***
EVELYN was sipping her tea and she's not tasting it.
She's too aware of his father stares that every move she makes, Duke Keene followed it, so Evelyn just sits still.
She looks elegant and all but she's cursing deep inside. The truth that she was too uncomfortable with the situation shouldn't be known by his Father, so Evelyn was making Gil's ear cry.
'...Gil, please talk to me!!!'
"Child, shut up!!! Get out from there if you really want to!'
'B-but...!!! Aghhhh!'
Evelyn was frustrated, Duke Keene was looking at her tenderly that Evelyn creeps out.
She doesn't need those eyes now, and she also doesn't need his attention... What she need was to be secured in her future.
But it's the least thing she could do. As Duke Keene, finally said that he will cancel the engagement with the Crown Prince.
Now, one dead flag was removed.
'All I need to do is to not get involved with the Male Leads...' Evelyn thought and sigh a relief.
It perks the interest of the Duke to saw his Daughter sigh and he asks.
"What is it, Evelyn?"
Getting out of her bubble, Evelyn tried to answer as quickly as possible.
"N-nothing, Papa."
He stares at Evelyn with sharpness, trying to figure out what she was sighing for but gave up because he can't read her daughter anymore.
He also sighs...
"By the way, I'm going to visit our family's territory. I'll be back in three days."
Evelyn abruptly looks at Duke Keene, hiding her smile that seems to escape at any moment.
"Is that so? I see. Be careful on your way, Papa"
The Duke raised his brows with surprise, he suspected that Evelyn will beg to let her go with him but instead nothing like that happen.
Just a little farewell was all she said. He wasn't disappointed but he wasn't also happy.
The Duke's face crumpled up when he's emotion conflicted. Seeing her daughter, Evelyn, sipping the tea without much-paying attention to him also made a pang on his chest.
Indeed, his daughter changed so much that he can't read her anymore.
***
*sigh~
"Finally, out with that suffocating tea time..."
"Are you alright, Lady Evelyn? Do you need me to prepare some snacks?" Sheila, the maid asked.
"No, that's fine."
Evelyn went back to her room with a haggard face. She wasn't usually picky with what she ate but that tea was not suite to her taste.
'Maybe because I was busy trying to find out what the Duke was thinking that I can't even taste the tea.' Evelyn thought then, she sighs.
"Are you really alright, Lady Evelyn? You've been sighing for a while now." Sheila asked worriedly.
A dry laugh escapes from Evelyn.
"Ha ha. Really? I can't tell. I'm just exhausted I guess."
"Should I prepare your hot bath now?"
Evelyn smile widely, she's thankful that her maid knows what she needs the most.
"Yes... Thank you, Sheila"
"You don't need to be thankful, Lady Evelyn." Sheila then smiles mirroring her Lady's expression.
***
Another day passed and morning has come.
Evelyn was busy reading the book Professor Ivo gave for her homework when a knock came from the door.
*knock *knock
"Who is it?"
"Lady, it's Jede."
Evelyn sigh. Nothing came from Jede going to her room to knock, it always involved the Duke. She prepares herself for another frustrating news.
"Come in."
Upon entering, Jede witnesses his Lady reading her book gracefully. It was such an unusual thing for their Lady to hold a book but upon seeing it, he knew that her Lady has matured.
"Lady Evelyn, the Duke said that he wants to see you before he went to go to Lementel town." The butler said.
Without looking, Evelyn just answers indifferently.
"Tell father that I'll see him off. Just call me when it's time for his departure."
While turning the page, Jede stare at his Lady and brought his hand resting in his chest and bow.
"Understood, Lady Evelyn."
*Clack!
The wooden door closes after Jede got out of the room.
Evelyn continues reading her book.
"At least the Duke will be out for three days. I'll have time to relax"
She closed the book and leaned her head in the chair.
"Haa..."
"Child, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, I just wished while the Duke is gone nothing unpleasant will happen."
"What are you saying?"
Evelyn laughs dryly.
"Nothing..."
***
Everyone was standing in front of the huge facade of the house of the family of Emsworth.
Including the daughter who always skips saying goodbyes to his Father is now here, waiting for the Duke to depart.
"Evelyn..."
The Duke called his daughter but Evelyn only holds her dress and lean her body to the front to say goodbye.
"Farewell, Duke"
Keene narrowed his eyes to form a frown. It was obvious that his daughter was keeping an arm's length from him.
"Evelyn, I told you that you don't need to call me that." The Duke argued trying to make Evelyn call her "Papa".
Looking up, she finds the Duke in a crumpled face and is displeased at what she said. She thinks of what could be the possible word that made her Father look like that.
'Don't tell me... Because I didn't call him Papa? You expect me to call you that with all this stares?' Evelyn contemplate.
"What did you mean? Father?"
The Duke sigh...
He knows that Evelyn started to distance herself because of his neglect.
He walks towards Evelyn and ruffled her hair, seeing that his daughter was caught off guard, the Duke smile lightly and disappeared the next moment.
But everyone who was observing the father and daughter interaction saw that and is having second thoughts if what they saw was a hallucination.
But NO.
The Duke was still patting his daughter's hair and looking at her calmly. Although, it cannot be discerned the employees know.
The people who have been working in this mansion knows that the Duke didn't smile after the duchess died.
They were amazed.
Evelyn side glance and saw a silver-blue teenage boy, clenching his fist and biting his lip.
She sighs inwardly.
'This will bring another problem...'
The only person who is gritting his teeth while looking at the two's warm interaction was...Allan.
***
Sending the Duke off was over and Evelyn was busy laying in the grass of the back garden with Sheila.
She decided to take a breather and have a picnic to enjoy this world nature that it offers.
But it didn't last long.
A footstep can be heard making towards Evelyn's resting place.
She thinks that it was the butler or the gardener. Nonetheless, she didn't care as long as she wasn't disturbed.
But contrary to her expectation, a young man's voice echoed.
"Good day, Lady Evelyn."
Confused at who's voice is it? She tried to pretend that she's asleep.
*Gasp
"Cro-Crown Prince..." Sheila stutter and Evelyn was shocked.
She hurriedly sits right up and looked at the shining golden hair and the sparkling emerald eyes.
'What is he doing here?'
Sensing Evelyn's formed question in her head the Crown Prince replied without much thought.
"I heard that my "fiancee" was hurt. So I immediately went here." He smiles like a prince charming that Evelyn doubted her eyes.
'Visit immediately? Haa. That was a month ago when I got assassinated and you're saying "immediately". What is this Crown Prince saying? You think I'm stupid?!' Evelyn thought.
Before she forgot her etiquette Evelyn stood up and greets his highness and tried to hold her rebuttal because of the sarcasm that she just received.
"Greetings, Crown Prince Edickart, may the sun guides your path."
"No need for formalities between us, you're my fiancee, Lady Evelyn."
Evelyn flinched with what she heard. She remembered her Father's promise that the engagement will be canceled prior to their agreement.
But now that the Crown Prince is here, she doubts about the Duke's words.
'I knew it wasn't that easy... The Duke will not bestow me my request.' Evelyn clenched her dress but didn't let the Crown Prince see it.
"Thank you for gracing us with your presence your highness..."
"I told you that you don't need to talk to me formally."
"I insist. You're the Crown Prince."
Edickart chuckles.
"You're not like yourself..."
Evelyn flinched and cold sweat was forming in her hands.
She dryly laughs.
"Wh-what are you talking about your highness... Ha ha ha"
"You're more mature than before and you didn't go to any events that I went and chased me." A cold voice came from the Crown Prince.
Evelyn just scratches her cheek with a finger in embarrassment.
"Did I? I'm sorry about that your highness, I was too young and didn't know any better."
*clink.
Sheila prepared a drink and serve the Crown Prince some tea.
And Evelyn continued...
"I promise that I wouldn't do that again... So your highness..."
"You don't need to marry me."
Edickart looked at Evelyn and thinks that she was baffling but when he saw her face, he knew that it was true.