Chapter 1 – Windberg (Part 7)

Diane, who was seated, stood up. This prompted Veronia and the Earl and Countess to rise as well. In that natural atmosphere, Evelyn also stood. Only after the man walking to the head seat sat down could the others return to their seats. Across from Evelyn, the farthest spot. Yet she felt she could still sense his presence from there.

“Mother.”

“You’re late.”

“The discussion ran a bit long. I apologize.”

“Nonsense. Your father always put official duties first.”

Jared maintained a gentle smile throughout his conversation with his mother. Evelyn watched him. A white shirt, a black frock coat, a silk tie with a modest pattern. His attire, no different from usual, somehow reassured her. Like most professional gentlemen, Jared didn’t favor clothes with flashy colors or decorations.

After finishing his brief conversation with his mother, he turned his gaze. Evelyn knew it was proper etiquette to greet guests in order of rank and precedence.

“Earl Benford. It’s good to see you again.”

“You’re doing a lot, Duke of Windberg.”

“Being a lord isn’t easy.”

“You’ll get used to it over time.”

“I hope so.”

“Make sure to eat on time, even if you’re busy. You’ve lost weight in just a few days.”

“You’re as lively as ever, Sister.”

“That’s why I stay young. The moment you become serious, you age.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

After welcoming the Benford couple, he gave Veronia a brief word and smile. Then he turned directly toward Evelyn. His eyes appeared almost black due to the dim lighting and distance.

“Miss Dale.”

The moment their eyes met, Evelyn felt relieved. The look in his eyes was no different than before. And then she was slightly surprised again. His face had grown gaunt in the short time they hadn’t seen each other. The smile around his eyes bore a depth of fatigue she hadn’t seen before. It had only been about ten days.

“Thank you for coming.”

At his polite greeting, Evelyn hesitated without realizing it.

“…Thank you for the invitation.”

She didn’t add the title “Duke” or make any elaborate greetings about it being an honor to meet him. Her response wasn’t rude, but it was so straightforward it might have sounded a bit aloof. Jared tilted his head slightly and

“It is indeed my pleasure.”

He smiled a little more at her. It was a kind and composed smile.

However, that composed smile made Evelyn uneasy. The fact that he showed no sign of discomfort made her feel anxious. The current situation surrounding them was clearly off. Despite something being obviously amiss, he was pretending not to notice.

In an unclear situation, he was behaving so clearly.

Evelyn fiddled with her engagement ring under the table. She had debated whether to take it off right before coming to the dining room. Now it would be ridiculous to remove it, so she couldn’t bring herself to do so, but since entering the dining room, she had been consciously hiding her left hand. As if their engagement was something wrong and shameful.

Wrong and shameful.

The Ducal family had never officially recognized their engagement. They had merely tolerated it. But that didn’t mean the engagement itself was shameful. Yet Evelyn knew why she wanted to keep hiding the ring on her finger, why she felt as if she were the only one exposed.

Because Diane and Veronia knew. The Earl and Countess, Klaus the butler, perhaps even all the servants and maids in the mansion might know. That Evelyn had stayed with Jared at Evergreen Court. Alone together, at the secluded villa, enjoying a tryst for several days, thanks to the late Duke’s hospitality.

For an unmarried woman to forsake her honor was clearly a disgraceful thing.

“May I ask what kept you late?”

“A meeting with the Chamber of Commerce presidents.”

“Oh dear. Businessmen and their lawyers always bother nobles and politicians.”

“As someone who used to bother nobles and politicians, I can’t deny that, Earl. Suddenly standing on the opposite side, my head hurts a bit.”

“Changing positions often changes perspectives. It’s fine to switch sides. No one will blame you, Duke.”

Dinner began, and the food was served, but Evelyn couldn’t focus. The men in identical black uniforms, silently hovering like ghosts as they served, only made her uncomfortable. Having to use both hands to handle the cutlery, and the diamond’s sparkle on her left hand being unusually prominent, was very uncomfortable.

To be more honest, Evelyn was gradually coming to despise herself for having come this far.

No matter how she looked at it, this was a miserable situation. 

Wasn’t I introduced as a guest, not the Duke’s fiancée? 

Jared treated her as just another ‘guest’ invited to the dinner, without a single intimate word. While the five nobles conversed, she was isolated and alienated. It seemed that giving her the seat of honor wasn’t to show respect but merely to seat her far away.

So Evelyn began to feel angry. 

What am I doing here now? What did I expect to achieve by coming here? While being treated like this, even though I expected it, why am I stubbornly sitting here?

Stupid girl.

“Just because you’re not criticized, does that make it a good decision?”

Thus, her interruption into the men’s conversation was somewhat impulsive.

Earl Benford turned his head to look at Evelyn. Jared and the three noblewomen did the same. With their attention focused on her, Evelyn continued speaking.

“Knowing both sides’ positions is a rare advantage. People usually don’t try to understand the other’s situation, especially when there’s a conflict of understanding. So, Duke, if you set your mind to it, you could play the role of an excellent mediator.”

“…”

“Isn’t that a much better approach than suddenly changing sides and confusing people?”

After her statement, silence lingered at the table for a moment. The five nobles skillfully hid or tactfully expressed their emotions. Evelyn met Jared’s gaze. Sitting far apart, the two looked across the long table at each other. Evelyn couldn’t be sure what his calm gaze meant.

“That’s the most impressive statement I’ve heard recently, Miss Evelyn.”

It was Victoria who broke the potentially awkward atmosphere. She picked up her wine glass, smiled at Evelyn, and then spoke to her husband across from her.

“Don’t be upset if she doesn’t take your side, Watt.”

“You know better than anyone that I wouldn’t be.”

“Of course, my love.”

Evelyn saw Victoria wink at her husband.

“My husband’s words aren’t wrong. Everyone has a position and things to protect. But just because something isn’t criticized doesn’t mean it’s right. I was impressed that Miss Evelyn pointed that out.”

Victoria paused and looked at Evelyn. She seemed to want to say more but was considering the appropriate level. And in that gap, Madame Diane interjected.

“It seems young ladies these days like to debate with gentlemen.”

Diane spoke leisurely as she cut the food on her plate.

“Even ladies who aren’t so young like it, Aunt.”

Victoria interjected teasingly, but Diane didn’t laugh. She merely looked up at Evelyn after putting a small piece of meat in her mouth. Her eyes, reflected in the candlelight, were green. The same eyes as her son’s. With those eyes, Diane continued speaking to Evelyn.

“It’s not wise to hastily judge the thoughts and words of others, Victoria. Especially when presuming the intentions of those very different from oneself, it’s reckless and arrogant. A rabbit can’t understand a wolf’s circumstances, can it?”

Victoria didn’t respond. Madame Diane continued to look at the guest at the end of the table. Evelyn lowered her gaze with a faint smile. That ambiguous response was the best she could manage.

“A rabbit and a wolf. A clever metaphor, Madame.”

“Thank you, Earl.”

Earl Benford chimed in with a friendly laugh. He must have sensed the cooling atmosphere. He seemed well aware of his role and purpose today.

“And I also agree with my wife. It was indeed an impressive viewpoint, Miss Dale.”

So Evelyn smiled politely and nodded. She, too, understood her role and purpose.

“Thank you, Earl.”

Without a conclusion to the debate, the topic changed. It seemed Victoria couldn’t decide on the appropriate level after all. Veronia remained content in her role as an observer, while Diane skillfully navigated between coldness and elegance, preventing the atmosphere from becoming overly amicable. The Duke at the head of the table didn’t contribute a word until the end.

“Suddenly standing on the opposite side, my head hurts a bit.”

At some point, Evelyn’s feelings settled. The humiliation, anger, and sadness all gradually subsided. Yet she was astonished that her heart wasn’t completely resigned. That she still held expectations for the man seated far away at the end of the table, who was ignoring her.

“By the way, isn’t the weather strange this year? It’s mid-October, and it’s still so warm.”

Dinner continued. The nobles’ conversation went on. Evelyn, mostly isolated, yet receiving the minimum courtesy due to a guest, swallowed food after food, unable to discern its taste.

“In Windberg, the first snow falls by the end of October. How long do you plan to stay, Miss Evelyn? Please make sure to see the northern snow scenery before you leave. Those from the south all marvel at the breathtaking view.”

Victoria’s consideration was appropriate. Evelyn’s response was also adequate. The six men and women in the dining room were like tame animals. They quietly grazed within the confines, not stepping on, peering over, or crossing the lines drawn on the floor.

Evelyn exerted all her effort to appear composed.