Perhaps because it was too unrealistic, she burst out laughing. But she was the only one laughing. Evangeline met his serious eyes and turned away. She quickly stepped out, thinking that her head would be ruined if she stayed any longer, but before she could hold the doorknob, his arm touched the door first.
The metal sound of the door closing sounded cold.
"What's wrong with your face?"
"..."
"Tell me."
The voice in her ears was eerie. He didn't seem to be doing everything she wanted, so she wasn't surprised. With a silent sigh, Evangeline turned back. It would have been better if he hadn't seen it, but even if he did, it wouldn't have changed.
"It's not a big deal. Nothing else matters except finding my father."
"So you won't talk until the end?"
"..."
"Yes, then."
Surprisingly, Deccarno opened the door for her. Evangeline slipped out, but his voice followed her again. However, the person the Duke was talking to was not herself.
"Michael. As of this time, the west entrance will be controlled."
"Hah, but it's traditionally the Duchess' estate..."
"Don't let anyone go in without my permission."
"..."
There is no need to ask who he is really talking to. Leaving Michael at a loss between the two, Evangeline stared at the Duke. Maybe that's what it is. Even though there was something to say inside her, it didn't mean anything when she always met his face.
That's the way he is.
He is an Innocious man who has always controlled the world according to his will. If she says a few words, will he blink an eye? Above all, she was not yet a Duchess. In other words, nothing in this house belongs to her.
"Do you have the heart to talk now?"
"No, I don't."
Evangeline shook her head in front of his unfamiliar smile. The landlord said he would do whatever he wanted, but she had no choice. Confronting him head-on meant only one thing.
To kick this house on its own.
"Evangeline."
"...I'll go."
She had no choice but to turn around violently. Deccarno, who had been hardened for a moment, also looked away from Evangeline's back and turned inside. Michael, who thought the Duke would chase after her, entered the study unexpectedly.
"Uh, sir. I apologize. We didn't expect it to happen today..."
"..."
"But it wasn't something that could be buried forever. It was such a big event that it was impossible for the time that His Excellency was talking about."
Michael didn't give up on the Duke's orders, but he couldn't help it. Ever since the incident broke out, he felt like his heart was tightening day by day. Even if it was only a day or two, the Duke demanded complete control for more than three months.
"We have also cracked down on the managers at the top, but we don't know how long they will be kept..."
"Who is it?"
"...What?"
"The person who got the nail marks on her face."
Listening to Michael's story, he didn't lift an eyebrow and immediately raised his gaze. He once heard a story about a volcano that was boiling without a single bubble in a myth, and the Duke's eyes were just like that. It seemed to be quiet at first, but the heat was slowly simmering, and hr didn't even dare to guess the temperature.
It wasn't him, but Michael's fingertips began to tremble.
"Uh, I heard that she is a sailor's family. She was detained for the time being, but she probably couldn't help it. Anyone in the world has children like that."
"Is that a reason to mark my woman's cheek?"
"Your Excellency."
Beyond simple displeasure, Phillip was deeply embarrassed by his question, which was almost cruel. It is not just a matter of whether the perpetrator is a commoner or an aristocrat. 'My woman', the meaning of that one word was tremendous.
"But if you dare to punish her, your reputation and public opinion will not be good. Why don't you move on this time?"
"Then we will catch the one who spilled the word."
"What?"
"It took more than a month for the news of the sinking of the ship to reach here. Even Evangeline, the heir to the throne, knows the news that I heard only a week ago?"
Nonsense.
The Duke's fingers rolled heavily on the desk. The twisted laughter became even more brutal than before.
"One of the two. There may be survivors who have moved horses somewhere, or there are light-mouthed people under my command."
"I'm not, My lord! Please believe me!"
"So come find them."
Deccarno's conclusion was refreshing. The Duke's temper was so cold that he was already sweating over what to do if he found him. Even if there are survivors of this accident, it will be difficult to guarantee their lives after that.
"Why? Can't you find it?"
"No, I don't. We have to find it. However, it seems that Viscountess Levon was in the company when it happened during the day..."
However, what Philip was worried about now was not the lives or safety of others. In such a situation, he could not imagine how much his safety would be guaranteed if he had to say such a thing.
"She is the eldest daughter of Lourk Post."
***
Exclusive Report - Shock. O'Hara's Top Bankruptcy
Young Lady Ohara is in great trouble with the victims who gathered in front of the top
Presumed to be the death of Count O'Hara
"...It's also fast."
It wasn't surprising either. Evangeline, who had been awake all night staring through the morning newspaper, casually scanned the titles that did not deviate from her expectations. She guessed it early on when the daughter of the Loark Post, the most influential newspaper in Loark, was with Viscountess Levon's group yesterday.
Now, it seems that even the handsome Duke has left this matter.
"Evangeline, where are you going?"
"I want to get some air."
She put down the newspaper and headed outside, and the maid who was hovering around rushed over. Seeing that she was white just by going down the stairs, she knew who was talking about it.
"You can stay here, because you won't go far."
"But the butler said you should never go out of the Duke..."
"Don't worry. I have nowhere to go now."
"..."
The sight of the maid finally backing down made her bitter. In the eyes of the maid, there was no doubt that she had nowhere else to go.
After all, it's actually true.
Evangeline stepped out of the door and suddenly grabbed her chest. She realized it acutely from the moment he looked at her intensely yesterday as if he was provoking her.
"Don't let anyone go in without my permission."
He knows she has nowhere to go.
She thought only her family was gone, but even this body has nowhere to go freely. The Count who had been vacated, and the numerous villas all over the country, were as meaningless as a handful of sandcastles. Usually, in such a situation, real estate is the first to go.
Therefore, even if the Duke does not have to lock herself in, she is no different from a bird in a cage.
To be precise, a bird in a wide-open cage.
"..."
It wasn't just that she couldn't go outside. She had wandered around so many places since she was a child, but her personality was not lively or active. On the contrary, she enjoyed spending a quiet time elegantly, so she was able to enter the Theses and adapt to this life easily.
So the reason why her heart is twisting and tightening now is for another reason.
When she thought that she would have to listen quietly and not even refute Deccarno's words in the future, the tip of her nose turned up. Her footsteps quickened aimlessly. Evangeline, who had reached the entrance on the west side like a habit without realizing it, suddenly stopped walking.
No, she had no choice but to stop.
"It's out there! She came out!"
"I couldn't believe I was living so well!"
"..."
Apparently, they underestimated the power of newspapers. Before they knew it, the crowd in front of the huge entrance shouted as soon as they saw her. It was full of sailors' families, as well as journalists and some nobles.
"What should I do? Take responsibility!"
"If you lived like that thanks to your father, wouldn't you be responsible? How much money did I invest?"
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