I Wasn't Trying to Seduce with the Male Lead - Episode 26

Graham briefly explained the Vow of Silence.

“A Vow of Silence means the ‘vower’ can’t communicate anything the ‘caster’ forbids them from saying, no matter what. If they try to write, the letters turn into strange symbols, and if they try to speak, they make grotesque noises.”

The more Eleanor heard, the more it all fit together.

“It sounds like that’s what it is.”

“Hmm, I don’t know.”

Unlike Eleanor, who was convinced, Graham still seemed skeptical.

“Spells have almost disappeared from the Empire due to strict punishments. All the recent magic incidents, when you investigate them, turn out to be just the delusions of sick people.”

Ignoring her, Eleanor posed a question.

“Is there any way to find out if a spell was truly cast?”

“A seal appears, but only the caster can see it… so perhaps a String Stone?”

“A String Stone? What’s that?”

Graham idly toyed with Eleanor’s now-braided hair, answering half-heartedly.

“They say if you hold a String Stone and your bare skin touches someone who’s under a spell, you can see the thread of the vow connecting the caster and the vower.”

“So you’d know who cast it, too.”

“Well, if the other person is also there, I guess.”

Even if they couldn’t identify the person, the appearance of the vow’s thread would be proof that a spell had been cast. That was enough to satisfy her curiosity.

“Can you get one?”

“Maybe at the Alchemist’s Tower, but they’re incredibly expensive. We don’t have much money right now, do we?”

Perhaps because the conversation was heading in a direction she didn’t want, Graham sounded reluctant. As she said, they had no cash, and the banks were closed for the birthday festival. There might be some money back at the mansion, but it would be insufficient, and sending Graham back there while someone was targeting them wouldn’t be a smart move.

However, Eleanor offered a clean solution to the problem.

“That.”

Graham’s mouth fell open at what Eleanor was pointing at. On the dressing table sat the necklace Eleanor had received from the Marchioness of Litra El. It was a gift the high-powered marchioness had carefully chosen to dominate the social scene throughout the birthday festival. It was easily worth 20,000 gold.

“Ask to trade it for that. If it’s not enough…”

“Not enough? It’s more than enough! P-plenty!”

Graham looked horrified and spoke in a flustered voice.

“You’re trading away that treasure for some spell that you’re not even sure was cast?”

“To me, confirming this is more important than the necklace.”

But Graham’s face showed that the necklace was far more important to her. She looked at the brilliantly shining necklace with longing eyes and, her voice full of regret, confirmed, “But even if we get it, to confirm it, your bare skin has to touch the Marchioness of Weiss’s daughter, right?”

The fact that this was her first time seeing Biancasta’s face meant they had never had any contact before. Meeting her would not be easy.

“I’ll handle that. Just get it for me today.”

“Ugh, fine.”

Graham answered reluctantly, then carefully picked up the necklace and placed it in a box.

“And ask the mercenary guild to find us a safe house to stay in for a while.”

Since her life had been threatened, they had to be careful.

“Okay. I’ll go then.”

Graham left the dressing room with the necklace. Looking at her reflection in the huge mirror, Eleanor fell deep into thought.

I have to find a way to meet the Marchioness of Weiss’s daughter.

With so many eyes at the detached palace, the news of Eleanor’s survival had likely already spread. If someone had truly cast a spell on her and ordered a murder, Biancasta might now be in danger. Eleanor wasn’t so soft as to worry about the person who tried to kill her just yesterday. However, if Biancasta were eliminated, any way to confirm the mastermind would disappear. She had to meet her as soon as possible to find out the truth.

As Eleanor was racking her brain for a way to meet Biancasta, she heard a knock.

“The Duke is looking for the Baroness.”

The maid who entered said, and Eleanor checked the clock—it was nearly midnight. Why would he be looking for her so late at night? Eleanor swallowed hard, recalling Skye’s suggestive touch from that morning.

Sitting on the bed reading a book, Skye looked up at the sound of someone. Eleanor stood in the doorway and asked in a stiff voice, “You were looking for me.”

“Yes. It’s about time for bed.”

Eleanor’s suspicious gaze went to the walnut bed with silk curtains where Skye was sitting.

“I’d prefer to repay your kindness in another way.”

Skye chuckled at her firm refusal. In his life, he had often rejected women, but he had never once been rejected himself. He didn’t even have to try to charm them; just making eye contact was enough to melt even the most discerning noblewomen. So Eleanor’s reaction was quite refreshing.

“What’s the reason? If you’ve already broken up with Count Calabria, there’s no harm in being with me.”

“My life has had enough of indulging in the whims of high-ranking men.”

Eleanor’s words were calm, but there was a hint of bitterness.

‘It seems she really thinks it’s over.’

However, judging by the quantity and quality of her security guards, there was no way the two of them had broken up. Sky asked another probing question.

“You were threatened just yesterday. It’s dangerous to be alone.”

“I’ve hired plenty of mercenaries.”

“Those shoddy mercenaries can’t even guarantee your safety tonight.”

Sky subtly tried to intimidate her and watched her reaction.

“While I won’t deny that I’m dangerous in another way, with me, you’ll at least see the sun rise every morning.”

Eleanor bit her lip at Sky’s words, but she didn’t soften her stance.

“I’d rather choose death in the moonlight than let you lay a hand on me.”

Judging by her serious resolve, it seemed she didn’t know that Lian was protecting her. If she knew she was guarded by the strongest knight order, she wouldn’t be afraid. Sky didn’t know why she was unaware, but he decided to use it to his advantage.

“Just stay by my side. The detox isn’t completely finished yet, so it’s dangerous.”

“I think I’m fine now.”

“No. For a while, you’ll randomly cough up blood from the lingering effects of the poison.”

Lacking knowledge of medicine, Eleanor couldn’t tell if he was lying or telling the truth. Sky subtly said to the wavering Eleanor, “If you hate it that much, I promise not to lay a hand on you.”

“While we’re spending the night in the same room?”

“I’ll have a separate room prepared for you starting tomorrow.”

Even with that, Eleanor didn’t approach him readily.

“You don’t trust me at all?”

“I don’t have much faith in those kinds of promises from men.”

“Then what can I do to make you believe me?”

She scratched her cheek, thought for a moment, and answered calmly, “Usually, in these cases, you tie the other person up, I think.”

Tie him up? A man? She was a truly formidable woman.

“If that makes you feel safe.”

It was probably a metaphor; surely she wouldn’t actually tie him up. Sky laughed and replied with a relaxed air.

The wide-open snowy field is a symbol of the north. A cold wind, as usual, swept across the snow-covered plains. It was a temperature that would make a Southerner shudder and stay indoors, but the sky was clear and bright. The sun illuminated the scattered footprints on the clean snow. At the end of the tracks stood a middle-aged woman. The high quality black fur fastened with an expensive jeweled brooch hinted at her high status, but she was different from other noblewomen. Instead of a dress, she wore comfortable leather pants and thigh-high boots, and her makeup-free face was healthily tanned by the sun.

She gazed at the top of a distant tree with her vivid purple eyes. Soon, a black speck appeared in the sky. It grew larger and larger, and in a flash, it was in front of the woman. It was a falcon, its strong wings gliding down, returning with its prey.

“That’s a good girl.”

When the woman extended her arm, the falcon dropped the rabbit it was carrying on the ground and landed on the leather glove on her arm. She was feeding it from a pouch on her waist when a man came galloping on horseback from a distance.

“Duchess!”

The man skillfully sliced through the knee-deep snow and stopped his horse right in front of her, handing her a letter. “An urgent message has arrived from the capital.”

The letter, sealed with the emperor’s official seal, was addressed to ‘Duchess Christie Floyd.’ Frowning, she tore open the letter and scanned it, then clicked her tongue.

“A meeting?”

“Yes. A request has been made for you to attend in person.”

“The old man in the capital can handle that. He’s the one who’s always there.”

Despite it being the emperor’s command, she made no attempt to hide her displeasure. The subordinate, as if he expected this reaction, sighed and said, “A messenger is waiting in the drawing room. You should hear him out yourself.”

With a look of reluctance, the Duchess mounted her horse and galloped toward the mansion. Entering the drawing room, she cut short the messenger’s formal greeting and immediately got to the point.

“What’s the reason you specifically asked for me?”

The messenger seemed used to the Duchess’s abrupt manner.

“This is top-secret, but this meeting is closely related to your son.”

“My son?”

“Yes. In fact, the capital has been abuzz lately with rumors about Count Calabria.”

At the mention of Lian, the Duchess’s indifferent expression changed slightly.

“Rumors? My son?”

The Duchess looked completely incredulous.

“If it’s ‘abuzz,’ it can’t be the Princess. Who is it?”

“A woman named Baroness Eleanor.”

The corners of the Duchess’s mouth twisted into a strange shape.

“Huh? The woman who goes to parties and reads erotic novels?”

“That’s the one.”

The Imperial messenger looked a little surprised that Baroness Eleanor was known even in this remote northern region.

“My son is messing around with that famous woman?”

“Yes. Though it’s said to be a one-night fling…”

The messenger’s tone was designed to incite the Duchess.

“She is using the scandal for her own fame. Because of this, Count Calabria seems unable to settle down, which is a great worry for Her Highness the Princess and His Majesty the Emperor.”

“How is she using a scandal for fame?”

“She’s reportedly collecting a fortune by going to parties.”

Duchess Floyd’s brow twitched. She glared at the ceiling for a moment, then blurted out, “Now that you mention it, Lian sent me a letter a few days ago.”

“What did it say?”

“He said there was someone he wanted to introduce me to.”

“Did he say who?”

The Duchess shook her head. It seemed Count Calabria was a man of few words even in a letter.

“Using my son to make money. What a cheeky woman.”

An extraordinary aura emanated from Duchess Floyd. She turned her cold gaze to her subordinate and spat out, “Prepare for our trip to the capital. I’ll go and take care of this myself.”

The Duchess’s icy command was given. The falcon on her shoulder, as if sensing its owner’s discomfort, flapped its wings. Startled, the messenger quickly scurried out of the drawing room.

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