The moment Evelyn returned to the estate, she sensed that something was different.

Every servant in sight was bustling about, and the sweet aroma of barbecued meat drifted through the air.

‘Are they preparing for a party or something? What’s going on?’

Just then, an elderly man directing the preparations noticed Evelyn and bowed.

“Welcome home, Lady Evelyn.”

Caught off guard, Evelyn stood there staring blankly at him.

She had not seen his face at all over the past two days.

‘Is he the head butler?’

He smoothly stepped forward to escort her.

Evelyn found it rather remarkable that the old man did not appear afraid of her.

“What was your name again?”

“I am Yon, the butler. You may simply call me Yon, though you are welcome to address me as ‘you there’ or ‘you,’ as you usually do.”

“I plan to start behaving myself today, so that won’t be necessary.”

Evelyn made the shameless declaration without batting an eye.

As expected of someone who had managed the ducal household for many years, Yon’s face revealed no particular emotion.

Even so, Evelyn had the distinct impression that he was observing her closely.

“Allow me to escort you this way. Alpi, go and help the other maids prepare for the banquet.”

“Yes, Mr. Yon!”

After Alpi departed, Evelyn followed Yon down the long corridor.

“A banquet? Was this already planned?”

“No. His Grace ordered it quite suddenly. We are doing our best to prepare everything on short notice.”

“But the dining room isn’t this way, is it?”

In truth, Evelyn did not even know where the dining room was. However, she could clearly tell that the smell of food was growing fainter.

Noticing her suspicious gaze, Yon smiled.

“Since this is the first family gathering to be held since the duchess passed away, I thought you might need time to prepare.”

He stopped in front of Evelyn’s room.

Two unfamiliar maids were already waiting there.

“Good afternoon, my lady. We have come to help you change for dinner.”

So that was why Yon had sent Alpi away. He must have brought maids who were more skilled at dressing and styling her.

Evelyn passed the two women, who stood stiffly while pretending not to be frightened, and stopped before the dressing table.

The moment Yon withdrew, the maids began selecting gowns from her wardrobe.

Perhaps because this was a private family occasion, they took out the few colored dresses she owned.

Evelyn gazed through the window toward the garden.

As far as she knew, most of the western wing was reserved for the servants, but she could glimpse a magnificent banquet hall on the ground floor.

She vaguely remembered a passage from the original novel describing how the lights in that hall never went out whenever the family hosted an event or held its year-end celebration.

Judging by the number of people moving in and out of the western wing, they appeared to be preparing a meal far more elaborate than an ordinary dinner.

“Come to think of it, didn’t Adonea live in the western wing too?”

“Pardon, my lady? Did you say something?”

“No, it was nothing.”

Evelyn studied the western wing closely.

As she recalled, Adonea had not been placed there because the family deliberately discriminated against her. There had simply been no vacant rooms in the eastern wing.

Adonea might have moved into the eastern wing later in the story, though Evelyn could not remember for certain.

She was absentmindedly allowing the maids to dress her when realization suddenly struck.

“Wait. If this is a family dinner… Aaargh!”

“M-My lady?”

Evelyn clutched her head in despair.

Adopted or not, Adonea was still a member of this family. Naturally, she would attend dinner as well.

‘But I’m not ready to meet Adonea yet!’

They lived under the same roof, so Evelyn had always known they would encounter each other eventually.

But not now.

Her heart pounded violently.

Adonea had been an orphan wandering the streets before catching the eye of the kindhearted duchess, and as though that were not fortunate enough, she had gone on to be adored by everyone.

Evelyn recalled how envious she had been of Adonea while reading the novel in her previous life.

She was curious whether Adonea was truly as breathtakingly mysterious and beautiful as the rumors claimed. But whether this meeting would trigger her death flag was far more important.

Panicking, Evelyn desperately began imagining the best possible outcome.

They say she’s kind enough to be called a saint. Maybe we could become as close as real sisters. In stories like this, the heroine who possesses the villainess sometimes befriends the original female lead!

But that was merely the wishful thinking of a web-novel addict.

To Evelyn, Adonea was like poison she would have to drink despite knowing it could kill her.

“Still, they say you can survive even in a tiger’s den as long as you keep your wits about you.”

The wicked seed who tormented the sweet, innocent Adonea.

If she could avoid creating that impression, she would already have won half the battle.

Evelyn resolved to remain as quiet as a mouse during dinner, if only so she could assess the situation.

The maids exchanged awkward glances as they watched her radiate a dark, brooding aura.

“My lady, um…”

“Quiet. I’m thinking.”

Despite Evelyn’s icy response, the more senior-looking maid stepped forward.

She cautiously touched Evelyn’s veil.

“My lady, we need to style your hair now.”

“So?”

“Well…we’ll need to remove your veil. Would you please cover your face with your hands?”

Evelyn detected traces of both fear and contempt in the maid’s voice.

The other maid silently urged her to comply.

‘We might be cursed, so hide that filthy face.’

It appeared that both women had concealed their true feelings while Yon was present.

Evelyn almost summoned Alpi instead, then stopped herself.

‘Still, I should establish some discipline, shouldn’t I?’

She did not want to be a villainess, but that did not mean she intended to become a pushover.

Evelyn carelessly waved them away.

“If you don’t want to do it, leave. I’ll manage on my own.”

Rather than feeling relieved by her dismissal, the maids looked flustered.

Perhaps because she constantly wore a veil, Evelyn’s hair was tangled in several places upon closer inspection.

No one could possibly claim she had put much effort into her appearance.

Watching the maids hesitate, Evelyn pretended she was about to remove her veil.

“Why are you still here? Should I just take this off completely?”

The maids gasped and hurried out of the room.

With a sigh, Evelyn ran her fingers through her already tangled hair, making it even messier.

‘Let’s see what happens when Yon discovers you neglected your duties.’

She snorted inwardly.

From among the dresses the maids had selected, Evelyn chose a white gown.

She matched it with a white veil.

“My skin is so pale that this kind of dress looks wonderful on me.”

When she stepped into the corridor, Yon was approaching from a distance.

Timing her movements with his arrival, Evelyn lightly tugged at the edge of her loosely fastened veil.

To anyone watching, it would have appeared that she was merely adjusting it.

But in the next instant, the veil slipped helplessly to the floor.

After a brief moment of surprise, Yon picked it up and offered it back to her.

“Are you all right, my lady?”

He faltered momentarily upon seeing Evelyn’s uncovered face, but quickly regained his composure.

“Oh, dear… Your hair hasn’t been styled at all.”

Concern appeared on his kindly face.

“The maids seemed uncomfortable around me.”

Pretending indifference, Evelyn turned her head with a sorrowful expression.

When a single tear gathered on her long eyelashes, Yon swallowed a sigh.

He had carefully selected those particular maids precisely because he had feared something like this might happen.

Although he was approaching old age, he had several granddaughters. Styling Evelyn’s hair would not be particularly difficult.

“Come here. I’ll arrange it myself.”

“Pardon? Oh, I couldn’t possibly ask you to do that…”

“Come now. You will be late for dinner.”

Though this was not quite the outcome Evelyn had intended, she obediently allowed Yon to take charge.

He led her back into the room and personally began styling her hair.

“Tell me if I pull too tightly.”

“Can you really do this? I feel rather guilty.”

Through the mirror, Yon glanced at Evelyn’s uncovered face.

Because she wore a veil every day, he had never realized how strongly she resembled Duchess Jubel.

Her pale cheeks, round eyes, and above all, her innocent expression were utterly endearing.

Yon had always prided himself on keeping his professional and personal feelings separate. But even he had found it difficult to treat Evelyn, born bearing Simon’s mark, without the slightest prejudice.

Yet he had a feeling that today’s encounter might become a turning point.

‘Servant of a demon or not, she is still only an ordinary seventeen-year-old girl.’

Evelyn looked bashful as Yon arranged her hair with impressive skill.

‘Is this what it would feel like to have a grandfather?’

Unaware of her thoughts, Yon gave a warm, grandfatherly chuckle.

“I will make certain those maids are properly disciplined.”

“Please don’t be angry with them. It’s all right.”

Evelyn placed a small hand over the mark concealed beneath her clothes.

“I’m the wicked one, after all.”

Yon regarded her with pity.

Looking more closely, he saw that both her knees and hands were covered in injuries.

While the cruel Evil God punished this girl, where was Chara, their supreme goddess?

The butler removed the handkerchief wrapped around Evelyn’s hand, took out the ointment he always carried, and gently applied it to her wound.

“If anything unpleasant happens, come and find me immediately. And I believe it would be best if you spoke more casually to the servants. For the sake of maintaining discipline, if nothing else.”

“Yes… No, I mean, all right. I will.”

Evelyn looked sorrowful on the outside while smiling triumphantly within.

‘If the head butler is on my side, then I’ve already won over the servants.’

She struggled to suppress a sinister chuckle.

The unexpected kindness had left her somewhat flustered, but everything was proceeding exactly as she had hoped.

***

The moment Evelyn entered the banquet hall, her mouth fell open.

‘This is incredible. Absolutely incredible.’

As a matchmaking consultant, she had often designed dating itineraries for VIP clients, so she was well acquainted with luxury restaurants.

Yet not even the finest hotel restaurant could compare with the splendor of the ducal family’s banquet hall.

Evelyn walked toward the long table positioned in the center of the vast room.

Duke Chantalis, Locke, and Sachi were already seated.

Evelyn took her seat as well.

Duke Chantalis’s gaze immediately settled upon her.

She flinched and met his eyes.

‘Oh, wow. What a devastatingly handsome older man.’

She gripped her knees tightly to keep herself from squealing.

Across the table, Sachi flinched while watching Evelyn.

The way she was subtly squirming in her seat reminded him of how she had acted when she first visited his tower.

Duke Chantalis, oblivious to their reactions, continued gazing affectionately at Evelyn without restraint.

Relief washed over her when she realized that he appeared to like her far more than she had expected.

‘Anyone can see that’s the look of a father who absolutely adores his daughter. Maybe there were more decent people around the original Evelyn than I thought.’

Then why had she descended so completely into darkness?

As Evelyn contemplated the question, the duke lifted his pen and wrote something in the air.

Letters glowing with golden light appeared before her.

[Your hair looks beautiful. It suits you very well.]

Locke cautiously spoke up.

“Um, Father. About tonight’s dinner…”

Judging by his hurried attempt to change the subject, Evelyn could imagine how the original Evelyn had responded to her family.

‘The Evelyn who reacted rudely even when someone complimented her is gone now, you know.’

Evelyn deliberately gave them a radiant smile.

“Does it really suit me? Thank you, Father.”

Everyone’s gaze shifted toward her at her gentle response.

Sachi asked in his usual calm voice, “You seem to be in a good mood. Did something happen?”

“I’m simply happy to see Father and my brothers gathered together like this.”

Evelyn answered warmly.

Sachi still looked suspicious, but when she continued smiling sweetly, he decided not to press the matter.

Locke’s eyes darted around as he watched Evelyn, who normally sat in silence with a sullen expression, move with an almost endearing liveliness tonight.

He did not know how Sachi, who barely appeared outside his room even for family gatherings, had become closer to the solitary Evelyn. Yet the two certainly seemed more comfortable around each other than before, and for some reason, that bothered him.

Locke glanced at Evelyn’s green eyes through her white veil.

‘Looking at her now, she seems so young. I feel a little guilty for complaining about her to Aint.’

Seeing that Sachi and Evelyn had grown closer filled Locke with an inexplicable jealousy.

The duke moved his pen again.

[I’m glad you’re in a good mood. Is there anything you need?]

“I already have more than enough. Although…it would be nice to have a few more books.”

[Books?]

“Yes. Why?”

The duke gave her a peculiar look.

Evelyn, who had always demanded jewels and expensive dresses, was not someone anyone expected to ask for books.

Sachi and Locke wore equally baffled expressions.

‘What kind of life did the original Evelyn live?’

Evelyn inwardly clicked her tongue.

Regardless, she genuinely did need books.

She needed something that could teach her about this world.

[I can buy you as many books as you like. I was about to hire a private tutor for you, but if you intend to study on your own, perhaps there is no need to find one.]

Evelyn’s eyes widened.

‘A tutor? Aren’t there many private tutors from fallen noble families?’

Her mind began racing.

This might be an opportunity to find a business partner who could help her establish her matchmaking enterprise.

“N-No! I would prefer a private tutor! I need one!”

Evelyn raised her voice, then abruptly clamped her mouth shut.

Even that reaction possessed an innocence completely unlike her usual demeanor.

The duke smiled sincerely for the first time in ages.

When had he last seen Evelyn behaving like this?

He did not know what had brought about the change, but he greatly preferred this innocent, lively Evelyn to the girl who always sat with a gloomy expression far too dark for her age.

[I promise I will find you a teacher, Evelyn. But Locke, why are Oden and Adonea so late?]

“Oden said he won’t be joining us tonight because of a meeting at the Magic Tower. His message arrived a short while ago.”

[He must still be sulking over our little argument.]

Duke Chantalis clicked his tongue.

Oden was every bit as stubborn as he was.

[Still, it would almost be a waste to let Oden see Evelyn acting this adorable.]

The duke gazed at his daughter with a broad smile.

He had arranged this banquet simply because he had suddenly wanted to see her face, and now he felt extremely pleased with his decision.

[Now then, Evelyn. Is there anything else you need besides books?]

“No, Father. I truly have everything I…”

The dining room doors opened.

Evelyn stopped waving her hands and went rigid.

With a soft rustle, long white hair settled over a pair of rounded shoulders.

Even from a distance, her beautiful hair and blood-red eyes were impossible to miss.

It was Adonea.

She smiled sweetly.

“Good evening, Father, my brothers. I apologize for being late.”