“What do you mean by that?”
“The Duke and I aren’t in that kind of relationship.”
When Evelyn glared at Rosie’s followers, the young ladies standing by Rosie stepped forward.
“What did Lady Hommern even say to make you look so scary?”
“Lady Hommern just spoke rudely to the Duke, didn’t she?”
Evelyn stood her ground against the gathering ladies. After all, they were people she could sweep away with a single gesture if she chose to.
She hadn’t avoided them out of fear, but because she didn’t want to accidentally hurt others.
A hero.
I’m a hero. There’s no such thing as a curse.
For the first time, Evelyn straightened her usually hunched shoulders. She had never done anything shameful in front of others.
Evelyn raised her voice for the first time.
“Do not insult the Duke.”
“Ha, when did I ever insult the Duke…?”
The young lady, receiving Evelyn’s sharp glare, flinched as if wronged.
“By the way, where is the Duke?”
Rosie, who had been quietly watching the argument, tilted her head and asked.
It was a pointed remark, noting that sponsors and their beneficiaries usually entered the party together or at least arrived at the same time. Evelyn gave a bitter smile.
That’s because His Grace entered with the Princess. Even though everyone knew, they all pretended not to.
Rumors had already spread widely that the Princess had an entirely new dress made just to attend the party as the Duke’s partner.
Knowing all that, they were still trying to paint Evelyn as someone lacking dignity. It was laughable.
“I mean, the Barrett family is famous for their swordsmanship, but going into the snowy mountains to gather herbs and then getting the Duke’s sponsorship? It’s unbelievable no matter how you hear it.”
Snicker.
Inspired by Rosie’s remark, Lady Hommern spoke triumphantly, and someone let out a derisive laugh.
“Seems Lady Hommern is curious about Evelyn’s abilities.”
Rosie naturally stepped back, subtly siding with Lady Hommern.
‘She always pushes others to say what she wants to say herself.’
Evelyn sighed as she looked at the hostile gazes. It didn’t seem easy to change people’s minds all at once.
“Surely Lady Hommern wasn’t planning to say something that could offend the Duke, right?”
“Of course not. How could we doubt the Duke?”
Lady Hommern readily agreed with Rosie’s words.
“So, what answer are you trying to get from me?”
“Hmm. Do I really have to say it with my own mouth?”
Lady Hommern’s eyes widened with fake innocence. Rosie covered her mouth dramatically.
Evelyn stared coldly at Rosie Clover, who persistently harassed her.
So this is all because she’s upset that the Duke is involved.
After all, she wanted the Duke just as much as the Princess did. But the Duke wasn’t someone who would get caught up in such low-level gossip.
“That’s not even worth answering.”
“Why avoid answering? Is there something shameful about receiving his sponsorship?”
“How many times do I have to say not to insult the Duke—”
“Her Highness Princess Isabel and His Grace Duke Graham are entering!”
Just as Evelyn was about to refute the question that already had its own answer, the herald loudly announced the arrival of the Princess and the Duke.
Everyone’s attention in the hall turned toward the entrance.
“Wow.”
The Princess appeared wearing a dress so lavish it looked as if she were attending her own wedding with the Duke.
It wasn’t pure white, but the soft ivory dress was just as grand, with layers of fine fabric and studded with expensive jewels and embroidery.
But more attention than even the Princess drew… was the Duke, Graham.
The eyes of the young ladies who had been slandering Evelyn just moments ago remained fixed on Elliot.
The strong arm supporting the Princess’s hand, his broad shoulders…
His navy party attire fit his frame perfectly, but it couldn’t hide his long legs and breathtaking figure that captivated every woman’s heart.
That amazing man… was Evelyn Barrett’s sponsor?
Jealousy flared in the young ladies’ eyes. They still couldn’t believe Evelyn was a Sword Master.
So when they heard the rumors from the Count’s house, they had wanted to shame Evelyn by revealing an inappropriate relationship with the Duke.
But now, seeing the Duke in person, even that seemed enviable.
To be the Duke’s secret lover… Many here would have gladly accepted even a nominal sponsorship just to stand by his side.
Fortunately, the Princess was attending the party as the Duke’s official partner.
Had Duke Graham stood next to Evelyn Barrett simply as her sponsor, the mood in the banquet hall would have grown dangerously tense.
Even now, Evelyn was the target of envy and resentment, just for being under the Duke’s sponsorship.
The fact that Leonel Barrett had awakened was astonishing, but what drew more attention… was the Duke.
Even Leonel’s handsome looks and the miracle of his awakening paled in comparison to the Duke.
After a brief silence, the party hall buzzed again. Everyone rushed to greet the Princess and the Duke.
“As expected, someone truly fitting should stand by the Duke.”
Lady Hommern spoke loudly enough for Evelyn to hear.
‘And yet you don’t even dare speak a word to the Princess.’
Evelyn ignored Lady Hommern and stepped back.
She needed to go and greet the Duke… but her feet wouldn’t move.
She told herself she couldn’t run away now that she was a Hero, but facing all these people and their stares… she hesitated.
Can’t I become the shining light… just a little more slowly?
Evelyn whispered her plea to the gods as she watched the Duke surrounded by countless people.
If she greeted him now, she would undoubtedly catch the Princess’s attention.
“Evelyn.”
“Brother.”
Her brother had appeared beside her before she noticed.
“Let’s go.”
“Now?”
At Leonel’s nod, Evelyn froze. The Princess, standing next to the Duke, looked so full of joy.
If Evelyn were to approach now and disturb that happiness… she might never be able to set foot in high society again.
“You want us to push through all that?”
Couldn’t she slowly shed the curse rumors? Evelyn seriously hesitated.
“I’m a little scared too.”
The Emperor and Crown Prince hadn’t arrived yet, so all eyes were still on the Princess and the Duke.
For Leonel, who had just awakened and had no experience in social settings, this was no easy task.
But Leonel desperately wanted to help his sister shake off the stigma of being cursed.
“We still have to go. We’ve got something we need to do.”
At her brother’s determined voice, Evelyn swallowed hard. Who… who would believe her?
“Lord Leonel Barrett.”
Someone grabbed Leonel’s arm as he headed towards the Duke.
“Why… why are you alive?”
Not even ‘how’… but ‘why’.
Frowning at the rude question, Leonel turned around but couldn’t get angry.
“Countess Russell…”
Even though his sister had been falsely accused, Leonel couldn’t speak harshly to a mother who had lost her young daughter.
Countess Russell’s eyes burned with fury. The girl who killed her daughter was now receiving the Duke’s support? Why?
Why would the Duke help that cursed girl?
“Young lady. Bring back my daughter too.”
This time, Countess Russell grabbed Evelyn’s arm. She knew that no matter what she did, her daughter wouldn’t return.
But she couldn’t bear to watch Evelyn Barrett prosper even a little.
Just days ago, Baron Quartz had confirmed to her that Evelyn really had become a Sword Master and that the Duke’s sponsorship was genuine.
And when he had suggested that perhaps this could have been Eil’s future too… her heart broke.
She knew the Baron was fueling her resentment… but hatred didn’t go away easily.
Looking at Evelyn now, she couldn’t help but imagine her own daughter, who would have bloomed like a flower, wearing a beautiful dress and catching the eyes of noble sons.
“Countess… that’s not something I can do.”
Evelyn calmly shook off the Countess’s hand. Where this strength was coming from, even Evelyn didn’t know. Despite being a Sword Master, even she struggled against the Countess’s grip.
“Ha… You killed my daughter with your cursed hands… and you think bringing back your brother will make people believe you’re innocent?”
The Countess’s stabbing words made Evelyn’s heart ache.
The goddess had told her that what happened to her was the work of an evil god. If so… then Eil’s death too must have been because of that evil god.
If everything happening around her was the fault of that evil god… Evelyn wanted to destroy it ruthlessly.
“As I’ve said before, Eil was injured because—”
“Because you pushed my daughter down the stairs!!”
Countess Russell’s eyes were bloodshot. Not a single day had passed where she didn’t recall her daughter’s face.
Her precious child had withered away before even seeing the light again.
Why! Why did it have to involve that cursed girl!
At Countess Russell’s scream, all eyes in the hall turned to Evelyn.
