APML 21

Chapter 21

“Me?”
Does a Grand Duke really take interest in a mere employee?
Evelyn blinked in surprise, her face full of curiosity.

“Oh my, I didn’t even offer you a seat. I’ve committed quite the faux pas.”
The Grand Duke smiled gently and extended his hand, inviting Evelyn to sit.
After hesitating for a moment, Evelyn carefully took her seat.

“I heard about what happened in Snowfall. You saved Cain, didn’t you?”
“Oh, yes. Somehow, it just happened that way.”
“You almost died from poison, yet you speak as if it were nothing.”
“Excuse me?”
“Fortunately, it was Shuran’s poison. Finding an antidote wouldn’t have been too difficult.”
“Yes, that’s true.”

Although the assassin’s attack was known, only a few knew about Evelyn’s involvement and the Shuran poison.
Cain would likely have reported it simply as: “There was an attack, but it was handled.”
So the Grand Duke must have found out.
It wasn’t surprising; in the original story, it was mentioned that the Grand Duke had eyes and ears everywhere around Cain.

“I should have thanked you sooner. But it’s late now. So,”
The Grand Duke set down his teacup and fixed Evelyn with his gaze.
“Do you have anything you desire? As your father, I intend to reward you.”

His lips smiled, but his eyes were sharp, like a blade, appraising Evelyn.
Evelyn swallowed dryly, feeling the fine hairs on her skin stand on end without realizing it.

“No, I’ve already been sufficiently rewarded by Cain.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Does Cain personally bringing you to the capital and letting you stay at his house count as part of that reward?”
“Well… yes.”

She wasn’t sure why she felt intimidated even though she hadn’t done anything wrong.
The aura of someone who had lived as a hidden force in the Empire was just that overwhelming.
She forced a smile, but when their eyes met, she couldn’t help feeling tense.

“Oh, Evelyn. Surely that’s not all. There must be something else you desire, right?”
The Grand Duke chuckled.
It was a smile so similar to Cain’s that she wondered if Cain would smile the same way when he grew older.

“What do you mean?”
“Even if you are your benefactor’s daughter, staying in a stranger’s house is hardly an ordinary situation.”

Only then did Evelyn realize the Grand Duke’s intention behind his words.
“It’s nothing you need to worry about, Your Highness.”
Knowing his concern made it easier to respond calmly.

“The Commander is simply accommodating me because I have no connections in the capital.”
“Is that so?”
“I’ve already promised that I’ll leave once I’m able to support myself.”

Her steady, clear words showed she wasn’t trying to deceive him.
The Grand Duke chuckled and nodded.
“Very well. If that’s the case, I suppose it is as you say, Evelyn.”

Then what about Cain?
She wondered why he had brought her to his mansion when there could have been other places for her to stay.
“Perhaps he was intrigued because, like my mother, she’s from the North.”
It was different from his calm wife’s temperament, but the outward impression was similar.

“Your Highness?”
“Hm?”
The Grand Duke snapped out of his thoughts at Evelyn’s call.
She was sitting neatly, looking straight at him.

“I suppose it’s time to go now.”
“Not seeing Cain before you leave?”
Surprised by her question, the Grand Duke paused to look at her.
Waiting to warmly welcome a son returning from the battlefield was a notion so foreign to him that he had never considered it.

“No, it’s fine. He’ll be late anyway.”
The Grand Duke refused in a single word and left the reception room.
He approached the carriage waiting outside without saying anything to Evelyn following behind.

As he was about to board, one of the servants hurriedly ran out from the mansion.
“Your Highness, you forgot this.”
“Oh, did I?”
The servant handed him a black cane.

“Take good care of her.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”

Quietly giving orders so that neither the butler nor Evelyn could hear, the Grand Duke got into the carriage.

“Well then, I shall be on my way.”
“Safe travels, Your Highness.”

After glancing at Evelyn, who bowed politely, he signaled for the doors to be closed.
Placing both hands on the cane’s handle and staring straight ahead, his posture was impeccable, leaving no gaps despite his age.

“Hmm.”
The Grand Duke had no intention of meddling in Cain’s romantic affairs.
As long as Cain married a girl from a respectable family, it didn’t matter whether she was a mistress or anything else—even if there were several.
What concerned him was a woman who could become a special weakness for Cain.
Evelyn might not be at that level, but as the first woman to enter Cain’s private sphere, there was reason to watch her.

Receiving word through the butler that the Grand Duke had visited, Cain hurried home.
“Father?”
“He has returned to the Grand Duke’s residence.”
“Already?”
“Yes. He had a brief conversation with the lady and left immediately.”

Cain looked up at the second floor where Evelyn would be.
Since he returned earlier than usual, Evelyn didn’t come out to greet him.

“Do you know what they talked about?”
“No. Only the two of them were in the reception room. But judging by her expression, it seems it wasn’t unpleasant.”
“Is that so?”

From experience, he knew Evelyn wasn’t one to be easily intimidated.
Could she really have acted that way even with the Grand Duke?
Well… maybe she had.

“So where is she now?”
“She’s in her room. She said she’ll rest until mealtime.”

Cain stopped the butler from following him and hurried upstairs.
Standing in front of Evelyn’s door, he hesitated briefly before knocking and entering.
Evelyn, half-lying on the sofa reading a book, sat up.

“It’s fine. Make yourself comfortable.”
“Oh, yes.”

Evelyn set the book on the table, straightened her crumpled skirt, and sat properly.
Cain silently waited until she gave him her attention.

“But why are you back so early? Is everything nearly settled?”
“What did Father say?”

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Evelyn blinked.
“Oh, so that’s why you came home early. I was surprised too.”
She smiled as if it were nothing.

“He said he came because he was curious about me.”
“You?”
“He knew I saved Cain. And also that I almost died from Shuran’s poison.”
“What?”

“I was so surprised. Wasn’t that supposed to be a secret? Or did he tell you because he’s your father?”
“…It happened that way.”

Cain answered reluctantly and fell silent.
He was troubled that the security of his trusted intelligence unit had been penetrated by the Grand Duke.
Even if he secured independent command and operated his intelligence unit secretly, it was useless.

“So? That’s all?”
“Yes. He said he wants to reward me.”
“Reward? For you? Father?”

The Grand Duke hadn’t come for such a personal reason.
Cain finally realized why his father had gone out of his way to visit his mansion.
Through Evelyn, the Grand Duke wanted to send a message: that it was he who sent the assassin.
He had used Shuran’s poison intentionally, expecting that Cain would figure it out since it was during the war with Shuran.
He also knew Cain’s life wouldn’t be in danger, as enough antidotes were stocked.

Not only that, if Cain fell to the poison, Count Bernard, Vice Commander and the Grand Duke’s confidant, would take over his duties.
As Acting Commander, he would likely try to convert the armistice agreement to a peace agreement as the Grand Duke desired.

Although Cain had guessed vaguely, seeing it confirmed made him laugh bitterly.
He had expected scolding or lectures but not this level of involvement.
His father remained harsh and strict.

“Cain?”
Evelyn’s worried gaze snapped him out of his thoughts.

“That’s all?”
“Yes. That’s all.”

“….”
Evelyn acted as usual, but that only made Cain uneasy.

“So… did you tell Father what you wanted as a reward?”
“Oh, I didn’t. There wasn’t really a chance to say.”

It was hardly the atmosphere for such a thing.
There was no way she could speak up, given the misunderstanding that she was Cain’s girl.

“Really? I thought you’d boldly ask for something.”
“What do you take me for?”

Pouting, Evelyn looked annoyed, and Cain chuckled.
Cain’s smile reminded her again of the Grand Duke’s.

Cain too might become that cold and frightening as he aged, she thought, feeling a pang in her heart.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Huh?”

Cain stared at her, puzzled.
“Uh… me? What did I do?”
“Why are you looking at me with a face like you can’t tolerate me?”
“…No, it’s not like that. Isn’t that too harsh?”

Flustered, Evelyn turned her head sharply.
“I’m upset. Really upset.”
“What are you upset about?”

“You know I’m usually not the type to be intimidated, Cain, right?”
“I know.”
“But I felt awkward with the Grand Duke, so I couldn’t say what I wanted. He seemed ready to grant anything.”

“What is it that you want?”