“Phew, that was exhausting!”

Upon arriving at Oilet, Evelyn released a weary breath.

She boldly settled into a rocking chair as though she owned the place, earning an irritated glare from Tol.

“You know this isn’t your house, right?”

“Four märchen.”

“Ugh!”

Tol huffed indignantly.

“Sis! I’ll be upstairs, so call me if you need anything!”

He stuck out his tongue and dashed up to the second floor.

Seated in a rocking chair nearly twice the size of her body, Evelyn clicked her tongue.

How did an angel like Madlette end up with such a troublesome little brother?

“I’ll prepare some tea. Please wait a moment,” Madlette said.

While she bustled about, Evelyn examined the interior of Oilet.

The shop was filled with all kinds of medicinal herbs, yet it was remarkably clean and orderly for an establishment in the back alleys.

Alpi appeared equally impressed.

“It’s been such a long time since I visited an apothecary. You would attract far more customers if the shop were on the main road.”

Madlette smiled bitterly.

“We would like that too, but the rent is far beyond what we can afford. We’re fortunate just to have this place.”

Evelyn took a sip of the sharp, fragrant tea.

It had been prepared with as much care as the tea served at the ducal estate.

“Alpi, if you don’t mind, go upstairs and keep an eye on Tol.”

“What? Why should I, ?”

“Have you already forgotten the second rule?”

When Evelyn glared, Alpi immediately clamped her mouth shut.

With an awkward smile, she hurried upstairs to where Tol was waiting.

“I’ll be upstairs, so call me when you’re finished!”

After Alpi disappeared, silence settled over the apothecary.

Evelyn drank half her tea before fixing her gaze on Madlette.

“You were originally a noblewoman, weren’t you? From a baron’s family, perhaps?”

Madlette’s hands froze at the unexpected question.

“How did you know…?”

“You try to conceal it, but I could tell from the way you speak.”

‘Well, technically I know because I read the original story.’

Madlette had once belonged to a minor noble family in the countryside. But after her father gambled away their entire fortune, she had been forced to come to the capital with nothing.

Her mother died from the shock of their bankruptcy, while her father drank himself to death. Afterward, Madlette’s sole purpose in life became raising her younger brother, Tol, properly.

And of all the male leads she could have become entangled with, it had to be Bavil.

Later, Madlette worked as a clandestine healer for Bavil.

She suffered under the cruel reality that she had no choice but to do so if she wanted enough money to raise Tol.

That was Madlette’s brief story in the original novel.

Evelyn continued calmly.

“The truth is, I’m looking for a teacher.”

Madlette had been intelligent enough to earn Bavil’s trust, so teaching Evelyn should pose no difficulty.

More importantly, Evelyn liked her far more than she had expected.

Madlette possessed a desperate quality that reminded Evelyn of herself when she had been searching for employment in her previous life.

‘Besides, I don’t enjoy stories about characters whose lives are nothing but misery.’

Rather than allowing Madlette to sacrifice herself so her brother could live a normal life, Evelyn wanted her to earn money honorably and live beneath the sunlight.

“If you’re willing, Madlette, I would like you to become my teacher.”

Madlette looked bewildered by the sudden request.

“A teacher? But I’ve never taught a child before.”

“Five märchen.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’ll pay you five märchen a month. Bonuses, no, performance incentives, will be paid separately.”

Madlette’s eyes widened.

Although the hood obscured Evelyn’s appearance, her small frame and manner of speaking made it clear that she was no older than seventeen or eighteen.

How could a girl this young possess so much money?

Yet her confidence was far too convincing for the offer to be a lie.

Evelyn removed the real purse fastened to her own waist and held it out.

“This is an advance. Check it yourself.”

With trembling hands, Madlette opened the purse.

Inside was the enormous sum of seven märchen.

She gasped and covered her mouth.

With this money, she could not only relocate the shop to the capital’s central avenue, but also live without worrying about food for quite some time.

Experience had taught her, however, that tempting offers always concealed something.

“…You don’t appear to be an ordinary young lady. What are you hiding?”

As expected, she catches on quickly.

Without explaining, Evelyn pulled down her hood.

Because she had not brought a veil, her beautiful golden hair immediately spilled free.

Madlette stared, entranced by the angelic beauty before her.

If Chara had ever lovingly fashioned a living being with her own hands, surely it was this child.

Evelyn’s eyes curved as she smiled.

“Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Evelyn Joelle Chantalis.”

“…!”

Madlette felt as though someone had thrown ice water over her.

This child is the infamous seed of evil?

Her lips parted slightly.

Perhaps it was blasphemous for someone born in a holy nation, but Madlette did not believe that gods existed.

Nor did she believe in an Evil God.

She found it fascinating to meet the rumored seed of evil in person, but she was not afraid of Evelyn.

Only one thing disturbed her.

The girl’s eyes were far too mature.

What kind of life has this child lived?

“Well? Are you willing to accept my offer?”

“I… This is all so sudden.”

Evelyn leaned back in the chair.

“The truth is, teaching me isn’t the only thing I’ll ask of you.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“I’m searching for a private tutor because I also need someone to help me in secret.”

She wanted someone who could remain at her side as a tutor while managing a business on her behalf.

Someone who would act as its public representative, matching nobles obsessed with romance and marriage while collecting fees from them.

“I intend to establish a matchmaking agency for nobles. I would like you to serve as its director in my place.”

“…But there are already society matrons who arrange matches between nobles.”

Most of those matrons were old-fashioned women, but their social connections could not be ignored.

Evelyn promptly dismissed Madlette’s concern.

“No. My agency will have a younger, more modern atmosphere. We’ll tell our clients to date and marry as freely as they wish, provided their prospective partners have been properly vetted.”

“Will being a noble be the only requirement?”

“We’ll begin by recruiting the highest-ranking members. Once they join, wealthy provincial nobles will come running to us with their fortunes in hand.”

“They’ll serve as…bait.”

Evelyn smiled and nodded.

Modern South Korea has an invisible class system.

In this world, however, those classes were openly displayed.

Even if House Chantalis’s reputation was supposedly deteriorating because of Evelyn, no one could dismiss the social network her family had built.

“What if I recruit clients whom ordinary people could never approach in high society?”

“…Everyone would struggle to gain admission to the group.”

Evelyn could see Madlette calculating the possibilities.

She calmly waited for her answer.

Of course, the only people Evelyn could currently recruit were Sachi and, if she was fortunate, Locke.

‘But I’m not the type to sit around doing nothing. Winning over a few nobles will be a piece of cake.’

Evelyn fell into thought, wondering which male nobles might be suitable.

At that moment, Madlette raised her shining eyes.

“How will we divide the commission?”

“Eighty-twenty. I’ll increase your share according to your performance.”

“What will the organization be called?”

Evelyn gave the name she had already chosen.

“The Black Diamond Club.”

Madlette smiled with satisfaction.

She was the first to extend her hand.

“Very well. I accept.”

“You’ve made the right decision, Madlette.”

Evelyn and Madlette exchanged knowing smiles.

Anyone watching might have asked whether Madlette had truly allowed herself to be deceived by a duke’s daughter still wet behind the ears.

But Madlette saw things differently.

This girl is destined to cause an upheaval wherever she goes.

Madlette offered her another cup of tea, but Evelyn declined.

“Come to the Chantalis estate tomorrow morning. That will be enough for today.”

Evelyn asked Madlette to summon Alpi, then left the apothecary first.

Outside, the sun was already beginning to sink.

‘I’ve resolved the most important matter for today. Shall I go home and get some rest?’

She was relieved that everything had worked out more smoothly than expected.

Madlette’s desperation had certainly helped, but the woman was also quick with calculations, which made communication far easier.

Evelyn hummed cheerfully.

Then a boy’s voice reached her ears.

“You seem to be in a good mood. Did something pleasant happen?”

The hairs on the back of Evelyn’s neck stood on end.

She turned toward the voice.

Warning lights flashed bright red inside her head.

‘I know him. I definitely know him!’

At that moment, the boy lowered his black hood, revealing scarlet eyes.

“Hello. I don’t believe we’ve met.”

Despite his young age, he had used his extraordinary abilities to steadily consume the businesses of the back alleys.

Of the three male leads, he was perhaps the one person Evelyn had least wanted to encounter.

‘There’s no mistaking that red hair and those scarlet eyes, no matter how desperately I want to!’

Evelyn swallowed as she stared at Bavil.

His features were already so striking and well-defined that it was difficult to look away.

But this was not the time to admire his beauty.

‘I need to run. Nothing good will come from getting deeply involved with him this early.’

“Hello. Ha-ha. I’m terribly sorry, but I’m in a hurry.”

“And?”

“I need to go home…”

“Then shall I escort you?”

“N-No, that won’t be necessary…”

“Is that so? What a shame. I have so many questions about the explosive powder you were carrying.”

Evelyn cursed inwardly.

‘Tol, I swear…’

“…Explosive powder? I’m afraid I know nothing about anything like that.”

She tilted her head with an innocent expression.

From behind her came the faint sound of Alpi’s voice.

Cold sweat ran down Evelyn’s back.

If Alpi encountered Bavil now, she might become caught up in something dangerous.

‘How am I supposed to defeat someone who supposedly committed his first murder when he was still learning to walk?’

Evelyn’s mind raced.

Smiling, Bavil took a step toward her.

“Don’t stand there frozen. Come here. You need to return to the Chantalis estate.”

Evelyn sucked in a breath.

‘Don’t tell me he already knows who I am and came looking for me?!’

She watched Bavil’s approach warily.

Romance-fantasy rules might dictate that all important characters possess flamboyant appearances, but did he truly need to be this conspicuous?

With his blazing red hair and scarlet eyes, he looked bright enough to recognize from a hundred meters away.

The moment Alpi opened Oilet’s door, Evelyn bolted in the opposite direction from Bavil.

“Alpi, return to the estate without me!”

“What? My lady, wait!”

Evelyn ran as fast as she could.

She had not yet collected even a fraction of a fraction of the money she needed to escape Lagria. She had no desire to raise another death flag already.

Bavil’s voice followed her.

Even without looking back, she could sense him smiling behind her.

“You know what will happen if I catch you, don’t you?”

The instant she heard those words, Evelyn forced her legs to move with every ounce of strength she possessed.

‘He’s insane! A madman is chasing me!’

Bavil was not even running.

The sound of his footsteps followed her like a shadow.

Alpi’s panicked cries accompanied them.

“My lady! My lady, stop! I don’t even know the way home!”

“Your friend is calling you. How far do you intend to run?”

‘Seriously, Alpi! Learn to read the situation!’

Gasping desperately, Evelyn turned into another alley.

At that instant, she collided with someone.

A pair of shabby glasses fell near her feet.

Wait, glasses?

Before Evelyn could tumble to the ground, a large hand caught her.

“Are you all right?”

The boy looked startled when he noticed the golden hair fluttering beneath Evelyn’s hood.

“That hair color…”

Evelyn was equally astonished. She pointed directly at him.

“You—those eyes!”

The boy hurriedly covered his face.

Cold golden eyes flashed between his fingers.

He was Aint Young Ralfrich, the sole crown prince of Lagria, who had secretly returned to his own country to escape the notice of his uncle, the acting regent.