The End of Your Arrogance - Chapter 42.1

“It’s me. Open the door,” 

Evelyn, who stood somewhat crookedly, strode into the room.

“You’re still huddled up in here,” Ilya grumbled as he plopped down on the sofa.

“Well, it’s just the two of us now, so you can let go of your grumpiness,” Ilya added, 

Upon seeing her like that, Ilya let out a small sigh.

“And what about Rene?”

“She’s asleep at the moment. Shall I wake him up?”

Ilya rose from his seat and said, “I’ll go and wake him. You can go in.”

With a creak, the door swung open, and René emerged.

“Your Highness, why did you come to a room with two ladies in the dead of night? Scandalous!” Rene, looking much better than before, took a seat beside Evelyn. Ilya brushed off his frivolous joke and got straight to the point.

“We’ve encountered a bit of trouble in the village of Beningsan.”

“If Stas had such a grave expression earlier, then…,” Evelyn couldn’t comprehend a single word they were saying.

“They’re all so busy here too. What should I do?” Evelyn pondered, hesitating in her seat before finally retreating to her own chamber. Even though the distance was short, her legs and the soles of her feet felt heavy, as if laden with weariness.

Meanwhile, Ilya and Rene seemed oblivious to Evelyn’s departure, engrossed in their conversation.

Covering herself completely with the blanket, she lay down on the bed. A familiar sense of helplessness engulfed her like a tidal wave. It was disheartening to be the only one stumbling while others appeared unscathed after just a few days of hardship.

And… She couldn’t help but fret over the twisted branches she had observed from the wooden barricade.

Does it truly have nothing to do with him? 

“If only I had the strength, I would have found you earlier,” she mused. 

“Am I truly nothing more than a useless human, as Father claimed?” she wondered. 

After days of journeying, she had hoped that her confidence would grow, but in the end, she found herself back where she started. Whenever she was in the presence of others, she seemed like a fine individual, but with him, she crumbled.

Creak. The door swung open without a single knock, and an intruder entered the room. Disregarding any boundaries, the trespasser removed the covers and settled themselves on the edge of the bed.

As she attempted to rise, he nonchalantly pressed a hand against her shoulder and said, 

“Stay lying down.”

He lifted her skirt and gently brushed away the tender bruises that adorned her inner thighs.

“Your Highness!” she gasped, caught off guard. Slipping past her tightly-knit knees, his touch grazed the blistered soles of her feet.

In an attempt to distance herself from him, she recoiled as though he were aflame, but he firmly grasped her ankle.

“Don’t misunderstand. Just stay still,” he commanded in a calm tone.

Moments later, he began to knead her legs, and the sensation left her heart pounding in her chest. She was shocked by the unexpected turn of events.

Before long, astonishment turned into pain.

“Ouch! It hurts,” she whimpered. Evelyn twisted and contorted, her entire body bathed in a cold sweat. The pain, akin to tightly squeezing her muscles, left her breathless.

“Endure it,” he urged, his hands skillfully easing the tension from her muscles. 

Gradually, Evelyn’s body relaxed, and it felt as if her legs were as light as feathers. It seemed they would finally recover.

“Turn over,” he instructed, and Evelyn complied, her face previously buried in the bed now turning to gaze at him.

“Just moments ago, you looked at me as if I were the most wretched soul in existence.”

I was surprised when you lifted my skirt. I apologize for the misunderstanding. I am truly sorry.” Evelyn’s words stumbled out in bewilderment. 

“You’re not entirely unjustified in thinking that, Considering how relentlessly I pursued you every night before I left.” 

Despite the weight of his words, his voice remained surprisingly composed.

“I don’t know why you thought that?” she hesitantly asked.

“It’s the truth. How many times did Naz curse and revile me, fearing my advances?”

She longed to disappear, burying her head in the bed. Ilya let out a chuckle at the sight of her flushed neck.

“Let me leave the ointment here. Apply it to your blistered feet.”

As the door closed, Evelyn sat up and glanced at the bedside table. A bottle filled with a blue liquid sat there.

Clutching the bottle tightly in her hand, Evelyn drifted off to sleep.

****

“Pia, return to the Grand Citadel first. We’ll discuss the details upon your return.”

The next morning, when Evelyn opened her eyes, René was nowhere to be found. Only a single note remained.

Donning her robe, Evelyn made her way downstairs to the dining hall. Had everyone else departed as well? It was only natural for them to go together.

“Pia, did you sleep well?”

Nikolas, already sipping tea, greeted her.

“Where did everyone go?”

“They returned to the scene. It seems there was an issue in the village.”

A tinge of disappointment washed over Evelyn in Nikolas’s absence.

“Is it only the Captain who remains?”

“No, Aelon and Navaron are here as well. They decided to take a brief detour through the nearby villages before returning. They instructed me to depart first, so…”

Nikolas gazed at Evelyn with a mischievous grin, his smile as refreshing as the breeze through her freshly washed hair. 

“Let’s have a sip of tea before we set off. We’ve got places to be.”

As they both savored the rich flavor of the black tea, it felt like the drowsiness was slowly dissipating, awakening our senses. Did Livell manage to have his meal? Was he blissfully unaware, enjoying his time without searching for her mother? And was he dutifully heeding the Eagle’s instructions? Suddenly, an overwhelming longing to see her child surged within her.

Thud! Evelyn placed her teacup on the table and rose to her feet. “Captain, let’s head back swiftly.”

“Yes, I’ll make sure we reach the Grand Citadel safely,” Nikolas replied.