***

EVELYN was stuck in her bed, glued to the soft silk and diving in her flood of thoughts. ​​

She was bugged with all the nonsense his brother has said.

She wants to know what happened.

The sins that she doesn't know of, the story behind the duchess death.

Everything that her past self has forgotten. She wants to know.

But who would be willing to tell the sensitive issue?

If the person in question wasn't here and the people involved keep their mouth shut and the said sinner forgot the sin she committed.

Then who?

Questions were keeping her awake, that the morning has come, and yet, Evelyn didn't get to sleep a wink.

*click!

The door slightly open and Sheila enters her Lady's room with silence but...

*Gasp!

"Lady Evelyn, you're awake now? It's still dawn..."

Sheila was looking at the young girl standing in front of the glass window, looking at the far distance.

Sheila stops her words when she saw Evelyn looked back, her black hair with silver-blue tint at the tip sway with her movement, while her porcelain skin that shines like the morning sun was beautiful and yet... her expression was like a blank space.

A clean canvas that you'll want to paint in different colors but at the same time, the colors were just absorbed by the canvas... not leaving any trace. If that makes sense...

Anyways, Sheila was starting to think about what her Lady was thinking.

She approached Evelyn and quietly tried to ask a question.

"Lady? Are you... Alright?"

Evelyn meekly nodded.

Sheila knows that there's something wrong. So, she stares at Evelyn.

"Do you... want to know something?"

Evelyn's eyes glistened with anticipation. She needs to ask about her mother.

"The duchess..."

She said quietly.

"Yes...?"

"I want to know about how did my mother... died"

". . ."

The two stares at each other, Sheila was quite adamant to talk about the duchess.

It was a taboo in the mansion. Even the portrait of the Duchess was kept hidden in the duchess room with chains and lock on it.

The Duke warns the employees not to say a word about it to Evelyn.

But Evelyn needs to know. And Sheila knows it too. That the longer Evelyn was kept hidden from the truth the longer she will blame herself for it. That was what the past Evelyn's circumstances are.

The new Evelyn, who was the first to ask about the duchess looks determined to know the truth.

"But I only have limited knowledge about the duchess incident."

"It's okay... even a little information will help me find out what happened."

"Should we sit first? Lady Evelyn?" Sheila leads her to the chair beside the fireplace and Evelyn just follows.

"The Duchess was a splendid person. She was *s%#×¢[Hdnk¶€°¢℅©*"

"Huh?"

Evelyn squinted her eyes. The words of her maid, Sheila felt blurry to her ears. She asked to repeat it again.

"Sheila, can you repeat the last words again?"

"Oh? About the duchess being a *s%#×¢[Hdnk¶€°¢℅©*. She really was a great person!"

Evelyn blinked.

She didn't imagine it. She certainly knew that she can't hear the word.

The maid's words were blocked like they were certain that Evelyn shouldn't hear about it.

'What the hell?' Evelyn thought. Confused about what is happening.

But she didn't give up.

"Sheila, can you umm... write it down?"

"Hmm? ...yes, Lady Evelyn"

Sheila was perplexed as to why she needs to write it down, nonetheless, she obeyed her words.

"Here, Lady..."

After looking at the white paper with ink scattered on it... Evelyn's eyes open wide.

"No way..."

"What is it, Lady Evelyn?"

Sheila was nervous, she didn't know if her Lady was displeased with her writing or she made a mistake.

She fiddles her fingers with anxiety.

"Lady Evelyn is there something wrong with my penmanship?"

Evelyn looked flustered but tried to maintain her facial expression.

"Oh! Nothing... Your writing is beautiful, Sheila. I was just impressed."

Of course, it was a lie. Evelyn just wants to hide what's really bugging her.

The written words in the white sheet of the paper were also fuzzy.

The words are written in cursive as follows also said the same thing...

"The duchess is a wonderful person, she was an *s%#×¢[Hdnk¶€°¢℅©*, and a loving mother to her children."

"I can't read it, I also can't hear it. What the hell is really going on?!"

***

Evelyn is massaging her temple to ease the pain. She's been having a lot of stress lately that her small frame is taking the toll because of it.

She was in her desk, writing scribbles in her diary and she encircled the words..."What happened to the past?!" in a simultaneous matter.

The ink was embedded in the white paper that it will tear down because of the overuse of the ink.

She nibbles her thumb in frustration. It was her habit when she's using her brain to its maximum capacity.

"What the hell happened??? I can't read it, I also can't hear it... It's like a black force was stopping me from knowing the truth."

"What really happened in the past?!!!"

Evelyn was so frustrated that she grabs her hair and raffles it with force.

It became a bird-like nest after.

*knock *knock

Evelyn stopped what she's doing and darted her eyes to where the sound came from.

"What?!"

She answered a bit harsh because of how sensitive she is right now.

But she doesn't care either too. The people here are also rough to her.

The butler then answered a bit late.

"... Lady Evelyn, Sir Cabel is requesting an audience."

". . ."

She blinked and closed her eyes. She heavily sighs, making the butler flinched.

*SIGH~

"Why?" Evelyn asked.

The butler then hurriedly reply.

"Sir Cabel said that he wants to express his gratitude during Young Master Allan..."

"Then why don't you make him go to Allan? Why disturbed me?!"

Evelyn was really sensitive right now so, she replied to the butler with annoyance.

But the butler dismissed her tone and just continued his words.

"... He also said that Lady Evelyn made a promise to him so, he came here unannounced."

"Haaa! Promise?"

". . ."

"Tsk!" Evelyn clicked her tongue.

". . ."

"Where is he?!"

***

Evelyn is stomping her feet to the marble floor. It echoed throughout the hallway walls, but Evelyn didn't care.

She's been way too plague with problems that the answer was still beyond reach.

And the constant pestering of the Crown Prince after their tea time adds weights to her problem.

Now another male lead appears before her, she didn't even take the initiative to be with them even for a second but the male leads seem to be doing the exact opposite.

Arriving at the parlor, Evelyn opens the closed doors and saw the young man with silver hair sipping tea without a care in the world.

'Haa! Looked at this! He's so at eased like he didn't disturb someone.' Evelyn thought, stopping her anger from rising.

"Lady Evelyn, Greeting~ I'm glad you're okay."

The young man and with his silver hair that glistened like a diamond and his sapphire eyes that seem to hold mischievousness while looking at Evelyn, slowly lean forward, held Evelyn's backhand, and kiss it gently.

The touch of the soft skin was subtle that made Evelyn twitch when it touched.

She smiled handsomely but Evelyn who was immune to good looks just smile and take her hands off gently.

Not to offend the heir of the Sigrid Dukedom, Cabel.

"Thank you for stopping by, Lord Cabel. If you had said that you would visit my humble abode then I would have prepared a red carpet!"

Evelyn was gently mocking him for coming unannounced and disturbing her alone time.

"I'm glad the Lady can joke now."

"Joke?!"

"Yes... It would be quiet the sight to see Lady Evelyn waiting for me at the end of the red carpet. It's like walking down the aisle~" Cabel said playfully.

Evelyn raised her brow and answered.

"That would be a nightmare...!"

"True... It would be a nightmare if it wasn't me at the end of the altar waiting for My Lady." Cable chuckled.

". . ." Evelyn was speechless on how shameless Cabel is.

"I'm sorry, Lady Evelyn. You must be scared and lonely that I wasn't by your side."

"Pardon? Why would I be lonely and scared?" Evelyn's voice was getting sharper with annoyance.

"Because I was gone when you were assassinated." Cable said, looking serious.

She flinched... but gain her composure again.

"I wasn't scared, Lord Cabel. You don't need to concern yourself about it."

"No. I was really worried." He said in a low voice. He's like suppressing his anger.

'He's angry? Why? He's not the one who was in an assassination incident. So, why is he angry? Is it directed to me? NO... I'm not sure.'

Evelyn was looking at the young man who was also looking at her.

But Evelyn conceded and closed her eyes to sigh.

"What did you really came here for, Lord Cabel?"