"g-greetings, your grace." Evelyn said, lowering her head. Just as she thought she was done for, she felt a pat on her shoulder. It was Ashley!
"Great timing!" Evelyn thought. She smiled at Ashley and said, "yes, miss?" Ashley knew what was going on. "I need you to run an errand for me." She said. Evelyn nodded in response. "Okay, miss! I'll do it!" She said.
Ashley gave her a note of what she wanted Evelyn to do. After Evelyn went away for the errand, Ashley turned to look at the duke.
"It seems like you took an interest in her." She said. He replied in disdain, "That's not the case. What made you think that?"
Ashley smiled, "Because you didn't do anything to her." She said. "What would I do to a guest? Do you really think I'm some lowly bastard?" He said.
"Maybe because you saw someone in her?" She smirked. The Duke glared at her.
"I guess it does remind you of someone. Anyway, since she's here, we should start training her. That's why we brought her here in the first place." She said.
"Are you sure she's the right person?" He asked. "Yes, I'm certain that she is." She said.
"I'll go for now." She bowed then walked away.
By then, Evelyn had already done what Ashely told her to do. She was looking for Ashley when she found her at the hallway.
She went and approached her. "Miss, I did what you told me." Ashley smiled. "Oh, good work." She said.
"Well then, it's about time I explain why I brought you here." Ashley said. "Let's go somewhere else first. A place where we can sit and talk." She said.
Evelyn nodded and followed her to the garden. There was a garden nook in the middle of the garden. They went there and sat down. Ashley asked the butler to serve them tea.
"Now, I'll explain why you were brought here!" She said. "You see, you are an illegitimate child of a duke. He is the Duke of the south, also known as Duke Jonathan Windrider."
Evelyn was dumbfounded. She said with a confused expression, "are you sure, miss?" Ashley had already guessed that she would ask that.
Ashley nodded, then said, "yes, I'm certain. There are many evidences that prove that you are his illegitimate daughter." She said. "We brought you here to train you and for the downfall of the Duke of the south." She said
Of course, Evelyn did feel weird and confused, but she didn't like the idea of being used for the downfall of her own father. But she also couldn't get over the fact that her father had thrown her away for whatever reason.
"I'm sure you also wanted to achieve nobility, yes? I'll make sure you will. It is, if you help us." She said.
Evelyn pondered for a while, then spoke up, "okay, I'll agree to this. But if I'm going to do whatever you want, I'll also need to know who you are." She said.
Ashley smiled then said, "sure, I'll tell you mine and the duke's full names. You need to know who's who after all." She said.
"I am Ashley Valehart. And the duke of the north, who you previously met, is called Duke Alaric Frostbourne." She said.
Evelyn nodded in response. "Okay, I'll help you. Deal. But you also need to fulfil your end of deal, okay?" She said. "Of course, of course. Just sign in this contract. I need to make sure you don't go back to your word."
Ashley said. Evelyn didn't know how to sign. So she just tried to write her name in a fancy way. Although it wasn't that good, the contract was signed.
They just talked about their interests after that. When they were done talking, they went to their respective rooms.
That day, Evelyn had learned a lot about herself and her family. It was kind of surprising. She never thought that she would suddenly be an illegitimate daughter of some duke. That night, she tossed and turned until she fell asleep.