Alexis deliberately smiled.

Perhaps his confident demeanor made him look quite dependable, because the expressions of Count and Countess Osment brightened considerably.

“May I go and rest now?”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

After bowing politely to his parents, Alexis headed toward his bedroom.

Then he stood in front of the full-length mirror.

“I would like to apologize for the rudeness I showed you last time.”

If he wanted to win Evelyn’s affection back, he needed to appear sincere, and that meant practice was essential.

***

Apart from the vase of flowers placed in the center, the table was completely empty.

In the Alyssium Empire, when an unwanted guest visited, it was customary to serve them nothing in the hope that they would leave as quickly as possible.

In other words, there was no sweet tea with honey, nor any beautifully arranged desserts.

Alexis understood Evelyn’s current state of mind from that alone. It was the moment he realized that persuading her would not be easy.

Evelyn spoke.

“Why did you come to see me?”

Her green eyes were calm as she looked at Alexis.

Unlike before, there was not even a spoonful of affection in them. That dry, detached gaze made Alexis’s parched throat feel even drier.

“You want to get straight to the point? Very well… I suppose that’s fine.”

Just then, a breeze slipped through the wide-open window and brushed past Alexis. But the faint breeze was not enough to cool his body, which had already begun to heat up.

“I came to see you today… to apologize.”

Evelyn’s brow furrowed slightly.

She could not for the life of her figure out what he was apologizing for. There were far too many things he had done wrong.

Of course, the first thing that came to mind was the way he had behaved so violently at the coffeehouse last time.

But there was another possibility. Perhaps she was not the only one who had returned from the future to the past…

Evelyn had investigated the strange phenomenon of returning to the past after death.

However, there were clear limitations.

It had been difficult to find scriptures that were not available to the public or documents that only members of the imperial family were permitted to read. And since she had needed to prioritize dealing with the problems directly in front of her, she had put that investigation aside.

But what if Alexis had experienced the future just as she had, regretted what he had done, and was now apologizing for it?

‘That can’t be.’

The answer came quickly. Even if he really was apologizing for what had happened back then, there was no way he could be sincere.

Still, there were always exceptions. So Evelyn deliberately pretended not to understand and calmly asked,

“I’m not sure what you mean. What exactly are you apologizing for?”

“I have always respected you. My parents repeatedly taught me that the closer two people are, the more important it is to maintain proper respect and courtesy toward each other.”

Evelyn nearly let out a hollow laugh, but somehow managed to suppress it.

Was murdering one’s wife and her family in order to be with a mistress truly an act of respect toward that person?

Of course not.

“Courtesy and respect for each other… Is that what you mean?”

“Yes. Of course, I failed to show you that respect at the coffeehouse last time…”

Alexis briefly lowered his eyes, then slowly raised them again and looked directly into hers.

“I must have lost control of myself at the time! I simply wanted so desperately not to lose you… That’s why I behaved that way! But…”

“…”

“Now, I deeply regret the way I treated you. I truly repent and reflect on my actions. If only I could turn back time…! I feel as though I would give anything to go back to that moment…”

Alexis continued with his pathetic excuses. Evelyn found the entire situation utterly disgusting.

In the end, what Alexis wanted was her forgiveness. Because he coveted her family background.

She had spent nearly two or three years dating Alexis and then living as his wife. Compared to an entire lifetime, it could be considered a short period.

Yet those years had also been the sum total of the most painful moments of her previous life. Happy moments passed quickly, while time crawled by when life was difficult.

Evelyn had come to understand that truth so deeply that it had become etched into her very soul. Only then had she been given a new life.

And the reason that had been possible was the man standing before her, his family, and his mistress.

Therefore, Evelyn had a duty. She had a responsibility to make them suffer and help them grow. That was the only way she could repay the debt she owed.

“Have you said everything you wanted to say to me?”

“…Pardon?”

Alexis sounded genuinely bewildered, apparently thrown off by how cold Evelyn remained despite his repeated apologies.

“Then let me make one thing perfectly clear. I hope you never come to see me again.”

Alexis froze for a moment, visibly shocked by Evelyn’s firm declaration. Then he spoke with a meaningful tone.

“I had hoped to avoid bringing this up if possible… but I suppose I have no choice.”

Alexis slowly rose from his seat and took a step toward Evelyn.

At the same time, the escort knight waiting in the drawing room placed a hand on the hilt of his sword.

One of Alexis’s eyebrows rose at the sight.

The knight’s reaction was understandable enough to puzzle him. Until now, the man had kept such a low profile that he had practically seemed nonexistent.

“If you still have something to say, would you please sit down? Something like that happened not long ago, after all.”

Evelyn deliberately emphasized those particular words.

She wanted to remind him that his violent behavior at the coffeehouse was the very reason she could not trust him.

Alexis licked his dry lips with an awkward expression, then held out his empty hands and shrugged.

“Of course. If that is what you wish, my lady.”

Alexis readily nodded before quickly adding,

“But are you sure? I am about to bring up something rather private…”

Alexis subtly gestured toward the escort knight. Evelyn understood that he wanted the knight dismissed.

She immediately replied,

“If it is a secret that no one else should hear, then perhaps it would be better not to say it aloud at all.”

At Evelyn’s firm refusal, Alexis’s eyes flashed sharply for a moment. But soon, he obediently backed down as though he understood.

“If that is truly your wish…”

When Alexis sat down again, the escort knight removed his hand from the hilt of his sword.

“You went to Metton Street recently, didn’t you? The day a knight belonging to House Ceres caused a disturbance.”

What Alexis brought up was far beyond anything Evelyn had expected.

She was slightly taken aback, but quickly regained her composure and nodded for him to continue.

“‘Knight Harrison of House Ceres Reveals His Hideous Nature.’ …What do you think? I think it would make a rather fitting headline for the front page of the Imperial Daily.”

“That is absurd. Have you taken up writing fiction as a hobby in the meantime?”

Evelyn scoffed at the ridiculous leap in logic. But Alexis ignored her criticism and continued.

“The knight Harrison of House Ceres was originally a murderer. But on the battlefield, there is no opportunity for that fact to come to light. After all, he can kill people every single day.”

“…”

“But what happens when the war ends? Wouldn’t he kill innocent and defenseless civilians simply to satisfy his urges? With that exceptional swordsmanship honed on the front lines?”

Evelyn immediately understood Alexis’s intentions.

He intended to exaggerate and blow the recent disturbance on Metton Street completely out of proportion.

“That incident on Metton Street may have been the first sign of it. Wouldn’t it be troublesome if it became known that a knight of House Ceres, a man who could potentially pose a serious threat to the safety of the people of the empire, was responsible?”

“…”

“It would also leave a major stain on the reputation House Ceres has built over the years. I am deeply concerned.”

Alexis spoke with an expression of great concern. Evelyn lowered her eyes and thought for a moment before looking back at Alexis.

“Is there something you want from me?”

Perhaps he was pleased with her answer. Alexis gently curved his eyes into a smile before replying.

“Grant me the honor of being your partner at the upcoming imperial palace ball.”

“Would you… give me a little time to think about it?”

Perhaps he believed he had achieved his original objective, because Alexis nodded leisurely.

“Of course. I will give you plenty of time to think about it until the day of the imperial palace ball.”