The End of Your Arrogance - Chapter 21.2

“Did you look through these with Rene?” Ilya asked, eyes fixed on the parchments on the table.

“Yes,” Evelyn nodded. “Rene asked me to help. We have been looking over it since the afternoon.”

When he did not reply, Evelyn felt a sudden rush of fear.

“Was I… not supposed to have looked?”

Surprised, Ilya looked at Evelyn.

“No, it’s nothing like that. I was just surprised that you knew how to handle things like this.”

Evelyn let out a tiny breath. She had thought about it while looking at the documents earlier, but she really wanted to convey it to him directly when she saw her husband. She whispered to him as she bandaged his finger, “It wasn’t easy living here, but everything I know how to do right now, I learned here.”

The regular sound of the rain had the power to make people honest.

“Marrying you and coming to the North… I consider it the luckiest thing in my life.”

Forgetting to breathe, Ilya stared at her. Evelyn tied up the bandages and stood up.

“People will be waiting. Let’s head back to the waiting room.”

He was dazed the whole time he was led out by Evelyn.

“Your Highness, I’m going to head back first. It’s almost time for Sophie to arrive.”

Even after Evelyn left, he couldn’t come to his senses. Nazz and Rene looked at him and tilted their heads in wonder.

***

It was midnight when Sophie returned from working at the main building.

“My Lady, why are you out! It’s pouring.”

“I was worried for you.”

After washing up, Sophie visited Evelyn’s room.

“And the Young Master? Did he not cry for me?” she asked.

Evelyn pointed to the bed. She saw the eagle sitting next to Livell, who was sleeping with his arms and legs stretched out. The regular movements of his head suggested he was dozing.

“Oh, wow! The two must be very friendly.” Sophie whispered quietly. Evelyn replied while pouring tea, “I’ve been pushed back, now. By the way, how was work?” She looked at Sophie with a worried expression.

“It wasn’t as bad as I thought. I embroidered the curtains in the morning,” answered Sophie, “but I have never seen curtains that big!”

“It must be curtains for the room of the Grand Duchess. All the windows in that room are big.” Evelyn pushed a few cookies toward Sophie. She pushed them into her mouth and chewed. “It must have been hard.”

“The fabric was so thick that I was so nervous…” Sophie gestured with her hands and complained, ”I thought I was cutting through the thread.”

“At least nothing bad happened,” Evelyn replied.

“Oh, and I went to the previous Archduchess’ dress room!”

Evelyn’s eyes widened. That must be… Ilya’s mother. Evelyn placed her teacup on the table.

“Why did you go in there?”

The Grand Duke offered all the precious jewels in the world just to see his wife’s smile. Although, of course, she never once cracked a smile at him. In any case, her dressing room must have been filled with expensive jewelry, and yet outsiders were brought to such a place? The maids selected by the head maid would also clean there… Evelyn felt that something was off.

“I didn’t go in alone, but with the maid of Countess Glen,” Sophie said, “I cleaned all the jewelry in the jewel box.”

“That really shouldn’t be one of your duties,” mumbled Evelyn. It was strange. What could she be scheming? Evelyn was suspicious of Selice, but she did not speak her mind because Sophie had to go back to the main building tomorrow.

Sophie let out a wide yawn. Evelyn laughed as she pushed her, “Go and get some rest now.”

“Yes, My Lady. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Before she left, she said to Evelyn, “My Lady, don’t worry about me. I won’t disappear like him.”

Leaving behind a puzzle of words, Evelyn forced a smile. After she sent Sophie away, she looked around the room. When Livell tossed and turned in his sleep, the eagle raised its wings and patted the little boy. The child’s breathing became regular again. After looking at the two for a while, Evelyn lowered the canopy of the bed. It felt like she was left alone in a dark room.

Evelyn sat on the floor near the fireplace and placed her hands on her chest. Rene said there was dark mana here. That night, she was the one who turned Marquis Maduse’s leg into such a state. Evelyn clasped her knees together and buried her head. Shuddered in her arms, she soon fell asleep.

Suddenly awake, Evelyn narrowed her eyes at the sound of a rustle. In her flickering vision, she saw a tall man in a black robe. Taking off his robe, he sat down in a small chair by the fireplace to restock the firewood.

Crackle.

Her heart thumped loudly at the sound of burning fire.