Chapter 22

The maid who finished reading the letter was at a loss for words. The King, noticing her silence, asked playfully.

“How is it?”

“There’s not a shred of formality in it.”

“And?”

“There’s much to teach her in the future.”

The maid sighed and folded the letter.

To think she sent a letter secretly without the Duke knowing—what an innocent thought.

Just seeing the Duke’s seal on the envelope was enough to know Evelyn had failed.

‘I don’t even know where to start teaching her.’ 

The King, oblivious to the maid’s despair, chuckled mischievously.

“Does this mean you like Evelyn enough to teach her yourself?”

“…Must I confirm that in such a way?”

The maid shot a sharp glare. The King shrugged and said with a satisfied expression.

“I suppose I’ll have to send a messenger to the Duke’s household.”

“Your Majesty, wouldn’t it be better to issue an official decree?”

The maid, who had resolved to bring Evelyn in, actively suggested.

“For something like this?”

“She’s set to become the Duchess, so it wouldn’t hurt to preserve her dignity.”

“Hmm.”

It was extremely rare for an unmarried woman like Evelyn to receive a royal decree. Just the fact that the King issued one would be a tremendous honor.

Nodding, the King stood up from her chair. The maid stepped back as she spread parchment across the desk.

After a moment of contemplation, the King smiled broadly and began scribbling with her pen.

[To my loyal subject, Evelyn Hynes,

It brings me great joy to hear that you are working tirelessly, day and night, to become my maid. As a reward, I bestow upon you incense and potions, and I command you to prove your loyalty by running ten laps around the training grounds.]

* * *

“What? Could you please repeat that?”

Evelyn widened her eyes in disbelief. Surely, she must have misheard.

The King’s messenger coughed awkwardly, looking embarrassed.

“Her Majesty has ordered you to prove your loyalty by running ten laps around the training grounds. If you find it hard to believe, you may read the decree yourself.”

When Evelyn unrolled the scroll handed to her, it contained exactly what she had just heard.

Your Majesty, why are you doing this to me?

She had written to ask for help, but instead, she was now being forced to run ten laps around the training grounds! To make matters worse, Seth was away, leaving her with no one to shield her. Feeling her mouth go dry, Evelyn asked.

“There’s no set deadline for when this must be done, right?”

If she were given until next year, she was confident she could train hard and accomplish it. However, the messenger shook his head, shattering her last hope.

“Her Majesty has ordered us to report back only after witnessing you complete the task.”

In other words, she was being told to run right now. 

Oh no!

Evelyn’s personal best was two and a half laps. Ten laps were utterly out of the question. The King surely knew this, yet she had issued such an order. It was as if she was determined to make Evelyn run…

“Wait a moment.”

Was the King trying to make me run?

If the intention was to torment her, there was no need for such a cumbersome method.

‘Is there perhaps a reason why I must run?’

As Evelyn strained her brain to figure it out, a scream erupted beside her.

Startled, she turned her head to see someone grabbing the messenger by the collar. It was none other than Lord Neville, the leader of the Gold Lion Knights. With a face like an enraged bear, he roared at the messenger.

“How dare you threaten our young lady to run laps around the training grounds? Do you have a death wish?”

“I-I was merely delivering the royal decree…”

The messenger tried to explain, but his words didn’t even graze Lord Neville’s ears. At that moment, the maid approached with a cold expression, holding a teaspoon.

“Hold him tight, Lord Neville. I’ll gouge out the eyes of this insolent man who dares to look upon our lady’s disheveled state.”

“Madame Reed, at times like this, it’s better to cut out the tongue of one who doesn’t know their place. Shall I fetch the scissors?”

The Chamberlain, adjusting his monocle, interjected.

“Aaah! Please spare me!”

The messenger’s face turned pale as he begged for his life. Unable to watch any longer, Evelyn spoke up.

“Everyone, he’s just a messenger. There’s no point in tormenting him, so please let him go.”

The moment Evelyn’s words fell, everyone stepped back. Even Lord Neville released his grip without hesitation. It was as if Seth himself had issued the command. It seemed the saying that the mistress of the household was as good as the master held true.

Having narrowly escaped death, the messenger quickly hid behind Evelyn.

“I-I was only here to deliver the decree…”

Hearing his pitiful sobs, Evelyn felt like crying too.

Ten laps around the training grounds. 

How on earth would I manage it?

The Chamberlain tried to comfort her as she sank into despair.

“Young Lady, do not worry. Once His Grace returns, we can formally protest. You are the lady of the Elmaier household. Not even Her Majesty the King can issue such an unreasonable command.”

Suddenly, Evelyn’s mind cleared.

As a stand-in for the real Duchess, asserting herself as the lady of the Duke’s household would never work against the King. She would be lucky to escape punishment for overstepping her bounds. But if Seth didn’t protest, it would break the illusion that she was a beloved Duchess.

Which meant… the only conclusion was that I had to complete the ten laps before Seth returned. Ugh, why couldn’t I ever catch a break?

Suppressing the urge to clutch her head in frustration, Evelyn forced a smile.

“No, there’s no need to protest. I will gladly follow Her Majesty’s command.”

“Young Lady!”

“Young Lady, you mustn’t!”

Everyone was horrified and tried to stop her.

Of course, Evelyn didn’t want to do it either, but she had no choice.

Clutching the crumpled scroll tightly as if it were a cherished treasure, she pretended to be genuinely pleased.

“This is an act of grace from Her Majesty. Think about it. How many people fight and toil for Her Majesty, risking their lives? And yet I have the chance to demonstrate my loyalty just by running. For the honor of the Duke’s household, I must do my best.”

This was all a desperate attempt to justify why she had to run. But as she spoke, the people around her suddenly began to tear up.

“She’s willing to go to such lengths for the Duke’s household.”

“She’s sacrificing herself despite her frail health…”

“Sniff, I’m sorry for not protecting you.”

Wait, this isn’t what I meant?

Flustered by the increasingly strange atmosphere, Evelyn quickly retreated.

“Well then, I’ll go change my clothes.”

“Ah, Young Lady. Please take me with you—”

“Mmmpf!”

The messenger’s voice faded as he was silenced behind her.

* * *

She thought that if she took her time returning, everyone would calm down.

…She was wrong.

“Young Lady!”

“Oh, what should we do about her?”

The training grounds were a sea of tears. It seemed like three times as many people as before had gathered, all sniffling and sobbing.

‘It wasn’t this bad earlier. Is this some kind of moving-in gift effect?’

Suppressing the urge to run away, Evelyn stepped onto the training grounds, where everyone cheered enthusiastically.

“Young Lady, we’ll cheer for you!”

“Stay strong!”

It felt less like she was running laps and more like she was going off to save the nation.

“Mmmpf!”

Meanwhile, the messenger was tied to a chair in the corner.

Since they couldn’t blindfold him, they had at least gagged him, leaving him in a pitiful state. Evelyn wanted to set him free, but she feared he’d end up hanging upside down the moment she wasn’t looking.

‘Who am I to worry about others when I’m in such a mess?’

Resigning herself, Evelyn began to run. Lord Neville, her self-proclaimed running coach, ran beside her, shouting encouragement.

“Breathe in, breathe out! Keep your pace steady! You’re doing great!”

For a moment, she wanted to disappear from this place, but soon, she didn’t care anymore.

The scorching sun overhead drained her energy, leaving her with only one thought: this is exhausting.

“Huff, huff!”

Perhaps due to the tension, she felt more fatigued than usual. Her chest heaved, her stomach churned, and she barely managed to complete three laps. It was her personal best.

“You’ve already completed three laps, Young Lady!”

Lord Neville cheered loudly, overjoyed.

But there were still seven laps left. She wanted to collapse on the spot, but she couldn’t, making it all the more unbearable.

Suddenly, Evelyn felt the world was utterly unfair.

She resented the King for giving such an order, Seth for mentioning ten laps, and even herself for being so foolish.

‘Wow, he’s just sitting there comfortably while I’m suffering?’

Even the messenger, whom she had pitied earlier, now seemed annoying.

Perhaps because her thoughts had turned so bitter, her foot caught on a rock, and before she could react, she fell forward.

“Young Lady!”

“No!”

Amid the screams, someone caught her. Covered in sweat and nearly rolling on the ground, Evelyn let out a sigh of relief.

“Thank you so much for catching me!”

Assuming it was Lord Neville, she expressed her gratitude. But when she looked up, she saw an incredibly handsome face.

“D-Duke?!”

“Good thing I wasn’t too late.”

Seeing Evelyn’s startled reaction, Seth smiled. It was a dazzling smile, but to her, it felt like the grin of a devil.

“W-Why are you back so soon?”

“I heard you were in danger.”

“What?”

Who would do such a pointless thing? 

Reflexively searching for the culprit, Evelyn quickly came to her senses.

What mattered now wasn’t who had done it. The priority was figuring out how to handle this situation.

But before she could come up with a plausible excuse, Lord Neville blurted everything out.

“My Lord! Her Majesty issued a royal decree commanding the Young Lady to run ten laps around the training grounds!”