.”
Technically, Jeffrey had no authority over household staff anyway. He quietly withdrew.
But Logan felt something strange.
“….”
He was not someone who trusted people easily. Even Jeffrey’s position had only stabilized after five replacements.
Logan knew nothing about tutoring. Eleanor had not shown any extraordinary abilities. He was certain she was not particularly remarkable.
And yet…
Why had he lowered his guard so easily and formed such a positive opinion of her?
“…I’m tired.”
Logan muttered, rubbing his face with his large hand. Foreign conflicts and stalled railway projects had never exhausted him like this. Yet thoughts of Eleanor did.
With a small sigh, he opened the terrace door and stepped outside.
Under the warming sunlight, he saw Eleanor walking through the garden with quick steps under her parasol. As if she didn’t know how to wear bright colors, she wore a dark green dress.
Eleanor looked utterly plain. She would walk a little, squeeze her eyes shut, walk again with determination, then take deep breaths repeatedly.
What on earth was she doing?
Without realizing it, Logan leaned sideways against the terrace and watched her awkward movements.
“…!”
By the time Eleanor returned toward the mansion, quite some time had passed. She stopped when she got close enough to see the terrace connected to the study.
She clearly hadn’t expected Logan to be watching her. Her lips parted slightly in surprise before she gave him a gentle smile.
A hot summer breeze swept through, lifting her thick blonde hair. Its color was softer than sunlight, less sharp than gold, yet still radiant.
