Chapter 24
If I had possessed the body of some classic villainess, I would’ve charged in immediately, slapped Rudva across the face, and poured justice straight down his throat.
But sadly, I was a pathetic transmigrator with zero abilities. Running at Rudva alone would most likely accomplish absolutely nothing.
The powerless had no choice but to cling to those with power.
And, of course… I was quite good at clinging.
Father, you’d better watch carefully.
I could have reported things openly, but I was cautious. If I acted recklessly, the backlash might hit me instead.
If they realize I’m smarter than expected, they might start seeing me as a threat.
No matter what, I needed to leave myself an escape route. In this ducal household, I was only a “young duchess” in name—practically a nobody.
Still, everything had gone smoothly up to the point of dragging Duke Icard here while acting pitiful in every possible way.
Thankfully, my timing was perfect.
Behind the rose garden, Evan and a grown man in a blue uniform were facing each other with swords crossed.
Wait… their swords are completely different.
They didn’t seem to have noticed us yet.
When we moved closer, their voices became clearer.
“Do you see that rose garden?”
A sharp-featured man was speaking coldly. He was probably Rudva.
“It was a place Madam cared for with devotion while she lived.”
I saw Duke Icard’s jaw tighten.
“And now it has become this ruined wasteland… just like the ducal estate itself.”
I held my breath, watching.
Evan had his back to us, so I couldn’t see his expression.
“This is all because of you, Young Master.”
Both the duke and I gasped in shock.
What the hell was he saying? Was he insane?
“So your life should be ruined as well.”
I hadn’t noticed at first because the words were so vicious, but Evan wasn’t even being trained fairly.
Evan held only a short wooden practice sword.
Rudva was using a real blade against him.
“Since no one tells you, you seem to forget sometimes.”
I knew nothing about swordsmanship, but even I could tell this was not training.
This was an adult abusing a child.
No matter how tall Evan was for his age, he was still much smaller than Rudva.
“You must never dare dream of happiness. Live as though you’re atoning.”
Rudva slammed the flat of his sword hard into Evan’s waist.
Evan collapsed with a thud.
I almost screamed—but I didn’t have to hold back anymore.
Because Duke Icard strode forward, snatched Rudva’s sword away, threw it aside, grabbed him by the collar, and slammed him into the ground.
“How dare you.”
His voice was overflowing with killing intent.
“How dare you use Matilda’s name to lay hands on my son?”
I ran to Evan and wrapped my arms around him.
“Evan!”
He stared at me blankly, still dazed.
With trembling hands, I lifted his clothes slightly.
His body was covered in even more wounds than yesterday.
If I hadn’t noticed…
If I’d simply fallen asleep every day out of exhaustion…
How long would he have endured this pain?
Was this how Evan had grown up in the original story?
“What happened?” Evan asked calmly.
I answered quickly.
“I begged Father to let me watch your training. But this… what is this…?”
Suddenly, Evan pulled me into his chest and covered my ears as he whispered,
“Don’t look. Don’t listen.”
“What?”
“It’s ugly.”
But I came here to see exactly that ugly sight!
I ended up trapped against him, my eyes and ears blocked.
Still, no matter how tightly he covered my ears, I could clearly hear Rudva screaming.
No—
I wanted to see how badly the duke was destroying him too!
“You don’t need to see something like this all of a sudden.”
No, Evan… it’s not sudden for me…
But his strength was ridiculous. No matter how much I struggled, I couldn’t lift my head.
Servants came rushing over after hearing the screams. Only then did Evan loosen his hand slightly.
I peeked out from his arms.
“Send him to prison. I’ll follow shortly.”
Duke Icard’s voice was like frost.
The man—now barely recognizable, beaten into a bloody mess—was dragged away.
Yes. That’s right. Don’t let it end here. He deserves worse.
As I cheered internally, the duke slowly turned his gaze toward us.
“You.”
After Rudva was taken away, Duke Icard looked down at Evan with icy eyes.
“How stupid do you have to be to stand there and listen to that nonsense?”
Father! What nonsense are you saying right now?!
Is this really the time for that line?!
Amazingly, Evan remained expressionless.
“…If you think about it, he wasn’t wrong.”
“What?”
“If I hadn’t been born…”
The duke didn’t respond. Instead, he said quietly,
“You are the heir of House Icard.”
Why is that coming up now?
“From now on, don’t allow mere servants to treat you however they please.”
He stared at Evan briefly, then looked at the rose garden for a long time.
And then, without another word, he turned and walked away.
…That’s it?
Just stepping on Rudva is the end?
What about the things he said?
Shouldn’t someone tell Evan none of it was true?
I looked Evan in the eyes.
“Everything he said was wrong. So why are you acting like that?”
The beating had stopped, but nothing had gotten better.
“How can you say that? Mother’s death wasn’t your fault.”
“But I was the cause.”
“Still…”
“I bring misfortune to everyone. I was too weak to control those beneath me, but… Rudva was right.”
No, he wasn’t!
Why did the duke say something like that instead?!
Evan looked so pitiful that I hugged him tightly.
“Don’t… stay close to me. I’m not worth it.”
“No, Evan.”
I gently stroked his black hair.
“Don’t say that. I’m happy I can be with you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re cute.”
That was the truth.
Even though his looks weren’t the “cute” type at all, there was a subtle adorableness that only I could see.
I wanted to see him biting his lip slightly, trying to hide a smile when he enjoyed something. That was why I patted his head, picked clothes for him…
Even last night, when he murmured an apology to himself, it was cute.
But I didn’t know he had such a painful past.
I already felt sorry for him, but now my heart softened even more.
My feelings toward Evan were the only sincere kindness I had in this place.
“Even Mother wouldn’t want you living a ruined life,” I whispered.
“But…”
“Father… well… he didn’t fall apart and live like a corpse just because Mother died either.”
In fact, the duke was living busier than anyone, scheming endlessly.
“So shouldn’t you try to live earnestly too?”
In this situation, it was impossible for Evan and Duke Icard to suddenly have a warm reconciliation.
There was too much twisted history for me to fix it all at once.
At least, Evan wouldn’t be beaten anymore. That alone was enough for now.
“Earnestly?”
“Yeah. Anything at all.”
“…Laria.”
Evan called my name softly.
“All this time… I’m sorry. I was wrong.”
“What did you do wrong?”
“I said harsh things… ignored your sincerity…”
“It’s fine. Don’t say that.”
“How can that be fine?”
His red eyes trembled.
I patted his shoulder like an adult.
“Even married couples feel hurt sometimes. But with time, it gets better.”
“Then…”
“Yeah?”
After steadying his breath, he said as if spitting it out,
“…Don’t ever abandon me.”
“Evan?”
“Forgive me…”
Ah. His mental state had completely cracked.
That cruel man had shaken him emotionally to the core.
And it made sense—he had been forced to face the fear he’d carried alone.
“Let’s do better from now on, okay?”
“…Okay.”
He leaned heavily against me, as if he could barely stand.
“Evan, is it hard to get up?”
I stroked his arm worriedly.
Was the strength he used earlier some kind of miracle?
“A little…”
“Let’s go. Let’s put medicine on you. Why did you just let yourself get hit…? I thought you were good at swordsmanship.”
Evan was about to speak when suddenly my chest tickled.
Damn it—why couldn’t this happen earlier, in front of the duke?
I’d been coughing like crazy when it mattered, and now my throat was aching again.
I glanced at Evan.
No… this isn’t the 분위기 for me to cough up blood.
Right now, Evan was the one who needed comfort.
Someday he’ll find out, but not now.
If I coughed up blood here, it would feel like I was joining the “ruin” Rudva spoke of.
“I-I suddenly have something urgent to do… there, there! Please take care of Evan!”
I waved over a servant standing at a distance and quickly left the rose garden.
