Chapter 151
“E-E… cough!”
Evebie tried to call out happily, but all that came out was water-filled coughing.
Her coughing didn’t stop, and Clois, already pale, looked even more distressed.
He held Evebie in his arms and gently patted her back.
The patting caused the water she had swallowed to sputter out, soaking the back of his neck.
She hadn’t been under water for long, so how did she manage to swallow so much?
“It’s okay now, Evebie.”
Clois’ chest ached every time her small body trembled and coughed.
Meanwhile, Izriella and the others hurriedly dragged Eve out of the pond.
“Lady Eve, be careful climbing out!”
Clois also stepped out of the pond, holding Evebie.
He tried to put her down, but Evebie shook her head and clutched his neck tightly, refusing to let go.
Clois tightened his embrace, holding her firmly.
“Are you okay? Any injuries?”
It was now autumn, and even during the day, the breeze was chilly.
Evebie trembled in his arms. Clois held her close, feeling protective.
He then turned to Eve.
“Lady Eve! Are you alright? Where did you disappear to, and why were you with her…?”
His voice was cold as he addressed Izriella, who was still patting Eve’s back.
Back at the main palace, they were still debating whether Eve would be officially recognized as a princess.
Hilde had come to report that Eve no longer wanted her protection and had sent her away.
At first, Clois had thought it was just the child being shy.
But when he heard that Eve had asked for Count Aradman’s guards instead, he immediately summoned the Count.
It was meant as a warning.
He would make sure no one dared to place their own people around a royal.
Then he learned that Eve had gone to the Academy with only the maids, without any knights.
Although the Academy was within the palace and secured, Clois still felt uneasy.
It wasn’t Eve he was worried about—it was the safety of everyone around her.
Instinctively, he rose and headed straight for the Academy, ignoring everyone who asked where he was going.
And when he arrived, this was the scene.
“What happened? Why was Eve wandering alone without any of you? And why was she with Evebie?”
His voice grew colder. The surrounding atmosphere froze.
Everyone could feel the depth of his anger.
Izriella knew she had to answer carefully or she’d be in serious trouble.
She dropped to the ground in front of him.
“L-Lady Eve ordered us to tidy her room at the Academy. While we were cleaning, she suddenly disappeared, and when we went looking for her… this happened. We were just following her orders!”
Izriella prostrated herself, insisting it wasn’t her fault.
“Eve.”
Clois looked at Eve, who was shivering, soaked, and holding onto him.
Eve was scared. She had been scolded before, but no one had ever been as quietly but intensely angry as the Emperor.
‘Why is Dad mad at me…?’
Eve’s eyes darted around, and she saw Evebie in Clois’ arms.
‘Why is he holding her? Why not me? I’m his daughter!’
As his child, she thought he should care for her first.
He should have been worried about her like he was with Evebie. Instead, he scolded others while she had almost gotten hurt.
Eve felt unfairly treated and resentful. She also started disliking Evebie more.
“It’s Evebie’s fault!”
“……What?”
“Evebie! She didn’t row properly! I said I didn’t want to, but she forced me into the boat!”
Eve had to blame Evebie to get her father’s attention.
Then he would put Evebie down and worry about her instead.
‘Dad has to be on my side!’
Evebie shook her head fiercely.
“No! It wasn’t me… Lady Eve said to get on!”
She looked at Clois desperately.
It really wasn’t her fault.
What if the Emperor believed Eve and scolded her? What if he thought she was a bad child?
Her throat tightened.
“No! You’re the one who said to get on! You rocked the boat!”
Anger surged.
Eve stomped forward and grabbed Evebie’s clothes in Clois’ arms, pulling hard.
“Who do you think you are! Why do you keep going to my dad! Get down! I hate you! I really hate you!”
If Clois hadn’t held Evebie tightly, she might have fallen to the ground.
Seeing this, Clois grabbed Eve’s hands to stop her.
“Eve, that’s enough.”
Eve’s face twisted, and tears fell.
“Why is Dad like this?”
“Eve.”
“I’m your daughter! Why do you only care about her? Why don’t you listen to me?”
Eve burst into loud, bitter sobs.
Everyone nearby tried to console her, but her cries only grew louder.
The officials who had followed her didn’t know what to do and looked at Clois.
The quickest way to calm Eve was to put Evebie down and hold his daughter.
But the Emperor ignored their wishes. He still held Evebie, looking at his child without touching her.
“Why! Why! Everyone likes her best!”
Eve couldn’t control herself. She tore at her hair and clothes.
“I hate her! I haaaate her!”
Then her eyes rolled back, and she foamed at the mouth, fainting.
Her shock from the pond, combined with the cold and sudden crying, had caused her to seize.
“Lady Eve!”
“Quick! Bring the doctor!”
Chaos erupted around them.
Even recognized as royalty, everyone realized that prioritizing Evebie could cause misunderstandings.
Clois looked at Evebie, who gave a tiny nod.
‘Evebie…’
In the end, Clois had no choice but to put Evebie down and check on Eve.
He approached the collapsed Eve and ordered:
“Take Eve to the main palace for medical attention.”
Then he added:
“Take Evebie with her as well.”
The main palace was thrown into chaos, naturally.
The first to be punished was Hilde. Even if Eve didn’t want her, it was her duty to protect her.
Hilde accepted the punishment without complaint.
The maids, Izriella, Count Aradman (who tried to bring his own men), Seraphina, and other Academy staff all received warnings or disciplinary action.
Everyone else accepted their minor punishment with gratitude.
By royal law, the punishments could have been much harsher. But because the Emperor recognized Eve’s unilateral actions, most received only a few days of probation.
Some maids were secretly relieved to be further from Eve’s whims.
Meanwhile, Evebie quietly watched everything.
The palace doctor who had treated her before said she was fine physically, only a little surprised.
“You’ve been through a lot.”
Previously beaten by Izriella, and now caught in Eve’s reckless actions, Evebie had endured a lot.
The doctor gave her a handful of candy to cheer her up, warning not to eat too much before bed.
A whole day passed, and Evebie still hadn’t returned to the Academy.
“When can I go back?”
She asked the maid caring for her. They gave an awkward smile.
“The Emperor hasn’t allowed it yet. Wait a little longer.”
“Yes…”
Since everything had happened suddenly and she hadn’t contacted anyone, Evebie worried.
‘Irene must be worried like last time… Arcel and Luska too.’
They would probably worry if they thought she was badly hurt.
Evebie’s face darkened, and the maid didn’t know what to do.
“Do you need anything? Should I bring you some books?”
At that, Evebie brightened, though she still didn’t ask outright.
The maid nodded knowingly.
“I’ll be right back. Wait a moment.”
Just as she was about to leave, someone suddenly entered the room.
“……!”
Evebie and the maid looked, surprised.
The maid called out nervously:
“Sabina?”
It was Eve’s nanny. She didn’t leave but stood silently, looking at Evebie.
She didn’t seem angry that Evebie had been involved. Instead, her face showed shock.
The maid didn’t know what to do, tense with worry.
Then—thud!
Sabina dropped to her knees.
Tears streamed down her face as she called out to Evebie:
“Ah, Evebien!”
