Clareta’s eyes widened. That would be absolutely unacceptable to her.

Eve speared a piece of financier with her fork, ate it, and continued:

“Did you think I would be uncomfortable or angry about the broken engagement and complain to the Duke? Over something so trivial?”

Eve sneered.

“If you’re going to choose someone to provoke, choose wisely, young lady.”

Clareta, who had been speechless, trembled as she glared at Eve before finally speaking:

“Won’t you regret treating me this way?”

“Treating you how? I believe I’ve only responded to what you’ve said. How exactly have I treated you?”

Words were now flowing effortlessly from Eve’s mouth.

In truth, Eve wasn’t someone accustomed to the roundabout way of speaking used in high society. Though Lady Anna’s education had enabled her to perfectly execute social etiquette speech, Eve preferred the straightforwardness of saying exactly what she meant.

“I’m asking if you don’t care what rumors about you might spread throughout society,” Clareta said.

Eve put down her fork and replied.

“Rumors in society… What kind of rumors are you planning to spread? About my background? My attitude? Like last time?”

Clareta’s lips twitched at Eve’s pointed reference to the banquet.

“I’ve experienced so much today that I could happily share these stories with others. But are you sure you’ll be alright with that? I doubt people would find my story more interesting than yours.”

Of course, Clareta’s story would spread more widely. After all, she had come to confront a newly married duchess about a broken engagement and even tried to threaten her.

Eve picked up the napkin from the table and gently pressed it to her lips.

“Young lady, you need to learn how to treat people properly. Otherwise, you might end up being jilted again.”

What happened next occurred in an instant. At the mention of the broken engagement, Clareta’s eyebrows trembled, and she finally stood up and threw tea at Eve.

Just as Eve thought, ‘So this is how it ends up,’ she heard:

“What do you think you’re doing!”

It wasn’t Eve who had shouted. Both Eve and Clareta turned simultaneously toward the familiar deep voice.

There stood Medric, looking furious, with David beside him.

This tea room was located some distance from the main building.

Eve had chosen this location precisely because Medric wouldn’t normally come here.

But why?

‘Why did he come all the way here?’

While Eve stared at Medric with wide, surprised eyes, he strode toward the table.

Clareta, now face-to-face with him, had turned not just pale but almost blue, trembling visibly.

“I-I…”

Medric’s expression was ominous. His furrowed brow cast shadows over his fierce eyes, making him look even more intimidating.

Ignoring Clareta, Medric took a handkerchief from his pocket and began wiping the tea from Eve.

“Fortunately, the tea wasn’t too hot.”

The atmosphere he exuded was so intense that Eve couldn’t even say, “I can do it myself, please let me.”

The tea Clareta had thrown wasn’t hot, and since it was what they had been drinking, there wasn’t much of it. Only the upper part of Eve’s dress was slightly damp.

Eve quietly accepted his attentions.

After wiping away all the tea, Medric turned to Clareta and said:

“Young lady. Would you care to explain what’s happening here?”

Faced with Medric, Clareta froze completely, unable to utter a single word. Finally, Eve decided to step in.

“I’ll explain.”

“No, I want to hear it from the young lady.”

Medric was adamant. In the end, Eve had to step back and listen to the exchange between Clareta and Medric.

“Well… you see…”

“If what I saw was correct, you threw tea at the Duchess. Is that right?”

“…Yes.”

“If you don’t explain yourself properly, I will go directly to the Marvel mansion and demand an apology from the Duke himself.”

Clareta’s body visibly trembled.

“T-The Duchess said I would be jilted again if I didn’t learn how to treat people properly, and I just lost my temper…”

Gone was her haughty, arrogant gaze. Clareta looked so shrunken and pitiful now.

“Did the topic of the broken engagement come up here?”

“I didn’t deliberately bring it up, but…!”

“I don’t recall ever being so rude to you.”

“Well…”

Medric sighed deeply and ran his hand through his hair, a habit he often displayed when frustrated or angry.

“Don’t you know that engagements between families can be broken at any time, even if they were planned? Besides, I never directly agreed to an engagement with you. Your side was pushing it unilaterally.”

This was news to Eve. So the Marvel family had been pushing the engagement one-sidedly. That’s why he hadn’t been attached to the engagement and had easily married her instead.

“So what was your intention in calling my wife here separately to discuss this? Were you trying to cause discord between us?”

“That’s not…!”

“Then what? What was your intention in summoning my frail wife all the way here, bringing up the broken engagement, and throwing tea at her?”

As Medric pressed her, Clareta was on the verge of tears.

Eve could only watch, caught between the two of them, unable to intervene.

‘I’m not frail…’

Even in this situation, Eve had to restrain herself from objecting to Medric’s characterization of her as sickly.

“Get out. Leave my mansion immediately.”

Medric was clearly furious. At his direct command to leave, Clareta couldn’t say a word and had no choice but to flee the tea room.

Eve felt relieved but also worried about the future consequences.

Medric immediately helped Eve to her feet.

“It’s cold. You should go wash up.”

‘How much of an invalid does this man think I am?’

Medric went so far as to escort Eve to her room.

“I’m sorry you had to go through this because of me.”

“What? This wasn’t your fault at all.”

“How is it not? If I had properly explained things to the Marvel family, that young lady wouldn’t have behaved so rudely.”

His fierce demeanor had softened, and he was now blaming himself even though it wasn’t his fault.

“Even so, it’s not your fault. It’s just… I didn’t handle the situation well.”

If she had drawn a clearer line at the banquet or carried herself with more dignity as the Duchess, Clareta wouldn’t have acted this way.

Despite Eve’s repeated assurances that it was fine, Medric’s mood didn’t improve.

He escorted her all the way to her room. He lingered outside her door, reluctant to leave.

Come to think of it, why had he come all the way to the tea room, which was far from the main building? She realized belatedly that she hadn’t asked him why he had come.

Eve considered going out to ask him now but shook her head.

‘He’ll tell me next time.’

Her clothes were wet, and she was tired from dealing with Clareta.

She wanted to rest now.

Thinking it best not to disturb him, Eve went to the bathroom with Marie.