Chapter 81
Duke Rotsfeld’s eyes quickly scanned the newspaper.
For some time now, rumors had been circulating that the prophecy had been misinterpreted.
But the duke didn’t believe those rumors.
Because they weren’t true.
No—because they had to not be true.
The hand holding the newspaper trembled uncontrollably.
“This… this can’t be…”
At that moment, someone barged into the room without knocking.
Breathing heavily, it was Adrian who rushed in.
“Father, have you seen today’s newspaper?”
“…….”
The duke gripped the newspaper tighter, without answering.
At the rustling sound, Adrian pressed his lips together.
No one dared speak.
After a long pause, the duke finally spoke.
“I must send a letter immediately.”
“Eh? A letter?”
“Yes.”
The duke hurriedly pulled stationery from the drawer.
Muttering quietly, he began moving the quill.
“To think she was not a cursed child, but a blessed one… I must bring her back at once.”
The reason Evelina grew up healthy without any care.
The reason the Rotsfeld family suffered no losses when a major epidemic hit the empire years ago.
The reason the family business, which had faltered in its early days, flourished greatly after Evelina’s birth, and suddenly declined after she left the mansion.
All of it was because Evelina was a blessed child.
“Father, that girl is already married.”
“If I apologize and ask her to return, she will come running without a doubt. If we let this continue, our family will end up on the streets.”
Adrian met his father’s gaze and took a step back.
The duke’s eyes were bloodshot, and he looked somewhat desperate.
‘This isn’t the father I know.’
Adrian swallowed hard.
His healed hand felt as if it were throbbing.
“I need her. Absolutely.”
The duke muttered the same words over and over, as if he had lost his mind.
If Evelina refused, he planned to force her back by any means.
And then, he would keep her confined in the mansion forever.
“She’s starving for her family’s love right now. If I say even a few kind words, she’ll come around immediately. I must bring her back quickly.”
“…….”
Adrian opened his mouth to say something, then shut it again.
He knew that whatever he said now, his father would not listen.
Adrian bowed his head and left the study.
The duke didn’t even notice Adrian had gone, so focused was he on the letter.
“With her, I can rise again… I will.”
The duke’s gaze was consumed by madness.
In his mind, there was no possibility that Evelina would not return.
He thought that if treated as before, she might threaten to leave, so he must give her the very best in everything.
“If I treat her differently than before, she won’t even think of leaving.”
The duke chuckled to himself.
The day when the Rotsfeld family would return to its former glory was not far off.
The miserable days of living in debt were over.
Though he felt no remorse, he wrote the letter as long and apologetic as possible.
He even added the words “my beloved daughter” to win her heart back.
Feeling it was enough, he hastily melted wax and sealed the letter.
“Butler! Butler!”
Without even thinking of pulling the bell rope beside him, the duke shouted at the top of his lungs.
The butler hurriedly ran into the study.
“You called, Your Grace?”
The duke handed him the letter, speaking rapidly.
“Send this to the Archduke’s family. They should still be in the capital. And make sure to get a reply. No matter what!”
“Yes, sir.”
The butler bowed and took the letter.
A knight immediately departed with the letter toward the Archduke’s mansion in the capital.
As the servants’ surprise party for Evelina was winding down, someone arrived at the mansion.
Noah rushed outside while the servants busily tidied the parlor.
Evelina had intended to help, but was gently stopped, and eventually stepped outside reluctantly.
She was about to go upstairs to rest when Noah hurried toward her.
“Your Grace, the Archduchess!”
“Noah?”
Noah looked somewhat awkward.
Evelina tilted her head in confusion, and he spoke.
“You’ve received a letter, Your Grace.”
“A letter for me?”
“Yes.”
Evelina’s expression became puzzled.
“From where?”
Noah glanced around nervously before answering.
“…From the Rotsfeld family. The knight came with the letter, but is refusing to leave until he receives a reply.”
Her smiling face immediately stiffened.
Arsen frowned, about to demand the knight be sent away, but Evelina grabbed his hand to stop him.
“Evelina, it’s not worth replying.”
“Yes, my dear. No doubt he only offered empty apologies.”
Though Arsen and Karina had suggested ignoring him and not meeting, Evelina shook her head.
“No, I will give a proper reply myself. So go upstairs first.”
With her firm words, Karina and Arsen left reluctantly.
Once they were gone, Evelina turned to Noah.
“Where’s the knight?”
“He’s at the door, waiting. The parlor isn’t fully tidied yet.”
“…Alright.”
Evelina walked directly toward the knight without hesitation.
As Noah had said, he stood perfectly straight, unflinching.
As she approached, the knight bowed and handed her the letter.
“This is a letter sent to you by Duke Rotsfeld. He instructed me to make sure I receive a reply.”
“…….”
Evelina took the letter with a cold expression.
The knight assumed she would write a reply, but instead, pieces of the letter began fluttering in the air.
Reacting instinctively, the knight looked up—only to see Evelina silently tearing the letter to pieces.
Once the letter lay shredded on the floor, she spoke.
“Go and tell the duke.”
“…….”
“Tell him that the Archduchess tore it without reading it. Just as the duke once did long ago.”
“…….”
“Also, tell him to wake up from whatever delusions he has. This is my reply. Now, go.”
Evelina spun around.
She felt a sense of relief.
She had not forgotten that the duke had sent a letter, expecting her to read it—yet she had shredded it instead.
Some might call it petty, but she felt satisfied seeing it returned in kind.
Noah, who had been standing beside her the whole time, looked a little shocked.
Having always seen Evelina smiling and speaking warmly, he had never seen her act so coldly.
They say a person who usually smiles is scarier when angry—and it was true.
Noah glanced at her cautiously.
“What should we do if he comes again?”
“Do the same as I did. Whether I’m here or not.”
“Understood.”
Noah nodded.
Evelina considered her ties with the Rotsfeld family completely severed.
At least until Duke Rotsfeld came in person.
“Duke, the knight sent to deliver the letter has returned.”
“Let him in immediately.”
The duke shifted impatiently in his chair.
The door opened, and a knight with a dark expression entered and bowed.
“Bring the reply immediately.”
“W-well, the thing is…”
The knight hesitated, unable to speak.
The duke furrowed his brows, and the butler shouted.
“Give the reply to the duke at once!”
The knight finally spoke.
“The Archduchess did not read the letter and tore it up on the spot.”
“……What?”
The duke looked stunned.
He seemed to have no idea what he had heard.
“She—what did she do?”
“…She tore the letter to pieces.”
The duke’s face gradually flushed red.
The knight added Evelina’s message, observing the duke’s expression.
“She also said to tell you to wake up from whatever delusions you have.”
“Y-you…!”
The duke trembled, clutching the back of his neck and staggering.
Startled, the butler rushed to support him.
“Duke, are you alright? Please sit down immediately.”
Supported by the butler, the duke sat in a cushioned chair, panting.
His eyes glinting, he asked the knight,
“This isn’t a lie, is it?”
“I—I swear it! I stake everything I am on it, I did not lie!”
The duke waved his hand irritably.
The knight stood, bowed, and hurriedly left the study.
The duke squeezed his eyes shut and held his head.
That she had torn the letter without reading it was undoubtedly an exact copy of what he had once done.
“Audacious…”
His pride was wounded, but he could not give up easily.
He knew Evelina’s value all too well.
He had to somehow win her heart back.
His legs trembling as he thought of a plan, the duke suddenly stood.
The butler, watching with concern, widened his eyes in shock.
“Duke? What is it?”
“I must go myself.”
“Eh? Th-then should I send word immediately—”
“Then she will surely refuse. Just tearing my letter was enough to predict that.”
The duke intended to go directly, no matter what.
Though extremely improper, the situation left him no choice.
“Prepare the carriage at once.”
“But, Duke—”
“Hurry!”
The duke glared at the butler and shouted.
Startled, the butler bowed and rushed outside.
Throwing on his coat roughly, the duke left the study.
