IBWCD 10

Chapter 10

The next day.

The morning’s bright sunlight pierced through the lace canopy of the sky and crashed onto the bed.

“Haaaaa.”

Opening her eyes with a long yawn, Evelyn stretched and stretched, briefly wondering if she’d dreamed last night.

One thing was clear in her muddled mind.

“I told you, I’d find you, even if you took to the skies.”

That Kalian had found her.

And that this was not her bedroom.

She hadn’t slept so soundly since she’d been given a chance at life. Evelyn looked around, a little dazed.

She recognized the outrageously ornate bed, the silky lace curtains, and the dressing table surrounded by intricately carved floral arrangements.

“This is…”

Marden, capital of the Cardassian Empire.

The mansion, in the center of Redfield Avenue, was the residence of a Cardassian who traveled in and out of the capital frequently.

Evelyn was familiar with the place, having stayed with him a few times.

“Does that mean… things went well?”

The basement of the eastern spire of the Count’s manor is dotted with magic circles of unknown purpose.

They were the necessary nexus for a particular spell, and a Kalian skilled in the dark arts should be able to detect them.

This was the reason for her imprisonment, to provoke Louise by spreading rumors that he was looking for her.

She undertook this adventure to get revenge on Louise and to remove one more obstacle in her way.

If Kalian could exploit the weakness of the Lawrences, at least she would not be at their mercy.

‘That is, of course, if he accepts my offer…’

The biggest variable is Kalian.

Unlike in his past life, when he held her hand, he seemed somehow darker, more cynical, and most of all, less favorable to her.

‘Why? I’m back, but why have you changed?’

Wiping her brow, she heaved herself to her feet and sat down at her dressing table.

Her face was pale in the mirror. Her shoulders and thighs were still stiff from the strain of being chained.

“Ha…”

Evelyn curled her hands tightly around her thighs.

She had escaped death, but it wasn’t enough. If the Temple was involved in what happened to her and her mother, and why, Evelyn was going to find out.

To do so, she needed a closer, more certain alliance with Kalian.

“Lady, are you awake?”

A knock sounded at the door.

“His Highness is expecting you.”

It was finally coming.

Evelyn, momentarily relieved, began to organize what she had to say to Kalian.

* * *

When she and her assigned maid reached the front of the dining room, Evelyn took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The room was empty. It was as if he’d bitten them deliberately, for the mansion was staffed by a number of hired hands.

“Evelyn Lawrence.”

A low voice called out.

Her shoulders shook, and she turned to see him at the head of the table, gesturing for her to take a seat.

“Relax, come here and sit down.”

Perhaps it was the combination of Kravat’s taut black shirt, which looked as if it might burst at any moment, and his immaculately pressed pants that added to the unnerving atmosphere.

She was about to bump into him curiously, but when she did, her eyes burned with tears and her heart skipped a beat.

‘You don’t know how much I’ve missed you…’

Her heart was pounding, showing no sign of calming down. Evelyn tugged at the hem of her skirt, trying not to look nervous, and took a cautious step forward.

“Your Highness.”

Her cutlery was placed in the corner between her and the man seated at the head table.

Evelyn sat down politely, feeling the silent gaze upon her.

He spoke quickly, as if he didn’t want to bother with the delay.

“The gate opened in Ferum.”

He lifted his chin slightly. His leisurely, haughty gaze swept from her head to the exposed parts of her body on the table, as if censoring her insides.

“I’ll give you a chance to come clean. Tell me how you found out.”

Evelyn didn’t know what to say, or how to say it. She didn’t want to admit she was living the same life over and over again, especially in front of a man who was so wary.

“I had a… dream,” she said, “that a bitter, wet wind was sweeping through Ferum.”

It was a lame excuse, even for her.

But it was hard for him to dismiss it as bullshit, knowing that a wind elemental came out of the gate.

“Well, whatever.”

Kalian let out a frosty laugh.

“The Countess is to be buried in the Eastern Monastery. Her use of witchcraft is unforgivable, but she didn’t commit murder, so I’ll settle for that.”

“But…”

“If this is about your mother, it will take some time. Do you think she was murdered by the Countess?”

Evelyn wants to believe her mother is alive, but she knows it’s unlikely. Evelyn swallowed dryly through a lump in her throat.

“Yes, if… she isn’t alive.”

“That was three years ago, and even if it were true, it wouldn’t be easy to prove.”

A whiff of blood hit the tip of her nose. Evelyn’s face went white as she remembered the moment she’d died, blood pouring down her throat.

‘Now that she’d returned from death’s door, would it never happen?’

‘If she can’t appeal to her stepmother’s injustice, how can she appeal to the pain and anger she suffered?’

She was confused. She should just be content with the fact that she was no longer a part of her life.

It made her feel helpless, but that didn’t mean she could blurt out what had happened.

Evelyn looked at him, ignoring the flames rising in her chest.

“With your highness’s help, I wonder if… it might be possible?”

His gaze locked with hers, his golden eyes sparkling. A slow smile played across Kalian’s lips, as if he’d expected it.

“You said you’d take care of me, but I see you have your own agenda.”

“Kahk!”

A dry cough erupted from her extreme nervousness.

Evelyn’s face flushed as she heard the saree, and Kalian rose to his feet, taking the teapot and pouring her a cup.

“I don’t intend to be rude, but you owe me, and I’ll grant you whatever you ask, so if there’s anything you want, tell me.”

As he offered her the glass, he stroked a leather-gloved hand down her back.

The nonchalant touch reminded her of the look on the man’s face, teeth set and bared like an animal.

‘Get a grip.’

Shaking her head, Evelyn remembered once again why she wanted to see him and clasped her trembling hands together.

“With all due respect, Your Grace, I have a favor to ask.”

Kalian, who had returned to his seat, raised an eyebrow as if to say go ahead.

She could feel the slow pace of the man as he placed his clasped hands on the table and studied her.

She wonders if he can be so relaxed after hearing her demands.

With a long sigh, Evelyn looked up.

“I formally propose to you, Grand Duke Kalian Van Orpheus. I will do everything in my power to support you, so please lend me yours.”

The two men’s gazes locked in the air. At the same time, there was an eerie silence.

Evelyn was undaunted by the shoulder-shaking silence, and managed to keep her expression impassive.

‘It’s ridiculous,’ she thought.

If she had been in Kalian’s shoes, she might have lunged at her, calling her fiery and insane.

“Proposal.”

After a moment of silence, as if questioning my hearing, Kalian broke the silence, mulling over her words.

“Did I hear you right?”

Raising her gaze, Evelyn met his ice-cold eyes.

“Yes, you heard me correctly, and as unpleasant and humiliating as you may find it, I did ask for your hand in marriage.”

Kalian frowned.

“Aren’t you afraid of me? You know what they call me behind my back, no matter how dark the world is.”

“I am not afraid.”

She knows. That there are those who criticize him for borrowing the power of darkness, or more accurately, his family for using it to gain power that is hard to match.

“Not all angels are kind, and not all demons do anything but harm humans, so the only thing I fear is my own destiny… to choose the wrong path.”

Kalian stared into Evelyn’s hazel eyes as she answered confidently.

“You speak as if you already know your destiny.”

The man’s eyes softened as he watched Evelyn flinch.

“So, does that mean we’re the right choice for each other?”

She knew he wouldn’t like it. But she hadn’t expected him to doubt her, even after she’d confirmed the truth of her words.

A premonition of where the gate would open, healing powers, what more did she need?

Evelyn clasped her hands together so tightly that her knuckles ached.

It was as bleak as facing a giant wall, but there was only one answer she could give.

“Yes, I am, because if it weren’t for you… I would never have taken a single step out of that hellish county.”

Choosing him over the family that abused her was not an impulse, but a perfectly rational decision.

“The king needs me, too, doesn’t he, which is why he warned me not to think of running away.”

Evelyn pleaded her case desperately, hoping that perhaps Kalian would show a glimmer of compassion.

But no matter how much she pleaded, he seemed completely unwilling to grant her request.

“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of marrying you.”

“…….”

“I know your healing powers would be a great help to me, but I had no intention of taking you to the harsh north.”

Evelyn looked at the man who rejected her so starkly, and thought, This may be a trial for her instead of death.

“Instead, I will take you under my guardianship until you have established yourself in the capital’s social circles and found a worthy husband.”

He even offered a plausible solution.

Unfortunately, Evelyn had no intention of backing down from the proposal.

If she was going to back down, she wouldn’t risk helping him.

Evelyn spoke up, her voice firm.

“I only have one question.”

There was no way out. Evelyn was going to be as cowardly as she could be in order to convince him.

“Is there a reason you can’t marry me… , is it because of the Hussar issue?”