“Episode 15”
No! Don’t answer. I may not understand political or social games, but I understand that Lucian Bue Ariacne is a fool! If you want to give roses to the empress, go ahead! If you want to suppress the nobles’ arrogance, go ahead! I just… I just don’t want you to get hurt because of your foolishness.”
Yuliana bit her lip hard.
Anxiety and anger surged within her. Yuliana Oben might have been accustomed to such a world before she regained her memories of her past life as Isian, but now, it was different.
Yuliana felt uncomfortable with the common sense that oddly clung to her sense of self. In this moment, it felt like she was speaking through the mouth of Isian, her past self.
“Say something! You damn protagonist!”
Yuliana hastily wiped away her tears, feeling awkward. Even though she pleaded, Evan remained silent and quietly asked.
“Are you worried about me?”
“I, I suppose you could say that.”
“Why, why is that? You don’t seem to be in a good mood.”
Yuliana awkwardly smiled as she looked at Evan with a calm demeanor, despite his unsettling gaze. It seemed that Yuliana had developed some affection for Evan Hilchen, who had been showering her with endless affection since she regained her memories of her past life. Putting a brake on herself, Yuliana inwardly resolved.
“Pull yourself together! You’ve forgotten about enjoying your silver spoon extra life, drifting away from the original work?! After experiencing a humble life in the monastery, I can spend my money until I die, even if I can’t spend it all―.”
As Yuliana hastily tried to regain her composure, Evan interjected.
“Yuliana, did I tell you why I became a duke?”
They were still far from arriving at the duke’s estate. Yuliana, who was gazing at the winter trees romantically illuminated by the dim light, replied absentmindedly.
“Well, I can’t seem to remember well. I’ve only heard that you inherited it after your brother passed away.”
“Do you remember my brother?”
Evan said affectionately.
The mention of ‘brother’ caused Evan’s blue eyes to freeze unexpectedly, even though they usually avoided each other’s eyes subtly, as Yuliana replied with a glint of coldness and disgust.
“Well, I remember. He was my fiancé when I was young―.”
‘…What a scoundrel he was.’
In the past, Yuliana Oben had no affection for her fiancé. She simply viewed it as a marriage of convenience between noble families, believing that as long as the position was appropriate, it wouldn’t offend her dignity. Presumably, the other party felt the same way. Thanks to that, they would occasionally exchange pleasantries in the parlor, but even that became dull, so Yuliana would often roam around other people’s homes with her knights. They did that every time, so it was inevitable that Evan would have seen the young Yuliana.
After hesitating for a moment, she finally spoke honestly.
“To be honest, I don’t remember well.”
“Thank goodness. It’s good that you don’t remember that trash.”
“!”
Yuliana was taken aback.
“It seems swallowing saliva carelessly can make your throat feel clogged,” she thought, before calming herself down and speaking.
“It seems like you two didn’t get along well?”
Evan said, meeting Yuliana’s gaze.
“He was opportunistic. Disregarding my mother, whom I don’t even remember, and disregarding me as well. What was most infuriating was that I accepted it when I was young. It’s hard to believe, but he was a bit of an inadequate person back then. Me too.”
It was said in a joking tone, as if making light of the past. Thanks to that, Yuliana laughed. Reminiscing about the past, he raised the corners of his mouth with a hint of nostalgia.
“You should have seen him whining about not wanting to go on campaigns.”
“Keltan didn’t want to go, did he?”
“Father did his best to stop him. No, he even tried to send me instead of Keltan.”
“I’m glad you didn’t go.”
Yuliana said sincerely.
Seeing her face, Evan smiled faintly.
“It wasn’t difficult to feed his vanity. Saying things like ‘what use are barbarians in battle’ worked like a charm. And unbelievably, my brother believed those naive words. People who receive endless protection tend to have such misconceptions about being protected in any situation.”
Mocking his deceased brother, Evan smiled with a smirk. Yuliana remained silent, unsure of what to say as she looked at him.
Seeing her blinking, Evan continued.
“I think I’ve always been a bit of an oddball since I was young. Actually, one of the reasons my brother disliked me was probably because I was ‘weird’. I rarely laughed or got angry. When a child is teased or looked down upon by another child, there’s a typical response, but I never had such reactions.”
Evan’s eyes, reminiscing about the past, were still dark and deep.
Yuliana could only guess at his wounds as she listened quietly to his words.
Even in the midst of that, Evan continued to speak calmly with an unwavering tone.
“Thinking about it, it was simply compliance with my position, but he really hated it. Isn’t it strange? The one who abuses, yet blames the victim for not showing the desired reaction.”
“…”
Yuliana tried her best to steer the conversation towards the flow of consciousness.
For the first time, Evan showed a sense of leisure as he talked about himself. At the same time, unfortunately, the always flawless perfection seemed to crack, making him appear vulnerable. Leaning his head against the window, facing her, as if rummaging through his childhood memories, he looked younger.
“Evan, I…”
“Do you remember how often you used to visit our house?”
“…I remember.”
Yuliana chuckled awkwardly. Whether her smile was genuine or fake, Evan smiled back with an expression that revealed his inner turmoil.
“I know you don’t remember me.”
“Was I someone worth remembering?”
Yuliana smirked.
Before becoming aware of her past life, she lived life as she pleased. A partygoer, a reckless woman, someone who played with people’s hearts.
Contrary to various rumors surrounding Yuliana Ovon, she was actually a closed-off person.
Although she outwardly laughed and frolicked, seeming to understand people’s hearts, she was someone who never opened her own heart. As Yuliana became able to objectively look back on her past after becoming aware of her previous life, she made a complicated expression.
Observing that expression, Evan, who was looking at her with greedy eyes as her lips trembled slightly, slowly spoke.
“Normally, you wouldn’t have bothered to stroke his ego and inferiority complex, would you? That’s quite bothersome, isn’t it? It’s hard to play along with the antics of a foolish guy.”
“…Evan.”
“But I managed to do that bothersome task. I praised him, saying he would be honored, and after enduring a few months of hardship, I made sure that people who insulted him would be met with stories of his bravery. I whispered in his ear many times, oh, how much I wished for his death.”
“Wait—why is the conversation going in this direction? I mean, not participating in the fencing competition? Is that it?” Yuliana said urgently, trying to draw out a response from Evan.
Finally, Evan, who had been gazing out the window at the dark silhouette of the mansion, responded belatedly.
“It may seem like a visible trick, but if you refuse, the status of the entire noble family will be compromised. As you know, avoiding visible tricks and fleeing only makes the family vulnerable to everyone’s criticism. That’s how the game goes.”
“Then, do you have a way to win without getting hurt?”
Thud—
After the slight vibration from the carriage wall had passed, they finally arrived at the mansion. Yuliana anxiously glanced at the darkened mansion. With a charming smile, Evan turned to her and said:
“I have a suitable method.”
“…You know, I really can’t understand your hidden intentions.”
Yuliana grumbled as they finally arrived at the entrance of the mansion. Grabbing Evan’s hand as if to prevent him from escorting her, she continued.
Before she could be astonished by her own affectionate reaction, Evan Hylchen, with a seductive smile, lowered his eyelids.
“Where else would you find someone who reveals everything to you like I do?”
“What are you revealing?”
Yuliana snatched her hand away rather forcefully.
As the smell of blood still lingered in the air from the arena, Evan acted as if the match against the emperor was nothing special.
Whether Yuliana heard him or not as she confidently led the way forward, Evan continued.
“If you admit that you’re worried about me, maybe our relationship might improve.”
“W-who’s worrying about you?”
“You?”
“Awake from your dream!”
Yuliana grumbled.
After that, without even looking back, she disappeared into the mansion. Yet, some time later, as Evan walked along, he could hear the sound of her laughter, and he felt a bit embarrassed.
* * *
On the day of the final match.
For once, the weather was clear. It was a day without even a hint of dark, lingering clouds.
As the nobles gathered excitedly, eagerly looking down at the arena, they began to whisper when the most important figure didn’t show up.
“Things seem a bit strange, don’t they?”
“Yes, indeed. Should we say Her Majesty is a bit mischievous? I didn’t expect her to treat the Hylchen Ducal House so harshly like this.”
“I thought Her Majesty would consider the dignity of the Hylchen Duke. Did she expect the Duke to flee with his tail between his legs like this?”
“But I doubt she wanted him to blatantly run away.”
“It’s as if she enjoys humiliating people. We really can’t understand Her Majesty’s thoughts. Hehe.”
“I’m not sure if Her Majesty wants to give the blue rose to the Empress, but—”
“No way. The Empress Mother?”
The nobles exchanged glances in hushed tones.
The tense silence lasted only a moment. Someone chuckled softly. Even in passing laughter, there was a hint of mockery.
The reigning emperor, who had been wary of appearances, had married a woman who was the least suitable match for him.
Although she was a distant descendant of the royal family and a noblewoman, she was already leaning towards being a commoner. Moreover, she even stumbled over her words.
Living in the palace where those who soar high reside, she withered away like a dry orchid. She might not have known that what she needed as such an empress was not a blue rose gossiping smoothly in the newspapers, but rather a glass of water to quench her thirst.
Unfortunately, even the long-awaited attention was disadvantageous to the current empress. People compared her plain appearance to Yuliana Ovun’s beautiful features and pointed fingers here and there.
This was unfair treatment for the empress. In terms of appearance, there was no one as beautiful as Yuliana Ovun, nor was there anyone more beautiful than her.
‘What to do….’
And, still not having entered the audience stands, the rumored empress stood hesitantly at the back entrance of the arena.
Dressed flamboyantly, which did not suit her petite stature, she looked awkward with all the ornate decorations.
With her head ornament weighing heavily, she occasionally gripped it tightly with her small hands, and she meticulously examined herself, wondering if her sleeves were too billowy.
In fact, she was eyeing an opportunity to not enter the audience stands with Yuliana Ovun. If she found a quiet corner, she intended to somehow slip in.
