My Husband Never Dies

It took about four days to travel from the central capital to the Duke’s territory.

Contrary to what she had expected of a desolate landscape, spring had fully arrived in the north as well, and the trees shone with a soft green. The Duke’s estate was large enough to be called a castle, with a dense forest behind the vast mansion.

Out of respect for the couple’s long journey, the night to consummate their marriage was postponed. However, Evelyn could tell it was the king’s concern. If the duke were assassinated within the palace, it would cause trouble.

Still, it seemed that they trusted the infamous assassin, Evelia, from Zelakent. After all, her reputation wasn’t easily earned.

From her experience, people die easily. And the duke was still a person.

Evelyn felt as though freedom was right within her grasp and let out a small laugh. She noticed the maid, who had been attending to her bath, glance at her with a quick side-eye.

“It seems you’re in a good mood, my lady.”

“Of course.”

Evelyn didn’t hide her feelings. Seeing the bride’s excitement, the maid smiled faintly and poured a fragrant liquid into the bathwater.

The maid, now accustomed to the scars scattered across Evelyn’s body, no longer reacted in surprise as she continued her duties.

Evelyn turned her gaze toward the small window. The setting sun stretched lazily outside, casting a hazy glow. It wasn’t clouds… fog? Was there fog at this time? Just as she thought it was curious, the maid gently took Evelyn’s finger and spoke.

“I think it would be best for you to leave now, Lady Evelyn.”

It seemed that noblewomen had to pay attention to every little detail, even their fingertips. Though the fragrant, warm bathwater was tempting, Evelyn willingly rose from the tub. A gown, delicate like the wings of a dragonfly, draped over her pale body.

With the maid’s help, Evelyn stepped out of the gleaming bath. She could already guess what was to come. Having finished a simple dinner and taken a well-prepared bath, the inevitable was ahead.

Their first night.

The prince had firmly warned Evelyn. After the duke’s guard was lowered, she was to take the opportunity and kill him.

Countless assassins had been sent, but none had succeeded, so by now, the prince’s heart was likely shriveled with fear.

But Evelyn was different. Evelia Locke. The notorious murderer whose name was feared even in Zelakent, she was confident in her success. She had easily taken down brutish, menacing figures before. And the delicate nobleman? He would be no match for her.

‘Disguising it as death by working to exhaustion wouldn’t be a bad idea.’

She recalled the poison hidden among the tea leaves she had brought, using her love of tea as an excuse. For her mission, the prince had provided everything she needed: blades, deadly poisons, drugs — whatever the cost, he spared no expense.

From the prince’s spending habits, it was clear that the royal family wasn’t concerned with small sums of money. So, a few costly items would likely be overlooked.

It would be a shame to leave empty-handed after dealing with the duke. Even a killer like her needed to make a living.

As she entertained these thoughts, she felt a sense of pleasure. Perhaps, for a day, she could extend her target’s life, offering mercy before she took it.

Following the maid’s lead, Evelyn made her way to the bedroom. Standing before the high, grand entrance, she whispered softly to the maid.

“I’m feeling a bit nervous. Perhaps I should have a cup of tea. Could you bring me some Fiolle tea?”

“Of course.”

Even though she appeared composed and calm, she was still a newlywed about to face her first night. The maid nodded, understanding Evelyn’s feelings, then asked:

“Shall I bring the loose-leaf tea as usual?”

“Yes. That will make me feel more at ease.”

To avoid suspicion, Evelyn always made sure to brew her tea herself when she was with the maid. Her tea ceremony skills, once clumsy, had now become quite refined.

The maid opened the bedroom door. The entrance, adorned with intricate and luxurious golden decorations, swung open, and Evelyn walked in with a fluttering heart.

The bedroom, large enough to house about fifty prisoners in Zelakent, was empty.

It was their first night together, so Evelyn had expected the duke to be there first. But this worked out well. She could brew the tea with a clear mind.

Evelyn sat in the chair, which looked like a piece of art. When the maid left to attend to her duties, a cold silence settled in the room.

For a moment, Evelyn felt a sense of unease. Back at the royal palace, the number of maids who attended to her was nearly in the double digits. Even though the royal villa used by Princess Rowena was much smaller than the duke’s mansion.

But here, apart from the maid who had come with her, she could sense no one else.

The coachman who had driven the carriage, the knights guarding the area, and the servants who had carried the luggage were all present, but Evelyn, sensitive to the smallest sounds, could not feel any presence now.

Had they already rested after the long journey?

In any case, this worked in Evelyn’s favor. The fewer witnesses, the better. After all, no one in their right mind would dare spy on the first night of a newlywed couple of such high status.

Soon, the sound of hurried footsteps reached her ears, and after a polite knock, the maid approached the table.

“The main house is very large.”

The antique box that Evelyn always brought out for tea time was placed on the table. With a cheerful click, she opened the box and skillfully retrieved the case filled with tea leaves. Meanwhile, the maid had set up a teapot with hot water and two tea cups next to the table.

“Thank you, Laura.”

“You’re welcome. If you need anything else, please let me know.”

Not wanting to keep the already tired maid any longer than necessary, Evelyn shook her head.

“Go on and rest.”

“But…”

The maid gave Evelyn a concerned look. Though she appeared calm, it seemed the bedding ahead was causing some worry.

“It’s okay. You know? I’ve received plenty of training from Madame Kelly.”

Madame Kelly, a high-end courtesan who had gained the position of the Count’s mistress through her beauty, eloquence, and s-xual allure, was known for providing discreet training to virgins about to marry. The First Prince had asked her to give Evelyn thorough instruction.

Evelyn smiled, reassuring the maid not to worry. In truth, Madame Kelly’s training wasn’t something particularly new to Evelyn.

A street girl without a trusted guardian usually had two options. One was to be treated like a slave, the other to sell her body.

Evelyn, of course, chose neither path. Being a slave was unacceptable, and being under someone else, literally and figuratively, was also unacceptable.

Even so, living a life at the bottom rung had her cross paths with a few prxstitutes, though she never had the chance to know any of them too deeply. They were like flowers with cut roots — beautiful but doomed to wither so easily.

As Evelyn pressed down the old faces that resurfaced in her mind, she took the cup of death.

Evelyn brewed the tea she would drink first, then added poison to make the portion for the Duke. Using poison wasn’t exactly her specialty, but for the client, who was extremely reluctant to have the Duke’s death be questioned, she was willing to endure the inconvenience.

‘If it weren’t for that, I would have just stabbed him in the stomach.’

Though the most straightforward and easy method was tempting, Evelyn brewed the tea completely and glanced toward the door. The maid had likely already informed the Duke of her arrival, but when would he actually come in?

At that moment, the door opened without a sound. A man, entering without a trace, turned his gaze toward Evelyn, who was sitting at the table. His blue eyes locked precisely on her.