CH 37

Episode 37.

After firmly making up her mind, Riett felt lighter and stood up from her seat.

“I should go now.”

Her mother must be worried.

“Come with me. I’ll take you to the main gate.”

“It’s okay, it’s not like it’s the first or second time I’m going to your house. Honestly, I can walk to the main gate with my eyes closed.”

Riett waved her hand as if she was dismissing Evan’s offer, but Evan had already walked past her and opened the door, walking out first. Riett followed him without saying a word, not wanting to argue.

After walking for a while, they reached the main gate. The waiting carriage was visible.

“I didn’t ask you to give me a ride, so I won’t thank you.”

Riett waited for Evan’s reaction. Normally, he would respond with a snide remark and a raised eyebrow, but this time Evan just stared at Riett silently.

“Do you still worry about me? If so, it’s unnecessary. Even if there are limits to my abilities to restrain first, second, and third places, I will definitely be within the top three.”

“…”

“Did you hear what I said?”

While asking that, Riett briefly wondered why she was comforting Evan when she should be the one who needed comfort the most.

But she couldn’t help but worry about Evan, who was acting unusually.

“Riett.”

Perhaps sensing Riett’s unsettled feelings, Evan finally spoke up.

For a moment, Riett was moved that Evan’s lips, which were usually tight-lipped, were moving.

“Have you ever had a grudge against someone recently?”

“Huh?”

Riett blinked slowly at the sudden question.

“Well… I don’t remember anything, but there have been situations where crazy people seek revenge even if I didn’t do anything to provoke them.”

She pondered deeply, but no suspects came to mind other than Henry and Pierre.

“No, I mean someone outside of school. Have you ever had a grudge against someone and sought revenge?”

“I haven’t. It’s part of my routine to study at the library until late and then go home. When would I have time to meet someone outside?”

Riett crossed her arms and looked at Evan. She wondered if he was laying the groundwork to pick a fight with her again, but he seemed to be thinking deeply and looked serious.

Feeling that there was a reason behind the question, Riett unfolded her arms and asked.

“Why are you asking me about that?”

“It’s nothing.”

Evan glanced down for a moment, then looked at Riett and smiled softly. Why did he start speaking and then stop, making her feel uncomfortable?

That’s how he always is. He makes people curious and then shuts his mouth when you ask for details.

She thought about pushing for more answers, but in the end, Riett remained silent. Sometimes, not knowing could be a relief. The shock she received today was already enough. Sometimes, ignorance could be a blessing.

“I’m going.”

Riett got on the carriage without hesitation and waved her hand.

“Just a moment.”

But just as she was about to close the door, Evan grabbed onto it.

“Why? Are you going to give me a ride to our house this time?”

“If you’re okay with it.”

As Evan said that casually, a sense of relief and annoyance welled up in Riett. She was glad to see his familiar nonchalance, but his actions were too petty.

“Okay, go inside quickly!”

Riett pushed Evan’s shoulder away, but Evan called out to her insistently.

“Riett.”

“What?”

Evan lifted one corner of his mouth in response to Riett’s displeased tone.

“Just like earlier…”

“…”

“Let’s shower together one more time, and make that suggestion again.”

Evan was smiling, but one of his eyebrows subtly twitched.

“I won’t refuse this time, no matter what.”

* * *

Evan stood in that spot for a while, watching as the departing carriage gradually became a dot and disappeared.

‘That was cute.’

When she boldly suggested showering together, her face blushed with anticipation when he agreed.

“Ugh… don’t talk nonsense!”

“But Riett was the one who said it first. Was that nonsense too?”

“Move aside, we need to go quickly!”

The door slammed shut in front of him, and Riett, whose hair, eyes, and both cheeks had turned red, disappeared from his sight.

Evan regretted not being able to look at her face a little longer.

He enjoyed it when Riett got angry when she grumbled, and when she acted arrogant. But seeing her flustered was rare and made him like her even more.

Her face turning red when she was angry and blushing in embarrassment was completely different from her usual appearance.

Why couldn’t he memorize every detail of her flustered face and why did he keep wanting to see it?

An unnecessary feeling of regret caused him to let out a self-derisive laugh.

Then, the tragic fountain came to mind again. These negative memories vividly appeared before him, spoiling his mood.

‘Who did that?’

Considering Riett’s personality, she wouldn’t immediately try to find out who did it. She would first think about a solution.

It was wise. Instead of focusing on finding the culprit who spilled the water, it was more productive to think about how to refill it.

And Riett was fundamentally a forgiving person. Although she acted cold, Evan knew better than anyone that her nature wasn’t cold. Even if someone did something bad to Riett with malicious intent, if they sincerely apologized, Riett wouldn’t hesitate to forgive them.

However, Evan was the opposite type.

If someone aimed a blade at him, he had to make sure they could never do it again or extinguish their intention, to begin with.

It was the same now. Even if Riett seemed uninterested, Evan had to find out who had done such audacious acts.

Riett seemed to suspect Henry and Pierre, but Evan knew well that they were not the culprits.

The reason was simple. He had met them personally a few weeks ago.

Evan recalled that time.

* * *

“Henry Lerris, Pierre Carte.”

Henry and Pierre turned around in surprise upon hearing their names whispered from behind.

“You… Evan?” 

One of Henry’s eyebrows shot up at the unexpected presence.

“I’ve been wanting to meet you both, and here you are.” 

Evan replied, his gaze passing Henry and stopping at Pierre. They both looked puzzled. Pierre was the first to speak up.

“Why do you want to meet us?” 

Pierre’s voice carried a sense of caution. Evan chuckled playfully. If someone who knew him well had seen his face at that moment, they would have felt a chill, but Henry and Pierre remained unaware.

“I’ve been hearing strange rumors about Riett lately… and it seems the source of those rumors might be you.” 

Evan confidently stated. Henry became agitated at Evan’s sure words. 

“W-Who’s saying that? Us?!”

“Everyone has been saying it.” 

Evan shrugged casually. As he spoke, Henry and Pierre exchanged uneasy glances. Pierre cleared his throat before stepping forward.

“Do you have any proof that it’s us? And even if it were true, what does it have to do with you, Evan?”

“Hold on a moment.”

“Why?” 

Pierre’s confident remark caught Henry off guard, and he urgently whispered in Pierre’s ear.

‘Duke Marren and Duke Kreutz are old friends! The same goes for Riett and Evan!’

‘That’s not true. Duke Marren and Duke Kreutz are allies, but not Riett and Evan. There are rumors of a feud between them. Well, who knows?’

‘Feuding parties don’t dance together at a dance party, right?’

‘Ah… Is that so? Then Evan must have taken offense because his friend was insulted… Evan can be quite intimidating…’

But the voice, unfortunately, unable to control the volume, reached Evan’s ears. After listening to the conversation, Evan let out a short breath and spoke.

“I didn’t come here to warn you instead of Riett.”

He paused, realizing that there would be chaos if Riett found out about it. It was comforting to think of Riett finding out and coming to confront them with determination. Evan concealed his wry smile and continued speaking.

“I came to you because I’m worried about you.”

“What…? You’re worried about us?” 

Henry was completely taken aback by the unexpected remark. Pierre was equally surprised, but he remained skeptical of Evan’s words.

“There’s something you don’t know.”

“What is it?”

“Henry, do you know who the top of the Herman faction is, the upper echelon of Herman?”

“The top of the Herman faction…?” 

Pierre racked his brain, but no answer came.

No, there couldn’t be an answer. While Herman was the largest upper echelon in the Truto Empire, the identity of the faction’s leader was shrouded in secrecy. From the time of its founding, it had always operated through proxies, so no one knew even the smallest piece of information about the leader. Therefore, many people suspected the upper echelon.

However, Evan knew the identity of that leader.

It was Evan’s father, Duke Kreutz.

Kreutz had meticulously hidden the fact that he was at the top of the Herman faction. Not even his son, Evan, knew.

‘But it didn’t make sense that the Kreutzs, who were merely managing their estates, should have amassed this much wealth.’

Evan had secretly seen the records of his father’s managed assets. The amount of money accumulated from the income generated by the territories and his father’s noble council salary was impossible to achieve.

From that moment on, Evan began to speculate. He believed that Duke Kreutz had secret sources of income. And that the Duke had almost been framed for murder by his brother, Haart, when it was revealed that Evan was not his biological son.

To show his affection as a father and the trust he placed in Evan as his successor, Duke Kreutz revealed his biggest secret. He disclosed that he was the top lord of the Herman faction.

However, Duke Kreutz was taken aback by Evan’s reaction, as if he had already suspected it. 

Moreover, Evan had a rough idea of why Duke Kreutz had kept his business hidden. If the fact that the most reputable duke in high society became known as the top lord of the Empire’s highest faction, it would not only cause envy and resentment among the nobles but also draw the attention of the imperial court.

Rather than making enemies by flaunting his wealth and power, the father he knew would have made enemies by being humble and modest.

He was humble and unassuming, making no enemies and slowly winning everyone over.

“Evan, you might not know, but no one in this Empire knows the identity of the top lord of the Herman faction. Our father holds a high position in the Herman faction, and I know it well.”

Satisfied with Pierre’s response, Evan let out a content smile.

“Indeed, you don’t know. No, precisely because you don’t know, you can treat Riett that way.”

Evan had never been particularly grateful for what his father possessed. However, this time, he felt grateful. It was the fact that his father belonged to the secretive top tier of the Empire and, coincidentally, Henry and Pierre’s father was also part of that upper tier.

Of course, Evan had no intention of revealing the secret his father had kept hidden all this time from these guys.

“What… What are you talking about?”

“Riett’s father is the top lord there.”

He would only manipulate this fact to his advantage.