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Chapter 28
The late hour when the moon was already high. At the east gate of the Imperial Palace, a pale lavender carriage marked with a snow leopard crest stood ready, waiting to depart.
Bridget stood in front of it, glancing between her watch and the moon above.
Other delegations had already left long ago and should have arrived by now, but Bridget was silently hoping the hands of her clock would stall before striking the hour.
“I wanted to see her one more time before leaving.”
Though she had expected it, she still felt disappointed. Fixing her gaze on the road she thought Eva might appear from, she finally turned her back.
“Sir Bridget!”
The moment her name rang out, Bridget’s lips reacted first—curling into a grin as she turned.
Eva was running toward him, clutching the sides of her dress. Bridget stepped forward to meet her, reaching out his hand so she wouldn’t have to keep running.
“Lady Eva, you’ll trip. There’s no need to hurry.”
“Huff… I was afraid you’d already left.”
“I was just about to.”
Eva leaned against his hand as if it were a pillar, catching her breath. Bridget waited calmly, not urging her on.
Once she had steadied herself, Eva lifted her gaze to his bright, glimmering eyes.
“I came to give you my answer.”
“Yes. To tell me you won’t come with me.”
“H-how did you know?”
“If you’d decided to emigrate, you wouldn’t have come empty-handed.”
“Ah… I suppose that’s true.”
“Even if you hadn’t come, I would have understood your decision. So why trouble yourself to be here?”
“How could I not? You’re the one who first offered me the chance to go with you. I at least owe you a proper farewell.”
She had truly been shaken by his sweet proposal. To someone always despised and scorned as a villainess, Bridget’s outstretched hand and invitation to leave together had been deeply moving.
If her resolve had been only to live well apart from the main characters, it would have been the perfect proposal. Yet something weighed too heavily on her heart to leave.
Julian. No proof, only suspicion, but too strong to ignore. Eva had to confirm whether Julian retained memories of her past life—and how she had returned as a princess at all.
If she left now, the unanswered question might drive her insane. Perhaps it was, as Chase had said, that her fiery personality simply didn’t suit running away.
And besides, there was another person she couldn’t leave unsettled.
Eva Blanche… it’s you. The one I truly like.
She had yet to answer Rai. Her mind leaned toward refusal, but she didn’t want to leave without saying anything.
Even if it was rejection, it deserved to be said.
“Won’t you regret not leaving?”
Bridget gently traced her hand with his thumb as he asked.
“Of course I will.”
The answer surprised him. He had expected her to deny it, but Eva admitted it easily.
“There will surely be days I regret not following you, Sir Bridget. Maybe even tomorrow morning.”
“Then why won’t you come?”
“Because I think I’d regret it even more if I did go to Fene.”
Her green eyes gleamed vividly under the moonlight.
“If I go to Fene, I’ll regret not standing my ground here, not facing things head-on. Since I’ll regret something either way, I’d rather choose the path with less regret.”
Bridget was impressed. From start to finish, she was a woman he could never predict.
“Still, I truly appreciate your invitation. No one has ever offered me something like that before.”
“If I can remain in your memory even that way, I’ll be content.”
“Then when I someday travel to Fene, you’ll have to be my guide.”
“Hah. You’d use a state envoy as your tour guide?”
“Why not?”
Bridget laughed warmly, then lifted Eva’s hand. Just as he had when he proposed, he kissed the ring finger of her left hand.
“By all means, use me.”
“Then you’d better build up your stamina. When I go traveling, I squeeze every drop of fun out of it.”
“Squeeze what out?”
“You’ll see when the time comes.”
Eva laughed brightly, and Bridget couldn’t help but laugh with her.
His mismatched eyes—green and gold—seemed to deepen, as if two entirely different gazes stared back at once.
And in that moment, he clearly saw it: a deep wound across Eva’s throat, as if pierced by a great sword.
“You’ll come to find me one day. I’m certain of it.”
The brutal wound radiated pain just to look at, but Bridget kept his smile steady.
“Huh? I’m not marrying you.”
Eva instinctively rejected what she didn’t understand.
“Haha. Rejected again, am I?”
“Hurry and go already. Traveling at night only makes the journey longer.”
“Yes, I should leave before it’s any later.”
He stepped into the carriage with ease.
“It was a joy meeting you, Lady Eva.”
“Me too.”
“Then until we meet again—take care of yourself.”
“Safe travels, Sir Bridget.”
His carriage rolled away. With one matter settled, Eva turned to the next things she had to resolve.
A few days later—
“Your Highness, I pay my respects. Have you been feeling better?”
Eva once again stood in Julian’s chambers.
Unlike the day she had been abruptly dismissed by the princess’s sudden coughing fit, Julian now looked perfectly healthy.
What the—so she wasn’t sick at all?
“Yes, I’m well now.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“But I didn’t expect you to invite me before my brother Claude.”
Claude had indeed rewarded the aides listed in the reports and had even prepared a “gift” for Eva.
That “gift” turned out to be a forced dinner with himself. Eva’s head had spun at the idea of being alone with him—but then she realized it was a chance to sound Julian out.
So she requested Julian’s company, and Claude readily agreed.
“That day you summoned me to your chambers… I worried that my rudeness might have caused your illness. As an apology, I wished to spend this time together with Your Highness.”
Eva bowed her head in sincere apology, unlike before. Julian gave a satisfied smile.
“Yes, I should be the adult and understand the impetuousness of the young.”
Hey! You’re younger than me! Where do you get off acting like an elder? You want me to show you what a real nag looks like?!
Eva quickly reined in her temper before it exploded.
“Hmm. Today you wear a sky-blue dress, I see?”
The dinner with Claude was soon, yet Julian wore only an underdress. After looking Eva up and down, she chose a yellow gown from the maid’s rack.
Then, opposite Eva’s half-up hairstyle, she had her own hair completely done up.
“Leave us.”
With Eva in silver accessories, Julian adorned herself entirely in gold, chose white shoes, and dismissed her maids.
“Eva?”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“Would you help me put on my shoes?”
Now she was being treated like a maid.
Oh really? Not even pretending to be nice anymore, huh?
By their third meeting, Julian didn’t bother to hide her dislike for Eva.
“Of course. Allow me.”
Fine. I’ll endure this—for now.
Forcing a smile, Eva bent down, adjusting the shoe to make it easy for Julian to slip her foot in.
But Julian merely lifted her foot slightly, making no move to help.
When Eva looked up, she found Julian staring down at her—clearly expecting her to put the shoe on directly.
So much for acting mature. You’re worse than a five-year-old! Do I look like a shoe store clerk to you? We don’t sell to rude customers—please leave!
Once again Eva swallowed her temper.
At last, after putting on both shoes for her, the humiliating task was over.
“You seem quite talented at assisting with adornments.”
“Thangk youu. (Thank you.)”
“Would you like to become my personal attendant—”
“Your Highness, we’re already thirty minutes late. Isn’t it discourteous to keep Prince Claude waiting?”
Eva cut her off quickly before she could keep pushing. Julian clearly disliked being interrupted but conceded, since she couldn’t deny Claude had been kept waiting.
Clicking her heels against the floor, she strode toward the door, fixing Eva with a stare that meant: open it.
Just a little longer. Just endure a little longer…
Thinking ahead, Eva opened the door.
“Your Highness.”
Standing there was a tall figure—Rai.
Eva’s surprise showed; she hadn’t expected this.
“Rai!”
But Julian, delighted, ran right past Eva toward him, arms spread for an embrace. Rai swiftly stepped back two paces.
“Your Highness, please refrain from such greetings. Too many eyes are watching.”
“But I was so happy to see you, my body just moved on its own.”
“Even so, this is no longer appropriate. We are not children anymore.”
At his firm refusal, Julian’s disappointment was obvious.
Rai turned from her and met Eva’s eyes—the first time since his confession. His expression softened shyly.
“Good to see you.”
“And you. But… may I ask, why are you here?”
“I summoned him. Since it’s dinner with my brother Claude, Rai should be present as well.”
Well, I guess it’s fine if he joins. The more people the better.
“His Highness has been waiting a long time already. We should go at once.”
“Rai, walk beside me.”
“I am here on duty. I’ll follow behind.”
He widened the distance between himself and Julian, making it clear he wouldn’t budge.
Having only seen him constantly flirt with Julian in her past life, Eva was caught off guard by his coldness now.
It lent weight to his words that he liked her, not Julian. Eva quickened her steps.
Even though they arrived forty minutes late, Julian still walked lightly—until she saw who else was at the table besides Claude. She froze.
Eva was quick to step up beside her.
“What is it, Your Highness?”
“Why… why are they here?”
“Oh, I forgot to mention. There are other guests today.”
Eva smiled brightly as she explained.
“The Count and Countess Lawrence are joining us. I once wronged them and asked His Highness’s permission to apologize properly.”
“Your Highness.”
The Lawrences rose and bowed politely. Instead of returning the greeting, Julian glared at Eva.
“Is something the matter? Do you have something to say to me?” Eva asked innocently.
“…No.”
As if. Her reaction was obviously that of someone confronted with people she did not want to see. That only made Eva more certain Julian remembered their past life.
But why was she trying so hard to hide it? There was still much Eva needed to find out.
“Those who arrived late should sit down quickly.”
At Claude’s words from the head of the long dining table, the three hurried to their seats.
On Claude’s left sat the Lawrences and Eva. On his right sat Julian and Rai in that order.
Thus began a suffocating meal.
