Chapter 6 “ Evelotte Thalewyn” part 1
A few minutes later, they gathered in a private room.
Warm food had already been prepared. Duke Raphael and Lady Faylith sat together, while Nexas took his seat. Ai stood quietly behind his couch.
Nexas glanced around the room.
<She’s not here either… Does the young lady not wish to see me? Or is there another reason?>
<After what happened at the ball… it’s possible she doesn’t want to meet me, yet noble duty must still be followed.>
He pushed the thoughts aside and reached into his space ring.
“This is a small gift from me, for your family,” Nexas said, placing a box on the table.
“And I also prepared some flowers—for the lady herself. I would like to give them personally.”
Both the Duke and Duchess froze.
Lady Faylith spoke carefully.
“…She is a little busy at the moment. I will deliver them to her instead, young lord.”
Something felt off. Nexas noticed instantly.
<Even if she doesn’t wish to marry me… she should at least attend the meeting. They’re overprotecting her.>
“I see. Too bad,” Nexas replied calmly, shaking his head.
“In that case, I’ll keep them for now. I wish to give them personally, as her marriage partner.”
Duke Raphael and Lady Faylith exchanged a glance—unease flickering across their expressions.
“But that can wait,” Nexas continued smoothly.
“For now, I’ll spend my time here.”
His tone was polite, yet the pressure in the room deepened quietly.
Nexas turned his gaze toward Lady Faylith, composed yet sharp.
“Your Grace,” he said evenly, “I know this may sound rude, but may I ask you to show Ai around the mansion?”
He placed a hand over his chest and bowed slightly, polite but firm.
“Including the rooms where we will be staying… She needs to familiarize herself with the environment and arrange matters accordingly.”
Lady Faylith blinked, clearly confused. She instinctively glanced at her husband, then nodded.
“It’s fine, young lord,” she said after a moment.
She rose from her seat and turned to Ai.
“Come. I’ll show you the rooms we prepared. You can also take care of the luggage with our maid’s help.”
Ai bowed immediately.
“Yes, my lady.”
The two women left the room, the door closing softly behind them.
Silence fell. Only Duke Raphael and Nexas remained.
Nexas leaned back slightly, crossing one leg over the other, posture relaxed—almost careless.
“Are you hiding your daughter from me? Because I’m a tyrant?” he asked flatly.
The temperature in the room dropped.
Duke Raphael’s eyes hardened.
“That is a very rude accusation to make without proof. She was genuinely busy,” he said coldly.
“If this were not His Majesty’s order, I would not have agreed to this marriage in the first place.”
Nexas’s lips curved faintly.
“What a convenient excuse, Duke.”
The Duke slammed his cup onto the table.
“What are you trying to say?”
Pressure surged from his voice—heavy, oppressive The porcelain cup cracked and shattered under the force.
Nexas responded by releasing his own presence.
The pressure collided head-on. Shattered pieces froze mid-fall before clattering to the floor.
“I’m saying,” Nexas said calmly, “I did not attend the ball, yet you treat me as if I committed an unforgivable sin simply for missing it.”
He leaned forward slightly, eyes sharp.
“As adults, hiding things from children—especially smart ones like me—is a mistake.”
Duke Raphael frowned but forced himself to calm down.
“It’s not like that,” he said. “Everyone knows what happened at the ball, even those who didn’t attend. And what fault does my daughter have in this?”
Nexas’s voice turned colder.
“That was misfortune,” he said bluntly, lifting his gaze to meet the Duke’s without hesitation.
“Someone stole the man who was destined for her.”
The room seemed to hold its breath.
“And along with that,” Nexas continued mercilessly,
“her pride as a woman—one who may never bear an heir.”
The silence afterward was suffocating.
Nexas narrowed his eyes slightly.
<That was the reason… why the prince could break the engagement so easily.>
The annulment between the heroine and the Prince had been justified under the guise of fault. As a noblewoman, infertility was treated no differently than a sin.
<Disgusting… yet effective. Even back then, I would have had no counter if I were in her position.>
“That was why His Majesty accepted the proposal so easily,” he muttered to himself.
Duke Raphael broke the silence.
“If you are worried about an heir,” he said stiffly,
“our family will support you. When the time comes, you may take a mistress.”
Nexas froze briefly.
<What is he saying? I already don’t want one marriage—why plan a second?>
He coughed once, regaining composure.
“That decision is not mine to make, Duke. So please don’t worry yet,” Nexas said coldly.
The Duke’s brows furrowed.
“Then what exactly are you trying to gain here, young lord?”
Nexas rested his arm on the chair’s armrest, fingers supporting his chin.
“Let me ask you one question, Duke,” he said calmly.
Before the Duke could respond, Nexas continued.
“My father, you, and Her Majesty,” he said quietly,
“were all involved in arranging this marriage. For what reason? Why would the three of you join hands?”
The Duke’s jaw tightened.
“I cannot say that right now.”
“I see… perhaps you three formed some hidden pact,” Nexas replied.
He straightened slightly.
“Then let me change the question. No—better yet, I’ll finish the thought myself.”
The pressure in the room intensified. Nexas’s eyes turned glacial.
“Let’s assume my father hates me, deep down.”
The Duke’s pupils shrank.
“You’ve already figured out why,” Nexas continued.
“Second—His Majesty may fear me. Or perhaps he’s planning something else entirely.”
Each word pressed down like a blade.
“But you,” Nexas said, locking eyes with the Duke,
“why did you agree?”
The air trembled.
“You knew I am called a tyrant’s son,” Nexas said quietly.
“More cruel than my father. That’s what people say everywhere—and yet, I haven’t done anything to your daughter.”
His voice sharpened.
“Even at the academy, I never once met her personally.”
Pressure surged, making Duke Raphael’s hand tremble uncontrollably against the table.
The silence that followed was no longer tension—it was interrogation.
The Duke stared at Nexas, unmoving, the room heavy with unspoken threats.
Before either spoke again, the door opened.
Ai stepped inside with bright eyes.
“Master, this place is amazing—”
She froze mid-sentence, sensing the tension. Her gaze flitted between the two men.
Nexas relaxed his posture instantly. Tone casual, almost effortless.
“Good timing,” he said. “We were discussing a small matter. I also asked for a short visit to meet the young lady.”
Duke Raphael gave a dry cough, eyeing Nexas carefully.
<I underestimated him… he thinks so fast. I need to be careful.>
“Yes, young lord. Weren’t we already agreed on that?” the Duke said slowly.
<His Majesty said there is no better candidate. Now I understand why this boy doesn’t treat me as a Duke—or an adult.>
Duke Raphael folded his hands behind his back.
“Yes. My wife will guide you. But remember your promise. If she does not wish to meet you, you will not force her.”
Nexas nodded once.
<This old whale still has a working brain.>
“Of course, Duke. I only wish to try at least once.”
Footsteps approached. Lady Faylith entered quietly.
“Everything is prepared, young lord,” she said softly. “I will guide you to her room.”
Ai immediately straightened, posture perfect.
“Yes, Your Grace,” she said politely.
Nexas rose from his seat. His cape shifted slightly as he moved.
“Thank you for your hospitality,” he said.
The Duke gave him one long, final look—measuring, judging, warning.
The door closed behind them.
Duke Raphael exhaled deeply.
“Well,” he murmured to himself,
“He has done nothing wrong in this house…”
He stared at the shut door.
“…Maybe this is truly the best outcome we can hope for.”
A few minutes later, Nexas and Ai followed Lady Faylith through the west wing hall.
The corridor was long and dim. Heavy teal curtains blocked most of the sunlight.
The air felt too quiet.
The floor gleamed under the muted light, and the walls were decorated with coral carvings and sea-glass lamps—but almost no servants were in sight.
Nexas glanced around slowly.
“This area is too empty,” he muttered.
He leaned closer to Ai.
“Do you sense anything suspicious?”
Ai shook her head slightly.
“Nothing hostile,” she whispered. “But Lady Faylith didn’t let me enter this wing earlier. She said our new mistress’s room is here.”
Nexas gave her a side look.
“Why are you already calling her my wife?”
Ai pouted.
“Because it’s true.”
“You are very bold today,” Nexas muttered, adjusting the teal flower bouquet in his hand.
After a short walk, they stopped in front of a large pearl-inlaid door.
Shell patterns and wave marks were carved across the frame, and soft barrier runes faintly glowed on its surface.
Nexas exhaled slowly.
<Evelotte Thalewyn… first villainess of the story. Top water-ice mage in the academy. Talented. Proud. Dangerous reputation.>
Rumors echoed in his mind—obsessed with the prince, harsh to lower nobles, strange experiments in her room, rarely attending social events.
Nexas clicked his tongue softly.
<My rumors weren’t any better back then. Not my place to judge her.>
He looked at Lady Faylith.
“Your Grace… please.”
Lady Faylith nodded nervously and knocked twice.
Knock. Knock.
Silence. No movement. No voice.
She knocked again, a little louder.
“Evelotte, dear,” she called gently, “please open the door. Our guest has arrived.”
From inside came a faint sound—something fell over—then a muffled voice:
“I said I don’t want to meet anyone.”
Ai blinked. Nexas raised an eyebrow.
Faylith tried again, voice soft but firm.
“Evelotte… the young lord just wants to visit you,” she said hesitantly.
From inside came a sharp, muffled reply:
“I said I don’t want to meet any ugly squid!”
Nexas and Ai froze for a moment.
(Squid… that’s new. At least better than “mad dog” or “demon.”) Nexas tilted his head.
Faylith quickly added,
“Young lord… she’s just shy. She doesn’t mean that.”
Nexas smiled faintly.
“It’s alright. She’s… half right, actually.”
Ai crossed her arms, frowning.
“Well… Master, your clothes are covered in blood. Looks like squid ink now, maybe?”
Faylith’s eyes widened at Ai’s comment.
Nexas gave Ai a pointed look.
“Do you want me to reduce your salary?” he asked dryly.
Ai looked gloomy.
“Please… I’m sorry. I’ll try to be quiet, like furniture.”
Nexas turned back toward the door, expression calm but imposing.
“Lady Evelotte Thalewyn,” he began slowly, “I understand you don’t want to meet me… but I brought flowers. I wish to give them to you personally.”
A long pause. Then came a sharp, cutting tone from inside:
“Huh? Cheaters like you want to give me something? Or maybe it’s just a trick to win me over! I bet those flowers are covered in your squid ink… or maybe you dyed them yourself!”
Ai instinctively stepped back behind Faylith, face pale.
Nexas let out a soft sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Alright… I didn’t ask you to open the door. But can I at least send someone to give you the flowers?”
The voice snapped back, full of irritation:
“Why does a tyrant squid even care? Whatever. Just leave me alone! I’m busy right now!”
Nexas stayed silent, calm as ever, while Ai and Faylith exchanged worried glances.
<This girl… fearless. Dangerous. And stubborn. But why insist on not opening the door, when insulting me face-to-face would be far more satisfying?>Nexas thought, gripping the bouquet tighter.
