Chapter 02
Even in the novel, Serden didn’t trust Evelyn at first.
So he tested her in many ways and confirmed she really was a fool before letting his guard down. But the novel mentioned he later regretted it.
This test now would pass someday too.
Serden sat next to me. I thought he would leave immediately, but he stayed by my side.
The empty sofa now felt completely full. Serden leaned loosely against it. He was tall, and his large frame pushed me to the side.
I rolled the candy in my mouth.
I could feel Serden’s warmth on my back, completely covering me. His breath, his scent. Had I ever been this close to such a handsome man?
It was overwhelming for me. He really had a talent for taking someone’s breath away. I was going crazy.
I struggled to breathe while rolling the candy in my mouth. I tried to focus on the taste.
“It’s tasty.”
Thanks to the candy, I could stay somewhat sane. Without it, I might have blushed terribly. I was barely controlling my eyes from constantly staring at Serden’s fingers.
There were faint scars on his prominent veins. Long, strong, and thick fingers. Annoyingly, the hands were exactly my type.
Serden, who couldn’t know what I was thinking, asked softly:
“What do you usually do with your time?”
“Hmm. I read books.”
Why would he know what Evelyn did? I said whatever came to mind. Plus, I had to read.
Even though all of Evelyn’s memories were absorbed by me, she really didn’t know anything.
Even though she was constantly ignored at the duke’s house, she didn’t know. She wasn’t mature enough to understand her situation.
For example:
“‘Huh? That’s Evelyn’s! Why are you taking it?’
‘I just want to keep it safe! I’m afraid the lady might lose it. Valuable things should be kept with your closest friend!’
‘Really? Then you’ll protect it?’
‘Of course, we’re friends.’
‘Friends!’”
She had been fooled by the maid so easily. Come to think of it, those “friend” maids weren’t here. They had stayed with Evelyn at the duke’s house.
Not important now, though.
Serden, still radiating his huge presence, was next to me.
“Books? I see, you like books. Luckily, I think we have books among the gifts prepared for you. Bring the gifts.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Gifts? I felt uneasy. Wow… this was the first time I felt nervous about getting a gift.
An aide brought in a box.
He took things out of it and laid them on the table. Surprisingly, they were all things that children would like.
The book I had in mind wasn’t there, but well, young girls liked these kinds of books more. Evelyn also liked shiny, cute things.
Just seeing what was in the room, you could tell her taste.
The aide spoke in a cold voice.
“This is a coloring book, this is a fairy tale book, and these are crayons, this is a puzzle. For the Crown Princess.”
His eyes were full of hostility toward me. Well, I would annoy him too, returning as a war hero only to meet a foolish crown princess.
It felt unfair, but I understood why the aide disliked me. Actually, it wasn’t me he hated—it was Evelyn and the Spellman family. No need to take it personally.
Besides, I was planted by the Duke of Spellman to weaken the crown prince’s influence.
What a cruel man. Using even his own sick child without hesitation—truly villainous.
I already knew the duke’s intentions from reading the novel: he wanted to use Evelyn to influence Serden while also preventing the crown prince from getting a strong, well-connected wife.
Actually, the aides had carefully chosen another candidate for crown princess. A rushed engagement had even happened. Now everything was ruined, so of course they were mad.
“Thanks! You even gave me a gift! You must really like me! Then I like you too.”
I meant it as a friendly gesture. Instead, I received a look of disgust.
I couldn’t help it.
I turned to the books first.
This is just like Snow White. Interesting to read.
Plus, the pictures made it enjoyable.
This is really vintage.
It must be expensive. Even the cover had gold leaf. Still, they probably picked the best for the crown princess.
“You can read books?”
Pretending I couldn’t read would be frustrating. Besides, Evelyn could read before her brain was damaged at ten. She had been called a genius.
“Yes! I can read perfectly. Should I read it to you? Princess White ate grapes and collapsed…!”
Serden narrowed his eyes and laughed. A slightly erotic smile, like a villain in an adult novel. I swallowed secretly.
Why is he laughing? Does he like my acting?
“Why did she collapse?”
“She ate grapes with poison on them.”
I answered in a bright voice, as if it was obvious.
“Do you know what poison is?”
So that’s why he picked this book. Every word was a trap. I gripped the book tightly.
“Stay alert. This is a tiger’s den.”
I should have quietly done coloring instead. That trend was popular, wasn’t it? My fingers trembled from tension.
Serden’s eyes, shining bright blue, were fixed on me.
“Poison is bad. The princess collapsed because she ate poison.”
“Smart.”
Serden leaned over me on the rug, bringing his face close to my shoulder.
His scent pressed against me. Deliberate. Testing me. I repeated that to myself to stay composed. Serden knew how to make people nervous.
I felt every breath.
I barely stopped my body from trembling. I tried only to blink prettily. Our cheeks brushed.
I rolled the candy in my mouth. My saliva was spilling from tension.
Serden strangely reached and put his hand over mine. Then he moved my hand to turn the pages.
The same hand I had noticed earlier.
I pressed my lips together, still holding the candy, to stop from screaming. Trembling too much to even swallow.
Serden’s voice dropped close to my ear.
“Have you ever heard your father talk about poison? About bad things? Things that could hurt people.”
His hands looked delicate but strong, veins standing out.
I was so focused on his hand that I forgot the candy in my mouth. When I opened to answer, both candy and saliva fell onto the book.
At the same time, saliva dripped onto the back of Serden’s hand.
“No, no! My dignity!”
I couldn’t fix it, so I just stared blankly at the candy.
“……My candy.”
I muttered hopelessly. What a ridiculous scene in front of a handsome man.
“……I don’t think there’s any need to test her further, Your Highness. Go wash your hands quickly.”
I heard the aide’s voice, full of certainty and contempt, but I ignored it while staring at the candy.
Serden smiled and pulled away. The strong wood scent that had surrounded me faded.
“Maybe that’s enough.”
I froze, watching the candy. Like a child obsessed with it.
The fairy tale book beside me was now wet from saliva, the letters blurred.
Ha. Really. I can’t survive this embarrassment.
Click. The door closed.
As soon as Serden and the aide left, I buried my head on the desk. The red candy, half melted in saliva, was in front of me. I squeezed my eyes shut and muttered:
“……I want to die.”
I was pretending to be a fool to survive, but now it seemed like I’d die from shame first.
Could it be that this was the very purpose of making me possess Evelyn…?
