Chapter 26
“That is correct, Your Majesty. Your wisdom is indeed profound. Evina has inherited the power of the Siollier direct line, and so her gold is deep.”
“I see. And her eyes…”
Evina wore an awkward smile, feeling as though she had become a rare puppy or a pony on display before the Emperor and Empress.
Under the Grand Duke’s gaze, heat once again bloomed around her waist, making it difficult to maintain her posture.
“Indeed. A beautiful light, every time I see it.”
At the Emperor’s words, she was able to relax her neck and waist and step back.
That was when it happened.
Suddenly, the strength drained from her legs and Evina swayed.
She thought she was about to make an ugly spectacle of herself, but an invisible force caught her.
“The Grand Duke’s power!”
“As expected, truly the best!”
Evina closed her eyes and opened them again, only to find the man’s grinning face before her. She was at a loss for words.
Just like that day, his gloved hand slowly stroked the line of her waist.
“Hello.”
He whispered in a low voice.
“We meet again. …It suits you well.”
She shuddered.
Evina could feel it.
That the chance the Grand Duke had spoken of was drawing near. The chance to cast off her wretched, disgusting life.
She knew it.
* * *
Evina finished her meal with a blank expression, her mind drifting back to the memory of meeting Xenobius at the New Year’s gathering.
“My lady, the dress…”
“Leave it for now.”
Normally, she would have disposed of the dress immediately after the banquet. For obvious reasons, she wanted to leave no trace behind.
But now that she had worn a new dress, there was no need.
Soaking the coarse bread in soup and eating it had eased her hunger, and her head felt a little clearer.
“The Viscount?”
“Ah, the Viscount is…”
The butler trailed off.
She let out a small, derisive snort.
Whenever word came that the Viscount was staying out overnight or had run off with a courtesan, the butler always wore a rather troubled expression in front of Evina.
After watching her for years, did he really still think such things mattered…?
“I only need to know when he’ll return.”
“He said this time his work would keep him long, at least four days.”
“…He must have found a woman he’s quite fond of. Tell him I hope he rests well.”
At Evina’s words, the butler said nothing.
To her, the only thing that mattered was when the Viscount would return to shatter this peace, and how long she could enjoy her quiet in comfort.
She couldn’t care less what age the courtesan was that her husband, thirty years her senior, was rolling around in bed with.
So she had four days to rest easy.
In truth, the Viscount and Evina’s private chambers were on the same floor but strictly separated. At her earnest request, they had even been placed at opposite ends of the hallway.
So on days they didn’t share a bed, she often didn’t see his face at all.
The paths of the man and woman were kept completely apart.
And yet, on the days the Viscount stayed at the estate, Evina was so unsettled she could barely digest her food.
Her heart would race, never knowing when or where he might suddenly appear to sneer at her. She had no appetite, afraid he might start complaining in the middle of a meal. And when it was a day scheduled for them to share a bed…
Just the thought made her stomach turn, and she pressed a hand to her chest.
She quickly shook her head to clear the thoughts.
It didn’t matter. She was free of Viscount Derise for the next few days.
He almost never returned on the promised date after a banquet or party, so even though he said four days, she likely wouldn’t see him for a week.
Then he’d come back and tell her to hurry up and produce a child and demand they share a bed again.
Evina mentally calculated how much contraceptive tea she had left and thought she should visit the physician soon.
Once her thoughts of the Viscount ended, her mind went blank again.
She couldn’t quite remember how the New Year’s gathering had ended, or how she had arrived back at the estate.
It was all because of the man.
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