<CHAPTER 34>

I’ve Been Looking for You

“Whew, finally got away.”
Evelyn headed to the upper floor of the banquet hall, having barely escaped from her fiancée.
Throughout the first dance, Aksion had been glaring at those who sent glances toward her.
Of course, Evelyn wasn’t incapable of understanding him.
If something were to happen to her, it would be difficult to explain to both their parents.
Only after receiving somewhat excessive protection was she able to get away from him.
‘Where on earth is Dr. Fabian?’
He had definitely said he would be wearing a red bow tie and a fox mask………………
Evelyn, who had been carefully looking down at the main hall from the upper floor of the banquet hall, let out a low sigh.
Perhaps from looking at the colorful masks, fatigue seemed to be gathering in her eyes.
When she squeezed her eyes shut and then opened them, rubbing the corners of her eyes without pain.
“How could you come all the way here?”
“You absolutely won’t meet with me, what do you expect me to do!”
Gasp, is a lovers’ quarrel happening right now?
From the conversation heard nearby, the two seemed to be in an affair.
Suddenly, Madame Angela’s words came to Evelyn’s mind.
The Night-Blooming Banquet was generally free and had a sticky atmosphere.
Pretend I didn’t see, pretend I didn’t see……………
She tried to move away discreetly to avoid the situation.
“What if someone sees us!”
“Who on earth is watching us……………”
At that moment, Evelyn’s eyes met exactly with a middle-aged man’s.
Oh my, I didn’t see anything.
Please continue what you were doing.
But contrary to her expectations, a man who looked fierce at a glance approached her.
Just as Evelyn’s face scrunched up and she was about to take a step back.
“So you were here. I’ve been looking for you.”
A man wearing a silver mask appeared from somewhere and acted familiar.
Then with his tall stature, he completely blocked their view of Evelyn.
“Huh? Me…………?”
Who on earth are you, looking at me with such lovely eyes?
As her green pupils shook with doubt, the man who slightly bowed his head spoke as if whispering.
“Please wait just a moment.”
Only then did Evelyn realize who the voice belonged to, and she nodded in relief.
The middle-aged man hesitated in his steps, then soon left with his lover.
Evelyn let out a hollow laugh at their quick change of attitude.
Then she glanced at the man who had approached her side.
Golden blonde hair and blue eyes visible beyond the mask.
Even with the mask on, Kalid’s beauty didn’t seem to be hidden.
Evelyn, who had been staring at the man’s face as if entranced, soon expressed her gratitude.
“Thank you for helping me. Duke.”
When she bowed her head, Kalid spoke with a kind smile.
“I merely did what was natural.”
Evelyn recalled the man’s friendly approach from earlier.
The honey-dripping gaze and voice had been unexpected.
‘Was it like a male protagonist treating the female protagonist?’
As she stared at him thinking that, Kalid’s earlobes and nape gradually turned red.
He seemed to be bothered by what happened earlier.
“Earlier, I couldn’t continue my words—”
To help the man who couldn’t finish his sentence, Evelyn spoke in a bright voice, reading the situation.
“Don’t worry! I won’t misunderstand at all.”
At her reaction, Kalid nodded with an ambiguous smile.
Then as always, he asked affectionately.
“But what brings the young lady to this place?”
“I attended the banquet with my fiancée.”
Evelyn answered as if it were nothing special and looked at her attire.
A slit dress revealing one leg and a men’s wool jacket with all buttons fastened as if to cover it.
If they were to pick the worst dresser at this meeting, she had the conviction that she would be called.
She had contemplated taking off the jacket even now, but she steeled her resolve to just stay put and go back.
Swallowing a low sigh, Evelyn soon asked Kalid.
“But how did you recognize me?”
She found it amazing that he had recognized her when everyone was wearing masks.
At that moment, rare confusion spread across the man’s clear eyes.
Not noticing this, Evelyn blurted out a sudden thought.
“Ah! My hair color does stand out a bit, right?”
Her reddish-pink hair was something she had inherited from her biological father.
Since it was an uncommon color in the empire, she thought he had recognized her by her hair.
Kalid readily nodded and answered.
“As the young lady says.”
“I knew it!”
When Evelyn, inwardly proud, showed a bright smile, the eyes of the man gazing at her curved gently.
‘But shouldn’t the male protagonist be investigating the drug case right now?’
With an uneasy feeling about something, Evelyn glanced at him subtly.
Hadn’t Kalid also attended the banquet to investigate the smuggling of prohibited drugs?
Moreover, in the original story, he had played a significant role in capturing the culprit.
“Duke, aren’t you busy right now?”
She asked indirectly if he had time to be dawdling with her like this.
Then like a dejected golden retriever, Kalid carefully asked back.
“Is my presence uncomfortable for you?”
Had I shown any sign of discomfort?
Feeling sorry instead, Evelyn waved her hands saying not at all.
“No, not at all!”
Then after rolling her eyes here and there, she continued.
“Actually…….”
Having heard the whole story, Kalid nodded with a quite serious face.
“So you’re looking for Dr. Fabian.”
“Yes, I really need his help.”
“Then that’s fortunate.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
When Evelyn tilted her head obliquely, the man held a faint smile instead of answering.
She wore a puzzled gaze, then soon checked her pocket watch.
With the thought that she couldn’t delay any longer, she slightly bowed her head.
“Then I’ll be going first.”
Just as Evelyn was about to hurriedly move her steps.
Kalid’s firm hand caught her sleeve as if about to let go but not quite.
At the man’s sudden action, Evelyn opened her eyes wide and called to him.
“Duke…………?”
At that moment, Kalid seemed to come to his senses and released her clothes.
It was brief, but blue eyes showed confusion.
As if surprised by his own actions, he uncharacteristically avoided Evelyn’s eyes.
‘What’s with him? Is he embarrassed?’
When the puzzled Evelyn slightly tilted her head, a somewhat serious voice flowed from the man.
“I might be of help to the young lady.”
“What do you mean by that?”
When Evelyn blinked her eyes rapidly, he continued in a low voice.
“I’ve exchanged greetings with Dr. Fabian a few times.”
“You, Duke? How on earth…..?”
What connection could there be between Duke Likeran of the North and a Magic Tower personnel?
When she was touching her chin with a bewildered expression.
Kalid, with a faint smile at the corners of his mouth, told his story.
“Our puppies are quite close.”
He said the puppy he raised and Dr. Fabian’s puppy attended the same kindergarten.
Among nobles, there were occasionally those who regarded their companion dogs like their own children and sent them to puppy kindergarten.
“Oh my, I didn’t know you raised a puppy.”
Evelyn had learned that Kalid liked animals before, but she hadn’t known he raised a puppy.
After all, the Kalid in the original story had been busy going on subjugations as the Holy Knight Commander.
His relationship with the female protagonist had progressed during monster subjugations, so that said it all.
While Evelyn was briefly lost in thought, the man’s pleasant voice was heard at her ear.
“You’re the first I’ve told this story to.”
The moment her eyes met those affectionate blue ones, she froze and her expression hardened slightly.
It might be an over-sensitive thought, but………………
His goodwill toward her seemed to carry a different meaning.