The End of Your Arrogance - Chapter 85

“What happened earlier today?”

Evelyn glanced up at the stern face looking down at her, catching a fleeting glimpse of concern. She smiled warmly, appreciating the rare show of affection from him. Ilya took a seat across from her, his expression disapproving.

“I heard you skipped dinner.”

“Lady Luten and Yuli visited this afternoon. I guess I ate too many snacks while they were here.”

Ilya nodded, picturing the elaborate pastries that typically accompanied tea during such visits. Evelyn hesitated, her lips parting as if to speak, but she held back. Noticing her struggle, Ilya couldn’t contain himself any longer.

“Evelyn, if you have something to say, just say it.”

“Lady Luten mentioned… she thinks her kidnapping might be connected to Countess Glenn.”

A crooked smile played at the corner of Ilya’s mouth.

“Previously, they acted like the perfect mother and daughter. Women are impossible to figure out.”

The word “mother” brought Yulia’s face to Evelyn’s mind. She pushed down her troubled feelings and continued.

“The Countess was using her position to make deals, extorting quite a bit from Count Luten.”

“What? But the Duchess is already…”

Ilya fell silent. At that moment, Evelyn realized that the rumors about a potential marriage between Grand Duke Ajauntice and the royal family were more than idle gossip.

When she first heard about Ilya’s possible engagement to the princess, it made her sad. The mere thought of another woman standing beside him made her blood run cold.

But now, she was terrified. Would the princess, once she became the Duchess, leave Libe alone? Even if Evelyn and Libe managed to hide after the divorce, the princess would surely find and destroy them. Even if the princess chose not to act, the emperor would certainly kill his legitimate heir, Libe.

Evelyn knew he would eventually take a new wife and have other children. That was as inevitable as the changing seasons. But she had never imagined his new wife would be the princess.

“Die? My son, Libe, will die?” Evelyn was gripped by overwhelming fear, her body trembling uncontrollably. Ilya sprang from his seat, rushing to her side.

“Evelyn, are you okay? What’s wrong?”

Evelyn looked up at him blankly, muttering, “C-cold. So cold.”

He quickly lifted her into his arms. As she shivered so violently that even her teeth chattered, a panicked Ilya carried her to the bed. He gently laid her down and covered her with a thick blanket.

He began to unbutton his uniform, his hands shaking as he watched her small frame tremble without pause. “Damn it,” he swore under his breath. Finally, dressed in only his undershirt, he slipped under the blankets, wrapping Evelyn in his arms.

“It’s okay. You’re okay, Evelyn.” His soothing voice and gentle hands rubbing her back slowly calmed her tremors. She clung tightly to his shirt, and he held her even closer.

After a while, he felt her stir. He looked down at her tear-filled green eyes and asked softly, “Feeling better now?”

The low whisper snapped Evelyn out of her daze. The terror that had clouded her mind began to clear.

“Are you in pain? Should I call a doctor?”

“No, it’s not that.”

“Then why are you like this?”

Evelyn met Ilya’s gaze and whispered, feeling as though she was confessing to a priest, “I had a terrifying thought.”

“What could be so frightening?”

‘The new family you’ll have might harm Libe, our son,’ she thought but couldn’t bring herself to say it aloud.

From the moment Libe was born, he had been a danger to Ilya. Yet, the greatest threat to Libe was also Ilya. Everyone connected to him had tried to harm Libe and likely would continue to do so. Tragically, father and son, by their very existence, were each other’s greatest threat.

“I’ve always been a coward… always running away.” Evelyn’s eyes, like the first sprouts of spring, shimmered faintly in the dim candlelight. Ilya frowned. Every time she looked at him like that, a wave of anxiety washed over him.

“But I’m not going to run anymore.”

Ilya’s arms tightened around her. “What do you think you can do? Do you think being an illusionist is such a big deal?”

“…”

“Even if you were a sorceress of darkness, nothing would change! What do you think will happen if a woman who can’t even protect herself starts flaunting dark magic?”

If she awakened as a dark sorceress, chaos would ensue. In the entire empire, no, the whole continent, dark sorcerers were incredibly rare. Being killed would be a mercy. If she were captured, she’d spend her life imprisoned, forced to commit murders against her will. That was the grim fate of a dark sorceress.

He whispered hoarsely, “Evelyn, say it. Ask me to protect you.”

Ilya gently stroked her hair. “I promised when we made our deal. As long as you stay here… I’ll protect you and the little one.”

Evelyn gave a faint, dry laugh, uncharacteristic of her. In a calm voice, she stated the truth, “Your Highness, no one can protect me, or us.”

“…!”

“I realize now, how foolish I’ve been. It’s no wonder you laugh at me, calling me a princess.”

Ilya was speechless. The words that usually flowed so easily were stuck in his throat.

That night, Ilya held her tightly, the woman who spoke harsh realities with a voice as sweet as a spring breeze. He feared that if he let go for even a moment, she would fly away.

***

The next day, Evelyn woke up alone in bed. The man who had held her all night was already gone. As she slowly rose, she noticed a piece of paper on the nightstand. She picked it up and read it slowly.

I couldn’t tell you last night because you were unwell, but Louis will be off guard duty for a while. I have a special task for him. And tonight, meet me at the entrance of the Tower of Atonement. I have something to show you.

Evelyn was puzzled. Where had he sent Sir Louis, and what did he intend to show her at the Tower of Atonement? She decided to stop overthinking. She’d find out when she met him tonight. Evelyn rang the bell on the nightstand.

“Miss, you’re awake.”

Sophie entered promptly with water and a towel for washing up. Evelyn beamed at her.

“Yes, Sophie, did you sleep well?”

“I always sleep well, miss. Though I did wake up a bit earlier than usual because the young master was up early today.”

The child, contrary to Evelyn’s worries from the previous night, had slept well and was playing cheerfully from the early morning. Eager to see Libe’s face, Evelyn quickly got out of bed.

“I should hurry. Sir Zion must be watching Libe by himself right now.”

“Don’t worry, Miss. Those two make quite the team. But more importantly, you have a visitor.”

Evelyn tilted her head in curiosity.

“The guest seems to be in a bit of a rush. You should go see them right away.”

With Sophie’s urging, Evelyn quickly dressed and headed to the parlor. There, she found a woman comfortably seated on the sofa, reading a book as if she were in her own home. Evelyn frowned as the woman set the book down and rose to her feet. Her long, red hair swayed with her movements. Evelyn walked briskly to the unexpected guest and snapped, “Lady Luten, you visit this annex rather frequently, and always without notice.”

Michelini gave a composed bow, her demeanor calm. “My lady, please forgive me just this once. I came knowing it was an imposition because I have urgent matters to discuss.”

Evelyn’s tone softened slightly at Michelini’s candor. “Sit down, Lady Luten. What will you have for tea?”

Michelini gestured to the teapot and teacup set before her, and Evelyn nodded. “Did you visit the Mage Tower again today?”

“Yes, I met with a physician there and ran into my brother, Sir Lauren, on the way out.”

The brother she mentioned was Nickolas. Their families were closer than Evelyn had realized.

“Sir Lauren mentioned something interesting. Did you know that Countess Glenn is hosting a tea party?”

“The spring tea party she hosts annually? I thought she already held it. Is she planning another one before spring ends?”

Evelyn spoke nonchalantly. Tea parties were a staple of a noblewoman’s social life. Hosting one or two extra was not particularly unusual.

But how did Nickolas know about it? Did they invite him to the tea party again, like last time? Evelyn looked at Michelini with a puzzled expression.

“There’s nothing unusual about hosting a tea party. But asking Sir Lauren to lend them a theater company… isn’t that strange?”

“I heard they watched a play in the Grand Duchess’s garden during a tea party last time. Maybe they’re planning to do that again this time…”

As Evelyn spoke, a sense of unease crept in.

If the goal was merely to watch a performance, they could have simply invited a troupe to set a date and place, just as they did on her birthday. But borrowing a theater company for several days? Why?

The memory of the play performed on her birthday flashed through Evelyn’s mind.

“Countess Glenn must have a specific play she wants to stage.”

Michelini clapped her hands together, beaming. “Exactly. As soon as I heard about it, I rushed over here. I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever play she’s planning wouldn’t be favorable for you.”

Evelyn muttered gloomily, “She’ll probably send me an invitation.”

“And she certainly won’t send one to me.”

Both women fell silent, lost in thought. If Countess Glenn was determined to push through with her tea party and play, there was little they could do to stop her. However…

“Isn’t there a way we could make things uncomfortable for her in a different way?”

Evelyn asked with an innocent expression, causing Michelini to break into a wide grin.