#15. Estimating the Distance Between a Man and a Woman (8)

Afternoon at Béarn Manor on this summer day was, as ever, bright and sunny.

The summer sky stretched vivid blue over the garden, lush with seasonal greenery, not a single white cloud in sight.

Ever since the weather had begun to warm in earnest, this place had enjoyed one cloudless day after another. No wonder they called it the continent’s granary.

Beneath that sunny summer sky.

In stark contrast to the weather, Eleonore’s heart was a complete mess.

Lately, what had been tormenting her was whether she could truly become the Grand Duke’s wife. Of course, if she considered only the physical possibility, it was a pointless worry.

For a young lady whose heart lurched at no more than the word lover, the word wife alone was enough to make her feel utterly constricted.

Her mother, Etie, who had first raised the subject, had seemed strangely uninterested in her daughter ever since. At least when it came to that matter.

Though she welcomed her warmly as always whenever her daughter approached, if Eleonore brought up the subject, she would only smile without saying a word.

Her father and younger brother offered little of substance, looking at her with concern as they spoke...