Jealousy?

"Evangeline, I know that you are afraid but you must take responsibility for your mistakes." Elene spoke in a soft voice. "But if you do not want to, then I can understand. You do not need to do this." She added when Evan did not move. Evan kept staring at the paper as if her gaze could bring the paper to life.

Everyone took her expression as guilt and fear. Many snickered at her or looked at her with disgust. How could a woman like her be a madam of the family of marquees. She was jealous of her younger sister who had nothing much. How vicious could she be?

Yet the younger sister was letting her loose. She was letting her go without signing. Lady Agatha frowned at Elene's words.

"Elene, even if you are kind to your sister. You must know your limits. She had made a huge mistake and she should bear the responsibility. Madam Evangeline, it would be better if you sign and leave, we have other tasks to handle too." she pressed in a cold voice. Her face was stern as if she was dealing with a delinquent not a noble.

"Lady Agatha is right. There is nothing much to discuss about it anymore. Sign it and leave. We will handle the rest of the matter." The principal added when Harold took a step closer and touched her hands.

"Honey.. Are you okay?" He hugged her as if he was worried that she would break down. Evan felt a cold slithering touch as if a reptile was touching her. She had never felt so disgusted by her husband.

She thought that they loved each other and she was the third wheel. She had only decided to take her position, her properties back from this man but now.. She felt disgusted by him. 

"You have to sign it, Evangeline. You do not have a choice. I own your life and you will do anything I say." he whispered in her ears with a sweet smile on his face. 

The voice was low so only two of them knew what he said. For others, he was like a caring husband who was offering help to his wife.

"My lord, your wife.."

"I know! If I had known that her jealousy had crossed every limit, I would have stopped her earlier. It was my mistake that I got so busy with the funeral of my father that I could not pay attention to her." he shook his head and sighed. His eyes looked dim and red as if he had cried before coming here.

Everyone looked at him with sympathy. But his wife was looking at him with such a cold gaze that they frowned. Everyone had a negative image of Evangeline by now.

Even if she spoke, no one would believe her. She looked like a cold proud woman while Elene looked like a weak sister and her husband looked like a lost and miserable one.

People do not want to see reality. They see what they want to see. You have to show them what you are worth, Evangeline. And when it comes to war, there is nothing like the truth of lies. What matters is victory." Damien had whispered those words when they had been alone in the carriage last time.

She had thought those words were too exaggerated but now that she looked at the cheating couple, she felt she was too naive and kind. They would not think twice before destroying her.

She took a deep breath and smiled,

"First of all, I want to apologize to everyone for making a scene. I was the one who chose to enter the competition in place of my sister and win it. I wanted to win the competition for her but she did not ask me to do it.

She was unaware of my decision. My maid was just worried about me so she spread those… words! It is not her mistake or any one else but all of this is my blunder. I apologize to everyone and am ready to take responsibility for my actions." She bowed her head low despite knowing many of them were commoners or lower nobles who did not deserve it.

They all felt pride when a noble woman like Evangeline, who did not look at them as if they were beneath her, was bowing her head in front of them. The principal smiled and Lady Agatha snickered.

"Since you have accepted everything, sign the papers and end it. We do not want to malign our position by dragging this drama for a long time." She passed the papers again. Evan had read them when they were given to her before.

It was written that Evangeline was jealous of her sister and wanted to take her position not for letting Elene win. But she wanted to show her reality from the start. She wanted to accuse Elene that Elene had cheated and disqualified her. For that, she had locked Elene in her room and fooled her maid. But now that the truth is out, she is taking the responsibility and ready to compensate the academy for creating a scene.

And give all the powers of decision making to Elene in the future. So, that Elene could not be misbehaved anymore." 

"What does it mean by all powers?" she asked in a calm voice despite the snickering gazes of all of them. As if it was not she who had apologized.

Her eyes were clear and her head was held high. There was something about this woman that let others believe that they were beneath her. 

"Full authorities that belong to the madam of the house. Since Elene's mother is older. It would be better that she would run the house and other matters. Since she is a mother, she will treat both of you fairly.`` Harold spoke with a deep sigh as if he was helpless in this whole situation, "I promise you that no one would speak a word about this incident once you sign the papers."