Time passed quickly. In the meantime, Evelyn abandoned her habit of playing around whenever she had free time and occasionally devoted herself to work as the mistress of the household. 

The documents that had seemed dizzying just to look at turned out not to be so difficult once the butler explained them.

Whenever she sought advice about something she didn’t know, the servants actually helped her gladly, so she became quite accustomed to the role of mistress, which had only seemed difficult before.

During that time, the season changed once again.

The light clothes she’d worn until recently transformed into thick fabric as they entered full autumn. The flow of seasons since coming here shouldn’t feel strange, but the problem was that Evelyn’s mood lately wasn’t as good as before.

With her heavy skirt hem drooping down, Evelyn rested her cheek on one outstretched arm. 

Lately, strangely, strength kept draining from her body, and everything felt bothersome without even the motivation to do anything.

Even her appetite had disappeared—just smelling her beloved desserts made her lose her taste for them completely.

“Life has no flavor.”

She didn’t understand why the meat that had tasted so good didn’t appeal to her at all. If that were all, she could let it pass, but she had no motivation to do anything.

Lately, Elkas seemed so busy that his return home kept getting later and later. Just seeing him come home late showed he had urgent matters to handle. 

More than that, what strangely bothered her was that Elkas’s attitude toward her had been different from before for some time now.

A few days ago, when she ran to Elkas as he returned home to give him a welcome-home kiss, he hesitated and stepped back.

Did he just avoid her?

When she blinked and looked up, he smiled gently.

<I’ll be late again today, so please sleep first.>

Though his voice was warm as usual, that movement was unmistakably one of avoiding her. 

She’d passed it off as her imagination, but from that day on, their intimate relations were completely cut off.

He said he was sleeping briefly in his office because work was busy, but no matter how busy he was, this was clearly different from his previous attitude of at least sleeping in the bedroom.

Even the days when he didn’t come home at all increased. The time spent with Elkas gradually decreased, and now it was rare to even see his face.

Just then, the sound of the clock hand moving with a click to announce midnight rang from the wall clock.

“I guess he’s not coming today either…”

Though he’d sent word saying he couldn’t join her for dinner tonight due to busy work and to sleep first, Evelyn, who had held onto a slim hope, was disappointed.

He’d said there was no need to wait, but even if she couldn’t properly see him off, she wanted to greet him when he returned. She was also worried whether his illness had manifested outside. 

Fortunately, Elkas’s illness had been quiet lately, but she felt somehow disappointed to be happy about it. It was because of their marital relations, which had noticeably decreased in frequency.

Who knew she’d feel this strange emptiness from the intimate relations that had been so frequent she’d grown sick of them being completely cut off?

It was only after lifting her drooping head several times that Evelyn realized today had been yet another pointless wait.

Evelyn lay down alone on the bed, which had seemed particularly spacious for some time now, and slowly closed her eyes.

It was an endlessly peaceful daily life, so there were no complaints. But lately, she didn’t know why she felt so empty inside.

* * *

Though not quite self-imposed isolation, several days had passed with her alone in her room. During that time, Evelyn’s mood kept swinging to extremes.

“Haah…”

Evelyn, who let out a long yawn, lifted her body exhausted from lethargy and shuffled over to burrow into the bed. Perhaps it was her body’s response to not wanting to think about anything, but drowsiness just kept pouring over her.

“I need to contact Sister again…”

The response to her recent message saying she’d visit was a gentle refusal. It had come from none other than Marquis Douglas, her sister’s husband, postponing the meeting to give Sheila, who had become extremely sensitive due to childcare, a chance to rest.

So she’d sent a letter to her parents to at least check on news, but the only response that came back was to focus solely on producing an heir since nothing was wrong.

In the end, she’d only heard pedantic words disguised as nagging through the letter with no gain.

“Tch… it’s not like an heir just happens at will. More than that… I need to go see the kids…”

Before leaving the Windelsons, she’d given Nora money separately and asked her to look after the children. Fortunately, it was possible because of her kind nature with less aversion to cats.

Still, she’d promised to check in occasionally, but after going once or twice while inquiring about Elkas’s condition, she hadn’t been able to visit.

After going over all the things she needed to do like that, her head throbbed.

Evelyn, who had been staring blankly out the window, tilted her head. Somehow it felt like the estate’s security had become tight for the past few days.

Sure enough, the atmosphere of the estate had been strange for some time. Even without paying much attention to the estate’s affairs, the flow of the air felt heavier than before.

“Is it my imagination?”

To dismiss it as such, the servants’ gazes toward her had been strangely subtle for the past few days. 

They treated her warmly like before, but the occasional glances made her feel like they were watching her. More than anything, the maids’ attitude of sticking even closer, like they were monitoring her, was also subtly different.

Come to think of it, she seemed to have a headache, so Evelyn pulled the bell cord to call Penny and asked for medicine.

But Penny, who would normally have gone outside as soon as the words left her mouth, just stood there blankly.

“I’m sorry, but all the medicine we keep on hand has run out.”

“Then call the physician.”

“He left a few days ago saying he was going back to his hometown.”

Who does she think she’s fooling? She’d definitely seen the physician walking around the estate yesterday.

Among the changed gazes of the servants, the first one Evelyn noticed was none other than Penny. It wasn’t baseless suspicion. 

A few days ago, Evelyn, returning to her room, had stopped at the sound of whispering voices from around a corner of the corridor.

<Even so, shouldn’t my lady know first?>

<Did you forget the master strictly ordered us to watch our mouths?>

The voices were familiar. The one asking was a maid she knew, and the stern voice belonged to Penny. Having only seen her always polite tone and devoted service, the stern voice had a huge gap from the person she knew.

<That’s true, but… if I were my lady, I’d feel hurt.>

<Stop being soft-hearted and watch your mouth. What good would it do servants like us if trouble starts for no reason?>

Though the content that continued in whispers like it was a secret conversation was something she couldn’t understand no matter how much she thought about it, one thing was certain. 

Penny and several other servants knew something that only she didn’t. And they were intentionally hiding it.

Evelyn, who had been about to openly ask what that conversation meant that day, soon snapped irritably.

“Then I can’t stand it, so go out and at least buy some medicine.”

“My lady, if you endure just a little longer, you’ll be fine.”

“I’m saying I’m sick, so why are you talking so much?”

No matter how close they were, Penny was strictly under Evelyn’s authority.

‘When did she welcome me as my lady, and now is she ignoring me because I’m young?’

Her unwavering attitude, as if she truly couldn’t bring herself to buy it, stirred something inside her.  

Without Elkas, she already felt lonely—like an outsider, isolated and alone in the estate.

“Right now, if Penny just goes out and buys it…”

Though she didn’t want to go this far, her hurt feelings made her mouth spout words she would never normally say.

“My head hurts so much I feel like my insides will turn over. If you’re told to do something, just do it—why are you talking so much? Do my words sound funny to you?”

At the irritated whining, difficulty appeared on Penny’s face. However, perhaps having no more excuses, she quietly bowed her head and left the room.

“This is really annoying.”

Perhaps the confrontation with Penny, knowingly or unknowingly, was too much—fatigue suddenly rushed over her. Even her finger joints tingled with a sense of betrayal.

She was about to crawl back into bed when, with a knock, Penny announced a visitor had arrived. 

Who could be visiting, she thought with momentary expectation, but as soon as Evelyn went out and saw the woman sitting primly on the sofa sipping tea, she wrinkled her expression.

“Oh. Evelyn!”

Of all people, the first visitor looking for her was Caroline.

Her mood was already low, and Evelyn’s brow furrowed at confirming the unwelcome guest.

After gesturing to the maid who brought refreshments and tea that she could leave, Evelyn sat on the opposite sofa and Caroline hurriedly opened her mouth.

“How come it’s become so hard to see your face after marriage?”

Obviously having come with the intention of upsetting her with useless talk, Evelyn’s voice became sharp at the end.

“What did you come for?”

“What would I come for between friends? I came because I wanted to see your face.”

Just looking at her smiling face, those words would have sounded quite convincing, but Evelyn, who had known Caroline for a long time, had a different opinion. 

Caroline, who had attended the wedding, had only said things that irritated people instead of offering congratulations before leaving.

<I’m saying this because we’re friends, but do you really have to go through with this marriage?>

<Why wouldn’t I?>

<Because the Duke loves someone who isn’t you. No matter how much it’s a political marriage, I feel sorry for my friend who’ll be sleeping alone for many years.>

At that hypocritical face that even made fake tears well up, she’d almost screamed at the wedding venue. 

Knowing too well her temperament of absolutely having to say something before leaving, Evelyn just assumed she’d come today to upset her again.

“Yeah. Nice to see you. So what do you have to say?”

“You’re so impatient…”

Perhaps a bit embarrassed at being openly snubbed, Caroline’s nose twitched, but soon her lips curved up.

Just as I thought. At the sign that the main point was coming, Evelyn swallowed a silent laugh inside.

“You know who I saw yesterday?”

“Not curious.”

“Lady Sheila and your husband, the Duke.”

“Where?”

Though Evelyn had deliberately responded curtly and resolved not to react at all, she ended up showing her agitation. It was because she couldn’t believe that her sister, who was in isolation due to her sensitive condition, had met Elkas outside of all places.

Satisfied at drawing out the desired reaction, Caroline slowly drank a cup of tea and paused, seeming like she would or wouldn’t tell.

Is she really trying to test her?

She belatedly regretted not staying quiet, but fortunately the follow-up came faster than usual.

“You know that Yorik club where men gather? They came out together from there. But you know what? The two of them looked so good together.”

“…!”

This was news to her. What was the Yorik club, and what business did those two have meeting there?

She tried to think, but perhaps the unexpected news was too shocking—her mind wouldn’t work like a blank sheet of paper. Watching her unable to keep her lips from gaping, Caroline lifted her red lips in a grin.

“How pitiful. You really didn’t know?”

It’s all showing. At Caroline’s face, which didn’t look pitiful at all, Evelyn barely came to her senses and managed to compose her expression before shrugging her shoulders.