"But, milady—" Mariam protested.

"Go. You both cannot serve me on an empty stomach."

"As you wish, milady." Cecil complied and, against the young maid's will, dragged her to join the other Croix knights and servants.

After her maid and guard left, only Elaine remained at the table with the male protagonist and Clara. Like an uninvited extra, she barged into their world. Yet Elaine endured the awkward atmosphere and continued donning the composed facade. After all, it would have been more abnormal if she had chosen another table instead of the reserved seating arrangement for aristocrats. Elaine peeked at the other parties' plates and noticed they had already half-finished their meals. They will leave soon, she consoled herself.

Moments later, a servant served Elaine's food. She slowly consumed her meal, deliberately taking longer to savor each bite. She bid her time until she could occupy the entire table. Yet, even when their plates emptied and cleared, the other parties did not intend to leave.

"You should join the others," Elias suddenly addressed his table's companion.

Elaine looked up, seeing Clara glancing at him with a confused expression. An unnamed emotion enveloped the raven-haired young girl's countenance while her gaze raced between Elaine and the male protagonist. She opened her mouth but closed it again without being able to say a word. "Yes, Commander." Clara finally resigned and stood up. The girl bowed to Elaine and then plodded wearily toward her peers.

Elaine's gaze followed the raven-haired young girl's disheartened gait before returning to the black-haired young man. Her heartbeat quickened, and the familiar anxiety crept back inside. She stared at Elias, unable to decipher the stolid countenance. Why would he want to exclude Clara from their table? Did he already suspect Elaine's scheme and wish to confront her?

After Clara departed, the male protagonist shifted his attention to Elaine. "Have I harmed you before, Lady Estella?" he quizzed.

"No," she replied skeptically, not understanding his question.

Elias' amethyst eyes softened as his lips tugged upward. "Then why do you always appear terrified whenever our paths cross? I am so monstrous in your view?"

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"Do I?" Elaine reached for her face. Had she unconsciously projected her feelings outward? "Forgive my candid statement, milord, but considering our families' relationships, keeping distance would benefit us both." She grabbed a convenient excuse. Elias could never deduce the actual reason she feared him.

"Past generations' grudges and resentments should not be passed down to their offspring."

Elaine glanced around, ensuring no one was within earshot vicinity. "Do you not also hold contempt for my father, Sir d'Amboise?" she whispered, recalling the male protagonist's first meeting with Gerard. Their conversation could not be further from amicable.

"Yes," he admitted, his gaze meeting hers. "However, it is a conflict between those who are involved. I do not extend the accountability of his crimes to the innocents."

Elaine's eyes widened, taken aback by his words. She did not expect the black-haired young man's straightforward answer. Contrary to her previous beliefs, Elias' personality deviated little from the book's descriptions. The male protagonist in the story was a man of candor and integrity. He never stomped on the weak nor yielded to the strong—a trait seen in very few of the Étoile Empire's nobles and the opposite of the Crown Prince. Perhaps it was for this reason that the original Estella developed a deep affection for him despite their clashing stances. However, because of her pride and position, she would forever bury the complex emotions. Even at the end of her brief life, she never confessed. Elaine stayed in a pensive silence, unable to find any counterargument to the black-haired young man's statement.

"Why did you volunteer to journey to Léonas?" Elias again hit her with an unexpected question.

Elaine knitted her brows. "It is my obligation as His Highness' fiancée to—" she repeated her rehearsed justification.

"What is your real motive, Lady Estella?" The black-haired young man interrupted her, not believing the lies. The crimson pupils within his amethyst eyes flared as they bored into Elaine's, threatening to uncover secrets deep inside her soul.

"I already stated my purpose, milord. It is your choice whether to believe me." She abruptly rose, unwilling to prolong the conversation. Elaine feared if she continued to engage, Elias would eventually pry the truth from her. "Please excuse me, Sir d'Amboise. I have other matters to attend to." She walked to the door.

"Of course. We can resume our discussion later." The male protagonist nodded, not attempting to stop her.

Cecil and Mariam also left their seats and followed Elaine. On the way back to her quarters, Elaine reassessed her choices. Elias was more difficult to handle than she had initially thought. Since their first meeting, his directness always rendered her speechless. Elaine suddenly realized her time at the Croix estate equipped her to deal more with conniving individuals than those similar to the male protagonist. She again weighed the benefits and cons of consuming her meals in the main dining area.

The verdict was clear. Although Cecil always stayed close to her, a larger crowd would provide ampler safety for Elaine during the day. But what about at night? Despite some incidents happening before sunset, the activities appeared more active under the cover of darkness. The blond-haired young man promised to protect her no matter the situation. However, how long could he remain on high alert after continuous nights without rest? What if the malevolent entities kidnapped Cecil instead in his exhaustive state? She could have other Croix knights switch shifts with him. However, Elaine did not trust anyone else and worried they would lack Cecil's attentiveness. It was a dilemma she had no solution to.

"No, there is one person who can help me," Elaine muttered, biting her lips. She would have to disregard her apprehension and ask for assistance, but it was better than dying prematurely or having her guard sacrifice himself for her. Elaine turned on her heels. "Let's return," she said.

"Milady?" Mariam questioned. Her voice filled with surprise.

"I need to continue my previous conversation."