Lloyd paused, "Alec as in your butler?"

Elenor nodded, "That's right. Alec is the sole heir of the Cullingford. The only thing he had left from his family was that pocket watch that has been passed down for generations."

Lloyd hummed in response. "So you came here to ask me to get the approval from my father?"

Elenor nodded again, glad Lloyd was quick to catch on to what she wanted. She heard Lloyd chuckling as he crossed his leg over the other.

"I would love to help you my dear friend however," he tapped his finger against the table before continuing his sentence,

"Your lovely butler made a deal with me some time ago."

She tilted her head to the side, "....? What does that have to do with this? And what deal did you two make?"

Deal? This was the first time she was hearing about it and it wasn't even coming from the person itself.

Lloyd shook his head and shot her an apologetic smile, "It's a secret that I'm not allowed to tell. His wishes. And it does have to do with this as it is related with whatever you're doing right now."

"I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean."

"What I mean is I am unable to help you help make him into a baron."

"And why is that?"

"I can't tell you the reason." Lloyd shook his head, his lips sealed tight.

Elenor glared at him, what's so secretive about this deal that she couldn't even know? If she couldn't get it out of Lloyd for sure that Alec wouldn't even tell her. She took in a deep breath, calming herself down.

"You really won't help me with this?" she dejectedly asked.

Lloyd nodded, "I'm sorry, I really am but I truly cannot help you and I think it's better if you don't pursue this matter any further."

Elenor sighed. She didn't want to give up on this but if Lloyd says then it means it really wasn't worth it.

"...I just wanted to help him." she mumbled to herself but it was loud enough for Lloyd to hear.

"Why?" he questioned but Elenor couldn't answer.

What was she going to say?

"Oh because I'm not actually from this world and I might go back to my world so I want to help him get everything that was his before I do." Yeah that definitely wasn't the go to answer.

Lloyd noticed her dilemma and smiled, "It's fine if you won't tell me but I do wish someday you will be able to open up to me. You are my precious friend."

Elenor couldn't help but smile when she heard him call her his precious friend. He too was her precious friend in this world. After chatting a bit more, she bid him goodbye and left back to the estate.

She had no choice but to put her plan on making Alec a noble to a halt for now. She'll figure something out later on.

Few days later, Elenor was sipping on tea and having some desserts out in the garden. Alec was with her yet none of them really talked at the moment.

"Would you like more?" Alec asked, holding the teapot in his hands. Elenor nodded and lifted her cup up for him when she heard loud voices coming closer to them.

She raised an eyebrow wondering who would be so noisy around her estate in the late afternoon. She got her answer when she noticed a figure walked towards her with a furious look.

Isabella slammed her hands on the table angrily, not forgetting to glare at her as well. Elenor said nothing but stare as she took a sip of her tea again.

"Elenor how dare you reject my invitation!?" she shouted, not caring about her image at the moment.

Elenor shrugged lazily, "One has the power to accept or decline something every once in a while aren't they?"

Elenor would never dare decline an invitation from someone higher than her but since it was only from Isabella, she wasn't afraid to reject it. She's the only one (other than Alec) who knew about Isabella's secret.

She could see veins wanting to pop out of Isabella's neck. She placed her cup down and motioned Isabella to take a seat.

"Since you came all this way here why not take a seat and have a cup of tea? I'm sure those veins are going to burst soon if you don't." she said in the most polite tone she could muster but of course there was an undertone of sarcasm mixed.

Isabella grit her teeth together before ultimately taking a seat. Elenor glanced at Alec and with one nod he placed another tea in front of Isabella and poured tea into it.

Without another word said, Elenor takes a bite out of the slice of cake. Nobody said a word for a long time. Elenor was busy enjoying her peaceful time and cake while Alec waited to assist her.

Isabella couldn't take the silence anymore as it was too odd for her. "Why did you reject my invitation?" she asked again.

Elenor glanced at her before placing her pastry fork down. "I'm only taking precautions since you have warned me that you will not show any mercy."

"You.."

"Didn't Lady Isabella already say she wouldn't do this ever again?" Elenor asked, side eyeing her.

Isabella pressed her lips into a thin line before glaring down at the cup. Elenor stifled back a laugh. It was very amusing to tease her but if she did she might get tea poured on her again.

She cleared her throat before speaking again, "Since Lady Isabella is here already, why not tell the reason for the sudden invitation?"

Isabella who finally stopped glaring at her tea, picked it up and took a sip of it before speaking in a not so happy tone,

"...I wanted to..ta..talk to you about..something.." she stammered out with displeasure written all over her face.

Elenor raised an eyebrow before nodding, "Well? What is it that you would like to talk about?"

Isabella took in a deep breath and spoke through gritted teeth, "Would you..like to have... a truce?"

"A truce?" she questioned, curious as to wonder what truce does she want.

"A truce not to fight with each other.." Isabella mumbled.

"Oh?"

Then her eyes showed fury in them as she curled her fist into a tight ball, "And work together to get rid of that dumb girl!"

"Work..together?" Elenor was getting even more puzzled by her words.

"Lady Rosina! That girl is starting to get close to his highness!!" she exploded in anger.

Elenor blinked before everything clicked. She heaved out a sigh before tapping the table to gain Isabella's attention back.

"Isabella," Elenor started.

Ever since the two stopped being friends that never called one another's name without having 'Lady' in the front. Hearing this, Isabella visibly froze up.

Elenor shook her head as she leaned back on her chair, "I'm not sure why it is taking so long to get it in your head to realise that I do not have any such feelings for his highness that way. We are merely friends."

Isabella's eyes widened from this news and abruptly stood up, "N-nonsense! You were as in love with him as I am..!"

She waved it off calmly, "Times change and so do feelings."

How funny that it can also be implied to both her and the man beside her. Isabella still couldn't accept it and shook her head.

"Since when?" she asked.

"About a year ago."

"Huh!? Unbelievable!!" she loudly said.

Elenor frowned, not liking that she was being so loud. "Isn't it good for you? You now have one rival less."

Isabella opened her mouth before closing it shut. Her fingers fumbled around and she looked like she wanted to say something. Elenor stared at her, wondering what was making her act like this. She paused before blurting out what she wanted to say,

"You wanted to talk to me right?"

"Wh..what are you saying?!" Isabella's eyes darted around the garden.

'Eh?'

"You're using his highness as an excuse for talking to me right?" she pressed further.

It wasn't obvious but seeing how nervous and fidgety she was in front of her, she couldn't help but blurt out those words.

Isabella's cheeks flushed red before exclaiming, "No! There is no way I would do that just to find reasons to talk to you!"

'Isabella...' Elenor closed her eyes shut, taking a deep breath.

'I don't remember writing you acting like a tsundere maiden in love for Elenor..you are supposed to be hating.'

Although that was what she thought, she was slightly happy to see this different development between the two of them. With this, she can definitely say that Isabella still somehow wanted to befriend her once more.

She decided to wait the pros and cons about trying to become friends with her again and so far...there were many cons. However there were 2 major pros! First is, if she became friends with Isabella her followers and people under her finger won't come for her which means she won't die in the hands of those with her.

Second was that she was a beauty! Standing next to beauties is always a blessing. Simple but powerful reason to become friends with her. Not only that if she became friends with Isabella, maybe it will be easier to prevent those malicious attacks she wanted to do to Rosina and although she didn't like Isabella at first, seeing her act this way different from how she was written made her want to save her from falling into tragedy.

In fact, she looked very cute in her eyes right now.

"What are you thinking about?" Isabella grumbled bringing Elenor back to reality.

She shook her head and smiled, "Lady Isabella wants to be friends with me again isn't it?"

"..!" Isabella's eyes widened in shock, surprised that Elenor had figured it out.

She looked away and cleared her throat, "I-I'm giving you such a great opportunity to become friends with me so you should be grateful!!"

Elenor couldn't help but let out a chuckle and nodded, "Yes I'm truly grateful that Lady Isabella wants to become my friend."

Isabella smiled smugly before sipping on her tea. Elenor could still see her cheeks that were flushed from embarrassment or perhaps happiness from being able to be friends with Elenor once again. Elenor shrugged the thought of, even if it was true she wouldn't know since she wasn't Isabella.

Soon enough, Isabella headed back to her estate but before she left, she turned to Elenor,

"Next time you better not reject my invitation." she glared but Elenor could only think that she was sulking about the fact she did.

She nodded, "Alright, next time I will accept without hesitation."

Isabella nodded, "Good."

Once she left, Elenor decided to head to the library since she hadn't read books in quite a while. She was going to dismiss Alec but he offered to leave her alone and left. She, of course, wasn't caught off guard by this and left him to whatever he wanted to do at that moment.

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uh this was slightly rushed sorry! and this is the last update before i cry over my exams until 6 dec so i'll go back updating on 7 dec!

anyway i think isabella is cute, this is facts 😤👊