Chapter 022

‘Did she really just call me to ask how I’ve been?’

No matter how I thought about it, it felt unsettling.

However, not wanting to stay here any longer, I quickly got up and bowed to the Empress.

“Well, I’ll be going now.”

“Alright. Take care.”

After finishing my greeting to the Empress and heading out of the greenhouse, that same man appeared again and opened the door for me.

“Please take care, Duchess.”

I found his softly smiling face quite unpleasant.

I nodded lightly and walked briskly toward the banquet hall where Evan would be.

‘Since I’ve met the Empress, I should suggest we head back now.’

But as soon as I passed through the entrance of the banquet hall, a chilling atmosphere greeted me.

‘Why is it so quiet?’

Feeling something was off, I moved further into the hall.

What was even stranger was that everyone’s heads were turned in the same direction.

As I followed their gaze, a frantic voice echoed from above the cold hall.

“Eek, I’m so sorry! I spoke out of turn without knowing my place…!”

The owner of the voice sounded like they were about to faint, repeatedly apologizing to someone.

‘It seems there’s been some kind of dispute among the nobles.’

Curious about what kind of blunder could cause such a commotion, I moved closer to the crowd.

But then…

Why did the back of the man who was receiving the apology look so familiar?

“Evan…?”

What on earth happened while I was away?

The man exuding an overwhelming aura of hostility was none other than Evan.

As I slowly approached him, the surrounding nobles made way upon recognizing my face.

Just as I was about to reach him, a chilling voice pierced my ears.

“If that kind of talk reaches my ears again, be prepared to lose your tongue.”

“Yes, yes! I understand! Please, just let go of my arm…!”

The nameless nobleman, with a pale face, repeatedly nodded and pleaded.

Looking closely, I could see Evan’s large hand resting on the man’s shoulder.

“Evan…”

As I softly called his name, I noticed the hand gripping the man’s shoulder tremble slightly.

“Look at me.”

I thought I needed to separate that man from Evan, so I took a step closer.

Even though he must have heard me, Evan’s body remained unmoved.

Just as I was about to call him again,

“Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!”

With the host of today’s banquet making her entrance, the gazes that had been focused on this side quickly dispersed.

At the same time, Evan released his grip on the man’s shoulder and turned his body toward the stage.

“I’m so glad you could join us for this banquet.”

The Empress spoke as if she had fulfilled the purpose of the event, leaving us with nothing but an invitation to enjoy the party freely before disappearing.

Once the Empress disappeared, the eyes of those gathered in the hall began to slowly drift back toward us.

“Cough…”

The man released from Evan’s grip stepped back hesitantly, his face filled with fear.

But as I looked closely, I realized that the man’s face seemed familiar, and suddenly I remembered who he was.

‘Isn’t that the nobleman who pretended to be close to Delos?’

Despite his terrible reputation, Delos was always surrounded by people due to his royal status.

This man was one of them.

He was the kind of guy who would enthusiastically agree with Delos, no matter how ridiculous his statements were, leaving a lasting impression on me.

‘But why is Evan in a confrontation with that man?’

From the earlier situation, it seemed that the man had said something inappropriate to Evan, which led to this commotion.

I approached Evan, who was standing still like a statue, and gently grabbed his arm, asking, 

“What’s going on…?”

I felt him flinch slightly under my grip.

When I looked up, he turned his stern face toward me, staring intensely.

“Eek…”

“Did you see his gaze just now? It looked like he was about to devour someone…”

As I quietly observed his ashen eyes, I could hear the sounds of people around us swallowing nervously.

Looking around, I noticed everyone was casting fearful glances at him.

Some were looking at him with expressions that seemed to say, ‘I knew it.’

These were similar to the disdainful gazes from the nobles who had been criticizing Evan at the banquet where they had first met him.

Receiving such looks made my mood gradually sink.

It was clear that the commotion was caused by the two of them, yet no one directed such glares at the other man.

“Sigh.”

As I let out a quiet sigh, I could feel Evan’s body stiffen even more beside me.

He opened and closed his lips a few times but ultimately chose to remain silent.

Seeing that he didn’t seem willing to speak, I scanned the surroundings again and changed the subject.

“I’ve already done my business, so shall we head back? I don’t see anyone here who’s important enough to greet.”

With their eyes filled with fear, I didn’t want to leave him among the nobles who were staring at us as if they could never mix with him.

I gently linked my arm with his. He stiffened slightly but followed my lead without a word.

At that moment, I made eye contact with the nobleman who had argued with Evan.

It was clear that he had instigated the situation first, yet he blended in with the other nobles as if he had nothing to do with it, which I found quite absurd.

Given the setting, I initially intended to let it go quietly, but my mind changed.

With a short sigh, I turned to him and spoke.

“Viscount Clementor, how have you been? I’ve heard you’ve been making significant strides in your business lately.”

“Uh? Oh, yes. A good opportunity has come up, and I’m preparing diligently. But why do you ask…?”

I noticed a look of surprise flash across his face.

His blatant reaction, as if questioning how I knew such things, made it hard for me to suppress a smirk.

“Why? The biggest investors in that business are the Duke of Feldro household, so it’s only natural to be interested.”

The Clementor family, which had been on the brink of bankruptcy due to worsening financial conditions, was making quite a profit from this clothing venture.

Above all, it was no exaggeration to say that the substantial investments from the Duke of Feldro household played a crucial role in the business’s success.

‘Well, it was quite an innovative venture, but without the investment, it wouldn’t have succeeded as much.’

I recalled the desperate nobleman who had once come to my father asking for investment, and how my father had willingly provided it, but this time it seemed wrong for it to succeed.

‘I won’t let that happen.’

I smiled gently at the man and spoke.

“I think it would be quite troublesome if my father were to find out about the unpleasant incident that occurred today. He is quite fond of my husband…”

I looked at him with a feigned look of concern.

If he weren’t a complete fool, he would understand what I was implying.

As I finished speaking, I could see the man’s complexion gradually turning pale.

“M-Milady. No, Madam. I truly misspoke. I didn’t mean it; it was just that you…”

“Well, how would I know that?”

I interrupted him and coldly scanned the onlookers, who were watching us closely.

“Isn’t the very act of behaving that way itself a mistake?”

This was a warning.

A warning showing what could happen if the man beside me faced such a situation again.

Fortunately, I had a substantial background that allowed me to do so, and I was determined to make the most of it.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

Leaving the man, who could no longer make excuses for his actions, behind, I exited the banquet hall with Evan.