TCBCVF 94

~Chapter 94~

His vision went dark.

When the warm, moist towel touched his eyes, the stiffness from sitting all day eased a little.

“How is it?”

“Feels nice.”

“Right? A warm compress really works. Lari did it for me a few times, and it definitely relieved my fatigue. This time, well…”

Evangeline kept chattering.

After a short hesitation, Dietrich spoke.
“So… is Lady Ansie doing well?”

Evangeline looked down at her brother with eyes full of interest.

Of course—
‘Both my brother and Lari are wondering about each other?’

Maybe this “Make Laritte Family” project wasn’t so unrealistic.

Suppressing a laugh, Evangeline answered quickly,
“Of course. I’ve been sticking by her side—feeding her delicious food, showing her pretty views, letting her rest.”

“Really? Well done.”

Dietrich smiled faintly.

He knew how much Laritte had suffered mentally because of the marriage problem with Count Gusto.

‘Still… when I saw her from a distance recently, her complexion looked much better.’

Right then—

Evangeline dropped a bomb.

“Did you know? Lari’s been worrying about you.”

Dietrich shot up from his seat.
“Lady Ansie?”

Plop—
The towel fell from his face.

Evangeline narrowed her eyes and asked teasingly,
“Oh my, do you like it that much when Lari worries about you?”

“That’s not it…!”

The way he denied it so quickly made them look exactly alike.

‘They say people in love start to resemble each other…’

Evangeline stared at her brother with a grin.

Annoyed, Dietrich frowned.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No reason. I just think you’re really easy to read~”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Even with his face turning red, Dietrich tried to play dumb.

Evangeline gave him an exasperated look.
“If you’re going to deny it, at least don’t make it so obvious.”

“What?”

She tapped his cheek with her finger.

“Your face is really red.”

“…!”

Dietrich froze, his lips moving soundlessly.

‘Good grief… this fool…’

Not wanting to waste more time on this silly argument, Evangeline shrugged and changed the subject.

“Anyway. She said you seem really busy lately and wondered if you’re overworking.”

“…I see.”

Dietrich tried to sound casual.
But his racing heartbeat betrayed him, so he straightened his back and pretended nothing was wrong.

Evangeline pressed again.
“Since Lari came all the way to the duchy, how about you at least show your face once?”

“I want to, but I have too much work…”

“Oh, please. At this rate, you’ll just work yourself to death!”

Sighing, she added,
“That’s why I said I’d help you.”

When she first came to the duchy, Evangeline had offered to take some of his workload.

It wouldn’t have been much, but better than doing nothing.

Dietrich refused.

“Lady Ansie came here to relax.”

“Still, I could at least help a bit…”

“No. A guest should be treated well.”

He smiled as he shook his head.

“Just focus on making sure Lady Ansie is as comfortable as possible.”

His eyes turned cold.

“…It seems that because of young master Gusto, Lady Ansie was under a lot of emotional strain.”

Evangeline glared at her brother in dissatisfaction.

What was the point of caring from afar if he didn’t even approach her?

‘Honestly, he could be more proactive.’

Shaking her head inwardly, she said,
“Anyway, tomorrow Lari and I are going to see the Sun Hall and Moon Hall.”

If the townhouse in the capital had the Star Hall, the main duchy estate had the Sun Hall and Moon Hall.

The Moon Hall was like the Star Hall, displaying valuable artworks.
The Sun Hall displayed works especially tied to the Claudius family.

“There’s even a portrait room with the direct family’s portraits. If you’re interested, come. Got it?”

With that, Evangeline walked to the door as if her business was done.

Click.

The door closed.

“…Ha.”

Dietrich gave a small laugh as he stared at the closed door.

If he hadn’t known, maybe he could stay away—but now? Impossible.

“….”

He looked at the pile of documents on his desk with determination.
He would finish them all by tomorrow morning, no matter what.

The next morning.

“Lari, hurry!”

Evangeline barely touched her breakfast as she rushed me.

‘Why is she in such a hurry?’

I was puzzled.

If anything, I was the one with an interest in art.
Evangeline, as a lady, had basic knowledge, but she didn’t seem particularly invested.

“Moon Hall is like the Star Hall—it displays artworks. Sun Hall gathers works connected to the Claudius family.”

Wow.

I was impressed.

The fact that the family had enough related works to fill a hall was amazing.
After all, some artists had gained fame thanks to Claudius commissions.

“Especially, the Sun Hall has a portrait room with all the direct family’s portraits…”

Standing close beside me, Evangeline explained eagerly.

My eyes lit up.
“Then, are there portraits of you and the Duke too?”

“Well, yes?”

Oh my… portraits of the Claudius siblings as children.

I glanced at Evangeline.

In the original story, she had been described as the most glamorous rose in high society—a top beauty even in the capital.

‘Well… the word “original” doesn’t matter anymore.’

The arrogant villainess of the original was gone.
Now, she was more like a proud, aloof cat that still got attached to people.

‘Who called our Lady a villainess?’

Annoyed at the thought, I found Evangeline looking at me with wide, innocent eyes.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“It’s nothing.”

I shook my head casually.

But my heart was already swelling with excitement.

‘Come on—’

The siblings were stunning even now. How adorable and lovely must they have been as children?

A moment later—

“Oh my, Eva…”

I covered my mouth with both hands.
“Of course, you’re beautiful now too, but as a child you were truly like an angel…”

“Well, I am quite pretty.”

Evangeline grinned.

And somehow, even her shameless self-praise didn’t make me dislike her.

‘If anything, she has every right to be that confident.’