The End of Your Arrogance - Chapter 82

He whispered into Evelyn’s ear, his breath warm and compelling.

“What you, no, Pia needs to do is show visions of my brother… appearing. Slowly driving me mad.”

Evelyn still couldn’t quite grasp his words. Yet, his pleading voice made her resolve never to create such visions of Nasser in front of him.

Rising onto her tiptoes, Evelyn whispered to his ear, “Whether it’s here or in your bedroom, it’s just the two of us. Why create something so painful to see? If the Countess Glen asks, I’ll lie and say Your Highness enjoys it.”

“You’ve become quite brazen.”

“You told me to trust you, that you’d handle everything.”

When Evelyn muttered her complaint, he wrapped his arms around her lightly, resting his chin on her head. Evelyn squirmed, tickled by the gesture.

“Playing the madman is my specialty. Trust me.”

“I trust you, so let me go.”

Evelyn wriggled to free herself from his embrace, but he didn’t budge.

“Today, we’re going to sail across the lake.”

Ilya’s voice was dreamy as if lost in a memory. He seemed to have been quite taken with the illusion of Lake Ashina Evelyn had once created.

“You fell asleep on the boat last time. Let’s visit the cabin on the other side today.”

At his casual suggestion, Evelyn’s ears burned bright red. He chuckled, his chin still on her head.

“My lady, what’s got you blushing like that?”

“N-nothing. I wasn’t thinking anything.”

Her stammer only made him more teasing.

“If it rains like last time…”

A soft knock interrupted them, and Ilya’s brow furrowed in annoyance. He shouted toward the door irritably.

“What is it?”

“It’s me, Rene.”

Both of them started at the sound of Rene’s voice. Ilya released Evelyn and walked over to the door. When he opened it, Rene stood there, looking apologetic.

“Your Highness, a guest is arriving.”

“At this hour, unannounced? How rude.”

Ilya grumbled, and Rene chuckled softly. He glanced at Evelyn, still standing awkwardly in the room, and continued.

“Your Highness, this guest seems to have business with our lady as well.”

“Who on earth could it be?”

Ilya’s thick eyebrows knitted together in surprise. Evelyn’s eyes widened at Rene’s words. She couldn’t imagine who would come looking for her, especially this late at night.

Evelyn removed her robe. Since they were referring to her as ‘my lady’ and not Pia, the mysterious guest must be looking for Evelyn. As she stepped outside without the robe, Rene winked at her.

“Shall we go then?”

The three of them headed to the drawing room on the top floor to meet their uninvited guest in the middle of the night.

****

When they entered the drawing room, Physician Devi greeted them. However, Ilya and Evelyn’s attention was immediately drawn to the robed figure sitting beside her. Tall and slender, it was a woman. Evelyn watched the robed figure with curiosity.

The woman stood and removed her robe. As it slipped off, a cascade of fiery red hair tumbled down her back. Evelyn gasped in recognition. Ilya, on the other hand, greeted her with a calm voice.

“Lady Luten, it’s been a while.”

“It’s an honor to see you again, Your Highness.”

She curtsied gracefully, every inch the noblewoman, a stark contrast to the disheveled state Evelyn had last seen her in. Ilya looked at her with intrigued eyes.

“You look well.”

“Thanks to an excellent physician, I’ve greatly improved.”

Michellini Luten smiled brightly, like a woman who remembered nothing. But Evelyn felt uncomfortable in her presence, avoiding her gaze. After all, this was the woman who had once burst into her husband’s bedroom naked.

“Has your memory returned?”

Michellini shook her head. Since staying with the Marquess of Lauren for treatment, she had mostly overcome the aftereffects of her medication. Yet, the memories of her abduction remained elusive, driving her, with her fiery temperament, to the brink of madness.

Ilya looked her straight in the eye and asked, “If your memory hasn’t returned, why did you ask to see me? It’s not to ask me to find your kidnappers, so what brings you here?”

“I have something to discuss with Your Highness. Although, that’s not the only reason I’m here.”

Michellini spoke with a confident expression. Ilya, intrigued, leaned in closer as she continued.

“It’s about the drug they gave me during the kidnapping.”

Ilya moved forward in his seat, his interest piqued. “An interesting drug, you say?”

“Wasn’t it just something to make you lose consciousness?” he asked, narrowing his eyes. Michellini suddenly looked as though she had aged ten years.

“Do you know who my first love was, Your Highness?” she asked, her voice heavy with emotion.

Evelyn, taken aback by the unexpected question, also turned her gaze to Michellini. Everyone in the northern aristocracy knew that Michellini had passionately pursued Nasser since childhood. Seeing her eyes now, Evelyn realized she had misunderstood her all along. Michellini hadn’t chased him to become the Grand Duchess—she had truly been in love with him.

“During the kidnapping, I couldn’t stop thinking about him all day. Eventually, I wanted to blow my brains out just to stop thinking about a dead man.”

“Lady Michellini, wait. In that life-or-death situation, all you could think about was my brother? Not how to escape?” Ilya pressed, looking incredulous. Michellini gave a sad smile.

“I forgot who I was, where I was, and what I needed to do to survive. Eventually, I even forgot that Prince Nasser had already passed away.”

Her eyes seemed to be drifting between reality and some distant fantasy.

“All I could think of was how to be with him again, somehow.”

“Was that all because of the drug?” Ilya asked, bewildered.

“Loving him was my true feeling. But…” Michellini trailed off, glancing at the physician seated next to her. The physician, who had been silently listening, took over the explanation.

“I previously mentioned the symptoms suffered by the late Grand Duke. Do you recall?”

“Unexplained stomach pains, vomiting, high fever, sudden convulsions… If I remember correctly, the convulsions were the main issue.”

Evelyn felt her breath catch in her throat as she listened to their exchange.

“Yes, the convulsions were the primary concern. They became more frequent and irregular, to the point where he could hardly perform his duties.”

Ilya, looking confused, asked, “What does this have to do with Lady Luten?”

Michellini re-entered the conversation. “As I continued my treatment, my mind grew clearer. Naturally, I tried not to think about the late Grand Duke.”

“Of course, you would.”

“But every time I did, I felt a pain so severe I wanted to die. I experienced intense convulsions several times a day, not just in my limbs but even in my internal organs.”

“And when you thought of my brother… was it any better?”

“Yes, Your Highness. For those brief moments, my body and mind found peace.”

Ilya’s expression grew serious. “It felt as if someone was inscribing words into my mind, telling me to remember him forever and lose my sanity day by day.”

“So, what you’re saying is…” Ilya trailed off.

Michellini concluded in a steady tone, “The drug stimulates the deepest desires hidden within a person. When one cannot attain what they desperately want, or when they give up on it, they suffer unbearable pain.”

Evelyn had so many questions for Michellini. Seeing Evelyn’s lips part as if to speak, Michellini smiled slightly.

“I’ve heard that Countess Edith is staying at the Grand Duke’s estate as your companion.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“I believe I could be a suitable companion for you as well. What do you think?”

“You’re not unsuitable, but it would be uncomfortable. I think you know why.”

Michellini laughed heartily at Evelyn’s candid response.

“My lady, I’ll be staying at the villa within the Grand Duchy for now. If you ever need a companion, you can tell Devi here.”

With a nod to the physician, Evelyn acknowledged Michellini’s words. Michellini rose from her seat without hesitation.

Ilya watched her closely, suspicious of her motives. Michellini, pretending not to notice, offered a polite bow. Ilya waved his hand dismissively, signaling her to leave.

She exited the drawing room without looking back. Watching her dramatic entrance and exit, Ilya and Rene shook their heads in exasperation.

****

After the storm had passed, Ilya and Evelyn, exhausted, stepped out of the tower. As they walked side by side, Ilya glanced at Evelyn.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so openly uncomfortable with someone.”

Evelyn let out a long sigh, feeling stifled. After a moment, she replied in a calm tone, “She’s the woman who barged into my husband’s bedroom naked… Of course, I dislike her. What woman wouldn’t?”

Ilya looked bewildered, muttering to himself, “Are you… jealous?”

“Even if we’re going to separate soon… mmph!”

Ilya suddenly clamped a hand over her mouth and pulled her behind a large tree. Evelyn blinked up at him, trapped in his embrace.

“Do you see that person standing there?” Ilya whispered.

At the end of the path leading to the Tower of Penance stood a tall figure, gazing at the tower. After a moment, the figure disappeared into the darkness.

As soon as Ilya removed his hand, Evelyn said, “Who was that?”

“Countess Edith.”

“What? Why is Yulia here at this hour…?”

Evelyn murmured, perplexed.

“It seems tonight won’t end quietly,” Ilya said, his voice weary in a way Evelyn had never heard before. She nodded in agreement, sensing the exhaustion in her husband’s tone.