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“…Then what?”
“You’ll be able to feel more poignantly than anyone that the notoriety attached to the name ‘Nox’ was not a fiction.”
A chill ran down her spine.
There was likely only one man in the entire empire capable of delivering such a bloodthirsty warning to none other than the ‘Imperial Princess Martyr.’
Even the Emperor would not be so blatantly threatening.
The man was clearly certain that Evgenia would never tell the Duke about any of this.
‘What’s infuriating is that I can’t exactly say, “Actually, I will? I’m going to tell my father everything,”’
It had been less than twelve hours since she promised to put forth every effort to inherit the Dukedom.
No, perhaps not even half that time had passed.
In such a situation, bothering her father with something like this would be no different from begging to be kicked out of the family immediately.
This man could act so fearlessly because he knew all of that.
‘Yulan couldn’t have planted a spy in the Dukedom. If he had, this deal would never have been possible. In other words, he must have obtained the information that I would become the successor from the conversation he had with my father.’
He couldn't have deduced this simply by being treated as a guest.
However, if her father had said something that sounded as if he permitted ‘Yuri’ to be her husband, it was possible he had read the context and realized it.
‘Father must have said something like I should work harder, or that he should acquire a status befitting someone who could stand by my side.’
Believing that alone meant the marriage between Yuri and her was permitted was a bit of an overreach.
What turned that possibility into a certainty was her own attitude.
The version of her from this morning, who acted as if the commission were completely finished, had given him the authority to be this reckless.
‘That threat probably contains a certain amount of sincerity…’
That was the terrifying thing about this man.
Rapid thinking, bold predictions, and a cruelty that allowed him to sever ties in an instant.
Hiding her trembling hands behind her back, Evgenia replied.
“I swear on my name.”
“…”
“At the very least, you won’t regret this deal.”
Yulan seemed to quite like the word ‘swear’ that Evgenia mentioned; the tension in his shoulders appeared to relax slightly.
However, he remained leaning forward, as if expecting that what she was about to say would be quite secretive.
‘It’s not wrong. If it concerns my father’s intentions, even the slightest detail could be enough to make it a big deal.’
And since what Evgenia was about to say was indeed quite secretive, his caution was fully understandable.
The only thing she was still debating was whether to tell him everything honestly or if it would be better to mix in a few lies.
That was the exact point where she remained undecided.
Right now, they were in accord and had almost no secrets from each other, but the cancellation of the engagement with Raymond—which Evgenia had so desperately wanted—had now become a reality.
Since she would no longer have a reason to commission Yulan, it was practically safe to assume she would have no further business with him.
In fact, for her, who was walking toward the glittering heights of the Dukedom, becoming entangled in any way with a man playing the role of a commoner handling the dark affairs of the back alleys was an infinite loss.
Of course, it would be a lie to say she felt no gratitude toward him.
But in the end, were they not people who had their own separate paths to follow?
‘If Yulan wants to continue living as Nox, there’s nothing to be gained by being entangled with me.’
To end the relationship in a state that was satisfactory for everyone…
“My father noticed everything.”
“…From the beginning?”
“I think he believed us in the carriage. But after talking to you and me separately, I think something felt off to him.”
“I see. So a hastily put-together play wasn't enough to deceive Duke Martir.”
Interest flickered in Yulan’s eyes upon hearing Evgenia’s answer.
It was a testament to just how well the Duke had deceived him.
‘Father is truly amazing.’
As expected, the experience the Duke had accumulated could not be easily ignored.
As Yulan said, it was to the point where one couldn't even dream of deceiving him with such a clumsy act.
It was a shame that the plan had been completely exposed, but it wasn't without gain.
‘When deceiving people, it’s good to mix in the truth appropriately. I must keep that in mind.’
In reality, the Duke likely had no intention whatsoever of taking Yuri as a son-in-law, but the sincerity that emerged when he realistically accepted that ‘what if’ had perfectly fooled Yulan.
Yulan’s current reaction was evidence of how perfect the Duke’s attitude had been last night.
Thus, Evgenia decided.
Following the example shown by her wonderful father, she too would perfectly deceive Yulan.
‘When I first got into the carriage, I actually intended to tell him everything. But… I don’t feel the need to do that for someone who showed hostility toward me.’
“He told me that if I truly wanted to marry, I should perfectly complete the succession lessons to follow. However, he said the partner should be a proper match, not ‘Yuri.’”
She had only changed the wording slightly, but it wasn't wrong.
Though the most important subject had changed from ‘the Prince’ to ‘Yuri’…
“The Duke seems to cherish you truly. By a ‘proper match,’ he must mean a man who has received your true heart.”
“I couldn't say for sure. I can't say he wouldn't oppose it if I fell in love with a real commoner and brought them home.”
“Well, there is no human whose words don't change as time passes. Even a Duke would be the same.”
Perhaps because it was an answer that wasn't a lie, but merely an omission, she didn't feel particularly nervous.
As the conversation flowed smoothly, the tightness in her chest seemed to loosen.
Nevertheless, to avoid raising suspicion, she maintained an uncomfortable posture so as not to appear too relaxed.
Before long, Yulan threw out a pointed joke.
“Did you perhaps get disappointed in me because I spoke ill of the Duke? Like, ‘My father told me anyone is fine as long as they are a proper match!’”
Yulan mimicked Evgenia’s sharp voice.
But Evgenia didn't waver at all.
“I don't really care who it is as long as it's not Raymond, so I don't have any particular thoughts on it.”
“…What about your feelings of love for him?”
“Ah…”
It was a fact she had momentarily forgotten.
To persuade him when he was about to refuse the request to erase the name, she had played the ‘love’ card.
Spouting nonsense like how she loved Raymond so much that she only wanted him to be happy, and therefore the engagement had to be canceled…
‘Thinking about it again makes me want to throw up. I must have been truly desperate.’
They say people forget the days of hunger once they are full, and that described her current situation perfectly.
Still, she couldn't just say, “Yeah, it was all a lie!” now.
That would be a statement that would destroy all the trust she had barely managed to build.
‘Alright, let’s do this. You can do it, Evgenia Rose Martyr.’
Biting her lip, she forcibly dragged out the desperation that had been hidden deep in her heart.
Slightly furrowing her brow, casting her eyes down so her eyelashes were visible, and clasping her trembling hands.
With those few actions, a fragile woman speaking of a heartbreaking love she had tried to forget was born.
“I… didn't know you’d remember that.”
“Because it was such an absurd reason. In all my life, it was the first time I’d heard someone say they wanted to cancel an engagement because they loved the person.”
“Look around; there are more people like that than you’d think. People who give up on each other because they love them.”
At the words she murmured like a sigh, Yulan’s expression changed strangely.
It was a face as if he were facing the most incomprehensible person in the world.
‘I wonder how that man’s perception of love became so twisted?’
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