Newlywed Life Begins with a Mistake - Chapter 86

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 86

“Yes. I still have work to do. What brings you here?”

At Evelyn’s appearance, Casian immediately composed his expression and greeted her with a gentle curve of his lips.

“I just couldn’t sleep.”

Evelyn, dressed in indoor clothes with a shawl draped over her shoulders, approached Casian and said with a smile.

“I’m bored, so would you keep me company?”

“Of course. I was actually in need of some fresh air myself.”

“Just talking would be boring, so how about we have a conversation while playing a light game?”

When Evelyn looked at the chess board, Casian brought the chess board and pieces in front of her.

After neatly arranging the chess pieces, Casian gave Evelyn a choice.

“Choose.”

“I’ll take black.”

The two sat facing each other across the chess board and soon began their game.

When Evelyn moved a pawn forward, Casian responded with a pawn, and when she moved a knight, he countered with a knight as well.

As the opening passed into the middle game, Evelyn had gained an advantage by utilizing her queen.

“Moving your queen so early. That’s quite a bold choice.”

“It would be a waste to let the queen with such wide range of use sit idle. The queen can go anywhere if she sets her mind to it.”

Evelyn picked up her bishop and subtly made a move to support her queen.

Watching this, Casian moved a nearby piece to block her path and cut off her route.

“Moving boldly is good, but if you advance too far, you might lose a place to retreat.”

“That’s true. In the end, the queen is just a tool for the king. But I don’t think you’re one to talk, dear.”

During their conversation, the white king had somehow been pushed into a defensive position.

If the black queen penetrated deep and delivered check, the game would be over.

But Evelyn held her queen, pondered for a moment, then placed the piece in an unexpected location.

“Between the white bishop and white knight, is that correct?”

“Yes.”

It was clearly a losing position for anyone to see, but Evelyn answered calmly.

“It wouldn’t be fun if it ended too easily. After all, the queen is just a piece that moves to protect the king. Unless she breaks free herself.”

“Then I’ll continue the game.”

Given the opportunity, Casian moved the white knight that was near his king.

He succeeded in capturing the queen, but at that moment, an unexpected situation occurred.

“!”

Somehow, the defensive line protecting the king had been breached.

The black bishop was pressuring the king diagonally, and the black knight was blocking the king’s escape route.

When her turn came, Evelyn picked up her rook and tapped the white king with a ‘click’ while murmuring softly.

“Checkmate.”

The game was over.

Casian, who had been staring at the chess board, slowly opened his mouth.

“Are you trying to teach me a lesson with this?”

There had been no need to sacrifice the queen.

But Evelyn had abandoned her queen without regret and chosen a more troublesome victory.

“How could that be? It’s just my change of heart, that’s all.”

Evelyn shrugged her shoulders, checked the time, then stood up.

“It’s late. I should go to bed now.”

As Evelyn was about to leave, Casian grabbed her arm as she passed by.

“Will you stay by my side during the Heteus Banquet?”

It was a statement that didn’t fit the current situation, but Casian wanted to quell his rising anxiety.

His purple eyes, filled with intense emotion, fixed on Evelyn.

Receiving his burning gaze directly, Evelyn pulled her arm free from Casian’s grasp and answered indifferently.

“We’ll see.”

* * *

Imperial Year 841, December 26th.

The long-awaited Heteus Banquet was held.

At the news they had been waiting for so long, the invited nobles all flocked to the Hetis Duchy without exception.

The South, a land full of God’s grace.

As if proving those words, a magnificent spectacle unfolded in the Palace Hall of the Hetis Duchy.

“Welcome to Count Heteus’s Estate.”

“Oh my, the Dowager herself came out to greet us!”

“How truly honored we are!”

When Christina greeted the nobles at the entrance, they breathed excitedly and hurriedly paid their respects.

“Even so, I thought it was proper to show my face at such a big event.”

Christina gave a gracious response and told them to enjoy themselves comfortably as she ushered them inside.

“This year is even more splendid than last year.”

“The harmony of flowers and foliage is so beautiful.”

The noble ladies who stepped foot into the banquet hall looked around with faces full of admiration.

Flowers boasting vibrant colors.

Silver tableware and decorations without a speck of dust.

Crystal chandeliers creating an ethereal atmosphere as they caught the light.

Even the courteous attitude of the servants.

“There’s not a single thing to find fault with.”

Exclamations naturally escaped wherever they looked.

“I wonder who organized this year’s banquet? It seems a bit different in taste to have been done by Lady Christina.”

“There were rumors going around that His Grace has a hidden lover, could it be her?”

“I don’t know who it is, but they certainly have excellent taste.”

Countless speculations flew around, but they soon clinked their glasses together.

Whoever it was, what did it matter? They just needed to enjoy themselves.

The nobles enjoyed the festivities with excited faces at the ducal house banquet held after so long.

Just when the cheerful atmosphere was reaching its peak.

“Princess Seldian enters!”

A woman appeared accompanied by the sound of trumpets.

“….”

Everyone fell silent all at once as if they had made a promise.

Even the noble ladies who had been exchanging kind words in gentle tones looked toward the entrance in speechless shock.

They had no choice but to react this way because Evelyn, who was known to be missing, had appeared at the Heteus Banquet.

“I thought she was dead since she hadn’t appeared in social circles… I guess not?”

One of the noble ladies, startled as if she had seen a ghost, finally managed to speak.

The other noble ladies who belatedly came to their senses also began murmuring and speculating.

“Did she run away because she didn’t want to marry Count Heteus?”

“But it was the love of the century, enough for her to refuse marriage with His Majesty the Emperor!”

“Then why is she in the South! Don’t tell me… the Duke’s lover that’s been rumored about is…”

An assumption they couldn’t dare voice aloud crossed their minds.

The noble ladies who had been moving their lips hurriedly waved their hands and denied the hypothesis.

“I must be too drunk from having champagne after so long.”

“That’s right. I’m out of my mind from drinking on an empty stomach.”

“I don’t know what’s going on, but whatever the case, the fact remains that the Princess is an unwelcome guest in the South.”

The only princess of the Seldian Ducal Family that dominated the North.

A witch who bewitched people with her outstanding beauty.

A villainess without even a speck of mercy.

There were endless epithets describing her, but one thing was certain.

The main culprit who ruined the South several years ago.

Due to the grain field fires, trade route explosions, and other intense misdeeds that remained vivid in the minds of the southerners even after time had passed, they couldn’t help but look at Evelyn with disapproving eyes.

“Even if she’s a villainess who commits all sorts of evil deeds, there should be limits.”

“Looking at how she can’t distinguish where she belongs and where she doesn’t, I guess she’s still as tactless as ever.”

The noble ladies who finished their brief recollection fluttered their fans and burst out in anger.

No matter how much Evelyn liked parties, this wasn’t right.

This was a banquet hosted by none other than the House of Count Heteus.

Even the nobles in the South had to be selected by strict standards to attend, yet how dare a villainess from the North come here?

“Could Lady Christina have stepped away for a moment?”

“She must have entered because the Dowager wasn’t there.”

How could the entrance security be so lax?

It seemed even the House of Count Heteus, which always showed meticulousness, sometimes made big mistakes.

“Look at how she’s meddling everywhere.”

“Interfering with other family’s servants at every turn!”

“Anyone would think she’s become the Duke’s wife.”

To drive Evelyn away, the noble ladies raised their voices and spoke sarcastically.

But Evelyn paid no attention.

“It was good to change the curtains. Since the scenery is nice, please don’t draw the curtains if possible.”

The noble ladies were on the verge of fainting at the sight of her giving instructions with such a composed face.

“Ha! Wh-what are you doing right now?”

“Get out! Countess Heteus is here! How dare you act like the Duke’s wife!”

She must really be completely insane.

The noble ladies who tried hard to steady their breathing equipped themselves with sharp eyes to find fault as they looked Evelyn over.

Green hair fluttering like leaves holding morning dew.

Blue eyes reminiscent of a refreshing sea.

Fair skin boasting pure white beauty and a smooth figure like porcelain.

“If she didn’t have the image of a villainess, she would be beautiful enough to be revered as a saint.”

Evelyn was pretty enough for everyone to acknowledge.

“That’s right.”

The noble ladies who nodded as if enchanted quickly covered their mouths.

They equipped sharp eyes again and looked over Evelyn fiercely, but eventually they gasped in shock.

“Wait a minute! That white dress that seems to reflect sunlight!”

“A Mercher limited edition dress?”

“The blue jewel around her neck is…”

“Isn’t that a Paraiba from Chersio?”

Even prestigious families couldn’t easily obtain such things.

Just how did the Princess manage to get them?

In the case of Mercher and Chersio, they were selective with their customers to maintain exclusivity.

Unless you were the Royal Court or Count Heteus, these were luxury items not easily acquired.

“Could the rumors actually be true….”

Suddenly, an eerie feeling crept over them.

An inexplicable sense of unease enveloped them.

“She must have resorted to blackmail.”

“Well, she is a villainess—would she really be picky about her methods?”

The noble ladies, trying to shake off their troubled thoughts, fluttered their fans rapidly to calm their anxious hearts.

Just as the noble ladies were spending their time gossiping about Evelyn, a loud trumpet sound rang out.

“His Grace, Count Heteus, has arrived.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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