Eleanor refrained from going out for quite some time. It was not only because of the direct warnings from the male leads.
In the first place, society believed that a noble lady who had broken off an engagement ought to remain quietly at home.
So, partly to wait for the newspapers rampaging like wildfire to calm down, she stopped all outings entirely.
About a month passed after the broken engagement, and both the gossip papers and the social circles gradually lost interest and quieted down.
Watching the aristocratic ladies now buzzing over a story about some noblewoman running off with her coachman, Eleanor finally stretched in relief.
Things had settled faster than she expected. Maybe it was because this was already her third broken engagement. Or perhaps it was because the true reason had never been revealed and had merely been glossed over. People’s interest had burned hot and died just as quickly.
Either way, she was glad the spotlight had shifted elsewhere. A broken engagement was a broken engagement, and she needed to return to her normal life too.
For the first time in a while, Eleanor visited the Marquis Maxil estate to see Stella. Since she had only made the bare minimum of outings lately, she had not even been able to meet her friend.
The four male leads had been visiting the Stykov estate so often the front doors may as well have worn down, making it impossible to invite Stella over to the count’s house.
So, as always, Eleanor was the one who went to the Maxil estate instead.
“If they really cared about Lady Stykov, shouldn’t they be the ones restraining their visits?”
Stella crossed her arms with an irritated expression. Even when Eleanor had sent a letter explaining the situation, Stella had replied with furious profanity scribbled in nearly illegible handwriting.
Knowing her friend’s temper well, Eleanor had avoided arranging meetings even more carefully. If Stella met those men, there would undoubtedly be an argument.
And with the Crown Prince among them, that simply could not happen.
Eleanor did not want Stella getting caught up in trouble because of her own problems. She shrugged lightly while biting into a butter cookie.
“They only said those things because they adore Lydia so much. I don’t take it badly.”
“Then tell them to stop constantly hanging around the house of an unmarried young lady with no fiancé. There’s a limit.”
“Stella, you do know His Highness the Crown Prince is included in that group, right?”
“He’s not in this room, is he? They say people even curse His Majesty when there are no ears around. Why should the Crown Prince be different?”
Eleanor smiled faintly at Stella’s shameless confidence.
Her friend’s blunt tongue and combative personality had always been a comfort to Eleanor.
Things Eleanor only swallowed internally while acting as the heroine’s older sister—Stella would casually spit them out loud instead. More often than not, it felt cathartic hearing it from someone else.
“And tell your sister to stop inviting men over all the time too.”
“Lydia doesn’t invite them. They come on their own even when she doesn’t.”
“Then tell her to stop them from coming on their own. One word from that girl and every single one of them melts.”
Eleanor merely smiled and sipped her tea.
Saying cruel things to her younger sister was not something the heroine’s older sister was supposed to do.
And if she accidentally shifted into the role of a villainess, that would become an enormous headache.
Just as she always had, it was easier to remain in the role of the older sister. She was exhausted from it, but for now there was no alternative, so she chose the familiar path.
After all, Eleanor was only an extra. There were countless people who could replace her role. There was no reason to struggle already.
Most women in this world, other than Lydia, were merely extras anyway.
“It’s fine. I’ll be inviting guests myself soon too, and I don’t want people nitpicking unnecessarily.”
“But yours is an official tea party you’re hosting. That’s different from men privately visiting your home.”
“It only matters because they’re people capable of making different things seem the same, and the same things seem different.”
Stella could not argue with that.
The dazzling ranks and prestigious families attached to those men immediately came to mind. Every one of them possessed enough power to redefine reality however they pleased.
And because matters involving Lydia were essentially family matters, Stella could no longer push the issue.
She did not want to seem overly intrusive in another family’s affairs. Besides, Eleanor and Lydia appeared to be very close sisters. If Stella criticized Lydia too harshly, Eleanor might dislike it.
With a complicated expression, she stared at Eleanor, who simply crunched lightly on her cookie.
Outwardly, Eleanor looked every bit the kind and loving older sister devoted to her sibling. Yet sometimes there was something strangely unsettling about her.
But Stella could never quite pinpoint what it was.
Because whenever Eleanor opened her mouth, she always spoke lovingly of Lydia.
“So, how’s the party preparation going?”
When a topic had no conclusion, changing the subject was the wiser choice. Apparently thinking the same thing, Eleanor naturally followed Stella’s lead.
“I’m debating whether to hold it outdoors or inside.”
“Wouldn’t indoors be less complicated? There’ll be quite a lot of guests.”
Since it would be the first party after Eleanor’s engagement with Edward had been broken off, both women tactfully avoided mentioning the deeper reasons aloud, as if by prior agreement.
Instead, they seriously discussed how to manage the massive number of attendees.
After finally deciding to host it indoors, the two chatted away happily.
Then suddenly, Stella’s maid knocked hurriedly and entered.
The urgency in the sound made them blink in confusion. Behind her appeared Lisa, Eleanor’s maid, her face deathly pale.
“Lisa, why do you look like that? Did something happen?”
“M-My lady…”
Lisa looked as though she might burst into tears at any second, making Eleanor panic. Just earlier, on the way here, Lisa had been more excited than Eleanor herself.
Seriously worried, Eleanor wrapped a hand around Lisa’s arm. Stella’s maid looked equally grim, sending a terrible feeling through her chest.
“What happened to both of you? Tell us.”
“…Sandra just returned from town and heard…”
Pressed by Stella’s sharp tone, the maid inhaled deeply before speaking. Lisa sniffled and clutched Eleanor’s hand, as if trying to brace her against the shock.
“Young Master Hans proposed to Lady Stykov.”
The maid squeezed her eyes shut and blurted it out.
Stella’s face instantly froze cold, while Eleanor slowly turned her head.
Her mind understood the words, but her heart demanded a more specific explanation.
“Could you explain that in more detail? Who proposed… to whom?”
“T-That is… Young Master Edward Hans proposed… to Lady Lydia Stykov…”
“That bastard!”
Unable to hold back, Stella exploded into vulgar curses. This time even the maids could not stop her. They simply swallowed nervously and watched the two young ladies carefully.
“And he apparently announced that he broke off the engagement because he was in love with Lady Lydia.”
Lisa added in a trembling voice.
“In the middle of a crowded shopping district…”
Eleanor felt the ground beneath her feet tilt.
How exactly was she supposed to clean up this catastrophe? Just imagining it already made her vision darken.
“…When did this happen?”
“About two hours ago. The rumors spread everywhere, and special editions were already printed.”
The maid pulled a newspaper from her waist pouch and handed it over with trembling hands.
Stella snatched it first, read the article, and immediately cursed “that bastard Edward Hans” again.
Eleanor calmly took the paper and read it herself.
Breaking News) Eleanor Stykov’s Third Former Fiancé Was Actually In Love with Lydia Stykov! Sisters Fighting Over One Man?
At approximately 1 p.m. today, Edward Hans (22) proposed to Lydia Stykov (19) outside Melua Dessert House.
Only a month after breaking off his engagement with Lydia’s older sister, Eleanor Stykov (21), his shocking actions caused an uproar among witnesses.
Kneeling romantically on one knee while presenting a bouquet of roses, Edward Hans confessed:
“The person I’ve always loved was you. I only became engaged to Eleanor because she liked me, and I reluctantly agreed so I could stay close to you. I love you, Lydia. Will you marry me?”
Eleanor tore the newspaper cleanly in half.
Toward the end of the article, there was even outrageous speculation suggesting that Eleanor had known Edward liked Lydia and intentionally gotten engaged to him in order to interfere.
Reading the gleefully malicious article, Eleanor could already see the future unfolding before her eyes.
“Edward Hans… that bastard.”
She muttered the words lowly.
Reluctantly agreed because she liked him?
It was true that Eleanor had been the one to propose the engagement first, but Edward had never looked unwilling.
If he had shown even the slightest hesitation, Eleanor would have been the one to end it immediately.
She had brought up the engagement, yes—but Edward had accepted it readily.
“If someone as lacking as me is enough for you… thank you, Ellie.”
Back then, he had spoken like that.
And now he dared to twist the story this way?
The implication that he had always loved Lydia while Eleanor clung desperately to force the engagement made rage boil inside her.
The torn newspaper crumpled violently in her hands.
“I’m sorry, Stella. I think I need to go home.”
Forcing a smile, Eleanor began preparing to leave.
Now that such a disaster had erupted, she could not remain leisurely at the Maxil estate even a moment longer. Lisa wiped her tears and hurried off to call for the carriage.
“Will you be alright?”
“Yeah. I’ll contact you later.”
Stella escorted her out with a worried face.
Eleanor smiled until the very end for her friend’s sake, but the moment she stepped into the carriage, the smile vanished instantly.
While her guard had been down, Edward had thrown a massive bomb into her life, leaving her stomach churning.
The entire ride back to the Stykov estate, Eleanor anxiously bounced her leg.
And when she finally arrived home and saw the familiar carriages lined up along one side of the garden yet again, she nearly bit her tongue in frustration.
“My eldest lady… the young miss is…”
The butler greeted Eleanor with an awkward expression.
He never finished the sentence, but she already understood.
Groups of maids stood scattered throughout the halls, sneaking nervous glances at Eleanor, clearly unsure what to do.
“I’ll go myself.”
Eleanor removed her shawl and handed it to Lisa before heading upstairs.
She already knew exactly who she would find if she entered Lydia’s room, but there was no helping it.
A heroine’s older sister who adored her younger sibling absolutely had to go to Lydia.
Because Lydia was undoubtedly crying.
As she entered the corridor, faint voices drifted through the air. Eleanor stopped before Lydia’s door and knocked gently.
“Lydia, it’s me. Can I come in?”
The conversation inside abruptly stopped.
She stepped back slightly from the door, and moments later hurried footsteps approached.
Then the door flew open, and a small bundle of pink rushed straight into her arms.
“Big sister!”
Eleanor wrapped an arm around her little sister’s back as Lydia clung tightly to her waist. Lydia buried her face against Eleanor’s shoulder, her body trembling faintly.
Eleanor gently stroked her long, silky hair until Lydia slowly lifted her head.
“Big sisteeer…”
How could even her crying look beautiful?
The reddened tip of her nose, her eyes, her cheeks—it all looked as though flower petals had stained her skin pink. Her tear-filled eyes shimmered like emerald jewels.
Judging by her bloodshot eyes, Lydia must have cried quite a bit already. Yet even then, she looked lovely rather than pitiful.
Carefully pulling out a handkerchief so as not to irritate Lydia’s delicate skin, Eleanor gently wiped away her tears.
Lydia lowered her head with a sniffle.
“Big sister, I…”
“I know. Let’s go inside and talk first.”
If they stood here talking, Lydia might cry herself into fainting.
And then Eleanor would be the one left in an awkward position.
No matter how unwilling she felt, it would look bad to others if she stayed outside. She had no choice but to enter the room.
Softly guiding Lydia by the shoulders, Eleanor stepped inside.
As expected.
The exact people she had anticipated were already seated across the sofas, staring straight at her.
