The End of Your Arrogance - Chapter 4.2

Nazz didn’t know how he should address Lady Evelyn. She was married to the Archduke, after all. But the Archduchess’ room was currently vacant. Ilya hadn’t acknowledged her with her title nor had her room moved next to his. She still stayed in the annex with her son.

The servants and knights who had seen him drag her to the bedroom whispered among themselves that the Archduke treated his wife like a wh*re.

“That’s pointless talk. We are going to divorce, of course. But she is still the Archduchess for now. Don’t talk trash about her. You can’t have her. That woman drives me crazy every night,” said Ilya, still chewing his cookie.

Nazz didn’t register its meaning, so he sat there blankly until it hit him. “Your Excellency! How can you say that? I would never think of Lady Evelyn in that way! What the hell are you thinking?!”

Ilya leaned back on the chair with one hand covering his eyes. He had, once again, not slept after the funeral. The sweet taste of that one night, when he had slept soundly, seduced him. To touch her soft body, to taste her blood…

However, how could he sleep next to his wife who cried for his older brother and called his name so fondly…? He might lose his cool and kill her this time.

“You’ve had enough of men and women, sir. Why in the world would you be crazy for her?” mumbled Nazz himself with a ghastly expression.

“I… turned my eyes away from her… but…”

Ilya closed his eyes. The memory from that nightmarish incident came back. A huge number of torches lit up the night sky. The sound of fire arrows flying through the air. The black knights groaning with thirst and hunger.

“Protect the general! If we make it out of this hell alive, we go straight for Maduse!”

The faces of his fellow soldiers who had died in the canyon flashed by in a blur.

The North was always in his memory. Whether it was because of a grudge or a grace.

***

“You need to sleep now. Yeah?”

“Cookie!” yelled the child.

Evelyn, who was drying her son’s hair with a towel, burst out laughing. The maid, Sophie, who was putting clothes on him, cracked a smile.

“Young master will grow up to be a war general, surely.”

“He might,” said Evelyn.

“How could his first work be ‘cookie’ instead of ‘mama’?” said Sophie.

Evelyn smiled. She laughed as her son grabbed her finger and bit it. “No, Liv. It’s time for bed!” She lifted her whining son and patted his back gently. She noticed that he had grown.

“I haven’t shown you the gift my sister sent for you!” said Sophie. Sophie’s sister worked as a maid in the castle in the Maduse estate. She was very skilled at embroidery. She often embroidered pretty things and sent them here for Sophie and Evelyn.

All of the incoming supplies and correspondences from the Maduse estate were monitored. But the article of clothing wasn’t confiscated since there was nothing suspicious.

“This time she sent three, including one for Livell,” said Sophie. “Ta-da!” She laid out the three handkerchiefs on the table.

The first one was embroidered with golden foxes. The fox wearing a blue crown on its head looked so lifelike as if it would pop out of the cloth in real life. The second one was embroidered with a big whale over an ocean. The third one showed a priest throwing a golden disc.

“My Lady, don’t you think my sister’s art is becoming more intricate and yet so vague?”

“Yeah,” said Evelyn. “What on earth does that mean?” A golden fox, a killer whale, and a priest throwing a golden disc…

Evelyn was so focused on looking at the art that she grimaced when she heard people outside her room. Someone knocked hastily on the door.

“Who could it be?” asked Sophie nervously. “At this hour… no one usually comes here.”

She looked at Evelyn questioningly. Evelyn gestured for her to open the door. Sophie nodded and walked to the door and opened it.

Evelyn clutched at her heart and looked at the door. The man who stood at the door was none other than her husband.

Evelyn hurriedly stood up. Why is he here? What should I say? She saw the knights standing behind Ilya in a row. Her heart pounded in fear.

Black Forest Knights. I am a Maduse. Half of my child’s blood is Maduse blood. Are they here to…?

Ilya stood at the door and watched. He then quietly walked across the room towards her. She instinctively took a step back as he approached. He halted.

The corners of his lips curled up in a smirk. “Are you afraid I might hurt your child?”

“Please…,” Evelyn pleaded. Her heart pounded. “You promised.”

“Of course. And I keep my promise unlike some people,” he said. “That is why I am here.”

He reached out for her. “Mama…,” the child in her arms squirmed.

“Oh, Liv. Please,” Evelyn whispered in terror. She tried to pat his back and rock him gently while the child struggled to get down from her arm.

Ilya watched indifferently. “Get rid of it,” he said coldly.

Evelyn’s mind went blank. She couldn’t understand. Nor could Sophie.

“I said get rid of it.”

Evelyn froze at his cold and heartless words.