Hearing the princess’s words only made Evelyn more certain. No one believed that Evelyn Barrett had obtained the herbs with her own power.
It wasn’t a disgrace that could be erased just because the Grand Duke’s house offered sponsorship in her name.
Even after becoming a renowned Sword Master, in society’s eyes, Evelyn was still nothing more than the cursed young lady.
After confirming that reality, the path she needed to take became clearer. Mere sponsorship alone wouldn’t be enough to protect the Hero.
She needed to completely eliminate the whispers and rumors behind her back before she could move on to the next steps.
“…I guess there’s no other choice.”
But why… why did she feel like laughing?
Elliot looked at the Hero, who was desperately trying to hide her devastated expression. Once he became her savior, she’d never be able to escape his grasp.
Just as he became her savior, she too would become the savior of the North.
A faint, embarrassed smile tugged at the Grand Duke’s face as he sighed, making the princess’s cheeks flush red.
With just one smile, the Grand Duke shook the hearts of the people around him.
“No matter how much you try to cover it up… People always sense the truth.”
“W-What truth are you talking about?”
The flustered princess stammered as she asked. Could it really be true that Evelyn Barrett had seduced the Grand Duke with her body?
“The moment I saw Lady Barrett’s swordsmanship, I fell for her at first sight. That part was never a lie.”
“Gasp…”
“From the very beginning, I sincerely… truly… fell for her from the bottom of my heart.”
With his eyes gently curving in a smile, Evelyn shook her head frantically.
“Your Grace… Please don’t say such things…”
She quickly realized what the Grand Duke was trying to do to get through this moment.
Seeing Evelyn’s panicked reaction, the surrounding nobles’ curiosity and excitement surged.
There’s something going on between them!!
“You rejected my marriage proposal… leaving me with no choice but to offer my sponsorship instead… But they say love and a cough cannot be hidden.”
The Grand Duke brushed back his hair with a faint, dreamy smile.
“I didn’t realize how sharp-eyed the capital’s nobles were.”
As the Grand Duke shook off the princess’s grip and walked away, the nobles’ gazes followed him closely.
“Every time you swung your sword, love was engraved into my heart.”
Lies!
Evelyn, caught off-guard by the sudden turn of events, couldn’t say a word. She had thought it would be a simple event to announce her sponsor, but suddenly, it had turned into a love confession.
“I knew it! Your feelings for Evelyn were real! I always believed in the sincerity of Your Grace’s love!”
Her brother, standing nearby, burst out in admiration.
That’s not it…
Evelyn looked up at the Grand Duke standing in front of her with desperate eyes.
He was using an extreme method because people still wouldn’t believe his sponsorship.
Shock therapy, so to speak.
It would’ve been nice if things hadn’t come to this.
She caught sight of the princess’s pale face, drained of color from humiliation, and Rosie’s flushed face burning with jealousy.
How was she supposed to clean up this mess now?
“Good thing I’m thorough with everything I do.”
“Your Grace… You really shouldn’t do this…”
As the Grand Duke knelt on one knee in front of her, Evelyn instinctively stepped back.
Did this man know no shame? He shamelessly delivered a love confession as if performing a perfectly rehearsed play.
But the fact that he was doing this for her… made it hard to truly hate his brazenness.
Rather… she felt satisfied. She could tell with certainty that he’d keep any promise he made.
He was someone who would definitely protect House Barrett.
“Evelyn… The moment I first saw you… I fell in love at first sight.”
You didn’t even see my face back then… I was wearing a hood!
Evelyn grumbled silently in her heart.
Click.
When the small ring box from the Grand Duke’s pocket opened, a ring set with a diamond the size of a thumbnail appeared.
‘Surely… this wasn’t something he prepared for the princess?’
Even as she was being proposed to, other thoughts filled Evelyn’s mind. Was this how she was going to die…?
Or perhaps, since she couldn’t refuse the proposal now, she’d have to accept and deal with the assassins the princess would surely send next.
“I… am not someone Your Grace should propose to.”
With a troubled expression, Evelyn refused the proposal. Accepting it right away would definitely bring unpredictable trouble.
“Please don’t belittle yourself. You are stronger and more beautiful than anyone.”
Even though she knew he was only saying this because she was the Hero… her heart still trembled.
Did he even realize how devastatingly handsome he was?
Evelyn’s hands trembled like someone moved to tears. She desperately hoped her acting wasn’t obvious.
“Grand Duke… What do you think you’re doing… right in front of me…”
Princess Isabelle asked with a voice cold as ice.
“Everyone was questioning the worthiness of my sponsorship… and the Lady’s virtue and skill. I’m simply proving the sincerity of my heart.”
“You’re saying that… right in front of your partner for the evening? Me?”
The Grand Duke gave a small chuckle at the princess’s words.
“Your Highness… Wasn’t tonight’s partnership merely to show unity between the Imperial Family and the Grand Duchy?”
“So you mean to go against me now?”
“Not at all. I have no intention of going against the Imperial Family. More importantly… Lady Evelyn, your arm must be getting tired. I wouldn’t want my sponsorship to lose its meaning.”
His words were almost like a threat. His piercing gaze clearly asked: What are you waiting for? Take the ring.
Swallowed by countless sharp, judging gazes that seemed ready to tear her apart, Evelyn gulped.
Was it really this hard just to prove she wasn’t cursed… just because she was the Hero?
This whole ordeal made her realize just how cornered she would’ve been without the Grand Duke.
If they wouldn’t even believe his pure goodwill as a sponsor… no one would’ve believed she was chosen as a Hero either.
Evelyn held her breath, steadying herself. This, too, was part of the deal.
That’s when she finally remembered what the Grand Duke had said earlier.
There’s… an easier way.
Marriage.
For nobles, marriage was the most solid form of alliance.
“I want Evelyn Barrett for the North. She’s stronger and more outstanding than anyone.”
It was the one truly sincere line from everything he’d said tonight.
As always… everything was going according to her sponsor’s will.
Evelyn bowed deeply, ignoring the princess’s killing glare.
“There’s no one but Your Grace who would see me in such a light.”
If they wouldn’t believe her… she’d just make them believe.
She, the cursed Evelyn Barrett, would marry the Grand Duke and, in the end, protect the North, the Empire, and the entire continent.
“I’ll do my best… so you won’t regret choosing me.”
With a bright smile, Evelyn took Elliot’s hand.
“My goodness…”
A proposal overcoming disgrace and prejudice! How moving and beautiful!
“His Grace’s love for Lady Barrett must be sincere.”
The ballroom became instantly noisy.
“Love strong enough to overcome even a curse!”
Not missing the momentum, Elliot pulled the ring out and slid it onto Evelyn’s left ring finger.
It had just been a random flashy ring he’d grabbed to appease the princess—but thankfully, its extravagance worked in his favor now.
“This is… the most romantic proposal I’ve ever seen.”
Several noble ladies pulled out handkerchiefs and dabbed their eyes. Memories of how Lady Barrett had always been an outcast in social circles resurfaced.
Even though they hadn’t dared get close to her, they all knew very well what kind of treatment she’d endured.
“What in the world is going on here!”
Suddenly, a loud voice rang out.
The Emperor had appeared at some point and was now shouting as he looked at the gathered crowd.
“Greet the Sun of the Empire!”
The nobles quickly bowed in unison. It had been a while since the Grand Duke was invited to a party, and now, one dramatic scene after another was unfolding.
And most of them… involved House Barrett.
“What’s happening here? Why is the Grand Duke on one knee—”
The Emperor stopped mid-sentence when he noticed the ring on Evelyn’s finger and pressed his hand to his forehead.
No matter how much he hadn’t wanted the Grand Duke to marry his daughter… this was going too far.
The Emperor glared at the Grand Duke.
“So you didn’t come to the capital just for sponsorship… I should’ve known you were aiming for marriage.”
“Isn’t it natural for a man in love to act quickly?”
And now… my daughter got used as a pawn in this.
The Emperor’s biting words sounded like he was chewing glass, but Elliot rose to his feet with a calm expression.
His hand wrapped protectively around Evelyn.
The princess gripped her dress tightly, desperately trying to hide her trembling arm.
“Your Majesty… Please forgive my rudeness. Evelyn… Show everyone why I fell for you.”
Elliot plucked a hair ornament from Evelyn’s head and handed it to her.
And Evelyn… instantly realized what the Grand Duke wanted her to do next.
