The Sleepless Night of the Maid

“I think the amount you’ve borrowed so far is quite large. Besides, I think you’ve been late for interest payments for the past two months.”

“That’s insulting. How dare you ask such a question just because it’s a little late.”

The Duke glared at Rex with a cold stare.

“I’m sorry, Duke. I made a mistake.”

Rex smiled bitterly on the inside but ostensibly apologized for his rudeness. The more the Duke came out like this, the more it actually benefited him.

“Don’t worry about anything, just get the money. I’ll pay the interest.”

The Duke softened his anger, pretending not to win, and spoke in command. It was as if Gallahan was a pocket of money on his waist.

Maybe he really thought that the money borrowed from the Gallahan Company did not have to be repaid. Rex was sure the Duke thought it was his after all.

That’s impossible.

“Of course. Then I will meet you again in Montana and fill out the paperwork. Please prepare the seal.”

He smiled politely and bowed in silence, and the moment he turned around, all of his laughter was erased. In this way, food for the future was gradually piling up.

***

A carriage at the top awaited Rex as he hurried out of the castle. Since he was meeting the Duke for a scheduled amount of time, after a time, the coachman would put a carriage at the door on his own. Today, the waiting time was delayed because of the crown prince, so the coachman must have waited a long time.

Rex was thinking of finding Lily, no, Eva first, but opened the door of the carriage just in case.

“Lily?”

Eva was huddled in the corner of the carriage. Her face, wet eyes, and shuddering shoulders caught his eyes immediately.

“You met the Crown Prince.”

Rex hurriedly climbed into the carriage and sat opposite Eva. After smacking the roof to start the carriage, he leaned toward her.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“No… Did you finish your work well?”

Eva smiled white, pretending to be fine by force. She didn’t even know how awkward and pitiful she looked.

“Sorry. It was a little delayed because His Highness visited.”

“Oh… I see.”

But Eva let out a small exclamation in her own way, wondering if she should pretend to be surprised. 

Listening to her insincere answer, Rex unknowingly smiled in vain. Eva was discouraged, and he felt sorry for Eva, but at the same time annoyed. Because he tended to despise the weak who only suffered.

“I think he came here to persuade the Duke. He will gain strength only when he attracts the nobles belonging to the Senate to his side.”

Rex hid his feelings and slowly told Eva what she was curious about. She could not ask first, so he had to show this kind of kindness even if he was annoyed.

“Yes…”

“Or maybe he came to see Olivia.”

“Olivia?”

Eva, who had only maintained short answers all the time, responded only when Olivia’s name came up. Rex instinctively guessed that there was a rational exchange between Eva and the Crown Prince.

Because people care about having another reason to be next to the person they like.

“Olivia is the Duke’s daughter. She is the most beautiful and popular lady in the capital. Rumour has it that she has been close to the Crown Prince since he was young, and she is the strongest candidate for the Crown Princess.”

“Oh…”

Eva quietly groaned and her thick eyelashes fluttered.

Looking at her, Rex was sure. He didn’t know what happened between her and the Crown Prince, but the two had contact in the past and Eva was hurt.

Seeing Eva sitting like a baby bird that had fallen from her nest, his feelings also intensified. He thought of someone. A woman who lived in silence with that expression, a foolish woman who loved the powerful but died abandoned.

“The Imperial Palace is a dangerous place.”

Rex looked out the window and spoke like a monologue. Since he had to pretend to not know, he had limited words of comfort. Eva didn’t know that she was fortunate not to be the Crown Prince’s betrothed anymore. It didn’t matter. Eva knew how to speak, so if she didn’t know, she would ask again or if she wasn’t interested, she would be silent.

“What was that…”.

“If you happen to enter the Imperial Palace, turn around and run away.”

“…….”

“It’s a very dirty and dangerous place. It’s not for a kid like you.”

It was sincere. Unless she had a background like Olivia, Eva, who had nothing to put forward, would be stepped on in an instant.

Eva turned her head silently as if she understood what he said. Rex also gave her time to rest, not speaking anymore.

The silence lasted for a long time. Only the rattling sound of the carriage broke the silence. Eva still looked outside with an empty gaze.

Rex suddenly wondered where her thoughts were. Was she comforting herself and treating mental injuries or was she thinking about the Crown Prince and Olivia? Was she being pessimistic about her situation and plummeting to the endless floor?

“What are you thinking about?”

Rex unknowingly asked Eva. He thought that there will probably be an answer of the kind he expected.

“Just…”

Eva muttered in a small voice with her arm on the window frame and her chin tucked.

“I was wondering why everyone wants to move the Senate.”

“…….”

It was his perfect misjudgment. Rex was shocked as if he was just splashed with cold water because it was an unexpected answer.

He was going to ask what that meant, but Eva closed her eyes and closed her mouth at the end of her sentence. Looking at her, Rex thought he might have thought wrong. He believed Eva wouldn’t be able to hold out if she entered the Imperial Palace, but maybe he was wrong. Since she grew up in the weeds, she may be able to withstand the hard and tough situations with strength.