The days fall into a surprisingly steady, almost surreal rhythm.
If there is one absolute miracle I can thank that mysterious deity for, it's the sleep blessing. It actually works. Even when I only manage to steal thirty or forty minutes of shut-eye, whether it's a quick catnap on the commute home from the office or a brief rest in my apartment, my body feels as completely restored as if I've slept a full six or seven hours. While the deity's other power completely failed in the real world, this sleep magic functions flawlessly. It is an absolute lifesaver, keeping me from completely burning out.
Over the next few weeks, roughly three weeks ticking by in the fantasy realm, which translates to about half that time down here in my reality. I somehow manage to keep all the plates spinning.
My daily routine becomes a tightly choreographed dance like I wake up in my real-world apartment after experiencing a full night's consciousness as Eleanor at 6 am or before that. Thanks to the sleep blessing, I bounce out of bed feeling remarkably refreshed despite the mental double-shift.
After that I head off to the office, tackling my packed workload, checking in with my boss, and handling everyday modern stresses. During my commute and breaks, I utilize short power naps to maintain my peak energy levels.
At night, the moment I close my eyes and fall asleep, my consciousness crosses over, plunging me straight back into the grand Valerius estate as Eleanor.
Back in the fantasy realm, however, the undercurrent of tension only grows thicker as the weeks drag on.
Yet, beneath the chaos and the frantic secret meetings, a strange stability begins to form. My real-world parents look healthier and happier, my office life is back on track, and I am actually surviving the impossible.
We are settling into the groove of a brand-new normal, though I can tell that the secret storm the Duke and Orlando are brewing is bound to break any day now.
The Duke and Orlando are wrapped up in a whirlwind of absolute secrecy and non-stop business. They barely cross paths with me, constantly rushing in and out of the estate. Because of their heavy absence, Arthur regularly sends letters to Eleanor, missing a day here and there due to his own work, but writing consistently. In his letters, he frequently mentions wanting to visit and see how I am doing, but he claims his busy schedule prevents him from making it over.
Yet, I can sense there is something much larger going on beneath the surface, something Arthur is intentionally keeping from me.
Whenever I catch a rare glimpse of my father or Orlando, I try to press them. "Where is Arthur?" I ask, cornering them briefly. "He keeps saying he'll come to see me, but he never does. What's going on, Father?"
They always try to deftly ignore the question, quickly pivoting to change the subject or smoothing things over. But because I am living a relatively peaceful, happy life here now, so I refuse to be the old Eleanor who threw explosive tantrums over every little whim and choose not to push them. I patiently let it go, biting my tongue instead of making them angry.
Instead, I channel my restlessness elsewhere. Sometimes, I act a little naughtily, like sneaking out to play in the dirt, tending to the garden, and planting flowers. To my absolute surprise, neither Orlando nor the Duke ever scold me for it. Instead, they look at me with weary, gentle eyes, occasionally murmuring, "Eleanor, you should take care of yourself. Don't overdo it. You were severely ill just days ago."
"No, Father, it's okay," I always reply with a reassuring smile. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
Aside from the occasional visit from a family physician who drops by to check my vitals, only to find nothing wrong, life moves forward. And through it all, watching the way my father and Orlando look at me, a profound realization dawns on me: they have genuinely grown to care for Eleanor.
Seeing that fierce, protective affection in their eyes fills my heart with a deep, quiet warmth. Even with all the hidden tensions and unspoken mysteries hanging in the air, I can't help feeling truly happy.