Chapter 31

Dyffrin glanced at Evelyn for a moment, then said, “Alright,” and left the reception room.

Now, only Evelyn and Rachel remained in the room.

Rachel was momentarily flustered that Evelyn had stopped her, but she quickly saw it as an opportunity. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to warn Evelyn while she had the chance.

With a cold gaze, Rachel relaxed her previously rigid posture and leaned back against the chair.

Since Dyffrin wasn’t around, there was no need to pretend to be polite.

Rachel looked at Evelyn with a crooked smile.

“Why did you stop me? Do you actually intend to console me?”

Her tone was as rude as if she were addressing a maid. However, Evelyn didn’t flinch.

Rachel thought to herself, “Has she taken some kind of medicine or something?”

Otherwise, there was no way a person could change so drastically. Evelyn used to be so introverted and timid.

Evelyn slowly raised her eyelids and locked eyes with Rachel. Her amber eyes had a slightly cold gleam.

“I want an apology.”

“An apology?”

Ha, Rachel let out a breath of disbelief.

“I know about your attempt to use someone to attack me at the royal ball.”

Rachel was momentarily stunned into silence.

‘How on earth does she know that?’

The plot was hatched secretly at the Marquisate, so there was no way anyone could have overheard.

‘Could it be Karina? But she would never betray me, especially because of her father.’

However, Rachel soon realized that it didn’t matter whether Evelyn knew or not.

Since she was only saying it to her face, she probably had no other evidence, just suspicion.

‘Well, this works out.’

Since Evelyn already knew, Rachel could act more freely.

‘So, why should I apologize for that?’

Rachel fiddled with her well-manicured nails and glared.

“Actually, I feel like I deserve an apology. For taking a position that should have been mine.”

“Oh, you mean the position of the duke’s daughter-in-law?”

“Yes. I should have been Dyffrin’s wife. If it weren’t for that damn will, it would have been me.”

Rachel’s lips curved into a graceful curve.

“But I’ll get it back eventually.”

“…”

“You saw that the Duchess sent me a letter to deliver the news, right? That’s your position in the Duke’s household. No one cares about you. You have less presence than a long-time servant.”

Rachel barely suppressed a giggle. She wanted to laugh out loud, but that would be heard outside.

“It’s a bit disappointing that the Duchess thinks of me that way, but what’s most important is Dyffrin. As you can see, he’s been quite affectionate lately.”

Rachel’s smile slowly faded at Evelyn’s monotonous response.

She had been ignoring the throbbing feeling since earlier, but Evelyn’s words felt like a sudden sharp jab.

Just as Evelyn said, Dyffrin had been acting like a completely different person since the ball.

‘The Dyffrin I know would never act like this.’

He valued dignity and manners, so he didn’t easily show his emotions to others, especially not in public.

But at the ball, when he scolded Karina, there was a hint of anger in his tone. And today, he showed displeasure openly to her, a guest.

“Even if I wanted to give up this position to you, it would be difficult given his recent behavior. I don’t think Dyffrin will agree to a divorce easily.”

“…”

“So instead of attacking me, why don’t you try to improve yourself to attract Dyffrin’s attention more actively? You never know. Seeing your efforts, he might take pity on you and give you some attention.”

“…”

“Of course, you’ll have to bear the dishonor of lingering around a married man.”

Evelyn chuckled lightly.

In contrast, Rachel’s clenched fist trembled with humiliation.

That’s when Evelyn delivered the final blow.

“It would be wise to stay quiet from now on. It’s not out of kindness that I haven’t told Dyffrin about your involvement in the ball incident. I’m just holding onto it.”

“Do you think Dyffrin will believe you?”

“Well, it’s a good opportunity to test it.”

Her tone was full of confidence.

Rachel’s face darkened.

She wanted to slap Evelyn or throw the tea in her face, but they were in the Duke’s mansion.

If she did that, Evelyn would either have a red mark on her face or walk out drenched in tea, and Dyffrin would notice immediately.

But she couldn’t just sit still. She had to do something to quell the lava-like anger bubbling inside her.

That’s when Rachel noticed Evelyn’s perfectly coiffed auburn hair.

‘Yes, the hair.’

With resolve, Rachel reached out and grabbed Evelyn’s hair.

“You wretch, growing up in a baron’s household with no proper upbringing, you can’t even distinguish right from wrong. Do you even know who you’re babbling in front of? I am Rachel, the esteemed daughter of the Pinford Marquisate.”

“…”

“With a single word, I could make you a cripple without anyone knowing, even if you are Dyffrin’s wife.”

The threat of making her a cripple was an exaggeration. But that wasn’t important right now.

What mattered was crushing and trampling this arrogant woman’s spirit so she could never speak out of turn again.

Rachel glared sharply at Evelyn. While her face didn’t show fear, her silence suggested she was surely…

“Ah!”

Evelyn yanked Rachel’s hair in return.

Rachel’s face contorted in pain, and she screamed.

“Are you insane?”

Evelyn was pulling much harder than Rachel had.

Panic-stricken, Rachel opened her eyes wide, but Evelyn didn’t release her grip.

“If someone strikes my beliefs, I repay them double.”

“You… you lunatic…!”

Unable to withstand the pain, Rachel eventually let go first. Evelyn also let go of Rachel’s hair.

Evelyn looked at the clump of platinum blonde hair in her hand and muttered.

“Oh my… it seems your hair is weaker than I thought.”

Rachel’s face turned bright red. Just as she was about to scream out loud…

Clack.

The door to the reception room opened.

From inside, Dyffrin and Rykal heard Rachel’s scream-like, sharp voice.

“There was a noise coming from the reception room. What’s going on?”

Dyffrin asked as he looked at Evelyn and Rachel. Evelyn’s hand held a tangled clump of golden hair.

Rachel quickly assessed the situation and, with a face about to cry, reported to Dyffrin.

“Lady Evelyn suddenly grabbed my hair while we were talking. I was so shocked that I screamed.”

Rykal interjected.

“Lady Evelyn wouldn’t do such a thing without reason…”

Rachel’s gaze turned momentarily icy.

She didn’t like that a mere viscount was speaking up. But with Dyffrin present, she continued her act of sorrow.

“Of course, Lady Evelyn might have misunderstood something I said and got upset… That’s why…”

“I was trying to remove a bug from Lady Rachel’s hair.”

Evelyn interrupted Rachel’s words with a deeply apologetic expression.

“I thought Rachel would be startled, so I tried to remove it without saying anything, but the bug hid in her hair strands, and I unintentionally pulled it.”

Rachel suddenly realized how it felt to be dumbfounded and furious.

‘Where did she come up with such a lie…!’

But Evelyn didn’t stop there.

“I’m sorry, Lady Rachel. I’ve heard that a disease causing hair loss has been spreading among women lately… I didn’t know you were suffering from it. If I had known, I would have been more careful… I have no excuse.”

Even in her last act of consideration, Evelyn didn’t use the word “baldness.”

Rachel stammered in anger, her face flushed.

“A disease causing hair loss…! I don’t have such a disease.”

“There’s nothing shameful about having a disease, Lady Rachel. I’ve heard that timely treatment can restore your hair.”

“I-I’m not…!”

Rachel was about to scream when she looked around. She realized that Dyffrin and Rykal were staring at her.

Feeling more embarrassed than angry, Rachel stopped speaking and gathered her belongings.

“…I should go back now, my parents might be worried.”

Her face was still red, but Dyffrin didn’t bother to stop or comfort her.

Rachel bid farewell at the entrance, and Rykal escorted her to the carriage instead of Dyffrin.

As Rykal opened the carriage door, he said.

“If I may offer some advice, pomegranate fruit is said to be good for hair loss.”