Chapter 7

“Once you leave here, you won’t be able to see your brother until the mission is over.”

Seth spoke quietly. Evelyn was slightly startled by the unexpected statement but asked calmly.

“Is there a reason for that?”

“It’s safer if no one knows your whereabouts. Even if your identity is changed, if your brother tries to contact you, both of you will be in danger.”

Hmm, he wasn’t wrong. Any form of contact would leave traces. 

After pondering for a moment, Evelyn nodded.

“Will you at least let me know how he’s doing?”

“Even if I do, you won’t be able to verify if it’s true.”

“I’ll have to trust you. You’re not someone who would torment powerless women or children, are you?”

In truth, whether he lied or manipulated the situation, Evelyn had no power to protest. She could only hope he would keep his word. In that case, she figured it was better to boldly act as if she trusted him completely.

Seth silently observed her. Evelyn also took the opportunity to admire his handsome face. Finally, Seth sighed and extended his hand toward her.

“I’ll try to live up to your trust.”

Was this a handshake? He wasn’t going to kiss the back of my hand again, was he?

Hesitantly, Evelyn reached out her hand. Seth gently held it, and when she looked at him with a puzzled expression, he smiled kindly.

“It’s time.”

Before she could ask what he meant, her vision went black, and her body tilted. Strong arms caught her as if they had been waiting for this moment. Evelyn slumped weakly into Seth’s chest, her face buried against him.

“Even though I shared my energy with you, staying awake has its limits.”

You could’ve told me that earlier, you jerk.

“Sleep well, Eve.”

It had been so long since she’d heard someone tell her to sleep well that it felt strange. Like a lie, sleepiness washed over her. Leaning against Seth’s chest, Evelyn drifted off to sleep.

***

Maurice was the Commander of the Shadow Knights and the Duke’s right-hand man.

He had served his master through countless challenges, including dangerous missions, but today was a first. No, it was the first time he had met a woman like Evelyn.

A young lady who, upon first meeting him, asked him to help beat someone up. And now, she was the person who would soon be called the Duchess. The thought made his head spin.

“My lord, are you really going to use her as a stand-in?”

Maurice cautiously spoke up.

But the Duke silently kept walking. His slower-than-usual pace seemed to be out of consideration for the sleeping Evelyn in his arms. After hesitating for a moment, Maurice added.

“More than anything, Her Majesty will oppose this.”

At the mention of the King, the Duke finally turned to him. The cold gaze made Maurice hold his breath. Bowing his head, he waited for reprimand, but the words that came were unexpected.

(T/N: This explicitly identifies the King as a woman. While it is unusual for a woman to hold the title “King” in many contexts, it seems that in this story, the title “국왕” is used regardless of gender.)

“Then I’ll just hide her well and reveal her at the wedding.”

“B-but if you do that…”

Maurice stammered in shock. That would be tantamount to declaring war on the King. As Maurice struggled to find a response, the Duke turned away again.

“I’d like to do that, but I suppose I’ll have to show her beforehand. I’ll keep it a secret until Evelyn’s new identity is established.”

Maurice realized that the Duke intended to personally shield Evelyn from the King’s scrutiny.

‘Does he like her that much?’

Maurice glanced at the sleeping Evelyn in the Duke’s arms. She was pretty, but not the kind of beauty that would make one’s jaw drop. Her pink hair and red eyes were unusual, but that was all. More than anything, she was so small and frail that she looked like she might break with a single touch.

‘No, my lord isn’t the type to be swayed by a woman’s looks.’

The Duke had no interest in women. To be precise, he was indifferent to worldly pleasures. Even after leaving the temple, he lived like a monk, to the point where the King often nagged him about it.

‘What on earth caught my lord’s attention?’

Maurice unconsciously leaned closer to Evelyn.

Noticing this, the Duke frowned slightly before returning to his usual expressionless face and speaking.

“I plan to give Evelyn the White Rose Mansion. Inform the caretaker to prepare it so she lacks nothing.”

The White Rose Mansion was not part of the ducal estate but the Duke’s personal property. Until now, no one had ever been allowed to stay there.

Maurice asked nervously.

“My lord, you’re not planning to make her your real wife, are you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Giving her that mansion when there are so many others…”

The mansion had been built by the previous Duke for his beloved wife. It was also an inheritance passed down from the Duke’s mother. It seemed far too extravagant for a stand-in to reside in.

“To deceive the enemy, you must first deceive your allies, don’t you think?”

The Duke spoke as if it were nothing. If Evelyn stayed at the White Rose Mansion, even the King would have to wonder if the Duke was serious.

Maurice, now convinced, nodded in agreement.

“Shall I assign her a tutor? If she’s to act as the Duchess, she’ll need to start preparing now.”

“Well, I don’t think she’ll need much training.”

Maurice was puzzled by the Duke’s response.

Evelyn was incredibly unruly. Judging by how enthusiastically she had kicked the merchant earlier, Maurice doubted she had ever learned proper etiquette. And yet, the Duke thought she didn’t need training…

‘Is it because she’ll only be used briefly and discarded? Or does he even like her wild side?’

As he struggled to understand his master’s intentions, Maurice eventually gave up.

“Still, she’ll need at least basic etiquette lessons. Otherwise, she’ll be humiliated in social gatherings.”

If Evelyn were sent out as she was, the Duke would bear the brunt of the criticism. Maurice couldn’t let that happen.

“Fine, send an etiquette teacher to the mansion.”

Fortunately, the Duke agreed readily. While Maurice sighed in relief, the Duke, seemingly lost in thought, added.

“And just in case, assign three shadows to her.”

“What?”

Maurice couldn’t help but blurt out in surprise.

The shadows the Duke referred to were the elite members of the Shadow Knights, primarily tasked with rescue operations and espionage. Each one of them was a top-tier operative. To assign them to a mere stand-in was beyond excessive.

‘Even the real Duchess wouldn’t get such protection.’

But the Shadow Knights belonged to the Duke, and how he used them was entirely his decision. Maurice swallowed his objections.

“Choose ones with gentle personalities. We don’t want to scare her, and keep it a secret.”

“Yes, I’ll select them carefully.”

Only then did the Duke seem satisfied as he turned away. Maurice resumed his internal deliberations.

‘Is she really just a stand-in? He seems to care for her quite a bit.’

***

Duke Seth Elmaier was a famous figure in the Kingdom.

He was a knight praised as the King’s Sword and the hero who had led the seven-year war to victory. However, a few years ago, an incident caused his once-glorious reputation to plummet.

The Duke relinquished all his privileges without offering any explanation. Since then, he had rarely appeared in public, except for major events like coronations or New Year’s celebrations.

Yet, public interest in the Duke never waned. Losing his honor didn’t diminish his value.

A nobleman with a prestigious lineage, immense wealth, and unmatched power.

Countless women admired him. Young ladies debuting in high society often lingered near the palace, dreaming of a chance encounter.

In this context, the rumors that began to circulate shocked everyone.

“Is it true?”

“Yes. They say he secretly visits her at his private mansion.”

The rumor was that the Duke had a hidden lover.

The story first emerged from the marketplace. Prestigious tailors and jewelers in the capital had suddenly been summoned by the Duke. Through them, bits of information about the Duke’s lover began to spread.

“She’s not even pretty. They say she’s so skinny she looks like a starved donkey.”

“I heard she has a strong southern accent, like a country bumpkin.”

“They say she’s so lowborn that there’s not a trace of dignity in her.”

Jealous people tried to tarnish the Duke’s lover with malicious words. Some even started betting on how long it would take for her to be cast aside.

But the next rumor crushed their confidence.

“Did you hear? The Duke gave her the Heart of the Ocean.”

“No way! That’s the necklace only the Duchess can wear.”

“It’s true. He even summoned the family jeweler to adjust the chain to suit her.”

“Oh my god, does this mean she’s going to become the Duchess?”

“That can’t be!”

The uneasy individuals exchanged nervous glances before leaving with various excuses. Then, they began desperately investigating the Duke’s lover.

The swirling rumors eventually reached the Sun Palace, the most prestigious place in the Kingdom.

“The mere fact that the Duke has a hidden woman is causing such an uproar. How ridiculous.”

The King spoke with a face full of disdain. The chamberlain, with a wry smile, responded.

“Well, he is famously known for his lack of interest in women.”

“Is there anything at all he’s interested in? I can’t figure out what goes on in that man’s head.”

“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but you and he are remarkably alike.”

“That’s an unpleasant thing to say. Are you no longer afraid of death now that you’re old?”

Despite the King’s rebuke, the chamberlain merely smiled serenely. The King, giving up on scaring her aged attendant, asked.

“So, who is she?”

“I’ve heard she’s a cheerful and lively young lady. Though she’s frail, she’s bold, which makes her the perfect candidate for this task.”

“That’s quite a generous assessment. Surely that doesn’t make up for the fact that she’s a slave.”

The King was already aware that Evelyn Gran was a slave. Among all the women available, choosing a slave as a stand-in was truly uncharacteristic of the Duke.

“Even if her status is restored, she’s still a minor noble from Tiron, a vassal state. Surely there will be those who dig into her origins and tear her apart.”

“Her origins can be changed by adopting her into a respectable family. I’ve heard that a suitable family has already been selected and the process completed.”

The chamberlain, with a troubled expression, spoke as if trying to soothe the King. The King sneered coldly in response.

“If he had chosen a proper woman from the start, none of this trouble would’ve been necessary.”

“The Duke seems to be very fond of this woman, so I believe he is willing to endure some difficulties.”

“That block of stone?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ve heard that during their first meeting, he knelt and offered her a handkerchief.”

“What?”