CICN 100

Chapter 100

Muttering to herself while proudly looking at the mark on the back of her hand, Eve’s eyes soon welled up with tears.

“She’s really pitiful… That child… she’ll end up hating me, won’t she?”

Ezriella immediately took a handkerchief from her bag and wiped Eve’s tears away.

“To think you’re considering the feelings of such a child… Eve, you really are thoughtful. But she’s not even worth your pity.”

Speaking in a fairly gentle voice, Ezriella brushed the tears from Eve’s eyes.

However, her hands, unaccustomed to such tasks, applied a bit too much pressure, causing Eve to frown.

“What are you doing? That hurts!”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

Ezriella quickly withdrew her hand at Eve’s irritated tone. Her face bore an embarrassed smile, but inside, frustration was rising.

‘Why do I have to be babysitting a child?’

It was the first time in her life that she had served someone like this.

Moreover, Eve was an extremely difficult child. She would sulk at the slightest displeasure, often crying bitterly. If she wanted something, she would relentlessly nag until she got it.

Because of that, since Eve came to the Count’s estate, many of Ezriella’s possessions had ended up in Eve’s hands.

It started with hairpins and hats, then clothes, accessories, and eventually, Eve even claimed Ezriella’s room because she liked it better.

Normally, Ezriella would never have tolerated this. Yet, she obediently gave Eve everything she wanted.

There was no other choice.

‘This child is Princess Evebien.’

When she first heard this from her father, she couldn’t believe her ears.

Princess Evebien? The princess who had died at birth—her body was directly handled by the Emperor himself.

Ezriella didn’t know the exact location, but she was told that the Empress and the princess’s tombs were inside the palace.

How could such a princess possibly be alive?

‘I thought it was a scam.’

In fact, after the current emperor ascended the throne, there were quite a few who brought babies claiming the princess was alive.

They were under the mistaken belief that if they brought a similar-looking child, the emperor would lose reason and believe it was truly the princess.

Young blonde girls were brought to the emperor by greedy adults, without understanding why.

Naturally, those who tried were executed for deceiving the royal family.

After that, anyone attempting such foolish tricks disappeared.

And yet, now, a girl claiming to be the daughter had reappeared? And her father was not someone to fall for such nonsense…

The Count noticed Ezriella’s hesitation and spoke.

“Everything has been verified. You’ll see it yourself when you look at her hand. She bears the royal emblem.”

The royal emblem… Ezriella knew a little about it. Her brother, who had an interest in all sorts of oddities, had told her that such things existed among royalty.

‘But someone could fake something like that, right?’

Yet, the moment she saw the mark on Eve’s hand, Ezriella fell silent.

It wasn’t a tattoo etched in deceit. Sometimes it would vanish entirely, only to reappear vividly again.

“But couldn’t it be made through some kind of magic?”

“Do you think I haven’t verified that as well?!”

Ezriella’s cautious question earned a sharp rebuke from the Count.

“It’s not just the emblem. Above all, there’s a perfect witness.”

“A witness?”

“Yes. The woman who was the Empress’s closest friend and the princess’s nursemaid is still alive. The Emperor knows her well, too.”

The Count added that once the woman was ready, she would come to the capital and present Princess Evebien to the Emperor.

“So, before that, you must dress and teach Princess Evebien to behave like a proper princess. As of now, she’s just an untaught, unruly child.”

He smiled, continuing,

“This is actually a good thing. If you teach her well, the princess will settle into her role more quickly, and your merit will grow. You could become the head maid of the princess, and when she ascends to the throne, you’ll hold the greatest power.”

Listening to her father, Ezriella imagined herself as the princess’s head maid.

The position wasn’t for just anyone. It was reserved for women of noble families, and historically, many head maids rose to high ranks among the court ministers.

‘If that happens…’

Getting expelled from the Academy would hardly be a flaw. The school would even feel ashamed for turning someone like her away.

Ezriella recalled the looks she received when she hurriedly left the Academy.

‘They praised me at first, saying thanks for letting me go, but then they mocked me…’

There were no sympathetic faces. Some were cautious, fearing the Emperor’s anger might fall on them; others openly sneered.

What expressions would those students have if she walked into the palace next to the princess?

Just imagining it thrilled her.

‘I’ll show them. Especially Irene Terrence and Eve Alden—they won’t get away with it.’

The Emperor’s kindness to children from the orphanage had one reason: it reminded him of the princess of the same age.

But now that the real princess had returned, the Emperor would have no reason to care for Eve.

Thinking of how quickly Eve would become a nuisance, Ezriella could barely contain her laughter.

‘Even that Irene Terrence looks ridiculous now.’

What good is a southern princess? She’d end up standing next to an orphan.

Irene became the orphan’s friend, while Ezriella became the princess’s friend.

Ezriella’s lips curved with satisfaction at the difference in status.

“Ez? Are you listening?”

She was snapped back to reality by Eve’s sulky voice.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I got lost thinking about a dress design suitable for you. Everything suits you well, but… since it’s the autumn banquet, I must choose carefully.”

At the mention of the autumn banquet, Eve’s frown relaxed.

“That’s true. It’s an important banquet, and it’s the first time I meet Dad, so my outfit is crucial. I have to be the prettiest and most eye-catching.”

“Of course. On that day, who would dare outshine the princess?”

Noticing Eve’s mood improving, Ezriella tried desperately to please her.

“You are already very cute, but dressed in these clothes and adorned with jewelry, you’ll be the most beautiful and charming child. Imagine how delighted His Majesty will be!”

“Right?”

With continuous praise, Eve fully relaxed her expression.

“Yes. The staff will arrive soon, so it’s best to keep your gloves on. You wouldn’t know how loose-lipped commoners can be.”

Ezriella discreetly helped Eve put her gloves back on.

“Bear with it for a little while. If others find out about you, we can’t predict what malicious acts they might commit.”

“Mm, it can’t be helped until we enter the palace. If Eve gets hurt before meeting Dad, he’ll be very sad.”

“Exactly.”

Ezriella nodded and adjusted Eve’s gloves.

‘Yes. No one must discover this.’

This was an opportunity of a lifetime.

If the princess’s identity became known, many would cling to her for their own gain.

‘All the credit must be mine.’

Serving and enduring such a troublesome child was only natural.

Ezriella counted how many days remained until the princess’s nursemaid arrived.

‘Just a little longer…’

Smiling at the thought of that day, Ezriella felt anticipation.

“Where is that girl?”

Irene snorted with fury, as if ready to roll up her sleeves and swing her fists.

“I’m fine. The others beautifully braided my hair again.”

Eve tried to calm Irene, flustered.

When Irene finished talking with Cravel and left the room, Eve told her that Ezriella had already arrived.

“Already? She’s supposed to come in three hours…”

Cravel looked helpless. He knew Ezriella had been expelled from the Academy and had a bad relationship with Irene, but he couldn’t simply cancel the appointment.

Her family was noble, and there were no problems with the shop.

Even though he had scheduled the visit with a time gap to avoid unnecessary encounters, she had arrived early.

At that moment, a staff member quietly mentioned that the child accompanying Ezriella had tugged at Eve’s hair.

Irene’s eyes flared instantly.

“I’m not fine! I’ll go and pull her hair back! The Terrence family motto is to return what you suffer tenfold!”

Eve struggled to hold back the charging Irene.

Of course, she felt frustrated, thinking she could have done the same. If Irene went to retaliate, it might even make her feel slightly relieved.

‘But…’

Seeing Eve, she felt something odd. She didn’t want to encounter her again.

So, she didn’t want Irene to face her either.

“I’m really holding back this time. Next time, even if you stop me, I won’t hold back.”

“Mm, got it. I’ll shout first if I try to stop you next time! But if you do it, I won’t lose either.”

With Eve’s confident reply, Irene glared at the room where Ezriella and Eve were, then took Eve downstairs.

Cravel followed to see them off.

It seemed they didn’t want to enter or meet them for a long time.

And a week later, in the morning.

“Hi, Eve. I came to get you.”

Eve faced Arcel, who had arrived early in the morning.

Behind her, still sleepy-eyed, Irene muttered,

“Why are you picking me up so early…?”