Chapter 64
Looking at that twisted face, Claire was seized by a sudden, familiar sentiment.
“She still can’t control her expressions, just like a child.”
She had wondered if Evelyn might have changed a little in the time they hadn’t seen each other. But no—Evelyn was still immature.
A noble lady raised on a pedestal, pampered until she became emotional and heedless of others’ feelings or perspectives.
“Are you insane? How dare a lowborn thing like you talk back to me, a duke’s daughter!”
“You’re the one who spoke to me first, so I’m a bit surprised you’re angry now,” Claire replied, raising her brows in a show of mild perplexity while shrugging casually.
She had endured sixteen years as Evelyn’s stepmother, suffering through all her spite and bullying.
So even though this Evelyn was meeting her “for the first time” as Claire, she could clearly see why the girl was picking a fight.
“She must have lost her mind the moment she heard I was the Crown Prince’s lover.”
And indeed, Claire’s guess was dead on.
Originally, Evelyn had chosen her grand return to high society carefully: her first reappearance would be at an Imperial social gathering.
Supported lavishly by her father, she had planned to present herself like a newly bloomed rose—radiant, luxurious, and captivating—without overstepping and offending the Princess.
But the instant she caught sight of Claire seated brazenly at one side of the salon…
“Why is that woman there, t-there?!”
She had been struck dumb, seeing in Claire the youthful face of Priscilla—the woman who had died over a year ago.
Of course, the overall impression was different. Unlike the withered, lifeless Priscilla, Claire radiated vibrance and light.
Yet for Evelyn, just the existence of someone who so resembled the woman she wished to forget was intolerable.
And to discover that this very person was—
“The Marchioness of Ravello’s daughter? The one they say is His Highness the Crown Prince’s lover…?”
Realizing that, Evelyn had charged forward without thinking. She even forgot that she was in the Imperial salon, where causing a scene was strictly forbidden.
“Hah! Shameless! Enough—get out of here at once. This is no place for someone of such base blood!”
Evelyn glared with wide, furious eyes and pointed toward the door.
Nina, clutching Claire’s arm protectively, protested on her behalf.
“Th-that’s far too harsh, my lady! Lady Ravello is my guest and my friend!”
“Then take her out discreetly. I break out in hives when I share a room with tainted blood.”
“H-how could you say such a thing to someone’s face, my lady…!”
“Why not? I’m Lady Muton. Isn’t it only natural for me to say such things?”
As befitted a daughter of a ducal house second only to the Imperial family, Evelyn was arrogant and unrestrained.
While Nina faltered, lost for words, Claire calmly shifted her gaze toward the Princess.
Melissa watched on with an amused face, clearly entertained. She had no intention of stopping the quarrel.
“In that case, I needn’t worry either.”
Claire gently pulled Nina back and faced Evelyn squarely.
“If this were an event you were hosting, my lady, I would gladly withdraw.”
Her voice was calm, unlike Evelyn’s shrill and agitated tone.
“But Her Highness has already accepted my greeting. Which means this is not for you to take issue with.”
Claire flashed a bright, deliberate smile. Evelyn’s face twisted in rage.
“…You dare invoke Her Highness to press down on me?”
Her amber eyes flared with sparks. She flinched at Claire’s logic, but her pride—sharp as thorns—would not let her back down.
“Even so, His Highness favors me over you! Aside from Lady Merison, no one here welcomes the stain you bring upon noble honor! Leave at once—or else I shall!”
The threat brought a sudden hush.
Claire silently watched Evelyn; Evelyn glared daggers back at her.
Around them, murmurs rose.
“Even for Lady Muton, this is going too far.”
“She’s just being spiteful because Lady Ravello is the Crown Prince’s lover…”
“Ugh, both sides make me uncomfortable. I wish this would be resolved quickly.”
Sensing the atmosphere turn against her, Evelyn was unwittingly sabotaging herself. Claire sighed inwardly.
So self-destructive, as always.
Looking at Evelyn’s youthful, prideful face, she lost the will to argue.
There’s no point fighting with a child who refuses to listen.
“I should just excuse myself and end this.”
Claire was about to speak when—
“There’s one more person here who welcomes her.”
A new voice rang out from behind.
Claire turned, startled, and saw a stranger.
A woman with dark amethyst hair falling to her shoulders, eyes shining like pink diamonds, dressed in a knight’s uniform that suited her cool, stern air.
“Who is she?”
The face was unfamiliar, yet oddly familiar. The woman stepped closer, speaking firmly to Evelyn.
“I, for one, am glad Lady Ravello is here.”
“W-what did you say?”
Evelyn’s expression twisted in disbelief, then rose in angry incredulity.
“Lady Lennox, are you out of your mind?! Do you even know what sort of woman she is—”
“I know very well.”
“Then why—!”
“She is Lady Claire Ravello, daughter of the newly invested Marquis Franz Ravello.”
The flat response shattered Evelyn’s expression completely. It was the exact opposite of what she had hoped for.
Hearing this, Claire realized the woman’s identity.
The youngest of House Lennox—the ducal house famed for their blessing of Purification.
Alicia Lennox.
That rare amethyst hair was unmistakably the same as the Duke of Lennox’s, whom Priscilla had once met at a noble gathering long ago.
“So that’s why she looked familiar.”
Claire recalled hearing that Alicia had been named heir over her older siblings and had departed two years ago to purify a corrupted borderland.
Now, seeing her here—
“She must have returned.”
Her mission was finally complete.
“Lady Muton, stop harassing innocent people. This is unseemly.”
Alicia’s tone was grave. As a knight, her speech was overly formal and stiff compared to other young ladies, which only grated further on Evelyn’s nerves.
“Hah! You must not know the capital well anymore, Lady Lennox. That woman is His Highness’s lover! Surely you, too, should—”
“And what of it?”
Alicia cut her off coldly.
“Then you ought to be even more cautious with your words. What do you think His Highness would say if he knew how you were behaving?”
“…!”
Evelyn bit her lip hard, eyes blazing with defiance.
“His Highness may yet regret it—seeing that bastard spawn flaunting herself around is utterly disgraceful—!”
“Enough.”
Alicia frowned openly at the vile remark.
“Lady Ravello is lawfully registered in the Marquis’s family records. This is not something you have any right to disparage. Besides, can you not see how pitiful you look right now?”
The sharp rebuke silenced the crowd.
As it was a clash between two of the Empire’s three ducal houses—Muton and Lennox—no one else dared intervene.
Just as Evelyn had been unable to use her family’s prestige against Claire, she found herself speechless now. Her face flushed hot, red and pale in turns.
Claire recognized that look—it was Evelyn’s face whenever she found herself powerless, thwarted, and unable to bend things her way.
And in such moments…
“Enough! Talking to you is pointless!”
She always lashed out, pretending the blame lay entirely with others, before storming off.
Evelyn spun away in a fit, heels striking the floor in furious, heavy steps.
Watching her retreat, Claire finally turned to Alicia.
“Thank you for helping me, Lady Lennox.”
At Claire’s gentle words of gratitude, Alicia gazed down at her and then asked politely:
“Would you spare me a moment of your time?”
“Of course. Lady Merison, I’ll be back after speaking with Lady Lennox.”
After excusing herself to Nina, Claire followed Alicia to a private corner of the salon—a place prepared for discreet conversations without interruption.
As the two drew the curtains closed behind them, someone in the crowd muttered:
“But wasn’t Lady Lennox once rumored to become the Crown Princess herself…?”
