Chapter 19
“What on earth is going on?”
“Well…”
After finally quenching her thirst, Evangeline turned to look at the Duke’s retinue standing behind him. Her heart had been so frantic that she hadn’t even noticed how many there were. Hesitating for a moment, she stepped a little closer to him.
“I have something I must tell you, Duke.”
“Really? Surprising. You actually have something to say to me.”
Decarno’s expression, like a bland joke, hurt her. She didn’t know why he looked at her like that, since until now she had always replied that she had nothing to say. But this time was different. At his gesture urging her to speak, Evangeline pressed her trembling hands together.
“I’ve been waiting to ask if you’ll be free next Friday.”
“Why?”
“Just… that’s all.”
She trailed off, knowing he might find it ridiculous. Even though the Duke’s retinue would hear and likely scold her for such a slip, she couldn’t allow her father’s final departure to be disturbed. Now, threats and resentment no longer scared her—but she could not make that day chaotic.
“…I want you to be there with me that day.”
“Is it your birthday or something?”
He asked, knowing it wasn’t, with a tone of curiosity. Evangeline’s eyes trembled as she could not bring herself to deny it. Decarno frowned briefly at her deeply sunken eyes, but too many people were watching. Even if he wanted to, he could not give the answer she desired.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t that day. I’ll be accompanying His Majesty somewhere.”
“Ah…”
A sigh escaped from Evangeline as her shoulders slumped. Seeing her—who had always endured her emotions so well—show such vulnerability made one of Decarno’s eyebrows twitch. Though he knew it wasn’t a situation that required excuses, he felt compelled to add something.
“They say if we leave tonight, it’ll take about a week. Since I’m traveling with His Majesty, we can’t move any faster.”
“Do you really have to go?”
“….”
His expression grew unreadable. Even though he said he had to accompany His Majesty, Evangeline still came like this—it made him wonder if something was really going on. But he had never broken a promise, whether official or personal. Glancing at the retinue who were fully prepared and waiting, he spoke:
“Of course I must.”
“….”
“Go inside and rest. If luck is on your side, I might return in time and come find you.”
No sooner had Decarno finished speaking than the knights cleared the way with precision. Some glanced at her, but at Michael’s sharp cough, they hastened to escort the Duke. No matter how fragile or beautiful she might be, rumors would soon make it certain that the Duke would turn her away today.
A clinging Evangeline and a resisting Duke.
Looking at her expression alone gave the answer.
“Wait!”
“….”
But then, her crimson eyes flashed sharply, making everyone’s steps falter. Clutching the hem of her dress in both hands, Evangeline, transformed into someone unrestrained, ran straight for Decarno halfway down the stairs and grabbed his arm.
“It’s Tetrone, 3rd District.”
“…You really are…”
Her words, seemingly random, carried desperation and urgency.
“Please.”
“For what?”
“Could you come that day, even just for a short while?”
Through the arm she held, her trembling was conveyed entirely. Decarno’s eyes instinctively hardened, but Evangeline didn’t notice.
“Be with me. Just that day.”
“…What kind of day is it?”
“Don’t ask anything. Just be with me that day. Please, I really hope you can come.”
“….”
“You’ve never let me make such a request before. This is the first and last. So please.”
Under the moonlight, the edges of her pink eyes glimmered endlessly. She didn’t cry, but her emotions were clear enough.
“If you grant me this one favor… I’ll live the rest of my life according to your wishes.”
“Evangeline.”
“Whatever you want… I’ll do it. I can do it.”
Nodding with her large eyes as if making a vow to herself, she barely caught his frown. Decarno nearly reached out to her eyes.
“Go inside.”
But nothing happened. Michael, pointing at his pocket watch, silently urged him, and he turned back, descending the stairs faster than usual. If he hadn’t, he might have grabbed her hand again and returned to his room.
Whether as a servant of the Emperor or head of the Tese Dukedom, that was impossible.
◇ ◆ ◇
The day of the funeral arrived. Time had passed so quickly that her mind went blank. For Evangeline, this was somewhat fortunate.
Still, she remembered that she had firmly conveyed her wish several times. It might have been disgraceful without any dignity, but she had no regrets. Now that the funeral day had come, she felt even more certain. She was so nervous and scared that if Decarno could be with her even like this, she would repeat it over and over.
“Milady! Where do you think you’re going?”
“….”
As expected, nothing was easy. She hadn’t even stepped outside the main gate when her path was blocked. Seeing the soldiers at the west gate flinch, she could tell how strictly they had been trained.
“You must enter. It is necessary.”
“Why?”
Evangeline, unyielding, swept her gaze across them with calm eyes.
“I know whose orders you follow, but this is legally part of the annex, granted only to the Duchess. The land belongs to her alone.”
“B-But… you’re not married yet…”
“Then all the more reason to let me pass. I have no connection to this family.”
Unless she were a criminal of some great crime, they could not forcibly detain her. The soldiers knew this too. Seeing them hesitate, Evangeline pressed her will even further.
“You may consider me your future duchess or not. That is your freedom, and I do not care. But either way, you cannot stop me.”
“…Lady.”
“Lower your spears and open the gate. The Duke already knows where I am going.”
“…R-Really?”
The soldiers, who had always faltered at any word, changed instantly at the mention of the Duke. They could not betray his name, so they silently stepped aside.
“Then it is exactly what I hoped for.”
Stepping forward and looking straight ahead, her whisper was desperate once again. She prayed Decarno remembered her request, that he would recall the day she could not.
“If you grant me this one favor… I’ll live the rest of my life according to your wishes.”
For her, it might be a miserable memory—but for him, it could be an opportunity to simplify his remaining life.
“Lord of the estate, here it is.”
Philip, already at the cemetery, waved to her. She stepped down from the carriage, each step growing more hesitant, her face gradually losing color.
“…This really is the place.”
“I’m sorry. This was the best I could do.”
The grave was even more pitiful than she had imagined. She hadn’t expected anything grand, but even that small expectation had been shattered. Fallen leaves, scattered stones, even upturned crosses were strewn about. A homeless man lying across from her, holding a bottle, grinned, making her face go pale.
Philip added hurriedly, almost in apology:
“If it weren’t this place, who knows when anyone might have found it? Mostly unclaimed graves are here, so hardly anyone comes.”
“…Stop it.”
The more she listened, the more desolate she felt. Staring vacantly at the pre-dug pit, her hands lightly touching the soil, Evangeline could barely hold herself together. The damp, dark corner offered no light. She sank to the ground, touching the earth with trembling fingers.
