Saving The Villainous Monster From The Male Lead-Chapter 25 - 24: Memory Lane

Soon the night fell, Eleanore pretended to sleep in the study, thinking Caelestis might go to meet Stella today. Having met almost every end to find a clue this was the only one left.

She continued to pinch her thigh to keep herself awake every time she thought she would fall asleep but every time, she found Caelestis working on his desk, all night. Until he fell asleep at around four thirty in the morning.

"He has a very messy schedule, to be honest." Eleanore got out of the couch cum bed and walked around the study looking for passages and clues. "If Stella were here, he wouldn’t have let me enter here or he would have at least gone to meet her after confirming I am asleep. Perhaps she is somewhere I cannot access at all." She muttered. "Just what am I missing?"

Eleanore left the study immediately to quickly go look for something that was off limits for her. ’Perhaps she is not in the main mansion? Somewhere else. Where no one can think she could be but where?’

As soon as she leaves the Study, Eleanore finds the window, levitating in the air.

|| Countdown: 4 days

Before Stella loses her pride!!

90:59:45 ||

Immediately Eleanore threw away her plan to take some rest, instead she rushed into the courtyard, looking around like a madwoman. Having no idea what to do next, almost feeling defeated.

As her forwarding feet passed the gate to the hidden garden, a distant memory hit her. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

A year after Eleanore’s mother’s death, her godmother, that is Edward’s mother, had taken her on a long stroll. It went from the green house of the Duchess that had been closed ever since her death, to the end of the large wall at the back of the mansion.

At the end of their stroll, somehow, they would always land in front of a small beautiful wooden house that the Grand Duchess adored.

Her head throbbed from this new memory. Maybe it was too heavy for her brain that it went shut in the next moment. Eleanore lost her balance and fell on the soft grass between the rose garden.

<<<

Eleanore found her head lying in her god mother’s soft and warm legs, her thin fingers ran through Eleanore’s golden hair, as she recited the story of her childhood.

It felt like heaven at that moment.

"My dear Elle, do you know how I met your mother?" She asked, her voice sweet as that of a singing nightingale.

"Your mother had once visited the countryside. She was always a curious fellow and when she heard about a country pumpkin, who was said to have glass skin that would shine no matter, the day or night. Whose silky brunette hair would reach down till her knees and was assumed to be wasting half of her day just brushing those thick bushy hair. She couldn’t stop herself and went alone on a quest to look for me."

"Were your hair really that long?" Little Elle asked.

"Yes, they were."

"Why did you cut them off then? They are so short now."

"You need to hear the rest to know the reason. Do you want to?"

"Yes, of course."

"Your mother was a very graceful and daring woman, one that was completely different from others of her kind. When she first arrived at the foot of my house, I was extremely shocked."

"Why? Was she not pretty?" Little Elle asked, who had somehow forgotten everything related to her mother, immediately after her death.

"No, she was a beautiful and elegant woman. What shocked me were her pants and shirt."

"What’s wrong with that?" Elle’s godmother laughed at that. Her thin and gentle laugh had surrounded the small house completely.

"For women do not wear men’s clothing. They wear dresses."

"Is that a rule?"

"Precisely. Although man and woman are of the same species, they are differentiated by their physicality."

"Oh! And how is that defined?!" Again, Elle didn’t fail to make her godmother laugh.

"Oh dear! You are still full of questions, aren’t you?"

"Hehe!"

"Your mother, on seeing me, immediately realized that I was the country pumpkin everyone was talking about. She jumped on me with thousands of questions. It didn’t take us long to become friends. Then soon it was time for her to go back to her estate. After all she was a married woman by then. As a token of our friendship, I offered her my lovely hair."

"Why offer hair?"

"Because she loved them, and I didn’t want them anymore."

"Ohh!"

"Elle, dear!" her godmother’s gentle tone turned serious. "Always remember, if you are ever lost— lock— guide— you—"

>>>

When Eleanore opened her eyes, she found herself under the ceiling that belonged to her room. Caelestis and Marina were present in the room at that moment and a strange man was briefing them on her condition. Although she was barely awake, she could hear a few of his words.

"The lady had a panic attack," The handsome doctor said to Caelestis, who was diligently listening to the man.

"Why?"

"We need to further examine the lady to understand the cause." The man replied, scribbling down something on a rusty paper. He handed the paper over to Marina, once he had written down all the medicines carefully.

"There is no need." Eleanore pushed herself up using her arms. Marina quickly moved forward and helped her sit comfortably by placing a few pillows behind her mistress’ back. "I am fine. Nothing happened."

"You were found unconscious near the garden door, My lady." Caelestis highlighted her situation. He sounded worried, this confused Eleanore.

"I am aware and I am also aware why that happened. Thus, I believe I am fine. You all should leave now." Eleanore requested solemnity.

"Are you angry at me?" Caelestis unknowingly let those words out. He bit his tongue on seeing Eleanore’s puzzled expression and when her lips parted to answer his questions, he simply moved around, not wanting to hear the answer. He knew what the answer would be.

’Of course she was angry after what I had done.’ Caelestis somewhat regretted his actions.

"Doctor, she’ll be fine. I will call you if she needs you." Saying this he left her room, without casting a single gaze on her again. The doctor followed him outside.

At first Eleanore was completely stunned by Caelestis’ behavior but then realized that her time had depleted significantly. She didn’t have time to think about Caelestis.

|| Countdown: 4 days

Before Stella loses her pride!!

81:29:52 ||

"The memory. Did it have some meaning? I was probably in a side house. That wooden house could be where Stella is." Eleanore muttered under her breath, until it came true. The window was levitating in the air, congratulating her on finding a clue.

|| You have completed Task 2

Reward: + 1000 coins

Total Reputation: -200,000

Total Coins: +91,100 ||

Marina mixed some energy medicine the doctor had given. She picked up the bowl and brought it close to Eleanore’s face. "My lady, you medicine."

Eleanore drank the medicine and then as if that medicine had worked, immediately got an idea. She quickly gave the empty bowl back to Marina and then caught her idle hand. "Marina, I want you to do something for me." She said, her eyes filled with hope.

"Yes, My lady. What can I do for you?" She asked, placing the bowl back on the side table, near the bed.

"In secret."

On hearing that word, Marina straightened her back and opened her ears to understand her important task.

"Marina, I want you to look into a wooden side house in the estate. Find out where it is."

"Why do you —"

"You are my maid, Marina. When I order you to do a task, you do it and raise no questions. There is no need for you to know why I want to find that house. Just find it!" Eleanore explained a personal maid’s duty, interrupting her before she could finish her foolish question.

"Yes, My lady." Marina bowed her head in agreement and then stood up, "I will bring you something to eat and then start with the errand you have assigned me with."

Eleanore’s eyes moved to the new notification on the translucent blue window, when Marina left.

|| Chapter 2: The Shatter of Stella’s Pride

Caelestis felt like the only way left to have Stella by his side, went ahead and confined her in a secret room of the Lancaster Mansion. His intention is to shatter Stella’s Pride and hope, so that she has no one else to rely on. Once achieved, he would go ahead to marry her, leading to the downfall of Stella.

Quest 1: Find Baroness Stella

Task 2: Locate The Side House

Do you accept the task?

Yes/No

Note: Reward: + 10000 coins

Penalty: - 100000 coins

Total Reputation: -200,000

Total Coins: +91,100 ||

"Yes" she said with new determination and new lead on finding where Stella is. ’I will save her, for sure.’ She assured herself.