<CHAPTER 38>

They’ll Think I’m Devouring You

Evelyn, who had been staring at the path in the opposite direction from her destination, urgently asked her confidant.

“Sir, what is that place over there?”

Gideon looked around in the direction she pointed, then soon opened his mouth reluctantly.

“It would be best not to approach that place closely.”

“What? Why?”

“Because it is originally a den of ill-natured people.”

Evelyn was quite confused at her confidant’s rather serious words.

And with good reason……

Clearly, Dahlia Lorenheim was there.

Dahlia was pressing her robe down deeply, but as it fluttered in the wind, her face was clearly visible.

With her head in turmoil, Evelyn watched the path where the woman was for a long time.

Perhaps finding his master’s behavior strange, Gideon asked with a serious expression.

“My lady, is there some problem?”

“Just…… I think I know someone there.”

It was a muttering close to a soliloquy, but her guard knight spoke while nodding his head.

“It seems my lady has also discovered Miss Lorenheim the Count’s daughter.”

“How did you know that, Sir……”

As Evelyn’s eyes widened, Gideon lowered his voice after looking around.

“To be honest, I have seen her before.”

“Miss Lorenheim?”

“Yes. I thought I had seen wrongly then, but seeing her today, it seems correct.”

Gideon said he had accidentally encountered Dahlia while waiting for Evelyn outside the herb shop.

He had bumped into Dahlia who was hurrying somewhere, but the woman did not seem to recognize him.

“The place where the young lady was headed was exactly that path.”

Gideon seemed to have recognized Dahlia well thanks to his excellent observational skills.

‘So that’s why Sir acted that way.’

Only then could Evelyn understand why her confidant had acted puzzled at the stall that day.

As she let out a short sigh, Gideon, who had been wearing a serious gaze, cautiously spoke.

“If you command, I shall investigate secretly.”

Though surely nothing would happen to the original work’s female protagonist, it was also true that something felt unsettling.

After pondering briefly, Evelyn gave quiet instructions.

“Then I ask you. Please find out where the young lady went.”

On a certain Sunday afternoon where the late winter sunlight spread softly and warmly.

Wildflowers were slowly blooming above the earth that held the chill’s lingering traces.

Evelyn, who had held the clear sky in her eyes for a moment, suddenly came to her senses and checked her pocket watch.

“Huh, I’ll be late at this rate……”

With exactly ten minutes left until three o’clock, she arrived in front of a building.

A building painted so black that one would believe it to be the source of evil exuded a gloomy atmosphere.

‘Strange? They said they would send someone.’

Evelyn, who had checked the name on the 《Desmon Merchant Guild》 sign several times, could not hide her bewilderment at the building that showed not even a faint light.

The Desmon Merchant Guild had regular holidays twice a month, and it seemed today happened to be that day.

The door was locked with a magic device, so she could not easily enter.

“Did I get the date wrong?”

She was sure she had come on the right day.

As she tilted her head and wandered in front of the building.

“What are you doing not going in?”

At the familiar voice heard right behind her, Evelyn startled and turned her body.

“……Aksion!”

Only then relieved, she rarely welcomed her fiancé.

As if her reaction was unexpected, Aksion raised one eyebrow diagonally.

“I definitely told you to wait inside.”

At the man’s words that seemed to need explanation, Evelyn slightly pouted her lips.

“But no one was outside?”

Click

“Thank you for waiting…… Oh, Deputy Guild Master?”

The guild executive who appeared just in time soon discovered his superior and made a flustered expression.

“I apologize. That is-“

“You should apologize to my fiancée.”

At the man’s gaze that seemed to overwhelm the other, his subordinate bowed his head respectfully to Evelyn.

“I apologize, my lady. There was a mistake and I was late.”

Even she, who had known him for ten years, found it difficult to face her fiancé—how much more so for his subordinate?

At times like this, it was best to just let it pass.

Evelyn looked at the Desmon Merchant Guild executive with pity and answered calmly.

“I am fine.”

Even so, Aksion’s mood still seemed low.

“Aksion, shall we go in now?”

When she gently grabbed the end of her fiancé’s sleeve, he reluctantly gave an answer.

“Yes.”

Thus the two entered the Desmon Merchant Guild.

Perhaps because it was a holiday today, the guild was only quiet and serene inside.

Since she had been too distracted last time to look around properly, Evelyn decided to take her time looking around this opportunity.

Befitting a merchant guild that controlled all trade rights within the Valtian Empire, rare items were lined up in the guild.

At a glance, it evoked an antique atmosphere reminiscent of an art museum or museum.

‘They said entry is quite difficult.’

The Desmon Merchant Guild had a rule that only invited people could enter.

Yet seeing them renew overwhelming sales records every year, it made one realize their ability once again.

While Evelyn was inwardly admiring, a low voice came from the man.

“Is there something you want?”

“No, there isn’t.”

If she said there was something she wanted here, Aksion would surely place these items in her hands.

When she hurriedly shook her head, he muttered as if letting it flow in a tone of indifference.

“What a pity. I was going to place them in your hands.”

At her fiancé’s answer that did not deviate from expectation, Evelyn made a face of disgust and pulled his arm.

“I absolutely don’t have such things. So let’s go quickly!”

***

Heavy silence hung between the two who had entered the office.

Evelyn, who had tried hard to hide her anxious expression, took her seat on the sofa opposite her fiancé.

When even the attendant who served tea disappeared, she picked up her teacup and moistened her throat slightly.

‘Why am I nervous about this?’

Leaving behind the teatime they always had, there was a separate reason they met at the Desmon Merchant Guild.

Though Aksion seemed to try not to show it, as the rampage period approached, his complexion grew increasingly darker.

His skin was pale as if it had lost blood, and red traces remained around his eyes as if traces of pain remained.

During this period, he had originally endured the pain alone in his residence.

But now the situation had completely changed.

Because Aksion had Evelyn, who bore the same Seal, with him.

‘Hoo, I definitely don’t need to tremble!’

According to known information, contact with the Imprinted partner was unexpectedly simple.

Once a month, during the period when his ability would rampage, suppressing that ability.

Since it had already been nearly a month since they formed the Imprinting, contact was inevitable.

The place they found after searching for a location suitable for operating the ability was Aksion’s office.

‘He must also be reaching his limit gradually.’

Perhaps because the sensation from the day they formed the Imprinting suddenly came to mind, Evelyn wrinkled her nose bridge.

The man who had been watching her carefully put down the teacup he held and opened his mouth.

“Evelyn.”

“Y-yes?”

Though she thought she had hidden her expression well, Evelyn’s words ended with an unmistakably anxious tone.

No matter that she had formed the Imprinting with him, contact was still contact.

As she tightly clasped both hands, Aksion spat out in a tone that was merely emotionless.

“Anyone watching would think I’m devouring you.”

It was when Evelyn opened her mouth wide and blinked her eyes rapidly, as if her thoughts had been read.

Aksion’s vivid and persistent red eyes reached her.

Evelyn tried to avoid that gaze, but ultimately met his red pupils.

In the tension where she could not even breathe properly, the man pulled his fresh red lips beautifully.

“Well, it’s not entirely wrong.”