17. But It’s Like a Mercedes Running on the Sidewalk!

Rashid had elegantly criticized Evelyn’s fashion sense and dancing skills through the message in the card.

‘He might as well have mocked me outright!’

“I hope that on the day of the Imperial Ball, you’ll have the most wonderful time. Wishing the Lady good fortune, yours… Rashid…”

Alto, having read to the very end of the card in Evelyn’s place, shivered with emotion.

“Yours, Rashid! His Grace the Duke is truly so kind!”

“Indeed,” said Baron Berge, nodding in agreement with his son. 

“To go to such lengths for someone as inexperienced in society as you are, Evelyn. He really is a remarkable man.”

Evelyn also acknowledged that Rashid Egenhart was an extraordinary figure. A considerate person who bought a dress for a mere secretary and arranged for a dance instructor.

In the world Evelyn came from, this would be the equivalent of a Mercedes.

‘But it’s like a Mercedes running on the sidewalk!’

Charging ahead doing whatever he pleased—she didn’t want that kind of misguided consideration!

***

The overpowering scent of artificial roses filled the drawing room.

Its source was Lady Melissa Pruden, seated on the opposite sofa. Across from her, Duke Rashid Egenhart showed no reaction to the pungent perfume as he indifferently received his guest.

“What brings you here, Lady Melissa Pruden?”

“I came to offer an apology to Your Grace, despite the impertinence.”

Lady Melissa spoke with a graceful smile, but Rashid’s expression remained unchanged.

“Regretting that you declined to be my partner at the Imperial Ball, are you?”

“To be honest, yes, Your Grace.”

Just a few days ago, Melissa had rejected Rashid’s offer to partner at the ball, citing the scandal between him and Evelyn.

“I believe I made too hasty a decision. If you’re not too upset with me, might I accept your offer now?”

It was a rather brazen request.

Rashid let out a faint, incredulous chuckle.

“And why the change of heart now?”

“I realized we could form a mutually beneficial partnership.”

Melissa’s expression turned meaningful.

“Rumor has it that Duke Egenhart only dates people who can help him fulfill some special purpose.”

“A special purpose?”

“To avoid the eyes of Her Majesty the Empress, your mother. I suspect you’ve chosen this method to protect someone you truly care for.”

“Hm.”

Rashid did not deny her statement. Instead, he tilted the corner of his mouth in mild amusement.

‘So my guess was right!’

Melissa cheered inwardly.

Having rashly rejected Rashid’s offer due to a tawdry scandal, she had later heard the rumors circulating in high society. That Rashid had entered into gentleman’s agreements with several women to deceive the Empress, and once the arrangements ended, each woman received generous compensation.

‘I made a foolish mistake!’

Already full of regret after turning him down, Melissa had rushed to the duke’s estate the moment she caught wind of the rumors.

“I understand Your Grace’s situation perfectly and can do my utmost to support you. I’m confident I can play the role of your lover well.”

To be Duke Rashid Egenhart’s lover—just that title was enough to catapult one to the top of social circles.

Melissa, the cherished daughter of one of the capital’s wealthiest families, who had always gotten what she wanted, now yearned most for the honor of being “Duke Egenhart’s lover.”

“Please, grant me one more chance.”

Melissa was full of confidence.

“My looks, conversational skills, and family background are all superior to the women you’ve been with so far.”

Rashid chuckled softly at Melissa’s boldness.

“Lady Melissa Pruden.”

He leaned lazily into the sofa, eyes fixed on her.

“I don’t take kindly to those who so transparently try to use me.”

His blue eyes, just moments ago amused, turned glacial.

Melissa instinctively flinched at the unexpectedly cold tone.

“You seem to think you can make me your trophy…”

Rashid had already seen through her intentions.

“But unfortunately, my standards are a bit too high for that.”

“……”

“There are plenty of women more beautiful, more charming, and from better families than you. So tell me—why would I need your help?”

Rashid’s words mirrored Melissa’s earlier ones, and her cheeks quivered with humiliation.

“Besides, I already have a partner for the Imperial Ball. Opportunities, once missed, rarely come again. A pity, truly.”

His graceful rejection left Melissa speechless, her lips trembling but no words forming.

The strong scent of roses swirled once more in the air.

Rashid, who had been reclining, stood and spoke.

“I’ll show you to the door.”

It was a clear dismissal.

***

Evelyn, on her way to the office, came to a halt when she spotted Rashid and Melissa approaching from the opposite direction.

‘Huh? What’s Lady Melissa doing here?’

Moreover, Melissa was dressed to the nines, as if attending a party.

‘Didn’t they part ways after that last incident?’

Meanwhile, Rashid also paused when he noticed Evelyn.

“Damn it…”

The words escaped Rashid’s lips in a voice tinged with dismay, though Evelyn failed to catch it.

“Lord Rashid, are you heading out right now?”

When Evelyn asked first, Rashid responded with a cold voice.

“Lady Evelyn, didn’t you say you were taking the day off because of your younger brother?”

“I had a bit of free time, so I came to get some materials to work on the report at home.”

Having said that much, Evelyn gave a polite nod toward Melissa.

“It’s been a while, Lady Melissa Pruden.”

“I’m glad to see you too, Lady Evelyn.”

Melissa, still in a daze, replied mechanically.

“Have the two of you reconciled, perhaps?”

Since they had planned to attend the imperial ball together, Evelyn’s assumption wasn’t unreasonable.

But upon hearing that, Rashid’s expression turned cold.

“That won’t happen. Lady Melissa came to see me for a different reason.”

His tone was much colder than usual. He glanced at Melissa with a gaze that was strictly businesslike.

“Lady Melissa is about to leave now.”

At those words, Melissa, who had been out of it, suddenly snapped back to her senses.

‘So it really was because of this woman!’

Melissa had heard rumors for some time that the duke and his secretary had a suspicious relationship, but had remained unsure. However, after what happened today, she became convinced.

The woman Rashid was protecting—even at the cost of deceiving the Empress—was none other than his secretary, Evelyn Berge.

‘I actually lost to this woman!’

What irritated Melissa even more was Evelyn’s modest appearance.

‘To a woman who can’t even dress properly!’

Fuming inwardly, Melissa deliberately raised her voice in an exaggerated tone.

“Lady Evelyn, that dress you’re wearing today is simply lovely!”

“Oh? Thank you.”

“And that bob haircut! It’s so fresh and cute!”

At Melissa’s overly dramatic remarks, Evelyn furrowed her brows subtly.

‘Is she picking a fight with me?’

Anyone with sense could tell those words were not genuine compliments.

“Noble ladies usually pride themselves on their long hair, but Lady Evelyn…”

Just as Melissa said that—

Rashid reached out and covered her view, blocking her from looking at Evelyn’s hair any further.

“…?”

“Lady Melissa, didn’t you say your carriage is waiting?”

Startled, Melissa flinched at Rashid’s pointed question.

His ice-cold gaze was fixed on her.

Do not insult Evelyn any further.

Rashid was clearly warning her.

The irritation boiling inside her instantly cooled.

Melissa, shaken by Rashid’s stare, took a step back.

‘You’ll regret this later!’

But for now, retreat was the only option.

“Now that you mention it… Well then, I’ll be going…”

Evelyn tilted her head slightly, watching Melissa practically flee.

What’s with her?

And then—

“Lady Evelyn.”

Rashid called out to Evelyn in a low voice.

“Don’t misunderstand.”

“…?”

“My relationship with Lady Melissa is already over.”

Before Evelyn could even ask anything, Rashid walked away in the opposite direction down the hallway.

“…I didn’t really plan on misunderstanding anything?”

A question mark formed on Evelyn’s face.

***

“Is my appearance really that strange?”

Evelyn, buried in a mountain of documents she was reviewing, suddenly recalled what had happened the day before and muttered to herself.

“At least my outfit should be fine…”

She was wearing a casually styled dress that had recently become popular.

The dress was made of matching jacket and skirt fabric, loose-fitting and extremely comfortable for moving around. And since it was a neutral color, it didn’t stain easily.

Underneath the jacket, she wore a simple collared shirt, and for ease of movement, the skirt only came down to mid-calf.

Under the skirt, she had sturdy leather boots that added to the practicality.

“Then is it my hairstyle that’s strange?”

Evelyn raised her hand and gently touched the ends of her hair.

This past spring, she had cut her long hair into a bob for the sake of convenience.

It barely reached her ears, and nearly everyone around her had been shocked by the change.

For noble young ladies raised in luxury, hair was practically a matter of pride.

Which was exactly why noblewomen never cut their hair.

But Evelyn had styled her current bob with soft curls at the ends and tucked it behind her ears—and she was quite fond of it.

“I think it’s kind of cute.”

Plus, it was great for mobility.

Come to think of it, Rashid hadn’t reacted very favorably when she’d first cut her hair either.

He’d stared at Evelyn’s bobbed hair for a long time with his signature frown and a wrinkle between his brows.

And then he said—

「Did something happen to make you change your mind about something?」