Andrew Windsor was cruelly raised by his parents. He was used to being abandoned and betrayed. It wasn't until his debut at the age of ten that he met Eleonora. The beautiful, cheerful girl changed almost everything in Andrew's life.
The loneliness that had accumulated in his life began to dissolve and become a little more colorful. It was as if Andrew couldn't live without Eleonora. They went everywhere together. Until Eleonora became engaged to Prince Gerome. Andrew's warm place suddenly disappeared. Slowly he began to avoid her. Then he stopped seeing Eleonora altogether.
Before that, he left the capital and returned to his fief to train as an heir. He remembered every day of his meeting with Eleonora as a happy thing that could make him survive the education of the successor. He rejected all the arranged marriages his parents had arranged for him. For Andrew there was nothing but Eleonora. Even if he didn't have her.
Andrew was reviewing the documents of his fief today. Before the end of the year, he also had to prepare an administrative report to send to the capital. He did not want to go, he just sent his secretary to the capital as usual.
He did not want to go to the capital to see Eleonora. Because he didn't know if he could control himself after meeting a loved one.
"Master, there are several letters from other nobles. They all contain requests for tea parties and introductions of their daughters!" His faithful secretary informed him, accompanied by the family butler, Demian.
Demian, who was chosen after his 60-year-old father retired, carried a tray of applications under the guise of the tea event.
"As always, send rejections and return the gifts they send!" Andrew didn't even glance at the invitation, which bore the official family seal.
Andrew's trusted secretary, Lucas, couldn't believe it. He had gone to great lengths to persuade Andrew to come to one of the teas held by the local nobility. His Lordship had flatly refused.
"Then, sir, there was a letter that came from the capital. It doesn't have the family seal. It seems to be a personal letter!"
"Just ignore it like the others!"
Demian tilted his head to the right. "Are you sure, sir? This letter is from Lady Eleonora."
Andrew's concentration was immediately broken. He carefully put down his quill, afraid that the ink would smudge the document. He turned to Demian, slightly incredulous at what he had just heard. "From whom?"
"From Lady Eleonora!"
Andrew's heart pounded. All his energy vanished as if sucked away. How long had it been since he had received a letter from Eleonora? A year? Two years? It seemed like a long time.
At first the girl sent Andrew regular letters, but he didn't answer at all. He only gave Eleonora a present on her birthday. The letters from the girl slowly decreased. From a letter every month to a letter every few months. And then, on Eleonora's birthday, they disappeared completely. It was also the last time Andrew gave a present to the girl he loved.
"Demian, please make me some tea! Then put the letter there! You can take care of the other letters as usual! Ah, there's tea already," Andrew said. "Lucas, you can rest today. We'll finish all the paperwork tomorrow!"
Lucas, Andrew's secretary, was quite surprised to hear this. He looked at Andrew as if he was looking at a child who had suddenly changed his attitude to be very friendly after being so annoying. He moved closer to Demian, the butler.
"Tell me, sir is not seriously ill, is he?" Lucas asked.
Demian just smiled and pulled Lucas away. Before he did, he put down the personal letter from Lady Eleonora to his master. How long had it really been since he had seen a look of real joy on his master's face?
Lucas, Andrew's secretary, was quite surprised to hear this. He looked at Andrew as if he were looking at a child who had suddenly changed his attitude to be very friendly after being so annoying. He moved closer to Demian, the butler.
"Tell me, sir is not seriously ill, is he?" Lucas asked.
Demian just smiled and pulled Lucas away. Before he did, he put down the personal letter from Lady Eleonora to his master. How long had it really been since he had seen a look of real joy on his master's face?
Andrew put the quill back in the saucer, organized the documents he had carefully checked, and walked to the tea table. Just as he touched the edge of Eleonora's letter, Demian entered with a cart containing a teapot, other utensils, and biscuits.
"I'll leave you alone, sir! If you need anything, ring the bell!"
Andrew nodded. He waited until he was completely alone again before he looked at the letter that had stirred his emotions so much.
"It's been a long time, hasn't it, Eleonora?" he whispered quietly.
The letter obviously did not answer. It remained in the tray, alone, motionless. Andrew finished his cup of tea before taking the letter from the tray and opening it carefully.
He missed Eleonora's beautiful handwriting.
Dear Andrew, how are you?
When was the last time I wrote to you? I can't remember. I hope you are well in the northern lands.
There are many things I would like to talk to you about. But not in this letter. I know from my trusted servants that you will soon be going to the capital to pay your local taxes. Would you like to stop by my residence?
Andrew wasn't sure he could stop by. He wasn't even sure if he could come. He would refuse. He would say that the North could not be left behind. Eleonora would know what it would be like to leave the fortress in the north. He knew that it was that fortress that protected the kingdom Eleonora lived in and loved from monsters and invaders.
I need your help. I want to break off my engagement to that bastard Gerome. That's why I'm waiting for you in the capital.
We're still friends, right? Please help your friend. I beg you. That bastard wants to make his mistress the crown princess. He's trying to kill me.
Andrew's whole body trembled as he read the next sentence. That bastard Gerome wanted to kill Eleonora. After Andrew had given in because Eleonora's life would be better in the safe capital than in the north, now the girl he loved wanted to be killed.
He would not let that happen. Even if he had to rebel, Andrew would make sure Eleonora was safe.
He reached for the bell to call Demian. The butler hurried in. He seemed surprised that Andrew would still call if he had let go of the longing for the letter that had not come for a long time.
"What should I do, sir?" Demian asked.
"How are the preparations for the capital?"
"Everything is almost finished, sir. By the time you finish the tax paperwork, Sir Lucas will be on his way."
Andrew refilled his empty teacup. "Demian, please assign another butler to Lucas. He'll be overwhelmed if he's alone with the fief."
"Yes? Are you going to the capital, sir?" Demian sounded surprised.
"Yes! I'm going to the capital this time. I have something to do!"