Chapter 15:
“Tinya, the North is really cold.”
Tinya had always been extremely sensitive to the cold. Evelyn could bet her holy sword that if Tinya ever went to the North, she’d ask to return to the capital within a few days.
Tinya always bundled up in thick clothes the moment it got even slightly chilly.
“Do you think I’d give up on you just because of the cold?!”
She nodded.
“You left me behind last time, though.”
“Ah, that was because it suddenly started raining.”
“I was soaked through, and you ran off without even giving me a towel.”
When Evelyn spoke as if she had been hurt, Tinya’s face immediately filled with embarrassment.
“It wasn’t like that! If I caught a cold, who would help you then?”
“I’m not a child. I can manage by myself.”
“Does that make sense for a noble lady?!”
Tinya exclaimed, her face turning red.
“I may be sensitive to the cold, but I’ll be fine if I bring some artifacts. You said the Grand Duke’s castle is warm, didn’t you?”
With that, she boldly insisted on going North, saying she’d prepare expensive artifacts in advance.
“Tinya.”
“Yes?”
Lady Evelyn had gone to the training ground. Tinya, on her way upstairs to tidy Evelyn’s bedroom, stopped when another attendant called out to her.
“Where’s the lady?”
“In training.”
Ever since Evelyn became a Sword Master, the number of servants trying to talk to her had noticeably increased.
Tinya felt proud as Evelyn’s reputation grew.
Back when Evelyn went around claiming she wasn’t cursed, people didn’t believe her. Now, those same people were acting like they wanted something from her—it was laughable.
“Are Lady Evelyn and the Grand Duke really not in a relationship?”
“Of course not!”
In truth, it was merely a sponsorship, but Tinya widened her eyes and shook her head.
“You know how beautiful and lovable the lady is, right?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Of course.”
“So how could that be just a sponsorship?! Sure, our lady is incredibly skilled, but isn’t it likely he has a little crush too?”
He should have one.
Of course, he must—but since Evelyn had never been in a relationship before, she might not realize it.
“She may not know because it’s her first time, but I think there’s definitely something between them.”
“Right?”
“Absolutely.”
Even though neither truly believed it, they nodded as if it were true.
“Just seeing the two of them standing side by side, you can tell how well they suit each other. All the servants are rooting for them.”
“Hehehe.”
Pleased by the words, Tinya beamed.
“Are you planning to follow the lady to the North?”
“Of course! I have to witness the big event!”
At the word “event,” the other attendant’s eyes sparkled.
“I mean, a child born from those two would be absolutely adorable.”
“I think so too.”
The thought of a child with Evelyn’s golden eyes and the Grand Duke’s blond hair made her smile naturally.
Something red flickered across Tinya’s mind, but she ignored it and laughed.
“If the North turns out to be good, can you let me know?”
“Why?”
“Ahem, I heard a rumor… that the servant wages up there are higher.”
The attendant looked around nervously.
“Someone in my family got sick, so I need money urgently.”
“Oh dear. Have you tried asking the butler to get your wages in advance?”
“That’s been hard too. Anyway, I’d really appreciate it!”
As the attendant bowed his head deeply, Tinya’s eyes turned cold.
‘Falling into gambling and now lying?’
Anyone who knew the household well was aware of the truth. And Tinya knew exactly why he had fallen into gambling in the first place.
“Alright. But don’t get your hopes up too much.”
“No, really, just you considering it means a lot to me.”
“Then I’ll need your help to see if you’re suitable to serve the lady—could you help me out?”
Tinya asked with a sweet smile.
“Of course!”
Karl, the attendant desperate to cling to anything, nodded eagerly.
‘Who is that?’
A few days later, on her way back to her room after training, Evelyn noticed someone approaching and felt a familiar presence nearby.
It looked like a servant she had seen around the mansion, but lately, he had been oddly lingering around her.
“My lady! Shall I prepare your bath?”
“Sure.”
Recently, even other maids besides Tinya had been subtly trying to talk to her and show kindness.
She hadn’t expected the rumors about her within the mansion to die down so quickly.
She thought they liked her just because of the Grand Duke’s support, but it seemed her brother waking up had helped too.
“Evelyn!”
A thudding sound of running footsteps approached.
Wham!
“Brother. I’m too old to be picked up like this.”
Lifted up all of a sudden, her face flushed with heat.
“What do you mean? You’ll always be my adorable little lady.”
Her brother was radiating heat—probably just done with training too.
“You’re all sweaty.”
“Your love for me has cooled!”
As her feet touched the ground, Evelyn’s resolve wavered. Should I hug him again? No—I’m too grown for that now.
Conflicted, she hesitated.
“I thought I’d get to play with you every day once I woke up… but instead, it’s sword training day in, day out.”
His grumbling made Evelyn giggle.
“Who knew herbs could be so effective?”
She winked, and her brother chuckled too.
“My body recovered so quickly. All thanks to you. At this rate, I might become a Sword Master too!”
The two laughed as they walked up the stairs.
“Any word from Hyndt?”
“He sent a letter congratulating me on waking up, but didn’t say when he’d visit.”
Leonel smirked. He’d heard Hyndt had been boasting while he was unconscious.
So he’d contacted Baron Quartz immediately, but the baron had fled the capital claiming an emergency in his territory.
“Isn’t that guy close to becoming a Sword Master too?”
“No way.”
A guy who couldn’t even block a single aura attack? Evelyn shook her head vigorously.
“M-My lady! The ceremonial clothes from the Grand Duke have arrived!”
An attendant suddenly came rushing in mid-conversation.
It was the same person from earlier.
Evelyn tilted her head at his breathless state.
“Now?”
“Yes! I saw it just arrive at the front entrance and came straight to tell you!”
Looking at the proud expression on his face, Evelyn recalled what Tinya had said about people trying to curry favor with her lately.
“Bring it to the family room. I want to see it with Evelyn.”
Leonel answered before Evelyn could speak.
The attendant bowed and hurried downstairs.
“I didn’t expect the Grand Duke to prepare ceremonial outfits for the whole family.”
“He said this level of support was only natural.”
“As expected from the Grand Duke—such generosity!”
Her brother’s amazement was amusing, but Evelyn hid her smile and kept walking.
“Let’s check them after I’ve washed up.”
“We should wait for Mother and Father—oh, never mind.”
Evelyn was going to suggest they wait for their parents, who were out at a gathering, but changed her mind.
“You like it that much?”
“Ahem, it’s not the clothes from the Grand Duke I like—it’s that you’ll be able to wear a nice dress.”
Leonel said with a bitter smile, recalling the worn-out clothes Evelyn had been wearing. All her old clothes had been shabby and worn. A noble lady from the capital dressed like that?
Thanks to the Grand Duke, new tailored clothes were arriving steadily, easing his mind.
The old ones would’ve invited ridicule at any party or gathering.
“Don’t worry about the past.”
“Sigh, I’ll make sure you only wear good things and eat good things from now on.”
“You should say that to the woman you’ll marry.”
Evelyn scratched her arm, pretending to get goosebumps, and walked into her room.
“But it’s true…”
Leonel muttered as he watched her retreating figure. That adorable girl had grown up, and her cuteness had faded.
No… Evelyn is still cute.
He shook his head and narrowed his eyes.
At the upcoming party, he couldn’t let a single flaw show. That was why he’d insisted on seeing the clothes first with her.
He had secretly persuaded their parents and learned everything that had happened.
Cursed, really?!
The rumors from when Evelyn was a child still hadn’t disappeared?
There was no way someone as cute and lovable as Evelyn was cursed. And what happened to Ail wasn’t Evelyn’s fault.
The girl had been injured because a servant going up the stairs hadn’t seen her and bumped into her.
