Evelyn Chevalier: Knight in guise, Princess at heart

With the conclusion of Astra Yao's storyline in Zenless Zone Zero, the story of Evelyn Chevalier and Proxies begins to unfold. Evelyn seems to possess countless unknown and enigmatic background stories, yet she always relies heavily on Astra when she is around. What kind of agent is she exactly? This article will provide a detailed analysis of Evelyn's character aesthetics.

1. The Past of Evelyn Chevalier

Before meeting Astra Yao, she was just a heartless "blade-wielder." Solitary and alone, she often kept company with instant noodles, like a cat that walked its own path.

Evelyn's room is filled with dark tones, containing only simple neutral-colored clothes, daily training equipment, and a dagger imbued with a sense of lethality. There isn't even a single lamp for illumination. These details all indicate that the owner doesn't pay much attention to her living conditions. Her inner world is much like her room-somewhat gloomy, somewhat cold, and somewhat off-putting.

"Night" implies secrecy. For each new mission, a new name is required. Eventually, Evelyn had used so many names that she herself forgot which ones she had already used.

The beautiful threads, like rosy dawn, are her deadly weapons. Layer by layer and time after time, they wrap around her, eventually forming a cocoon. A cocoon is both protection and a shackle. However, the moths that are visible all over her body symbolize a longing for true freedom. An anonymous former colleague once said to Evelyn, "You want it too, don't you? A real life."

Evelyn yearns for light and freedom, but these desires are always hidden deep within her heart. Even her running began with moments of light that were not so bright. When she eats instant noodles, she sits alone in the shadows, with the side illuminated by light left empty.

2. The Encounter with Astra

She reminisces and falls into deep thought, but when interrupted, she quickly reverts to her usual cold demeanor. Then, she sees a photo of Astra. "She has everything, and I have nothing," she thinks. Although Evelyn's expression remains inscrutable, a fleeting glimmer of anticipation flickers in her eyes.

This time, she made an unusual decision: to take on this final mission using her real name.

Her full name is "Evelyn Chevalier," derived from the French word for "knight." Unlike the French word "cavalier," which often implies a more casual or nonchalant attitude, "Chevalier" symbolizes a sense of nobility. It represents an ancient "chivalry" centered around honor, loyalty, and resilience.

Most of the time, Evelyn is a knight loyal to her duty. "She argues fiercely like a beast, not giving an inch, and makes decisions swiftly like a gust of wind, leaving no room for gossip." She often observes from street corners, making potential dangers vanish without a trace. Yet, at times, she can speak with a shy tenderness, saying, "I fight for you."

Recalling the first time she met Astra, Evelyn's tone was tinged with a rare softness-"To me, that light was unfamiliar, something I should have steered clear of, but it broke through every barrier, as though it was trying to remind me that beyond the darkness, there was something worth chasing." Evelyn needed light, and Astra's eyes were bright, her smile truly capable of shining with beauty.

Compared to the dimness of her own room, Astra's space is filled with all sorts of shimmering items. On one side, there is warm lighting, fresh flowers, and group photos with friends. On the other side, the desk is cluttered with various trophies of honor.

Evelyn was gradually won over by Astra's personal charm. On the way to see Rain, Evelyn had a "conversation" with a black cat. The first sentence was, "What a wary little cat," and the second was, "I used to be like you, but it's actually unnecessary. There must be many people who love you." Now, in her life, Evelyn no longer feels this necessity, because there are many people who genuinely care about her.

3. The Transformation in Evelyn's Life

Evelyn used to be like a stray cat, always on guard for survival. Before entering Astra's house, her first instinct was to look around cautiously.

Astra seems to always radiate a light of hope and sincerity. It could be a glance of affirmation or the warmth of a plate of fried rice that allows Evelyn to see a different kind of light. Just hearing the sound of a growling stomach, the young lady would unhesitatingly roll up her sleeves and engage in a "fierce battle" with the kitchen utensils, eventually serving up a rather haphazard plate of fried rice.

She saw Astra's disheveled hair and the soot on her face. The way Astra held the spatula high up had a touch of guilt and cuteness to it. Evelyn also keenly noticed the band-aids on Astra's hands. She took it all in, kept it in her heart, but didn't say a word. For the first time, her eyes softened with a hint of tenderness.

Opposite Evelyn at the dinner table, there was finally someone else. Sometimes, care is just a shared glance. The atmosphere around Evelyn while eating was no longer gloomy this time. When the night lost its darkness, it seemed she could find stability in this restless world. At that moment, it was as if there was a faint sound of a cocoon cracking.

"At that moment, she frees herself from her restraints and becomes her truest self. The tightened ropes snap, and the chains turn into a broken cocoon. Evelyn stands at the boundary of rebirth, and in her cold, sharp gaze, there is the flicker of a faint, soft glow."

Change always takes time. Evelyn still goes for her runs, but now she is accompanied by more light and brilliance.

She also began to learn to cook a "messy plate of fried rice" for someone else, her pretty face smudged with soot, her expression a mix of apology and anticipation. Astra took a bite and choked a little, but managed to give a thumbs-up, saying nothing yet saying everything.

Caring for someone means being willing to become better for their sake. Evelyn began to study various recipes with the same dedication she used to hone her assassination skills, trying over and over again. She took note of the other person's preferences, using them as a reference for cooking, and perhaps one day, these preferences would also become her own.

This time, she served a dish with vibrant colors, and Astra finally showed the expression Evelyn had been longing to see. It was the joy of having one's taste buds completely conquered. From this moment on, Evelyn's once thin and fragile heart began to grow rich and full.

Her room gradually filled with sunlight, and the dagger imbued with lethality slowly vanished. The neutral clothing disappeared, replaced by many garments that exuded feminine charm-coats, jackets, scarves, crossbody bags, and necklaces. The floor was now littered with countless unopened gift boxes, and there was even a gigantic plush bear that looked as if it could bring comfort just by being there.

Once, she ran simply for the sake of running. Now, she realized that someone was waiting for her not far away. After traversing countless mountains and rivers and meeting in a sea of people, she understood that you had always been right here.

4. "Emerging from the Cocoon as a Butterfly"

If her past efforts were merely to complete missions, from then on, Evelyn, as a "knight," was driven more by an inner desire to protect others. As a knight, she always watched over "Princess Astra" from the shadows. Since Evelyn is often abbreviated as "EVE," which represents Eve, the biblical figure, and also "evening," Astra shines even brighter with the protection of "EVE."

While "EVE" may be the backdrop to "Astra," without the sacrifices made in the dark, even the starlight would inevitably fade. Upon discovering that Astra and the Proxy had fled, she would immediately lead a team to the scene by car to prevent others from learning Astra's whereabouts. When Astra merely poked her head out of the vehicle, Evelyn would alert her to be mindful of her safety.

Faced with mortal danger, even with her left hand injured and struggling to breathe, she would exert every last ounce of strength to shield the person she wanted to protect with her right hand.

It seems that Astra has grown accustomed to this kind of protection. When the director loses her temper, Astra, trembling with fear, instinctively takes shelter behind Evelyn. At such moments, Astra becomes the one in the shadows.

When Astra found the lost record in Hollow and sat in the car with Evelyn, it seemed as if, apart from the influence of their costumes and the plot, it was Evelyn, exuding an air of dominance while reading documents, who truly looked like the young lady. In contrast, Astra, with a face full of grievance, looked at Evelyn with a deep longing.

Affection means giving in to the other person, even when they are being unreasonable. However, the real shift in dynamics occurred during the critical moment when the Starloop fell, and Evelyn confessed her true identity-that of a Fugue spy codenamed "Scheele's Green." Faced with this web of truth and lies, Astra gently lifted the face filled with guilt and said, "You are you, the you right in front of me, the Eve I trust."

Trust can lead to dependence, and it can also give rise to another kind of emotion: "indulgence." Astra's gaze was soft and delicate, as if caressing a fragile treasure. The stage light shone on Evelyn's face, revealing a rare expression on her fair features.

When her heart was illuminated, the ancient meaning of Evelyn's name shone brightly. Derived from Old French, "Evelyn" signifies life and hope. At this moment, after breaking free from the cocoon, the moth that guards the new life has become the princess in need of protection. Meanwhile, the young lady she once guarded at all costs has become her personal knight.

Astra built an invisible castle with her silent care, safeguarding the princess's reverence for life and her beautiful expectations for the future. "Where there is light, there is always shadow."

Most of the time, Evelyn is the "shadow," while Astra is the "light." Evelyn, with her silent and traceless concealment, follows the path of the light, protecting its brilliant radiance. The "shadow" never attempts to steal the light's splendor but quietly fills the corners that the light cannot reach in every fleeting moment. The two have never been separated, nor can they be. The light is complete because of the shadow, and the shadow exists because of the light.

This is an endless pursuit and an unspoken bond. Light and shadow meet again and again. The spy eventually becomes a partner, the knight becomes a princess, and the protector becomes the one in need of saving. Deep in their hearts, there is an unspoken understanding: "We have weathered the storm together. When the "Stars Align", please do not gently walk alone into the quiet night."

I hope these insights into Evelyn Chevalier and Astra Yao have been enlightening for you. May you continue to find joy in Zenless Zone Zero. Of course, if you're a fan of Evelyn's story, be sure to keep an eye out for more articles and Evelyn merchandise.