Chapter 40

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Chapter 40

It is said that when people are too surprised, they do not think of anything.

I was just like that now.

“Yes…?”

I answered, staring at Gabian DeViro stupidly.

“Hmm, I know what the Young Lady is thinking.”

Gabian smiled confidently and added, “But, I have ears good enough to hear how great the Young Ladies song was composed.”

Saying so, he then tapped his ear lightly.

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“That’s ridiculous.”

Having barely regained consciousness, I immediately stopped Gabian.

I didn’t know why he was doing this, but geniuses were usually a little crazy. Maybe, he was just trying to ridicule me more because he had a vengeance after receiving a terror on his eardrum just now.

If I suddenly believed Gabian’s words and said, ‘Oh, really? All right!’ I would definitely be ridiculed by the entire social world.

…Well, it seemed like I was already being laughed at enough.

“Young Lady, do you doubt me?”

Gabian asked with his eyes wide open as if he was wrongly accused.

“Yes.”

I replied simply.

It was because I didn’t want to talk to someone who tried to mock me for a long time.

“What can I do for you to believe me?”

Seeing my reaction, he muttered with a sad face. It sounded like there was a lot of sincerity in his voice, though I ignored it and walked away.

“Young Lady Garneid, I will not give up because I know how genius that song is. The Young Lady must know about it, too, right?”

My feet stopped on their own.

Yes, the song I sang was the theme song of 〈 The Phantom of the Opera 〉 If Gabian was truly a genius, it was understandable why he thought so.

I turned back slowly.

“I don’t know how to write sheet music.”

“It doesn’t matter. I will take care of everything.”

“I could only remember the melody. You’ll have to fill in the rest, will that be all right?”

“Could a genius like him do that much?”

After all, it should be said that Gabian DeViro was self-praising enough that it could make others’ faces heated from embarrassment.

“…Do as you please.”

“Hooray—!”

At my approval, he raised his arms up in a flash. When people’s attention was focused on us, he shouted out loud.

“Everyone, let me tell you some exciting news! The Young Lady allowed me to organize and publish Young Lady Garneid’s genius song.”

People’s reactions were worth seeing.

At first, they thought it was a joke and burst into laughter, but when they saw Gabian was making a serious declaration, the atmosphere became serious.

Moreover, the surprise was not over yet…

“Young Lady Garneid may be a bit inferior to singers in her singing ability, but she seems to have a talent for composing.”

“Come to think of it, I also thought that the previous song was very impressive.”

“Ta-da-ta-da-da-da, isn’t that the part that you talk about? How did you come up with such a melody… I admire you, too.”

The atmosphere that was ridiculing me has changed in an instant.

Of course, there were those who were not easily swayed by the atmosphere as well.

“Genius?”

Someone snorted.

“That’s too much flattery. It seems that the Duke of Brudenell’s prestige is too great, seeing that Gabian DeViro, who has high self-esteem, also gives unfamiliar compliments?”

Hearing those words, I turned my head to see who was the one who dared to insult the Duke’s fiancée.

The red hair caught my eye.

‘…This—’

It was one of the Princes.

Seeing that the other Princes and Princess also had hardened faces, it seemed that they were not persuaded by Gabian DeViro’s words. Furthermore, they seemed to think he was giving a brazen false compliment to look good in front of the Duke of Brudenell.

However, Gabian DeViro was not a person who cared about the cold attitude of the Imperial Family.

“From today, I will concentrate on my work without ever leaving the Duke’s family. Soon, you will hear again how beautiful of a song the Young Lady has composed!”

Some nobles spoke to Gabian.

“It was such a beautiful song…?”

“Yes.”

He nodded his head broadly.

“Although Young Lady’s terrible singing skills just couldn’t save the song, the song is very beautiful.”

At first, the attitudes of those who thought he was making blatant flattery began to change.

“You aren’t releasing a song that’s not made by the Young Lady, are you?”

At those words, his face flushed with indignation and he replied angrily, “Is that possible?! This Gabian is not such a scammer. Many of you will hear the very song Young Lady made.”

“I’m looking forward to it. Please invite me to the presentation.”

It seemed that his performance led to unexpected results.

The way people looked at me changed in an instant. Suddenly, from a terrible fool who doesn’t even know my own abilities, I was being recognized by a genius like Gabian DeViro.

Although it wasn’t my intention, it wasn’t bad because my image was reversed thanks to him.

If I couldn’t change Cassius’s heart from the beginning, it would be a loss for my image in the social world to be slashed compared to before.

‘Well, if I give him one song, he will be satisfied and leave.’

I turned to Gabian.

“Okay. I’ll tell you the details of the song tomorrow.”

He nodded his head with a thrilled expression on his face.

“I will make sure to make Young Lady’s name known widely! Soon, the whole continent will praise the Young Lady!”

No, I don’t think that’s necessary…

Fortunately, the wedding proposal ceremony didn’t last very long. Although nothing went as I planned… Had it not been for the hope that I would soon become the Empress’s handmaiden and move away from this family, I would have lost my mind.

Nevertheless, Cassius didn’t even give me time to immerse myself in my thoughts.

“Evelyn, what are you thinking about?”

…Thinking about how to relinquish your blinded love.

However, I couldn’t even say that, so I put on a naive expression on my face.

“I didn’t think much.”

“You’d better not try to deceive me.”

Cassius spoke as he strode forward, standing at a point less than a foot away from me.

Was it an illusion that I heard rough breathing?

“I saw you talking happily with Gabian DeViro today.”

“…Are you jealous?”

I was dumbfounded and immediately questioned back. After all, Gabian DeViro was an old gentleman who was old enough to retire.

“That’s not it.”

He murmured grimly.

“Considering your taste, there’s no way you’d like an older and ugly man like him.”

Oh, I’m speechless at this point…

“Still, I just can’t stand anyone who has taken your attention.”

“Well, don’t worry. I’m always thinking of you.”

Of course, the idea of ​​how to run away from this nutcase.

“Is that so?”

Cassius’s voice lowered with a hint of danger, and he continued, “Then, tell me exactly what you were thinking a while ago.”

I quickly roll my brain.

…Thoughts related to Karthus and not suspicious—!

“I was wondering if the wedding might be held in a semi-compulsory way like this.”

“…Do I look like such a rude person?”

“You held the wedding proposal ceremony regardless of my intentions. You must not have known that, did you?”

Hearing my words, he gazed down at me.

“Of course, I was going to marry you after you finished your duty as the Empress’s handmaiden, Evelyn.”

I tilted my head.

If he wants, I can get married whether I was a maid or not… though he’s going to wait?

“But, there’s no law that the Empress’s handmaiden must not get married?”

In fact, many aristocratic wives have served as handmaidens for the Empress or Princess. Therefore, there would still be noble wives who still work as maids for Empress Theresia.

Cassius’s eyes narrowed.

“If you marry me while working as a maid, I will share you with the Empress. Do you think I will allow that?”

Is it because I’m so used to people who are crazy?

Somehow, Cassius’s words seemed quite convincing.

Empress Theresia welcomed an esteemed guest after a long time.

“Princess Hermia!”

“How have you been, Empress?”

Hermia smiled confidently as she greeted her. With her long, curly red hair and dark emerald eyes, Princess Hermia had an imposing and provocative charm.

“Thanks to the rare flowers and butterflies that you sent me last month, I’ve been doing well, and I’m not bored in the garden.”

“If Her Majesty the Empress was happy, I would be happy too.”

Theresia smiled quietly.

Hermia, like the other Princes, was a child of the former Empress, though she was sympathetic to Theresia from the beginning. She also had no reason to be reluctant to her husband’s children, so she quickly got close to Hermia, who was approaching her in a friendly way.

However, the two did not communicate often.

In the Imperial Palace, everything has meaning.

The mere fact that the two met frequently could make It seem like Theresia was in favor of Hermia in the imperial power struggle. Therefore, the reason Hermia came to see her today would not be just the sheer fact of accompanying her.

“So, why did you come to me today?”

Hermia’s green eyes lit up as she heard the word she had been waiting for.

“I have heard from the Empress that there will be a new exclusive maid soon.”

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