28. Why Do You Wish to Keep Me by Your Side, Your Grace?

Evelyn ignored Rashid’s rather serious question.

“I was thinking of scheduling the visit to Borten Port for Thursday, as you mentioned before. How does that sound?”

“When was it? Was it during our academy days?”

“It’s set for an overnight trip, but if we move the morning schedule forward, a day trip might be feasible.”

“Or was it after we graduated from the academy?”

“Also, we’ve received a request to reschedule tomorrow morning’s meeting with the Minister of Finance to the day after. Since that day is open…”

“Lady Evelyn Berge.”

As Evelyn efficiently delivered the schedule without any gaps, Rashid called her name.

Then, without giving her any time to react, he leaned in close.

A perfectly sculpted face, eyes glittering like sapphires, and platinum hair that shone like a dream.

Evelyn couldn’t take her eyes off Rashid’s face.

‘He really is beautiful…’

Though she had known that face for a very long time and had grown used to it, Evelyn still found herself marveling at Rashid’s looks.

Rashid furrowed his beautifully shaped brows like a finely crafted doll as he stared at Evelyn.

‘Either something displeased him, or he wants something.’

Evelyn knew this expression of her childhood playmate better than anyone.

Was it the former this time?

“You really won’t tell me?”

“Who I kissed is none of your concern, Lord Rashid.”

In that instant, Rashid’s sapphire eyes turned cold.

The air around them seemed to drop in temperature.

“Ha. None of my concern, is it?”

There was a dangerous glint in Rashid’s voice and gaze.

But Evelyn responded calmly to her employer.

“When Your Grace was courting Lady Cecilia, I didn’t pay it the slightest mind. So please, do me the same courtesy.”

“……”

Evelyn didn’t miss the small flinch that ran through Rashid’s body.

‘If you’ve got something to say, go ahead and say it.’

Evelyn flashed a bright smile, recalling the chaos that had erupted over Lady Cecilia last time.

Rashid pulled a bitter expression but didn’t refute her words.

To him, Evelyn continued.

“Please cooperate with hiring a new secretary. Once I resign, the scandal will fade quickly.”

At Evelyn’s declaration, his blue eyes wavered.

And within those unsettling eyes, Evelyn failed to notice the emotions flickering beneath.

“You really intend to leave me?”

Rashid muttered discontentedly as he looked down at Evelyn with provocation.

“What must I do to make you stay?”

“Lord Rashid…”

“If I destroy everyone who spread false rumors and insulted you, will you stay by my side?”

At the savage tone, Evelyn shook her head.

“Like how you bankrupted the Watron barony?”

At that unexpected retort, Rashid’s eyes lowered.

But he didn’t deny her question.

Evelyn let out a small sigh at his reaction.

She’d had a bad feeling when she heard the rumors that Baron Watron had crudely gossiped about her and Rashid at the club—but she hadn’t expected him to actually take action.

“I couldn’t just let them insult you.”

The voice that slipped from Rashid’s lips was unusually emotional for someone like him.

“I’m not so young that I’d be hurt by something that isn’t true.”

“I know. But if anyone dares hurt you, I won’t forgive them. Even if they’re royalty.”

His voice carried firm conviction.

Evelyn, who knew the Duke of Egenhart well enough to believe he would carry out such words, felt a chill run down her spine.

“Your Grace…”

Mindful of the gaze directed at her, Evelyn spoke softly.

“Why do you wish to keep me by your side, Your Grace?”

“Well, that’s because you…”

Rashid began speaking instinctively, but then closed his mouth.

His elegant face wavered subtly as he hesitated, seemingly flustered.

And after a long pause—

“You’re the only one…”

“……”

“…who’s as competent a secretary as you are, Lady Evelyn Berge.”

The tone was as if he were suppressing deeper emotions, and Evelyn tilted her head slightly.

“Thank you for the compliment, but, Your Grace, in the capital alone, there must be at least hundreds of secretaries more competent than I am. Some of them could likely be hired for half my salary. In terms of efficiency, that would be far better.”

“Who cares about money like that?”

With a voice that sounded like he was grinding his teeth, Evelyn gave a little shrug.

‘This is why I can’t understand how the rich think.’

“And…”

“Yes?”

“There’s no one else, Evelyn, who can handle my inappropriate…”

“Inappropriate?”

At Evelyn’s pointed interruption, Rashid scowled and corrected himself.

“…my nasty personality.”

Hearing the painfully honest confession that seemed to grind through his teeth, Evelyn nodded.

And with a tone filled with sincerity, she offered a compliment.

“You’ve finally admitted it—your personality is the problem.”

“Evelyn…”

Rashid called her name, his face contorted in frustration.

Evelyn, in turn, looked back at him with a gentle smile.

“Rashid.”

A voice that called only his name—stripped of any title, simple and familiar.

According to Evelyn’s memory, it was the first time since childhood.

“You don’t need me anymore. So please, let me go now.”

Just as she had done with her old childhood friend, Evelyn asked Rashid with a warm, affectionate tone.

They were no longer children playing together in a nursery room.

Their statuses and positions had changed drastically, and because of that, so had the things they each needed to protect.

‘I may have failed to completely fix his personality, but haven’t I raised him quite well, all things considered?’

So now, it was time for her to make a safe exit from the original story and aim for an ordinary and peaceful life.

Evelyn knew very well that Rashid Egenhart’s destined partner was Lady Violet, not her.

“……”

At Evelyn’s sincere request, Rashid’s expression turned cold.

His handsome face became steeped in ominous emotion.

Then…

“You know I can’t force you, right?”

A disgruntled voice escaped Rashid’s lips.

Though his tone was even, fierce emotions stirred beneath the surface.

His blue eyes, chilled and unwavering, were fixed squarely on Evelyn.

To that employer, Evelyn politely bowed her head.

“Thank you for granting my request, Duke Egenhart.”

At her courteous expression of gratitude, Rashid’s blue eyes gleamed sharply.

***

『If you had any sense, you’d know. Just how uncomfortable His Grace the Duke is right now.』

Those venomous words, spoken with a gaze full of disdain, had come from one of the side characters—Lady Lindsay Weblin, daughter of Count Weblin.

In the original story, it had been widely known in high society that Evelyn harbored feelings for Duke Rashid Egenhart.

Still, most people, while perhaps snickering behind her back, refrained from openly criticizing her to her face.

‘But that woman was different.’

Lindsay, the only daughter of Count Weblin, also had an unrequited crush on Rashid—yet she seemed to particularly despise Evelyn, who was in the same situation.

『Don’t shamelessly hang around His Grace just because you used to be his childhood playmate. Can’t you see how troubled he is because of you?』

Evelyn remembered every word of the abuse hurled by the young noblewoman with the delicate, lovely face.

“So Lindsay Weblin was something like a villainous side character, right?”

Evelyn murmured, sifting through her memories.

In the original story, Lindsay tormented not only poor Evelyn but also the heroine, Violet.

She had grown up in the Principality of Soden and was unfamiliar with the capital’s social circles. Lindsay had publicly humiliated and ostracized Violet.

“And then Rashid, enraged, had her banished from society.”

After that, just like most villainous supporting characters in romance fantasy novels, her name was never mentioned again.

Simply—The End.

Evelyn—no, Han Woori—had clapped gleefully when she read that particular installment during serialization.

“Well, I’ve finally finished sorting things out.”

Evelyn quietly looked over the secretary application forms sent by the personnel agency. It had taken over half a day just to shortlist the interview candidates.

“This person graduated top of their class at the academy… Wow, and this one speaks four languages.”

All of them were outstanding—both in background and experience.

Apparently, the position of secretary to the Duke of Egenhart was quite an attractive job for the capital’s elite, judging by the impressive resumes.

“I just hope at least one of them is likable enough, as long as Rashid doesn’t act up too much.”

Having finished her review, Evelyn removed her glasses and pressed on her tired eyes.

Another late night at work.

Through the office window, she could see the duke’s residence cloaked in night.

She wanted to go home, but there was still work left to do.

“Still… I wonder if he really doesn’t remember.”

Pen in hand, Evelyn muttered as she filled out paperwork.

“‘Who was your first kiss?’”

Thinking back to the way Rashid had furiously interrogated her, Evelyn shrugged.

“It’s not like the lamp doesn’t shine beneath itself…”

He stole someone’s first kiss—and yet he seems to have completely forgotten it.