# 4
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Elinor honestly felt that the past two months had been the most stressful of her life.
When Elinor realized her parents' malicious intentions, she fled the palace with the child on the same day.
There was no hesitation.
She wouldn't let an innocent child lose his life at the hands of his cruel grandparents.
After leaving the palace, she settled in a small village in the south called Piachina, very far from the capital.
Despite the great distance, she was able to settle down quickly thanks to the scroll that the Magic Tower had given her as a gift.
“Oh my God, Lady Elinor? I was hoping that you would return to the magical embrace of the Tower, but I did not expect you to come the very next day...!”
“I'm sorry, but that's not the case. I came because I need help.”
The scroll was designed to be transported directly to the Magic Tower.
From there, Elinor used the magic transportation circle to reach the south.
Usually, transportation circles are not available to just anyone.
Because using it once requires a huge amount of mana stones.
But Elinor could.
During her years at the academy, she preferentially offered the rights to use the equations she developed for the Magic Tower, which helped her build a strong relationship with them.
“To return to the Magic Tower, it might take some time, right?”
“Most likely. Right now, I have some circumstances...”
“Perhaps it is fortunate that the Tower Master is absent now. He has been eagerly awaiting your return.”
“I'm sorry. Please convey my apologies to him.”
“Of course. But don’t be surprised if the Tower Master suddenly comes to visit you… I don’t have the power to stop him… Really...”
With the help of the Magic Tower, Elinor quickly escapes the capital.
At the place where she settled, Elinor bought everything she needed again.
Money was not an issue.
The rights to use the formulas that she sold to the Magic Tower made her a huge fortune.
Until now, she was receiving huge fees in her account with every breath she took.
With this money, Elinor rented a room in a hostel.
“But I have to find a job soon...”
Even if she was spending money unwiy, it wouldn't run out, but to avoid suspicion, it seemed better to pretend to earn some simple money.
“Hoo.”
After rubbing her face with her hands, Elinor checked on the sleeping baby.
Is he really the heroine's child?
Her nephew, whom Charlotte had, was truly adorable.
His round eyes and the slightly raised corner of his mouth looked just like Charlotte.
Charlotte, too, when she pursed her lips, made a similar cute appearance.
“Oh.”
While she was looking at the child, he woke up and started whimpering.
Elinor quickly hugged her nephew.
“Are you finished sleeping, baby?”
I patted his buttocks and shook him gently, and his complaining subsided.
But he kept moving his little lips, as if he was hungry.
“Wait, I will give you milk soon.”
Fearing that he would cry, Elinor quickly went down to the first floor carrying the baby.
Her inn was the only one in the village, and it was small.
Run by a middle-aged couple, they didn't have many customers, so it also functioned as a restaurant.
When Elinor came down to the first floor, the owner, Sophie, was preparing food, and she welcomed her.
"Oh my God, Elaine. You woke up early. Or didn't you sleep?"
“Haha… good morning, Sophie.”
Elinor smiled tiredly.
She showed Sophie the jug she had brought.
“I want to fill the jug with water. I have to feed the baby.”
“So, use boiling water here. It's hot, but if you mix it with cold water it will work.”
"Thanks."
Elinor hugged the baby with her left hand and began preparing the milk with her right hand.
Her clumsy movements revealed that she had not been a mother for a long time.
“Let me help you. I'll get it for you.”
Sophie finally intervened.
She prepared milk for the baby in moments.
Sophie, who had three adult children, was good at everything.
Elinor received the bottle of milk from Sophie and awkwardly tried to feed the baby.
“Come on, kiddo. It's time for breakfast.”
It seemed that the child was really hungry.
The speed at which the milk disappeared was amazing.
The baby sucked the bottle vigorously.
“He's eating well, little one.”
Sophie watched the scene and suddenly said.
“Ellen.”
"Yes?"
“You haven't chosen a name for the baby yet?”
Elinor smiled awkwardly at the sudden question.
Her smile looked smug.
Sophie clicked her tongue regretfully.
"You should choose a name for him now. You're starting to get used to it."
“The thing is...”
“No matter how much you hate the baby's father, this is not true.”
Sophie thought Elinor's nephew was hers.
When she first arrived here, Elinor looked like a young mother who had run away with her child.
Elinor made no effort to correct this misconception.
To hide her identity, she was better seen as a single mother with a story.
“I'm thinking about choosing a name later.”
“So, you'll keep calling him little boy?”
“There is someone I wish would have a name for him.”
“Don't say you mean that father who doesn't care about his wife and child?”
Elinor smiled sadly.
Sophie's words were half right and half wrong.
Elinor hoped that Charlotte would choose a name for the baby.
Even though she took her nephew and left the Count's mansion, it was only to protect him from danger.
Of course, Charlotte would come back to get her baby.
Even if she abandons him, she will quickly change her mind and go back to looking for him.
Elinor was clinging to this hope.
“I'll think about it a little.”
Sophie frowned dissatisfiedly.
"By the way, it looks like you're up earlier than usual, Sophie. Did something happen?"
Eleanor changed the subject.
Fortunately, her efforts succeeded.
Sophie breathed excitedly.
“Oh, by the way, yes. I have to tell you! Last night, a guest from abroad came and asked about an extended stay.”
“Long stay?”
Elinor was genuinely surprised.
Piaccina was a country village so quiet that there was no reason for a long stay.
Until this inn, Elinor had been the only guest there.
So, Sophie was relying more on the restaurant than the accommodation to run the inn.
“That's great. Didn't you mention that you need a large sum of money for your youngest daughter's marriage?”
“True. He seems to be rich. He paid for an entire year’s accommodation in one go!”
“…a whole year?”
Elinor paused for a moment.
I suddenly felt that something was strange.
For a guest to appear in this rural village is a great coincidence, but for him to stay for a year?
Is it possible that her father sent someone to look for her nephew...
“So I was trying my best for the first time in ages. I plan to entice him with delicious food so he won't go elsewhere! If the villagers find out that a stranger paid that much, everyone will try to invite him to stay with them. Oh, here he comes down now. Sir!”
Elinor turned her head toward Sophie's gesture, and her eyes widened.
A man was coming down the stairs.
Shiny blonde hair as if sprinkled with stardust.
Beneath him, two deep blue eyes sunk like a deep lake.
His handsome features make it impossible to take eyes off him.
Elinor immediately recognized his identity.
He was Matthias Hilliard, the main villain in her world as an incarnate, and a secondary character obsessed with the heroine.
'Why is the evil duke here...?'
Elinor blinked in astonishment.
Sophie did not notice Elinor's condition and shouted excitedly.
"Good morning, sir! Did you have a comfortable stay tonight?"
But Matthias ignored Sophie's words and approached Elinor.
Elinor's back hit the wall.
There is no longer any place to escape.
At that moment Elinor felt wary of Matthias's sudden appearance.
"I'm sorry, honey. Can you forgive me for once?"
Matthias knelt at her feet.