Surviving As An Obsessive Servant

The location Evo had directed me to was the Black Market.It was an exclusive auction held aboard an enormous cruise ship in a floating city, far from the heart of Terua.Only the most elite merchants from across the continent were allowed entry, making it a treasure trove of rare and valuable goods.But, as expected of such an exclusive venue, it was nearly impossible to access without the right credentials. None of the merchants in our city had ever set foot there.Even Denkart’s trading company hadn’t secured entry yet—it hadn’t reached the ten-year mark since its founding.So, at this moment, I needed Evo’s help more than ever.We had arranged to meet at a bridge outside the capital before heading to the Black Market together in his carriage.And just as expected, despite being the one doing me a favor, Evo was already waiting at the designated spot.The moment he saw me approaching on horseback, he greeted me with a composed smile.Perhaps it was just an act, but at least outwardly, he didn’t seem the least bit annoyed.“Let’s talk on the way.”As I stepped into Evo’s carriage—marked with the Hornet Trading Company’s scales emblem—I was immediately struck by how immaculate the interior was.The cushions were perfectly arranged, coats neatly folded. A faint yet pleasant scent lingered in the air, as if he had sprayed perfume inside.Even as I openly glanced around, Evo showed no displeasure and instead struck up conversation.“You’ve lost more weight.”Feeling self-conscious, I rubbed my rough cheek with the back of my hand and let out an awkward laugh.He was being polite, but truthfully, I hadn’t just lost weight—I looked downright withered.Spending most of my time holed up in a dusty basement had inevitably left my skin dry and rough.Meanwhile, Evo had grown into someone just as striking as the young master.Unlike his childhood self, his hair now cascaded in smooth waves, partially veiling his keen, intelligent gaze.His deep blue eyes gleamed like polished gemstones, making his old scars barely noticeable anymore.“It must’ve been tough leaving on such short notice. Did the young master allow it?”“Of course.”“Really?”Evo handed me a teacup, his smile carrying an unmistakable layer of meaning.He hadn’t said much, but somehow, it didn’t feel like he was genuinely convinced.…Was it because I hadn’t greeted him properly back in the capital?I remembered how he had left almost immediately after arriving that day. There really hadn’t been an opportunity for pleasantries.Rather than bringing up the young master, I shifted the topic to his well-being.“What about you? It must’ve been sudden for you too. You’re always busy.”“Missing just one day won’t put my company at risk. We always prepare for emergencies, so even the leader can delegate tasks to others.”“…Emergencies?”“Even if I die, the company must keep running.”His words were chilling, but his expression remained completely unchanged.Since Evo constantly faced the threat of assassination, he had clearly prepared for every possibility—including his own death.Seeing him look so unaffected, as if he had transcended such fears, left me deeply unsettled.“Don’t say things like that! Words have power, you know. You’re way too young to be talking about dying.”“True. Depending on the situation, I might not die—just end up with a few lasting injuries.”“…If you’re going to joke, at least try to be funny.”Evo chuckled at my exasperated reaction before narrowing his eyes slightly.“So. Exactly how unwell is the young master?”Though he was smiling, his words struck precisely at the heart of the matter.…He was too sharp.This was exactly why I had wanted to avoid getting him involved.I had only used Rimson and Arif as excuses to inquire about herbs—yet Evo had already deduced that the young master was suffering from poisoning.But I couldn’t afford to tell him the whole truth.In the original novel, Evo had harbored an intense but hidden love for the young master while always prioritizing his own gain.No matter how much he had once owed Denkart or how deeply he was tied to us, his loyalty would never outweigh his business interests. If his dealings with other nobles ever conflicted with Denkart, he could easily turn against us.So instead of outright lying, I mixed truth with deception.“It’s nothing unusual. Same as the other knights. You’ve heard, right? That region was full of poisonous plants—most of them have mild symptoms from exposure.”While searching for information on the young master’s condition, I had learned that Evo’s trading company had supplied antidotes to his stronghold.Because of this, Evo didn’t need much of an explanation to understand what I was saying.Though whether his expression showed concern or skepticism, I couldn’t tell.“He’s mostly fine day-to-day, as long as he avoids certain incense or triggers.”“I see.”“Yeah. So, I wanted to visit the Black Market to find stronger medicinal herbs. You know how rare antidotes are in Terua, since we don’t have that kind of poison here.”Evo let out a quiet chuckle, as if humoring me. He didn’t call me out directly, but I could tell—he didn’t believe a word I said.His reaction made me uncomfortable, but I couldn’t back out now.I was accompanying him as his personal attendant, which meant I had to stay by his side, wearing the servant’s uniform neatly folded on the seat next to him.If I upset him, things could turn sour quickly.Right now, he had full control over whether I reached the Black Market or not.And if I lost this chance, I’d be left with no way to help the young master.Fortunately, Evo didn’t seem particularly inclined to push me away.“But, Lobel. Keep this in mind.”Maybe it was our past connection, but his next words were filled with genuine concern.“Don’t get too involved. Commoners who meddle in noble affairs always end up hurt. Even the duke is staying silent—there’s no need for you to take on the heir’s troubles.”“……”“Just this once. I won’t help anyone else you bring to me after this.”“……”“Answer me. Understood?”“…Understood. Thank you.”I nodded quickly, not wanting to risk hearing something worse if I hesitated.For the rest of the journey, our conversation revolved mainly around the young master.As expected of one of the novel’s secondary love interests, Evo had a strong interest in him.I had tried to steer the conversation away by bringing up the stone tablets I had asked him to research… but I failed.Having made no progress on them, Evo effortlessly redirected the conversation back to the young master.Even while calculating risks, he was instinctively drawn to him.“Well, he’s changed a lot. Didn’t you see him in the capital?”“Hmm. So all the change was external?”At first, I responded vaguely.But then Evo used that merchant’s cunning charm—his tone almost taunting, as if daring me to prove otherwise.I couldn’t hold back.“Of course not! Do you have any idea how much the young master has grown? He’s incredibly mature now. Thoughtful, wise—I’ve never seen a noble as outstanding as him! He’s always been patient, but now he’s unbelievably independent. He can do all sorts of things on his own, and—”  ****  Edric’s dark green eyes stared blankly out the window.…Lobel was really gone.Since she left, he had been unable to do anything, restlessly pacing near the window.Even though the sun was still high in the sky, shadows loomed over his face.An hour had already passed, and there was still no sign of her return. A storm of thoughts swirled in his mind.By now… she had probably met Evo.The moment that thought surfaced, Edric’s jaw clenched tightly.He couldn’t help but remember the way Evo Martin had looked at Lobel in the capital.If Manellano was irritating, then Evo Martin was utterly intolerable.That gaze of his had been far more intense and persistent than before.And unlike Manellano, who at least made his feelings obvious, Evo kept his hidden—making him even more insidious.Just the thought of that man spending extended time alone with Lobel made Edric feel like his insides were churning.His anxiety grew as he continued to stare out the window.Then, a report came from behind him.“We’ve confirmed the destination. Evo Martin has canceled all his scheduled appointments and is heading to the auction house.”“…He canceled his schedule?”“Yes, my lord.”Edric frowned.“Evo Martin isn’t the type to do that.”He knew plenty about Evo Martin.Back when Evo had briefly stayed at Denkart, Benjamin had taken an interest in him.Even with his typically indifferent nature, Benjamin had spoken of him often, impressed by his remarkable rise in the trading world.Evo had already climbed high, becoming one of the top-ranking merchants in the continent’s largest trade guilds.As an illegitimate child, reaching such a position should have been near impossible, yet his own merchants respected him immensely.Not that Edric cared.But since Evo had once clung to Lobel with his shameless obsession, it was worth keeping an eye on him—so that he could be dealt with accordingly.That was why Edric hadn’t just relied on Benjamin’s reports—he had investigated Evo separately.What he found was exactly what he expected.Outside his personal merchant group, Evo was despised by rival traders for his ruthless and cutthroat methods.He never took a loss in any deal.And, most importantly, he had never once postponed or canceled an appointment—not even on his own birthday.He valued his time too much to waste it on anything unprofitable.He was a merchant to the core—and a con artist who pretended to be innocent in front of Lobel.And yet, now he had canceled everything just for her?This manipulative fox was clearly playing his games again.“M-My lord… It seems that Evo Martin is simply trying to strengthen ties with Denkart’s trading company by helping Lobel—”“No, that’s not it.”Edric immediately dismissed the idea.If Evo’s goal was Denkart, he would have made an effort to greet Edric personally—or at least show his face here.But there was no sign of that.Whether in the past or now, Evo’s only real interest was Lobel.Even when Denkart’s trading company had done business with Hornet, Evo’s letters to Edric had been purely formal—nothing more than a bare-minimum obligation.And whenever they met in person, that underlying discomfort was always there.But with Lobel?He always kept up a polite, friendly facade.Always wagging his hidden tail like a scheming mutt.“…That bastard is definitely trying to lure her in again.”No doubt Evo would keep making excuses to stay connected to Lobel, playing the long game to manipulate her.It was painfully obvious.Lobel would probably feel grateful that Evo had dropped his other commitments just to help her.Because despite her sharpness, Lobel had a tendency to be naïve about these things.Edric’s arms tensed, fingers digging into his sleeve.If she ended up feeling indebted to Evo, she might try to repay him in some way—just like she always insisted on repaying Edric.“…….”And then there was the most concerning issue.Evo Martin was the only person Lobel regularly exchanged letters with.Even Crimson didn’t know much about Lobel’s family.She had always kept a distance from others, afraid her true identity would be exposed.And yet, she had freely shared letters with him.Regardless of their childhood history… this was crossing the line.The thought sent a dangerous pulse through Edric’s veins.He couldn’t stay still.