Chapter 220

Chapter 220 – It’s Not That I Don’t Trust You

How exactly had Evelyn managed to captivate the attention of the upper-class nobility…?

In truth, the method was quite straightforward.

“It all comes down to competition. Every single one of them desires to eclipse their peers and assert their superiority, don’t they?”

She explained it casually, treating it as though it were a trivial matter—yet for Evelyn, executing the plan had been an incredibly demanding ordeal.

She had been forced to meticulously map out the intricate relationships between aristocratic relic collectors and pinpoint the specific high-society gatherings they frequented most often.

Furthermore, that was merely the initial phase.

The process began by offering financial incentives to the employees working at those high-end establishments, followed by orchestrating a way to casually mention the upcoming “auction” to the aristocratic women so that it seemed completely accidental.

Ultimately, the strategy Evelyn implemented was rather direct.

Imagine that Lady A and Lady B shared an intense rivalry. She instructed her bribed informants to plant identical rumors into the ears of both women.

To Lady A, they whispered: “Word has it that Lady B is highly interested in a spectacular relic this time around. She even claimed it would completely deflate your arrogant pride, my lady.”

The identical provocative message was delivered to Lady B.

Naturally, the concept itself was simple to describe—but actually managing to orchestrate it required an immensely sophisticated and delicate operation.

“And this phenomenon isn’t limited to a single location. At this very moment, every prominent social lounge across Hazen is completely consumed by the gossip.”

Evelyn disclosed the entirety of her strategy, a bright smile gracing her lips.

She attempted to project an aura of nonchalance, yet she could not entirely mask the immense sense of accomplishment shining on her features.

Even so, it was far too early to become complacent.

‘An absolute multitude of variables could shift before the actual auction begins.’

The atmosphere was incredibly vibrant at the moment, but the rumors circulating within high society were notoriously fickle.

A massive wave of excitement could dominate the conversation one day, only for a fresh, scandalous piece of news to emerge tomorrow, immediately shifting the public’s focus—such was the nature of that world.

To counteract this, she was required to relentlessly stoke the flames of these rumors without a single moment of rest.

Furthermore, there was another pressing issue.

‘The truly influential figures have yet to make their appearance. I cannot afford to relax just yet.’

Though she had kept a close eye on the noblewomen migrating from one social gathering to the next, the genuine power players of high society were still nowhere to be seen.

Granted, it was merely a matter of time before these circulating whispers reached the ears of those elite individuals…

Evelyn hardened her resolve. She could not afford to slacken her efforts until the entire venture reached its absolute conclusion.

And above all else.

‘The most critical dilemma lies within the auction’s inventory itself.’

While the primary, headline-grabbing relics were undeniably top-tier, the supporting merchandise and the overall sequence of the event were remarkably deficient.

To put it plainly, they were staring down the barrel of a classic scenario where the promotion far exceeded the actual product.

Even with the complimentary labor provided by the underground black market cartel, attempting to manage a high-class, noble-oriented auction utilizing absolute amateurs was guaranteed to result in chaotic desperation.

Was that the reason for her sudden shift?

Only a brief moment prior, her expression had been radiant with arrogant satisfaction—yet now, a distinct cloud of anxiety settled over her face.

It was exceedingly rare for Evelyn to feel intimidated by obstacles of this nature, but the overwhelming burden of having to guarantee an absolute triumph on such an unstable foundation…?

A cold, mounting sense of dread began to stir within her chest.

‘Just execute it the way you always have. Simply do what you know.’

Closing her eyes for a fleeting moment, she attempted to center her frantic thoughts.

Yet, for some reason, her emotions refused to fall into place.

No—the moment she acknowledged her own apprehension, the internal distress seemed to multiply, expanding into larger waves of anxiety with every passing heartbeat.

‘Why… why am I reacting this way?’

She had never encountered a sensation quite like this before…

Evelyn found herself utterly unable to conceal her bewilderment regarding this unfamiliar, suffocating pressure.

In the same way that intentionally focusing on one’s breathing causes the action to feel incredibly clumsy, dwelling on her internal panic only served to make her tremble with greater intensity.

It was precisely in that moment, while Evelyn was drowning in her own disorientation—

“Excellent work.”

A calm voice cut through the silence near her.

“…What did you say?”

The completely monotone delivery instantly dragged her back to the physical world. Evelyn responded automatically, the words slipping out before she could think.

Her thoughts remained in a frantic swirl, and her uneven breathing was far from being restored to normal. Then, the identical dull tone echoed in her ear once more.

“Excellent work.”

“…Ah.”

“I wouldn’t have been capable of accomplishing this myself. You performed beautifully. Truly impressive. I genuinely mean it—it’s quite spectacular.”

Evelyn silently observed the young man standing directly across from her.

He was Aster, a mere street urchin originating from the treacherous Black-White Slums.

Had she been her past self, she would never have given the slightest ounce of consideration to any words coming from his mouth.

Yet, why was this happening?

The frantic pounding in her chest gradually began to decelerate. Her ragged, uneven breaths slowed down, returning to a state of complete serenity.

This time, however, a sense of perplexity washed over her for an entirely different reason. Even she was stunned by how abruptly her internal state had transformed.

Nevertheless, one reality remained absolute.

Her spirit felt completely comforted.

‘……’

Evelyn stared down at her hands, noting that her fingertips had ceased their trembling, before lifting her gaze toward Aster. For some inexplicable reason, maintaining direct eye contact with him felt overwhelmingly difficult—

“Since we are addressing things, I’ve decided to overlook this particular matter.”

“…I beg your pardon?”

“The funds you chose to skim off the top. Doing it once is acceptable. Consider it a performance bonus or something of that nature.”

“……”

How was she even supposed to respond to an accusation like that?

The gentle, comforting warmth that had filled the space just moments prior was instantly shattered, resembling delicate ice crushed beneath a heavy iron hammer.

“What is that expression for? Are you expecting me to force you to return it? Surely you aren’t going to pretend you didn’t pocket any cash? I managed to acquire the financial logs from the center, you know?”

“The center?”

“Ah, so you did pocket it.”

“……”

Evelyn glared directly at Aster, her eyelids twitching with irritation. A look of profound disdain manifested deep within her eyes.

At the very least, her physical response was entirely genuine.

“In that case… I shall ensure it is put to excellent use.”

“See? I knew you skimmed it.”

Crack, crack.

Aster twisted his neck from side to side, systematically popping his knuckles. The sharp, intimidating sounds of cracking bones reverberated loudly through the room.

In that exact instant, an internal alarm began to scream inside Evelyn’s mind.

• Evelyn, this individual is entirely unstable—he will genuinely resort to violence.

“Wait, what? You just claimed you were going to let the matter drop. Was that entire statement merely a trap to make me confess? How can you possibly contradict yourself so blatantly? Furthermore, that wasn’t skimming—it was strictly a designated emergency fund…”

“To begin with, I abandoned my humanity quite some time ago. Therefore, acting deceitfully is perfectly fine by me. In the second place, an emergency fund?”

A sinister, wide grin stretched across Aster’s face. An unmistakable tint of insanity danced within his eyes. He began to close the distance between them, taking one deliberate step after another.

An expression of pure terror materialized across Evelyn’s features.

“It appears you are overdue for some behavioral correction.”

“……”

“There is no need to panic. Individuals who embezzle funds typically only learn their lesson after experiencing a physical altercation. You should consider yourself quite fortunate—Damian isn’t present to witness this.”

Evelyn found herself forced to confront reality all over again.

‘His entire psychological makeup… is completely alienated from that of a normal human being.’

In all honesty, she had never intended to embezzle any of the money.

She had maintained completely flawless, entirely transparent financial records in preparation for their final accounting report. There were absolutely no falsified documents.

Granted, the moment he had falsely claimed he would ignore the discrepancy, she had felt a momentary urge to actually pocket the funds…

“Look right here, these are the financial ledgers. Allow me to display them to you—”

Evelyn frantically held up the accounting books in a desperate bid to defend herself.

Upon seeing this, Aster let out a brief, sharp burst of amusement.

“I was merely playing with you, just playing. Did you truly believe I possessed that little faith in your character?”

The terrifying malice he had exuded just seconds before dissipated as though it had never existed, replaced by an entirely innocent grin.

Aster tossed his head back and took a few steps away from her. Evelyn was left standing there, entirely bewildered.

‘That behavior… was genuinely nothing more than a practical joke, correct?’

Naturally, it had to be. There was no possible way a human being could be that profoundly warped—

“Oh, that reminds me—you actually did maintain the financial logs?”

“……”

“Ahem. Do not misunderstand, it isn’t that I harbor doubts regarding your honesty. However, since you went through the immense trouble of preparing them, reviewing the documents seems like the most appropriate course of action.”

Evelyn directed a glare toward him.

Her expression was comprised of ninety-nine percent pure disgust.

“Why are you glaring at me with those eyes?”

“Ah, just spare me the talk and strike me already.”

Slowly but surely, Evelyn was learning how to manage her interactions with Aster.

The widespread rumor that had originated among the noblewomen rapidly circulated throughout the entire community of relic aficionados.

The news eventually reached not only the wealthy collectors residing within Hazen, but also swept toward aristocrats from entirely different domains who possessed a deep passion for ancient artifacts.

Evelyn dedicated herself entirely to the logistical arrangements of the upcoming auction while systematically releasing calculated pieces of new information to keep the public excitement burning hot.

Igniting the initial spark of interest had been an incredibly arduous task—but once the fire was lit, maintaining it proved to be relatively effortless.

There was no longer any need for her to expend extra energy; the various noble households began dispatching their own private agents directly to the second Black-White Slums to personally validate the authenticity of the whispers.

Consequently, the tales surrounding the development of the second Black-White Slums spread across the land like a raging wildfire.

……And during that exact timeframe.

Deep within one of the corporate branches belonging to Goldrin.

“Hmm. Should we chalk this up to mere happenstance?”

Vasilin de Planche perused the intelligence briefing regarding the second Black-White Slums, his lips curling into a sharp sneer.

“For such a massive commotion to erupt at this specific juncture… quite interesting.”

He appeared highly irritated, tossing the documents onto the surface of the desk and rhythmically tapping his fingers against the wood before raising his head.

“Which insignificant vermin is lurking in the shadows here?”

As things stood, the entire community of relic enthusiasts was locked in a bizarre, aggressive competition centered entirely around the second Black-White Slums.

Initiating a rumor was simple enough—but intentionally manipulating the situation to stoke the competitive nature of rivals? That required a profound, sophisticated understanding of how the wealthy elite operated.

Even if someone possessed that psychological insight, successfully manipulating those specific vulnerabilities was an entirely different challenge altogether.

“It is far too convenient. Infinitely too convenient. Do you honestly believe the garbage residing in the Black-White Slums could conceive a strategy of this caliber? Vitin, what are your thoughts on this matter?”

“It is difficult to provide an assessment without understanding your specific perspective, sir.”

“We currently have our sights set on the second Black-White Slums, and suddenly an unknown party decides to interfere in our domain. Don’t you find that timing incredibly suspicious?”

“……”

Vitin offered no immediate response, maintaining a strict silence.

However, he eventually chose to speak.

“If your current anxiety is rooted in concerns regarding Miss Evelyn, I believe you are blowing things entirely out of proportion.”

“The secondary location is situated in close proximity to Hazen. Furthermore, Hazen plays host to Jenion Academy. What if a desperate, cornered Evelyn decided to anchor herself to this project?”

“That is an impossibility. The moment Goldrin revoked its financial sponsorship, she reverted to being nothing more than an observant academy student who happens to possess a decent head for commerce.”

“Even so, the entire situation leaves a foul taste in my mouth.”

Vitin delivered his counterarguments in a brief, professional tone.

“Regrettably, we cannot simply eliminate her from the equation.”

“Hmm, that is true. Visualizing her demise would certainly make matters far less complicated… or perhaps we could place a tail on her and crush this spark before it grows.”

Unfortunately, their Father’s strict doctrines prohibited such direct actions.

While he refused to offer any form of assistance to offspring who had fallen out of the line of succession—he similarly refused to completely abandon them to their fates.

He provided a bare minimum of security, just enough to ensure they could survive based entirely on their personal capabilities. For Vasilin, this was an incredibly maddening restriction to navigate.

‘I possess the capability to act if I truly desired… but the timing is not yet right.’

He had not yet fully integrated Evelyn’s remaining assets and personnel into his own faction.

Eliminating her would have to wait for a later date—specifically after he had solidified his own base of power… and ultimately surpassed the authority of his Father. Or, at the very least, once the general public’s fascination with her had completely evaporated.

Vasilin understood these political realities perfectly, yet the intense irritation refused to subside.

As his foul mood worsened, he clicked his tongue in annoyance—just as a knock sounded at the entrance to his office.

Knock knock.

“Enter.”

A single subordinate stepped into the room.

The man offered a low, respectful bow before delivering his critical update.

“The individual designated as ‘The Guest’ has officially commenced their journey.”

“Hmm.”

Vasilin shifted his posture instantly upon receiving the update.

‘The Guest’ was finally arriving.

That singular piece of intelligence was more than enough to completely wipe away any lingering thoughts concerning Evelyn.

And why wouldn’t it?

That specific ‘Guest’ had been the primary catalyst for stabilizing his own precarious position—in fact, they were the single greatest factor in orchestrating Evelyn’s original downfall.

“Vitin, ensure you accelerate all of your current preparations.”

“…Understood, sir.”

“Excellent—keep that directive in mind. Now, let us depart. It seems I shall personally oversee the welcoming ceremony for our Guest.”

Vasilin strode out of the private office.

And at that identical hour.

……A spellcaster belonging to the prestigious Decullan Family was currently traveling toward Goldrin.