TFLMLD 54

Chapter 54

Evelyn’s Ominous Gift

It wasn’t my first kiss, yet it was still hard to get used to. No—today’s felt even more intoxicating. From his grasping hand, a burning heat seemed to pour into me, threatening to consume me whole.

Just then, a woman’s scream split the air.

“Aaaaahhh!!”

And it didn’t stop at just one scream—shrieks burst out over and over again, so sharp that I couldn’t concentrate on anything else. Worse, the voice sounded terribly familiar. When I listened closely, my stomach dropped. It was Rael’s voice.

“I’ll go down and check.”

I tried to push Macaron away, but he didn’t budge—like an immovable boulder.

“There’s no need for you to go, my lady…”

“…”

“Momont will take care of it.”

When I surrendered to his sharp gaze, he pulled me gently closer. The ribbon binding my waist slid loose, and my body was revealed under the soft wash of moonlight. His lips, brushing over my eyelids, moved slowly down to my nose, then my lips, and at last trailed along my neck.

What began as light French kisses deepened into something heavier, more intoxicating. His soft caresses turned passionate, then softened again, only to ignite once more. Breathless sighs spilled over my shoulder.

Then—BANG, BANG, BANG!

Urgent pounding rattled the door.

‘At this hour… who could it be?’

A wave of dread crashed over me. Hastily, I threw on a dress and opened the door. There stood Coral, clutching the doll Macaron had bought her, trembling and sobbing.

“Coral!”

“Mom… I’m scared.”

She must have been frightened by Rael’s screams.

“It’s okay, Coral. It’s nothing. Mommy’s here.”

I hugged her tightly, but her little shoulders wouldn’t stop trembling. Only after Macaron carried her off and soothed her with endless pats did her sobbing finally fade.

“I’ll go put Coral to bed.”

When I held out my hand, Macaron looked at me with a dazed expression, his ears burning red, clearly remembering what had just been interrupted.

“Y-Yes… do that.”

Even as I rose, his gaze clung to me, following me until I left the room. He stayed frozen like that, watching me go. And so, I didn’t see—didn’t know—that behind me he vowed with murderous eyes to kill the one who had screamed.

The next day, the moment Momont saw Macaron’s pallor, he asked after him.

“Your Highness, has something happened?”

Aint, unusually concerned, added in a low voice, “He was in the training grounds all night.”

Indeed, Macaron hadn’t slept a wink. The dark circles under his eyes nearly reached his jaw. But he couldn’t tell them the real reason—his pride wouldn’t allow it.

“It’s nothing. I just practiced swordsmanship after a long time, so I’m a bit tired.”

At his sulky tone, Momont and Aint exchanged glances. Misreading Aint’s look, Momont pressed further.

“Suddenly practicing swordsmanship, at that hour of night?”

“….”

“Did you… perhaps have a fight with the madam?”

Macaron gripped his pen so tightly it nearly snapped. Memories of last night burned hot.

“That’s none of your concern. Mind your own business.”

When Momont met his master’s murderous glare, he realized something was seriously wrong. The atmosphere was unlike anything he’d ever felt before.

“How could such screams echo inside the mansion? And not just once, but several times.”

Despite Macaron’s sharp tone, Momont muttered resentfully, “Well, you said you wanted to be introduced to Aed… Look what happened. I probably lost a fistful of hair last night.”

“What happened to Aed?”

“I sent him and the fainted Lady Rael back to House Rippleur in a carriage.”

At that report, Macaron let out a crooked laugh, temper cooling at last. Just then, Calyps entered carrying tea.

Macaron exhaled a long breath as he looked at her. She would never know how he had nearly gone mad all night thinking of her. Otherwise, how could she sit there so calmly, sipping her tea with elegance?

Catching himself smiling like a fool at the sight, he quickly hardened his expression. Calyps immediately understood what that look meant.

‘He’s sulking… what do I do?’

The truth was, even while putting Coral to sleep, Calyps had thought of nothing but Macaron. But Coral, still shaken, refused to let go of her hand, and meeting so many strangers during the day had drained her more than expected. In the end, she fell asleep without realizing whether Coral or she herself drifted off first.

If only it had ended there. But in her dreams, Macaron flickered before her again and again… until dawn, when she jolted awake.

‘I said I’d be right back after putting her to bed… How long has it been?’

Moonlight streaming through the window told her much time had passed. Alarmed, she sat up—and saw him.

Macaron, training alone under the cold night sky, muscles tense with fury. She realized instantly: he had waited for her the entire long night.

‘What do I do? Should I go to him now?’

She wanted to—but she didn’t want their relationship to restart awkwardly, with distance between them.

‘There will be many nights ahead… but our first night comes only once.’

She didn’t want that meaningful “first” to begin carelessly. So she convinced herself that he must have already given up and thought no more of it.

But after returning to her room, Macaron’s figure haunted her all the way until she came here today. Even now, she had to force her expression into place. And yet—Macaron was unmistakably reproaching her. Blaming her for the long night he had spent alone.

‘He doesn’t think I avoided him on purpose, does he? Should I apologize?’

But that would only wound him twice. So she lowered her head like a guilty sinner, saying nothing.

Macaron, oblivious to her inner turmoil, only exhaled deeply.

The previous night his mind had been full of torment.

‘Coral should be asleep by now… so why hasn’t Calyps come?’

‘Am I that unattractive? No, surely not…’

And then again, Calyps’s innocent face filled his vision.

‘Yes. Love is madness.’

He hadn’t wanted this… but his resolve had already crumbled to dust. To drive him this mad and yet act so guileless—such cruel innocence. They say what’s done in ignorance drives people crazier than malice. His heart burned black, then turned to pale ash.

After the tumultuous birthday banquet ended, the gains became clear in the following days. My reputation had risen, rumors about Macaron were quashed, House Creid gained new alliances, and our influence spread.

Macaron, meanwhile, seemed busy preparing for the soon-to-come crown prince selection. Sir Momont whispered that he was burying himself in work to forget everything. I pretended not to understand, though I knew exactly what he meant.

Coral made many new friends. Kai rushed to bring her home the moment the Academy ended each day. And my daily life returned to normal.

The gifts were cataloged with family names and noble houses, then stored away. After some hesitation, I hid Shupen’s gift deep in a drawer. Only one remained—Rael’s.

A violet-colored sword, inlaid with jewels. At a glance, it was beautiful—but its meaning was sinister. In the Empire, gifting a sword implied wishing misfortune on the receiver, so it was rarely done. Worse, the violet color symbolized the red-light districts, suggesting a life as mere “ornamentation.”

When Eve heard its meaning, she was furious and immediately tossed it into the trash. But Rael’s parting words still gnawed at me:

“Next week, Lady Evelyn—no, the head of House Evelyn—will come find you.”

“If you don’t want to be utterly disgraced, you’d better leave beforehand.”

She hadn’t said that just to spite me…

‘Will Evelyn really come?’

Now that Macaron’s marriage was known throughout the Empire, there was no reason she should. But remembering her demeanor that first day—and this “gift”—I couldn’t dismiss the possibility.

Still, I didn’t want to waste energy worrying about what hadn’t yet happened. Shaking my head, I returned to work.

For days, I had been experimenting with makeup products designed to best cover burn scars. Macaron’s skin-regeneration medicine was flawless.

‘Now all that’s left is to complete my own.’

At last, after sleepless nights of trial and error, I achieved a perfect result. Yet with the crown prince selection so near, I had to tread carefully.

After days of consideration, I spoke to Macaron. I explained my relationship with Lady Marie, the help she had given me, the difficulties she now faced, and my desire to help her.

“So… I think I need to go.”

Without hesitation, Macaron nodded.

“Of course. You should.”

Relieved, I sent Lady Marie a letter, and soon received her reply.

On the promised day, early in the morning, I checked my preparations and came out—only to see Macaron, despite his busyness, there to see me off.

“I’ll be back soon.”

He only shrugged lightly, once again moving me with his quiet support.

A luxurious carriage awaited, surrounded by the disciplined knights of House Creid. For a trip less than a day’s ride, the scale seemed unbelievable. Yet even in the carriage itself, Macaron’s care showed. Newly installed seats to ease my motion sickness, white curtains—my favorite—and sweet desserts laid out. Everything had been replaced or prepared just for me.

After escorting me into the carriage, Macaron stood watching until the procession vanished from his sight. He looked as though he were sending me somewhere I would never return from. My heart swelled with warmth under his gaze.

The carriage sped past crowded city streets, then into quiet outskirts. Blooming flowers lined the road, blending with the clear weather to paint a picturesque scene.

Before long, we arrived at Lady Marie’s estate. It was larger than expected, with a carefully kept garden full of blossoms. She awaited me at the entrance, as I had written ahead.

The moment I stepped down, she pulled me into a tight embrace.

As we walked through the corridors toward the grand hall, her face was clouded with worry. Soon, we reached the hall—and there, I sensed another presence.

‘Lady Julia?’