Chapter 5
“My lord, the morning paper has arrived.”
“Bring it here.”
The following morning, the butler entered the Duke of Gloucester’s office and respectfully presented the newspaper with a bow.
Aiden accepted it expressionlessly and unfolded it with practiced ease.
“If you don’t believe me, check tomorrow’s morning edition.”
Evelyn’s words from yesterday lingered in his mind, which was why he had requested the paper earlier than usual.
His gaze lowered across the page.
“Baron Chester’s household implicated in heresy.
Evidence connected to heretical activity has been discovered within the estate seized under His Majesty’s orders…”
Like Gloucester, the Chester family had supported the Second Empress.
Their political influence had not been particularly great, but after the Second Empress ascended the throne, they secured several exclusive trade rights and built a solid financial foundation.
It was not unheard of for merchants involved in trade to fall into heresy.
But the Chester family had been devout believers for generations.
And recently, they had even begun ventures connected to the Holy Order.
For them to suddenly be accused of heresy—
Impossible.
Long lashes cast shadows over Aiden’s amber eyes.
“Furthermore, the Imperial Knights have announced signs of rebellion discovered within the Sands territory…”
Chester and Sands.
Both were prominent supporters of the Second Empress.
And both families had risen to power after backing Empress Blair.
Several deep lines formed across Aiden’s brow.
Folding the newspaper shut, he rose from his seat and walked toward the window.
The moment Blair gave birth to a son, Emperor Philip had acted as though he had been waiting for the opportunity all along.
He stripped Empress Catherine of her title and separated her daughter, Mary, into a detached palace.
Even during the ten years Mary lived within the imperial palace afterward, Philip never once sought her out.
In contrast, Evelyn had been cherished and adored above all others.
Perhaps because of that, the young Evelyn had once been a bright, innocent child overflowing with the warmth of being loved.
But she changed so much…
The Evelyn he met again after ten years was nothing like the one he remembered.
Her platinum hair still shimmered like grains of sand along the shore.
Her pale green eyes still carried the freshness of spring foliage.
But everything else had changed.
Her gaze.
Her tone.
Even that habitual smile.
That sort of smile belonged only to the weak—those who survived by flattering the powerful.
She’s only been imprisoned in the Tower for two weeks…
So why does she already wear that expression?
Was life inside the Imperial Tower truly that unbearable?
After a moment of thought, Aiden turned around and addressed his adjutant.
“Scott.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Investigate the situation in Brang immediately.”
“How long do you intend to keep this up, Count?”
“If Your Highness would eat something, I would gladly stop coming.”
Leaning against the shabby wooden door, Evelyn’s lips curled into a bitter smile.
Today marked the seventh day.
Ever since the coronation banquet, Robert had continued visiting her without fail.
Her gaze drifted downward.
Through the narrow slot where meals were passed through, she could see fruit resting inside a small basket.
“At least eat some fruit. I heard you like it, so I brought some personally.”
To others, his devotion would likely appear touching.
A handsome man visiting an imprisoned princess every single day.
The Evelyn of the past had thought so too.
Until she learned that every ounce of his kindness was a lie.
“You must take care of your health.”
“If you continue this, I won’t be the only one inconvenienced.”
“You needn’t worry about me.”
“Did I sound worried?”
“If you eat even one piece, I’ll leave afterward.”
Perhaps he had bent down, because Robert’s voice came from near the food slot.
“Hah…”
A self-mocking laugh slipped from Evelyn’s lips.
“Ah, Count… you’re the only one who visits me… the only…”
“Please call me Rom, Your Highness.”
Memories from her second life surfaced in her mind once more.
Even after swearing loyalty to the sister who had become Emperor, Evelyn had remained trapped in the Tower for another year.
During all that time, Robert had been the only visitor.
A young girl imprisoned after losing her parents and younger brother.
And the charming man who visited her faithfully every day.
The exact same situation stood before her now.
Yet with her emotions long since burned away, Evelyn could only look back on her past self with ridicule.
The more broken a person becomes, the easier it is for emotions to take root.
She despised how weak she had once been.
But at the same time, she had to admit how meticulous Robert truly was.
No matter the lifetime, he always wore the same flawless mask.
But this time—
She intended to rip it away completely.
“Your Highness.”
“…Fine. I’ll eat it.”
Shaking herself free of her thoughts, Evelyn grabbed an apple from the basket and bit into it.
A low chuckle came from beyond the door.
“Thank you. I’m quite pleased.”
“I’m the one eating it, so why are you thankful?”
“Because Your Highness granted my request.”
Her brows drew together.
Though the thick door blocked her sight, she could vividly picture his playful expression anyway.
An unnecessary memory.
Determined to erase every remnant of her previous life, Evelyn bit into the apple harder than before.
“Don’t come here anymore. I won’t entertain you.”
“In that case, I may have to open the door myself to make sure Your Highness is safe.”
A pause.
“Come to think of it, that wouldn’t be so bad. I’d get to see your face directly.”
“You said you’d stop coming if I ate. Your attitude changes as easily as turning over a hand.”
“Isn’t that simply the nature of someone in love?”
“Haa…”
She hated the idea of lowering herself before him, but for now she had no choice.
Robert truly might force the door open.
No matter how determined she was, she could not face him dressed as she currently was.
In the end, Evelyn reluctantly took a step back.
“Give me a few days alone. Too much has happened, and my body and mind are exhausted.”
“And after that, will you speak with me properly?”
“Yes.”
“Understood. Then I shall return next week.”
“I hope you recover soon.”
Clack. Clack.
Robert’s footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
Only then did Evelyn turn her gaze aside.
Beneath the thin negligee, over the curve of her shoulder, the Blessing of Strovana shone vividly.
Originally, just like in her previous lives, Evelyn had been forced to wear nothing but rags resembling a prisoner’s uniform.
But the day after the banquet, a single blue negligee had been delivered to her.
“His Majesty was concerned about Your Highness living in such shabby attire and ordered this sent to you.”
Though spring had arrived, the dawn winds remained bitterly cold.
And yet Mary had sent her nothing but thin summer sleepwear for a prison cell with barely any protection from the cold.
On the surface, it looked like concern for a younger sister.
But Mary’s intentions were painfully obvious.
She wanted the freezing cold to slowly erode Evelyn’s sanity.
Even knowing that, Evelyn had no choice but to accept it.
The maid who brought the clothing had apparently been ordered to help her dress as well, but Evelyn sent her away.
After changing alone, she ultimately had no choice but to throw out the thicker clothes she had been using for warmth through the food slot.
The reason was the Blessing that had manifested alongside her first regression.
During her second life, Evelyn had always worn clothing that covered her all the way to the neck to keep it hidden.
The mark was located near her shoulder blade, so perhaps that much caution had not been necessary—
But even slightly revealing clothing terrified her.
If they discover it, I’ll die.
Mary was so obsessed with imperial authority that she constantly wore the heavy imperial crown.
Even after becoming Emperor, she endlessly flaunted her legitimacy.
So what would happen if she learned that Evelyn possessed the Blessing as well—the very symbol that legitimized the throne?
Back then, even imagining such a thing had terrified Evelyn.
Of course, now that she had resolved to become Emperor herself, she intended to use it as the centerpiece of a rebellion.
Her dark green eyes fell upon the cold food sitting on the table.
She grabbed a piece of hardened wheat bread that she hadn’t touched in days and stuffed it into her mouth.
Her jaw moved mechanically.
The level of restraint was unbelievable for someone who had barely eaten properly for days.
To never show emotion.
No—
To erase emotion entirely.
That had been Evelyn’s vow at the beginning of her third life.
Marone should arrive in a few days.
After briefly glancing toward the iron door, she turned back toward the window.
Beyond the tightly shut door, the faint voices of soldiers drifted inside.
“She’s stubborn as hell.”
Once Robert stopped visiting every day, the Imperial Tower became deathly quiet once more.
Only the idle chatter of soldiers changing shifts broke the silence.
“Looks like even the Count finally gave up. Honestly, if she keeps acting that cold, I’d lose interest too. I mean, title aside, she’s basically as good as dead anyway.”
“Jack! Have you lost your mind?”
His companion flinched in alarm and hurried to stop him.
The man had originally guarded the outer perimeter of the Imperial Tower.
Today was his first day assigned to interior watch duty.
Watching his clueless companion, the man called Jack smirked arrogantly.
“What’s the problem? Who’s listening? There’s barely anyone on this floor anyway.”
“Even so! And besides, this floor has—”
The other soldier glanced nervously toward the tightly sealed iron door behind them and lowered his voice.
“Her Imperial Highness is here!”
“Have you ever seen anyone leave the Imperial Tower alive?”
“W-Well… no…”
“Exactly. Being imprisoned here means death is only a matter of time. So why bother watching your mouth in front of people who are going to die anyway?”
“Y-Your mouth—!”
As Jack’s voice grew louder and louder, the other soldier panicked and clamped a rough hand over his mouth.
The coarse palm pressed painfully against him, and Jack irritably shoved his companion’s arm away.
