Chapter 39
“Until then, how about we spar for a short while?”
“Really?”
Evelyn nodded.
“Everyone’s happy to hear that you’re a Swordmaster, but I made up a reason saying you needed time to adjust to the Grand Duke’s estate.”
Several knights obsessed with swords were already desperate to know when they could train with the Grand Duchess.
“So all that’s left is finishing this mountain of paperwork.”
Evelyn glanced over the stack of documents in the office. One per day—it would take at least two weeks to finish them all.
It was such a horrible workload, she was tempted to just reveal she was the Hero outright.
“This is so unfair.”
“……”
“I have to work and be the Hero?”
With an exaggeratedly pitiful expression, Evelyn looked up at Elliot, who crossed his arms in response.
“Three million gold.”
The bold amount left her speechless. As she pouted, his long fingers reached up and lightly brushed her chin.
“Seduction won’t work. Honestly, I figured that’s about my monthly salary.”
“Hmm… then how about five million gold?”
The corner of Evelyn’s lips twitched at the generous offer. She’d just thrown out a number based on the knights’ salary chart, but it was amusing how quickly the stakes had risen.
“His Majesty said he’d be sending support funds soon anyway, so it’s manageable.”
“For someone so wealthy, you’re really stingy.”
“Stin—gy…”
Elliot placed a hand on his forehead as if in shock at the word.
“Even the North needs some emergency funds. And if I give you too much money, what will people think of me?”
“They’ll think the Grand Duke is utterly smitten by a talented woman.”
Evelyn casually repeated the rumors she’d heard. Wasn’t that the image he wanted anyway?
“You’re right.”
“But I don’t want to keep doing this for long. We can’t keep hiding things forever.”
How long could they keep this up?
No one would believe her if she said she was the Hero, so she had no choice but to wait. Still, she couldn’t ignore reality forever.
Now that the Hero had been chosen, the revival of the Evil God was inevitable. People needed time to prepare.
Her conscience wavered.
Elliot noticed the guilt and hesitation in her golden eyes and opened his mouth to speak.
If word got out that the Evil God’s resurrection was imminent, the people of the North might flee first.
They stayed because they loved their homeland, but that alone couldn’t defeat the Evil God.
It was remarkable that Evelyn had accepted her role as the Hero and followed him all the way to the North.
If the North would be affected, how could the capital be any different? People would rush to escape the empire.
He understood her guilt over deceiving others, but to prevent mass panic, it was necessary.
“It won’t be for long.”
This time, the Hero had been chosen earlier, so the Evil God’s awakening must have already begun.
Elliot predicted that war would break out within a few years.
That’s how it had happened in ancient times too.
Even the enemy would need time to recover their power.
“Before you officially join the knights, I’ll pass on the Grand Duke’s swordsmanship to you.”
“Really?!”
Her gloomy expression brightened instantly. Just hearing the word “sword” brought a smile to her face and a sparkle to her eyes, catching the Grand Duke’s gaze.
“To help the Grand Duchess adjust to the North, no one will find it strange for me to teach you swordsmanship. I was going to teach you anyway.”
“Does every Grand Duchess learn swordsmanship?”
“Most people in the North already know how to wield a sword. But if someone from another region comes, we teach them.”
In the North, you couldn’t expect others to protect you. You could receive help, but ultimately, you had to protect yourself.
“I thought I’d be safe as long as I stayed inside the fortress walls.”
“You’re not wrong. But monsters do sometimes breach the walls.”
Her words weren’t incorrect. Magic existed, but it wasn’t a cure-all. In that sense, making the Hero the Grand Duchess was a good move.
Though Graham was committed to supporting the Hero with all his power, Elliot didn’t want things to end there.
It would be a waste to let someone who could support and lead the North go so easily.
One day, after the Evil God was defeated, he even considered handing over the North to her and retiring to a quiet life somewhere.
Just as the ancient Hero became ruler of the North, Evelyn was more than worthy of the title.
If she knew what he was thinking, she might run away in shock, so he kept it to himself.
“Will we start training tomorrow?”
“Will you be okay with all the paperwork?”
She had said she’d taken heir training in the Barrett family, so leading the North shouldn’t be too difficult.
“Even if it’s just one hour a day, I’ll make time!”
“Won’t you be a diligent Grand Duchess instead?”
Resting his chin on his hand, Elliot asked with a smirk. Evelyn avoided his gaze.
“You shouldn’t make that face when we’re alone.”
“Why not? Don’t I grow on you the more you see me?”
Elliot winked.
They had spent a week apart, each claiming to be busy, but this morning Sophia and Rain had shown up right away.
He thought the daily gifts to the Grand Duchess were enough to fool people, but clearly his close aides weren’t buying it.
“Isn’t it better to get along? We are comrades, after all.”
His lips curled up in a grin, and Evelyn’s cheeks flushed.
“So you’re saying I should get used to it?”
She let out a strong sigh through her nose at the man who pretended to be sweet while not truly liking her.
If I put my mind to it, I can do this.
“Alright, Elliot.”
His eyes twitched slightly when she called his name.
“How about we train after dinner tonight? I’ll make time no matter what.”
“Let’s do that. How about having dinner together too?”
Evelyn paused.
“Ah, tonight’s a bit…”
She trailed off with an awkward smile.
“If you’re trying to review two years’ worth of documents, I get it. Let’s meet after dinner then.”
Seeing the furious glare she directed at the towering stack of documents, Elliot chuckled helplessly.
He probably had more work to do than she did.
It wouldn’t do to annoy the person who had agreed to teach her swordsmanship.
Evelyn maintained a smiling face as she sipped her tea.
A comfortable distance is enough.
It was a contract relationship. She couldn’t afford to develop feelings for him. Getting too close was dangerous.
Even if the goddess had said there was no curse, the Evil God had reached out to her ever since she was a child.
There may be no curse, but if an apostle of the Evil God was still nearby, they might one day reach for Elliot.
If Elliot were ever harmed or fell ill, she might have no choice but to leave the Grand Duke’s castle and live alone in the snowy mountains.
“Well then, I’ll see you at dinner.”
After finishing his tea, Elliot stood up without hesitation. But when they reached the door, he held her there for quite a while.
“Go on, now.”
Evelyn gently tapped the back of his hand, which was firmly gripping her shoulder.
“You’re so cruel. Am I the only one sad to say goodbye? See you tonight.”
Elliot left the office with a teasingly dramatic comment.
“He really couldn’t hold back anymore, could he?”
While Anna and Rone cleaned up the tea table, Seril smiled brightly.
He probably hadn’t thought that far ahead.
How was she supposed to fake being in love? If the truth came out later, she’d have a hard time explaining the deception to those who felt betrayed.
“The Grand Duke is definitely head over heels for you.”
Seril said with a dreamy voice. She was always energetic. Unlike the calm maids Anna and Rone.
She got along well with Tinia and was always helping out, which made Evelyn want to treat her better—but she remained cautious to avoid making mistakes.
“I wonder if I’ve caused trouble for him by starting all this.”
“Not at all! You’re doing this for the sake of the North. And I’ve never seen the Grand Duke like someone this much!”
Of course, he was probably just happy that someone else could handle the work. Now he could legally involve the Hero in administration too.
Evelyn pretended not to see Seril’s beaming smile as she sat back down.
If she wanted to increase her training time, she’d need to finish the paperwork faster. Luckily, most of it had already been reviewed, so it was steadily decreasing.
