Chapter 109

Why, though?!

The wardrobe department maids quickly tied Evelyn up with embroidery thread and presented her before Maria.

“Oh dear, I’m being wronged. How can someone like me, who has dedicated herself to the wardrobe department, be called a traitor?”

Evelyn pleaded her innocence. Even Boksil tried to defend her.

-Coo coo! Coo!-

But the gazes of the wardrobe department maids remained cold. Even Diana looked betrayed as she asked.

“Evelyn, is it true you’re moving to the Rest Department from the Wardrobe Department?”

“What? The Rest Department?”

What kind of name is that, like it was just made up on the spot?

“There’s a rumor that you’re leaving the wardrobe department to become the head of the newly formed Rest Department.”

Finn explained the situation on behalf of the maids.

A new area called the ‘Cuddle Room’ had been set up in the inner palace, and it had spread that it was the waiting room for the Rest Department, with Evelyn as its manager.

-Pook?

Even Boksil looked at Evelyn with suspicious eyes. No, Boksil, you should trust me!

At that moment, Bear asked sullenly.

“Are you leaving us for somewhere else?”

“They say you’re being promoted to senior maid and transferring departments?”

Anne also pressed Evelyn.

Evelyn shook her head vigorously.

“I was just told to manage the Rest Department. It’s the first time I’ve heard about transferring departments.”

“Isn’t that what transferring means?”

Camilla looked at Evelyn with skeptical eyes. Evelyn moved her hands, still tied with embroidery thread, to show the badge on her waist.

“I haven’t been dismissed from the Royal Archive Manager position yet. Look, the badge is still here. So, I’m part of the wardrobe department, right?”

“Hmm, that’s what she says?”

Camilla looked around for opinions from others.

Maria, who had been silently observing Evelyn, finally spoke.

“Let’s trust her for now. Camilla, untie her.”

As soon as Maria finished speaking, Camilla snipped the thread with scissors. Finally free, Evelyn awkwardly scratched her head.

“Oh dear, I thought you were really angry.”

“You hardly show up even though you’re part of the wardrobe department. And then there were rumors you were transferring without a word. How could we not be upset?”

Maria retorted coldly. The others nodded with sulky faces.

Well, if you put it that way, I guess there’s no helping it!

“Even if my body is far away, my heart is always with the wardrobe department. Please believe me.”

Evelyn earnestly flattered them, and the maids’ cold expressions softened a bit.

“Really, you talk so well.”

“Even if you don’t come every day, please pay a little attention.”

“It’s been ages since the teddy bear was finished. You never visited, which is so neglectful.”

“Right, it was mean.”

Complaints and grievances seemed endless due to Evelyn leaving them alone for too long. Feeling troubled, Evelyn quickly changed the subject.

“Oh, by the way, I heard the teddy bear is already finished. Could you show it to me?”

As they say, flattery can make even a whale dance, so Evelyn thought reacting to the finished teddy bear could improve the mood. However, the maids’ eyes remained dull and lifeless.

“…Which number?”

“Pardon?”

“We’ve… already made up to number 7….”

“How did that happen?”

Wasn’t the plan only up to number 3? How did the bear have offspring up to number 7?

“We were bored… had nothing else to do….”

Seeing the maids mumbling soullessly, Evelyn was at a loss for words. Maria shrugged.

“While we’re at it, why don’t we plan to present Teddy Bear No. 1? How about tomorrow morning?”

“Oh, but I have to go to the North tomorrow.”

Evelyn hesitated as she confessed the fact.

Maria’s eyebrows shot up immediately, and the other maids began to chatter.

“What? The North?”

“What’s going on this time?”

“What did you do to the people in the North?”

Although the reaction was a bit strange, Evelyn explained that she was going to check if the food was being delivered properly to the North. Fin asked with a puzzled face.

“How did you end up with such a task? That’s not the wardrobe department’s job.”

“Well, it just happened?”

Evelyn didn’t know how to explain it either. Camilla grumbled.

“What, so we have to wait again?”

“Well, why not present it without me?”

At Evelyn’s casual suggestion, the atmosphere suddenly turned cold.

Startled, she quickly waved her hands.

“Even though I came up with the idea, you all completed the pattern and made it. I think it would be fine for Maria to present it as our representative.”

“See, she’s planning to betray us.”

Camilla muttered with sharp eyes. The other maids nodded. Maria threatened Evelyn with a needle.

“Don’t even think about backing out. We made it together, so we’ll die together if we must.”

Why have they become so intense?

It seemed there was no other way. Evelyn decided to take drastic measures.

“Shall we present it today, then?”

“What? Now?”

“Since we’re all gathered, let’s get it over with.”

The maids looked bewildered at Evelyn’s reckless suggestion.

“But, No. 1 is…”

“Her Majesty happens to have no schedule, so it’s perfect.”

It had been decided that the private Teddy Bear No. 1 would be presented to the King. Evelyn wanted to give it regardless of status, but the maids insisted it was important to first establish recognition.

In a society with a caste system, it was safer to present anything to the King first.

“Everyone, get ready. Let’s meet Her Majesty in 10 minutes.”

“Right now?”

“I said 10 minutes.”

The unexpected words left the maids flustered. But Evelyn relentlessly pushed them.

“Choose now. Will you wait until I return, or present it immediately?”

Naturally, they chose the latter.

“Wait! Where’s my mirror? Has anyone seen my mirror?”

“Anne, check my skirt. Isn’t it wrinkled?”

The maids busily prepared to meet the King.

Unlike Evelyn, who barged in to meet the King daily, preparation seemed essential before an audience. Evelyn wandered around, wondering if she could help, but was shooed to the corner for being a hindrance.

Boksil comforted her by giving her a peck on the cheek.

Hmph, it’s too late for that, Kim Boksil. I’ll tell Kim Seth about your betrayal.

-Coo?-

Evelyn was teasing the belatedly cute Boksil when Maria approached her.

“Hand over Boksil.”

Maria demanded imperiously, extending her hand. Evelyn obediently handed Boksil to her.

Maria took something from her pocket and tied it to Boksil’s tail. It was a pretty ribbon with a white flower.

“I heard about your marriage. I won’t be able to attend, so I’ll send a gift separately.”

Maria returned Boksil with a nonchalant remark. Her face looked paler than before.

In truth, the Primrose Marquis family was in turmoil.

The Marquis, Maria’s father, had suddenly collapsed.

He was completely paralyzed, unable to move, and it was unclear whether it was due to illness or something else. However, Seth had said the Marquis had been poisoned.

“He’s paying the price for sending assassins everywhere. Surprisingly, Maria Primrose is less proactive than I expected.”

As soon as the Marquis collapsed, the sly one, who had been lying low, began to act up. Rumors spread that he was already acting like the new Marquis, bullying his younger sister Maria.

Actually, Diana had informed Evelyn via letter, but the fact that it reached Evelyn’s ears indicated the severity of the situation.

“I’ve heard the news. It must be tough these days, right?”

“What?”

As soon as Evelyn awkwardly began to offer consolation, a sharp gaze was directed at her.

“Don’t say unnecessary things. No matter what Richard does, I won’t crumble.”

Her lips were tightly shut with arrogance, but the sharpened jawline revealed how precarious her situation was.

Evelyn fiddled with the vial in her pocket.

‘I have no choice. I already have few friends attending my wedding, and if Maria doesn’t come, I’d be at a loss.’

Firming her resolve, Evelyn cleared her throat.

“Maria, could we talk privately for a moment?”

The maids, busy with preparations, paused. Maria raised her eyebrows silently. Evelyn awkwardly raised a finger.

“It’ll only take a minute. Can we talk outside?”

“Go ahead, Maria. What’s there to fear?”

Camilla, who had quietly approached, pushed Maria’s back. With a reluctant expression, Maria headed for the door.

“Only one minute.”

Her haughty retreat somehow looked cute.

Once in the hallway with Maria, Evelyn took a small vial from her pocket. It was filled with tears she had requested from the Black Dragon.

“I wanted to give you this.”

“…What?”

“It’s a panacea. Trust me and give it to the Marquis.”

“What are you saying?”

Evelyn forcibly placed the vial in Maria’s hand, despite her bewildered expression.

“If you give him the whole vial, he’ll recover completely. If you give it drop by drop, he’ll gradually improve. I trust you know how to use it best.”

If Evelyn were Maria, she’d give it to the Marquis little by little, showing him the sly one’s madness. Until the Marquis gave up on the sly one and entrusted the heir position to her.

‘But Maria is smart, so she’ll find a better way.’

Seth said Maria lacked initiative, but Evelyn didn’t think so. What she lacked was a trigger.

“What are you thinking? Do you think I’ll give my father an unknown medicine just because you say so?”

“Yes, because you trust me, Maria, right?”

“….”

Maria looked at Evelyn with a face that was beyond disbelief, almost angry. Yet, her hand gripped the vial tightly.

“I hope you’ll come to my wedding in a month. You can’t now, but you can when you become Primrose’s heir, right?”

Evelyn smiled brightly. Maria continued to glare without a word. Evelyn lifted her skirt and bowed politely.

“One minute’s up. Thank you for your time, Maria.”