“Hmm, how about it? Me becoming Maya’s dad?”

“…What?”

“Maya likes me too. And Eden, you don’t have identity papers, right? Hmm?”

Just then, black horses approached the checkpoint with rough sounds, heading toward Evelyn’s side. Mark was startled and wrapped his body around Evelyn. Both Evelyn and Violet were in his embrace.

After the dust settled, she looked at the checkpoint and saw knights passing through.

“Why are the imperial palace knights…?”

The large crest embroidered on the knight’s cloak was the imperial palace’s emblem. Evelyn unconsciously stroked her neck. 

Though she had wrapped it with bandages and then covered it again with a muffler, underneath was carved the crest of the Peshar royal family. Mark’s colleague gestured to him.

“Mark! It’s an order from the imperial palace. From now on, we can’t let anyone out.”

“What? No, why?”

Mark returned the child to Evelyn and looked at his colleague.

“I don’t know either! But they said an imperial palace slave escaped. Silver hair and purple eyes – must be an Astian.”

“Really?”

Mark glanced at Evelyn, but her eyes were blue.

“Hmm… There’s more than one or two imperial palace slaves, right? Eden, you should go home. From what I can see, soldiers will storm this place too looking for that slave. You could get caught up in this mess because of the imperial palace slave.”

“…I understand.”

When Evelyn turned to leave, Mark grabbed her shoulder.

“Wait… Eden, your way of speaking…”

“?”

She had only used her usual tone. Looking at Mark nervously, he grinned and firmly grabbed her cheek.

“Aw, cute. Were you a noble when you were in Astia? Sometimes when you talk to me, it sounds like you’re giving orders.”

“…Do I really need to tell you that?”

“Whoa whoa. Look at this. If you don’t fix that way of speaking, you’ll get caught by your master right away, won’t you? It’s really distinctive…”

“…”

Evelyn closed her mouth. Mark released her cheek and headed toward the checkpoint where his colleague was, saying:

“Eden, I’ll buy you something delicious, so go home!”

She could hear the people who had been standing in the long line protesting about why they couldn’t leave. Evelyn left that place. Just like he said, soldiers would soon flood the streets.

* * *

The old man who had saved her in the mountains and Laura’s parents were different types of people.

The old man lived deep in the mountains and cut off interaction with people, but Laura’s parents lived in the city center and were very friendly with their neighbors. Also, unlike the old man’s quiet cabin, Laura’s house was quite noisy when the family gathered, whether fighting or laughing.

If Josh’s parents had been alive, the old man’s cabin might have been this harmonious too.

Laura and Mark worked diligently, and their parents also labored from dawn until afternoon.

Before Evelyn came, Mark had squandered almost all his salary on gambling, drinking, and women, with no savings. That’s why it was hard for him to find a bride.

Actually, there were many women who liked the playboy Mark, but there were also stories that Mark didn’t find them appealing.

This was Mark’s mother’s claim, which differed from what Laura said. She didn’t know whose words were correct.

However, after Evelyn came, Mark came home from work punctually, took good care of the child, and seemed to be steadily saving money, which made them very happy.

When this topic came up at the dinner table, Laura whispered in Evelyn’s ear. However, the dining table was so narrow that everyone could hear – that was the problem.

“Even so, he probably only saved a tiny amount. That’s why I kept telling him to save money in case his ideal type appeared, but he doesn’t even listen to me with one ear.”

“Laura… I have a lot of money. Working at the checkpoint, people come with money wrapped up wanting to pass without identity papers.”

Mark grumbled toward his sister while watching Evelyn’s reaction.

“How much? How much did you save?”

“…About one gold coin.”

“What…?”

Laura’s eyes widened. Evelyn tilted her head, wondering if one gold coin was a big deal. Though she had lived as a commoner knight, most of her life was spent in the imperial palace, so one gold coin didn’t feel particularly significant to her.

Most household management and money matters were handled by Sarah, her maid, so she hadn’t paid much attention to them.

However, seeing Laura’s surprise, it must be a lot of money for commoners.

“With that, you could even get a house, right? It might be difficult in the center of the capital, but it would be possible here.”

Even Laura’s parents looked proudly at their son.

“Mark, when on earth did you save that much money!”

“…I’m a civil servant. If I work diligently, I can save even more.”

Mark shrugged his shoulders and looked at Evelyn, but Evelyn was just eating her meal. Seeing that she had no interest in him, his expectations also cooled down.

“Well… it might not seem like much to nobles…”

“?”

Laura and her parents tilted their heads. This time Mark looked directly at Evelyn and said:

“Any woman who marries me will definitely be happy…!”

However, Evelyn remained silent. Even Laura and Laura’s parents felt a bit sorry for Mark at this moment. The other party had no such thoughts, but Mark kept appealing to Evelyn.

Laura quickly changed the subject, thinking Evelyn might feel uncomfortable.

“Today soldiers stopped carriages three times. Thanks to that, I got off work late again today.”

“Right. I saw many soldiers on the streets too. Especially since there’s a checkpoint around here, it seems worse. They said the Emperor’s slave escaped… Silver hair and purple eyes, was it? They give a lot of reward if you report it.”

“It was 20 gold coins, right? Because of that, hunters gathered to catch the slave?”

“With 20 coins, your life would change… But it has nothing to do with us.”

Laura’s father casually ate his soup. Evelyn sat quietly, soothing Violet. Laura and Laura’s parents were all good people. If she was going to get caught anyway, it would be better for them to report her and receive the reward.

However, thinking that not only her life but also Violet’s life was in danger, she couldn’t find the courage. Even though she missed Jenkins, she just swallowed it deep in her heart.

After dinner ended, Mark held Violet and played with her. Evelyn helped Laura’s parents with their work while washing dishes.

“Tomorrow is my day off…”

Mark lingered near Evelyn. Laura had already returned to her room and was lying on her bed sleeping. Since she had to commute to the capital, she went to bed early.

“So what?”

Evelyn spoke casually to Mark. Since Mark didn’t use honorifics, she didn’t feel the need to either.

“Ah, you really speak curtly. Even if you were a noble, isn’t this too much? I’m 27 years old. How old are you?”

“21.”

“Same age as Laura. Then shouldn’t you call me older brother?”

“I don’t want to.”

Evelyn said while wiping the plate she had rinsed with water using a towel. Calling him older brother reminded her of Hector. He must still be struggling to reclaim the country.

Late at night, noisy sounds came from outside. Mark quickly opened the window and frowned.

“They’re searching houses in the middle of the night?”

Evelyn also stopped washing dishes and looked at the window. There she saw familiar knights, including Max.

‘Why is Max, Jenkins’ guard knight, here?’

Wasn’t Max the one who always stayed close to Jenkins? Evelyn tilted her head. Then she felt someone’s gaze on her. Though the hair was hidden by a hood, the cool blue eyes reminded her of someone.

“…Jenkins?”

Evelyn muttered unconsciously. Then, startled, she quickly turned her body. At that moment, Violet cried loudly.

“Why is she suddenly doing this?”

When Mark was surprised and tried to soothe the child, the cool blue eyes glanced at the child. Evelyn’s heart pounded hard.

She was caught. Soon Jenkins and Max would storm into this place.

“Mark.”

When Evelyn called Mark, he turned around with a smile.

“Why? Do you have something to say to me? Say anything.”

“…Report me and get the reward.”

“…What?”

Mark said, very flustered.

“Wh-what are you talking about, Evelyn…? Do you want to return to your master?”

“The soldiers will search this place…”

“That’s because of the Emperor’s slave! It’s different from you who has a different master, right? If you’re really worried, hide in the basement.”

Mark walked carefully and lifted the floor. Stairs leading down to the basement were visible.

“Hide here with Violet. The soldiers probably won’t know about this place.”

Soon the sound of someone pounding harshly on the front door was heard. It was so violent that the door would be smashed if they didn’t open it. Mark’s parents and Laura came out of their rooms rubbing their sleepy eyes. Mark whispered to Evelyn.

“Hurry!”

“…Alright.”

She was the Emperor’s slave, but Mark didn’t seem to suspect it at all. Maybe it was because she had changed her eye color with eye drops.

‘I gave him the chance to earn 20 gold coins, but he kicked it away with his own feet…’

Evelyn sighed deeply and went down to the basement holding Violet. Soon the door above closed.

“…”

When she fed her milk, Violet became quiet. She could hear the sound of rough footsteps on the floorboards and objects spilling onto the floor.

‘Did Jenkins really come to catch me? The Emperor himself moved directly to catch me…?’

Seeing that Max, his guard knight, was there, the knight whose eyes met hers seemed to be Jenkins. Somehow she had an ominous feeling that the family members of this house wouldn’t be safe.