Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Saving Evelyn
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“……Rubette?”
“Yeah, it’s me. Rubette. But what are you doing up there? It’s dangerous, so come down and let’s talk.”
“…….”
The shock of my sudden appearance lasted only a moment. Evelyn’s eyes lost their light again.
“E-Evelyn?”
Her face blank, Evelyn stood there in a daze, not responding. Soon enough, she turned her head away from me.
‘This is driving me crazy. My heart’s about to drop out.’
I tried to calm myself and inched closer to Evelyn, moving my feet little by little.
“Rubette.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“I’m sorry. About locking you in the closet. I didn’t want to do it.”
“I know. And I’m sorry too. I said some really harsh things earlier. I’d misunderstood you.”
“It’s fine. You didn’t say anything wrong…….”
“No, you’re all wrong! You’re not following that girl Nora Pelkan around because you like her!”
“…….”
“I’ll listen to you. Just take my hand and come down from there, and tell me what’s going on.”
“Don’t come closer.”
Somehow she noticed me closing the distance bit by bit, and Evelyn spoke coldly.
“I’m really sorry to you.”
“I told you it’s fine.”
“And…… I know it’s shameless to ask this, but if you could…… s-sob, tell my d-dad and m-mom…… that Evelyn l-loved them a lot……?”
Hearing the child’s tearful confession tore at my heart.
“Why would I relay that? You can tell them yourself when you go home.”
“I’m going to die right now.”
“Do you want to die?”
Evelyn flinched at my words, her back to me.
“You’re scared right now. You don’t want to die.”
“No, I…….”
“It’s not that you want to die. You just don’t want to live like this.”
At my words, Evelyn slowly turned her head again.
Who in the world really wants to die? I knew better than anyone the feelings of someone who had resolved to take their own life.
“I tried to die once too.”
“……!”
Molga and the twins who tormented me my whole life. And even after turning back time, the reality that I couldn’t escape them.
Everything felt so hopeless that I’d decided to end it all.
“But I felt so wronged. Why did I have to die for what I did wrong? Right at that moment, I got all choked up.”
“…….”
“If I died? Would those awful kids regret it too late and shed tears? Do you think they’d come to my grave and apologize?”
Evelyn’s eyes wavered.
“You know they wouldn’t.”
“…….”
“If you die, you’re the only one who’ll feel wronged. Don’t die—get revenge, or live so brilliantly they can’t ignore you.”
I extended my hand toward Evelyn, as if to say, grab it.
“I’ll help you.”
“Y-You will……?”
Blink, blink.
We stared at each other, blinking blankly. We’d been so serious just moments ago……
Even in this life-or-death moment, Evelyn’s eyes were filled with distrust.
‘Ahem. Well, considering what she’s seen of me so far…….’
The non-contractor duchess who just took it all like an idiot and couldn’t say a word—that was me.
She probably thought I was all talk.
She had no way of knowing that the soul of Juliet Karénine—who repaid one slap with ten and never lost—was inside this body.
“I get why you don’t believe me, but it’s dangerous, so come down for now…….”
Evelyn’s head turned away again, her hope dashed.
‘Argh.’
I clutched my head in frustration when I suddenly sensed a presence approaching from behind.
I knew it. I turned around.
“That’s right! Not me—this one!”
Lark, who had come closer, froze. Evelyn’s eyes widened as she looked at him.
“His Highness the Crown Prince will help you!”
“…….”
“Actually, His Highness knows all about my situation and has decided to punish those kids. How about that? Believable now?”
“……W-What?”
“Your Highness?”
Lark, who had been looking back and forth between me and Evelyn in a daze, quickly caught on and played along.
“Of course.”
He grinned and came to my side, placing his large hand on top of my head.
“I’ll give a good scolding to the bad kids who bully my friend.”
“Y-Yeah.”
I nodded vigorously, my head bobbing.
Seeing Evelyn’s wavering eyes finally show some trust, I reached out my hand in relief.
“I’ve been locked in that closet all day and I’m starving. Shall we head home now?”
Evelyn hesitated, then slowly took my outstretched hand.
Smiling, I said,
“Let’s go eat some warm soup.”
* * *
Back at the villa, we stuffed ourselves with warm soup, meat dishes, and cake until our bellies were full.
In the bedroom with a cozy fire crackling in the fireplace.
After tucking the blanket up to the neck of the soundly sleeping Evelyn, I left the room.
Lark, who had been waiting leaning against the wall, straightened up, and we headed straight to the study as if by prior agreement.
The moment we sat down inside, I spoke.
“It must have been tough. She’s still so young.”
“Yeah.”
We had learned all of Evelyn’s grim circumstances.
Evelyn’s father, Baron Torsso, was a guardian knight.
He had served in the knight order directly under His Majesty the Emperor and lost a leg ten years ago during an expedition, forcing his retirement.
What could a man who had lived his whole life as a knight do after losing his leg?
“Is he blaming himself?”
“Big time?”
The reality awaiting Baron Torsso—who had devoted his body to the nation and retired honorably—was a miserable struggle with poverty.
As the Crown Prince of the Empire, Lark was blaming himself for failing to show him proper respect.
“There’s no welfare law for retired knights?”
I asked cautiously. Lark fell silent with deepened eyes before nodding.
“There’s a bonus paid upon retirement, but this incident made me realize it’s just a pathetic gesture.”
“…….”
“And I’m a soldier myself……”
I smiled soothingly at Lark’s self-mocking words.
“But at least you know now. So that’s good. Now His Highness can do something about it.”
“Right.”
Lark nodded with a smile.
“But what about the other side? What should I do?”
“Ah. Leave that to me.”
The ‘other side’……
Was the story of Count Pelkan, who had hired Baron Torsso as an estate manager.
“I thought I couldn’t whine because Dad had it harder. Dad smiled even when the count spat in his face.”
“We have to eat somehow. If Dad’s going through that, what’s serving as Nora’s maid?”
“But the cursing and beatings were bearable. Locking you in the closet, though—that really hurt. I wondered if it had to go that far. I’m truly, truly sorry.”
Nora Pelkan was one thing, but her father, Count Pelkan, was no small villain either.
Not content with dragging Evelyn off as a playmate for his daughter, we heard dozens of episodes about how he’d treated Baron Torsso like a dog, and it made my stomach turn—I couldn’t even swallow my food.
Treating people like toys. Father and daughter were spitting images. Like beans from beans sown, red beans from red beans sown.
“Can the Duchess do something about it?”
Lark asked worriedly.
Truth be told, neither I nor Lark could do anything strictly legal about it.
There’s no law that would throw a CEO in jail for insulting and abusing subordinates.
“But here’s the fun part…….”
I rifled through the papers on the study desk and said,
“Looks like God does exist.”
“Huh?”
I grinned at Lark, who tilted his head.
“I’ll show you what ‘kind power-tripping’ looks like.”
* * *
Count Pelkan was a wealthy man who had amassed his fortune in trade.
He worked under Marquis Frank, a pillar of the capital’s leather trade.
“M-Marquis? What, what on earth do you m-mean?”
“No, Count. Are your ears going? How many times do I have to say it?”
Marquis Frank, who had come to the Pelkan estate himself that morning, delivered thunderbolt news.
“I’m done working with you, Count!”
“At least tell me why…….”
Count Pelkan’s face—bloated with as much fat as his greed—trembled.
Scowling at the count in displeasure and clicking his tongue, the marquis pulled a letter from his breast pocket and tossed it over.
The count fumbled to read it.
To Marquis Frank.
Our company hereby terminates the collaboration contract with you, effective immediately.
We’ve heard rumors that laborers from Pelkan—your business partner family—have resigned en masse due to inhumane treatment and poor working conditions.
As fellow merchants, we cannot ignore our moral responsibility.
I do not do business with those who lack the basics. That is my iron rule.
We will send the penalty fee upon your reply regarding the termination.
Should you not wish to terminate, we shall meet again after you sever ties with such scoundrels who cannot even guarantee workers’ basic human rights.
[Blanc de Ruby] CEO, Madam Ruby
“N-No, what is th-this…….”
“You’ve got to know your limits with people. How did rumors like that even spread?”
“M-Marquis!”
“Do you know what kind of contract we have here?”
“Ah…….”
“Nobles numbering in the hundreds—hundreds!—are waiting with bated breath for the leather goods about to launch from here. An exclusive contract with them, you fool!”
“B-But this is too much! I don’t know why this shop’s CEO is doing this to me, but after all our years working together!”
“What use is years of history on the cold merchant floor?”
Tut-tut, the marquis rose without a shred of regret and added,
“Don’t act like you know me from now on!”
“W-Wait, Marquis!”
“Eek, tut! Let go!”
The marquis coldly shook off the arms of the count, who scrambled up to stop him.
“Marquis!”
Staring at the door swinging open behind the departing marquis, Count Pelkan staggered, his face drained of color.
‘Why is that shop’s CEO coming after me……?’
According to the letter, the problem was rumors from workers who’d left dissatisfied with the labor conditions……
“Damn it! Which bastard started those rumors!”
He’d abused so many employees over the years, he couldn’t even guess who.
“I-I’m ruined…….”
The ‘lifeline’ that had allowed the Pelkan family to boast of wealth was cut off overnight.
He might recover if he could strike another deal with a big shot like Marquis Frank, but would he?
In this rumor-sensitive business, who would partner with Pelkan after such a humiliating dump?
‘Is this a dream?’
No, it was a desperately real nightmare.
“What? Why’s the door open?”
Oblivious to her house falling apart, daughter Nora sauntered in chewing gum with frivolous steps.
“…….”
“Dad, Dad. Gimme some money. I’m going shopping with the girls.”
“Haa…….”
“Hurry, hurry!”
Grinding his teeth at Nora, who thrust out her palm with a scowl, the count bellowed.
“Get out! RIGHT NOW!!!!”