Originally, Evie had planned to enter Cassel’s room and secretly plug her ears.

Most of the things he said were nothing but teasing, so she was going to watch his lips and expression and nod her head, then leave.

But when she actually entered his room, the atmosphere inside was not normal, so Evie could not cover her ears immediately.

In the meantime, Cassel grinned and beckoned Evie with his hand.

At his insistence, the hesitant Evie eventually approached him with earplugs still in hand.

“Hello, Your Grace. I was wondering how you were feeling. Are you feeling better now?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just overworked. I’ve had a lot of things to do lately.”

Cassel spoke, oblivious to the fact that lightning had struck his head. Then he looked to the side and added.

“Besides, Sir Arco responded quickly, so I’m quite alright.”

Sir Arco?

At that unfamiliar title, Evie looked to the side following Cassel, and belatedly discovered a woman standing at the edge of the bed.

‘Why is this person here?’

Moren Arco, sister of Arco the officer, dressed in her uniform, was standing beside Cassel even today.

When Evie looked, Moren gave her a slight nod. Though taken aback, Evie acknowledged her.

It was natural for the host of the party to take great care and watch over a noble who had fainted during a banquet.

So it was normal to see the people of the Tuha family, including Rio Tuha, coming out of this room.

But this person, Moren Arco, being here was awkward. She was a person who had clashed with the Duke just yesterday.

‘Could it be that Count Laurel sent her?’

Evie looked at Moren again, feeling puzzled, and realized that her expression was stiffer than yesterday.

Thus Evie’s doubt deepened further, but Cassel spoke, smiling.

“Evie is so cute today, too.”

Cassel scrutinized Evie’s appearance with satisfied eyes.

“You were very pretty at dinner yesterday, too. Oh, you must have been even prettier at the evening party. What a shame I missed that.”

“I also missed Your Grace at the party.”

“Anyway, choose only pretty words to say.”

Cassel spoke with even deeper eyes. So Evie felt even more uncomfortable in this place.

Contrary to someone’s words that she had a good temperament and could bear well, in fact, Evie really hated most elements that made up Cassel Montrala.

The pretendingtobesweet insidious voice, the hands that intruded carelessly, the eyes that roamed openly, she hated them.

But what she hated most was that slick face with an expression that said, ‘You look tasty.’

Evie pressed down on her urge to shudder and smiled. Then Cassel spoke more maliciously.

“I still feel a loss, though. Ah, let’s see it now.”

“What?”

“The dress you wore yesterday. Go put it on now and let me see.”

Cassel chuckled at his request, and Evie was at a loss for words.

Then Cassel laughed even more earnestly. But before he could ramble further, Moren interjected.

“It was a white dress. The skirt part was like a tulip. I remember.”

Moren spoke in her usual firm tone. Then she lightly embraced Evie.

“It was so impressive that I’d like to see it again, too, but we can’t make today’s banquet dull by sending this lady back to yesterday’s party.”

Moren cut off Cassel’s nonsense, so Evie felt relieved, but also worried.

If the two people growled at each other like yesterday, she would be stuck in the middle and suffer.

“That’s a valid point. Then we’ll have to enjoy tonight, making up for yesterday.”

But Cassel surprisingly backed down easily. It was a very different attitude from yesterday.

“But if you’re not pretty later, I’ll have to scold you, Evie.”

Cassel added lightly, looking at Evie again.

At that moment, Evie felt her entire body bristle but forced herself to smile.

Cassel enjoyed playing with Evie like this. He found it quite cute when Evie obeyed him like a puppy.

But when Evie did not respond as he wanted, he would inevitably turn serious or whisper like this.
“Evie, you need to get along with me to become a saint.”

He knew that Evie wanted to become a saint, so he enjoyed scaring her like this now and then.

It’s just Cassel Montra being himself; it’s not a one or twoday thing. So it’s disgusting, just bear it as usual.

The problem, however, was the continual feeling of discomfort that kept coming over her.

Cassel was as frivolous and vulgar as ever, but something was off about the atmosphere around him.

It’s too quiet, as if hiding something.

And if they were actually hiding something, it would certainly have to do with Evie.

“I must try not to get scolded by the Count.”

Evie sensed that something was not right but pretended to know nothing.

Cassel said, “Yeah, I’m looking forward to it,” halfheartedly, and the glances from those looking at Evie deepened once again.

They were mocking Evie. They found her pathetic and looked down on her.

But no one was willing to tell Evie the reason.

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The secondbest room in the villa used by Cassel Montra was on the fourth floor of the east wing.