Chapter 24

Even Evelyn was given a chance to escape from her hellish home. 

Menstruation. 

When Evelyn’s menstruation began, her mother, whose face was pale to the point of bluishness, called her to sit by the bed. She removed a ring she had worn for nearly twenty years and placed it on Evelyn’s finger. 

‘Evelyn, from now on, you will go to the Lion’s Sacrifice in my place. Go to Helibet and stay with your maternal family.’ 

Though her maternal family was just as poor and destitute, at least they lived in the capital, which would be better than the remote countryside where the Fischer family resided. 

Even on the day her mother passed down the Stone Killer to her, she had been beaten severely and was lying collapsed on the bed. 

I’ll never come back to this wretched countryside. I don’t want to see you again either, Mother! 

Reading Evelyn’s sharp gaze, her mother, her face yellowed and discolored, gripped Evelyn’s hand tightly as if it were the last time. 

‘Never accept the glory a man gives you, Evelyn. It’s just a mirage. Trust only yourself. You’re not like me. Please, promise me that you won’t live a life of submission. Promise me.’ 

Her mother wept, but Evelyn, who found her repulsive, kept her lips tightly shut. She simply held her mother’s frail hand once and then went upstairs to prepare for her journey to the capital. 

She knew that if her father, Viscount Fischer, found out, he would hang her from the house’s pillar to keep her from leaving. So, she was in a great hurry. 

A few days later, Evelyn fled in the dead of night to her maternal family in Helibet, the capital, only to face yet another disappointment at their impoverished state. 

Their home was even smaller than the countryside estate she had left behind. They rented the first floor of a chicken-coop-like townhouse in a crowded residential area where commoners lived in tightly packed homes. 

The interior of the building was dark, as sunlight barely reached inside, and the shared kitchen and rooms reeked of dampness and mold. 

‘Lady Evelyn Fleur, you say? Not Evelyn Fischer?’

Her maternal grandmother didn’t even ask about the well-being of her daughter, who had married into a poor viscount’s family. Instead, she scrutinized her granddaughter, whom she was seeing for the first time, as if evaluating her. 

Then, with a strange look, she said, 

‘A blonde-haired, blue-eyed Fleur girl. Looks like the sun is finally rising in my life, child.’

She let out an unpleasant cackling laugh. Evelyn didn’t bother asking why she was laughing. After all, she didn’t plan to stay there long anyway. 

A few days later, Evelyn arrived at the Imperial Palace, where the Lion’s Sacrifice was to take place, on foot. 

Having lived only in the countryside, she was awestruck by the massive castle, which seemed to be entirely gilded in gold and gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight. 

The elegant women stepping down from their luxurious carriages held large fans as if they were accessories. Evelyn pulled the dark hood of her shabby robe tightly around her to hide her worn dress. 

Her goal was to slip into the palace quietly and avoid drawing any attention. However, standing idly on the unfamiliar road proved to be a mistake. 

Neigh! 

A horse let out a loud cry and splashed filthy water from a nearby puddle all over Evelyn’s robe. 

Before she could even grasp what had happened, her only robe was soaked with dirty water. 

‘Ha ha ha, who is that? A girl I’ve never seen before? No, wait, is she someone’s maid? Surely, a maid wouldn’t dare to stand at the entrance of the Imperial Palace alone, would she?’

The women with fans over their mouths whispered and giggled. 

Lady Evelyn felt like crying because of the horse’s actions. Her determination to step out into the world by reaching the Imperial Palace had turned into humiliation in an instant. 

It was impossible to explain herself. 

She instinctively knew not to speak to them. The difference between their attire and hers was far too great. 

As filthy water dripped from her robe, Evelyn’s legs began to tremble. Having skipped breakfast, walked all the way to the Imperial Palace, and endured humiliation, she wanted to abandon everything—the Lion’s Sacrifice and all—and return to the countryside. 

It was then. 

‘Are you all right, my lady? My horse, in trying to avoid stepping on a bird, has caused a grave offense to you. Please forgive me. If you would allow it, I will summon a maid to my office immediately. Please, do not refuse and come with me.’  

Evelyn, who was staggering, was supported by the hand of a man who was a perfect gentleman. 

His brown hair, blue eyes, and straight nose beneath a well-shaped forehead perfectly matched his composed smile. 

The man, dressed in an expensive coat and wearing shoes Evelyn had never seen before, stood there with his gaze fixed solely on her. 

‘My lady, my name is Morgan Herbon. May I have the honor of knowing your name?’

‘Evelyn Fleur. I… Evelyn.’ 

Evelyn, embarrassed, left out the shameful Fischer family name and emphasized only Fleur as she introduced herself. Morgan escorted Evelyn to his office. 

* * * 

The capital city of Helibet, located in the northern part of the Ingénes Empire, has winters that are unusually long and harsh compared to other seasons. 

This year, winter seemed to have arrived earlier, as the high windows of Lady Jenna’s office, which had been bathed in warm sunlight just a few weeks ago, now shook under the piercing cold wind. 

Of course, it wasn’t just the cold wind shaking Lady Jenna’s office at the moment. 

The sound of Lady Evelyn’s furious footsteps, filled with anger, echoed through the office, shaking it as much as the icy wind. 

“Lady Evelyn Fleur has requested an audience…” 

“Hmph, do you think I came here for a casual meeting? Move aside!” 

It seemed Lady Evelyn had grabbed the collar of the innocent attendant who was announcing her arrival. A choking sound followed, and without waiting for permission, she pushed open the thick office door. 

“How dare someone like you! Using the Red Stone as bait to shake the Emperor!” 

Although Jenna had anticipated an unrefined reaction, Evelyn’s predictable behavior was almost laughable. Jenna raised her head from the heavy mahogany desk and glared at Lady Evelyn. 

She didn’t feel particularly threatened. 

In the corner of the office, Magda, who had recently started following Jenna everywhere and acting as her personal assistant, was sitting on her knees with a piece of knitting in her lap, blankly watching Evelyn. 

Next to her, Cloud, whose build rivaled that of a black bear, stood with his palm resting on the hilt of his longsword. 

“Your greeting is quite aggressive, Lady Evelyn. And your rumors travel fast as well.” 

Jenna didn’t even bother to stand up from her chair as a courtesy. 

Of course, she had no intention of doing so. If it were up to her, she would have Cloud tie Evelyn to the ceiling. 

“You, who can’t even forge a single dagger, how dare you speak to the Emperor about the Red Stone? Do you even understand what it means for the Red Stone to manifest?” 

Jenna shrugged her shoulders, as if to provoke Evelyn further, choosing not to argue back just yet. 

“Well, why should I know such things, Lady Evelyn?” 

Evelyn’s perfectly styled updo, adorned with ornaments, caught Jenna’s eye. 

The sleek hairstyle, harmonizing with Evelyn’s light blonde hair, made Jenna imagine clawing her nails into it and yanking it apart—it would be so satisfying. 

“You don’t know? So you’re saying you spoke such cursed nonsense to the Emperor without knowing? Huh? Have you ever gone to war in another country? Have you ever wielded a weapon in battle? You little novice!” 

Being called a novice made Jenna’s veins pop in her forehead, but she decided to hear Evelyn out for now. 

“There are only about twenty Stone Killers left in our Empire! Do you know how many people must die whenever one appears? You must think female Red Stones are easy to control, which is why you’re acting like this!” 

“…” 

“Even female Red Stones become incredibly powerful once they awaken to their strength! Do you think it’s easy to find them before they realize their power?” 

Jenna quietly laughed as Evelyn ranted, her voice filled with rage. 

“Lady Evelyn, you seem quite agitated. Why should I care how many Stone Killers remain or how many people die because of them? I am a politician. An administrator. I merely report the facts to the Emperor and await his response. Isn’t that right? And by the way, Lady Evelyn, are you perhaps living in the palace?” 

Jenna had heard gossip from social circles. Rumors that Lady Evelyn was already residing in the palace as if she were the Empress. 

It wouldn’t be surprising if Evelyn, who had been recommended for the position of Empress by the Emperor, were living in the Imperial Palace. 

But the Emperor had vehemently denied it. Even before the late Empress passed away, Evelyn had been staying in the palace and acting like an Empress, so wasn’t it likely that she had something to hide? 

The attack hit its mark. Lady Evelyn’s face turned bright red. 

“You… you… this…!”  

“You came too quickly, as if you were already living in the palace. And that dress of yours—it’s far too thin to be proper attire for entering the palace in this cold weather.” 

She was so easy to read, so quick to expose her weaknesses, that Jenna couldn’t help but let out a small, mocking laugh. 

“You! How dare… I tried to overlook your youth, but you insolent little girl have no filter. You!” 

“Cloud! Get out, and Magda, you stand outside the door and make sure no one comes in.” 

The two moved the moment Jenna finished speaking. 

Jenna slowly walked up to Evelyn, stopping just short of her, and stared directly into her eyes. 

In Evelyn’s deep blue eyes, unease began to flicker. 

After confirming that Magda and Cloud had left the room, Jenna spoke in a low voice. 

“Lady Evelyn, are you mocking me right now? What kind of nonsense are you spouting? Right here, in front of me, state your affiliation and position. I am the host of the court meetings for the Ingénes Empire and the acting Chancellor of this nation. And you? What are you? What is someone like you?” 

The smile on Jenna’s face had long since disappeared. 

Even her patience, granted out of respect for Evelyn’s youth, had reached its limit. 

“You… you…” 

The tall, noblewoman standing before Jenna, dressed in elegant attire, was, in truth, a pitiful figure with no position or affiliation within the palace. 

Though the Emperor had recommended her as Empress, opposition from the council had left her in limbo, unable to move forward or backward. 

In reality, she was nothing at all. 

“Do you think the Emperor would be angered if someone like you were quietly disposed of, Lady Evelyn?” 

Evelyn’s jaw trembled violently. 

“You insolent brat, what do you want?” 

She should’ve said that from the start. 

“Don’t provoke me further, Lady Evelyn. I’ve already lost half of myself overnight. I am not a mild-mannered person like my father. You should’ve seen that during White Bloom.” 

Jenna’s small hand softly traced the elegant contours of Lady Evelyn’s face.

Lady Jenna, shouting that she was nothing like her moderate father, conjured the face of her friend—or rather, her former friend, Estelle—over her own youthful, bloodless visage. Two faces that bore no resemblance to one another.

At the time, Evelyn had confirmed Estelle’s collapse and searched her belongings, but Estelle, her beautiful face pale with fright, had clung desperately to Evelyn’s ankle.

“Evelyn! Wait. What we’ve done—killing the Lion’s Stone and retrieving its relics—was wrong. This act is a sin, Evelyn. This time, we’ve paid the price with the life of the Lion Priestess and the lives of other sisters, but the gods will not forgive us for what we’ve done. Those things will surely be reborn as humans. Evelyn, listen to me…” 

The hem of Evelyn’s dress was soaked red with the blood Estelle coughed up. 

Even as she lay collapsed, her face covered in blood, Estelle clung to Evelyn’s skirt. 

Evelyn responded by kicking her friend fiercely. 

Thud! 

Only then did Estelle lose consciousness, her grip on Evelyn’s skirt loosening. 

You were born into the high-ranking Belbard family, with abilities far superior to mine. 

You could’ve done it. Yes, you could’ve spared the Lion’s incarnation, ignoring the will of the aging Emperor. 

You could’ve even refrained from killing the incarnated Lion’s Stone, citing the will of the gods. 

But Estelle, life has a way of turning things around. 

There comes a day when I surpass even you, the great Estelle Fleur. 

Perhaps this, too, is the will of the gods. 

Maybe it’s their jealousy, saying that someone like you, who had everything, shouldn’t exist. 

Goodbye, Estelle. 

I loved you deeply, but I never loved you enough to sacrifice the rest of my life for you. 

I’m sorry. 

Evelyn knew full well that if Estelle hadn’t poured all her remaining strength into saving her, she would’ve died. 

She knew that Estelle had chosen to save her instead of the Lion Priestess. 

Yet Evelyn carelessly picked up Estelle’s shattered ‘Stone Killer’ that had fallen at her feet.