Chapter 11

“Excuse me? What do you mean by that?”

Evelyn, utterly baffled, couldn’t help but ask again. The King gestured toward Seth.

“He seems to be quite fond of you, which is unusual. Don’t you think you could win him over if you tried to seduce him?”

…He thinks of me as a dog.

Seeing Evelyn’s gloomy expression, the King cleared her throat and changed her words.

“Even if seduction doesn’t work, you could still wait for the right moment to take him by force. If everything goes well and you end up having his child, you might actually become the real Duchess instead of just a stand-in.”

“Wait, is that why you called me here?”

So, the reason she’s been tormenting me like this is because she’s worried I might try to take the Duchess’s position?

The King coughed again when she noticed Evelyn’s incredulous gaze.

“I’m the one asking the questions. Now, do you have such thoughts or not?”

“No, not at all. I don’t have the ambition or the motivation for something like that.”

Evelyn spoke clearly and firmly. At this point, she was relieved that the ring forced her to speak the truth. Otherwise, she doubted the King would believe her.

The King, still suspicious, continued, 

“This could be a chance to completely change your life.”

“Yes, my life would change—for the worse. It would spiral downhill, and my life would become a living hell. I want to live happily, Your Majesty.”

“There are many people who would find happiness in wealth and power alone.”

“I’m far too greedy for that. Those things alone wouldn’t make me happy.”

“I simply cannot understand you.”

The King’s expression was one of displeasure. It seemed she didn’t believe Evelyn’s words.

The three questions had already been asked and answered. Evelyn had no reason to say anything more. Yet, she felt an urge to keep speaking.

“You called me a pig bought to be slaughtered. But even if I knew I’d be slaughtered after everything was over, I still would’ve agreed to act as the stand-in.”

She felt movement behind her but didn’t turn to check. The King glanced briefly at Seth before tilting her head.

“To repay that trivial kindness you mentioned?”

“Well, that’s part of it, but I also want to live a life I can accept.”

Through her past life, Evelyn had learned that everyone dies eventually. No matter how happy life might be, it would come to an end someday. The tomorrow she envisioned might never come.

Even if you studied hard while others played and got into a good job, or saved up diligently while others spent freely, it all ended with death. No amount of regret, tears, or frustration could change that.

So Evelyn had decided: as long as she had enough money to live on, she wouldn’t waste time trying to hoard more. Instead, she would focus on enjoying every moment, laughing, and striving to be happy.

If she could be a little greedier, she wanted to leave a good impression in the memories of those she cared about. Life wasn’t eternal, but memories could allow her to live on in the hearts of others.

“I want to live while liking myself. Trying to rise in status by taking a man by force isn’t exactly classy. I don’t think I’d be happy in a forced marriage either. I’d rather be used and die. At least then, I’d be someone who died trying to repay kindness, and the person who killed me would be the bad guy.”

The King remained silent for a moment, her face growing cold.

“How foolish and naive. Do you think such thoughts would make someone hesitate to use or kill you?”

“I wasn’t trying to make anyone hesitate. I was just stating the truth.”

“How insolent.”

The King’s sharp words snapped Evelyn back to reality. 

Had I gone too far in my earnestness? 

Realizing she might have crossed a line, she shrank back. The King, who had been glaring at her, turned to Seth and said,

“None of her three answers pleased me.”

I knew it! I had a bad feeling from the start!

Just as Evelyn was wondering if she should drop to her knees and beg, the King continued.

“But what use would a worthless arm be to me? Instead, I’ll take her as my maid.”

“What?!”

Evelyn jumped in shock. Seeing her reaction, the King’s eyes narrowed.

“If you don’t want to, I suppose there’s no choice.”

“I’ve always dreamed of becoming a maid.”

Evelyn stood at attention and spoke politely. Suddenly, she felt herself being pulled backward. Seth had grabbed her and hidden her behind him.

“Your Majesty, I have no intention of handing her over.”

Evelyn was so startled that her hair stood on end. 

Your arm is on the line here! Why are you being so reckless?

“She seems willing.”

“Any answer forced out of her holds no meaning. That’s unworthy of you, Your Majesty.”

Although Evelyn couldn’t see the King’s expression from behind Seth, she could feel her displeasure. She tried to step forward to smooth things over, but Seth blocked her path. It was as if he had eyes on the back of his head—she couldn’t get past him.

“This is going to end badly!”

Evelyn whispered urgently, but Seth didn’t respond. Instead, he addressed the King.

“Let’s be honest. The truth is, you liked her answers and wanted to take her from me out of greed.”

“Greed? I was only trying to help!”

The King’s voice was indignant but lacked conviction.

Unable to hold back any longer, Evelyn grabbed Seth’s arm. When he flinched, she pushed her head past his side to finally see the King. She was staring at her with a bewildered expression.

“What kind of ridiculous behavior is that?”

It occurred to Evelyn that she was clinging to Seth from behind, with only her face sticking out. Embarrassed, she let go, only to be pushed back again. 

This man!

Clinging to Seth’s side once more, Evelyn spoke apologetically.

“Sorry, I was in a hurry. But did you really like my answers?”

The King frowned deeply at her question and turned her head sharply. Normally, such a gesture would have been intimidating, but now she just seemed sulky.

“Your Majesty.”

Seth urged the King to respond. The King twitched her eyebrows before reluctantly speaking.

“I didn’t like them entirely, but I no longer feel the need to cut off an arm.”

“Truly?”

“Yes.”

The moment Evelyn heard those words, her legs gave out, and she sank to the floor.

“Eve?”

Before she could hit the ground, Seth scooped her up. Dangling like a rag doll in his strong arms, Evelyn let out a weak laugh. 

I managed to protect this strong arm. What a relief.

“I guess I’m just tired. I’ll be fine now.”

Evelyn flailed her hands, signaling for Seth to put her down, but he inspected her with a worried expression. The King, who had approached quickly, joined him.

“What’s wrong with her now?”

“Your Majesty, you pushed her too far.”

“Hmph, as if you weren’t choking her earlier.”

“When did I ever choke her?”

“A man who can crush an apple with one finger would obviously suffocate someone if he pressed down with his arm.”

They’re fighting again.

Evelyn sighed, but she wasn’t as tense as before. Watching the two bicker with their identical faces made her feel like she was visiting relatives.

‘Wait, is that what this is?’

It was like a family squabble during a holiday gathering, where a relative’s dog gets overwhelmed from too much attention, collapses, and the owner gets mad.

“…Haha.”

“What’s so funny?”

The King pinched Evelyn’s cheek when she noticed her laughing. Seth, who was holding her, immediately turned and snapped.

“Don’t touch her.”

“What, are you acting all high and mighty just because she’s your fiancée?”

“Hmph. An engagement can be broken at any time.”

Evelyn patted Seth’s arm to calm him down.

Easy there. I’m your dog, remember?

Seth hesitated, then looked back at her. He seemed worried about the King touching her earlier. Fortunately, the emotions she felt from the King’s touch were light and ticklish. It seemed she no longer disliked her.

She wanted to smile and reassure Seth, but her eyelids kept drooping. Her weak body had reached its limit after being tense for so long.

If I faint here, Seth will only worry more.

“I’ll just take a short nap. I didn’t get any sleep last night…”

Using the last of her strength to explain, Evelyn lost consciousness.

At least the mission was complete. She could rest easy now.

***

When Evelyn opened her eyes, a luxurious bed greeted her.

The ceiling was embroidered with all sorts of animals, and the thick bed curtains completely blocked out the light. She couldn’t tell whether it was day or night, nor how long she had been unconscious.

At that moment, one side of the curtain slid open, and the King appeared. Startled, Evelyn shot up like a spring. The King, who was looking at her with a nonchalant gaze, gave her an order.

“Lie back down.”

Evelyn lay back down even faster than she had gotten up. At the same time, she frantically rolled her eyes, searching for Seth, but his shadow was nowhere to be seen. Seeing her crestfallen expression, the King let out a faint chuckle.

“I sent him away. No matter how much the times have changed, it’s still improper for a woman in her nightclothes to share a room with a man.”

That kind of consideration wasn’t appreciated at all.

As Evelyn silently lamented to herself, the King poked her cheek. The emotions conveyed weren’t unpleasant, but the cheek she poked hurt so much that she almost cried.

“Do you know how much trouble you caused me with that rascal?”

“I sincerely apologize.”

Without questioning or arguing, Evelyn immediately apologized. The King crossed her arms and grumbled to herself, almost as if talking to no one in particular.

“In the past, he never refused me when I asked for something. Now that he’s grown up, he dares to defy me. He’s not cute anymore.”