Chapter 48
As Evelyn’s wide eyes fixed on the panel, something dislodged and fell from it.
“A letter…”
She stared at the envelope for a moment before reaching up into the ceiling. As her hand moved through the dry dust, her fingers brushed against something.
Knock, knock. Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Evelyn quickly replaced the ceiling panel. She was about to climb down when, unexpectedly, the door opened.
Of all people, it was Carius, who opened the door without waiting for a response.
Standing there, he scowled deeply.
“….I hope you’re not planning to escape through the ceiling.”
Evelyn couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity. As she laughed, Carius approached with outstretched arms.
“What on earth are you doing up there? It’s dangerous.”
Before he lifted her down, Evelyn quickly grabbed the fallen envelope.
“What’s that?”
He asked, curious. It seemed he wasn’t aware of the ceiling’s secret. Now it was time to uncover it.
Evelyn handed him the letter. In front of her, Carius opened the envelope with his large hands. Inside were a couple of long letters, folded twice.
They stood side by side, reading the letters. They read silently until they reached the sender’s name at the bottom of the last page.
“…Ha.”
Carius sighed in frustration after finishing the letters. Then, he called for the steward.
After explaining, the steward summoned the servants. They retrieved all the hidden letters from the ceiling.
There were over a dozen letters, all from Johanson’s biological father.
8. King Aristide
A month later, they had a modest wedding ceremony at a nearby chapel.
The vows were almost disappointingly simple, but the kisses they exchanged nonstop in the carriage were passionate and intense.
As their carriage returned, the gates of Herzen were wide open, welcoming the newlywed Duke and Duchess.
The grand hall buzzed with guests raising their glasses, and the usually tranquil garden was now filled with clusters of guests chatting. It was the first time since the tragic death of Carius’ mother, then the former Duchess, that the Herzen estate had opened its doors to host such an event.
Rumors about Duke Herzen were still rampant. Every noble present feared him to some degree, but none wanted to miss the chance to see the new Duke and Duchess in person.
Evelyn had been astonished when the steward hired dozens of extra servants solely for this event, but after stepping into the garden, she understood. And after entering the hall, she felt a deep respect for the steward’s efforts.
“The main attractions have arrived.”
In the center of the hall, holding a glass of wine, stood Lady Celsius, approaching as if she owned the place.
“Hannah…!”
Evelyn, in her wedding dress, called out to Lady Celsius with such familiarity that some of the curious nobles now seemed to understand the sudden marriage a bit more. Unperturbed by the attention, Hannah reached out to touch the veil over Evelyn’s hair.
“Your hair has grown quite a bit. It looks good.”
“Sorry we weren’t here to greet you first, Hannah. I hope the journey wasn’t too tiring.”
Hannah chuckled, amused by Evelyn’s concern focusing only on her, amid the many guests.
“Don’t treat me like an old lady; you should focus on playing the hostess.”
“…Oh.”
From behind Evelyn, Carius acknowledged with a nod and raised his wine glass.
“I am Carius Demik Herzen.”
All eyes in the hall turned to him.
The subject of countless rumors was younger than expected, strikingly handsome, and did not appear as ominous as tales suggested. The malicious rumors dissipated as soon as they met his gentle, commanding gaze.
Carius’s considerate but authoritative look swept over the gathering before he gently pulled Evelyn closer with his free hand.
“This is my wife, Evelyn Herzen.”
With her cheeks flushed, Evelyn clutched the hem of her dress and gave a small bow. Carius’s voice resonated through the hall again.
“Thank you all for coming from afar. As this is a rare occasion for a gathering, there may be some shortcomings, for which I ask your kind forgiveness. While some of you may not be meeting me for the first time, I believe many of you are. The suddenness of this event is partly due to my personal wish to celebrate our marriage with you, but more importantly, it is to remind you that Herzen remains your steadfast friend. Enjoy the festivities tonight, and let’s meet often.”
Carius Demik Herzen was neither fond of public speaking nor known for being eloquent. However, as the sole heir of Herzen and its ruler, he left no room for shortcomings.
A steadfast friend. The phrase conveyed much more, as understood by every noble present.
It implied that Herzen was still formidable, aware of the rampant rumors, and would no longer tolerate them.
The first to start clapping was Lady Celsius.
Immediately, scattered cheers filled the grand hall.
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