Evelyn sneaks outside the great hall and went to her favorite garden for fresh air. The night sky was beautiful as the shade of moonlight gives a healing effect for Evelyn.
Evelyn breathes out a sigh of relief, the tension in her body was slowly fading away.
Evelyn always finds the dark quiet night to be her serene place and she finds peace in her heart whenever she's anxious. It was the habit that she had when she was Adelyn, her former identity.
She sits down in the cold stone of the fountain. Looking at her reflection in the water, Evelyn was finding it absurd to look at the face she has been using for a couple of months now.
It was beautiful like a goddess even if the body was that of a child. The eyes reflected the sun's color when it's twilight, the sharp gaze that has a hint of sadness, the color of her hair like the night sky, and the hue of silver-blue tone at the end. The pointy nose and her adorable rosy lips compliment the whole face.
No one can argue that Evelyn will become a gorgeous lady when she becomes an adult.
'... but what's the point of having this out of the world beauty when faced with death?'
Finding it funny, Evelyn laughs dryly.
While Evelyn was alone in the back garden, the lights of the mansion and the cheers can be heard from where she is.
Then the bushes sway harmoniously, joining the whisper of the air at that moment.
But in the distance, a young man stood beside the tree, observing Evelyn who was alone, sitting.
"Come out... I know you've been there since earlier." Evelyn said, rendering the young man flustered.
Seeing that he was exposed quite easily, he had no choice but to step out from where he was hiding.
"Greetings, Lady Evelyn."
The young man who was hiding was the one who grabs her wrist earlier and asks for dance was now walking towards her as if nothing happened. It was Cabel.
"Do you mind if I joined you?"
With his mischievous grin, girls will definitely be swoon and will fall in his feet but not Evelyn. She had enough stamina to resist the charm of Cabel, given that she was around his father and brother.
"What brings you here? Lord Cabel?"
"You don't need to call me with that stiff title. You can just call me Cabel..."
He smiles so sweetly that you will need to ask yourself if you saw an angel. It was blinding that Evelyn was having a hard time controlling her facial expression.
"That would be disrespectful Lord Cabel. You're the heir of the Sigrid Dukedom. I shall speak with you with respect."
Evelyn starts to act politely again. Distancing herself with the male leads that were invited here.
To tell the truth, Evelyn was having a hard time adjusting, seeing that the 3 male leads of the story were now acquainted with her.
"I insist, Lady Evelyn. You're also from a Duke's Family. I just want to have a friend." Cabel said.
'What is wrong with him? He follows me here then hides beside a tree and now he wants to act all friendly?' Evelyn silently thought.
She doesn't know what will transpire in the future. Given that her brother already hates her, the Crown Prince was disgusted with her, and Cabel... She still doesn't know.
She just knows that Cabel's hatred for Evelyn will start to form when Elise shows up. It means it is still far fetched, she has the chance to be her friend.
"I thought you'll be greeting the other guest. I never knew that your guest was here in the middle of an abandoned garden."
'Now, he's mocking me. Friends my foot!'
"I just need fresh air. The air inside was polluted... but I think the air here just now was also contaminated." Evelyn said, smiling.
"I should go back..." Evelyn continued.
Before Evelyn could stand up, Cabel was laughing with ease. It was a genuine laugh. The first time Evelyn heard a noble chuckle without care.
Evelyn only looked at Cabel who was laughing too hard that he needs to wipe his tears with his fingers.
"...haa I'm sorry if I offended you, Lady Evelyn. I didn't mean to. It was just hard to believe that the famous Lady Evelyn was acting like a normal Lady and was also defending herself with words. It left me astonished."
Evelyn twitch when she heard what Cabel said. It was widely known that Evelyn used to be a spoiled brat... but that term was actually an understatement.
Evelyn used force, like what Lady Collin said. Evelyn used a candlestick that was still burning and she swings it back and forth, making the hot wax to splatter and some ladies were burned from it.
It was a disaster, to say the least.
But now that she knows her past life, she didn't want to continue causing trouble that will eventually lead to her doom.
She thanks God that she woke up in time.
Without a moment's notice, Cabel was standing in front of her, his face was too close that Evelyn needs to lean back to give some space.
"Wh-what?" Evelyn was startled and she stutters. She cursed her tongue for doing so.
'Damn it!'
Cable laugh again for the second time. Amused at the expression Evelyn was showing.
After a couple of minutes of staying there and only staring at each other, Cabel spoke first.
"I shall leave now, Lady Evelyn. I've taken up a lot of your time..."
Cabel steps back and Evelyn looks up to see a young man smiling so tenderly.
Evelyn wonders what the young man really needs that he appeared right in front of her after just a moment ago that they met.
"...the dance. I'll give up for today but next time you shall be my partner for the rest of the day."
Evelyn only watched Cabel, no intention of answering what he said.
Cabel leaned his body and reach out for the hand of Evelyn, doing so, he slightly pecks the back of her hand.
The gentleman's way of greeting and bidding goodbye.
But Evelyn didn't react on the surface, but she's actually laughing inside.
'Haha dancing? Next time? I don't think you have the chance after this party. Everyone will know that I'll become the fiancee of that cunning prince.' Evelyn thought.
'But where does this kid know how to do this kind of thing? Haha, I can't help but laugh when a kid acts like an adult.'
Said the one who actually acts like an adult inside a 13 years old child's body.
Anyway, Cabel after bidding his farewell went inside the mansion and I was left alone in the garden.
Evelyn was thinking of a way, how, and why the story was starting this early.
She didn't cause a commotion, she also isolated herself from the public and the tea parties, she also endured the taunting of her brother, except for that time she wreaks havoc.
Nonetheless, she didn't make a scene or tried to appease the male leads. She tried her best to avoid them. So how?
While Evelyn is in a daze, a black shadow was creeping in the back of the garden where the tall trees are planted.
The shadow observes her prey like it was waiting for the right moment to attack.
Sensing the prey was now alone and her guard wasn't up. It was the perfect chance to do his job!
The man completely hides his presence, sneaks behind Evelyn.
Evelyn who notices the shadow, we're late to react to defend herself.
The man standing, clothed in all black tried to slash Evelyn's back but due to Evelyn turning her head around she saw the glint and avoid it in a moment's time!
Her hair on the ground was cut from the sharp object and that was the only evidence that the man was seriously trying to hurt her.
"Child are you okay?" The voice inside her head, Gil asked in concern.
'Why didn't you tell me that there was an assassin sneaking up on me?! What the hell?!' Evelyn screamed inside her consciousness in panic.
"Child, listen to me..." Gil was so serious that Evelyn flinched in her spot.
"I didn't detect him because his much stronger than you. If I didn't sense that someone was behind you, your head would be lying in the wet soil right now!" Evelyn gulps down her dry saliva.
It was true that without Gil noticing it her body would be there laid in the spot where her hair is.
Evelyn trembled, she knew the story too well and that is her advantage but when the story accelerates too fast, she doesn't know when it will happen and only knows how to prepare.
But that itself was shattered when the assassin stood there in front of her, she wasn't strong enough to hold a candle with a professional killer.
***
Evelyn was panting going inside the mansion.
When she saw her father, she unconsciously called for him in a small voice.
"Papa..."
The Duke who has a keen sense heard her and turn to look at her direction.
The Duke was shocked, eyes widened, and he became stiff.
-thud...!
Evelyn collapse on the hard cold floor.