Chapter 26 - A Curse Against Family

Eloise’s POV



I stared outside of the window and watched as the people below lived their lives. Time went forward for them but for me, it’s been at a standstill recently.



“Nora?” I sat at the table and picked at the now cold dinner. “Do you know if Lord Xavier will be back in time for dinner today?”



“Adrian says that Lord Xavier has important business to attend to today. I don’t think he’ll be back until it’s late, my Lady.” Nora responded with her head down.



“I see.” I sighed and began to eat dinner on my own. Again. For the fourth time this week.



Ever since Xavier and I became intimate, we’ve grown closer. In the morning, I would arrange his clothes, and in the evening, he would accompany me to dinner. Even his attitude towards me was more gentle and understanding.



I thought that our relationship would continue to develop more smoothly but these past few days felt like he was avoiding me. Although I was used to eating dinner alone when I first became a part of the Leonard family, this time, I suddenly felt lonely.



Was I really starting to catch feelings for him? Even if I was, that doesn’t change what needs to be done… But still… It hurts not having him here.



I remained in the room as I usually did but this time with purpose. I had hoped that maybe Xavier would make a surprise visit and come see me. Yet he never did.



I spent the rest of the afternoon alone.



The moon hung high in the sky as it got later into the night. I was trying my best not to doze off and stay awake for Xavier.



Ever since he and Adrian had that meeting in his study a few days ago, Xavier’s been acting so weird. Either he comes back really late or not at all…



Just as I was about to doze off again, the door began to open gently, letting out a soft creak. I immediately woke up and saw Xavier at the doorway.



“Welcome back, my Lord.” I stood up from the chair and I gave him a small smile.



Xavier’s eyebrows were raised. “What are you doing up so late?”



His question made my heart sting a little. “I wanted to wait for you. It feels like I haven’t seen you much lately.”



I tried to reach out for his coat but he waved my hand away.



There was a silence that enveloped us but it was far from a comfortable one. Why was he treating me so differently all of a sudden?



“Don’t forget that this marriage is still a contract. You don’t need to act like a real wife even when we’re alone. So from now on, don’t wait for me.”



You don’t need to remind me that our marriage was bound by contract–I’m the one that proposed to you! I scolded him. Despite that, the time we’ve spent together recently wasn’t fake.



“But my Lord, just a few days ago we were–”



“Just go to bed,” he interrupted. “I just remembered that I have some extra business that I need to attend to in my study, so I must leave.”



I watched as Xavier left the room without saying another word.



I stomped to bed and threw myself into the blankets.



Xavier avoided eye contact with me that entire time. Now it was even more obvious that he was avoiding me altogether. And he was acting so coldly all of a sudden?



What’s wrong with him??



It took me a while to calm myself down. I was used to sleeping alone when I first became his wife but now things were different. Without Xavier’s warm body next to mine, I found it really hard to sleep.



The next morning came around and I decided to prepare some snacks so I could go visit Xavier in his study. We needed to have a real conversation about what was going on between us. Even if he was a busy lord, it still didn’t justify him neglecting me. Not after how intimate we got…



Just as I was about to leave, one of Belinda’s servants arrived outside the room and knocked on the door. I only recognized them from the special attire that Mrs. Leonard had them wear.



“Hi, I’m sorry, but can I help you?”



“Mrs. Leonard has requested your presence in her chambers immediately.” The servant bowed at me.



I looked at them questioningly. “Did she say why?”



“No, Lady Eloise. Only that she wants to see you right now.”



Belinda has never liked me. She made that extremely obvious the first time I met her. Every time I try to greet her and be polite, she gives me no response. She doesn’t invite me to any of her parties and excludes me from any other social gathering with the other noble ladies.



So today, out of all days, when she wanted to suddenly summon me for a private audience, I couldn’t help but feel really strange.



I glanced at the cookies in the basket and thought about when I would see Xavier next. I really do need to talk to him, though…



Sensing my hesitation, the servant cleared their throats. “Please, Lady Eloise. It’s best not to keep Mrs. Leonard waiting.”



“Is there any way it can wait? I need to go speak with my husband, Lord Xavier.”



The servant shook their head. “I just came from my Lord’s study and he wasn’t there. I was told that he made a trip to the barracks of Noah and won’t be back for quite some time.”



I let out a defeated sigh and left the basket on the desk. Looks like I didn’t have a choice but to face my mother-in-law today.



We climbed to the very top of the castle to go see her. When we arrived at Belinda’s room, the servant bowed and opened the door.



“Good luck,” they said.



I looked at them with a puzzled look but nodded at them before I went inside.



I looked around at the beautiful decorations and saw Belinda sitting at the opposite end of the room with her back turned towards me. Something about the atmosphere felt off but I was still determined to greet her politely.



“Good afternoon, Mrs. Leonard. You want to see–”



A hard object was suddenly thrown at my forehead before it made a metallic clang on the floor. It took me off guard and caused me to fall back on my butt.



I rubbed at my forehead and before I could even get a word in, Belinda’s voice boomed throughout the entire room.



“You witch! How dare you try to curse me!”



“What are you…” I looked at the bracelet on the floor and let out a soft gasp.



It was the gold bracelet that I had given Belinda on her birthday. Looking back up at her, I saw all of the black markings that decorated her body.



“What happened to you?” My eyes were wide with horror.



“Don’t play stupid, little girl! You did this to me! And now, you will pay!”