NLBM 05

chapter 05 

Mary, who had been carrying a washbasin, avoided Eveline’s gaze and moved as stiffly as a rusted machine.

“Huh? Of course not! I-I think my hands are just shaking!”

Noticing her unnatural movements, Rose snatched the basin from Mary’s hands and hummed casually.

“Hmmm~ Milady really only has eyes for His Grace~”

Her tone was playful, but her voice trembled like a frightened goat.

Seeing how unusual her maids were acting, Eveline suddenly felt uneasy.

Wait. I only know Cassian?

Could it be…

‘Does that mean Cassian is having an affair?’

But he didn’t seem like the type.

Just a few days ago, he had personally fed her soup.

He was practically obsessed with making sure she ate well.

Would a husband like that really leave her for another woman?

Did that make any sense?

Especially when they had barely begun their marriage?

Countless possibilities crossed her mind, but instead of finding answers, her thoughts only became more tangled.

Ugh, my head hurts. I’m done thinking about it.

If she couldn’t figure it out no matter how much she pondered, there was only one solution.

She would ask directly.

“You two. Are you hiding something from me?”

Crash!

“Huh?! Of course not!”

Mary, who had been carrying a bottle of scented oil, jumped in shock and dropped it.

The bottle shattered.

Rosewater spilled across the white carpet, spreading pale stains like ripples.

As Mary hurriedly gathered the broken shards, she tried to hide her panicked expression.

How did she know? Is a villainess’s intuition really that sharp?

She wanted to run away immediately, but then Sophia, the head maid, spoke through the artifact disguised as a brooch.

—Rose! You blabbermouth! Deny everything first!

To prevent mishaps, Sophia had given both Rose and Mary artifacts disguised as brooches.

Fortunately, the magic on them allowed only the wearer to hear the transmitted voices, so Eveline couldn’t hear a thing.

—Mary, Rose. Be careful! Endure for just two more months and you’ll be promoted to official maids.

Sophia’s voice helped Mary regain her composure.

That’s right. I’d never find a workplace this good anywhere else! Calm down. I only need to survive two more months!

Just a little longer and she’d finally become a full-fledged maid.

But the Eveline standing before her was simply too terrifying.

[They say Lady Selredian slaps maids on the spot if her hair gets tangled while being brushed!]

[If another lady takes the dress she planned to wear to a banquet, she gathers all the maids and beats them until she calms down!]

[They say she carries a switch around and hits maids whenever they displease her!]

When Mary had first heard those rumors, she had scoffed.

But now that she saw Eveline in person, they didn’t seem entirely false.

Just look at that fierce gaze.

“Tell me the truth.”

“L-Lady! Please don’t say such hurtful things!”

“That’s right~ What secrets could we possibly have from yooou~?”

Even Rose, usually so smooth-talking, avoided eye contact while sloshing the basin around.

Water splashed everywhere, but no one had the leisure to point it out.

“For people with nothing to hide, you’re both trembling an awful lot.”

The pressure was relentless.

Even when they clearly looked troubled, Lady Selredian refused to stop questioning them.

When they had first been assigned to serve Eveline, they had begged the head maid to place them anywhere else.

Then—

“Oh my, you’re my personal maids?”

The Eveline they met had seemed radiant.

Like the Goddess of Earth herself standing before them.

When she smiled innocently, they had thought an angel had descended to the mortal world.

But now they realized—

She was a devil!

What do we do?

We’re doomed if she catches us!

“M-Mary… I think we…”

“…have to confess, right?”

The two exchanged glances.

Then they suddenly grabbed the hem of Eveline’s skirt and burst out:

“Waaah! Well, you see!”

“The truth is, Milady!”

—Nooooo!!!

The head maid’s desperate scream echoed through the artifact.

But it was too late.

Survival came first.

Your Grace, forgive us! We had no choice!

* * *

“Your Grace, I believe you should return to your office immediately.”

Head Maid Sophia hurriedly sought out Cassian.

Her urgency caused a questioning look to appear in his eyes.

“What happened?”

“My apologies, Your Grace. The maids let something slip.”

The maids let something slip…

Had the lady discovered something?

After dismissing Sophia, Cassian reviewed the reports sent by his spies and organized the information.

He then tied a note to the leg of a carrier pigeon and released it toward the Imperial Palace.

Only after confirming the bird had left the estate did he finally head back from the hunting grounds attached to the ducal residence.

“Dear.”

The moment he entered his office, he found Eveline sitting on the sofa with her arms crossed.

“Eveline?”

“Eveline? Did you forget how to address me?”

A sharp glare shot at him the instant he spoke.

Her eyes, cold and venomous as a snake’s, wrapped around him.

“Not at all. I simply wished to say your name.”

“Hm. Is that so?”

Cassian curved his eyes into a gentle smile.

Though suspicious, Eveline seemed willing to let it slide and took a sip of tea from the table.

This is definitely my office… so why am I the one feeling intimidated?

For reasons he couldn’t understand, Eveline had occupied his office along with her maids.

“Have a seat, dear.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Anyone watching would think she owned the place.

Maintaining a pleasant smile, Cassian sat across from her.

“To what do I owe this visit?”

“Did you really think I wouldn’t come?”

Bang!

Before he could finish speaking, Eveline slammed her teacup onto the table.

Tea splashed onto the decorative embroidered cloth beneath it.

Neither of them cared.

They simply stared at one another.

Only after an uncomfortable silence filled the room did Eveline finally ask, slowly restraining her anger:

“Why did you hide it from me all this time?”

Damn. She found out already?

He had repeatedly warned everyone to be careful.

From her accusatory gaze and vague question, Cassian reached a conclusion.

Eveline had regained her memories.

Perhaps this is for the best.

At least this absurd charade can finally end.

Now that she knew the truth, there was no point continuing the act.

The play was over.

He could finally reveal his true self.

“Well…”

Just as Cassian was about to confess everything, a shocking statement burst from Eveline’s lips.

“I heard the ducal family is poor!”

“Poor?”

Cassian felt as though someone had hit him over the head.

Poor?

The Hethus Ducal House was experiencing its greatest prosperity in history.

A family wealthy enough to rival the Imperial Household itself.

And she thought they were poor?

“Rose. Mary.”

Trying to understand what had happened, Cassian called for the maids.

His imposing tone made both women hiccup simultaneously.

“Hic!”

“Don’t scold the maids.”

He sent them a look demanding an explanation, but Eveline immediately blocked him.

Apparently she hadn’t regained her memories after all.

The act could continue.

But somehow, he had become an incompetent fool in the process.

Does this woman think I’m incapable of even supporting my own household?

He was so dumbfounded that words failed him.

He was still wondering where to begin correcting her misunderstanding when—

“Phew. I should have realized sooner.”

Eveline muttered to herself with a grave expression.

At the same time, she recalled what the maids had told her.

[His Grace barely has time to stay at the estate because he’s busy earning money!]

[Waaah! That’s right, Milady! The ducal house is suffering because of severe financial hardship!]

Only after hearing the “truth” from the maids did Eveline finally understand the source of all those lingering oddities.

That’s it. I knew something felt off.

Even if she was bedridden, they were still husband and wife.

There had to be a reason why Cassian rarely visited despite their being newlyweds.

Fortunately, after the maids finished speaking, a sudden headache struck her, and information about the southern region flooded her mind.

The grain-producing region consumed by flames years ago.

The import business that had abruptly collapsed.

Trade routes that seemed deliberately sabotaged.

The events surfaced so vividly that it felt as though she had experienced them herself.

It was strange that only certain information had appeared in her mind, but she had gained an unexpected clue.

No matter how you look at it, if Cassian has to earn money personally, the ducal family’s finances must be in terrible shape.

“Evel— I mean, my lady.”

“Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.”

“I knew it! No matter how hard things get, you still have to eat properly. Mary, Rose, go to the kitchen and tell them to prepare a meal immediately.”

“Yes, Milady!”

So focused on making sure she ate, he hadn’t even been taking care of himself.

How hard must it have been?

Worrying about his sick wife in front of everyone while secretly working to earn money behind the scenes.

There were countless ways to make money through other people.

Yet he was doing it himself.

My husband is too much of a pushover—no, he’s just too kind!

Well, what could she do?

A strong-willed wife like her would simply have to protect him.

“Dear, don’t worry. From now on, I’ll help you!”

Eveline’s attitude flipped completely.

The woman who had been glaring at him moments ago now seized his hand and smiled brightly, batting her eyelashes.

Her eyes were filled with unwavering affection.

For some reason, seeing that look made Cassian uncomfortable.

Slowly withdrawing his hand, he awkwardly looked away.

“Even hearing you say that is appreciated.”

“No need to thank me. We’re husband and wife. We should overcome hardships together!”

Overcome hardships together…

For someone who had always faced everything alone, hearing those words was strangely comforting.

Even knowing she was technically the enemy’s daughter.

His guard relaxed more than before.

And then—

“By the way, dear. Where are the account books?”

Tilting her head, Eveline finally arrived at the real point.