CHAPTER 15

Eva, who was utterly shocked, couldn’t continue speaking and only blinked repeatedly. The fact that Rust’s identity had not been revealed until now meant there had been a secret agreement between the two men. The fact that a subordinate had exposed it while the person himself remained silent suggested that something serious had occurred.

Eva instinctively turned her head to look at Rust. His strong jaw was tightly clenched, as if he were angry. His gaze, sharp enough to pierce, shot toward Count Holland as though demanding an explanation.

“There’s no need to keep it a secret anymore, Your Highness. Miss Pamela has made a confession of conscience.”

“What?”

Rust frowned and asked back, as if he had just heard something absurd. Eva was equally stunned. Pamela, confession of conscience—just the pairing of those two words already felt unsettling.

“I have a question for you, Lady Maysis.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

Eva answered calmly, though her trembling hands were tightly clenched.

“Did you come to the riverside to seduce me?”

“What?”

Eva’s eyes widened to their limit. It felt as if she had been struck on the back of the head, leaving her mind dizzy. She couldn’t understand how he could even think such a thing, let alone say it aloud.

Of course, it was true that she had gone there with the intention of seducing him, so she couldn’t claim to be entirely free of guilt. However, the subject of the accusation was wrong. The one who had tried to seduce Count Holland was not her—it was Pamela.

Even though she knew their suspicion would turn into certainty the longer she remained silent, Eva couldn’t bring herself to speak recklessly. Pamela would never have confessed that truth, so she needed to understand the situation first.

“I’ve had enough of this.”

At that moment, it was Lady Bitty, the baroness’s wife, who suddenly stood up and shouted.

“Hey. Sit down and don’t interfere.”

“Let go of me.”

When Baron Bitty grabbed her arm, she forcefully shook him off and glared at Eva.

“So it was you who lured our innocent Pam into helping seduce Lord Holland, wasn’t it? And when she found out Lord Rust was His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, you changed your target!”

“What are you talking about? Pamela!”

Eva cried out in shock, calling Pamela’s name. This was truly absurd. A worst-case scenario she had half-dismissed as impossible was now becoming reality. All suspicion was converging on Pamela’s story, turning Eva—who had merely been an observer—into the main culprit.

Why?

She needed to hear Pamela’s explanation directly. Eva believed Pamela would clear her name and correct Count Holland and Baron Bitty’s unreasonable claims. She had believed Pamela would do so, despite her selfish and greedy nature.

“I’m sorry, Eva.”

Pamela stood up, clasping her hands together as if in prayer. With tears welling in her eyes and her shoulders trembling, she slowly walked toward Eva.

“I tried to keep it a secret until the end, but I can’t hide my guilt anymore. So, Eva…”

Pamela hugged Eva, tears streaming down her face.

“Let’s tell the truth and ask for forgiveness.”

While speaking loudly enough for everyone to hear, as if making a confession, she whispered something only Eva could hear:

“Cecile is running a high fever. Think carefully about how you should respond.”

As Pamela’s lips brushed her ear, Eva felt them curve into a faint smile before returning to normal. In that instant, goosebumps spread across her body. It felt as though a demon’s threat was flowing through her veins.

After letting go of Eva, Pamela scanned the crowd with a tearful, repentant face. Her innocent expression then settled on Rust.

“I’m sorry you had to see such an embarrassing side of me, Your Imperial Highness. But please don’t blame Eva too much. She is not a bad girl.”

Clasping her hands tightly to her chest, Pamela pleaded toward Rust. She looked like the heroine of a stage play—an innocent, beautiful young woman deceived by a wicked friend, only to ultimately reclaim her purity. Pamela had become the pure heroine, while Eva had been cast as the evil woman who corrupted her.

It felt as if all the candlelight in the darkness was illuminating Pamela alone. Everyone seemed absorbed in her performance, sympathizing with her emotions.

Eva alone could not blend in with them. She clutched her chest as a sharp pain spread through her, as if she had been struck hard. It was humiliating enough to be falsely accused, but being seen like this in front of everyone—especially in front of Rust—was almost unbearable. What expression was he making right now? She wanted to look at him, but fear kept her from turning her head.

“Lady Maysis. You knew Lord Rust was His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, didn’t you?”

Count Holland asked again, as if confirming the final detail. His voice was calm, but his gaze was filled with contempt.

“That is…”

Eva trailed off, dazed. It was true she had suspected Rust’s identity, but that was only after hearing Cecile’s words. She had no direct involvement in it.

“If you refuse to answer, then there’s no helping it. Come here, Rossy.”

An unexpected name came from Count Holland’s mouth. All eyes turned toward the corner following his gaze.

Rossy?

At that moment, Eva’s memory flashed back. The maid Rossy she had encountered earlier when she went to find Rust and Count Holland after dinner—the pale face and awkward behavior she had shown.

Could it be…?

“You came to call us during the evening tea, didn’t you?”

“Yes, that’s right…”

Rossy, shrinking under the Count’s questioning, answered nervously.

“What did you hear?”

“I… I heard Count Holland calling Lord Rust, ah, no… calling him His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince.”

Rossy had initially used Rust’s title as a knight but quickly corrected herself in panic.

“And on your way back, you met Lady Eva?”

“Yes… I went to where she was.”

“Then you must have heard our conversation as well. And learned of His Highness’s identity.”

“I… I think so.”

Rossy fidgeted with a hangnail, glancing at Eva with tearful, guilt-filled eyes.

“Lady Eva, I’m sorry. I only told them because I was so shocked after learning Lord Rust was the Crown Prince. I swear I never meant to harm you. Sob…”

Rossy burst into tears as she apologized. She felt deeply guilty seeing her kind mistress being falsely accused.

Eva let out a hollow laugh, staring into space. She didn’t blame Rossy. The girl had simply been overwhelmed and acted after a difficult inner struggle.

“You said earlier that you hadn’t heard anything when we met, Lady Maysis. If Miss Pamela hadn’t confessed, we might have been deceived.”

Count Holland’s cold reprimand continued. The man who had been wary of Eva from the beginning now openly showed contempt.

Eva said nothing. The situation was already stacked against her, and no one would believe her anyway. But she did not resent Count Holland. He could never imagine this was all a setup. To him, she must appear as a deceitful woman.

‘Pamela… this is what you wanted.’

Now everything was clear. The reason for this absurd situation—this was Pamela’s jealousy.

Rossy’s words must have been a shock to Pamela. The man she had fallen for at first sight, whom she had pushed aside because he was a knight, turned out to be not just a nobleman, but the Crown Prince.

Pamela must have panicked. Why the Crown Prince had shown interest in Eva. Whether he had recognized her as his former fiancée. The thought that Eva might have hidden that fact from her. The fear that Rust and Eva might become close.

So she took a gamble. Even if she lost Count Holland, she could not allow Eva and the Crown Prince to be together. Pamela desired Eva’s downfall more than her own rise.

Eva closed her eyes tightly. Even she had not expected things to sink this low.

What should she do now? If she refused Pamela’s demands, the coming days would be unbearable. She could endure it herself, but she worried about Cecile being neglected or mistreated.

Should she just accept Pamela’s version and take the blame?

No. She refused.

She didn’t want to be dragged around simply because she had nothing and was in a weaker position. She could not let Pamela, who thought she could control her, get away with this.

Then should she ask Rust for help?

He would help if she asked. He had already said he would give her anything—money, a house, whatever she wanted. Even now, there might still be some sympathy left for his former fiancée.

Yes, he would help. But that was exactly what she didn’t want. Even if they had spent time together, there hadn’t been enough emotional connection to justify relying on him.

She didn’t want his pitying kindness as she left. She didn’t want to cling to him after failing to keep her promise and almost being kissed.

So Rust, too, was a piece she had to abandon.

Then what should she do? Eva wanted to answer in a way that proved her innocence while still satisfying their expectations. She wanted to strike Pamela hard while easing her fear. She wanted to calm the situation while completely overturning it.

How…?

“Lady Maysis.”

“Stop.”

Cutting off Count Holland’s words sharply, the one who stepped in was Rust—no, Edward, the Crown Prince, who had remained silent until now.