Chapter 3
I struggled and shouted as I tried to pull my wrist free from his strong grip.
“Let me go!”
“I’ll let you go if you take back what you said earlier.”
“You crazy man! No! I won’t take back a single word! So let go!”
“You’re the crazy one! Do you think I enjoy holding onto someone like you? If it weren’t for his orders, I’d never beg a worthless woman like you!”
“What… what did you just say?”
Startled, I trembled and asked again.
Claude smirked at me mockingly.
“You’re just a puppet. You should’ve stayed quiet and let yourself be used. How dare you ruin everything when our great plan is about to succeed?”
“L-let go of me.”
“What’s wrong? Getting scared now? You should’ve behaved when I said I loved you.”
His voice was cold and cruel as he pulled me into his arms.
His free hand slowly slid up toward my neck.
Panicking, I lifted my knee and kicked him hard between the legs.
“Urgh!”
Claude screamed and fell to the ground.
I grabbed my long dress with one hand and ran as fast as I could.
Behind me, I heard him shouting.
“Damn it! Anne! Catch that woman right now!”
I could feel someone chasing me from behind — it was the maid who had brought me here.
As soon as I turned around the corner of an old building, I spotted another building and shouted loudly.
“Someone, please! Help me!”
“What’s going on?!”
Luckily, a group of soldiers heard my cry and ran toward me.
I quickly hid behind them and pointed at the maid.
“That maid and Father Claude tricked me into coming here! Then they threatened me! When I resisted, they tried to hit me!”
“What?! Is that true?”
The soldiers looked shocked. They immediately grabbed the maid’s arms.
“Is what the Duchess says true?”
“W-what are you talking about? Of course not!”
The maid — Anne — stammered in panic.
I showed them my arm, which was already bruised.
“Look here! Do you see this bruise? This is proof!”
When the soldiers saw it, their faces hardened.
“It seems we need to investigate this,” one said.
“Anne, you’ll come with us. Tom, search the area and find Father Claude. We must confirm the Duchess’s testimony.”
“Yes, sir,” said a young soldier and ran off.
“N-no! I’m innocent! I never harmed the lady!”
I silently watched as the screaming maid was dragged away by the soldiers.
Then one soldier turned to me.
“You’ve been through something terrible, my lady. Are you hurt anywhere besides your wrist?”
“My wrist and shoulder hurt a little… he also tried to choke me…”
“Please, return to your room right away. I’ll call a doctor.”
“Thank you.”
I lowered my head, pretending to be weak and pitiful. The soldier kindly escorted me.
But inside, I smiled coldly.
‘Claude probably thinks I wouldn’t dare report him.’
But that was his mistake.
Because I’m not Evangeline Roxanne Este.
I walked back to the cottage, pretending to be hurt.
In the Northern Empire — The Romeina Forest
A large army was riding through a massive forest path leading to the Este Territory.
Their dark blue flags, marked with a white hawk, fluttered in the wind.
They were the knights of Duke Nigel Clyde Este, the ruler of the northern territory.
Months ago, they had gone on a monster-hunting mission under the Emperor’s orders. Now, after a long battle, they were finally returning home.
Once they passed through this forest, they would see their estate again. The tired knights urged their horses forward with excitement.
Just then, a red hawk flew above them, circling in the sky while crying loudly.
At the front of the group, a man lifted his head — the master of the knights, Duke Nigel Clyde Este himself.
With short black hair swaying in the wind, sharp red eyes, a straight nose, and tightly pressed lips, he looked like a painting come to life.
“Why would a messenger hawk come now? Did something happen at the estate?”
The man riding beside him — his aide, Sir Kite — looked up at the bird and spoke.
Without answering, the Duke extended his arm. The hawk landed neatly on it.
He quickly untied a letter from its leg and unfolded it.
“What does it say, my lord?” asked Sir Kite when the Duke finished reading.
The Duke handed him the letter and said bluntly,
“It says the Saintess was threatened and attacked by her maid and Father Claude.”
“W-what?! Is that true? Is the Duchess safe?”
“Seems like she only has some bruises on her wrist, neck, and shoulder. Nothing serious.”
“That’s a relief, my lord.”
The Duke gave a sarcastic half-smile.
“Really? You think so?”
“Pardon? What do you mean?” asked Sir Kite, confused.
The Duke looked up at the sky and said coldly,
“That maid Anne has served her for years. And Claude is her secret lover. Do you really think they would harm her?”
“My lord… are you saying…?”
“I’m saying our great Saintess probably staged this little drama herself. I just hope she’s not trying to stab me in the back again.”
His mocking tone silenced Sir Kite.
There was no trust between this couple — only suspicion and cold politics.
Remembering the icy air between them before the Duke left for his expedition, Sir Kite’s face darkened.
The Duke glanced at his aide, then looked ahead.
“Let’s hurry home.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The Duke urged his horse forward, his handsome face set in a cold, hard expression.
Escorted by the soldier, I returned to my bedroom and was soon examined by a doctor.
He ordered complete rest, saying the shock and bruises were serious.
So I had no choice but to stay in bed for half a day.
Later, after waking up and taking a bath, I spoke carefully to the maid helping me get dressed.
“Um…”
“Yes, my lady?”
“What happened to Anne and Father Claude?”
The maid replied while arranging my hair.
“The knights are investigating. Both of them said they never threatened or hurt you, but… no one will believe them now. You were injured, after all.”
“So… what will happen to them? Will they be kicked out?”
“Probably. Father Claude broke the Goddess’s law by harming another person, so he’ll be punished by the Church. And Anne… she might even lose her hand.”
“…I see.”
I nodded quietly.
Maybe the punishment was too harsh. But thinking about what they had done to Olivia Rose Este, it didn’t seem unfair either.
I pushed away those thoughts and asked,
“What about Olivia? How is she?”
“I’m not sure. She’s probably reading at her cottage right now.”
“Can I go see her?”
“…You want to see Lady Olivia?”
The maid looked startled.
“Yes. I have something important to tell her. Can you take me to her cottage?”
“…Yes, my lady,” she answered reluctantly, clearly uncomfortable.
I didn’t ask why — I already knew.
Once I was ready, I followed the maid toward Olivia’s cottage again.
When we reached the small garden gate, the maid stopped and said hesitantly,
“Please go ahead, my lady. I’ll wait out here.”
“Hmm? Oh, all right.”
I nodded and stepped into the garden.
Just then—
“…Auntie?”
Olivia Rose Este stood there, holding a few books in her arms, staring at me in surprise.
