Chapter 13
Riette realized what was happening the moment she saw the blade flying toward her.
She finally understood what role Haart played in the original story.
Yes, Evan. This was all my doing.
Framing your father, leading him to execution—everything.
Don’t be sad. In the end, you were going to follow him anyway.
In the original novel, the uncle’s presence was so insignificant that Riette had completely forgotten about him.
There, he had been framed by Haart and executed. And Haart’s ambition didn’t stop there—he even raised his sword against Evan.
But never had she imagined that the sword would be pointed at her instead.
‘I don’t even have the swordsmanship skills to block that like Evan…!’
Had she overstepped her boundaries as a side character?
But if things had gone according to the story, the uncle would have been falsely accused and executed!
A whirlwind of thoughts rushed through Riette’s mind in that split second.
“Riette!”
Her uncle, seated in the defendant’s chair, ran toward her in what felt like slow motion.
Uncle… I appreciate it, but I think you’re a bit late.
Riette shut her eyes tightly, staring at the tip of the sword right in front of her.
‘Huh?’
But no matter how long she waited, the pain never came.
Opening her eyes slightly, she saw Evan’s back in front of her.
“…Evan.”
At some point, Evan had intervened, grabbing the blade with his bare hand.
Drip. Drip.
Blood from Evan’s palm trickled down the sword to the floor.
“You bastard!”
Flustered, Duke Haart froze and was soon dragged away by the guards. Riette hurriedly checked Evan’s hand.
“Are you crazy? Who catches a sword with their bare hand?!”
“…I didn’t have time to think.”
Evan’s face was pale.
“I was scared… not knowing what would happen to you, Riette.”
“Idiot! Worry about your own hand!”
When Riette shouted, color finally returned to Evan’s face.
“I’m fine, Riette.”
“Fine? This’ll scar for sure!”
As Riette examined his hand with a worried expression, Evan gave her a faint smile.
“At least let me do this much.”
It was over now.
Everything was truly over. Her uncle had been proven innocent, and Haart was imprisoned.
News that the Duchess—thought to be long dead—was actually alive became a temporary topic of gossip.
Fortunately, public sympathy for the heartbroken Duke Croyt and Evan soon buried the story.
Though her whereabouts remained unknown, the Duke wasn’t shamed by scandal. Rather, he became a tragic romantic hero, touching people’s hearts.
“But where did that skeleton even come from?”
On a sunny afternoon, Riette asked the Duke while munching on a cookie.
“There’s another trial underway to determine that. Based on the outcome, Haart may be sentenced to death.”
“What a scary person he is.”
Despite her words, Riette didn’t sound scared at all.
“Riette, do you know what I realized from all this?”
“What?”
“That no matter how well you think you know someone, people can still surprise you.”
He had a point—his own younger brother had betrayed him.
“I once told you that if you became a duke, you’d be surrounded by both good and bad people.”
“Oh, yeah. I remember!”
“It’s embarrassing now, considering I couldn’t even protect myself.”
The Duke gave an awkward chuckle.
“What about me, Uncle? Can you trust me?”
Riette teased, and the Duke leaned in to whisper in her ear.
“Don’t tell Evan.”
“Okay.”
“I may not trust my son, but I trust you, Riette.”
Riette burst out laughing at his answer. Then she suddenly remembered something.
“Uncle, what are you going to do with that room?”
She was referring to the Duchess’s room. Why had he kept it all this time after she ran off with another man?
“I suppose it’s time to clear it out.”
His calm tone was different from before.
He used to look bitter whenever he talked about his wife. Now, he seemed free.
“How about we turn that room into yours, Riette?”
Riette froze with a cookie halfway to her mouth.
“…What?”
Was he asking her to live here?
‘Hmm…’
Having a room here would make it easier to come and go. And the food here was delicious. But one thing gave her pause…
‘Evan.’
Her eyes narrowed in thought.
“Do you still dislike Evan?”
Just as she was thinking it, he brought it up. Riette scratched her head.
‘Do I still dislike him?’
As a child, she’d hated Evan. He had been pathetic and foolish, and she was sure he’d eventually toy with her and toss her aside.
So she’d held onto that dislike out of habit. But things hadn’t gone the way they had in the novel.
If she had to define their relationship now, it wasn’t love—it was friendship.
She hadn’t fallen for him like her original counterpart, and Evan didn’t see her that way either.
If anything, after years of being close, it was more like love-hate. Especially now that he’d gotten injured for her.
It was a difficult question to answer.
“If you don’t hate him… how about getting engaged to Evan?”
“Pfft—!”
Riette spit out the tea she had just sipped.
She nearly sprayed it all over the Duke. Luckily, she turned her head in time.
When she looked at the Duke in shock, he muttered, “Maybe it’s too soon,” while stroking his chin.
Still, he didn’t seem ready to give up.
“Of course, you’re out of his league, but Evan isn’t without merits.”
“…”
“He’s handsome, smart, and he’ll inherit the dukedom.”
The Duke was surprisingly persistent. As if using his last card, he added quietly,
“And I do have some money… which I plan to leave entirely to Evan.”
Unable to hold back, Riette shouted,
“Uncle!”
The Duke cleared his throat.
“All right, Riette. I’ll stop.”
“Yes, please.”
“To be honest, it’s just my selfish wish. I wish you were my daughter… but since you already have parents, I can’t adopt you.”
He looked a little down.
“So I hoped to at least make you my daughter-in-law…”
Riette liked him, but that didn’t mean she wanted to become his daughter-in-law. Just imagining being married to that brat made her face twist.
And besides, Evan’s destined partner was already decided.
“Don’t worry, Uncle. You’ll meet another wonderful daughter-in-law someday.”
“No, Riette! If it’s not you, then it’s meaningless!”
Riette patted his back to comfort him.
Sure, the Duke felt this way now, but once he met the female lead, things would change.
After all, she was a saintess.
And when that happened, she and Evan would naturally drift apart.
“Evan, how’s your hand?”
Once the doctor finished his check-up, Riette entered Evan’s room. Evan stood up when he saw her.
“I was just about to come down.”
“No need. I just wanted to check on your hand.”
Riette approached and examined his hand. It was wrapped in bandages.
“It’ll be a bit inconvenient for a while, but it’ll heal quickly.”
Riette nodded at his explanation.
“That’s a relief.”
Evan looked okay—he didn’t seem too badly hurt.
“Well, I’ll be going now.”
Since he was fine, there was no reason to stay. But as she turned to leave—
“Wait.”
Evan’s voice stopped her. She turned back to find him looking more serious than ever.
“What?”
“Do you remember how I said I had something to tell you at Father’s birthday party?”
His words triggered a déjà vu.
“After the party, there’s something I want to say.”
“This better not be something stupid.”
“It’s not.”
He’d said it just like that. But the Duke had been arrested that day, so she never heard what it was.
Well, good timing.
“Oh, yeah. I remember.”
When Riette replied, Evan stepped closer. She looked up as he approached.
‘Did he grow again in just a few days?’
As she muttered mentally, Evan came even closer.
“What? Why are you so close?”
“Riette.”
He took her hand.
“I wanted to confess when I was dressed up nicely. But I missed my chance.”
Before she could pull her hand away, Evan kissed the back of it. His dark eyes met hers.
Riette was stunned by the unexpected turn of events.
“I like you, Riette.”
“…”
“I want to get engaged to you.”
More shocking than the confession was the word that came after it.
Engaged.
Hearing it from the Duke was one thing—but from Evan?
‘Engaged? Me and Evan…?’
Was he out of his mind?
It was like someone had dumped a bucket of cold water on her. She snapped out of it and yanked her hand back.
“Do you… do you even know what engagement means?”
Damn it, she was so flustered she couldn’t even speak properly.
Unlike Riette, who was panicking, Evan remained calm. As if he’d practiced this a long time.
“Of course I do.”
“If you do, how can you say something like that—”
“I want to get engaged, and once we debut in society, I want to marry you.”
At the word marry, Riette froze again.
“I’ve been wanting to say this for so long—it’s been eating away at me.”
“…”
“After what happened, I’m sure. If I let you go, I’ll regret it forever.”
What is he even saying… Riette’s mouth went dry as she finally managed to speak.
“You’re still young. You don’t know what you’re saying.”
“…Riette.”
“You’ll regret this later.”
He was clearly mistaken. All those years of following her around must’ve made him confuse friendship for love.
Riette knew how deeply Evan would fall for the female lead later on, so she was sure of it.
This was just a rash confession.
But Evan didn’t seem to think so.
“You can reject my confession, but don’t deny my feelings.”
Through his lowered lashes, Riette saw his eyes tremble as if hurt.
But she was certain. This might sting now, but one day, he would regret this.
“I’m sorry, Evan.”
“…So it’s a rejection.”
Despite his pitiful voice, Evan didn’t look as heartbroken as she expected.
“I kind of knew you’d say no.”
Then why did you confess?!
Now her heart was in turmoil. But thankfully, it seemed he hadn’t fallen too deep.
Just as she was feeling relieved—
“But Riette.”
“…Yeah?”
“I’m not giving up.”
Evan’s eyes were locked on her. As if he couldn’t afford to let her go.
“You’re the only one for me.”
As if he had no intention of ever letting go.
