Chapter 10 – Part 3

“This is the person I’ve been searching for so long. It’s her, Evan.”

Ailon shifted his gaze to Evan, but his eyes remained dreamy and dazed.

Evan, puzzled by Ailon’s reaction, raised an eyebrow.

“What do you mean?”

“The child who only appeared in my dreams is right in front of me. I won’t let go of Aaron again.”

Aaron was a page who supposedly died in Vorenia in Ailon’s stead. Why was this name suddenly mentioned now?

“Evan, the Crown Prince keeps calling me Aaron. He thinks I’m someone else.”

Could it be?

Evan smirked at the absurdity of the situation.

Ailon’s long-lost person was Anne? It was a ridiculous notion.

But the intense longing in Ailon’s eyes as he looked at Anne irritated Evan.

“This is Lady Vanessa, Your Highness. She is not Aaron.”

“No, it can’t be! Aaron, why don’t you recognize me? Are you teasing me again?”

Ailon, tears streaming down his face, clutched his head in anguish.

Seemingly in shock from the revelation, he staggered, unable to maintain his balance.

Evan caught the fainting Ailon and gently laid him on the ground before asking Anne.

“Are you hurt?”

“…No.”

Evan furrowed his brow and sighed deeply.

“Let’s leave now.”

His voice, tinged with relief, was low and steady. Anne nodded.

As soon as she answered, Evan lifted the Crown Prince and headed toward the entrance.

Anne followed the commander out of the place.

A prolonged silence ensued, during which Anne finally realized something. When they had parted, she had secretly yearned for another brief encounter with him.

Anne grabbed Evan’s sleeve. Just knowing they were together brought her some comfort.

‘Why is he suddenly acting like this when he ignored me at the palace?’

She wondered if this would ease her feelings, but regardless, she tightened her grip on his sleeve.

In contrast, Evan’s expression remained stern as he walked ahead.

Perhaps he believed this was the last time he would walk with her, and he was prepared to face whatever was to come.

Bang.

The space echoed with a loud noise, followed by a commanding voice.

“Surrender now, traitor! Kneel immediately!”

As they reached the bottom of the long staircase, they were met by a large group of guards. Anne was bewildered by the announcement and asked,

“Who are you calling a traitor? You don’t even know what happened inside…”

She stopped, unsure if she should truthfully explain that the Crown Prince had gone mad and killed the priest during the ceremony.

A man in the center of the guards shouted, “Evan Davis, you are charged with treason against Ailon Terossa. Surrender now!”

Upon hearing this, Anne rushed forward, her voice trembling with anger and confusion.

“What are you talking about? Treason? What has he done?”

As Anne took another step closer, the soldier at the center shouted, “If you move any further, we will fire!”

“Anne! Stay where you are! Don’t interfere.”

At Edwin’s shout from beside the guards, Anne turned to look back, her lips quivering.

Evan, with a composed face, gently laid the Crown Prince on the ground. Then he calmly raised his arms in surrender.

“Commander!”

“Lady Vanessa, please stay calm. Nothing will happen to you.”

“…I don’t understand why this is happening.”

Tears welled up in Anne’s eyes.

Evan remained silent, merely nodding slowly without lowering his arms.

Tension filled the air. As the guards approached, Anne’s heart pounded.

‘What should I do in this situation? ‘

Anne impulsively hugged Evan’s waist tightly.

With her heart racing, she held onto him, her head buried in his chest, when a cold voice came from above.

“We don’t have much time. Move aside.”

“No.”

“…Lady Vanessa, step aside.”

Evan’s tone was colder than ever.

“Don’t order me around. You’re not my superior anymore.”

Evan’s eyes briefly flickered at Anne’s stubbornness.

“Why are you doing this if I’m no longer your superior?”

“Because that’s how I feel.”

Evan bit his lip at her unwavering answer.

He couldn’t understand it. Even after returning, why did she act as if she was ready to sacrifice her life for him?

He had tried to avoid giving her any hope after his return, even occasionally disappointing her.

Evan averted his eyes from Anne, who was hugging him tightly.

Ensuring Anne’s safety is his top priority now.

“Count Megan Hale. This woman is not involved, so please remove her.”

Former Commander Megan Hale, standing among the guards, tilted his head slightly before nodding.

“We had no intention of harming her anyway, so stop glaring at me.”

“Fine.”

“Aren’t you curious about the charges against you?”

Megan approached Anne and roughly grabbed her arm.

As she glared at him, Megan laughed loudly.

“What’s so special about this woman? Ridiculous.”

“Megan!”

“…Who spread such nonsense? Everyone here can testify that he isn’t a traitor, right?”

“You’re a very naive young lady.”

Anne struggled with all her might, shouting, “You bastard, let go of me now!”

“Such foul language for a lady.”

Megan let go of her arm and pulled a gun from his waistband.

He fired it beside Anne, who flinched and buried her face in Evan’s chest at the loud gunshot.

‘Please.’

Anne couldn’t think of a way to help him.

Evan’s voice, tinged with a mix of amusement and sadness, reached her ears.

“Anne, I know you’re kind-hearted, but don’t let your emotions make you vulnerable.”

Before Anne could respond, firm hands pulled her away.

Edwin had approached and firmly held her shoulders.

“Anne Vanessa, it’s time to go home.”

At that moment, Anne’s vision went dark.

“Arrest him immediately. Restrain him.”

“Yes, sir.”

Evan offered no resistance as the guards apprehended him.

Anne, held by Edwin, screamed as they roughly dragged Evan across the stone floor.

“This isn’t right! Show us the evidence before you take him! Who are you to do this?”

Megan silenced Anne with a powerful hand over her mouth. She could barely breathe through his strong grip.

“Shut up, you little brat.”

Despite the man’s threats, Anne’s focus remained solely on Evan’s being taken away.

“Count Hale; she’s my daughter.”

At Edwin’s words, Megan spat on the ground.

“So? Aren’t you in danger too? Everyone here knows this crazy woman is the Duke’s lover.”

“That has nothing to do with this.”

“Oh, really?”

Megan Hale chuckled, looking Anne up and down.

“What? You’re quite a looker for someone who’s rolled around on the battlefield.”

Anne bit down hard on Megan’s palm. A deep groan and a string of harsh curses followed.

“You crazy b*tch!”

“Evan Davis is a war hero! He’s the most honorable person there is!”

Anne shouted, filled with rage, and Edwin quickly covered her mouth, but not before everyone had already heard her words.

“A war hero accused of treason against the royal family? Are you admitting you’re a dissident?”

“Megan Hale!”

“Ah, of course not. Baron Vanessa, it must be tough educating your child.”

“……”

“Now, let’s wake up His Highness, who has nobly fallen asleep.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ailon Terossa, who had briefly lost consciousness, was also laid on the ground and bound.

The Crown Prince’s eyes, now regaining clarity, still only reflected Anne.

***

With the guards gone, the now-empty temple looked like a place where Anne had lost everything.

Tears fell from Anne’s eyes and she began to sob uncontrollably.

“My Lord, what should we do now? Treason? Evan Davis is not that kind of person!”

“Anne, pull yourself together. Let’s go home and talk, my dear.”

No. If we go back to the mansion, there will be no way to save Evan.

With the soldiers all withdrawn, Anne clung to Edwin’s trousers and knelt.

“I want to stay here. I want to help Evan.”

“……”

Edwin was startled by the sight of Anne’s revealed back. The chrysanthemum seal. There were few who bore that mark.

Instinctively, Edwin felt a surge of revulsion but quickly restrained himself. He knew many had been forced to bear that mark during the ongoing war.

And the Anne he had come to know was not someone to be judged by the chrysanthemum seal.

As someone who considered himself Anne’s guardian, Edwin was unwavering in his resolve.

He only hesitated for a moment, wondering if the Duke of Davis could still love her after seeing that seal.

But there were more pressing matters now.

Edwin comforted Anne, who continued to cry.

“Anne, my dear, let’s meet your mother and go back for now. It’s dangerous to act rashly to save Duke Evan. I promise to find a way soon, so can you wait?”

Anne nodded, but her heart was not in agreement.