‘It’s happening faster than I expected.’

It was only much later that Carolyn of the past assigned this to me.

Was she a little alarmed ?

Carolyn could not believe at first that Eleanor had really memorized the portraits and lists of the nobility of the Baden Empire in one day.

It was a matter of course. It took her quite a few days to memorise it before the time regression.

“I’ll have to sort them out first”

Eleanor reached out for the pile of papers on her right.

It wasn’t just the aristocratic list she memorized in the past .

No matter how much Carolyn hated her, she was a duchess in name, so there was a limit to bullying her openly .

So Carolyn found a reasonable punishment without losing the dignity of the aristocracy .

It was mainly this kind . She’d bring foreign books on purpose and make her memorize them all on the pretext of cultivating her , Transcribe the entire Code of the Baden Empire , Organize , read, and summarize the story . and so on .

“It’s the same.”

Eleanor, who was checking the contents while turning the pages, was relieved. There was no difference from back then . So now she didn’t actually have to work on all of this. It was already in her head.

Eleanor put back the documents in the same order in which they were placed at first.

The material Carolyn left behind was the history of the Duke of Mecklen. It was a record of stories from the early days of the Mecklen family to the present.

It will take a little longer . Ernest , before returning ,had put it together and compiled it into a book . It was a work that was done because there was a limit to keeping it as scattered papers, and there was a risk of loss.

‘I told you that I had set a summary of the table of contents and the framework of the book.’

I thought she’d throw it right away, but Carolyn seemed to unexpectedly like it .

I didn’t think you’d leave it there and use it.

Eleanor’s hand, which was organizing the documents, paused.

There was a sound of the door opening from outside.

“What are you doing here?”

✰✰✰

Ernest did not return to the palace even though It has been two days since he came to his house . It was because a letter arrived with the emperor’s consideration to take a few days off while he was back .

‘I didn’t come here to take a break.’

Ernest, who got an unexpected vacation, decided to check on the housework since it has been a while .

While checking the operating system of business, the number of customers, the flow of supplies, and other miscellaneous matters, he noticed that one record was missing.

So he went to his study.

“What are you doing?”

When she didn’t answer, he asked again in a colder voice .

It was the first time he saw his wife since the wedding. Ernest looked at Eleanor from head to toe.

Perhaps because she was the princess of Hartmann kingdom , she seemed to have grown up preciously . The indoor dress she was wearing seemed to have come from her home country. It was slightly different from their indoor dress .

“What brings you here?” [TN : Eleanor’s the one asking this time ]

Ernest, who was waiting for an answer, got the wrong reply.

The duke groaned weakly , like it was ridiculous.

“Did you not hear me ? I asked you first .”

“I’m sorry . I only asked because you don’t usually……I was doing what mother in law had ordered me to do.”

“Mother?”

Eleanor explained, but Ernest still knit his eyebrows . He snorted as the story continued that she was organizing documents containing the history of his family.

“As if ! I’m sure someone from another country will do a good job of organizing my family records.”

“…….”

“Don’t make useless efforts . Go back to your room right now.”

Ernest, with his arms folded , leaned against the bookcase. The tall man bent his upper body a little, and a black shadow came over Eleanor’s head.

She lowered her eyes slightly.

My eyes fell on the white shirt , it felt like I was facing a solid brick.

“…..how is it useless?”

I barely opened my mouth and asked carefully. But unlike my trembling heart, the voice that came out was calm.

“Isn’t there always someone to properly organize the family history?”

“So?”

“…… even though I was born in a different country , I am now a member of the Mecklen family. And I’m trying to do that . It may not be enough, but I want to do anything that helps.”

Before returning, I didn’t have a chance to be alone with Ernest. I didn’t even get a chance to have a child. Carolyn wanted to put off having a child as much as possible so that Ernest would not be bothered in his busy work, under the pretext that he was still young, and Ernst agreed.

But now. If even a tiny change could be made , I am willing to work hard for it.

But Eleanor’s hopes were instantly crushed .

“Why should I leave it to you?”

“…… you?” *

“Yeah , you.”

[TN : * 그쪽 : in this sentence Ernest uses a third person pronoun to refer to her , it is informal and could be interpreted as ‘that’ or ‘that way’ ]

Ernest pointed at her with his chin.

Eleanor, who expected him to refute, was dazed for a moment . Did I mishear him ?

But she couldn’t even deny it because he pointed at her so clearly.

‘That.’

I felt peculiar . Even if this was a formal marriage without love, I was hoping we could provide basic courtesy to each other. Is that a difficult thing to do?

Eleanor could not understand, but Ernest had an attitude where he would address her as “that” .

I’m just a stranger anyway.

Eleanor’s blank face gradually found its original composure.

“……I have something to tell you.”

“Is it important ?”

Ernest straightened his leaning body.

I had to let her go now . The purpose of coming here was different.

He glanced at the watch on his left wrist. The conversation with Eleanor took longer than expected.

“I’d like you to send me to the northern branch of Mecklen.”