Chapter 2

Dyffrin was momentarily taken aback by Evelyn’s surprisingly bold actions, which were far beyond what the original Evelyn would have done. Warmth passed between their palms as they held hands.

Belatedly, Dyffrin shook off her hand.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“We don’t have to share a room, but could you at least let me hold your hand like this occasionally?”

Dyffrin ‘s eyebrows furrowed, a sign of his disapproval. But Evelyn continued, unperturbed.

“I don’t expect your love. But I do sometimes miss the warmth of human contact. As you know… I have no family left.”

She gave a plausible reason and put on an innocent expression, but Dyffrin avoided answering and turned his body away.

 “The ceremony is about to start. Come out.”

Dyffrin left the room with an indifferent demeanor, and Evelyn faintly smiled at his back.

The method to alleviate his headaches was none other than physical contact with Evelyn.

When they held hands, he probably felt an unprecedented sense of stability and relief from his headaches.

Regardless of how much he disliked it, Dyffrin and Evelyn were fated to be together in this world.

‘Though it will eventually end in divorce.’

Her reason for demanding alimony would be for alleviating his chronic headaches. The cost of the medications he takes for his headaches alone is enough for the price of a small house, so he won’t be able to ignore it when they divorce.

With that, Evelyn decided to accept this disastrous marriage.

* * *

After the wedding ceremony ended safely, Evelyn and Dyffrin boarded a carriage heading to the ducal residence in the capital.

Evelyn leaned back in the swaying carriage, momentarily lost in thought.

Although she had resolved to divorce in two years, many trials would come her way during that time. She was surrounded only by enemies.

‘A cold-hearted mother-in-law, an unfriendly father-in-law, servants who disrespect the lady of the house…’

There were more, but for now, she only wanted to consider these.

As Evelyn shook her head inwardly, she suddenly recalled a different kind of difficulty, one unlike the typical in-law troubles.

It was Fenris, the second male lead.

Fenris was the Second Prince of the Empire, with black hair, gentle features, and a kind and affectionate personality – the complete opposite of Dyffrin in both appearance and character.

But having a normal character wouldn’t make for a gripping story.

He had fallen for Evelyn and pursued her in very abnormal ways, such as kidnapping and confinement.

‘Just where are the properly decent people in this world?’

As Evelyn was inwardly lamenting the hopelessness of the characters in this world, Dyffrin spoke in a disgruntled tone.

“Did you hear what I said?”

When she finally looked up, she saw Dyffrin with his eyebrows slightly furrowed.

‘I inadvertently ignored him.’ 

Evelyn blinked. 

“Yes?” 

“As I said at the wedding, we’ll use separate rooms. We’ll also eat separately.” 

‘I thought it was something else.’

Evelyn nodded as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Alright.”

“Since I’ll often leave early and return late, there’s no need for you to come out and greet me.” 

While greeting and seeing off a husband was traditionally a wife’s role, she was happy to avoid it.

“Understood.”

When Evelyn readily agreed again, Dyffrin quietly studied her. As if looking at a stranger.

She belatedly realized.

‘…Did I answer too quickly?’

Until the divorce, she had to maintain the pretense of loving Dyffrin. So that he wouldn’t suspect anything. And when the divorce comes up, she should accept it with a feeling like ‘I still love you, but there’s nothing I can do…’ 

Dyffrin opened his mouth with a displeased expression.

“About what you said…”

Evelyn looked at him with an innocent face and said.

“Yes?”  

Dyffrin pursed his lips and then turned his gaze out the window.

“…Never mind.”

Evelyn knew what Dyffrin was thinking right now.

He probably wanted to ask, ‘Did you eat something bad?’ due to her uncharacteristic behavior.

From grabbing his hand at the wedding to calmly responding to his cold instructions, she must have seemed different, like someone else, to him.

‘In fact, I am a different person.’

For now, she planned to act somewhat like the original Evelyn, but she would gradually alter her behavior.

Given her own personality, acting like the original Evelyn might suffocate her to death. And she would have trouble handling the events to come.

‘Hmm…’

Evelyn glanced at Dyffrin.

He was the embodiment of an indifferent and heartless husband. Not only was his outward appearance perfect, but he was also exceptionally capable and understood why Evelyn in the original novel had been so infatuated with him.

In contrast, when looking at Dyffrin, Evelyn had a different thought – she wanted to try flustering this statue-like man just once. It wouldn’t be easy, but Evelyn decided she should attempt it sometime.

Putting aside those useless thoughts, Evelyn focused on what was to come.

When they disembarked from this carriage, they would arrive at the Liwonoc ducal residence in the capital. 

Fortunately, her in-laws were not there, but she could never relax.

The vivid image of Evelyn in the original who was toyed around by the maids emerged.

Adapting to life in this mansion was the first major hurdle for Evelyn.

Not only Dyffrin’s entourage, but even the servants looked down on or disapproved of Evelyn, the unloved lady of the house.

‘There is one person I must be especially careful of.’

Dyffrin’s closest aide, who had once wrung tears from Evelyn’s eyes.

Just then, the grand mansion came into view beyond the window. With its blue-grey roof and sprawling white walls, it resembled a snowy field under the clear blue sky, earning it the name Snow Ville Manor.

The carriage soon came to a stop.

The gathered servants stood at the front gates. 

‘Well then, time to prepare to enter the abyss of evil.’

The coachman opened the carriage door and announced.

“We have arrived, my lord.”

Dyffrin nodded lightly and disembarked, with Evelyn following behind.

After just a few steps, Evelyn felt a chilling gaze.

Turning her eyes, she met the eyes of a tall, well-dressed man.

‘There he is, the one I must be careful of.’

The man had a similarly rigid face to Dyffrin’s, and his gaze towards Evelyn was unkind.

Evelyn stared at the man intently.

He was as tall as Dyffrin, with silver-grey hair and a handsome face.

Wearing a pristine shirt with not a single wrinkle and white leather gloves, his expression seemed stern. His name was Rykal – to be precise, Rykal Clifford, the Viscount who served as Dyffrin’s aide in the capital.

Rykal was one of the people who deeply revered Dyffrin.

‘And he was also one of those who greatly disapproved of this marriage.’

Rykal had hoped that Dyffrin would marry a noble lady who could further his prospects.  

Dyffrin, even without the title, was a promising young man who had taken a position as a minister in the imperial court at a young age. Furthermore, as the closest aide to the Crown Prince, if the Crown Prince were to ascend to the throne in the future, Dyffrin’s rise to power was a foregone conclusion. 

That’s why Rykal considered Dyffrin’s marriage very important. A good marriage would give him advancement a boost.

However, the person who ultimately occupied the position next to Dyffrin was an impoverished and nameless baron’s daughter.

Naturally, Rykal was greatly disappointed by this marriage and looked down on Evelyn.

In this way, Rykal was the first trial Evelyn faced after marriage.

He nitpicked at everything, making her life miserable.

So, how does Evelyn get through this obstacle?

Evelyn, unable to endure Rykal’s cold attitude, ends up pleading with tears, and while Rykal finds her state unpalatable, he has no choice but to reluctantly accept it due to the demands and progression of the story.

Although Evelyn ultimately ovewrcame the trial, the process was not particularly satisfactory.

‘I have no intention of being treated so despicably.’

Evelyn approached Rykal, who was regarding her coldly. 

Rykal briefly furrowed his brow as he saw her drawing nearer, but he made an effort to smooth his forehead and greeted her politely.

“Congratulations on becoming a member of the ducal household, Lady Evelyn. I look forward to working with you.”

“You must be Rykal Clifford, the aide to my esteemed husband. I look forward to working with you too.”

Evelyn spoke in a subtle tone with a smile. 

“But it seems you’ve been terribly busy. As my husband’s aide, this is the first time we’re properly introducing ourselves.”

In fact, Evelyn and Rykal had crossed paths many times before. But this was the first time Evelyn was receiving his formal greeting.

He had followed Dyffrin like a shadow but had never once greeted Evelyn first.

If Evelyn hadn’t actively approached and stood before him, he likely wouldn’t have properly greeted her.

“I apologize for the delayed greeting.”

With a slightly sarcastic tone, Rykal had no choice but to bow his head.

“It’s alright. You’ve been so busy that it’s understandable.” 

Evelyn replied kindly, but inwardly, she raised the corners of her mouth sarcastically.

‘In any case, asserting dominance is important.’

It wasn’t a big deal, but Evelyn felt satisfied, as if she had somewhat restored the disrespect she had endured thus far.

Then, Dyffrin ‘s voice came from behind.

“I think the greetings can stop here.”

Dyffrin, who had seemed to enter the mansion alone, was standing at a distance with his arms crossed, looking at Evelyn.

After giving a warm smile to Rykal, Evelyn said.

“I’ll take my leave now.” 

She then walked confidently towards Dyffrin.

It was the moment she entered the abyss of evil.

***

Inside the mansion, Evelyn looked up at the high ceiling, her voice echoing as she asked Dyffrin.

“Where is the bedroom I will be using?”

“Follow me.”

After a brief answer, Dyffrin led her upstairs. But the destination was not Evelyn’s bedroom, but Dyffrin’s.

He loosened the tight necktie around his neck and answered.

“You’ll be using the room next to mine. But since we’re nominally a married couple, it’s better if we use rooms close to each other, so rumors don’t spread as much.” 

Evelyn found Dyffrin’s consideration amusing. Since everyone in the empire knew that their loveless marriage was arranged by the previous Duke Liwonoc, she was baffled about what was the point of using a room next to his. 

“You can leave the errands to the maids. If you need anything else, you can tell Rykal.”

“Yes.” 

“If you plan to go out, there will always be a carriage in front of the mansion. You can use it. If it’s not there, just ask the head maid Patricia to call for one.”

“Okay.”

As Evelyn replied lightly, Dyffrin frowned.

“And one more thing.”

Evelyn blinked. Dyffrin spoke in a cold voice.

“If you miss the warmth, go find it from someone else. I have no intention of being your heating source.”

He was referring to the incident at the wedding where Evelyn had arbitrarily held his hand.

‘How prickly.’

Fortunately, Evelyn had already thought of excuses for physical contact besides just hand-holding during the journey. She nodded readily without hesitation.

“I’m sorry if it bothered you.”

But Dyffrin’s expression remained unchanged.

‘I answered the way he wanted, so what’s the problem now?’

Evelyn unconsciously narrowed her eyes as she looked at Dyffrin, and he slowly opened his mouth.

“You.”

“……”

“Did you eat something wrong or something?”

Evelyn had been expecting this question, but this time too she feigned ignorance in her response.

“Eat something wrong…?”

His gaze suddenly sharpened.

“The you I know wouldn’t answer so casually like this.”

Just as he said, the original Evelyn would have bitten her lip with a sorrowful expression and meekly nodded.

It was always difficult for her to imitate the original Evelyn even slightly. Her true nature tended to come out abruptly. 

However, Evelyn soon composed her expression.

Since she had been caught this time, it would be better to act without reservations.

“Dyffrin, I’m no longer the Evelyn you knew.”

Evelyn looked Dyffrin in the eye as she continued.

“This marriage must have been difficult for you, but it was the same for me.”

“……” 

“Everyone has been pointing fingers at our marriage, calling it a disgraceful political union, and denouncing my family and me. That’s why I’ve decided to become stronger. To be recognized as your wife, to not be a disgrace to the Liwonoc ducal household.”

Evelyn put great effort into her acting, trying to convey a sense of fortitude while hiding her bitterness.

Dyffrin stared at Evelyn for a moment and then sat back heavily in his chair.

“…Do as you wish.”

He then reached to the nightstand beside the chair and opened a drawer. Inside was a glass bottle filled with pills.

Dyffrin took out a couple of pills and swallowed them.

‘Looks like his headache is acting up again.’

Evelyn’s eyes lit up.

This was a perfect opportunity to carry out the plan she had devised in the carriage.