Chapter 3

Her blazing red hair had been inherited from her mother, Catherine.

In contrast, her green eyes resembled those of her father, Emperor Philip.

Because their hair colors were completely different, Mary and Evelyn appeared to share no resemblance at first glance.

But upon closer inspection, their eyes were almost identical, as though copied from the same mold.

In her previous life, Robert had brought that up often.

“Though you may have different mothers, Her Majesty treasures you greatly as her younger sister.”

Because he was her fiancé.

Because he was someone close to the Emperor.

Ignoring every discomfort and suspicion that lingered in her heart, she chose to believe him completely.

No—

more than anything, she desperately wanted it to be true.

But what did any of that matter now?

In the end, all of it had merely come from her own weakness and foolish sentimentality.

Just then, Mary’s voice cut cleanly through her thoughts.

“Raise your head.”

At the command that finally came after such a long silence, Evelyn slowly straightened her bent back.

Two pairs of identical green eyes met in the air.

“I called you here at Count Edenbarker’s request, but your charges of treason have not yet been dismissed.”

“……Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Even during a banquet, I will not tolerate any foolish behavior. Remember that well.”

Charges of treason.

All she had done was be born a royal with a legitimate claim to succession.

Mary had imprisoned her in the tower simply because those who supported the Second Empress’s faction had supported Evelyn instead.

When Evelyn lowered her head once more, Mary waved her hand dismissively, as though brushing aside something tiresome.

As soon as she stepped back, the music that had momentarily stopped began playing once more.

The nobles, carefully gauging the Emperor’s mood, offered Evelyn half-hearted greetings before quickly retreating.

Once no one remained around her, Robert extended his hand as though he had been waiting for the moment.

“May I have this dance?”

His honey-blond hair shimmered brilliantly as he tilted his head.

Every movement of his was gentle and elegant enough to charm anyone.

Of course, Evelyn was no longer part of that “anyone.”

“No.”

“You’d be wise not to refuse. A lady unable to share even the first dance with her partner is bound to become an easy target for ridicule.”

“Are you my partner?”

“Ordinarily, the person you arrive with is called your partner.”

The blue eyes meeting hers curved beautifully.

But to Evelyn, that face felt unbearably unpleasant.

So much so that she wanted him gone from her sight immediately.

“There’s nothing for you to gain by dancing with me.”

“One doesn’t accompany a beautiful flower for gain. One simply enjoys its fragrance.”

“……”

“If you enter the dance hall with me, at the very least people won’t look down on you. Who knows? Another gentleman might even ask you for a dance. Ah.”

A faint crease formed between Robert’s smooth brows.

“I think I’d be a little jealous if that happened.”

“Do you really think I want something so ridiculous?”

“Then all the better.”

Robert shrugged lightly, easing the atmosphere with practiced ease.

“Either way, let’s dance. Her Majesty is watching us, after all.”

Following the slight gesture of his chin, Evelyn turned her gaze—

and met Mary’s eyes.

This was troublesome.

There was someone she absolutely had to meet at this banquet today.

But to do that, she somehow needed to shake off Robert, who clung to her like a leech, and yet he showed no intention of backing away.

“Your Highness.”

At his soft urging, Evelyn finally let out a sigh.

“Just one dance.”

“Gladly.”

A bright smile spread across his infuriatingly beautiful face.

The moment the Princess and the Emperor’s closest confidant stepped onto the dance floor, the surrounding crowd quietly moved aside.

The perceptive conductor deliberately chose a slow and romantic melody for the young and beautiful pair.

The ladies gazed at Robert with dazzled admiration, while the gentlemen stared blankly at Evelyn.

With even the owner of the throne watching them, it almost felt as though the two of them were the true stars of the banquet.

Really, it was the perfect situation to fall in love.

If only she didn’t remember her previous life.

In her first life, she had felt attracted to him, but she never accepted his feelings.

Because she believed she could never dare covet someone who belonged to Mary.

At the time, the guilt she felt toward Mary was still far too strong.

Even so, Robert persistently expressed his affection like this, and eventually, in her second life, she accepted him.

Looking back now, it had merely been the desperate behavior of a weak person searching for someone to lean on.

Her instincts had screamed at her to take his hand if she wanted to survive.

But—

‘How irritating.’

To the current Evelyn, all of this was nothing but a waste of time.

She wanted to shove Robert away and distance herself from him immediately, but the reason she couldn’t was because of the pair of green eyes that had been staring at her relentlessly from earlier.

In the end, she decided to take advantage of the situation instead.

Pretending it was part of the choreography, Evelyn slowly turned her head from side to side in rhythm with the music.

The hem of her dress brushed lightly over her feet as she stepped.

Countless faces passed through her wandering gaze.

But nowhere could she find the person she was searching for.

Where are you?

Just as her constantly moving gaze swept farther inward, her vision finally sharpened.

Black hair reminiscent of a jaguar.

Amber eyes that glimmered with a mysterious light.

And amidst the dazzling tailcoats, a pitch-black uniform that seemed designed solely to conceal its wearer’s presence.

He stood quietly in a shadowed corner untouched by the lights, silently observing the crowd.

Like a beast waiting patiently for its prey.

Relief flooded Evelyn’s eyes the moment she found the person she had been looking for.

And just then, the music came to an end.

With smooth elegance, Robert guided her out of the dance hall.

“You seem out of breath. Would you like some lemonade?”

“Didn’t I say only one dance? There’s no need for you to escort me any longer.”

“To be precise, you said we would only dance once. Escorting one’s partner is simply a gentleman’s duty, isn’t it?”

His deliberately exaggerated gestures drew the attention of those nearby.

Showing herself pushing Robert away in a situation like this would not end well.

Suppressing the sigh threatening to escape her, Evelyn lowered her voice slightly.

“My shoes are uncomfortable, so I’m going to the lounge for a moment.”

“Oh dear. I can’t possibly allow a lady to go alone. I’ll accompany you.”

“No, I have… personal matters to attend to.”

“Ah.”

At a banquet like this, there was only one thing a lady could mean by “personal matters.”

Understanding immediately, Robert took a step back and nodded.

“Well, that can’t be helped. I’ll wait here, so take your time.”

“There’s really no need for that.”

“Waiting for a beautiful lady is one of a man’s greatest pleasures.”

Faced with his stubborn persistence, Evelyn gave up arguing further.

As she walked toward the lounge, she subtly glanced back over her shoulder.

Robert’s blue eyes were still fixed firmly on her.

Clicking her tongue inwardly, Evelyn continued walking.

Fortunately, the person she was searching for was standing along the path leading to the lounge.

Blending into the crowd that had grown livelier with the upbeat change in music, Evelyn brushed past the man.

“Duke.”

“……?”

“The back garden.”

The moment had been so brief that she wondered if he had even heard her.

As Evelyn passed by him, she subtly shifted her gaze back—

but her concern was unnecessary.

The pale amber eyes resembling polished jewels trembled violently.

If she could, she would have liked to tell him yes, you heard correctly, so hurry and follow me.

But Evelyn had no choice but to keep walking away.

Because those green eyes were still stubbornly tracking her every move.

***

The back doors of the grand banquet hall connected to the lounge, but if one passed through the corridor and ventured farther inward, there was another path.

A secluded little garden tucked away in the remaining corner of the grounds.

Since it served no particular purpose, hardly anyone ever came there.

“……Greetings, Princess.”

The owner of the unusually cautious footsteps finally revealed himself before her.

“It’s been a long time, Duke Gloucester.”

“Yes.”

Glossy black hair carrying the faint sheen of moonlight tilted downward.

As Evelyn stepped closer, the amber eyes lifting toward her once again trembled faintly with confusion.

“It’s been ten years.”

“……Yes.”

Edward, who had been frail since childhood, spent most of his time confined to his room.

In contrast, the energetic Evelyn constantly wandered throughout the Imperial Palace.

Since she was too young to leave the palace grounds, searching through its hidden corners became her only source of entertainment.

And among those places, her favorite had always been this very spot—the hidden garden connected to the grand banquet hall.

Though calling it a “garden” was generous.

In truth, the abandoned corner looked more like overgrown wilderness than a properly maintained courtyard.

But Evelyn had loved that about it.

To her young eyes, in a palace where everything was polished and perfect, that place alone had felt natural.

That day as well, she had secretly slipped away from her nanny and headed toward the garden.

“Huh?”

Someone was already there in what she thought was her secret hideout.

“Who are you?”

Another child around her age inside the palace!

Delighted, she had rushed toward him without noticing the tree root jutting out beneath her feet.

“Ah—!”

As her body tilted forward, her eyes instinctively squeezed shut in preparation for the painful impact.

But strangely enough, no pain came.

When she cautiously opened her eyes, what greeted her was Aiden Gloucester—his black hair fluttering softly and his eyes glowing like a sunset.

“Are you alright?”

Their sudden meeting became something that happened whenever Aiden visited the Imperial Palace alongside his father.

But even that eventually stopped when, one day, he ceased coming to the palace altogether.

It had been so long ago that she no longer remembered the exact reason.

So if anyone were to ask Evelyn about the nature of their relationship, she would simply answer—

‘A faded memory of a brief childhood connection.’