Everyone around was startled by Greta’s sudden action. Evelyn and Reynard were no exception.

Unbothered by the eyes fixed on her, she slowly approached Evelyn.

Then, bowing her head politely, she apologized.

“I sincerely apologize to Your Majesty the Empress. Lady Lorenharts, out of concern for me, ended up committing a discourtesy to Your Majesty. It is all my fault, so I apologize on her behalf. I am truly sorry.”

Everyone’s gaze shifted from Greta to Evelyn. Not only had Greta poured wine on her own dress, but now she was also bowing her head in apology.

This made it awkward for even Reynard to intervene directly in the matter.

Some glances were laced with suspicion, silently asking, Surely, she won’t refuse the apology… right?

Evelyn looked back and forth between Reynard, Greta, and Adelheid. Indeed, it was true that she was shocked and angry upon realizing Adelheid had spilled the wine on purpose.

But seeing Greta apologize to this extent left her too flustered to hold onto that emotion.

Then, after once more shifting her gaze to Greta, Evelyn spoke with difficulty.

“It’s all right. Lady Emmett, was it? I’m fine, so please lift your head.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

Only after Evelyn said it was fine did Greta raise her head.

“If it is not discourteous, I believe I should return now since my dress is soaked. Please forgive me for leaving early.”

“Please, go ahead.”

With Evelyn’s permission, Greta gave one last polite bow and immediately exited the ballroom.

Adelheid and a few noble ladies, visibly flustered, assessed the situation, then offered a brief farewell to Evelyn and Reynard before following after Greta.

“Are you all right?”

Reynard asked as he checked on Evelyn.

Evelyn snapped back to her senses and gave a small nod.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“Come with me for a moment.”

“All right.”

When Evelyn agreed, Reynard escorted her away from the scene.

He led her to a terrace set at the far end of the ballroom.

Click. After closing the terrace door, he took off his jacket and draped it over Evelyn’s shoulders.

Even though it was full spring, the evening air was rather chilly for someone wearing a dress with bare shoulders.

“Thank you.” 

Evelyn offered a slightly awkward smile and expressed her gratitude.

Reynard tilted his head lightly as if to say it was nothing and continued.

“Can you tell me what happened?”

The incident had occurred while he was in the middle of a conversation with others. As such, he had little grasp of the details and asked Evelyn to explain.

Evelyn hesitated, unsure how to begin, but then slowly retraced her memory and described what had happened.

“…And that’s how it happened.”

When she finished her explanation, a deep crease had formed between Reynard’s brows.

“I shouldn’t have left you alone yet. That was my mistake.”

Reynard said with a note of regret.

Evelyn couldn’t quite understand his words.

She was not the real Ophelia.

She was nothing more than a mere maid who happened to be wearing the name Ophelia.

Why would Reynard respond so strongly to such a disgraceful incident happening to someone like her?

It was hard to comprehend.

Of course, the fact that Adelheid had deliberately poured wine on her, and the fact that she had mocked her behind her back— those things had indeed left her deeply shaken.

She had even been about to forget her place and confront Adelheid about it. But still, why would Reynard…

Just then, Reynard looked at Evelyn, as if sensing the questions that had bloomed on her face, and let out a small laugh.

“You’ve got that ‘puzzled’ look.”

At his words, Evelyn nodded honestly.

“Yes. I don’t understand.”

“What exactly? That Lady Emmett acted that way?”

“That too, but…”

It was true that Greta’s unexpected behavior was baffling. But since Evelyn didn’t yet know the full story of Bait, she figured she might come to understand Greta’s actions eventually.

“Then what is it?”

“I’m wondering why Your Majesty is taking such care of me.”

“…”

Reynard was silent for a moment in response to Evelyn’s direct question.

“I’m a fake. A fake who’s going to leave in a year. So I can’t understand why you would be so concerned about me.”

It was nothing more than a string of misfortunes experienced by a maid.

It was the first time she had experienced such a thing since coming to Bait, but it was a common occurrence back in Hesta.

Back then, it had been more accurate to say she had suffered persistent bullying from those who hated Glenna. Strictly speaking, not much has changed now, either.

Recalling the conversation between Adelheid and the other noble ladies, it seemed they believed that it should be Greta—not Evelyn—who became Reynard’s consort.

Evelyn speculated that their actions were meant to tease her because someone other than Greta, whom they trusted and followed, had become Empress.

And the reason they had been able to go so far at the ball was likely because Evelyn was from Hesta, a nation that had invaded.

It didn’t take much to understand how the Bait Empire viewed Hesta. How infuriated and bitter they must have been to see a princess of Hesta become Empress.

Even Evelyn had nothing to say in defense of this. After all, it was clearly the result of the Hestan king’s greed.

But Reynard didn’t seem to care about any of that. Even knowing she was an imposter, he had never once made it a problem.

And that wasn’t all.

Evelyn couldn’t understand why he would go as far as to keep a fake like her in the position of Princess Ophelia and even marry her. 

Now, he was feeling regret and sorrow that she had been left alone and subjected to such humiliation.

A thought suddenly came to Evelyn’s mind.

‘Could it be… he likes me?’

A small doubt, fleeting yet persistent.

But she quickly dismissed it. There was no reason, she thought, for Reynard to like someone like her.

The noble ladies attending the imperial ball were all beautiful and graceful—far beyond comparison to Evelyn.

There was no way Reynard, who was accustomed to such refined women, would give his heart to someone as unremarkable as herself.

Then why?

As if he had understood Evelyn’s doubt, Reynard let out a quiet chuckle.

“Are you curious about the reason?”

“Yes.”

Evelyn nodded in response.

Reynard looked into her eyes for a moment, then slowly turned his gaze toward the inside of the ballroom.

“Who do you think you are?”

“I…”

Evelyn opened her mouth to answer but hesitated, unsure how to define herself.

“A fake Princess Ophelia…”

“No. That’s wrong.”

Reynard cut her off firmly. But he didn’t elaborate, as if he wanted Evelyn to come to the answer on her own.

Evelyn fell silent for a moment, then began to go over her identity as he saw it.

Evelyn, the maid.

The fake Princess Ophelia.

And now, the Empress of Bait.

When her thoughts reached that point, Evelyn gasped as if she had realized something.

“You mean… the Empress of Bait, right?”

She cautiously asked, and Reynard nodded.

“That’s right.”

Then, fixing his gaze on her once again, he said,

“You might have forgotten, but before you’re a fake Princess Ophelia, you’re the Empress of Bait—my wife. And other noble ladies mocked and insulted you, my wife?”

“…”

“That’s an insult and mockery directed at me as well. That’s why I reacted the way I did.”

Reynard spoke firmly. There was a faint trace of anger in his voice.