Chapter 148: TELLING HIM THE TRUTH

Evelyn quickly entered the estate with Cabel. She can't do anything when Cabel insist on coming with her.

Duke Keene's office was still lit while everyone's rooms were dark and the people must have been sleeping in the middle of the night.

Evelyn descended on the Duke's balcony with Cabel. Their light footsteps were superb and Cabel who is the master of the Night Guild were exquisite in erasing his presence.

'As expected of the Night Guild's Master!' Evelyn thought.

Snap!

Evelyn put off the fire that was lit in the candle. The room became dark and the moon was the only source of light.

Swiish!

Duke Keene takes out his sword from the scabbard and his ruby eyes glow in the dark just like a hunter.

Step. Evelyn stepped in from the window and the Duke threw his dagger with a swoosh sound. She caught it quite easily which made Duke Keene alarmed.

"Who are you? Well, I don't care… you'll die today!" the Duke said.

He immediately launched an attack but a different person butt in. Cabel immediately repelled Duke Keene's attack that was solely focused on Evelyn's neck.

They were covered in all black so, it was understandable that Duke Keene couldn't recognize them and besides they were suspiciously climbing on his balcony. 

Duke Keene stepped back. He then said, "So, you have a companion. That's understandable."

He smirked and launched another attack with a speed that was much faster than before. 

Evelyn still didn't say a word and only observed the exchange of swords between Cabel and her father.

When she saw that Duke Keene was determined to kill Cabel with his next attack, Evelyn quickly stepped in and the dagger that her father threw at her and his sword clashed.

Their eyes locked and Duke Keene saw the sunset pair of eyes that strangely look familiar to him.

Evelyn has decided to not put on her disguise when she resolutely makes a call to let her father know that she's alive.

Cabel was quite shocked at the unexpected dangerous move that Evelyn did and he unconsciously pulled her away from her father.

He then whispered to Evelyn. "Are you okay, Eve?"

Duke Keene who has sensitive and heightened senses heard Cabel's whisper.

'What did he say? Eve?'

His stance and sword that was aimed at them abruptly stopped when he heard the familiar name. Duke Keene thought about the action of the assassin that went inside his room.

They didn't attack him and just silently stand there and let him attack them while they never retaliate. He slowly lowered his sword.

"Who are you?"

At that moment, Evelyn takes the black bandana that covered her face. Duke Keene watches this action and he was left speechless at what he just witnessed.

It was the familiar ombre hair that was unique to his daughter, the black strands with silver-blue tip at the end of each tip, the cat-like eyes and the sunset orbs that nonchalantly stare at him which have the depthness that unbeknownst to him.

Clang!

Unconsciously, Duke Keene let his sword go and it fell down on the carpeted floor. His eyes show how shocked he was.

His mouth closed and opened but words weren't enough to express his emotions.

Instinctively, he slowly made his way to the still Evelyn. Duke Keene didn't even notice that Cabel was also there behind Evelyn and just approached his daughter who is standing and is watching him approach her.

"You're…"

Evelyn slowly gives her father a smile. Duke Keene couldn't contain his heavy emotions that were weighing him down for the past four years and for the first time, he hugged her with all his might.

The warmth in his embrace felt by Evelyn. Contrary to what she thought that her father was cold towards her because of that day, she now knew that the black mana was keeping her father's memories in disarray.

Thus, pinning all the blame in her who was the only one standing alive in the back garden.

Cabel who were silently standing behind Evelyn knew how Duke Keene suffered for the past years.

Like him, Duke Keene also felt the loneliness accompanied by Evelyn's sudden death. Along with the guilt that was eating him away and the regret that he didn't even have the time to help his daughter when the fire swallowed the storage house.

Duke Keene has been depressed ever since what happened, he wasn't attending any socialite activities and his post in the Royal Family was given to his son because he wasn't leaving his mansion anymore.

For the first time, Evelyn felt her father's heavy emotions as she was hugged tightly and was mumbling words of thanks.

When Duke Keene quieted and calmed down, they immediately discussed what they came for. Evelyn also told the Duke about Elise, the Pope, her mother and Carsillion, and about Duke Keene's sudden illness.

"I need your help, father."

"I will do whatever I can on my side."

Evelyn smiled. It was enough to know that her father was okay and the effects of the Black mana weren't much affecting her father unlike years ago.

She immediately thought of something and quickly scanned his father's office. There she saw a vase that has a hint of black magic in the desk of his father.

'Is this where the hypnotising are coming from?' she thought and asked her father.

"Father, who gave you this?"

Duke Keene doesn't know why she suddenly asked an odd question but he answered her nonetheless.

"That came from the late Crown Prince Cesar when he was alive."

"Ha- hahaha!"

Duke Keene and Cabel knitted their brows at the sudden burst of laughter that came from Evelyn.

They didn't know about Cesar, who faked his death just like she did.

Evelyn suddenly mumbled. "How long did he plan this?"

Bam! Clack!

She threw the vase on the floor with the white rose still inside it. This action left Duke Keene astounded, so he asked.

"What are you doing, Eve?"

However, Evelyn didn't have the time to answer it as he rushed to the Duke who's still sitting in the receiving area of his office.

"Are there still things that bastard Cesar gave to you as a gift?"

Duke Keene was confused but answered.

"There's a painting that he gave to me and is hanging in your brother's room. Evelyn, what is happening?!"

She pulled her before she ran out of his office and accidentally met the guards that were patrolling in the area. Even right now, he was expanding his senses if the guards heard the series of noise that came from his office.

Holding her shoulders was what Duke Keene did so he could make her stop. As he watched his daughter's face, a vivid anger was all over her face.

"Evelyn tell me what is it? I need to know what it is."

"That bastard… He's alive! He's alive, I knew it!"

"Who is alive?"

"That Cesar! He's alive, and he's been using black mana on both you and brother. You need to tear down that painting!"

Evelyn started to talk to her father about what happened that night. Cabel who was on the side listening to the conversation was stupefied at what Evelyn was saying.

'She's shouldering this the whole time?' Cabel can't believe that Evelyn has a lot going on than what she's letting on. 

'I thought that she just wanted to make Elise pay for what she did that day…'

The talks about her speculation and the name of Prince Adley and his aide Ishid was also mentioned.

'How did she know all of this?'

Cabel and Duke Keene felt that the burden that was shouldering Evelyn was too much for her that they began to understand why she fled and why she didn't try to drag them.

Duke Keene held his daughter whose body was trembling with anger. They didn't have a very touching reunion and he knew that.

Furthermore, she's here because she needed help. Evelyn realized that her powers alone wouldn't let her help with defeating them when she knew that her enemy has political standing.

Evelyn also needed a weapon in that level and she thought that her father would be the perfect piece for that. The people who wanted her father's political power would struggle if he made a move when they least expected.

At that time, when Evelyn calmed down. Duke Keene promised that he will burn the paintings and everything that others gave to him as a present.

"If the black mana came from Cesar's present then it's best that I also burn the other's that gave a present ever since that day."

Evelyn nodded. She decided to tell her father what she kept when she told about what happened to Carsillion. And she continued to tell the story about Duchess Monica's situation.

"I also found out that they sealed mother's soul. I still don't know where they kept it."

Anger seeps through his veins as he listens to Evelyn's story.

"I'll make those bastards pay!"

Cabel and Duke Keene have managed to conclude to help Evelyn and conduct secret investigation about the temple, the royal family, and the Academy.

Evelyn's decision to tell what she knew about what they're about to face helps her to gain a powerful ally, and that is her father Duke Keene Emsworth.