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Chapter 2
Evelyn’s parents looked at her with troubled expressions.
“Evelyn, being able to know things like that isn’t normal. So you must never tell anyone about it.”
“What will happen if I do?”
“They’ll take you away and hurt you.”
From that day on, Evelyn kept her mouth shut.
She didn’t know exactly how they would hurt her, but she was sure it wouldn’t be anything good.
Maybe they would lock her in the attic and force her to eat vegetables she hated.
Or maybe they would take away her snacks.
She hated both ideas, so she decided to act like every other child.
Even so…
The dreams never stopped.
No matter how hard she tried, Evelyn was slowly becoming someone different from everyone else.
But Grandfather never once questioned my strange behavior.
He had already known what kind of ability Evelyn possessed.
It’s not even a perfect ability.
She had managed to stop the cookie jar from falling off the cupboard.
But she couldn’t stop her grandfather’s death.
The same thing had happened to her father.
That was why he had died as well.
Her ability only brought her pain.
As she stared blankly at the ceiling of the cabin, Evelyn slowly closed her eyes.
Her body was fine.
But her mind was exhausted.
She just wanted to rest for a while.
Then…
She dreamed once again.
“Congratulations on His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday!”
Someone raised a mug of beer and shouted.
The crowded streets were filled with cheerful people.
The whole city was celebrating.
“Long live the Pabelrn Empire!”
Only after hearing those cheers did Evelyn realize where she was…
And when.
This must be around the Emperor’s birthday celebration.
She carefully looked around.
Every prophetic dream carried a message.
Instinctively, she searched for its meaning.
Then she saw him.
A man wearing a hood stood in front of her.
Part of his hair peeked out from beneath it.
His golden hair shone brightly in the sunlight.
Suddenly, she remembered something her grandfather had once said.
“His hair shines like the sunlight.”
Without realizing it, Evelyn found herself staring at him.
Then the man began to walk.
Following him wasn’t easy.
Crowds of people filled the streets.
But they couldn’t stop her.
Because this is only a dream.
The man left the busy streets and entered a narrow alley.
With every step he took, the bright festival disappeared behind him, replaced by dark back streets.
He’s fast!
Just as Evelyn finally caught up to him…
Several people covered in a dark, sinister aura attacked him.
The murderous intent filling the alley was so overwhelming that it felt as if it would swallow even Evelyn.
And then…
The dream showing the future came to an end.
“Ah!”
Evelyn opened her eyes.
Everything around her was dark and silent.
She rubbed her face and blinked several times.
Let’s think.
The man in her dream had blond hair.
But that didn’t prove he was Grand Duke Gracias.
There were countless blond people in the world.
But… what if it really was him?
Her grandfather had always wanted to repay the kindness he had received from Grand Duke Gracias.
He had wished for it with all his heart.
Evelyn wanted to fulfill that wish for him.
Even if it was now a wish that could never be heard.
“Let’s go.”
She stood up.
For the first time since her grandfather’s death, a little of her motivation had returned.
She decided to leave this place.
She hadn’t taken anything from the mansion.
Her relatives probably wouldn’t bother searching for her.
If anything, they would be happy she was gone.
She didn’t want to give up the mansion filled with memories of her grandfather.
But there was nothing an ordinary noble lady could do.
Evelyn understood reality.
Maybe… I really can save the Grand Duke.
She shook her head.
Still, doing something was better than doing nothing.
First, I’ll find out whether that man really is the Grand Duke.
She would think about everything else afterward.
And so…
Evelyn began her journey toward the imperial capital.
There was still plenty of time before the Emperor’s birthday celebration.
She should be able to arrive in time.
Yes…
That was how everything began.
“It was a crazy thing to do.”
Evelyn let out a deep sigh.
Traveling to the imperial capital wasn’t difficult.
A few things happened along the way, but nothing serious.
They were the kind of problems anyone traveling alone might encounter.
None of them were especially hard to solve.
The real problem came much later.
It happened after Evelyn learned more about the Grand Duke.
Contrary to her worries, it didn’t take long for Evelyn to find information about Grand Duke Gracias after arriving in the capital.
Printing technology was highly developed in the capital, and newspapers were sold everywhere.
By coincidence, the front page of one newspaper featured a large article about Grand Duke Gracias.
The picture printed there was exactly the same face she had seen in her prophetic dream.
I worried for nothing.
Thinking that, Evelyn wandered over to the shop selling newspapers.
Before long, she realized something.
“Grand Duke Gracias is a very famous person.”
If Evelyn had spent more time socializing with other people…
Or if she had ever read newspapers…
She would have known that already.
But she had never enjoyed sitting politely with others, chatting and sharing noble etiquette.
She had much preferred going hunting outside with her grandfather.
The same was true for newspapers and magazines.
Her grandfather had no interest in gossip, so he never subscribed to any of them.
Naturally, Evelyn had grown up without caring about them either.
But…
Maybe she should have paid a little attention.
The front page displayed a huge headline beside a picture of Grand Duke Gracias.
“Why Was the Second Son of Marquis Hise’s Leg Broken?!”
Why was it broken?
She felt equal parts curiosity and unease.
Wondering what had happened, she bought a newspaper and sat on a nearby bench.
The article said this:
Lunt, the second son of Marquis Hise, accidentally bumped into the Grand Duke while walking down the street.
The Grand Duke immediately broke Lunt’s leg.
“What?”
Evelyn read the article again, thinking she must have misunderstood it.
Every result should have a cause.
Who would break someone’s leg over a simple accident?
Thinking she might have missed something, she carefully read every line.
Then she checked the other pages as well.
She still couldn’t understand it.
So she approached a gentleman standing nearby who was reading a newspaper.
“Excuse me, may I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
The gentleman looked up at Evelyn.
“I read this newspaper, but I don’t understand what it says.”
“Which part don’t you understand?”
With a serious expression, Evelyn pointed to the front page.
“Why did Grand Duke Gracias break the Marquis’s son’s leg?”
Coincidentally, the gentleman was reading the very same newspaper.
“Doesn’t the article explain it? Is the writing too difficult?”
“No, that’s not it. I read the whole thing, and it only says they bumped into each other while walking.”
The gentleman’s expression became rather strange.
He stroked his chin before speaking.
“That really is the whole story.”
“…What?”
“He broke the young master’s leg simply because they bumped into each other.”
“Why?”
Really?
Just because they bumped into each other?
Evelyn looked at the gentleman with disbelief.
He smiled awkwardly.
“I know what you’re thinking, but it isn’t like that. It’s just that Grand Duke Gracias is…”
He stopped speaking there.
“If you read the older newspapers, you’ll understand. Anyway… every word of it is true.”
After saying that, he quickly walked away.
“The older newspapers?”
Following his advice, Evelyn searched for previous editions.
Fortunately, she learned that a nearby library kept old newspapers.
The entrance fee wasn’t very expensive.
So she sat down inside the library and began reading one newspaper after another.
In almost every issue, Grand Duke Gracias appeared on the front page.
He wasn’t difficult to find.
Property destruction.
She turned another page.
Physical assault.
Her hands began to tremble more and more.
Insults. Threats.
When she finally closed the last newspaper…
Evelyn’s face had turned completely pale.
