HSFCWH 36

 Chapter 36

“Did His Grace act all cold and distant again? Or did he speak in that sharp tone of his? Please, I’ll talk to him myself, so don’t say you’re leaving or that you won’t take on any responsibilities.”

Sophia pleaded earnestly.

“N-no. It’s not like that with Elliot… I’m sorry. It was a mistake for me to say I’d leave.”

Evelyn was startled by Sophia wiping the corners of her eyes and quickly took back her words.

She figured that’s what she had to say to reassure the head maid.

“And aren’t you already managing everything excellently? I have no reason to take your work away.”

“Oh dear.”

Sophia suddenly groaned as if in pain, surprising Evelyn, who blinked in confusion.

“Ugh. Sitting at a desk all day in my sixties is no joke.”

Sophia looked perfectly healthy and strong. Yet now she was tapping her lower back and groaning like an old woman.

Evelyn shook her head in disbelief.

“If I take over your authority, His Grace won’t be pleased.”

It truly wasn’t because she found it bothersome.

She had taken successor lessons in case her brother didn’t wake up, but that was different from managing the household like a proper lady.

She would soon be busy training to improve her skills. There would be no time to sit at a desk. Besides, hadn’t Elliot told her to do what she was good at?

“Oh ho ho! Is that what you think? There’s no way His Grace would be upset! I’ll go get him right now!”

But it seemed Sophia hadn’t heard a single word she said.

Despite just complaining about back pain, she dashed out of the office before Evelyn could stop her.

Evelyn lowered the arm she’d reached out to grab Sophia.

To think she’d escaped even a Sword Master’s grasp—Sophia was clearly a formidable woman.

Moments later, the office door opened, and Elliot poked his head in.

“Evelyn? May I come in?”

“Please.”

Sophia followed in after him with a satisfied smile.

“I heard Sophia tried to hand over the Grand Duchess’s authority to you, and you refused.”

“It wasn’t so much a refusal. I just didn’t think it was my place.”

“Hm.”

Elliot nodded thoughtfully at her response.

“Then how about accepting the title of Grand Duke?”

After a moment of deliberation, Elliot offered the position like someone generously offering an unwanted item.

“In fact, I’ll give you my title. I’ll become your consort and manage the household instead.”

“What? How could I be the Grand Duke?! And I don’t even want to be!”

Trying to avoid a burden only to be offered an even bigger one—Evelyn’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“I don’t need the title of Grand Duke.”

Evelyn said this sincerely.

She had become a Hero to save her brother, but she didn’t know how to do anything.

She believed in the goddess’s words, but she couldn’t help questioning if she was really the right person.

She was determined to fulfill her promise, but the uncertainty of how filled her mind.

Even so, she couldn’t disappoint the people who already believed in her as a true Hero.

So she decided to do what she did best.

“Since you’ve become a Hero, you need a position that suits it.”

At Elliot’s probing words, Evelyn sighed.

“You’ve already made me the Grand Duchess, so that’s position enough.”

“I thought you disliked the role of Grand Duchess, so I figured you wanted my job instead.”

Elliot’s soft green eyes narrowed playfully, and Evelyn clenched her fists.

His gaze was filled with pressure—if she was going to be involved, she might as well do all the work too.

She was already planning to put herself through the wringer for the North; did he really have to throw in paperwork too?

“Until we divorce, you are still my wife, aren’t you?”

“Y-yes.”

Evelyn couldn’t hide her sour expression as she replied.

“To fool everyone completely, shouldn’t you wield the Grand Duchess’s authority flawlessly?”

Elliot winked.

So he was asking her to make sacrifices for the sake of this ridiculous charade. Evelyn gestured for Sophia to leave the room.

Sophia quickly got the message and exited.

“Do you really trust me?”

Now alone, Evelyn asked in a serious tone.

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t give you.”

“No matter how much this is for the North’s peace… it feels like you’re giving me more than I deserve.”

This man charged ahead as if he had nothing to lose. Evelyn kept her thoughts to herself as she watched the way he always said he’d give everything for the North.

Speaking them aloud might make things awkward between them.

“There’s nothing more important to me than that. If I can drive out the evil god and monsters from the North, I’ll do anything.”

Even if it meant giving up his title, Elliot wanted to save the beautiful North he cherished.

So white…

His earliest memory was of pure white snowfields.

Elliot always cherished that fact. Endless white snow, and his mother smiling brightly.

The snowfields under the sun were always breathtaking. Even when stained with blood and fallen bodies, the snow always covered those traces.

The North was always intense.

Fiery and straightforward. People who lived contentedly with what they had.

Not once did Elliot regret being born in the North.

Not even when his parents died.

The more he loved it, the heavier and more painful it became. He wanted to throw in everything he had to bring peace to this beautiful land.

That’s why, if possible, he hoped the Hero would also come to love the North.

Because once you got to know it, even reluctant affection would grow.

“If you save the North under the title of Hero, I’ll grant whatever you wish.”

His unwavering gaze landed on Evelyn. The chosen Hero looked back at him with a pale face.

“I want to defeat the evil god for the sake of my loved ones. You’re not the only one with people to protect, you know?”

Her red lips jutted out as she raised her voice defiantly.

“And what do you mean, giving me everything? I don’t need a single thing from you! Well, okay, maybe I got a few things through the marriage and sponsorship, but that’s a deal, isn’t it?”

Evelyn glared. Listening to Elliot talk just kept making her angry.

He acted like someone who would disappear the moment he fulfilled his duty of protecting the North.

It had nothing to do with her, yet Evelyn sometimes felt a wave of anxiety from his cold, fleeting expression.

Wouldn’t it be better if they both survived, while they were at it?

“Defeating the evil god isn’t something you can handle alone. The North’s peace isn’t either.”

Elliot was human too. A brilliant swordsman, yes—but one person’s sacrifice couldn’t bring happiness to all.

If you lead others to happiness only to vanish yourself, what meaning does that hold?

There were noble sacrifices, yes—but that wasn’t what Evelyn wanted.

“I want you to be happy, too.”

A happiness for everyone. At those words, Elliot crossed his arms.

“Does my happiness matter to you?”

“Well, you’re my comrade now.”

Without hesitation, Evelyn answered. Elliot opened his mouth slightly in surprise.

“Even if you don’t give me what you have, I’ll defeat the evil god now that I’m the Hero.”

She wouldn’t shove her burden onto someone else. Evelyn’s eyes gleamed with resolve.

“Why go so far?”

Elliot asked in a quiet voice. His golden eyes shone like they held the sun.

He couldn’t look away from the clarity in her eyes.

The Hero acted like she had never been betrayed before.

Hadn’t people shunned her for being cursed? How could she still have eyes like that?

Elliot clenched his fists, looking into eyes that seemed unscarred.

Even though she was deeply wounded…

She spoke of hope with a calm face.

“Because I’m the Hero, aren’t I?”

Evelyn spoke of what had now become an undeniable truth. It was a bit overwhelming and frightening, but there was no turning back.

This was the result of trading away what she cherished most. So she had to succeed. If possible, she hoped everyone would find happiness.

“I might not be able to save everyone, but I’ll do whatever I can to defeat at least that evil god.”

The goddess had chosen her as the Hero. Somehow, she’d make it happen. With an unyielding heart, she’d endure.