Chapter 69: Eleanor’s Little Scheme

Isolde’s heart stirred slightly as she said, “I promise. I’ll be careful.”

Oliver smiled, his eyes darkening as he looked at her. “No, after it’s done, treat me to a drink.”

Isolde paused, a little awkward. “Well, I’m sure if you’re willing to accept… I’ll happily…”

The conversation drifted off, neither of them mentioning the Valen family concubine banquet. While an interesting topic, neither seemed inclined to discuss the people involved, finding the idea rather repulsive.

That night, Isolde couldn’t sleep. Beyond the plan, she contemplated the future. Pablo had already begun his return, and marriage discussions would inevitably arise. Refusal would be easy, but Pablo already considered her his savior, and she feared he would push hard for it. Her grandfather was also on his way back to Argentum. His temper was fiery, and his methods harsh, making it harder to deal with someone like Prudent, a master manipulator. Still, he wouldn’t sit idly by.

Things were different from her previous life, and the more they changed, the less sure Isolde felt. Prudent, on her way back, would probably reach Argentum in less than two weeks. In her past life, she had always been respectful toward Prudent, but Prudent had been indifferent. Looking back, she realized how foolish she had been.

Isolde couldn’t sleep, and neither could Eleanor. She waited in her room for a long time, hoping for William to come. After a while, she asked a servant to check if anyone was still drinking outside. The servant returned, reporting that the party had ended, but William had disappeared.

Eleanor was furious and cried, throwing a tantrum in her room. She had known upon entering the house that she wouldn’t be the main wife, so she hadn’t expected a grand ceremony. But what she hadn’t anticipated was that William wouldn’t even show up.

“Miss Blackwell, don’t cry. Mr. Valen may have gone to see someone off,” the maid tried to comfort her.

Moriah Baldwin, the matron of honor, walked in and gave the maid a look before dismissing her. The maid hurriedly left, bowing as she went.

Moriah held the teary-eyed Eleanor gently, speaking with deep sincerity. “My lady, you shouldn’t be upset with the servants. Lord Valen hasn’t arrived yet, but he will. You’re already married, so he must come.”

But Eleanor, filled with frustration, wasn’t hearing it. She looked at Moriah, her eyes filled with desperation. “What am I supposed to do? I thought he loved me and wouldn’t make me suffer like this, but now he’s disappeared. I’m just his concubine, and I was hoping he’d care about me.”

Eleanor grabbed Moriah’s wrist, urgently pleading. “Moriah, I know you have your ways. Please, think of something to make him come.”

Moriah calmly replied, “There’s nothing to be done. If today had been the main wedding, he might have gone to speak with Margaret, but now, you can only wait quietly.”

Eleanor cried out, “How long must I wait? If he doesn’t come today, tomorrow, or the next day, what am I supposed to do?”

Moriah sighed and replied, “There will be a solution. Just don’t cause a scene. If you do, you’ll have even less power in the household. Listen to your mother. Go wash your face and rest.”

“But you have to give me a solution,” Eleanor insisted, her frustration clear.

Moriah thought for a moment, then said, “Alright, after you recover, invite Mr. Valen for a meal. I’ll add something to his wine that will make him fall in love with you again.”

“I’m already recovered, I’ve been fine for days now,” Eleanor insisted. “We can do it tomorrow.”

Moriah shook her head. “That won’t work. You can’t recover so quickly. You’ve just lost the child. You need to wait.”

“No, I’m fine now. I want it done tomorrow, you’ll prepare the medicine for me.” Eleanor was insistent.

Moriah reluctantly agreed, realizing that Eleanor could no longer have children. It was better to win over Mr. Valen’s affection while she still could.

The next evening, Eleanor waited at the door for William to return. William had slept in his room last night, but today he had gone to Agnes’s house. He hadn’t wanted to return, but Agnes had convinced him, telling him he needed to show his face since Milton was still standing, and it would be bad if he didn’t.

When he entered the house and saw Eleanor, the unpleasant feelings from earlier came flooding back. Coldly, he asked, “What are you doing here?”

Eleanor hurried to him, lowered herself, and looked at him with tear-filled eyes. She softly said, “I just wanted to apologize. I’ve embarrassed you. If you don’t want to see me, I’ll stay out of your sight from now on.”

This was, of course, what Moriah had advised. But Eleanor’s appearance—so fragile and vulnerable, her pale face without makeup, with tears in her eyes and a soft, sorrowful tone—made her appear even more pitiful.

William, whose resolve wasn’t firm to begin with, softened at the sight of her and the memories of better days. His anger dissipated, and as Agnes had said, he understood the reasoning. He said, “Alright, stop. Have you eaten?”

The maid, Yareli, spoke up, “Eleanor hasn’t eaten since last night. She’s been blaming herself. Moriah prepared food, but she refused to eat until you came back to apologize.”

Eleanor scolded, “Who told you to speak?”

Seeing how earnest she was, William, though upset, couldn’t refuse. He said, “You can’t skip meals. Come on, I’ll eat with you.”

Eleanor’s eyes brightened with joy. “Really?”

“Yes,” William took her hand and led her inside.

Eleanor lowered her head, happy and shy, but her satisfaction didn’t go unnoticed. Margaret, standing in the hallway, saw it all.

Margaret’s maid, Sarah, remarked, “Eleanor isn’t as simple as she looks.”

Margaret’s eyes flashed with disdain. “I miscalculated. I thought Milton could be used by Pablo, but instead, he turned out to be this kind of person, even threatening me.”

Sarah asked anxiously, “Pablo is already back, how will we explain this? Do you have a plan?”

Margaret sighed deeply. “Let’s wait and see. If Milton manages to take care of Isolde, then I’ll tell Pablo that I was deceived by Milton. That way, I’ll just get a few reprimands. It won’t bring trouble to William.”