<CHAPTER 11>
The Imprinted and the Symbiotic Relationship
Evelyn, who had stayed up all night, headed to the Imperial Library as soon as she finished her morning schedule.
It was because if she stayed like this doing nothing, she might end up forming an imprint with her fiancé.
Fortunately, if she did not wish to reveal the mark, she could hide it.
“Rarie, how does my hand look?”
“Did you get hurt?”
“No, just…”
“It’s still as beautiful as ever.”
Even though Evelyn had deliberately shown the back of her hand that morning, her personal maid had not noticed anything.
Evelyn felt relieved inwardly that she could hide the fact that the mark had manifested from Aksion.
Before she knew it, she had arrived at her destination and stepped into the Imperial Library.
The vast interior of the library was quiet, and the shelves were densely filled with old ancient books.
This is where the ancient magic books were, right?
Moving her steps, Evelyn stood in front of the bookshelf and took out several books related to imprinting.
If there had been any precedent where a mark was formed incorrectly, she planned to refer to the solution.
Why is something that never happened in the original suddenly happening!
A deep sigh escaped her lips, and a look of distress crossed her face.
To have the same mark as Aksion, something had gone very, very wrong.
Soon, she took a seat at a well-lit table and began reading the books she had brought.
Most imprinted individuals could stabilize their disturbed mana through light contact.
But this is only temporary, and more intense contact is required…!
Evelyn immediately closed the book she was reading.
It felt like her face would turn bright red at any moment.
She simply did not have the courage to read a book that listed 99 ways to make contact with an imprinted partner.
Wow, this is intense.
She even wondered why the book did not have a red warning label on it.
Cooling her cheeks with her hands, Evelyn soon picked up another ancient book.
《Symbiotic Relationship of Imprinted Ones》 seemed untouched, covered in a thick layer of dust.
With an ambiguous expression, she carefully opened the book.
However, even in this book, she could not find any precedent of a wrongly formed mark.
That can’t be…
Thinking she might have missed something, Evelyn read every word without skipping a single one.
Gradually, the library began to fill up, and before she knew it, all the tables were occupied.
It was when she had reached the latter part of the book she was reading.
“May I sit next to you?”
A man’s pleasant low voice came from behind her.
At the question of whether the seat beside her was free, Evelyn readily nodded.
“Of course. You can sit here— huh?”
As she turned her body to check the person, her green eyes widened.
Blond hair that seemed to contain the blazing sunlight and clear blue eyes like gemstones.
Khalid Rikeran?
The man before her was none other than the male protagonist of the original work.
The original work 《Eternal Salvation Relationship》 completely broke the usual trope.
Instead of the male lead having black hair and the second male lead having blond hair, it was the opposite.
Perhaps because she met the protagonist unexpectedly, Evelyn felt a strange sense of familiarity and delight.
“Wow, it’s really nice to meet you!”
However, as she smiled brightly, she soon realized something was wrong.
They were supposed to be meeting for the first time today.
Have you lost your mind, Evelyn! What do you mean nice to meet you…
Khalid, the Duke of Rikeran, was the heart of the North and rarely visited the capital.
In the original, he only came to the capital after finishing subjugations to report to the Emperor.
That meant there were very few people who could recognize him, as he mostly stayed in the North.
As expected, suspicion thickened in the man’s blue eyes.
“Do you know me?”
Though flustered, Evelyn quickly displayed remarkable wit.
“Yes, I’m quite devout.”
I’ll just become religious starting today.
Since he was a highly praised Paladin Commander, it would be enough to say she had seen him at the Grand Temple in the North.
As if reassured by her pious answer, Khalid’s expression softened slightly.
“I see.”
As Evelyn quietly observed the man sitting beside her, admiration naturally escaped her lips.
He looked as if he was a creation sculpted by a god, radiating light.
This is why he’s the male lead.
“He’s really handsome.”
Muttering softly, Evelyn was startled by her own words and hurriedly covered her mouth.
Khalid, having heard it, only gave a faint, awkward smile.
Overcome with embarrassment, she hastily gathered her books and stood up.
“It’s getting late, so I’ll be leaving first.”
As Evelyn bowed her head, Khalid also gave a polite nod.
***
In her bedroom, Evelyn, who had been racking her brain while reading ancient books, finally had no choice but to admit it.
That she had come to possess the same mark as Aksion, regardless of her will.
A long sigh escaped her lips as the story diverged from the original.
She already knew that the union between Valentino and Inevassel was purely based on mutual benefit.
After losing his younger sister due to the Imperial Family, Marquis Inevassel sought to protect his house to prevent such tragedy from repeating.
By forming an alliance with the Valentino Ducal House, the only family capable of opposing the current imperial power,
The ducal house gained the rights to mine mana stones from Inevassel’s mines.
For those who possessed mana, mana stones were an immense resource.
Although their engagement was inevitable due to the interests of both families, Evelyn never once considered marriage.
Her views on marriage had not changed since childhood.
But if, by any chance, Aksion were to find out that they shared the same mark…
“We should prepare.”
“What?”
“Our wedding.”
A sudden marriage ending was absolutely unacceptable.
As Evelyn muttered those chilling words, her eyes became firmer than ever.
“It’s better to hide it for now, right?”
Still, she had no intention of just watching Aksion suffer.
As someone who shared the same mark, she felt a certain sense of responsibility.
She intended to find a way to stop her fiancé’s rampage without imprinting.
“Ugh… this really is the only way…”
The book she had borrowed from the Imperial Library contained the only method to help him without imprinting.
***
As always, Sunday at 3 PM arrived once again.
Evelyn, who arrived first at the meeting place, stared at her teacup with an anxious expression.
Is this really okay?
Before Aksion arrived, she had ordered coffee in advance and spat into his cup.
The only way to stabilize a rampage without contact was the saliva of someone who shared the same mark.
I only did a little, at least out of conscience…
Now that she actually had to make him drink it, her conscience pricked at her.
As she was agonizing over what to do,
“What’s the occasion? You came first.”
Before she knew it, Aksion was standing crookedly across from her.
For a moment, Evelyn felt her mind go blank, but she answered calmly.
“Well, I can arrive early sometimes.”
The man tilted his head as if he didn’t believe her.
“You?”
Evelyn had always arrived later than her fiancé for their weekly tea time.
Unable to deny that, she let out a small cough.
“Ahem, I had something to do nearby.”
She was confident she had made it sound as natural as possible.
Aksion gave a slight nod and then glanced at the teacup in front of him.
Steam was still rising from the coffee she had ordered in advance.
No way… he didn’t notice, right?
As Evelyn shifted her gaze toward her fiancé,
Gasp.
Since when had he been watching her, Aksion was staring straight at her.
Looking at Evelyn’s trembling eyes, he slowly curled his lips into a smile.
“I thought for a second—”
“…What?”
As she swallowed nervously and feigned ignorance, the man spoke in a surprisingly gentle voice.
“That a mark had appeared on you.”
What a terrifyingly perceptive man.
