30. Do you perhaps like Duke Egenhart?

Rashid smirked cynically.

There was no way the Empress had missed the scandal currently circulating high society in the capital.

Yet Rashid had insisted on attending with Evelyn, and in response, Her Imperial Majesty had gone so far as to postpone the ball entirely. This was nothing short of an abuse of the Empress’s privileged power.

[Rashid, do you really intend to let that woman go?]

Veronica, who had finally calmed his rage over the pink ribbon, asked once again. To that, Rashid responded with a charming smile.

“There’s no way I’d let that happen.”

Evelyn Berge, daughter of the Baron Berge family. The best playmate Duke Egenhart’s household had gifted to him.

“There’s no way I’d let her run away.”

With a sly curve to his lips, Rashid tossed the card he was holding.

“I’ll have to get an invitation to the Marchioness of Seormiden’s party.”

Rashid whispered in a low voice. The emotion steeped in that voice was unmistakably obsession.

***

In the world of romance-fantasy, there is one character who inevitably appears when a noblewoman of a declining household remains unmarried past a certain age.

“Evelyn, you really made an unwise decision. If you had married the man I introduced to you back then, you wouldn’t be suffering like this now.”

The nagging relative who only appears to arrange a marriage. Evelyn was no exception.

“You should’ve married a wealthy man or someone of higher status than yourself. That was the only chance to revive the Baron Berge family.”

The elderly lady raising her voice in sermon was none other than Marchioness Olivia Seormiden. The elder sister of the current Baron Berge and the lady of the great noble House of Seormiden.

With three daughters and two sons—all of whom she’d already married off—the Marchioness now turned her attention to the marriages of her nieces and nephews.

“Also, Evelyn. What are you wearing? That horrible dress that looks like you’ve stitched together men’s clothing—where on earth did you get it?”

“These days… this kind of style is in fashion, Aunt,” Evelyn replied hastily, seeing the Marchioness’s face twist as if she might faint at any moment.

“Take it off immediately, Evelyn. I won’t allow that rag in my house.”

‘Ugh, what’s so bad about this dress?’

Evelyn glanced down at her checkered dress. It was a modified version of a gentleman’s suit—comfortable for movement, and even durable.

‘Sure, it’s a little worn…’

And since she’d worn it while working, ink stains had ended up on the cuffs. Evelyn quietly tugged the sleeve to hide the stains in her palm.

“Evelyn, are you listening to me?”

“Ah, yes, Aunt. I’ll go change quickly and then join you for tea…”

“No. Don’t even think about walking around this estate in that sloppy dress. Let me guess—you haven’t bought even a single new dress this season, have you?”

“Haha… Dresses are just too expensive these days…”

“And your hair, too…”

When the Marchioness pointed at her short, cropped hair, Evelyn flinched reflexively.

‘She’s definitely going to scold me for cutting my hair as a noblewoman…’

“Actually, it’s better this way.”

To Evelyn’s surprise, the Marchioness let out a deliberate sigh.

“I’ve always hated that vulgar red hair of yours. It looks like a ripe carrot, honestly.”

Ugh. Carrot again…

“It’s starting to look a bit brown now, though.”

“It’s still too red. Just keep it short and wear a wig from now on. Oh, and those glasses are absolutely not allowed.”

At the Marchioness’s firm advice, Evelyn swallowed dryly.

‘Do I really have to do all that…?’

“I’ve already told Madeleine to lend you a wig and a dress, so go change and come back down.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And over tea, we’ll properly discuss your marriage prospects. This might be your last chance, Evelyn.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’ve invited several gentlemen suitable for you to tomorrow’s party. You won’t get a better opportunity than this. Evelyn, you must not miss it!”

***

“You’re late, Evelyn.”

Madeleine, the Marchioness’s second daughter and now the wife of Baron Benson, looked at Evelyn and spoke firmly.

“No matter what, Mother will get you married off. Just give up, Evelyn.”

At her cousin’s serious warning, Evelyn let out an equally serious sigh.

“Aunt hasn’t changed one bit.”

“She can’t help it, Evelyn. She’s always been genuinely concerned about you and your brother. Especially since you, as the eldest daughter of the barony, still aren’t married—she feels like it’s her fault.”

“I do appreciate the concern, but…”

Even so, the Marchioness’s meddling could be a real nuisance at times. For example, right after Evelyn graduated from the academy, the Marchioness brought her a marriage proposal, saying the man was excellent…

“He was forty-four. Literally twice my age.”

Evelyn muttered, recalling the memory.

“Rich, no dependents… The perfect match for Lady Evelyn Berge, or so Mother said.”

Madeleine echoed cynically, remembering it as well. Because Evelyn was a fallen noblewoman with no dowry, the Marchioness had insisted it was the best possible match.

When Evelyn protested, Marchioness Olivia responded coldly:

「You’re not in a position to be picky, are you? If you, the eldest, don’t marry properly, Jemina and Alto’s matches will be at risk too.」

“Looking back, I wonder if it was Aunt who made me give up on marriage entirely.”

At Evelyn’s frank confession, Madeleine tilted her head.

“Really? I think I misunderstood you, then.”

“A misunderstanding?”

Madeleine suddenly leaned close to Evelyn’s ear and said…

“Could it be that the reason you’re not married is because of Duke Rashid Egenhart?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I heard a rumor at the salon. That you and the handsome Duke…”

“Madeleine!”

“Do you perhaps like Duke Egenhart?”

Evelyn sprang to her feet and quickly clamped her hand over Madeleine’s mouth.

“Wha… what are you doing?!”

Madeleine protested from behind Evelyn’s hand, and Evelyn responded urgently.

“That’s a completely baseless rumor. There’s no way I like that man!”

When Madeleine’s eyes widened at that, Evelyn shouted once more.

“There’s absolutely nothing between me and that man! Even if the world ended, never!”

Yes. Absolutely not. There is no way I would ever like Rashid Egenhart. I don’t want to become a murderer, and I definitely don’t want to vanish like dew on the gallows!

“Got it, Madeleine?”

Evelyn pressed her hand tightly and demanded an answer. Madeleine reluctantly nodded hard. Only then did Evelyn release her hand.

“And under no circumstances should that scandal reach Aunt’s ears!”

“I’ve kept it a secret so far anyway. But it can’t stay a secret forever.”

“Don’t worry. I’m already preparing an extraordinary measure.”

“Extraordinary measure?”

Evelyn whispered something into her cousin’s ear. Madeleine’s eyes grew wide.

“You’re going to find a marriage partner at this party?”

“No, it’s not that serious. I’m just thinking of finding a suitable partner.”

The purpose of Evelyn’s attendance at this party was exactly that—To find a strategic partner who could divert public attention away from herself and Rashid.

“In my experience, there’s only one way to erase a scandal in high society.”

Evelyn’s eyes sparkled.

“And what is that?”

“A bigger scandal!”

“You’re joking, right?”

“I’m not. This is society’s golden rule since time immemorial: If you want to erase a scandal, create a bigger one.”

This was the extraordinary measure Evelyn had chosen. She could no longer ignore the scandal involving Rashid. Of course, public rumors don’t last forever, but…

‘If, by chance, that nonsense reaches Lady Violet’s ears, it’ll be a huge problem.’

With the main characters of the original story soon to cross paths, she had to be extra cautious.

“If I meet a decent partner at this party, the rumors about me and Lord Rashid will definitely die down.”

“That’s true, but… The problem is, how easy do you think it is to meet a decent partner? Besides, among all the men attending, none will be as handsome as Duke Rashid Egenhart.”

“Honestly, that’s true. Handsome men like Lord Rashid aren’t exactly common.”

Evelyn’s offhand reply earned her a long stare from Madeleine, who clicked her tongue.

“You really do have a thing for good-looking guys, huh?”

“Th-that’s only natural, isn’t it?”

There’s no woman in the world who dislikes handsome men. Good-looking men are the light and salt of this world.

“The only fun I’ve had all this time was looking at His Grace’s face.”

Evelyn was being sincere. Madeleine shrugged in response to her seriousness.

“Well, whatever. Got it. I don’t know if you’ll actually find a suitable partner, but I guess it’s worth a try.”

And then Madeleine dragged Evelyn in front of the vanity.

“First, take off those glasses, and let’s try on a wig.”

“A wig? Do I have to wear a wig?”

“What are you talking about? You used to hate that red hair of yours and begged to hide it all the time when you were little.”

“That’s because…”

Because of that damn carrot trauma. And since she was now in a romance fantasy world, she wanted pretty hair like blonde or silver, too.

“Alright, Evelyn. Let’s get started, okay?”

As she said that, Madeleine placed the wig on Evelyn’s head.

“Hold still and lift your chin for a second.” 

Madeleine picked up a comb and started tidying the wig here and there. With a solemn expression like an artist sculpting a statue, she carefully combed and styled the wig.

Finally, a satisfied smile spread across her face.

“Evelyn. Take a look in the mirror. I think this is perfect.”