<CHAPTER 28>
Could It Be That He Really Likes You?
Evelyn barely suppressed the grin that kept trying to rise and let out a small cough.
“Ahem, I hope the new book is released soon.”
“It’s a desirable book, so they should hurry with the publication.”
As if understanding her meaning, the lady nodded with a pleased smile.
When she said she would try to ask her grandmother, even if she had to act cute, everyone present brightened their eyes.
“By the way, has everyone read ‘The Rose Blooming in Paradise’?”
“Of course. Isn’t it the most popular romance novel these days?”
When Chloe, with an interested gaze, covered her mouth with a fan, another lady showed a shy smile.
“Which man was to everyone’s taste?”
In the novel ‘The Rose Blooming in Paradise’ that they spoke of, two male protagonist candidates appeared. A warm, affectionate male lead like sunlight, and a persistent male lead with deep madness.
‘Hmm, both were certainly charming characters.’
In the situation where opinions were divided, this time the question was directed at Evelyn.
“Which one did Lady Inevassel prefer?”
“Well. If I had to choose, I think it would be Renox.”
‘The latter was definitely more to my taste.’
Although Renox might not be the main male lead, Evelyn’s taste was closer to the persistent male lead than the affectionate one.
Especially his narrative of looking after the female lead from behind while pretending otherwise was unforgettable even if she tried to forget it.
But Renox couldn’t express his feelings in time, and the female lead eventually chose the male lead.
In relationships, trust was as important as love.
‘Now that I think about it, it’s similar to the situation Aksion will face in the future.’
The common point between the two characters was that they couldn’t fully express their feelings before the female lead.
Aksion’s attitude toward her now was ultimately nothing more than playfulness without any sincerity.
‘He’ll change his mind when he meets Dahlia!’
Just as she was trying to shake off her uneasy feelings by lightly patting her cheeks.
For some unknown reason, the ladies who heard her answer were wearing pleased expressions.
Somehow, as if they had already expected that answer.
Evelyn, who was bewildered, tilted her head and asked.
“Why is everyone looking at me like that?”
“It seems the Lady has consistent tastes.”
“Pardon? What do you mean…”
Only then did Evelyn fail to continue her words, having grasped their intentions.
‘Could it be that everyone is comparing my taste to Aksion?’
Recently, a rather absurd rumor had spread through high society.
That Young Count Valentino cherished his fiancée more than what was publicly known.
When she visited the orphanage, the fact that Aksion personally came to pick her up had become a topic of conversation.
It was unknown how he knew about something happening on the outskirts of the capital and wrote about it in a gossip column.
At that time, Evelyn had laughed it off, saying it was nothing worth mentioning in the newsletter.
But it seemed the topic of the rumors surrounding them was larger than she thought.
Even though it was ultimately nothing more than a false relationship.
‘If the truth about this contract romance is revealed later, the fallout will be quite significant?’
Thinking about having to deal with this later, Evelyn pressed her throbbing temples.
No matter how much they were contract lovers, she wanted to stay as quiet as possible until she broke off the engagement with Aksion.
***
Before she knew it, the conversation topic had shifted to another person of interest.
“Come to think of it, speaking of the lady who was newly registered in the Count’s family.”
“Ah, do you mean Lady Lorenheim?”
Perhaps because Dahlia was mentioned unexpectedly, a momentary disturbance flickered in Evelyn’s eyes.
“She seems to be quite a famous priestess from the north.”
According to the news they received, Dahlia, who possessed immense divine power, was showing great activity in the north.
So much so that rumors circulated that the Saintess who had disappeared long ago had returned.
Thus, Dahlia Lorenheim’s standing in the Valtian Empire was rising day by day.
“Didn’t she recently go on a demon subjugation with Duke Likeran?”
This subjugation included the Holy Knights led by Kalid, along with Dahlia and the priests.
There was no more reliable support than those with divine power when knights were injured or in critical situations.
Seeing this, the plausibility of the original story seemed to be really intricately woven.
Somehow creating points of contact between the female protagonist and male protagonist.
“Yes, they say the two of them really suit each other well.”
Evelyn implicitly agreed by lightly nodding her head.
Since it was a combination of two people with outstanding beauty, it would be enjoyable just to look at them.
“There were even eyewitness accounts of the two enjoying dates on weekdays.”
Oh my, it seems progress is faster than I thought?
It was regrettable that there was no caramel popcorn at this gathering.
‘Well, other people’s romance is always more enjoyable.’
Evelyn pretended otherwise but pricked up her ears to the ladies’ conversation.
“Is that really true? Where exactly?”
“They said it was at the Imperial Library and some bakery.”
Hmm? What is this sense of déjà vu…
Evelyn, who had been blinking her eyes slowly, casually asked the lady who had heard the rumor.
“Could that bakery be Marong Bakery?”
“Oh my, that’s right! It was exactly that place.”
“And they said they went together to see the cat living behind the library.”
As if she had her fortune told at a skilled divination house, the lady clapped her hands together and nodded enthusiastically.
“It seems Lady Inevassel has heard something too!”
At that moment, cold sweat began to bead on Evelyn’s forehead.
‘I think the eyewitness mistook me for Dahlia…?’
Otherwise, their movements couldn’t overlap so perfectly.
She didn’t know why such a misunderstanding occurred, but the eyewitness must have mistaken her for Dahlia.
She usually wore wide-brimmed hats outdoors, so she might have been difficult to recognize.
Just as she was wiping the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief, not wanting to create another rumor.
Chloe, who had been staring intently at Evelyn, whispered quietly in a voice only she could hear.
“Evelyn, how do you know that?”
If it were anyone else, perhaps, but the eyes of a close friend who had spent a long time together could not be deceived.
“I, I just. I happened to hear it by chance.”
“You? When you don’t even attend social gatherings?”
Chloe was speaking in a roundabout way for her friend’s sake, but her meaning was ‘You don’t have any friends other than me and your fiancé.’
Unable to deny the sharp question, Evelyn firmly sealed her lips.
Her… her. Why does she hit the nail on the head at times like this.
Whether it was fortunate or not, Chloe didn’t seem to want to press further.
Seeing that she noticed Evelyn’s discomfort and naturally changed the subject.
“So how is the Young Count doing?”
Chloe was feeling quite refreshed by the incident at the magic engineering academic presentation where Aksion had humbled her brother’s pride not long ago.
In a situation competing for succession, the opponent’s mistake was as good as great fortune.
Evelyn, who had been lost in thought for a moment, soon lightly shrugged her shoulders and answered.
“Aksion is always the same. No. These days he seems a bit strange.”
When she murmured and slightly furrowed her brows, Chloe showed a rather interested gaze.
“Why? What seems strange?”
“How should I put it, he’s doing things he really didn’t do before.”
He was strange to begin with, but these days Aksion often narrowed the distance more than necessary.
When kindness unbefitting of him was directed at her, Evelyn was somewhat bewildered.
Of course, there must be a purpose behind her fiancé’s actions to obtain what he wanted.
“Isn’t it good if the Young Count is affectionate?”
Chloe tilted her head with an expression that said she was making a fuss over nothing.
“Well, that’s true but…”
‘Since we’ll eventually break off the engagement anyway!’
Evelyn barely swallowed the inner words she couldn’t reveal to her friend.
Then she continued her answer vaguely and ambiguously with an awkward smile.
“Well, it was just a bit awkward, that’s all.”
Just as Evelyn was lightly moistening her throat with black tea, trying to erase Aksion from her mind.
Chloe, wearing a sly smile, whispered quietly again.
“Could it be that he really likes you?”
