Looking at Evelina, who was clearly contrasting, I suddenly had such a thought.

That Evelina resembled the duchess, not her father Bashvir Winterdel.

If Diarob had seen Evelina’s appearance, he would have been very regretful.

As he said, if Bashvir’s genes had mixed even a little, her current beauty would not exist.

Anyway, this meeting was completely unexpected.

The Imperial Prince’s aide should only show loyalty to his lord, and there was no need to come and greet me, his wife.

Above all, the relationship between me and her now was bound to be awkward, whether publicly or otherwise.

‘Why did she come here of her own accord?’

As if thinking the same thing, Marianne stepped forward in front of Evelina, bristling.

“You shouldn’t come to the Imperial Princess’s palace without notice.”

Her tone of rebuke was polite but sharp.

The attendants around Evelina frowned, seemingly feeling Marianne’s words were too harsh.

Watching this, I calmly rephrased those words in a refined but firm tone.

“When visiting another’s quarters, it is the Empire’s etiquette to give prior notice.”

Evelina just smiled and replied casually.

“I’m sorry. Having spent a long time studying abroad, I made a mistake.”

It was a statement that admitted the mistake but made me look like a narrow-minded woman for criticizing her who had studied abroad.

Moreover, as she said this, she narrowed her eyes, creating her characteristic gentle image, which made me look almost like a villain.

I’m not sure if Evelina made an innocent mistake or if this was all an act, but one thing was certain.

The imperial attendants lined up behind her did not seem to view me favorably.

And they would all be temporary employees assigned by Casius.

As far as I knew, Evelina’s appointment as an aide wasn’t planned long ago.

Anyway, there was no benefit in being viewed unfavorably by the palace staff who would soon return to their positions.

That would solidify as my reputation and reach Casius’s ears.

I faced Evelina with a kinder smile than usual.

“I didn’t consider that aspect. I forgive your breach of etiquette.”

Marianne’s expression became displeased, as if she found this situation unsatisfactory.

But at my words, she closed her mouth and stepped back with a resigned expression.

Only then did Evelina’s figure, which had been half-hidden, come into full view.

She seemed momentarily flustered, as if she hadn’t expected me to react this way, but composed her expression in an instant.

“No, it was my mistake.”

Without correcting Evelina’s admission of fault, I curved my eyes and spoke.

“However, if you’re to take on the role of His Highness’s aide, it would be good to know the basic etiquette of the imperial court.”

“…Pardon?”

Evelina blinked as if she had heard something unexpected.

Towards her, I added in a toneless but friendly voice.

“I’ll tell Lord Ropes to inform you of what you need to know.”

At first glance, it sounded like I was being considerate, so the attendants would simply see it as the Imperial Princess’s excessive kindness.

But in an instant, Evelina had become someone who didn’t know the basic etiquette of the imperial court.

Evelina, who would have received social training, understood the meaning and gripped the hem of her dress tightly.

Her expression didn’t change, perhaps because it was well-trained, but her clenched fist didn’t escape my eyes.

Well, I didn’t judge her for this.

It wouldn’t be pleasant for anyone to hear.

This was just a small revenge for her deliberately or unintentionally tricking me.

Meanwhile, the imperial attendants lined up behind Evelina had subtly changed their gaze towards me.

Originally, even a tiny mistake can make an angel in rumors lose its wings and fall, but a villain’s reputation is easier to flip than the back of one’s hand.

I fully utilized this aspect today.

A captivating smile and kindness were enough to fulfill today’s quota.

Of course, there were thorns hidden within, but only Evelina would have understood that.

I felt no guilt.

‘Whether intentional or not, since you came here on your own feet, you’re the one who approached me first.’

Organizing the thoughts I had swallowed inside, I once again kindly invited her.

“Let’s talk inside.”

Deliberately setting aside the unconscious discomfort rising from deep within my heart, I thus invited Evelina inside.

*

The teacup was placed down with a clink – and the space was left with just the two of us.

Seeing Evelina sitting under the pouring white light, I seemed to understand the reason for the inexplicable corner hidden deep in my heart.

Her appearance resembled Rachel Rosemary much more than me.

And somehow, it didn’t seem like a coincidence.

The more I looked closely, today’s dress and hairstyle were all things I used to enjoy when I was Rachel.

‘It must be a coincidence. Unless she’s gone mad, she wouldn’t do such a thing already.’

Thinking I might be taking it too sensitively, I let it pass.

And then, before getting to the main point, I first brought up a formal introduction.

“There was no need for Lady Evelina to trouble herself to come all the way here.”

It was a polite question in its own way, but the thorns contained within were not hidden.

I was actually curious.

What business could she possibly have to see me that she came here in person.

Evelina responded to my words with a bright smile.

“I heard that you were of great help in my appointment to the aide position.”

‘I helped?’

Thinking – surely she didn’t come to express gratitude – as I looked at her, Evelina said with a blooming smile.

“I’ve prepared a gift that Your Highness might like as a token of my gratitude.”

“…!”

What Evelina Winterdel held out was a wooden case that exuded an extremely luxurious feel.

When I opened the case, a splendid jewel revealed itself.

On the surface of the blue gem, white patterns like the ends of waves were stretched along the grain.

The refreshing blue color, reminiscent of Casius’s eyes, caught my attention.

“It’s an aquastone.”

The gem, which is said to come only from the deep sea of the Weald Kingdom where the Continental Academy is located, was highly valuable due to its rarity.

It was a gift that could make me overlook all of Evelina’s previous words as mere mistakes.

‘If she had kept scratching at me to the end and clearly revealed her thoughts, I would have considered her an easy opponent…’

As it was, I couldn’t underestimate Evelina.

Breaking down the other person’s guard and then digging into their core was a tactic I used most often as well.

She was like a fox, subtly crossing the line with the other party and hiding her true intentions, like Bashvir.

Just as I was thinking that I should raise my guard against Evelina, she opened her mouth.

“You have a deep knowledge of gems. I thought this gem wasn’t well known in the Wolfdor Empire.”

As she said, few people could recognize a gem not well known in the Empire just by its appearance.

I wasn’t interested in gems from the beginning either.

I naturally came to know about them while researching the use of magic power and using them as materials.

But I omitted that and just raised my teacup with an appropriate smile and answered concisely.

“It’s a precious gift. I’ll keep it well.”

As I closed the case containing the aquastone, Evelina’s blue smile, which resembled it, caught my eye.

“I’m glad it’s to Your Highness’s liking.”

I smiled and took on the appearance of opening my heart, probably as she had intended.

There was no need for me to create conflict first when she was trying this hard.

“I hear you’re in charge of preparing for the coronation. You must have a lot to prepare, feel free to ask for advice anytime.”

Honestly, if it was a collaboration between Evelina and Bashvir, there was a high possibility that it would be quite a good coronation.

From my experience dealing with them, they weren’t stupid people, and Evelina would have quite a few international contacts from attending the Continental Academy.

If they were stupid, that would have been a great nuisance to Casius and the Empire, so that was somewhat fortunate.

But that was by no means a good situation for me now, who had to seduce him as the Imperial Princess.

Evelina was currently in a much more advantageous position relative to me.

As an aide, Evelina will spend much more time with Casius than I do.

Casius chose, loved, and fell for me in the past when we spent a lot of time together.

There was no guarantee that this time, or with Evelina, would be any different.

As the anxiety deep in my heart stirred, Evelina’s hair color, eyes, and the fabric and cut of her dress skirt that created the atmosphere came into view again.

The more I looked, the more she resembled my past self.

Was this excessive concern brought on by my groundless fears, or was it Evelina’s intentional facade?

As the ripples created by the confusion gradually filled my heart, Evelina’s clear voice resonated through the space.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but since His Highness entrusted that task to me, Your Highness need not worry about it.”