Chapter 106

The nobles, who had fainted before the Priestess they had looked down upon as a fake, suffered a severe blow to their pride.

In social circles, even mentioning the ‘Priestess’ was taboo. Everyone desperately pretended nothing had happened.

However, the aftereffects left by Evelyn were not so easily dismissed. Within days, they realized this fact.

“Doesn’t it feel a bit dull today?”

“The music seems somewhat monotonous.”

The nobles, flaunting their normalcy by attending parties, felt unusually bored.

“Can’t we do something a little different?”

“Seeing the same repertoire every day is getting tiresome.”

They had become bodies that could no longer be satisfied with the old stimuli. They were merely ignoring the truth.

“Come to think of it, the music back then was quite exotic.”

At the sudden remark of a noblewoman, everyone’s gaze turned to her. Embarrassed, she awkwardly added.

“I heard Evelyn Hynes, Her Majesty’s maid, chose the music. It was really something typical of her.”

“Are you saying she composed it?”

“The composition must have been done by Lord Bird, the royal composer. That woman probably just lifted a finger.”

The noblewoman tried to cover up her slip. However, the nobles were only interested in the fact that the unique music came from Evelyn.

‘Did she have another talent besides her pretty face?’

‘This could become a new trend. Should I visit Lord Bird?’

While calculating silently, the nobles outwardly sneered.

“Then Evelyn Hynes must have insisted on that barbaric attire as well.”

“They said it felt pagan, which didn’t suit the Priestess of the Sky God at all.”

Even as they insulted Evelyn, they resolved to order their next party attire to resemble hers as closely as possible.

In truth, following Evelyn had already become a trend in social circles.

Not only did they mimic the light dresses she favored, but they also subtly copied her unique hairstyles and accessories.

Recently, all the noblewomen rode around in pink-painted carriages. Yet, no one admitted to imitating Evelyn; that was the unspoken rule of high society.

“Hmph, it seems I’ve arrived late to quite an interesting conversation.”

But there were those who didn’t care about such rules. One such person was Countess Russell.

Dressed in a flamboyant and exotic gown, she fluttered her fan and glared at the people.

The nobles awkwardly averted their eyes. It was well known that Countess Russell had been openly supporting Evelyn recently.

With a disdainful expression, the Countess snapped her fan shut.

“Judging by how recklessly you’re talking, you must also be hard of hearing. You don’t even know that Her Majesty has appointed Evelyn Hynes as a senior maid.”

“…!”

The people were shocked, not simply because Evelyn had been promoted to senior maid.

Only the wife of a grand noble could become a senior maid. This meant Evelyn was truly becoming the Duchess of Elmaier.

“Is His Grace really marrying her?”

“I hear the wedding preparations have already begun. All the skilled artisans in the country have been summoned.”

“My goodness…”

“It’s expected to be a very grand wedding, so you can look forward to it.”

At Countess Russell’s declaration, the people buzzed with excitement.

No one among the nobles present believed Evelyn would actually marry the Duke. Her origins were unclear.

‘She must be the illegitimate child of a noble or of common birth.’

It was unthinkable for a Duke to marry someone of such low birth. Moreover, for the King to permit the marriage was shocking.

However, those quick to catch on swiftly gathered around the Countess. They realized who would become the new trendsetter.

“Come to think of it, I heard you have a special friendship with Evelyn Hynes, Countess Russell.”

“It’s nothing special; Evelyn just regards me as a mother figure.”

“Oh my, you must be very close indeed.”

“Could I also have the opportunity to be introduced to Lady Hynes?”

Sensing the change in people’s attitudes, the Countess fluttered her fan with satisfaction. It was always enjoyable to be the center of attention.

***

She stared blankly at her left hand.

A new ring adorned her fourth finger. It was shaped like a heart with a crown, held by two hands.

The heart symbolizing love was a pink sapphire, the crown pledging eternal fidelity was a diamond. Finally, the two hands holding the heart symbolized friendship.

It was an engagement ring with a promise of eternal love.

Suddenly, she remembered Seth slipping the ring onto her finger, and her face flushed. Honestly, he was too unnecessarily handsome.

“I wish I could see you in a bridal dress as soon as possible.”

Even though it wasn’t a real proposal, her heart fluttered to the point of death.

“Sigh…”

If only he were a little less handsome. Then I wouldn’t be so tormented.

“Young Lady, is something troubling you?”

At that moment, Anna, who was brushing her hair, asked. Evelyn replied gloomily.

“Anna, how can I like the Duke less?”

“Pardon?”

“If I like him any more, I’m afraid I’ll really become obsessed.”

Through the mirror, she saw Anna’s bewildered expression. But she was truly serious. Until now, they were just engaged, but once they are married, she’d spend even more time with Seth.

She was afraid she’d become greedy. She feared she’d cling to him, wanting to stay with him even if she became useless.

“I don’t know why you’re thinking that, but why not think the opposite?” 

“The opposite?”

“Maybe you’re becoming obsessed because you’re trying not to. If you love freely, it might be okay.”

Anna’s clear words seemed to open my eyes.

“Anna, you’re a genius.”

If I loved Seth with all my heart and soul, maybe I wouldn’t have any regrets. 

As she rejoiced, Anna looked worried.

“…I’m anxious about whether I gave the right advice, Young Lady.”

“No, it really helped. I feel like I’ve found my life’s direction.”

Evelyn decided to become someone crazy about love from today. After all, they say a scoundrel is someone who loves color.

“In that sense, I’m going to see the Duke.”

“Young Lady, you really don’t have a moment to breathe today. If you’re to receive care from head to toe, there’s really no time.”

“Not even for a moment?”

“I really don’t want to say this, but Her Majesty set the wedding date too soon.”

Anna’s voice carried a hint of resentment. Evelyn cautiously asked.

“There’s still a month left. Isn’t that enough?”

“How can you say there’s still a month! Others spend a year preparing for their wedding!”

“But the venue is set, the dress is chosen from the options, and the invitations are already sent.”

The Duke’s wedding had traditions dictating everything from the venue to the bride’s dress and decorations.

If it were a real wedding, she’d be upset that she couldn’t do anything her way.

But as a stand-in who would eventually disappear, she liked having a few choices to make.

‘This is what you call a factory-style wedding.’

Thanks to Seth’s consideration, she didn’t have to lift a finger. She just had to look at the sketches completed by artisans and decide, “This one’s nice, that one’s nice.”

Even the invitations, which she would normally have to write and send herself, were handled by scribes Seth hired.

The dowry was also perfectly prepared.

She was given leave from the palace to prepare for the wedding, but she didn’t have much to do.

She heard that the wedding date Seth initially set was a week away, but the retainers persuaded him to postpone it by a month.

Looking at the current situation, it seemed like it would have been fine to hold the wedding a week later.

But Anna, hearing her words, practically breathed fire.

“Other young ladies spend three months just on skincare. You only have a month, Young Lady, so what are you saying!”

Anna insisted that Evelyn focus entirely on care, leaving only time to eat. She was starting to feel tormented and was contemplating escape when salvation arrived.

“Young Lady, I have urgent news.”

Like an angel of salvation, the head maid appeared. Evelyn looked at her with bright eyes and asked.

“Is something happening?”

“We captured intruders who snuck into the palace last night. They are requesting to meet you.”

“Me?”

If they were ordinary intruders, there would be no reason for the report to reach her. As expected, the head maid, looking troubled, continued.

“They claim to be the sons of Urs Balthazar, the Marquess of the North. How should we handle this?”

“What? The North?”

Her heart sank, worried that there might be issues with the northern food supply. She quickly said she would meet them.

Soon, she went down to the reception room where two scruffy boys were standing. They were almost as tall as her, but still had a youthful air.

The brown-haired boy, who seemed to be the younger, looked at her and tilted his head.

“She’s just a kid? Are you really the Duchess?”

“How dare you speak like that!”

“That’s rude!”

Startled by the reprimands, the brown-haired boy hid behind his brother and grumbled.

“I was just asking, why are you angry?”

“Bastien, be quiet.”

The boy, who seemed more taciturn than his brother, spoke. Though his long black hair obscured his face, Evelyn ould feel him observing her. She smiled and asked.

“I’m not a kid, not yet a Duchess, just Evelyn Hynes. Now, can you tell me why you’re looking for me?”

“Lady Evelyn Hynes.”

At that moment, the taciturn boy knelt before her and bowed his head. His long black hair trailed on the ground like wings. The pouting brown-haired boy adopted the same posture beside him.

“We came to repay the grace of saving the North by offering ourselves.”

“…Huh?”

It was an entirely unexpected purpose.