“I wasn’t wrong.”
Evelyn’s sudden statement caused everyone in the reception room to freeze.
Every eye fell upon her.
Lavia, reclining on a chaise lounge, furrowed her brow deeply.
“Evie?” she asked, her voice laced with displeasure. “What are you talking about?”
“I was discussing the tasks that need to be organized. What is this nonsense about not being wrong?”
The maid had quickly followed her instructions and brought Evelyn to the reception room. Lavia had specifically asked where Evie had been found, and the maid answered truthfully, saying she had encountered her at the end of the East Corridor.
A whole courtyard separated that area from the servants’ quarters.
Logically, she shouldn’t have been there.
However, since that area was also far from Harvey’s residence, Lavia didn’t give it much thought.
The only thing she found strange was that from the moment she entered the room, Evelyn appeared somewhat distracted, as if her soul had wandered elsewhere. It was a complete departure from her usual, meticulous professional self.
Reprimanded, Evelyn seemed to snap back to reality. She lifted her head, only to quickly lower it again.
“…My apologies, Eldest Miss.”
Her voice had returned to its customary calm.
Lavia stared at her for a moment, intensely curious about what she had encountered. Ultimately, she chose not to press further and instead let out a soft sigh.
“Have you not been resting well?” Lavia’s tone softened. “It’s my fault for calling you here without letting you rest first. Sit down.”
She raised a hand to signal the nearby maid.
“Pour her a cup of tea.”
The maid immediately complied.
Evelyn walked over to the sofa and sat down quietly. She took a spot to Lavia’s right but occupied only half the seat, her back perfectly straight. In such a posture, she could stand up at any moment.
Soon, the maid brought the tea. Evelyn took the cup and offered a word of thanks.
Lavia raised her hand and commanded, “The rest of you may leave.”
The following conversation was not meant for other ears. The maids bowed and quickly exited the reception room.
The door clicked shut.
Only the two of them remained in the spacious room.
Evelyn took a token sip of the tea before placing the cup back on the table.
“I have noted your instructions, Eldest Miss,” she said calmly, returning to their previous topic. “There will be no issues on my end. Within the next few days, I will prepare the rooms and travel arrangements. I will ensure the Distant Lady is received properly.”
“I trust your abilities,” Lavia said indifferently. “You are in charge of these matters; you only need to report the final results to me.”
The topic ended there, but since the Eldest Miss did not dismiss her, Evelyn remained seated upright.
Lavia quietly observed the person sitting beside her, as if she were getting to know her all over again.
After a moment, she suddenly spoke.
“Evie.”
“How many years have you worked at the Duke’s Mansion?”
Evelyn paused for a beat. “Eighteen years.”
Lavia nodded, a trace of melancholy that didn’t quite match her age appearing in her expression.
Eighteen years. It had already been that long.
From her earliest memories, Evie had always been by her side, serving her with all her heart. Often, Lavia only needed to give a single look for the other woman to understand her meaning immediately.
The two were like sisters who had grown up together; their bond had long surpassed that of a typical master and servant.
If Evie ever made a request, Lavia would likely never refuse her. Whatever reward she desired, Lavia would not be stingy.
But.
Harvey was the exception.
He was not an object that could be given away as a reward. Only he was her private property.
She could give Evie anything else. Only Harvey was off-limits.
Harvey was a treasure that did not need to be granted the name of Astarea — he belonged to her alone.
Lavia suddenly made a face as if she had just remembered something.
“By the way,” she asked in a casual tone, “I don’t think I’ve ever asked. Evie, how did you come to the Duke’s Mansion?”
Evelyn’s expression did not change as she said flatly, “I was originally undergoing maid training at the manor of a minor noble in the south. After that noble’s family fell into ruin, I was sold to the Royal Capital. Later, I was purchased by the Duke and brought to the mansion.”
That flat tone made it sound as if she were narrating someone else’s story. From her expressionless face, one could see no trace of sadness at having been traded like a commodity.
Lavia lowered her gaze, her eyes hiding emotions that were difficult to resolve.
A moment later, she suddenly smiled.
“So that’s how it was.” Her tone sounded as though she had accepted the answer.
Then Lavia said directly, “No wonder I heard your name when I went to see the Duke last night.”
Every personal maid of the Duke’s Daughter was meticulously selected. The Head Maid, who possessed administrative authority, was personally appointed by the Duke himself. It wasn’t strange for him to know her name.
This wasn’t something Lavia would usually care about.
Evelyn understood this and remained silent. She simply sat there quietly, waiting for what came next.
Unable to read any reaction from Evelyn’s face, Lavia frowned slightly.
“I requested the Duke to change the person accompanying me to the Academy.” Her gaze landed on Evelyn’s face. “I need him to help me organize my study notes. As you know, no one else can do this. If it isn’t done well, it will affect my grades.”
Even she felt that reason was clumsy.
To her surprise, Evie merely nodded silently without any further reaction. It was as if the matter had nothing to do with her.
This impenetrable demeanor made Lavia feel somewhat powerless. If they kept talking in circles like this, there would never be a result; Evie simply wouldn’t take the bait.
With Evie’s stone-like personality, could Harvey really develop feelings for her?
Had she been mistaken? Was what she heard yesterday actually a hallucination?
Come to think of it, it wasn’t unheard of for servants in the mansion to fall in love and eventually start a family together. Stories with such themes were extremely popular in the Royal Capital.
In that case, was she being too old-fashioned?
Exhausted from long hours of work, Lavia’s mind descended into a muddle of thoughts.
“The Duke also made a requirement.” She spoke the reason she truly cared about directly, intending to end this quickly. “He required that I must bring you along.”
Having said that, she stared intently at Evelyn.
Until last night, Lavia had believed she understood her devoted Head Maid well enough. But when the Duke mentioned that name, there was clearly a certain special meaning in his tone.
She couldn’t understand.
Why?
Why would her head of house, a man only interested in Magic Experiments, go out of his way to mention a maid to her? Even she herself had never truly entered the Duke’s field of vision.
Looking at Evelyn’s upright posture, Lavia was surprised by her own late realization. She seemed to know nothing about Evie. Even though she trusted her deeply, Evie had always maintained a certain distance.
The sunlight in the reception room was mostly blocked by the curtains, leaving only a few thin beams falling on the carpet.
Evelyn remained silent, making the atmosphere oppressively heavy.
Lavia, feeling helpless, prompted her. “Evie, did you fall asleep?”
Evelyn finally looked up at her and shook her head.
“I just didn’t understand, Eldest Miss.”
“What?”
Lavia felt a jolt of energy now that she had finally spoken. That expressionless face still leaked no information, but Lavia inexplicably felt that the Evie before her had fallen into some kind of sorrow. Or perhaps a state of confusion.
Evelyn looked straight at Lavia, whom she had served for many years.
“Why me?”
Sixteen years ago, she had asked the Duke the same question. Just as she didn’t understand now why it was Harvey.
Why he would say those kinds of things.
Humans truly were a troublesome and contrary race.