Chapter 11
At Eveline’s words, which carried the implication that she would not have been able to come out if the Duke had been there, Bellona’s eyes trembled slightly.
It was true that she had deliberately called her when the Duke was away, but she disliked the way Eveline spoke as if he was carefully protecting and cherishing her.
‘Hmph. Even so, it’s nothing more than a political marriage.’
At the thought of Duke Theseus’s handsome face, Bellona felt her emotions rise again. She still could not forget the shock she felt when she first saw him at the ceremony where he received his title.
‘My goodness… does a man like that really exist?’
Back then, she was still a young girl, and she often stayed awake all night with her heart unsettled. Though he had only just reached adulthood, he was incredibly mature. He could not even be compared to her older brother, who was the Crown Prince at the time.
Every word and action of a man who looked as though he had been taken straight out of a myth completely shook the heart of a teenage girl.
Even the Duke’s coldness, his refusal to openly show emotions, did not become an obstacle for a girl whose eyes were already blinded by love.
After all, he was not cold only toward her.
He was cold toward everyone.
Bellona used that one fact to comfort herself.
But that Duke Theseus had shown his feelings toward someone.
Bellona’s heart burned fiercely.
Even though she thought such a thing was impossible, the existence of Eveline sitting before her became even more irritating.
“Indeed. The Duke values his reputation greatly, so I suppose he did not want you to experience another humiliation like the one you faced on the street. After all, it would have damaged the reputation of House Theseus.”
“……Yes.”
“Ah, I brought up such a heavy topic. I apologize.”
Bellona picked up a beautifully colored macaron with a face that clearly showed she was not sorry at all.
Hearing Eveline’s increasingly quiet voice, sweetness slowly spread through Bellona’s mouth.
“Actually, I was also very worried. It was unfortunate that Count O’Hara had to suffer such an accident.”
“……Thank you for your concern, Your Highness.”
“But since his body has not been found, you should still keep hope. Who knows? Perhaps he may return safely tomorrow.”
Bellona smiled lightly.
Seeing Eveline still sitting there without even a slight tremble in her fingers only irritated her further.
“Actually, I was planning to hold a ball soon to celebrate the navy’s return to port. However, considering your family situation, I wondered whether it was appropriate to hold one.”
“……”
“But after seeing that you are doing well today, I feel relieved. You would not have any objections if I held the ball, would you?”
“Of course not, Your Highness.”
“That is good. I would like you to attend as well, but…”
Bellona’s pinky finger elegantly curved around the handle of her teacup.
“…Perhaps that would be asking too much of you right now. Let us think about it slowly.”
Watching her quietly, Eveline finally spoke.
“If you called me because of the ball…”
“No. Of course not.”
“……”
“Actually, there was something I wanted to give you.”
Bellona quickly shook her head when Eveline looked as though she was about to leave.
Then she rang the bell on the table.
As if they had been waiting, a maid entered carrying something heavy in both hands.
“Take this, Lady O’Hara.”
“……What is this?”
“What else could it be? It is my sincerity.”
A large pink box, the same color as the wallpaper in the princess’s palace, was placed on the table.
Bellona opened it herself, almost as if showing it off.
Several dresses that were slightly out of fashion spilled out.
“I heard that things have become difficult for you lately. I thought you might need some help.”
“Your Highness.”
“Do not refuse. We have known each other for more than just a day or two. This is what people do for each other during difficult times.”
Bellona smiled kindly.
“You will still need to attend social gatherings in the future. Since you are not married yet, you probably are not receiving any funds from House Theseus, are you?”
The future mistress of House Theseus receiving clothes from someone else.
For Eveline, who had ruled over high society until recently, there could not have been a greater humiliation.
Both the giver and the receiver knew exactly what this meant.
Bellona looked at her with a generous expression, as if telling her to accept quickly.
“Do not worry. I will not tell anyone.”
“……”
“If rumors spread about you, it would eventually become a great stain on House Theseus as well. Naturally, I must keep it a secret.”
She pushed the box toward Eveline with her fingertips.
“Come now. Accept my kindness.”
Bellona carefully watched Eveline’s expression.
Would things become easier if Eveline caused a scene here?
Perhaps she could even cry.
The princess’s green eyes were filled with innocent expectation as she waited for Eveline’s reaction.
“Lady O’Hara. If you misunderstood my intentions—”
“There is no way.”
“……”
“How could I possibly refuse Your Highness’s kindness?”
Eveline gracefully bent her knees.
Bellona’s expression twisted before she could hide her surprise.
But Eveline had already lifted the box carefully.
“This will certainly be a great help to me right now.”
“……Lady.”
“Following Your Highness’s noble wish to keep this matter a secret, I also will not tell anyone.”
Her calm voice made Bellona hesitate.
“But if this matter reaches someone else’s ears, then I suppose the maid who brought this here will have to be dismissed.”
Bellona froze.
But Eveline’s greeting was not finished.
“However, I will remember Your Highness’s noble kindness deep within my heart.”
Her pink eyes darkened slightly.
“Forever.”
“……”
Bellona could only stare blankly.
Eveline, who had not forgotten her manners until the very end, carried the box and quietly turned away.
Only after she left did the sound of a teacup being thrown against the floor echo emptily.
◇ ◆ ◇
The place Eveline went after leaving the Imperial Palace was not the Duke’s residence.
She immediately took a commercial carriage and got off near the O’Hara Trading Company.
Then she caught her breath in a narrow alley connected to a back entrance known only to those familiar with the area.
There were still many people lingering around the front of the company, so she had no other choice.
Not long after, she managed to catch Philip secretly leaving while avoiding reporters.
“L-Lady Eveline!”
“Shh. Lower your voice.”
She placed a finger over her lips and gestured at him.
After confirming that nobody had followed Eveline, Philip reluctantly guided her to an old warehouse.
“I apologize. I know I should not bring you to a place like this…”
“Now is not the time to worry about something like that.”
“……Still.”
A long sigh escaped him.
During the time they had not seen each other, Philip’s face had become extremely thin.
And it was not only the people who had suffered.
The warehouse, which had once been filled with countless goods and jewels, was now empty and miserable.
Eveline stared at the broken crates scattered across the floor and tightly bit her lips.
“……So it really became like this.”
“I have no excuse. The creditors took everything that could be sold for money…”
“They would have no choice.”
Eveline gave a bitter smile.
Her father losing his entire fortune beneath the sea would mean her own downfall.
But the investors were different.
Even if it was money she had never personally seen, as the daughter of the head of a trading company, she had a responsibility to bear.
“Did you find anything about my father’s finances or the ledgers?”
“No. The Count managed those matters very carefully himself…”
Philip lowered his head.
“Perhaps Maxine, the accountant, would know something. But we do not even know whether he is alive or dead.”
“Ha…”
Just as she expected.
Eveline’s eyelashes trembled.
The fact that even Maxine, the employee her father trusted most, had suffered such a tragedy made her heart ache.
Philip hesitated, unsure where to look, before finally noticing the box Eveline was holding.
“Um… but what is that box?”
“Ah. Right.”
Her weak smile became even more bitter.
There would be plenty of time to grieve later.
She had not come here just to indulge in sadness.
If not now, she did not know when she would be able to return to the trading company again.
Thinking that way, she almost felt grateful to the princess for calling her out today.
“Take this.”
“Is this… a dress? It seems a little outdated.”
“Even so, the jewels attached to it should still be useful.”
Eveline lifted the dress and began removing the sapphire and ruby decorations attached near the chest.
Her movements were mechanical.
There was not even the slightest emotion in her expression.
Philip could only stare with his mouth open.
“……Lady Eveline.”
He had worked at the trading company for decades, so his instincts were excellent.
He did not know exactly how she obtained the dress, but he could tell one thing.
It was not something she had received through a pleasant or honorable means.
