USML 31

Chapter 31

Evan Dustin’s appearance shocked everyone.
The nobles, their faces mirroring Juliana’s, were stunned and watched Evan silently. Juliana, the party’s main guest, had become a mere shadow of him—it was a complete role reversal.
It was understandable. In my world, it would be like a celebrity showing up at a middle school birthday party. In modern times, someone might even look for a hidden camera, but this wasn’t that kind of situation.

“This can’t be happening.”
“Did Duke Dustin have any connection with the Shirecium family?”
Juliana wiped the juice running down her jaw with the back of her hand. Her eyes widened as if they might pop out.

Sigh…

I noticed it was unusually quiet. I let out a silent sigh and looked around, then hid behind Robert, who was the closest to me.

“What’s wrong?”
I grabbed the edge of Robert’s coat as he asked.

“Please, just stay still.”

I couldn’t be certain that I was the reason Evan attended the party, but it was highly likely. Whatever his reason, it would be bad for me to run into him.

Holding onto Robert’s coat, I began to back away slowly. He rolled his eyes, clearly unsure what to do.

“Miss.”
Since joining the department, Robert had always addressed me formally as “Department Head,” but now he called me “Miss,” showing how flustered he was.

“Shh, Robert. Don’t act like a robot—follow quietly. He won’t hurt us.”

I moved in a stiff, awkward posture while keeping an eye on Yuria. She whispered something to a servant, adjusted her clothes, and then, with graceful, light steps, approached Evan.

I silently thanked Yuria. Please, stall him. Buy me some time, Yuria!

“Hurry, come on, quick.”
I tugged on Robert’s coat, and he followed me hesitantly. At that moment, Juliana turned her head toward where I was.

“Sister! That person…!”
Juliana stared at me, dumbfounded.

“What are you doing there?”
“…I think something got on Robert’s coat.”

I awkwardly straightened my bent back and brushed something off his coat with my hand.

“Haha…”
Juliana gave me a suspicious look at my nervous laugh. Soon after, she waved off my odd behavior, as if it didn’t matter, and boldly approached.

“Yuria said I absolutely couldn’t, but I’m too curious! Is the rumor true that Duke Dustin and Sister Sherry are lovers?”

I answered Juliana’s question with a small smile. I wanted to know too—what was their relationship, and when Evan’s anger would subside.

“Please, tell me?”
While I hesitated, Juliana clasped her hands together and pressed forward.

“Wait, Juliana. Ah!”
As I stepped back from her, my heel caught a small stone, and I stumbled.

“Ugh…”
I had no choice but to cling to Robert’s coat for support. His hand instinctively held my shoulder.

“Thank you, Robert.”
His touch helped me regain my balance.

“Are you okay, Sister?”
“I’m fine.”
I looked at Robert, silently asking him to let go, but he only gripped me tighter. Instead, his gaze was fixed blankly on one spot.

“Robert?”
Following his gaze, I saw Evan.

“This way, Your Grace.”
Evan entered the garden, guided by Yuria, his calm eyes scanning the surroundings.

At some point, his blue eyes stopped at a certain spot. They sank from the surface to the depths.

It’s over.
I should have run sooner. As Evan stepped forward, the crowd parted like the Red Sea. He moved with the fluid grace of a tiger marking its prey.

“Your Grace, perhaps you should greet Juliana, the party’s main guest.”
“I sent a gift.”
“For Juliana, having a conversation with Your Grace is a greater gift.”
“I sent a gift anyway.”

Yuria tried to speak, but Evan remained as steadfast as an iron fortress.

“What do we do! Come this way!”
Juliana frantically tapped my shoulder and set down her juice glass, hastily adjusting her outfit.

“Yes, this should be fun.”
I replied in a complicated mix of dread and resignation. The murmurs around us grew louder as people gradually moved back. Cornered at the edge, I had nowhere to escape.

I have no choice.
If I can’t escape, I might as well ignore it. Lost in my thoughts, I watched the clouds drifting above. That one looks like a dinosaur… that one’s a banana… that one’s cotton candy… Soon Evan would become a thundercloud to catch me…

Following the clouds’ path with my gaze, I spotted Robert. He raised one corner of his mouth slowly. It was a subtle, unfamiliar expression that didn’t look like a smile.

“Robert?”
“Yes, Miss.”
Our eyes met, and Robert smiled as naturally as usual, as if nothing had happened.

Right, it must be my imagination. I nodded, forcing myself to stay calm.

“Vanessa.”
At that moment, Evan’s cold voice cut through my ears. Turning my gaze, I saw him squint one eye, his displeasure obvious.

So he notices me anyway.
I took a deep breath in and out. Yuria closed her eyes tightly, and the nobles and Juliana watched the strange combination, bewildered.

Evan’s gaze shifted three times—once to me, once to Robert, and once to my shoulder held by Robert.

Only then did I realize Robert was still holding my shoulder. I twisted my upper body and freed myself.

“Ha.”
Evan, observing the scene, let out a faint laugh and slowly ran his index finger across his lips. His fingertips pressed against his crimson lips.

“You still can’t focus when you see someone half-and-half, huh.”
Evan raised one eyebrow and twisted his chin, clearly suppressing his anger—like a man witnessing his wife’s infidelity.

“Ah, right.”
Evan removed his hand from his lips as if recalling something.

“You said your taste had changed.”
His eyes turned to Robert, burning with intensity.

First, avoid drawing attention.
I approached Evan with a formal bow.

“It’s an honor to meet the Empire’s Sword, Duke Dustin.”
I lifted my dress slightly and bowed. Evan looked down at me, brushing back his hair, his face showing how much he found me irritating.

Ignoring me, huh.
“I’m not sure what you mean, Your Grace. I’ll take my leave for now, hoping to meet with my sister later.”

Mentioning Sherry deliberately caused the nobles to hold their breath.

“So the rumors were true!”
Juliana clenched her fists and bent her knees in excitement.

Up until now, I had handled things well. It was best to leave before other rumors spread. I took a final bow and exhaled with relief.

“Well then.”
I tugged on the end of Robert’s coat and turned to leave.

At that moment, Evan’s indifferent voice cut through the air, commanding.

“You can’t leave like that.”
I froze, blinking in surprise.

“What…?”
“Choose.”
Evan gestured toward Robert, grinding his teeth.

“Huh? Me?”
I froze, bewildered. Everyone around wore the same shocked expression. Evan’s words went beyond a simple connection to Sherry.

Robert scratched his neck, smiling awkwardly. Why do you always look embarrassed?

“What… do you mean?”
I tried to avoid the situation, giving a pleading look over Evan’s broad shoulders.

Unfortunately, no one responded. Juliana gasped, and Yuria’s face twisted in despair.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Dave. I did my best.”
Yuria shook her head lightly. In the distance, nobles whispered among themselves.

“Oh my, what’s happening?”
“Did Miss Vanessa steal Duke Dustin?”
“Or maybe she’s the one the proposal was meant for!”
“Well, whoever it is, the Peard Guild prospers regardless.”

They were giddy like it wasn’t their problem. Some whispered that Vanessa had stolen her sister’s man, others said Vanessa was always the intended recipient, some said no—it was the sister stealing someone else’s love, and that Duke Dustin had no integrity. They were all over the place.

Time passed, and my anger rose. Now I realized—he had deliberately come to Juliana’s birthday party to make things difficult for me.

Was he trying to ruin my love life, marriage prospects, and even my business? Evan noticed my discomfort and smiled with delight.

“You promised eternity with me.”
What? Eternity? When did I…? I let out a bewildered, helpless laugh.

He tilted his head and whispered just loudly enough for me to hear.

“Promises must be kept.”

He moved away, scanning the crowd’s reactions. The nobles gasped, covering their mouths.

“Miss Vanessa and Duke Dustin aren’t just acquaintances, are they?”
“Could it be…?”
The nobles exchanged intrigued looks.

No, no! I was too flustered to speak. I waved my hands, shook my head, and exaggerated every expression to explain, but the small groups whispering around me didn’t care about my denials.

This person!
I glanced at Evan, trying to avoid his eyes.

“You’ve crossed a line. Please refrain from baseless statements, Your Grace.”
Even though I spoke firmly, he remained completely confident, as if my denial didn’t matter.

Then Evan’s voice from Cent, like water, seeped back into my mind.

“You’ll be the master of my soul, won’t you?”

…Oh no. I groaned and squeezed my eyes shut.