Poison Eve
Chapter 5

"It's sad that the fate of those women is over, right? What should they do now?"

"Selling the old castle is possible, even though God knows that it has been reduced to rubble."

"Isn't that their home.they can't go anywhere else!"

"Ssh, sssh, they're mourning, dear."

"Yes, but it's not their fault. Oh, it's so heartbreaking to see a family that once managed to fall..."

The whispers came from the second or third row of benches behind Evelyn. Slowly their voices pierced through his mourning silence.

He drew his empty attention and turned his gaze away from the rainwater that hit the high windows of their little church, also from the babbling of his father's heir; the middle-aged Lord Katz Baru... a stranger to his family.

Behind the black veil that covered half of his face, the look of his grieving face turned into shock, then into pure annoyance as the whispers continued.

What the fuck? Evelyn thought, while listening in annoyance. Someone rumored about his family, right in the middle of his father's funeral?

You gossip mongrel!

Evelyn tried to remember who her neighbors from the area were, who were sitting behind her, but her mind was empty.

Indeed, he had spent the last two days in the fog, wallowing in grief and exhaustion after a full day waiting for his unflagging father on the day of the resurrection of his protective fairy.

Rodrigo Knight was not the kind of official who easily reneged on his promise. In principle, all that can be held from a man are his words.

When he finally had to swallow the disappointment of the results of digging his talent, until forced to accept the news his father had breathed his last.

But her father has now left in peace, at least that's what Evelyn believes.

Evelyn tilted her head slightly and thus she was able to steal the listen despite being annoyed.

"Maybe the New Lord Kanz will help them. It seems like he is a kind-hearted man," one mother said sympathetically, but the others snorted softly hearing him.

"Lady Catherine will never accept that help. The two families have not spoken a word to each other in recent years. I think everybody knows that!"

"Yes, yes, but the new Lord Katz is unlikely to leave them hungry. Oh, this is all so sad," his friend chimed in. "First death of Mr. Ragnarus in Nadia, then followed by the death of his nephew in a terrible duel. Shortly after, his father followed. Now.he's. Maybe there's something that's causing Officer Katz to be cursed!"

Nadia is the name of a country in the far east of Neraida, and Ragnarus Katz is Rodrigo's older brother. Nadine's Dad. The niece that the gossipers were referring to was his son—kakak Nadine.

"Omong empty. It was all their fault for being too arrogant. The answer to their problem was right in front of their eyes if only they had not raised their noses high."

"Answer for what? Whatchu mean?"

"One of the girls is still likely to get an established soul mate," explained the first woman while whispering her reasoning quickly. "Of course, not the young ones" he added. "Miss Evelyn was indeed very beautiful, but she was too harsh, the nobility would not like her man-like behavior. But the oldest cousin, Nadine. The girl was a perfect descendant and she inherited the look of her mother. I dare say the abundance of wealth will come through a marriage so as to improve their situation in the blink of an eye."

Hearing those words, Evelyn felt blood streaming down her face. His whole body stiffened or a little unsteady, he tried to keep his balance and his fist was covered by his tangled handkerchief. No. gabe.

"But, dear, they will never be able to prepare properly for the matchmaking season. Even how they financed this funeral, I can't imagine."

"Well, but there's no time. The girl is twenty years old. By the time the mourning period is over the departure of the head of his family, he will be ready. To be honest, why he hasn't been married at all makes no sense to me. No way no one wants him."

It's none of your business at all, Evelyn thought, her jaw cracking.

"Maybe Lady Madeleine thinks all the men who ask for her daughter are not worthy enough of Katz's noble blood."

"No doubt. But her daughter was the same, wasn't she past the time to seek her mother's approval, right? I don't know what you think, Dear, but I'd assume I'd have neglected my job if I were Nadine Katz."

"Ah, that's right."

"really. What else is he waiting for, prince? Knight with shining sword? I had three kids when I was her age."

Evelyn grimaced listening to their completely true innuendos and tried to graze towards her mother.

At the age of forty-four, Lady Catherine Katz was not ready to put her supremacy as the most beautiful woman in southern Neraida. Many consider themselves to be the most terrible.

Lady Catherine's upright posture was as if she were sitting on a wooden bench, assuring her daughter that she, too, had heard the brazen talk.

But unlike Lady Madeleine, her gentle and submissive sister-in-law, Lady Catherine slowly turned her head and cast a sharp glare at her gossiping neighbors. His gaze hit them like a slap of ice that was blown by the Nordic wind.

Seriously... tehanya... y'all?

Evelyn heard a small laugh from behind her covering up the embarrassment and it was no surprise at all. He knows how to look at it.

Evelyn inched deeper in her seat, she was quite familiar with the piercing cold gaze of her mother. She was only grateful this time the gaze was not directed at her.

Her mother was the daughter of an Earl.a reality that should not be forgotten by all invitations.and was raised very well, and fortunately almost never raised a voice. Of course, his mother did not need to do that, when she could throw a dagger just from the look in her eyes.

When Lady Catherine Katz turned back to the front with a face so calm, her smooth face looked like a marble mask, hard and white in contrast to the high-necked mourning dress lacy in black. After dealing with the fanfare from the locals, he glanced at Evelyn with a triumphant cold gaze.

That's what Mom's for you, Evelyn thought.

Evelyn responded with a small nod, arguably a helpless nod. Then he tried to turn his attention back to the praise in the speech, although in fact, it was difficult to listen to Lord Katz's new empty sentences about the man who was barely known to the man, the man that Evelyn loved and the people around her.