Chapter 4

The soft cheeks once covered in baby fat had sharpened into a firm jawline, and the once gentle voice had deepened until it seemed to weigh heavily in the air.

Lost in memories of their childhood, Evelyn stared at him quietly.

Meanwhile, Aiden, who had been silently watching her, furrowed one eye slightly.

“Your Highness, you must be careful.”

After confirming that no one else was nearby, he lowered his voice even further.

“I understand that seeing a familiar face from your childhood during such difficult times may comfort you, but for both your sake and mine, meetings like this are unwise.”

His tone resembled that of someone gently scolding a younger sibling.

“Especially now, Your Highness must be more cautious with your actions.”

“Aiden.”

Evelyn’s voice pierced through the darkness.

Though it sounded calm at first glance, there was a strange pressure hidden within it.

Startled, his shoulders stiffened, and the gaze that had been wandering around slowly settled back on her.

“It’s true that seeing a familiar face after so long is comforting. But that’s not why I called you here.”

“Then……”

“At this rate, we’ll die. Both you and I.”

Once this banquet ended, Mary would assign various tasks to the noble families who had once supported the Second Empress, all under the pretense of demanding their loyalty.

But in truth, it was a trap designed to destroy every one of them.

“Your Highness, I’ll be fine. And as for Your Highness…”

Aiden paused briefly, parting his lips as though carefully selecting each word before speaking again.

“Didn’t Your Highness enter together with Count Edenbarker today? You’ll be alright.”

“Because the Edenbarker family supported the First Empress?”

His thick brows rose sharply.

Along with them, his amber eyes wavered faintly.

“You don’t actually believe the Emperor sent him for my sake, do you?”

“That’s…….”

At a loss for words, Aiden’s expression twisted awkwardly.

His lips moved soundlessly for a long moment before he finally forced out an answer.

“Your Highness is still Her Majesty’s sister, after all.”

“Ha.”

Without realizing it, Evelyn let out a hollow laugh.

Was he truly serious?

Did he genuinely think Mary and she could still be called sisters?

By the time even that bitter amusement faded away, her lowered gaze slowly returned to him.

Then again, that was simply the kind of person he was.

In every lifetime, Aiden had fallen into Mary’s trap and been executed by hanging.

And in her second life, he had been imprisoned in the underground dungeon for an especially long time.

That had also been the first time she saw him again after becoming an adult.

The eyes that had looked utterly devoid of warmth, as though he had abandoned all hope, changed completely the moment he heard news about his younger sister.

And the desperation in the end of his story had been unbearable to witness.

“Please, I beg you with all my heart. Spare my sister! Please persuade Her Majesty, Your Highness!”

Even though she was merely a half-sister born from a different mother.

A sigh escaped Evelyn’s lips.

Perhaps some people truly cherished siblings who shared only blood.

But Mary was not that kind of person.

To her, the only remaining members of her family were nothing more than outlets to vent the revenge she could no longer take upon the dead.

“Duke, there’s no time, so listen carefully.”

A sharp light flashed through Evelyn’s green eyes.

“When the war with the Brang Empire breaks out soon, volunteer for it. No matter what happens, you must not remain in the capital.”

“What are you—”

“Listen to me first.”

There was no time.

If she could, she wanted to explain everything one by one, but if she stayed away too long, Robert and Mary would undoubtedly grow suspicious.

So Evelyn hurriedly continued.

“Even if they claim they’re rooting out traitors or investigating heretics, never volunteer for it. Deny everything and join the war instead. Otherwise, you’ll end up falsely accused.”

Driven by urgency, she took a step closer, causing Aiden to retreat in surprise.

“Half a year. The war will end in exactly half a year. During that time, every family that supported my mother will disappear from the capital.”

Her voice grew lower.

“The only way to survive that bloodbath is to participate in the war and earn military merit.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“To survive. So both you and I can survive. Every family that supported the Second Empress will be annihilated. And naturally, I—the daughter born from her line—won’t be spared either.”

“…How can you be so certain?”

“Because I heard it directly.”

Of course, that was a lie.

She hadn’t heard it.

She had seen it herself before her regression.

But what did that matter now?

The future awaiting them remained the same.

“So leave the capital. At the very least, your family will survive.”

“At the very least… meaning?”

“Yes. It’s already too late for the others.”

Evelyn spoke as calmly as possible.

Rather than grieving over those she could no longer save, she chose to focus on saving even one person who still had a chance.

As for Robert, he had likely already begun laying traps for the other families.

But a powerful ducal house like Gloucester’s was not something he could move against recklessly just yet.

If there was still an opportunity, she had to seize it now.

“If you can’t believe me, then check tomorrow morning’s paper.”

“……”

“Because starting tomorrow, the purge will begin.”

Gathering the hem of her dress, Evelyn stepped up onto the corridor and added one final warning.

“And don’t foolishly think about quietly returning to your territory to hide. The moment you leave the Imperial City, you’ll be killed.”

Just like they had been before her regression.

Swallowing the rest of her words, she turned away as though she held no lingering attachment whatsoever.

Left alone, Aiden could only stare blankly at the place where she had disappeared, looking as though he had just seen a ghost.

***

The moment Evelyn pushed open the banquet hall doors and entered, she came face-to-face with Robert nearby.

It seemed he hadn’t been lying when he said he would wait.

He was actually leaning against the wall near the entrance with his arms crossed.

The instant their eyes met, his face brightened, and he approached her with a gentle smile.

“I was worried you might have foolishly run away…. Thankfully, that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

“This is my home. Where exactly would I run to? I simply wasn’t feeling well.”

“I’ll summon a physician.”

“That won’t be necessary. I only need to return and rest.”

Robert’s perfectly shaped brows twisted sharply.

“Return? To that Imperial Palace Tower?”

“Yes.”

“Ha.”

The moment he realized he hadn’t misheard her, mockery spread across Robert’s face.

The corner of his mouth curled upward coldly.

Ignoring him completely, Evelyn stopped a passing servant nearby.

“Prepare a carriage. I’ll be returning now.”

Can that miserable place even be called a room?

That was what Robert thought to himself.

But he wisely kept it unsaid.

“Since your health is poor, how about resting in the lounge instead of returning to that cold, miserable place?”

“You expect me to spend the night in the lounge?”

“By Her Majesty’s command, tonight’s banquet will continue until dawn, so there would be no issue with that. If Your Highness wishes, I could even stand guard outside all night.”

Robert’s eyes curved lazily as he spoke.

“Or I could guard you from inside instead.”

“……”

“Whatever Your Highness desires.”

The smooth smile tugging at his lips in temptation was utterly revolting.

Afraid curses might spill from her mouth if she spoke, Evelyn clenched her hands tightly together instead.

At that, Robert burst into hearty laughter.

“I’m joking. How could I dare spend the night alone in a room with Your Highness? Still, let me make you one promise.”

“……”

“I’ll get you out of the tower as quickly as possible. Provided you treat me a little more favorably.”

His sly face leaned closer.

Expectation gleamed within his blue eyes.

As though he was eagerly waiting for the naïve princess to fluster at his teasing.

But Evelyn had no intention of reacting the way he wanted.

“You dare speak such insolent nonsense to me?”

If Robert stepped in, leaving the tower would certainly become easier.

But she had no desire to borrow his filthy hands.

This time, she would escape the Imperial Palace Tower through her own efforts.

“The reason I remain in the tower is because of Her Majesty’s command. So tell me, how exactly does a mere count intend to release me?”

“……”

“I am Her Majesty’s only remaining family. When the time comes, she herself will release me. So you would do well to stop speaking beyond your station.”

At last, a cold sneer appeared on Evelyn’s lips.

“Unless you wish for me to accuse you of treason or disrespect toward the imperial family.”

“…..Haha.”

The stiffness in Robert’s face loosened, and a loud laugh rang out around them.

Nearby nobles glanced over in confusion, but he paid them no mind and continued laughing openly.

“Hahaha.”

“……”

“You do make amusing jokes, Your Highness.”

The corners of his lips, once raised high, suddenly flattened into a straight line as he leaned closer and whispered by her ear.

“Words like treason and disrespect toward the crown… don’t you think the position of a princess is far too precarious to be throwing around such accusations?”

“……”

“It’s fortunate I happen to be infatuated with you. If it had been anyone else, they would’ve reported you to Her Majesty immediately.”

Evelyn narrowed her eyes.

‘So you’re finally showing your true nature.’

In the past, she had only seen this side of him shortly before being burned at the stake.

To witness it this early—

she truly must have offended him deeply.

The realization that Robert, not just herself, was irritated made a mocking laugh rise inside her.

Pulling away from her, he once again wore a radiant smile as he added,

“So from now on, you’d do well to watch your tongue, Your Highness.”

“Report it.”

“…Pardon?”

“Tell Her Majesty that your own rudeness forced the words treason and disrespect from my mouth. I’d quite like to hear what she says in response.”

For the first time, a crack formed in Robert’s endlessly composed expression.

And Evelyn did not miss it.

“It seems our values differ quite greatly. Perhaps I should ask Her Majesty to assign me a different partner instead.”

“……”

“You say you’re infatuated with me, but what does that have to do with me? Surely what matters is that I feel nothing for you.”

What the Emperor desires, in the end, is my ruin.

Simply k*lling me would never satisfy Mary.

To lose the people I cherish.

To be deceived by the person I love.

And to lose even the faintest hope I finally managed to grasp.

That was the ending Mary desired for her revenge—

to destroy both her heart and mind before finally granting her death.

So if Evelyn truly showed no feelings whatsoever toward Robert, there was every possibility Mary would assign someone else to her instead.

And that was something Robert would never allow.

“What do you think?”

“There’s no need to trouble Her Majesty with something so trivial when she already has so much to attend to.”

“Your Highness, the carriage has arrived!”

Just then, a servant approached to announce the carriage’s arrival.

Evelyn gave a light nod and walked toward the entrance.

“You’ve worked hard today.”

She made sure not to forget praising Robert’s efforts with the perfect tone one would use toward a mere subordinate.

And for the first time that day, a bright smile spread across Evelyn’s face as she watched his expression twist.