Home, was she overthinking things too deeply?

Evelyn recalled the two protagonists of the original story.

Kalid and Dahlia, who became salvation for each other.

Looking at their affectionate relationship, she wondered if perhaps she had jumped ahead alone while he felt nothing for her.

‘Yes, that can’t be it.’

Evelyn shook her head vigorously and naturally changed the subject.

“Might I ask where the Doctor is?”

“I shall accompany you.”

“No, thank you. I have already received sufficient kindness from the Duke.”

It was her polite refusal, accompanied by a bright smile.

The vast garden extending behind the banquet hall.

Unlike the banquet hall filled with endless laughter and splendid music, this place was tranquil and silent.

They said the host of the midnight blooming feast had put particular effort into the garden.

The expansive garden looked like a well-maintained botanical garden.

However, this place filled entirely with green leaves would likely only look wonderful to plant enthusiasts.

‘Where on earth is Doctor Fabian?’

As Evelyn looked around, a rare plant that one might only see in botanical encyclopedias suddenly entered her field of vision.

It was when she stopped in her tracks, her clear eyes sparkling.

“Wow, this is—”

“It’s a plant called Schwarzer.”

“Goodness!”

Evelyn nearly fell on her bottom at the sudden appearance of the middle-aged gentleman.

Wait, if it’s a fox mask and a red bow tie…

“Might you be Doctor Fabian?”

“How do you know me?”

The man with salt-and-pepper hair seemed to harden his expression before sending a sharp gaze.

Secretly relieved at having met him, Evelyn soon expressed her respects politely.

“I am Evelyn Inevassel. I was deeply impressed by the thesis you wrote at the Academy.”

Apart from knowing Fabian’s information through the original story, he was a renowned scholar of the Valtian Empire.

“Now I see, you appear to be from Coxen Academy.”

Fabian stroked his beard with an expression of interest.

Having confirmed the other party’s identity, he seemed to have let down some of his guard.

Evelyn gave an awkward smile and rolled her eyes before continuing.

“Yes, actually, I wished to meet you, Doctor.”

“You wished to meet me?”

To the Doctor looking at her with a displeased expression, she calmly nodded her head.

“You are well acquainted with Mordian, are you not?”

“Indeed. It’s fertilizer imbued with mana.”

Fabian was one of the researchers who developed Mordian.

Having presented numerous achievements, this fact was not well known compared to his other research.

However, Evelyn knew well through the original story.

That Doctor Fabian took pride in developing Mordian more than any other research.

She looked up at the man before her with a serious gaze.

“I dare to make a shameless request.”

“…What might that be?”

“I desperately wish to obtain the Mordian that you researched.”

To make the Duckworth flower bloom, that fertilizer was absolutely necessary.

However, the Magic Tower had a closed atmosphere, and it was not easy to meet those belonging to that group.

Thus, Evelyn did not want to miss this opportunity to meet a Magic Tower official.

However, Fabian showed no sign of granting her request whatsoever.

“I shall pretend I did not hear that.”

At his cold response, Evelyn felt her insides burning with anxiety.

“Doctor, once more—”

“If you know that I participated in developing that fertilizer, you must also know why the research was halted.”

When Fabian drew a firm line with a dark expression, Evelyn nodded her head slightly.

“Because it is dangerous research that can be misused despite being useful.”

When Mordian was first revealed, the researchers had no doubt it would bring beneficial changes to the world.

However, it began to be misused in directions completely different from expectations.

As it resulted in negative outcomes deviating from its original purpose, the Magic Tower eventually banned the use of that fertilizer.

They took measures to ensure Mordian was no longer sold on the market.

At her response without a moment’s hesitation, Fabian narrowed his brows slightly.

“Knowing that, yet seeking Mordian—I simply cannot understand.”

Evelyn had anticipated his reaction to some extent.

How could he trust a complete stranger and hand over banned fertilizer?

Nevertheless, feeling as if impatience was pressing down on her entire body, she clenched both hands tightly.

Silence flowed for a moment, and she opened her mouth with difficulty.

“…I wish to protect my family.”

“You wish to protect your family?”

As the tragedy from the original story vividly came to mind, Evelyn struggled to hide her trembling hands.

“Yes. My current family is so precious to me.”

“Yet to protect them, Mordian is absolutely necessary.”

She who had already experienced losing family appealed with a more desperate voice than ever.

Fabian silently stroked his chin with an indescribable gaze.

Of course, Evelyn had no intention of making unreasonable requests.

If she provided information equivalent to the fertilizer, perhaps he would think differently.

“If there is anything you wish for, Doctor, I would gladly—”

“I don’t know how corrupt a human being you take me for, but that won’t be necessary.”

So it was a refusal after all…

At the Doctor’s firm voice, Evelyn felt a bitter taste spreading in her mouth.

‘I’ll have to find another way.’

Facing reality and deciding to look for an alternative plan, she bowed her head.

“I understand your words well, Doctor. Thank you for taking the time.”

“You seem to have misunderstood something.”

“Pardon? What do you mean…”

As Evelyn’s green pupils expanded greatly, Fabian slowly curled up the corners of his mouth.

“I shall send Mordian to you shortly.”

“Thank you so much, Doctor!”

“It’s been a while since I’ve faced such desperate eyes.”

Looking at her puzzled face, the Doctor smiled bitterly.

“Your father, you see. He was actually my disciple.”

“…My father was?”

Fabian seemed to fall into reminiscence for a moment before slowly nodding his head.

“He was truly an excellent talent. Though he walked a different path for business.”

Evelyn had vaguely heard when she was young that her father had briefly worked at the Magic Tower research institute.

However, she had never imagined that the two had a teacher-disciple relationship.

“I had no idea…”

As if having anticipated her reaction, Fabian spoke in a benevolent voice while adjusting his fox mask.

“If you ever need my help, contact me anytime.”

With a heart reminiscing his old disciple, he would show small kindness to his daughter as well.

A soft smile rose to Evelyn’s lips as she expressed her gratitude sincerely.

“Thank you so much, Doctor.”

For some reason, she felt she would never be able to forget today’s events.

The wind blew gently, bringing a pleasant coolness.

Evelyn leaned against the balcony railing of the banquet hall with a lighthearted face.

‘To think Doctor Fabian would be so favorable.’

In the original story, Fabian had a somewhat blunt personality, but he cherished the female protagonist like his own granddaughter when he became her helper.

‘He said it was because she resembled his dead granddaughter.’

Was it because Dahlia possessed silver-white hair like a crescent moon, the Doctor would sometimes have a sad expression.

Therefore, Evelyn had thought his kindness toward her would fade before long.

Eternal Salvation Relationship was a novel meant only for the female protagonist.

As a villainous supporting character in the original story, she did not wish for anything else.

However, if she could be greedy for just one thing…

“I just need to protect my family.”

Evelyn, looking up at the night sky with a sorrowful expression, soon composed herself.

And just as she was about to move to find her fiancé.

Swoosh—

Someone pulled back the curtain sharply and entered the balcony.