Chapter 33
“Surely there’s an important reason you’ve come to see me. What is it?”
Evelyn gestured for her to sit but didn’t offer any tea. She and Rosie Clover weren’t on tea-sharing terms.
Especially not with someone who was looking at her like they were about to explode with rage—there was no point in trying to be sincere with someone like that.
And frankly, she had no desire to be friends again.
The longing for the friend she once loved in childhood had long since cooled. The feelings she’d once held had been trampled on and left in shreds long ago—beyond repair.
“I have something to ask.”
Rosie, seated across from her, also didn’t request tea. She knew it wasn’t polite, but neither of them cared.
“Um…”
Rosie glanced at the servants.
What’s this about?
If she’d come to insult Evelyn, she would’ve done it with a sweet smile in front of the servants, scratching at her insides under the guise of pleasantries.
Evelyn narrowed her eyes at the subtle, careful gesture.
“We need to discuss something important. Would you mind giving us the room?”
“But, My Lady, the Duke instructed us never to leave you alone.”
At the command to leave, Seril quickly shook her head. Evelyn blinked in surprise—this was news to her.
“Elliot said that?”
“Yes. His Grace told us that since he can’t always be by your side, we must be his hands and feet and help you.”
Seril beamed with pride, and Evelyn resisted the urge to scratch her arms in embarrassment.
Where did he learn to say such things?
He didn’t seem like the type to say cheesy things, but here he was spewing them shamelessly like he’d attended some kind of romantic speech seminar. And it was obvious he was inwardly cringing at himself.
“You two must be very close.”
Rosie’s voice was full of distaste.
“Do you think I’d try to harm the Duchess, a Sword Master?”
Rosie said with a pitiful expression. After checking Evelyn’s expression one more time, Seril and the attendant reluctantly left the room.
“If there’s any danger, please call out immediately.”
It was an unreasonable suspicion to cast on Rosie, but no one seemed to care.
“So, what is it?”
Now alone, Evelyn spoke comfortably. There was no need for formalities between them.
“The North is in danger, isn’t it?”
“…”
It was Evelyn who fell silent at the confident question. She’d thought Rosie was clever, but it turned out she was even sharper than expected.
“What makes you think that?”
“I read the reports. The number of monsters has been increasing uncontrollably every year. And the Grand Duchy has been requesting support for years now.”
“You concluded the North is in danger from that?”
“That’s not all. I don’t understand why the Duke rejected all other proposals and chose to marry you.”
Even the supposed love-at-first-sight story with Sword Master Evelyn seemed unconvincing.
If he only wanted to publicize his support, marriage wasn’t necessary.
“So I concluded there must be another reason.”
Evelyn chuckled at Rosie’s scrutinizing gaze. She’d known since they were young that Rosie had a sharp eye for her surroundings.
It was impressive how close she had come to the truth with so little information.
“What do you think the other reason is?”
“There must be a serious reason to change Evelyn Barrett’s reputation. And since support alone wasn’t enough, he chose marriage.”
“And why must my reputation be changed?”
“Something unknown and dangerous must be happening in the North—and they need you to deal with it.”
Evelyn was quietly impressed. Should she make Rosie her strategist?
She didn’t want to rekindle their friendship, but with a brain like that, Rosie could be useful in the fight against the Evil God.
“But what kind of crisis would be so big? The monster numbers are up, sure, but the North is strong. And didn’t they already defeat the Evil God ages ago?”
Rosie started ticking off possible threats to the North on her fingers but then froze.
Evelyn, seated calmly, looked strange. She wasn’t laughing or scoffing.
The gravity in her eyes made Rosie’s breath catch.
“Wait… don’t tell me… the Evil God is coming back?”
Rosie’s eyes widened. The slow, steady gaze Evelyn gave her made her chest tighten.
“You’re saying the Hero and the Evil God—those were all real?”
A mix of disbelief, accidental realization, and terror swirled around Rosie.
And then came the most ridiculous conclusion.
“Th-Then… you… you’re the Hero?”
Rosie asked, her voice trembling. Evelyn’s lack of response was unnerving.
She didn’t look hurt, or resentful.
Rosie regretted it instantly. She shouldn’t have dug so deep.
She should’ve just pretended not to know. What did it matter if Evelyn Barrett married the Duke?
Regret washed over her, but she couldn’t lower her pride now.
“Ha… no way.”
She twisted her lips into a smirk, trying to make it sound like a joke—even she didn’t find it funny.
“I just dropped by because I can’t stand the fact you married the Duke. Wanted to curse you out a bit.”
“Rosie.”
At the calm sound of her name, Rosie shot up from her seat.
Everything felt wrong.
The air in the parlor was heavy, Evelyn was still, bathed in light from the window, quietly watching her.
Her golden eyes shimmered.
“So what if it’s true? What changes?”
A faint smirk touched Evelyn’s lips.
Sunny Ayle, physically gifted Evelyn, and clever Rosie Clover—they’d once been inseparable friends. Had they grown up together, they would’ve been quite the trio in high society.
A fleeting childhood memory made Evelyn smile faintly.
“You agreed to see me on purpose!”
“Because whatever you figured out, I knew you wouldn’t go around blabbing about it.”
It wasn’t a compliment about Rosie’s discretion.
She was the type to hold onto someone’s weakness, saving it for the perfect moment to use it to her advantage.
That’s what Evelyn was pointing out.
“I want people to pay attention to the North.”
“…”
“And if possible, increase support. Have knights and soldiers visit the North for training and whatnot.”
Her voice was calm, tinged with amusement. Evelyn trusted Elliot, but she felt he was shouldering too much alone. The more people there were to help the Hero, the better.
Besides, Elliot didn’t have to bear the burden of the Evil God just because he was the Grand Duke.
Evelyn had been looking for others to help—she never expected it would be Rosie Clover.
“You owe me, remember?”
“That was a mistake.”
“Right. You said you didn’t see the maid push Ayle.”
If Rosie had testified properly, Evelyn wouldn’t have been falsely accused of killing Ayle.
“I—I was just a kid then.”
“You could’ve corrected your statement later, as an adult.”
But Rosie stayed silent. Even when asked repeatedly to clarify what happened that day, all she’d say was she was too scared to remember.
“You never forgot, did you?”
Rosie’s throat bobbed.
“I don’t even know why you hate me. And honestly, I don’t want to know anymore.”
Evelyn let out a soft laugh. Rosie looked up at the sound.
“So help me. You can do it.”
“N-No, I—!”
“You’re second only to the Princess in influence over society.”
“That’s just popularity with some young ladies! What do you expect me to do with that?”
Still, if people liked and followed her, that meant something. Evelyn tilted her head.
Rosie glared in frustration.
“This is beyond what I can do. You should tell the Princess instead!”
“Would she help me? After I stole the Duke?”
Rosie covered her face with both hands.
Damn it. Damn it all.
Curses slipped through her fingers, and Evelyn stifled a laugh. Was this what true revenge felt like?
She’d always been on the losing end—but now, she was the one unsettling Rosie.
With just words!
If she weren’t waiting for an answer, Evelyn would’ve stood up and danced with joy.
“What exactly do you want me to do?”
“Now that people are watching the Grand Duchy because of the wedding, shift that attention toward the North.”
“You mean, by spreading rumors—”
“That’s your job.”
Evelyn said it boldly.
“You—!”
Rosie bit her lip, stopping herself from cursing. Words used too often became habits—and a well-bred young lady shouldn’t be saying such things.
Crude language had no place in nobility, no matter how angry one got.
