Chapter 19: Truth

When Eva woke up, there was no one by her side in the bed.

Looking out the window, the sun was already high. It seemed like she had slept in late.

She wonders if it was just a dream that Lord Lucas was by her side.

As she slowly sat up, she noticed bandages wrapped around both of her wrists. Peeking under her nightgown, she found them on her thighs and, upon closer inspection, on the soles of her feet, where the cuts were particularly bad.

Greta must have taken care to hide them from sight. She was with her last night, too. She has done something inconsiderate to both of them.

Putting her feet on the floor and trying a few steps, she felt no particular pain.

Gently standing up, she went to the window and peered outside.

This room was on the second floor. Unfortunately, she couldn’t see the palace garden from the window.

Looking down, she saw Lucas earnestly swinging his sword. Thud… and Eva’s heart throbbed heavily.

The gaze fixed ahead was frighteningly powerful. Despite not having a large stature, the act of swinging the sword made Lucas appear even more imposing.

Eva was mesmerized, forgetting to breathe, as she watched Lucas’s training.

It seemed the training was over. When Lucas, who had sheathed his sword, casually looked up, his eyes met Eva’s through the window.

For a moment, Lucas widened his eyes in what seemed like surprise. Then he slightly raised his mouth and began to climb the tree in front of the room, effortlessly moving across branches and jumping onto Eva’s balcony.

Although Eva was taken aback, she hurriedly opened the door at the sound of Lucas knocking on the balcony window.

“Lord Lucas!”

“Hey, I thought this would be faster.”

“It’s dangerous!”

“Are you okay? Where does it hurt?”

Eva’s heart pounded as her gaze met the worried eyes that looked into her face.

“I’m fine.”

“I see, and the swelling on your cheek has gone down.”

With Lucas’s happily smiling words, Eva realized that she no longer felt the pain that should have been there, even though her mouth had been cut.

“Lord Lucas, what are you doing in the young lady’s room?”

A low, composed voice came from the room.

When Eva turned around, Greta was glaring at Lucas from behind.

“I understand your concern, but please observe proper manners here. I was about to attack, thinking you were an enemy.”

Greta spoke harshly to Lucas and then turned to Eva with a gentle smile.

“Good morning, Lady Eva.”

“I apologize for causing trouble to Lord Lucas and Greta last night.”

She quickly bowed to the two.

“Trouble? Lord Lucas, was there something like that?”

“No, there wasn’t.”

Lucas, who grinned, was coldly dismissed by Greta.

“Right now, Lord Lucas is being a nuisance. Hurry up and leave the young lady’s room.”

“Eva, aren’t you hungry? I’ll bring you some food later, so let’s eat together.”

Without waiting for a response, Lucas said that and jumped down from the balcony. Inadvertently rushing over and leaning out from the balcony’s edge, Eva looked below to see Lucas looking up nonchalantly. He smiled at Eva, then returned to the palace.

“Now, Lady Eva, let’s change your clothes,” Greta said.

In response to Greta’s words, Eva realized that she had met Lucas in her nightwear.

(Embarrassing. But maybe I’m like a sister to Lord Lucas.)

A mix of embarrassment and an inexplicable feeling of disappointment filled her with complex emotions.

“Greta, I don’t have a dress with me.”

The dress she wore yesterday, her mother’s, would likely be unsuitable due to stains.

“It’s alright. We have prepared one for you here.”

Saying so, Greta opened the closet in the room, revealing an array of colorful dresses.

“All of these are Lady Eva’s dresses. Please choose whichever you like.”

Underneath the dresses were several pairs of shoes.

The sight was so overwhelming that words failed Eva. She had never owned so many outfits before.

“…Did Lord Lucas prepare these?”

“Yes, and I apologize for the limited options.”

He should have come to this room late last night. Eva was surprised that he could prepare so much in such a short time.

“Did none of them catch your fancy?”

In response to Greta’s question, Eva hastily replied, “No, it’s not that. I’ve just never seen so many dresses before… I was just surprised. I don’t know how to choose, so, if it’s okay, could you help me pick, Greta?”

Greta momentarily looked surprised but quickly smiled happily and answered, “Of course! I’d be delighted!”

“I think shades of blue and green would suit Lady Eva,” Greta said enthusiastically, pulling out a dress with a faint bluish-purple hue reminiscent of wisteria flowers. The sleeves were generously long.

Eva silently thanked Greta in her heart, presuming she was considerate enough to hide the bandages. “It’s lovely.”

“If it pleases you, let’s go with this today. And leave the hairstyle to me,” Greta said with a smile.

Eva stared in astonishment at the changing reflection in the mirror.

The wisteria-colored dress that Greta had recommended suited her so well that she thought so herself.

After changing, she was seated in front of the vanity, where she received a simple makeup application.

“Lady Eva, your skin has such transparency, making you incredibly beautiful. There’s really nothing to hide with makeup. I’ll just add a little something,” Greta said.

She tidied Eva’s eyebrows and applied a hint of lipstick to her lips.

“Do you have a preference for your hairstyle?”

Shaking her head, Greta happily said, “In that case, I’ll give you a hairstyle that I think will suit you,” while carefully combing through Eva’s silver hair.

It must be because Greta took care of her hair yesterday. It now looked exceptionally glossy, like she had never seen it before.

“Today, I want to highlight the shine of your hair,” Greta said while quickly tying Eva’s hair.

“How is it?”

As she braided and tied only the upper half of her hair, the remaining half remained long.

“Greta, despite being a knight, you’re skilled at both makeup and hairstyling. Thank you. I’ve never been made so beautiful before.”

“Lady Eva looks good no matter what, so it’s fulfilling for me. I’ve always admired the work of a lady’s maid. That’s why I’m happy to be able to take care of Lady Eva this time.”

Seeing the delighted Greta, Eva’s heart warmed.

After a while, Lucas arrived with meals for both of them. Seeing the polished Eva, Lucas narrowed his eyes, and Eva felt a sense of joy.

After the meal, while drinking the tea Greta brewed, Lucas cut to the chase while looking at Eva.

“Is it okay to talk about yesterday?”

Lucas’s expression had taken on the seriousness of a prince. It seemed like an important political discussion was about to take place.

“Yes, it’s okay.”

Prepared, Eva placed her tea down and straightened her posture to answer.

“Firstly, about Count Burke, there were suspicions that he was involved in human trafficking. Several people went missing in the Dacian Empire every year, and we began investigating. Count Burke was found to be connected to the human trafficking organization in the Dacian Empire. He was arrested yesterday, and the details of the victims will be revealed during interrogation. It seems his previous wives were sold to the Dacian Empire.”

The previous wives, presumed to be deceased, were victims of human trafficking.

She herself was likely intended to walk that path. A chill ran down her spine.

“The victims in the Dacian Empire are mainly the children of beastmen. Some were protected by noble families in the Tifris Kingdom, but…”

Lucas’s expression darkened. There were probably children he couldn’t save in time.

“Could it be that Lord Lucas was investigating in the frontier territory?”

“Yes, it’s related to this matter.”

“Even your uncle was involved.”

Because the country was closed off, movements across the borders were noticeable. The possibility of bribing and cooperating with the frontier marquise responsible for managing the border was high.

“He seems to have been helping with the border crossings and receiving bribes.”

Ah… Though she couldn’t respect or like him as a person, she had believed that the frontier marquise, who governed her father’s inherited territory, would take good care of it.

“In fact, the former frontier marquise had suspicions about the count’s activities. Right after that, there was a carriage accident.”

Everything went blank in front of her. Her throat went dry, and words wouldn’t come out.

“Does that mean… someone intentionally caused the accident?”

“Yes, the details will be revealed in the upcoming interrogation. The frontier marquise was also arrested last night.”

She stared at her hands on her knees.

Eva, who was said to resemble her mother Elizabeth in appearance, recalled something her father Klaus often said with a sulking expression.

“Eva’s nail shape is the same as mine, you know. The good-looking parts were taken from your mother, but the nails are mine. When you look at your nails, remember your father.”

“Eva? Are you okay?”

In response to Lucas’s concerned words, Eva weakly smiled back.

“My father… tried to rectify the wrongs as the frontier marquise, didn’t he? I’m proud of such a father.”

“Including this incident, both my brother and the King of Tifris are summoning Eva. Later, they want you to have an audience with them.”

“Understood. I’ll be waiting in the room.”

Straightening her spine, Eva gazed into Lucas’s red eyes.

“Lord Lucas, thank you for everything you’ve done for me. Thank you for telling me about the incident and my uncle. I’ll be fine, so please go back to your work.”

As Eva bid farewell to Lucas, who mentioned that there was a mountain of aftermath to deal with after this incident,

He wore a somewhat complex expression. He gave some instructions to Greta and hurriedly left.

After seeing him off, Eva sat down on the sofa once again.

The count and her uncle had been involved in human trafficking with a neighboring country.

Her parents might have been killed because of it.

As she absentmindedly touched her mother’s heirloom pendant, she remembered forgetting to discuss with Lucas the events of yesterday, when the stone emitted a glow and the rose branch seemed to extend protectively towards her.

(What will become of me now?)

Her uncle had been involved in serious crimes between two nations, so execution and the stripping of titles were inevitable.

The count’s family, which was her marriage destination, would likely face the same fate.

What should she do from now on? She can’t rely on Lord Lucas anymore.

Originally, their worlds were different. And she is the family member of a criminal who harmed Lord Lucas’s citizens.

If there are consequences,she will accept them willingly.

If there are no consequences… and there’s no place to go back. In that case, she will do what she wants.

She will get permission from Raymond to go to the Dacian Empire.

Descend to the city and find her place in the Dacian Empire.

With that resolution, her heart lightened just a little.