"Lady, a letter from Lady Cecillia has arrived."
After enjoying the fresh morning air with Ralph, and discussing recent social happenings I had missed while attending the academy, I returned to my room feeling somewhat relieved.
Though the information gathered from nobles wasn't particularly valuable, it was enough to give me a clearer picture of the current social landscape.
'At least my efforts in going to great lengths to sabotage Alger's letter were not in vain.'
Using Eleanor's sensitive skin as an excuse to avoid the harsh sunlight, and with Ralph leaving early to attend to other duties since Alger hadn't returned, I could finally relax in peace for a while.
I planned to relax in my room and brainstorm questions I could ask Alger without mentioning the Crown Princess selection. I wanted to ensure he wouldn't realize I already knew about it, and especially not make him suspicious.
Naturally, I intended to extract as much information from him as possible!
That was the plan, at least—until Tina handed me a lily-scented envelope. Once again, there was no crest from the Emmeline family seal, marking it as another unofficial letter from Cecillia. This was the second one since I agreed to entertain her correspondence, albeit reluctantly.
'How long is she going to keep sending letters like this?' I wondered, my curiosity piqued. 'Is she hiding these from the Duke? But why...?'
Breaking the seal, I unfolded the letter and raised an eyebrow at the dense script filling the page. My heartbeat quickened, sensing that whatever Cecillia had written would only add to my growing list of headaches.
[I'm so glad you agreed to exchange letters, my dear friend!! Oh, Elen, let me get straight to the point—I heard something utterly terrifying last night after returning from your estate. But I couldn't believe it, so I went to our favorite boutique this morning to confirm it myself. Do you know what I found out? The Emperor is planning a massive Crown Princess Selection Tournament across the Magnolia Empire! But I suspect this absurd event is just a ploy to target me specifically, as the unmarried daughter of a Duke. Eleanor, my dearest friend, please help me! Write to me with any ideas you have to save me from this ridiculous situation. I'll accept anything with open arms, truly! —Cecil.]
I could only sigh after reading her overly dramatic plea.
In the original plot, Cecillia learned about the tournament by overhearing a conversation between Duke Emmeline and his secretary.
'But to think this happened after visiting Gwendolyn's residence… Could it be that the men in the Marquis's study yesterday were discussing this very topic?' I wondered, piecing together the timeline.
Returning to Cecillia's letter, I reread her earnest, neatly penned words. Despite her lack of formal education compared to Eleanor, her handwriting was surprisingly neat.
Cecillia firmly believed that the tournament was a covert attempt by the Emperor to pressure her, the unmarried daughter of a Duke, into becoming the Crown Princess. Considering the Emmeline family's immense influence, I couldn't entirely blame her for reaching that conclusion.
After all, it was logical for the Imperial family to seek alliances with powerful noble houses to strengthen the Empire.
But knowing the true reason behind the Emperor's actions, I couldn't help but find her confidence both naive and endearing.
'The Emperor's sole motive is to ensure the Crown Prince marries quickly so he can have grandchildren. He doesn't care who the bride is—even a commoner would suffice as long as she's a citizen of the Magnolia Empire.'
Cecillia's overthinking was consistent with her act in the original plot. As her anxiety grew, her judgment became clouded, leaving her vulnerable to manipulation by John Burbom, who took advantage of her desperation, convincing her that this was the only way to evade being chosen as Crown Princess.
'But why didn't Cecillia first confide in Eleanor, her childhood friend?'
From the beginning, Cecillia genuinely valued her friendship with Eleanor, despite their contrasting personalities.
Even now, her letter reflected her trust, laying bare her thoughts without hesitation or pretense. It was as if she believed Eleanor would never judge her—a sentiment she had once voiced in the story.
"I enjoy talking with Eleanor because I can speak freely about anything, and she listens without judgment. She's a wonderful listener."
These words once said by Cecillia herself softened my frustration. While Cecillia's actions in the novel were undeniably foolish, leading to her betrayal of a cherished friendship, I couldn't bring myself to hate her.
That guilt was why I ultimately agreed to this letter exchange, even though I had initially ignored her formal invitations. I owed her that much.
"Lady, there's another letter—from the academy. It's about your graduation," Tina announced, handing me a thick envelope filled with certificates and accolades Eleanor had earned. She then retreated to give me privacy as I continued reading Cecillia's letter.
The words 'Chronos Academy' embossed on the envelope caught my eye, and I let out a soft oh.
'In the original plot, Eleanor would have still been at the academy, only returning to the capital after graduation. Cecillia wouldn't have been able to contact her at all.'
I could vividly imagine Eleanor's shock upon attending her first imperial banquet after years away, only to see her fiancé escorting her friend instead of her. And Cecillia, who had been misled by John Burbom into believing Eleanor wouldn't be there, would be equally stunned.
At that moment, Cecillia, the daughter of a Duke, felt her once-clouded mind clear instantly. She realized she had been deceived, exploited, and manipulated by none other than a lowly baron's son.
To make matters worse, a shocking announcement from the Emperor himself shattered the tense and confusing atmosphere of the imperial banquet. The Emperor declared an outrageous tournament to select the Crown Princess, mandating that all unmarried ladies participate. This announcement and the scandal left an indelible mark on the nobles in attendance—a day they would never forget.
I rested my chin on my hand as my mind replayed several scenes, imagining Cecillia's turmoil. She had just come to understand how chaotic the situation had become.
Desperately, she wanted to free herself from John Burbom, the man responsible for this mess, and run to Eleanor, whose face had gone pale, to explain what was truly happening. But Cecillia couldn't move.
She was frozen in place as John held her back, threatening to reveal something in front of everyone if she dared to act. Meanwhile, Eleanor, who had always been difficult to communicate with, now seemed even more distant and unwilling to talk, completely shattered by the situation.
By the end of the story, although everything has been resolved, the two innocent women find themselves in a strained relationship. Despite the situation being fixed, their once-precious friendship lies in ruins.
They go on to live their lives as strangers, forever changed by the events that happened.
"..."
Strangely, reflecting on all this eased the weight on my mind. With a lighter hand, I reached for my quill pen, feeling almost compelled to respond to this absurd letter.
'Alright, Cecillia, I'll give you a chance to escape this ridiculous fate that binds you and Eleanor to that shitty man,' I thought, a faint smile unknowingly forming on my lips.
Just as I believed that Eleanor would be able to escape the ridiculous fate my little brother wrote in the novel, I felt equally certain that Cecillia also had the right to break free from this absurd situation.
With renewed resolve, I began to write my response, careful to weave in the subtle hints and support that would guide her toward the freedom she so desperately needed.
It was time for her to take charge of her own destiny, and I was determined to help her find the strength to do so.