‘She’s only eighteen, and she already looks like that?’

Evelyn stared at Adonea in astonishment.

Beneath her delicate dress, the graceful curves of her already-developed figure stood out beautifully.

Her flawless white hair and red eyes, which the author had described with painstaking care, gave her an undeniably mystical appearance.

After staring for several moments, Evelyn wiped the drool gathering at the corner of her mouth.

‘Still, how should I put it? She doesn’t seem as special as I expected.’

Since Adonea possessed divine power in the original novel, Evelyn had expected to sense something extraordinary about her.

But looking at her now, she appeared to be nothing more than a beautiful young woman.

[Come and sit down, Adonea.]

“Yes, Father.”

Adonea approached soundlessly and took her place.

It was the lowest seat at the table.

As though she understood her position without needing anyone to tell her, Adonea sat there naturally.

Locke looked at her with sympathy.

“Adonea, Oden couldn’t come tonight because he’s busy. You can sit in his place instead.”

Adonea looked visibly startled.

“What? But how could someone like me possibly occupy such an honored seat…?”

[Don’t worry about that. I’ve told you many times that you are part of this family too.]

With even the duke supporting the suggestion, Adonea quietly moved to Oden’s seat.

It happened to be directly across from Evelyn.

“Hello, Evelyn.”

Evelyn raised her head and looked at Adonea.

Adonea wore her customary gentle smile.

Evelyn gave her the brightest smile she could manage in return.

“Hello, Sister.”

Surprise flickered through Adonea’s eyes.

The duke also looked at Evelyn in astonishment.

Judging by their reactions, Evelyn must ordinarily have ignored Adonea’s greetings.

‘No, ignoring her probably wasn’t all she did. She was likely so consumed by her inferiority complex that she lashed out every time. Considering the original Evelyn’s personality, that’s entirely possible.’

How could a child who had been despised by everyone since birth not feel jealous of an adopted sister who received nothing but love?

Worse, her mother had died when Evelyn was at the most emotionally vulnerable age. She had probably never been given the chance to develop enough patience to conceal her feelings.

[It is wonderful to see the two of you treating each other with respect.]

The duke affectionately stroked Evelyn’s hair.

For the briefest moment, a shadow crossed Adonea’s eyes.

Evelyn flinched.

‘Did I imagine that?’

As though her gaze had never turned cold, Adonea quietly ate her soup.

Even that simple movement was remarkably elegant.

No one would have doubted her if she claimed to have been born a noblewoman.

Refusing to be outdone, Evelyn gracefully lifted her utensils.

‘When it comes to refinement, I’m no amateur. I know everything there is to know about table manners.’

Evelyn ate without making a sound.

The elegant movement of her slender arms made her look like a figure in a painting.

Locke found himself staring blankly at her. When he noticed Sachi watching him, he cleared his throat.

“Um, Evelyn. You seem a little different today.”

“Do I? Thank you for noticing, Brother Locke.”

The moment Evelyn smiled, Adonea spoke.

“Evelyn, did you hurt your hand? I can see blood.”

Adonea looked at her with concern.

Locke, Sachi, and Duke Chantalis all immediately turned toward Evelyn’s hand.

Evelyn, who had been absorbed in her meal, flinched.

‘She managed to notice that tiny wound?’

Evelyn casually waved her hand.

“It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt.”

“It’s still bleeding. Let me see.”

Adonea rose from her seat and came around the table herself.

Wondering why she was making such a fuss, Evelyn watched as Adonea opened her palm.

The ointment had mixed with the blood over the wound from the stone, leaving an ugly, clotted mess.

Adonea frowned.

“Oh, goodness. Didn’t that hurt?”

“I only injured it when I fell. I’m fine.”

[Evelyn, is that truly what happened? No one tried to harm you, did they?]

Whatever the duke was imagining, his expression had turned rigid.

Before he could arrive at some grave misunderstanding, Evelyn spread both hands and waved them emphatically.

“No! I really did fall by myself.”

Even after her explanation, Duke Chantalis’s expression did not relax.

Then Adonea clasped Evelyn’s wounded hand between both of hers.

Tears even gathered in her eyes.

“My dear little sister. It breaks my heart to see such a wound on your hand.”

“What? Oh…yes.”

‘What is this? Why is she suddenly acting out a scene from a melodrama?’

“I wish there were something I could do for you.”

At that moment, brilliant light burst from Adonea’s hands.

The warm glow flowed into Evelyn’s palm.

Everyone stared at Adonea in shock.

Locke exclaimed, “Adonea, you can wield divine power?”

“Oh, um… I’m not sure myself…”

Looking flustered, Adonea stepped back.

Evelyn’s wound had vanished without a trace.

‘So this is Adonea’s divine power, the one I’ve only read about?’

Adonea appeared equally surprised, blinking rapidly.

Yet to Evelyn, there was something strangely artificial about her innocent expression.

Even Sachi, who had shown little interest in Adonea until now, looked intrigued.

“That is quite a formidable power. The wound healed without leaving so much as a scar. Such healing ability is normally found only among the priests of the Central Temple.”

Sachi delivered his analysis in a matter-of-fact tone.

The duke smiled warmly.

[It appears the goddess has blessed you, Adonea. Thank you for healing Evelyn’s injury.]

Adonea glanced uneasily at Evelyn and gave her an apologetic smile that was almost too obvious.

“I-It must have been a coincidence. How could an orphan like me possess divine power?”

“No, Adonea. I’ve visited the temple several times, and that light truly did resemble divine power!”

Locke smiled brightly as he defended her.

As though overwhelmed by the attention, Adonea hurried back to her seat.

Naturally, the conversation now shifted toward Adonea and her divine power.

Evelyn opened and closed her completely healed hand.

Adonea’s power was supposed to be revealed for the first time at the imperial princess’s birthday party.

Yet everyone has discovered it now.

‘This is strange. I knew the original story might change, but this quickly?’

There was also something troubling about Adonea’s expression, which had seemed almost rehearsed.

“…Is she more of a sly fox than I thought?”

[Hmm? Did you say something, Evelyn?]

“It was nothing, Father.”

Evelyn smiled awkwardly and elegantly placed a glistening piece of meat into her mouth.

Just as everyone’s sympathy was about to turn toward the youngest daughter, Adonea had revealed her divine power.

And she had displayed humility afterward for good measure.

You were born bearing Simon’s mark, but I can heal even someone like you.

That seemed to be the exact message Adonea wanted to convey.

In the original novel, Evelyn had thought of Adonea as a slightly melancholy heroine from a romantic comic.

Could her true nature have been different?

‘Surely Adonea didn’t already know she possessed divine power.’

Otherwise, it would have been impossible for her to perform such a perfectly timed, theatrical healing.

Perhaps Evelyn was reading too much into the actions of an eighteen-year-old girl.

And yet…

‘My instincts about people like this are usually right.’

Whether in the workplace or at home, people like Adonea were difficult to handle.

It was only a matter of time before the tired old saintess-versus-villainess narrative took shape.

One wrong move, and Evelyn’s improving relationship with her family could deteriorate in an instant.

‘What century is this cliché from?’

Still, Adonea was only eighteen, not even an adult yet.

Evelyn had no intention of fighting a minor as though her life depended on it.

She would sooner coax Adonea over to her side.

Evelyn continued eating while enthusiastically playing the role of the charming youngest daughter amid the family’s cheerful conversation.

Whenever Evelyn drew the family’s attention, Adonea’s gaze occasionally darkened.

Each time, Evelyn pretended not to notice and smiled even more innocently.

‘If my suspicions are correct, keep wearing that mask, Adonea. Let’s see how long it takes before it slips.’

Evelyn had no intention of wasting this new life.

She would seize every opportunity her second chance offered.

Having already lived through one lifetime, she hardened her resolve.

She would never again stand by helplessly while others mistreated her.

Even if she eventually made her fortune and moved abroad, she did not want to sever her bond with such a loving family completely.

When the meal appeared to be drawing to a close, Evelyn cautiously rose from her seat.

“I had a wonderful time at dinner. May I be excused, Father?”

The duke gazed at Evelyn with overflowing affection.

[I never realized how lovely it would sound to hear you call me Father. I’m glad I saw you tonight, Evelyn. Rest well.]

“Yes, Daddy, I mean, Father! I hope you rest well too.”

The first time Duke Chantalis heard Evelyn call him Daddy, his face filled with emotion.

[Evelyn, it has been far too long since I heard you call me that. At least while we’re at home, you may call me Daddy. Do you understand?]

“But…”

[Evelyn, you are still my little girl. You remember that, don’t you?]

“Yes, Daddy.”

Evelyn answered shyly.

Duke Chantalis smiled in satisfaction.

[Good. I’ll carefully select a private tutor for you, so be patient a little longer.]

At that moment, Adonea abruptly spoke.

“…A private tutor? Evelyn is getting a tutor?”

“Oh, that…”

Evelyn looked flustered.

‘Surely she isn’t about to suggest something insane, like taking lessons together.’

Adonea watched the uncomfortable Evelyn, then hastily lowered her head as though ashamed.

“I’m sorry, Evelyn. I shouldn’t have interrupted…”

[Do you need a private tutor as well, Adonea?]

“Well…yes. There were some passages in a book I was reading recently that I couldn’t understand.”

[I have been too inattentive. I will find a separate tutor appropriate for your age.]

“No! I mean…if Evelyn doesn’t mind.”

A sense of dread crept across Evelyn’s face.

“Why don’t Evelyn and I take lessons together?”

Since Adonea had received no proper education in childhood, she explained humbly, she would not mind beginning with the same foundational lessons as Evelyn.

“And I would like to grow closer to Evelyn.”

Duke Chantalis smiled approvingly.

[Yes, it would be good for sisters to help one another. I will arrange for the tutor to begin next week.]

“I’m looking forward to it, Evelyn. Aren’t you?”

“Yes, Sister!”

Evelyn smiled brightly on the outside while grinding her teeth inwardly.

She had planned to discuss her business secretly with the tutor, and now Adonea was interfering.

After thinking quickly, Evelyn gave an inwardly devious laugh.

‘Let me show you what twelve years of public education and four years of private education can do.’

If Adonea truly insisted on sharing her lessons, then it could not be helped.

Evelyn would simply have to demonstrate the difference in their abilities.

She laughed sweetly while her fighting spirit blazed within.

She had momentarily forgotten, but her greatest objective remained money.

She intended to earn enough märchen to fill her entire room.

***

From that day onward, Evelyn visited Sachi’s tower even more frequently and began studying in advance before the private tutor arrived.

“Brother Sachi, would you look over my solution to this trigonometry problem?”

Sachi, who had been sitting at his desk and glaring at the food before him for some time, released a sigh.

“Before that, what are these?”

Evelyn raised her head.

In front of Sachi sat the blueberry cookies and fresh strawberry cream cake she had personally commissioned from Lola.

The manager had sung their praises so enthusiastically after tasting the prototypes that even Evelyn had felt proud.

‘Hehe. I should discuss a more substantial business arrangement with Lola eventually.’

But Sachi, who had never seen desserts like these, could not bring himself to touch them.

Evelyn rose and planted both hands on her hips.

“I’m telling you, they’re delicious. Why haven’t you taken even one bite?”

“You said these are the only cookies and cakes of their kind in the empire. How can you claim they’re delicious when you haven’t tasted them yourself?”

Evelyn gave up trying to persuade him.

Instead, she picked up a cookie and held it directly to Sachi’s lips.