Chapter 6: Eliana Learns About Her Mother’s Past
Yesterday, Cedric bought her a magic bag in the dungeon town.
Eliana stared at the cute waist pouch.
‘It’s amazing that something this small can hold an entire mansion.’
‘Lord Cedric said he would teach me how to use it next time.’
After putting away the magic bag, Eliana headed to the living room where her parents were waiting.
When she entered, Marina, who had been visiting her fiancé’s estate, had returned.
“Sister!”
“Welcome home.”
“Is it really okay for you to come back?”
Eliana hugged her beloved sister and asked worriedly.
“My condition has improved a lot.”
“But it seems it will still take some time before I fully recover.”
Marina’s fiancé had collapsed with a high fever.
Marina had been staying at the count’s house to care for him, but she returned for her younger sister’s engagement.
“Sister, thank you for coming all the way back.”
“I’m sorry it happened at such a time.”
Eliana apologized apologetically.
“What are you apologizing for?”
“Of course I would return for my adorable little sister’s engagement.”
“You mustn’t apologize.”
Marina hugged her tightly.
Eliana felt grateful for her sister’s kindness.
“Good morning, Eliana.”
“Are you ready?”
“After breakfast, we will head to the ducal house.”
At her father’s words, Eliana separated from her sister.
“Good morning, Father and Mother.”
After greeting her parents, she finished breakfast while listening to Marina talk about the count’s house.
The viscount house was located slightly outside the royal capital.
The ducal house was a high-ranking noble house, but the first duke preferred living closer to nature.
Therefore, the mansion had been built far from the center of the capital.
Because of this, the viscount house and the ducal house were not very far apart.
“Eliana.”
“What kind of person is the duke’s son?”
Marina asked.
Eliana thought for a moment.
“Even though he is a high-ranking noble, he isn’t arrogant.”
“He is kind.”
“But he is also very dependable.”
“I can feel that he treasures me.”
“We’ve only known each other for a few days, but that’s how I feel.”
Marina listened with a warm smile.
“It seems Eliana and Lord Cedric are very compatible.”
“They get along very well.”
Father said this.
Eliana blushed slightly.
Mother was also smiling while listening.
However, Eliana sensed something slightly strange.
She could tell that Mother was hiding something.
But she pretended not to notice.
After a while, the carriage passed through the gate of the ducal estate.
However, even after entering the gate, the carriage continued moving for quite some time.
‘Isn’t the distance from the gate to the mansion a bit too far!?’
The mansion built on the vast estate was incredibly magnificent.
Their parents had visited many noble houses before.
But both Marina and Eliana had never visited the home of such a high-ranking noble.
Inside, both sisters were somewhat intimidated.
The carriage stopped in front of the entrance.
When the door opened, Cedric was waiting there with a smile.
“Good morning, Viscount and Madam.”
“And it is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Marina.”
“Good morning.”
Their parents stepped down first.
Marina followed.
Cedric helped both their mother and Marina as they stepped down.
When Eliana stepped down, Cedric placed his hands under her arms and lifted her down.
He gently patted her head with a smile.
It was obvious to anyone watching that Cedric was extremely happy.
“Cedric.”
“I understand that you’re happy.”
“But if you don’t bring them inside, the engagement won’t be finalized.”
Cedric’s father, the duke, called out to him.
Cedric suddenly returned to his senses.
Still holding Eliana’s hand, he hurried inside the mansion.
They were guided to the guest room.
As expected of a ducal house, the room was incredibly luxurious.
However, it was also very elegant and beautiful.
Even so, Eliana felt uneasy.
She walked carefully so that she wouldn’t accidentally break anything.
They sat on a four-seat sofa with the two families seated separately.
Even with four seats, there was plenty of space.
Everything about the room was overwhelming.
The duke sat on a single-seat sofa.
“Now then.”
“I am Patrick Herman, the head of the Herman ducal house.”
“This is my wife, Celine.”
“And my second son, Richard.”
Celine and Richard lightly bowed.
“I am Gilberto Carmine, head of the Carmine viscount house.”
“Thank you for receiving us.”
“This is my wife, Eliza.”
“My elder daughter, Marina.”
“And my younger daughter, Eliana.”
The Carmine family bowed slightly deeper.
The duke continued the conversation.
“Today we will finalize the engagement between my eldest son Cedric and the viscount house’s second daughter, Lady Eliana.”
“Our ducal house would like to request Lady Eliana’s hand in engagement, as it is Cedric’s strong wish.”
“Our house has no objections.”
“What about the viscount house?”
The duke turned his gaze toward Gilberto.
Gilberto responded.
“The viscount house’s eldest daughter will marry into a count’s house.”
“So my second daughter Eliana will inherit our house.”
“If Cedric becomes engaged to her, he will marry into the viscount house.”
“That means he will enter a lower-ranking noble house.”
Gilberto looked toward Cedric.
“If I can become engaged to Lady Eliana and eventually marry her, then it does not matter if I become a baron or even a commoner.”
“Money can be created by one’s own efforts.”
“I completely agree with Lady Eliana’s way of thinking.”
Hearing how strongly Cedric wanted her made Eliana’s chest tighten with emotion.
She already had a loving family.
She was happy.
Yet tears began to fall from her eyes.
Cedric noticed the tears in Eliana’s eyes.
He stood up, knelt in front of her, and gently wiped away her tears.
“Lady Eliana.”
“Are these tears of happiness?”
Eliana nodded.
“Thank you very much, Lord Cedric.”
Seeing the two of them, no one had anything to say.
“Then we will officially record the engagement in writing and present it directly to His Majesty.”
“I am sure His Majesty will be pleased about the marriage of a viscount’s daughter.”
“It seems he did not know about Lady Marina’s engagement either.”
“He was quite disappointed.”
Each time the king was mentioned, Eliza’s complexion worsened.
Duchess Celine noticed and interrupted the duke.
“My dear.”
She shook her head slightly while glancing toward Eliza.
Gilberto had already begun gently rubbing Eliza’s back.
“Father.”
“What is Mother worried about?”
Marina asked.
The viscount fell silent.
The duke said nothing either.
Neither did the duchess.
“I’m sorry.”
“This isn’t something that should be discussed during a celebration.”
“But perhaps it is better to tell you.”
Eliza looked at Gilberto as she spoke.
After apologizing to the duke, she began speaking to her daughters.
Eliza had not originally been the daughter of a count.
She had been the second daughter of a marquis.
She explained about the trouble caused by her older sister.
At the time, the current king had been the crown prince.
Her sister had been friends with the fiancées of the crown prince’s close aides.
Eliza’s sister fell in love with one of the crown prince’s aides.
Together with the crown prince and the other fiancées, they bullied the aide’s fiancée.
Eliza’s sister herself had no fiancé.
However, the crown prince and his aides broke off their engagements.
The noble ladies who had once been their fiancées later regretted their actions.
But Eliza’s sister never repented and was sent to a monastery.
Officially, the marquis house was not punished.
However, Eliza’s engagement at the time was broken off.
The marquis house declined and eventually returned its noble title.
A kind count’s house adopted Eliza, believing she was innocent.
That was where she met Gilberto and later married him.
Even now, Eliza was still a target of gossip in high society.
The man her sister had loved had been engaged to the border count.
That woman later became the current female border count Asti.
“Mother did nothing wrong!”
“You don’t need to suffer for this!”
Eliana said firmly.
Marina nodded in agreement.
“Eliana.”
“You fought back when someone insulted the viscount house at the guild.”
“The border count did the same.”
“She endured when she herself was insulted.”
“But when her house and her father were insulted…”
“That was when she fought back.”
“I feel like I am always being blamed.”
“My parents moved to another country because of my sister.”
“I was lucky to be adopted by the count’s house.”
“But the sins of my family never disappear.”
“The reason your engagements have been delayed…”
“That is also because of me.”
Eliza cried as she revealed the pain she had carried in her heart.
“Madam.”
“You do not need to blame yourself.”
Duchess Celine spoke gently.
“There are still people in high society who speak about your past.”
“But the border count herself pleaded that the family members should not be punished.”
“Those who ignored her wishes are the ones at fault.”
“You bear no responsibility.”
Unable to hold back anymore, Eliza clung to Gilberto and cried silently.
“If we had any objections, the ducal house would not approve Cedric’s engagement.”
“Since our house approves of it, we will help ensure that you no longer suffer.”
The duke spoke firmly.
Duchess Celine nodded strongly in agreement.
“Thank you very much, Your Grace.”
“Thank you, Duchess.”
The entire Carmine family bowed.
“Enough about this gloomy past.”
“And Cedric said he had something to report about Lady Eliana?”
Eliana looked toward Cedric.
Cedric nodded.
“I have something to report.”
“Yesterday, my adventurer rank became S-rank.”
“I understand that this may not be considered appropriate for a noble lady.”
“However, I deeply respect my father’s dedication to protecting the people of his territory.”
“He spares no expense to ensure their safety.”
“I want to become someone like him, who relies on adventurers to subjugate monsters.”
“And most importantly…”
“I want to explore dungeons!”
The ducal family had been impressed by Eliana’s noble intentions.
But suddenly they realized something.
The real point seemed to be the dungeon.
“So Lady Eliana is interested in dungeons.”
“The dungeon near the capital should be easier to conquer than those in the frontier.”
“A noble lady becoming S-rank is not something that can be achieved without extraordinary effort.”
“Our ducal house has no objections.”
“In fact, we welcome it.”
“Please do conquer the dungeon and tell us about it.”
The ducal family gladly gave their approval.
Eliana finally breathed a sigh of relief.