Chapter 163 – Eleanor de Rivalin [1]
There was a small, fragile boy. White hair and lavender eyes. He was a child with a mysterious charm. He was still immature, with a selfish and self-centered personality. I rember that boy.
I look at the man who collapsed in front of now.
I recall.
Current Nox von Reihaver. He’s. Is he really the sa person who hurled verbal abuse at during my childhood past?
To reflect on this, I have to go back to a distant past. Back to the mont that even I can’t fully rember, the mont that left with trauma.
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[Side Story – Past, The mories of Young Eleanor]
“Eleanor! I have great news! The Reinhaver family has officially recognized our rchant group, and even invited us to the prestigious noble family’s social party”
It had been three years since I started working as an accounting assistant for the Rivalin rchant Group.
I was still young. It had been a long ti since I’d heard my father’s excited voice.
My father was the first head of the Rivalin family and the very person who developed this rchant group.
Clarkson de Rivalin.
At first, I was simply happy. My mother, who had always suffered from poor health since my father started his rchant. Finally had a chance to celebrate together
“Especially the head of the family, Lord Theo von Reinhaver, himself seems to have a high opinion of your abilities. He said you’re the most outstanding of your peers. Even Lord Rodwell said so!”
“Really?”
It was delighted news.
At first, I’d started working to gain my father’s attention, but later I realized I had a talent for it, so I planned to continue. Being recognized by soone was more essential than anything else to young . And if it was a head of a noble family?
Of course, It couldn’t get any better.
Naturally, as a child, I had a vague admiration for nobles. I just thought they were born different from us, with a certain elegance in their walk and attire, eating only special foods while engaging in conversation.
That’s why I was excited, thinking that there were only good things, picking out a dress for the party and looking forward to eting kids my age to talk to. I could barely rember the last ti I t soone my age because I’d been so busy with work. My father told it would be a good experience. I still clearly rember my mother’s bright smile. And how happy I was. I even practiced smiling every day in front of the mirror. I rember all clearly.
Of course, as ti flies, when the day of the party ca, and we arrived… All those illusions were shattered.
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“To think commoners dares to attend a party hosted by the Reinhaver family…”
“How low-class, what’s this?”
“Laughable. How can these lowly…”
On the day of the party. The gazes directed at us were anything but kind. Looking back, I think I understand now. They couldn’t stand the idea of commoners like us coming at the party where they communicated.
But back then, I didn’t understand the ways of adults, so I couldn’t help but be shocked. Even if it was the first ti I saw it, the hostility they showed, the sneering looks as if they were disgusted by us… That day, I realized for the first ti that soone who didn’t even know could hate . It scared .
The figures of my parents who were so happy for this. I was more scared that their illusions shattered.
“Father….”
But when I squeezed my father’s hand tightly and looked at him. My father just kept smiling.
He was simply happy just to be there. He looked like that. Even though I wanted to run away, I froze when I saw my father’s face at that ti.
It was because, he was genuinely happy, without a trace of pretense.
As a child, I wondered.
Why?
No one here welcod us, but why did my father like them? Or was just being here such a great and honorable thing?
Maybe it was only natural for people born as low as us to be treated this way?
As I was lost in those trivial thoughts, my father whispered softly to .
“Eleanor, smile. And rember, never say anything harsh or get into a fight with the noble children.”
“Yes….”
My father told to smile. That was all.
It’s okay, Don’t worry, there were no words like these.
At that mont, I couldn’t help but feel like I had been abandoned, left alone in the crowded social hall. This wasn’t the kind of social gathering or party I had imagined.
“So… I heard your son has gone off for knight training. How’s that going?”
“Well, you know… being a knight isn’t exactly easy…”
“Eii~ I even heard he did well in the Eldain Academy. Stop being modest”
This profligate place was full of nobles, chatting and drinking without care. They hid their true feelings, exchanging aningless complints. While rumors of corruption flowed naturally.
Watching this, I was shocked.
Was it because of the nobles?
No, it wasn’t that.
In fact, that wasn’t. It was the person right next to .
It was because of my father.
He genuinely wanted to be a part of this social circle, to have his place here. It was as if my mother and I didn’t matter at all. His eyes were filled with greed.
“Good evening. Though I’m of humble status, I am Clarkson of the Rivalin family. Since it seems we’re going to et often in social circles. I hope we get along well.”
I had seen my father bow many tis before, but never had it felt so disgusting. Just because they held titles, my father beca endlessly servile.
In the end, I let go of my father’s hand. After that, I wandered aimlessly, looking around. I didn’t rember anything.
Just the disgusted looks, as if I was filthy, and trembling with fear at the gaze of the taller and older guys, as if they were going lay their hand on no matter what.
“Hey… what are you doing here? Is this your first ti co here?”
That was the ti. When I heard a young, curious voice calling .
I turned around, shrinking back. There was a boy with white hair and lavender eyes, you could tell at a glance that he was soone who fit in perfectly in this setting.
It was clear he was dressed in fine silk clothes. Even at a glance, he has a restrained, noble deanor. A boy with the most beautiful smile.
Sadly, that was my first impression of Nox von Reinhaver.
I stamred in response to his question.
“Uh… That’s… I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable…”
“Huh? Why are you apologizing?”
Nox sat down beside as he said that. I had been sitting on the stairs, and from Nox’s position, he must’ve thought that it was dirty. Even now, I still don’t know why he did that. Was he trying to make fun of ?
Regardless, our conversation continued. I don’t rember all of it, but I recall that it lasted quite a while.
“Where are you from? Are you from a noble family?”
“No…We’re from the Rivalin family, which just received its peerage…”
Even at a young age, I knew my father had used questionable thods to beco a noble. So I trailed off, and Nox asked again.
“Ah, I see. My father did ntion a new family joining this ti. It must be yours.”
“Yes… probably.”
“How old are you?”
“I, I’m ten…”
“We’re the sa age! Then you don’t have to speak so formally!”
“Eh? How could I, to the Duke’s family, such…”
“Ugh, that’s boring…”
Nox muttered in genuine disappointnt. Maybe he didn’t have friends either?
Maybe he was hoping for a chance like this inside. Summoning courage, I asked.
“That…. You’re Nox von Reinhaver-nim, right? The youngest of the Reinhaver family?”
“Oh, you know my na? Usually, people only rember my brothers’ nas.”
“Yes…”
I had morized his na beforehand since my father had told not to offend anyone, but being praised for it made excited. I found myself starting to feel a little better.
Suddenly, Nox lifted his head and gazed up at the lattice pattern on the ceiling. Then, out of nowhere, he spoke.
“Actually, I don’t really like these kinds of parties.”
“Yes?”
“I don’t like acting all proper… Kids my age draw a line with , and when I try to hang out with them, they avoid . It’s boring”
Listening to him, I thought to myself, I want to talk with him more. Maybe I was happier because I realized there was soone here who was as isolated and lonely as I was.
“I’m… learning accounting in the rchant group”
“Uwaa… that’s amazing. You’re the sa age as ! I can’t do anything like that yet.”
“It’s… it’s not impressive.”
“No, it is! It totally is! My mother told the Rivalin rchant Guild has gotten really famous recently. I had no idea soone my age was working so hard.”
Nox scratched his head and looked at before speaking.
“I should try harder too… It’s frustrating. I want to do better, but it just doesn’t co easy for .”
“What are you working on, Nox-nim?”
“Swordsmanship. Everyone in the Reinhaver family is all about swords! They’re fussy about training. But, my oldest brother is so good… As you can see, my body is weak, and I am not really good at it, so everyone hate ”
“Ah…”
I couldn’t find any comforting words. Who was I to comfort Nox von Reinhaver, the youngest of the esteed Reinhaver family? Did I even have the right to? I keep imrsed in that thought
— Before you speak, rember the difference in status first. Then, think about wealth. Only speak after considering both.
My father’s words. That advice had been ingrained in since childhood. Because of that, I couldn’t easily comfort or encourage him. At this point, Nox wasn’t known as a ruffian. I didn’t think he was bad either.
Not long after.
Suddenly two figures appeared in front of the stairs where we sat.
White hair, but their features were a bit less distinct compared to Nox. Two boys stood there and looked at us. They seed a little older than us. Later, I learned that they were Allen von Reinhaver and Hats von Reinhaver. In other words, Nox’s twin brothers.
Anyway, they approached us and glanced at before speaking.
“Nox, What’s this? Who’s this lowly commoner girl?”
“…Brother.”
“Yeah, what is this? We told you before, didn’t we? Don’t engage in behavior that lowers the Reinhaver family’s dignity. Or what, have you beco friends with her in the anti?”
At his brother’s words, Nox hesitated for a mont, glancing at briefly. Then, he made an expression as if convinced of sothing, and he avoided my gaze as he spoke.
“It was just out of brief curiosity. How could I ever be friends with such filthy trash?”
Boom. If my heart could make a sound, I’m sure it would have been like that. For the young , his word was that shocking. It was because I had a good feeling about Nox
But all of that was an illusion. It was useless. At that mont, I fully realized what feelings I wasn’t allowed to have.
That was when I finally understood.
That this is how the noble world works, soone who was talking happily with you just monts ago could turn on you like this. That in this social hall, I was nothing but prey.
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