"Don't do this, have a tea with us, yes? I hope I can hear your thoughts on the current trend."
"Viscountess."
Evangeline was not unaware of her intentions. She was not as good as the Duke of Theses, but she was a woman who was quite rational in terms of Evangeline's personality. Nevertheless, there was only one reason why she could not abandon the Viscountess.
"After all, we are just one family, but can you give us that much time?"
"..."
Viscountess Levon was a distant descendant of the Duke of Theses. It was too far away to be considered a relative, so it was practically the same as someone else, but the Duke, whose blood was so precious, took care of him as a family member. Evangeline had been doing this since before she came to the Duke, so she couldn't break the tradition at will.
"I'm sorry, Viscountess. I have urgent business today, so I'll go back first."
But she was able to take care of others only when she was safe. Since they have never pretended not to know the Duke of Theses, it is time for them to move on at least once.
"Then let's take a look around."
"Ha, but Duchess! If you just go on like this..."
The Viscountess's face, which she didn't expect Evangeline to come out like this, became devastated. Soon, her face turned even redder at the glances of her companions, who glanced at her suspiciously.
"Actually. I have something else I want to say to Young Lady..."
"Later."
Now everything is exhausted. Speaking of the Viscountess's words, it was obvious that she wanted to take a look at the new jewels and take them away as if they were gifts.
'I got into the wrong habit from the beginning.'
Since her marriage to the Duke was promised two years earlier, her father has been lavish on all the guests associated with the Duke of Theses. Not only Viscountess Levon, but also the Duke's family, who came and went here, did not receive any money. Count O'Hara grinned and dismissed her complaint.
"If someone close to you turns their back, it's the darkest day. So you have no choice but to knowingly be deceived."
"But."
"The easiest and most convenient relationship is the one that can be resolved with money, my Princess."
Her father was right.
Once she lost money, she missed the relationships that could have been resolved with money. Her chest tightened for a moment, and she went to the entrance to get some fresh air.
How could the sky be so blue again? Clearly, her whole family was ruined, but on the outside, it was no different from before, and it was like she was dreaming.
"Lady O'Hara, don't do that, just spend a moment with me..."
"Viscountess, please!"
Leave me alone.
Evangeline was disgusted by the Viscountess's obsession with following her all the way here. She's been taught not to show her emotions carelessly, but she doesn't know how much more she has to put up with. Even Philip, who had been chasing after her, looked around with a puzzled face, and her stomach almost rumbled.
"Young Lady, you must go back quickly. You shouldn't be here."
"Why is everyone...?"
Evangeline, who tried to express her feelings for the first time, couldn't do so this time either. Before she could say anything to them, her head flipped backwards.
"Oh..."
"Kyaa!"
Evangeline's head was bent backwards, and several women, including the Viscountess, screamed bitterly. However, Evangeline couldn't even scream carelessly.
...What is this again?
She hasn't figured out what happened to her yet, but another thing has been added. The protagonist, who pulled her out of the dream-like space of a world that was more normal than she thought, was as ugly as the strength of her grip.
"You're extravagant, demonic! Save me! Save my son!"
***
Evangeline had never experienced violence or anything like that.
Corporal punishment, which was quite common in her childhood, had nothing to do with her. Count O'Hara, who was extremely devoted to his only daughter, did not allow anyone, including himself, to hurt Evangeline's body and mind. She didn't have to get hit by a honey balm, so the shock of the daytime didn't subside even after hours.
"Young Lady! You need to treat the wounds on your face first!"
"..."
"Look here. You should reduce the swelling with ice first..."
Philip's panting voice on the other side of the carriage drifted from her ears. Evangeline's eyes were blank, and she groped her cheek with her fingertips. Judging from the thin blood coming out, it seems that she was grabbed by the hair and scratched by the woman's fingernails a while ago.
But she didn't feel sick or bitter at all. Maybe it was because she was completely mesmerized. She was finally awakened by the ice pack Phillip gave her, and she looked back on what had happened.
"While your years have been so luxurious, my son has become a meat-eater in the open sea. If you want to die, why should you die alone? My son, who is still alive? My only son!"
It was probably the family of the sailor who was on the ship.
The sparse sound of the words clawed at her heart sharper than her fingernails. It seems that she was watching from a distance and running, but she didn't know if she had been doing that for days. The woman foamed at the mouth and shook her cheek while crying.
"..."
She was choked up by something she never thought would happen to her. But what was even more surprising were the knights of the Duke of Theses, who appeared as if they had been watching and took the woman away from him.
"...Did the Duke do it all?"
"My, my lady."
"That's right."
Not surprisingly, now, she removed the ice pack with a bitter smile. The fact that the office seemed to be running smoothly and the fact that the jewelry store was still open must have been his order. As far as she knows, only Deccarno von Theses can create such a perfect fake.
She was not surprised to see his secretary, Michael, waiting for her in front of the Duke's annex. When the Duke said that he wanted to see her, he followed Michael, but she was dumbfounded. She wondered how the man who hadn't heard from her for a few days had come back just in time for today, but when she saw Deccarno in the study, I realized it spontaneously.
This man must know everything.
"I think I told you not to go out."
"..."
His eyes were indifferent and unpleasant. He seemed to be angrier that she didn't listen to him than what Evangeline was going through outside. Surprised, she slowly let down her breath.
"Then you mean that I should be locked up here without any promise? You didn't come in, and you didn't have a barrel."
"So you went outside and checked what you wanted?"
"..."
His words sounded terrible. Her cheeks burned, and she turned around at an angle as if to cover a scratch.
"The Duke is so busy that you don't care about this kind of thing, but I'm not. My father is my only family."
"Is it unique?"
"Then who else was I?"
His tone became sharper, and Evangeline looked up just in case. But when she met Deccarno's jewel-like eyes, she was sure she had misheard. She doesn't know what she's thinking, she bites into a bitter smile, and supports her forehead.
"I don't remember my mother's face, and I don't have any other siblings. So what if I'm not alone?"
"..."
If the previous Duchess had been alive, the story might have been different. Even though she was not a friendly person, Evangeline liked her quite a bit. She was a born noblewoman, arrogant and had a noble temper. Just like his son, but at least she was a little open to those who thought she was her own.
Since the Duchess has passed away, there is no one by her side anymore.
At least in this house.
"Anyway, I can't just stay still."
"Did you think I was standing still? It would have been a lot easier if you hadn't gone there on your own."
"Forever? Until I find my father's body?"
"Nope. Until our wedding."
"...Hah."
Marriage in this situation.
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