Chapter 64

It was a mere coincidence that Cassius found Evelyn Garneid disguised as someone else.

Until the mansion where the agents of the ‘Aisle’ were selected, news has not yet been reported that Cassus has been pushed out. Naturally, the head of the maids had sent the candidate list to him. And, at the forefront of that candidate list was a maid with an eye-catching history.

Came from the capital and seemed to want to run away from debtors, they lent her the status of a maid who returned to her hometown a few years ago…

From the moment he saw these simple descriptions, Cassius’ hands began to tremble like swaying tree branches.

The tremors reached the part about her impressions of her maid. Everywhere he heard, it was a description of Evelyn… Except for the only one fact that her hair was black and not brunette. Nonetheless, the color of her hair could be disguised with cheap hair dye.

“Evelyn.”

Cassius uttered the name out of his mouth.

“Is it you…?”

No answer came back.

It was natural because Evelyn was not here. Nevertheless, he, as always, was overcome by hallucinations as though she was really answering him.

‘…I have to go right away.’

With that thought, Cassius stood up. The parchment in his hand was crumpled. Of course, there could be a chance it was not Evelyn, though his intuition was shouting at him…

…This was Evelyn Garneid.

The one and only fiancée he had been looking for so much.

And, a few days later, when he found a pale-tired ‘Marina Salt’ in the office of his loyal henchman… Cassius once again thanked his intuition.

゚・ : * ✧ * :・ ゚

“Come back with me, Evelyn.”

“….”

I licked my lips.

Even though I wanted to respond, I could not think of anything.

‘…Crazy.’

Cassius would never lie when he said that he would scatter my face all over the Empire. I could not live with my face covered for the rest of my life, so I would eventually be caught someday.

“…I don’t want to go.”

“You’re going to go.”

Cassius spoke softly.

“I want you to be there.”

Still, I kept talking stubbornly.

“I didn’t even want to meet someone like you in the first place!”

After saying that, I squeezed my eyes shut, thinking that he would be angry. However, only silence came back.

“….?”

When I slowly opened my eyes, suddenly, Cassius was already right in front of me.

“Do you hate me that much?”

Asking that, he continued in a low voice.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“…I told you.”

I turned my head to avoid his tenacious gaze. I could not stand the resentment in his voice though I opened my mouth again, “It’s just that you didn’t listen.”

“Is that so?”

Cassius muttered and let out a laugh mixed with a sigh.

But, why…?

Somehow, it felt like that smile was forcibly made up by someone who could not laugh.

“I can’t help it.”

Then, he grabbed my hand. I struggled to get out of his strong grip, but it was to no avail, “Now that I’ve confirmed that I can’t voluntarily keep you by my side…”

More and more power entered Cassius’ hands.

“It, it hurts.”

As I exclaimed, the grip strength softened a little, although he did not let me go.

“…Even by force, I have no choice but to force you.”

“….!”

I took a breath.

A thought that was ridiculous suddenly popped into my mind. It was because what I had been avoiding was happening right before my eyes.

‘Why why…!’

I no longer rebelled. I only stiffened my gaze up at Cassius.

“Lord Cassius…”

“You’re calling my name now.”

He answered in a low voice and added.

“But, Evelyn, whatever you say, I won’t be deceived.”

He hugged me tightly, the arms of the man who loved me blindly smelled of tears and dust… It was the smell of someone falling apart.

The next moment, he whispered dryly into my ear.

“Don’t even think about running away. Do you know where I can grab a hold of you?”

“…​​Cassius Brudenell!”

At that, I pushed him away. The implications of his words were clear.

…He was going to take Ophelia hostage.

‘I should not have run away…’

At that moment, despair came like a tidal wave. Had I known this would happen, I would not have run away from the beginning. No matter what sweet words Gabriel said to me, no matter what plans I discovered…

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“It’s okay, Evelyn. If you just come back to me, I won’t do anything to Miss Ophelia.”

“…Promise me.”

I muttered desperately in his arms.

“Don’t touch a single finger on Ophelia or Sir David. The same goes for my parents as well. And, the maids I’ve been close to here… Don’t touch them.”

“I’ll not touch anything that you cherish.”

Cassius promised.

“…That’s fine.”

I closed my eyes after saying that. My head was dizzy, perhaps because I was nervous this whole time.

“You’d better take a rest.”

He lifted me up in a flash.

Lying in the air, I stared up at the ceiling blankly. It felt like my hair was turning white like the dull white ceiling.

‘…I am tired.’

If I had had a little more energy, I would have thought hard about how to get through this situation and how to get away from him. Nevertheless, it had been half a year since I was captured by Cassius Brudenell. Now, I didn’t even have the energy to do that anymore.

Of course, I was also frightened by the threats from him.

“No way…”

“Master—!”

“Nonsense!”

There were not only one or two witnesses as Cassius embraced me and strode down the hallway, but even that did not bother me. We would not be able to see each other anymore, anyway. What does it matter if I left a slightly bad impression on them…?

After a while.

Cassius entered the massive bedroom and laid me down on the sumptuous bed in the center. Most likely, this would be the leader’s bedroom.

“Get a good rest.”

“…Lord.”

I opened my mouth halfway from bed.

“Are you planning to return to the Capital?”

“….”

There was silence for a moment. I waited for an answer in some way, but Cassius did not answer and left the room.

‘He might be thinking about it.’

I was lost in thought.

Returning to the Capital meant that I would have some strength as well. My parents are still in good health, and I think I would be able to use some of my authority as the heir of Count Garneid. I do not know if she would still do me a favor, but there was also Princess Hermia, who was not on bad terms with me.

But, if I do not go back…

‘It is really going to be no different from Ophelia in the original novel.’

I licked my lips.

Would it not be better to die than that?

‘Still, I cannot die…’

How many times have I failed to commit suicide to escape from this world and the life of ‘Evelyn Garneid’?

Cassius returned while I was still pondering my thoughts. I could not even sleep.

“You haven’t slept yet?”

He seemed a little surprised to see me awake.

“You must be tired.”

“…I’m afraid.”

Hearing that, he offered me a pill without saying a word.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a sleeping pill.”

“I don’t want to eat it.”

“It’d be nice to take it.”

Although he had a calm voice, I could feel a tacit coercion.

“If you don’t eat, it will only get harder. Would that be okay?”

I slapped his hand.

The pill fell to the floor and rolled over and under the bed, out of sight. Seeing it, a thought popped into my head… How wonderful it would be if it was as easy to hide like that pill, but now was not the time for such idle fantasies.

“At least if you want to do something, do it while I’m awake.”

“…If you wish.”

He clapped his hand three times, slowly.

Soon, a group of people rushed into the room. Everyone was dressed in modest and plain clothes, so I could not figure out who they were.

“Take her.”

“…Young Lady.”

One of them came close to me and gently lifted me up. It looked like he was going to move me out of the mansion somewhere.

“Where are we going?”

I did not refuse but protested loudly.

“Aren’t you supposed to at least tell me when I’m going?”

“Young Lady, excuse me.”

In an instant, a black cloth covered my eyes and tied tightly around the back of my head.

“Lord Cassius!”

A sharp voice instinctively burst out of my mouth.

“This, what’s…!”

“Shh.”

Long, rough fingers covered my lips.

“It’s all for you.”

“…Don’t lie.”

I did not resist.

What kind of resistance could I make when I am this far behind in numbers, and even my eyes are covered…? However, I had no intention of being dragged along, as if all this was my intention as well.

“Listen to me, Cassius Brudenell.”

Even in the dark, I could feel his tense body.

Yes, to my surprise, a poor creature named Cassius Brudenell was still in love with me.

“I can’t give you what you want in my lifetime. So, if you really think about me, please—!”

“I know.”

Cassius interrupted me in a cold voice.

“I’m doing this for myself, Evelyn.”
RECENTLY UPDATES