MEXH • 20

<CHAPTER 20>

Surrounded by Enemies

“Maxwell.”

Evelyn spoke her father’s name.

The weight of a name she had never dared to place on her lips was unexpectedly light and scattered in an instant, surprising her slightly.

“What a bold young lady.”

At the way he raised and lowered his eyebrows as if telling her to go on, Evelyn let out a faint laugh.

“What I’ve just learned, you’ll come to know as well.”

That there are things that can never be done no matter what.

That there are things that will never come true no matter how much one wishes for them.

That there are dreams one cannot grasp, no matter how desperate they are.

“Because I’ll make it that way.”

Embrio stared at Evelyn for a moment, then twisted his lips crookedly as he spoke.

“If you stay in this position, you often meet those who develop resentment toward those in power without reason. I didn’t think you looked that foolish.”

Then he asked whether she was aware that the Crown Prince was also someone in power.

When Evelyn did not answer and remained silent, he spoke as if he were being generous.

“Many only learn to bow after they fail. You don’t need to go through such frustration, but since you wish for it, it can’t be helped. I’ll wait.”

Until you fail and come to me.

Having added that, Duke Embrio rose to his feet.

Left alone in the office after the unwelcome guest departed, Evelyn remained still for a while, holding the broken quill.

Only later did Camilla of the Berzac family approach, wiping her hand and removing the broken quill.

“Um…”

Silayan Lerol, who had earlier run out like a kicked colt, hesitated as he approached, fidgeting.

“…What is it?”

Evelyn was tired, so she wanted to rest.

She was thinking of returning once Camilla finished examining her injured hand.

It was something she never could have imagined when she was the Crown Princess, but now she was not.

Even if a mere lover of the Crown Prince lay in bed all day doing nothing, who would dare to criticize her?

With that slightly twisted thought, Evelyn urged Silayan.

“How long must I wait?”

“A, a visitor has…”

Evelyn’s face twisted instantly.

With a cold and firm expression, she gave her order.

“Close the Winter Palace. I will not receive guests today.”

“But…”

“Miss Lerol, must I tell you that you are making me angry?”

As she truly let her anger show, Silayan became flustered.

Even so, she did not immediately leave to follow Evelyn’s command.

Camilla was just about to offer advice to Silayan.

“But, it’s already been accepted.”

“N, not by me… Miss Ibiton…”

Frightened, Silayan mentioned Ivy’s name.

It did not seem to be a lie, so Evelyn slightly suppressed her momentum and asked.

“Are you saying Miss Ibiton permitted the visit without my approval?”

“Y, yes!”

“Where is she now?”

“Sh, she went to receive the guest…”

It was behavior that crossed the line.

Granting permission for a visit without authority, and receiving a guest without being ordered by the master.

“Guide me.”

She had gone too far.

Evelyn had no intention of overlooking Ivy’s infringement on her authority.

After quickly checking her appearance, Ivy headed to the main hall to greet the guest who had arrived at the Winter Palace.

It’s fine. Let’s be brave.

The daughter of a count’s family was as beautiful as her confidence.

Her eyes were fresh like tender leaves transitioning from spring to summer, and her long hair had an ivory sheen with a pearly glow.

She had heard that the late Crown Princess had hair just like that.

So Ivy believed the Crown Prince would surely take a liking to her.

“I greet the Empire’s Little Sun. May the blessings of Remensias remain eternal upon the imperial family.”

The space that would serve as the main hall for banquets in the Winter Palace was crowded with many people and objects.

Among them was the Crown Prince.

He reclined lazily on a long sofa that had been rearranged, waiting for the owner of the Winter Palace.

His indifferent gaze swept past and then withdrew.

And almost immediately, it was cast again.

Noticing that the Crown Prince had fixed his gaze on her as if enchanted, Ivy cheered inwardly.

Just as I expected, he seems to like me.

In truth, that was the case.

The Crown Prince did like Ivy Ibiton.

More precisely, he liked her long and luscious hair.

That color reminds me of her before!

The last time he had touched it was when she was lying in a coffin.

That long thread-like hair, beautifully arranged, still attached to decaying flesh.

Entranced, Rexfail could not take his eyes off it.

As the moment stretched, Ivy’s heart swelled.

What should I do? What if he casts that woman aside and makes me his lover? I don’t want to be just a lover… but should I accept it first?

Since she had not been permitted to rise, Ivy remained bent forward.

The Crown Prince slowly stood and approached her.

Rexfail’s fingers touched the ends of Ivy’s hair.

What do I do!

While Ivy was worried her heart might burst, Rexfail was thinking only of Evelyn.

You couldn’t get this color with dye, could you!

He was convinced that the owner of the Winter Palace was Evelyn.

A woman he had lost due to misunderstandings piled up over time and the differences in their positions.

What happened when he thought he had met Evelyn again in Gillington had angered him.

Believing he had been deceived, Rexfail had rashly cornered her.

But no matter how many times he thought about it, she was Evelyn.

So he needed to grow accustomed to the present her.

That was the right thing to do.

But it was also true that he wanted to see Evelyn with that hair color again.

So Rexfail was thinking that perhaps he could cut the hair of some unknown maid and make a wig.

If I cut it close, I could probably make one long enough to reach the back.

As he measured the length, he examined the condition of the hair.

Meanwhile, unaware of the situation, Ivy was on the verge of bursting from imagining herself as the Crown Princess.

Evelyn was watching that scene.

“What wrongdoing has she committed against you?”

“Ibi.”

The strength left his hand, and Ivy’s hair slipped free.

Of all people, her!

Miss Ibiton felt deeply wronged, and Evelyn knew it as well.

But instead of stepping back, she slowly walked forward, drawing Rexfail’s attention entirely to herself.

“What crime has my maid committed?”

Only then did Rexfail notice the woman who could not raise her bowed upper body.

“You may rise.”

At the signal, Ivy quickly straightened herself.

Having kept her head lowered below her waist for so long, her face was flushed.

Evelyn noticed and clicked her tongue.

“Miss Ivy, would you like to go in and rest?”

Though it was a kind offer, to Ivy it felt like a ruthless attempt to take away her opportunity.

“No, I’m fine. I will attend.”

Answering in an unusually gentle tone, Ivy quickly moved behind Evelyn.

It was a satisfying position.

A place where she could catch the Crown Prince’s eye while also observing him.

“Begin.”

“You’ll be bored.”

She checked the palace officials standing attentively, as well as the merchants lined up and the items they had brought.

From that, she quickly understood what kind of gathering this was.

It was likely a preparation for a banquet to introduce the new owner of the seasonal palace.

Before a grand banquet, the palace’s owner would gather merchants to take measurements, choose designs and jewels, and commission new dresses.

It was both an opportunity for merchants to flatter royalty and a display of how much the summoner valued the palace’s owner.

Of course, she had never attended such an occasion before.

“If my attire seems shabby, I can only apologize.”

It was meant as a reproach for doing something unusual, but Rexfail responded smoothly.

“If what you wear seems shabby, it simply means it does not suit your beauty. Take this chance to commission several sets of formal and everyday attire.”

Evelyn frowned.

It was rare for her to lose control of her expression over something done unconsciously.

Rexfail noticed and almost let out a laugh, but barely held it back.

He had a feeling it would be dangerous if he did.

“Is everything not ready yet?”

At Rexfail’s question, people began to move busily.

The number of people gathered in the grand hall was immense.

It seemed many officials, including the head of entertainment, were also present to prepare for the banquet.

Evelyn moved gracefully toward the center of the hall.

As she stepped onto the low circular platform, the prepared lights made her stand out even more.

Rexfail sank into the long sofa positioned to best observe her and stared intently.

Ivy quickly climbed up and positioned herself diagonally behind Evelyn, her eyes shining.

“Step back a little.”

As their voluminous dresses touched and disrupted the shape, Evelyn pointed it out.

Careful not to show her displeasure, Ivy stepped back and descended from the platform.

“More than I expected…”

The quiet exchanges of glances and whispers were subtle.

Some had come to work, but many had gathered simply to see the woman who had become the center of social gossip just one day after arriving at the imperial palace.

Those who had paid extra to secure a spot would relay what they saw and heard to their masters.

Those persistent, probing gazes were not friendly.

They hoped the woman who had risen from the countryside would crumble under the pressure.

But there was something they did not know.

Standing alone in a place surrounded by enemies was something very familiar to Evelyn.