# 23
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“Huh?” Evelyn wondered.
Joining the conversation is Roderick, a precocious 6-year-old who is completely immersed in the joys of studying.
“The word ‘awesome’ means really great. It may be difficult for Evelyn, who is only 5 years old.”
Roderick explained intelligently.
Evelin pinched her thigh. At this age, I'm learning from a 6-year-old, but I have to put up with it.
Evelin worked hard to control her expressions.
“Ask your brother about difficult things from now on.”
“Thank you, brother!”
After looking at all the toys, dolls, and storybooks, Leah made an important decision.
“Now your friend is Sister Leah!”
"girlfriend?"
“I give you permission! Come visit Leah’s house!”
Leah said, pushing her hands forward.
It was a proud and generous expression.
It's like the expression on a man's face saying he's finally met his partner.
"I'll show you my toys and dolls too! Now you just have to talk to me. Because we're the best!"
Evelyn shrugged.
Since I have an older brother of 6 years old who was not enough, I have a best friend who is 3 years old, and now I have one idea in mind.
'Ah...I'd rather die'
* * *
Of course, it was intentional for Cyrtain to invite the Duchess Roger, Léa, and Roderick. To see Evelyn's reaction.
After the banquet, Cyrtain became somewhat certain about Evelyn's identity. Now all that's left is to check it out and get it out of the way.
The problem is that Evelin is more patient than he thinks.
Every time I thought of Evelyn, whom my 3-year-old declared her best friend, I would burst out laughing.
“His Majesty the Crown Prince?”
Mortega was shocked and called out to him.
They are currently discussing military reorganization.
The war was over, but it was still like a powder keg about to explode. There was no telling when the fire would start again.
Now is the time to sharpen our strength and think about the next step.
Therefore, a meeting with the nobles guarding the border was scheduled for a week later, but a preliminary meeting was scheduled before that.
How can you suddenly laugh out loud during such an important meeting?
Not only Mortega's gaze, but Duke Roger's puzzled gaze was also directed at Cerdin.
“Ah. I'm sorry. It would be better to take a break and then have a meeting.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
People got up from their seats and left their offices.
Duke Roger stepped forward and sent the men away.
When they were alone, Duke Roger sat down again.
“Why would you do that?”
“You... you've changed.”
“Me?”
Cyrtain tilted his head.
“You seem to have lost weight.”
Even after returning from the battlefield, despite his heavy workload, he never missed training.
Cyrtain always treated himf like a sharply forged sword.
So that it never rusts.
Since his return, there have been two invasions by Assassins.
Demeter, who heard this fact, muttered.
“I'm not that type. You're smiling now.”
“It feels like I've never laughed before.”
“That means smiling is no worse than not smiling at all! What the hell are you thinking about… After all, you must have been thinking about Her Highness, right?”
Sertin made a strange expression. Then he touched his face.
When I thought of Evelin, I found it a bit ridiculous and laughed. I can't help but find it funny when I think about what it must be like for Evelyn to act normal.
In order to bring out the essence, Sertin plans to clash with her endlessly, but Evelin will not back down easily either.
I don't know how far this fight will go, but I thought it would be a fun fight anyway. Duke Roger sighed, wondering how he could perceive Sertain's expression.
“If only Her Majesty were of sound mind...”
“What?”
“I was wondering if you had found someone you could rely on then. It's a shame, really.”
“Even though Evelyn is Duke Spelmann’s daughter?”
The Spielman family was their greatest political enemy.
In addition, he was famous for using cruel and unstoppable techniques. The worker, believed to have planted the bomb, was recently found dead in the river.
It was resolved without leaving a trace.
Evelyn was Spelman's only daughter.
That's why she was able to become the Crown Princess.
Duke Roger laughed bitterly.
"However, it can be comforting. How can a human heart go the way it wants?"
Sertin smiled coldly.
There is nothing that cannot be done as desired.
Everything was under Cyrtain's control. And he was the same with his heart.
What I enjoy now is fighting with Evelyn, not herf.
So there was nothing to worry about.
“It's a meaningless idea.”
Demeter stared at Cyretin with pitiful eyes.
His arrogant and beautiful friend was still overconfident.
Not knowing that the mind tends to move without warning.
“Huh”
Demeter sighed again.
It seemed that my friend's happiness was still far away.
* * *
Duke Spelman has come to see me.
This time too, it was a one-sided visit without any prior contact, but Serena and Rosie received Duke Spellman without any interest.
However, their master is not me or the Imperial Palace, but Duke Spellman.
Duke Spellman drank the tea with a kind face.
Rosie and Serena left, but Rosalina stubbornly stayed behind.
She blinked until Duke Spellman finished drinking his tea.
impossible.
Did he come here because of something that happened not long ago?
Did he discover that I had become sane?
As my heart sank, Duke Spellman opened his mouth.
“I came here myf, Evelyn, because you seem to have forgotten the education you received at Spelman.”
education?
My blood ran cold at those words.
“I thought that no matter how small your mind was, you would remember what you learned over and over again. It's my fault. I ignored the fact that you are more foolish than me.”
Duke Spellman sighed softly.
At that moment, my body began to tremble against my will.
It was a response that was imprinted on my soul and body.
When I saw Duke Spellman, I suddenly felt short of breath.
What on earth is this...? What did you do to me?
Things I never wanted to know crawled from my memory.
Duke Spellman continued calmly.
"Don't think that just because you're here means I can't reach you, Evelyn. What kind of punishment will you get if you don't obey my orders?"
At those words my lips moved as they pleased.
“You should lock me in a closet and starve for three days.”
My worried looks wandered here and there.
My lips were trembling.
I hope someone can save me.
This thought became stronger.
Locked in a closet for three days and starving?
Did you do that to your daughter? Moreover, Evelin only had the intelligence of a 5-year-old child.
My lips were trembling.
When I turned to look at Rosalina, even though she couldn't hear the conversation, I could see her shaking her body as if my expression was strange.
“Evelyn, you should look at me.”
My head shook again on its own.
“But what if you never listen to me again?”
Duke Spellman spoke with a gentle smile.
Then again, my lips moved against my will.
“I will be locked in a small closet for three days, locked.”
“Yes, that's true. You still remember it well, Evelin. But I don't know why you keep disobeying me.”
Duke Spellman said sadly.
What on earth did you do to that little girl, you crazy bastard?
I thought that Duke Spellman treated his sick daughter like a human being, but that was not the case.
Just as animals do, they are imprinted with fear and forced to do what they like.
I felt like I knew why Evelyn acted like Duke Spelman's puppet in the novel. I felt like I was suffocating.
How could he do that to his daughter?
I couldn't believe it, but it was true. The fear of being locked in a dark closet was slowly creeping into my mind.
Those memories ate me up as if they were my own.
Evelyn's love and clinging to her father was an attempt to be loved.
As if she was asking him not to scold her, not to imprison her...don't tell me.