A Charming family Part 2

Evalyn glanced at the other child by chance but saw a similar face. They are the ones who sharpen a knife on her, and the others who give her a box.

''Huh,'' She was so shocked to see something like that. By chance, they just glance at her a bit and turn to focus on the meals when a maid serves. 

Evalyn spotted a familiar child among the others—the one who had sharpened a knife on her and given her a box. They glanced at her briefly before turning their attention to the food as a maid served it.

Her eyes sparkled with excitement and hope when she caught sight of a hero who seemed capable of offering her the help she so desperately needed at that moment. 

However, when they turned away from her, Evalyn couldn't help but notice the bright smiles gracing their faces, which contrasted sharply with the uncertainty she felt inside.

Unable to speak to them, she directed her focus to her meal, also feeling hungry. When her plate arrived, she puffed her cheeks playfully as a child approached, but noticed her portion was noticeably smaller—just one slice of dessert compared to the three that others received.

She looked up at the maid who served her, catching a condescending expression. 

Evalyn's brow furrowed as she met the maid's gaze, a flicker of defiance igniting inside her. Such a small portion felt like a statement about her worth—or lack thereof. 

"Why do they have more than me?" she wondered, her thoughts simmering with the heat of injustice. She could feel her cheeks flush, not just from the embarrassment of feeling different.

The maid was shocked; usually, the lady silently enjoyed her meals, but this time she seemed confused.

"What do you mean, my lady? You've always served like that," the maid said, attempting to smile at Evalyn, who was gazing back at her. 

"Maybe your memory loss has caused you to forget," she suggested, indirectly blaming Evalyn.

Evalyn narrowed her eyes, doubt flickering across her face. "Lost my memory, you say?" she replied, her voice steady but laced with confusion.

"But I believe favorites don't disappear with amnesia, do they?"The maid's smile faltered for a brief moment, uncertainty casting a shadow over her features. 

"My lady, it's natural to struggle with recollection after such an ordeal," she began, trying to maintain an air of calm. "Yet, you must trust that your heart knows—"

Evalyn cut her off, her brow furrowing deeper as she leaned forward slightly, a flicker of defiance igniting in her gaze. "And what of my heart, pray to tell? Does it not yearn for the truth? Or has it betrayed me as well, hidden away what I held dear in the depths of this wretched forgetfulness?" 

The maid lowered her eyes, the weight of Evalyn's words hanging heavily in the air. "The truth, my lady, is often veiled, but your heart is indeed steadfast. You loved the tranquil evenings by the lake, the warmth of the sun upon your face, and the laughter shared with those closest to you. Surely, those memories flicker like embers in the dark."

"Embers?" Evalyn echoed, her tone sharpening as she stepped further into the conversation.

"Or ashes? What if all that remains is but the charred remnants of a life I can no longer grasp? Speak plainly, did I love someone who has vanished as surely as my recollections?" 

The maid hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line. "That... well, my lady—yes, there was someone. A figure who brought you joy, though the specifics may elude us both now. Perhaps if you allow your mind to wander, the pieces might slowly take shape."

"Silence!" the first duchess of the house commanded, her authoritative tone slicing through the chatter as she addressed the room. 

"Don't you know that you should be quiet during meals?"

Evalynn sighed softly, her gaze drifting toward the source of the interruption. It was the duke's first wife, a woman whose very presence seemed to demand attention.

She had raised her voice, clearly dissatisfied, and it was evident that she expected everyone present to obey her.

"Sorry, madam," the maid stammered, her voice trembling as she offered a hasty apology, clearly uncomfortable under the duchess's scrutiny.

Evalynn, however, had no intention of letting the commotion affect her enjoyment. With a calm demeanor, she continued to savor her meal, taking delicate bites while everyone else in the room fixed their eyes on the maid.

It felt as though they were all waiting, poised with anticipation, to see how the maid would respond to the duchess's reprimand.

No trace of fear or even a hint of an apology escaped Evalynn's lips, which only deepened the bewilderment on the faces around her.

Instead of feeling pressured to conform to the duchess's demands, she simply reveled in her meal, indifferent to the tension in the air.

The mix of confusion and curiosity among the other diners was palpable as they tried to make sense of Evalynn's nonchalant attitude in the face of such a stern admonition.

"What?" She raised her head and looked at everyone staring at her, then asked.

"Madam Amelia! Is this how you raise your daughter? Look at her actions!" Duchess Galadriel speaks to Duchess Amelia with a voice filled with anger, as if looking down on her.

''I'm sorry, Duchess!'' She stood up and bowed her head as she apologized, then she continued,

''Please forgive her for the horns!'' She spoke with a trembling voice as she was scared.

''But I don't think, I'm doing anything wrong."