Chapter 29

Chapter 29

“…”

Eva, too flustered, was at a loss of words as she was only able to blink her eyes. Between Ruth and Count Holland, no one revealed Ruth’s real identity up until now, which meant that both men had a secret agreement. So the fact that the concerned party was silent and his subordinate disclosed the truth meant that a serious problem had occurred.

Eva whipped her head instinctively, examining Ruth. His strong jaw was stiff, seemingly angry. The eyes that were glaring sharply at Count Holland, as though piercing him, were demanding an explanation.

“There’s no need to hide it, Your Highness. Lady Pamela had confessed her guilt.”

As if he heard something odd, Ruth knitted his eyebrows and asked back.

“What?”

Eva was equally as astonished. Pamela, confessed guilt? The two most contradictory words addressed in one sentence was enough to make Eva uneasy.

“I’d like to ask you something, Lady Massies.”

“Please, go ahead.” With poise, Eva answered him while clutching her shaking hands.

“Did you come to the riverside to seduce me?”

“I beg your pardon?”

Eva’s eyes bulged open. Her mind went blank like someone had punched the back of her head out of the blue. She wondered how he could have drawn that conclusion and said it out loud.

She wouldn’t deny she was there to seduce him. However, the subject in the question was wrong. It wasn’t her who tried to seduce Count Holland, it was Pamela.

Despite knowing the longer she postponed her answer, the more he became convinced of his doubt, Eva couldn’t move her mouth recklessly. Pamela would never mention that, so she had to get a hold of the situation first.

“That’s it. I’ve been suppressed this whole time, I can’t stand it any longer.” It was the Baronetess who rose to her feet and yelled at that moment.

“Hey, don’t meddle in and sit down.”

“Let go of me.”

The Baronet grabbed his wife’s arm, however she violently yanked her arm away and scowled at Eva.

“You persuaded my innocent Pamela to help you seduce Lord Holland, but then? Once you found out that Sir Ruth was the Crown Prince you changed your target!”

“What are you talking about? Pamela!”

Dumbfounded by this, Eva shrieked Pamela’s name. What absolutely ridiculous nonsense. The expected, worst scenario began to unfold. All the arrows of suspicion were gathered together and directed by Pamela. She made Eva, who was only a spectator, the scapegoat, framed Eva, and schemed against Eva as she pleased.

‘Honestly, why!’

Eva had to listen to this from Pamela’s own mouth. She had to dispel Eva’s injustice and correct the groundless accusation from Count Holland and the Baronetess. Eva believed Pamela would. She may be greedy and selfish, but Pamela wouldn’t throw away her moral sense.

“I’m sorry, Eva.”

Pamela stood up with her hands together, looking like she was praying. Slowly, she approached Eva with a tearful face and trembling shoulders.

“I tried to keep it a secret until the end, but I couldn’t hide my guilt anymore. That’s why, Eva…” Pamela shed tears as she hugged Eva.

“Let’s confess the truth and beg for forgiveness.” the words that came out sounded like a confession to be heard by anyone else.

“Cecil still has a fever. Think carefully about how to respond.” The heinous words that followed came out as a whisper that only Eva could hear.

As Pamela’s lips brushed the rim of Eva’s ear, she could sense Pamela’s lips tugging upwards into a smile then returned to its original state. In that instant, chills creeped down her spine. It felt like a devil’s threat absorbed into her veins and coursed through all over her body.

Once Pamela removed herself from Eva, she looked at everyone with tears on her face, giving the impression that she was in remorse. The pitiful and innocent face of Pamela stopped at Ruth after she searched around the group.

“Your Highness, I sincerely apologize for showing you a disgraceful image. However, please don’t blame Eva too much. She’s not a bad person.”

Pamela’s hand balled into a fist as she placed it on top of her chest and pleaded Ruth. She was like the main character on a farce stage, a story of a beautiful and kind girl who succumbed to her evil friend’s temptation and eventually recovered her good nature. Pamela was that beautiful and pure main character while Eva was the villain who corrupted Pamela.

It seemed like all the candlelight illuminated Pamela in the darkness. The audience was all drawn to Pamela and empathized with her.

Only Eva couldn’t relate with them while clutching her chest. Her vision blurred with a throbbing pain as though she had been punched hard. It was unfair to be falsely accused like a bolt from the blue. More than anything, to be seen in public, especially in front of Ruth, was humiliating enough that she wanted to die. She wondered, what kind of expression did he have now? She wanted to see it but couldn’t bring herself to because of the fear.