Eloise

Chapter 27: Maude

Eloise hugged her knees and rested her chin above them. It comforted her from the loneliness of being alone in that vast cold room. Immense at her own thoughts, time flowed by and the sun carefully peaked from the horizon.

As sunlight streaked from the drawn curtains of her window, Eloise' sorted her muddled thoughts.

This is the second life she desperately wished for. No matter what happens, she has to change her future and avoid dying unfairly again.

With determined eyes, she marched outside her room but she was rooted in place for an unexpected announcement.

"Good morning, Your Grace. Madame Maude has arrived." Knox greeted with a straight face, trying to look unfazed by the sudden visit.

The Duke's mother was far from being gentle and approachable. He was as stoic and cold as the Duke himself. And the latter's absence makes the situation worse. The Duchess timid personality is no match for the Madame's sharp tongue.

Eloise' mind went blank for a second. Even in her past life, she only met her mother-in-law a few times. She was a strict and proud noble woman who doesn't bat an eye in speaking her mind. Recalling their past encounters, Eloise could not say that they have a good relationship.

"Where is she now?"

"I served her tea and refreshments at the drawing room, Your Grace."

"Alright. Thank you, Knox. I'll be there right away."

Knox politely lowered his head before leaving. She quickly changed her clothes with the servants' help and soon found herself in front of the drawing room. Her hand trembled slightly as she held the knob. It will be the first time that she will face her mother-in-law by herself alone.

Eloise heaved a deep sigh to compose herself. As soon as the door opened, a sophisticated figure of a noble woman sitting at the tea table met her eyes.

"It has been a while, Mother." Eloise slightly lowered her head in greeting before sitting across her at the small round table.

Maude gracefully lifted the teacup to her lips, ignoring the greeting. From the moment she entered the room, the Madam never lifted her eyes in her direction.

"Surely you must know the purpose of my visit wasn't for sweet talk and tea time." Her cold voice made her breath hitched and her heartbeat raced inside her chest.

She had never been good in conversing with people. Afterall, she was labeled as 'the wallflower' because of her aloofness. The thought of sitting across someone and exchanging words already makes her uneasy.

"Nathaniel escaped again." Maude emphasized the word, making Eloise clutch the skirt of her dress tightly beneath the table. "When will you both consider the seriousness of this matter."

She was clearly mad about it. The night of the consummation is approaching and the elders of the Fleiss family were very strict in following these traditions.

"The Duke.. subjugated the monsters nearing the border to protect his territory. W-when winter comes, monsters will swarm the area and try to hunt for prey. That's why Nathaniel controls their number and -"

"That's the point." The teacup clicked as it hit the saucer in a harsh manner. In time, the Madam stared directly at her. Her cold eyes were sharp as her brows slightly creased. "Nathaniel was always at the front lines fighting and risking his life. We never knew what will happen during those long wars and bloodshed. Will you just blindly wait for him to return as a cold corpse?"

Eloise fell silent for what she heard. Her mother-in-law was right. She was also skeptical and scared every time Nathaniel went away for the battlefield. But they never did it. The Duke had not ever once visited her bed chamber with that purpose after their wedding night.