Eleanore let out a frustrated sigh, pressing her fingers to her temples in exasperation. Why did this girl insist on pleading for her life over such a trivial matter? She glanced around the room, searching for something, anything, that might help convince the maid she was in no danger.
"Enough!" Eleanore said sharply, her voice echoing off the walls. "Stop all this crying, would you?" She softened her tone, reaching down to gently lift the maid's chin. "Look, I'm not angry with you, all right?"
The maid's lip quivered, her gaze filled with cautious hope. "But, my lady… I… I don't understand. Why are you being so… kind?"
Eleanore gave a resigned smile. "Maybe I've just… turned over a new leaf." She took a deep breath. "Now, tell me your name. I should have known about it, but… it slipped my mind."
The maid looked shocked but managed to stammer out, "Marina, my lady. My name is Marina."
"Marina. That's a lovely name." Eleanore nodded. "I'm sorry for forgetting it. I'll remember it now." She paused, taking in the maid's tear-streaked face. "Look, Marina, I'm not going to kill you or even punish you. I just wanted to… try being kind today. Yes? That's all."
Marina's eyes welled with fresh tears, but this time, they glistened with relief. She brought her hands together, falling into a begging posture again. "Thank you, my lady. I am so grateful. Truly, thank you." She bowed so low that her forehead nearly touched the floor.
Eleanore sighed, half amused, half irritated by Marina's display of gratitude. "All right, enough of that. Now, if you insist on helping, just… just bring me my slippers."
Marina hesitated, looking unsure, but obeyed without further questions. She gingerly placed the slippers beside Eleanore's feet and, with shaking hands, gently lifted Eleanore's right foot, carefully slipping a soft, pink, furry slipper over it before moving to do the same with her left. Once finished, she straightened herself, folding her hands neatly behind her back and lowering her gaze to the floor, awaiting her mistress's next command.
"There," Eleanore said, with a small, satisfied nod. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"
Marina nodded quickly, still having her gaze fixed on the floor, her face bright with relief. "No, my lady! Not at all."
"Good. Now, let's get on with the day, shall we?" Eleanore said, feeling a newfound confidence. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever else this strange, new life had in store.
After all, if she was going to be trapped in this world, she might as well make the most out of it—starting with figuring out exactly who this "Lady Eleanore" truly was.
She rose from the bed and walked over to the luxurious blue velvet couch opposite. Its rich color and softness were a refreshing contrast to the overly pink decor around her. She settled herself comfortably, sinking into the smooth fabric, and then glanced at Marina, an idea stirring in her mind. "Marina, what's my surname?" she asked casually.
Marina's head snapped up, and she blinked in confusion, her expression wavering between fear and puzzlement. She bit her lip, hesitating as she attempted to decode the meaning of that question. Perhaps it was a test—or maybe her mistress had indeed forgotten her own surname? Could that really be possible? 'Has she forgotten her last name too, like my own?' Marina wondered, casting a furtive glance at Eleanore.
After a brief moment, she swallowed and answered with caution, "Sinclair, my lady."
The words echoed in Eleanore's mind, her blood running cold. The name struck her like a bolt, the weight of it sinking in fast.
Sinclair
Her heart pounded as the memories of the web novel flooded her thoughts, piecing together the realization that she was not just Eleanore—she was Eleanore Sinclair.
The implications of that name unraveled quickly in her mind: Eleanore Sinclair, sister to Hael Sinclair, and doomed to die tragically in this very story. Her stomach turned as she remembered the events from the novel "Revenge Is Her Only Desire", where Eleanore's life was cut short by none other than the main Villain of the story, Caelestis Lancaster. Caelestis, who, enraged by Eleanore's actions towards the Female lead, Stella, would end her life at the Crown Prince's birthday banquet.
Unnerved, Eleanore leapt up from the couch and darted over to a mirror framed by an array of perfumes, necklaces, and exquisite earrings dangling from delicate stands. She searched her reflection, her heart hammering as she inspected every feature.
The face staring back at her matched the descriptions she'd read in the novel:
||A breathtaking beauty with long, golden hair that shimmered like molten sunlight, and eyes a rare shade of ruby red, deep and intense. Her features were delicate yet striking, an alluring combination that had caused a wave of infatuation and madness among the men of the empire.
Eleanore's beauty had even driven some men to drastic acts, with tales of unrequited suitors either ending their own lives, losing their sanity, or becoming obsessive stalkers, all in pursuit of her attention.
But there had been one man, the one who mattered most in the plot, who had no interest in her beauty—Caelestis Lancaster. And it was he who would one day kill her.||
***
|| To all the readers who are grieving over Caelestis Lancaster's death. I deeply apologize, but this character always deserved death in my eyes of justice. Although he was a good leader, a good friend, and perhaps a dutiful son, he was never a good lover, friend, or partner to the female lead. Despite his accomplishments, his flaws were insurmountable.
However, if you sympathize with him despite his sins, I have an offer for you.
Would you like to change the destiny of Caelestis Lancaster?
Yes | No ||