Chapter 134: MEETING THEM AGAIN: PART 4

Evelyn had made their purpose, she already made her presence known. She knows that her family will surely investigate her and casually bump into her if possible.

Right now, Evelyn is leaning against the carriage window after their meeting with the Duke and her brother, Allan.

She recalled what happened before they left.

"Miss Adelyn… you said that your company produces wine?"

"Yes, young Master Allan… we also have products of cosmetics and such…"

"Is that so? Then, I'll visit your company sometimes…"

Evelyn, whose hair and eyes are dyed in chestnut color, looked at him and smiled.

"Of course, just say the word young master Allan and I'll prepare the most exquisite wine when you visit our shop." she said after a while she also looked at the Duke who is still looking at her.

'He's still trying to figure out if I can use a mana…' she thought as she looked at him and became stiff when she saw the hand that was extending from him.

She looked down at his hand.

"I haven't given you a proper greeting, as a gentleman it's a bit disheartening for me… at least I should bid you a goodbye in this manner. May I kiss the back of your hand my lady?"

"Of course, Young Master Allan." she smiled at him but deep inside she felt creeped out at her brother who was acting like this.

'But why did he do that?' she thought.

She hesitantly placed her hand on his hand…

'Hmm? Did he just squeeze my hand? What's he doing?' 

The thought vanished when she felt the tip of his lips.

'Ugh!'

She still smiled nonetheless. Clack! Clark! The carriage's wheel is stirring quite fast but the inside of the carriage doesn't seem to be affected by the constant moving of it. Evelyn looked at her hands inside the carriage. The squeeze that her brother did was odd.

'Did he try to see if I have physical strength by doing that? Is that one of the cliche things that I read in the novel that the ML can scale the powers of his opponent just by shaking or grabbing his hand?' she thought before she stare at Gil who is still smiling.

"What?"

"That's sad… your back to your old self. I miss the clingy Adelyn, Child." Gil complained.

'This guy…. Really!!' She held back her balled fist and asked him questions. 

"Have you found something odd?"

"You really go straight to the topic, Child… well, it's faint but there is a hint of black magic in their bodies."

"They? You mean… My brother and Duke?"

"Yes, Child. But it seems that the Duke is pretty much not affected by it. Something was taking the black magic out of his body… while your brother, well, he's the most affected." he explained while he tilts his head.

Evelyn watched this. She knew that this 1000 year old spirit must have noticed something.

"But you know what, Child?"

"What?"

"All of you have the same curses... "

"What do you mean by that?"

Evelyn leaned in as she heard the words or speculation of Gil. That's when Evelyn heard him continue.

"I always felt it before but I was far away from you, but now that I see them personally, I could say that the three of you have the same curses but different at the same time."

"I don't get it… what are you trying to say?"

Evelyn felt frustrated, she didn't want this kind of riddle.

"I should have asked Cassandra about this. Or better, we should let them meet. Cassandra must have a better understanding of your curse right now, maybe if she saw another case like this, she would have a clear picture of what your curse is." he said and Evelyn nodded.

Evelyn became quiet as her head became occupied. 

Meanwhile in the Emsworth Mansion after Evelyn and Gil bid their farewell the two quietly went inside the mansion. Specifically, Allan went and followed the Duke in his office.

Slam!

"Father, that... "

"I know… she really looked like your sister."

Duke Keene brushed his face with both of his hands as he felt the fatigue in his body as well as his chaotic mind. He then called his butler.

"Jede… gather information about her or everyone around her."

"Yes, your Grace."

Duke Keene continued to sigh but he felt that something lump is in his throat stopping him from sighing. He then heard his son, Allan.

"Don't tell me father that you're thinking that she's Evelyn?"

Duke Keene looked at his son, Allan and had the same sunset eyes as his sister, something that they inherit from their mother, Duchess Monica.

"I don't want to make assumptions, but I will try to find out if she's your sister." He said that made Allan pursed his lips in a straight line.

Allan knew that something like this is impossible, but he also had hoped that his sister would come back to life. He doesn't know why but the moment he learned that she was gone, he felt heartaches and flashes of memories of how brutal he became and started to cloud his eyes.

He then heard his father's voice.

"You held her hand, right?"

Allan looked at his father's red eyes, he started to debate if he needed to tell him what he thought.

"Yes… I grip her hand for a moment but I'm sure that she must have held a sword in her hands. They have colossus and it's firm. Like her hand becoming accustomed to gripping a hilt."

Allan stopped his sighs. It was still clear for this household how his father marched in the capital and swept all the nobles that made fun of Evelyn and spread malicious rumors.

He thought at that time that his father was doing it because they don't have a clue about what happened and who was the culprit. However, as the days passed by, he saw how his father's eyes became clouded and felt like Allan had seen it before.

The day his mother died, the Duke, his father, had the same look in his eyes, helplessness, loneliness, and guilt. Everything was mixed in those red eyes of his that he felt speechless.

Allan then heard his father mumble.

"I need to see her again…"

Allan closed his eyes. He knew from the first time that he saw that same face that his father would try everything if there's a slim chance that it was her.

"Tell all the people that have seen Miss Adelyn to shut their mouth! I don't want people to hear about her… for now." The Duke gave an order to his son and Allan bowed his head.

"Yes, father… I'll do what you say." 

For now, Allan will abide his father's orders about that girl Adelyn. He was also curious about her, who resembled his sister but also felt like she was different.

***

The next day, Gil and Evelyn are busy doing all the necessary documents that they needed for when they opened their shop in the business district of the Emsworth territory.

They have already moved into the mansion that they bought and also they have adjusted in the life of having servants again.

"How about the staff that is needed for the shop? Have we found enough people?"

"I'm taking care of it, don't worry about that."

"Okay…"

While they do all the paper works, Cassandra is researching the statues. They decided that it would be better to have a piece of evidence as well as they learned the curse in the statues.

"Where's Chrisfold by the way?" she asked as she continued to sign papers.

Thud!

"I'm here…!"

Chrisfold burst into her office and smiled charmingly, his brown hair is still visible.

"Aren't you a knight? Why do you act like that in front of Evelyn?" she heard a voice behind Chrisfold and she tried to peek as she glanced and looked up at the door momentarily.

"Oh… You're here…"

"Eve!"

Gab pushed Chrisfold aside that made Chrisfold knit his brows, while Gab walked to where Evelyn is.

"This kid…!" Chrisfold clicked his tongue.

"So… how was your room? Is it to your liking?" she asked. 

Gab smiled and he walked behind Eve and leaned in. Evelyn looked up and she saw that Gab was looking at her while his hair was shining brightly because of the light coming from the window.

She saw Gab in his usual clothes… now that Gab decided to stay with them for a few days, she got to see his habits like what he used to do. Not attending to his bed hair and his unbuttoned shirt. She then heard his reply.

"I have a good sleep… you?"

"Well…"

Gil cut in at that moment.

"Evelyn didn't sleep, so don't go around brandishing your unkempt self, and let Evelyn be." Gil said sharply.

Evelyn felt odd at the silver hair spirit that is also arranging the documents in the table of her office.

She then talks to him telepathically.

'Hey! What the hell is wrong with you?'

'...'

She then switches to Chrisfold who is just standing there while he leaned in the white walls.

'Do you know why Gil is acting like this, Chrisfold?' 

'It's because a boy is surrounding you like a moth.' he chuckled at what he said.

'You mean Gab?'

'Who else, princess?'

She only sighs at the three men inside the room.

"I'm getting a headache."