<CHAPTER 13>
Today Won’t Be the Only Day
Evelyn followed Valentino and his mother to the gallery, which held the longest history in the Grand Ducal residence.
Most noble families stored heirlooms and family treasures in their galleries, but the Valentino family, who had been with the Valtian Empire since its founding, overflowed with dignity in every sense.
‘Is it really okay for me to enter here?’
Evelyn moistened her lips with an uncertain expression.
The places she had frequented in the Grand Ducal residence until now had been limited to Aksion’s room, the reception room, and the terrace.
She was cautiously observing the atmosphere and about to take a step back when—
“Miss Evelyn, would you come over here for a moment?”
“Yes!”
Responding immediately to the Duchess’s call, Evelyn headed toward where the glass display cases were arranged.
Inside the cases were various items ranging from splendid ornaments to rare holy relics.
At a glance, one might think they had entered a museum.
“I was going to choose something myself, but I suppose it’s important that the person receiving it likes it.”
“I’m really fine with anything…………….”
At the Duchess’s words asking her to comfortably name an item she liked, Evelyn quickly scanned the display cases.
‘The smallest one from here. The smallest one.’
Unable to ignore someone’s sincerity, she chose one of the most modest-looking ornaments among them.
“Thank you for your consideration, my lady. I’ll take this hairpin!”
Just as Evelyn discovered the small item and was feeling secretly pleased with herself.
Aksion, who had approached her side at some point, regarded her with an intrigued gaze.
“I didn’t know you had such discerning taste.”
At her fiancé’s unexpected praise, Evelyn tilted her head with a bewildered expression.
“What do you mean?”
Then the Duchess, wearing a satisfied smile, answered in his place.
“What Miss Evelyn chose is a keepsake of the first Duchess.”
In an instant, cracks appeared on Evelyn’s pale face.
“No matter how I think about it, this doesn’t seem right.”
Evelyn, her face clearly showing distress, shot a sulky glance at her fiancé sitting across from her in the carriage.
“What is?”
He was acting deliberately obtuse, pretending not to know what she was talking about, which made him all the more irritating.
Letting out a sigh deep enough to make the ground cave in, Evelyn spoke with a somewhat resentful tone.
“Why would I take a keepsake of the first Duchess? You should have told me beforehand!”
Who could have imagined that such a modest-looking ornament would be such a precious and meaningful heirloom?
At her words, Aksion, wearing a languid smile at the corner of his lips, looked at the box she was holding preciously and replied.
“Why, I think it would suit you well.”
‘Is he teasing me right now?’
Just as the carriage stopped in front of the Count’s residence, Evelyn quickly got down and thrust the box at him.
“This is too good for me, so you take it back!”
Rare confusion spread across Aksion’s face as he received the box in a daze.
“A keepsake of the first Duchess rightfully belongs to the next Duchess.”
At Evelyn’s firm words, the man raised his well-groomed eyebrows.
“Well, today won’t be the only day.”
“Huh? What did you just say?”
“Nothing.”
Aksion shrugged his shoulders lightly and answered in his usual dry voice.
With the relief of having successfully passed off the hairpin, Evelyn’s expression became brighter than ever.
Completely unaware of her fiancé’s intentions.
***
Inside the research laboratory of the botanical garden, filled with the scent of herbs being decocted.
Evelyn regarded the flask containing poison with a serious gaze.
“Hmm, it seems to have been decocted well.”
They say that to develop an antidote for a deadly poison, one must first understand that poison.
Evelyn had been cultivating a poisonous herb called ‘Darkworth’ alongside her antidote research.
After years of effort, she had discovered that Darkworth’s components were similar to the deadly poison in the original story.
However, because it required such a demanding environment, cultivating the herb was no easy task.
Having only just succeeded in cultivation, she made sure to examine it carefully to prevent any damage.
“They said at least about ten days of aging process is needed.”
To confirm the uncertain poisonous components, she would have to combine Darkworth with other medicinal substances.
The fact that Evelyn was researching poisonous herbs and antidents so diligently was unknown even to the Count and Countess.
Not wanting to cause unnecessary worry, she had cut off any potential suspicions by saying she wanted to apply the knowledge she had learned at the medical faculty.
‘That way they’ll worry less.’
After moving several flasks to the dark room, Evelyn stretched her stiff body.
Then, after checking the time, she quickly tidied up the laboratory.
“I should hurry before it gets late.”
With a determined resolve, she left the botanical garden as she had somewhere to go.
Inside Marong Bakery, filled with the scent of freshly baked bread, customers crowded to purchase desserts.
Today was the day when the most famous patisserie in the capital released his ambitious new creation.
Having told her escort knight to wait in the carriage, Evelyn hurried to join the queue when—
The back view of the man right in front of her somehow looked familiar.
That splendid golden hair…………….
‘Hmm, where have I seen him before?’
While Evelyn stood with her arms crossed, tilting her head, the man suddenly turned around.
“..…………Huh?”
Her green eyes widened in surprise upon recognizing him.
For he was none other than Khalid Rikeran.
‘Why is this person here?’
Evelyn found it somewhat puzzling that Khalid had come to the capital so unexpectedly.
Ever since their meeting at the Imperial Library, news of his exploits had only been reported from the north.
Khalid, having apparently recognized her as well, showed a faint smile at the corner of his lips.
“We meet again, my lady.”
Realizing belatedly that she hadn’t observed proper etiquette, Evelyn hurriedly offered her greetings.
“I greet Duke Rikeran.”
At this, Khalid nodded his head slightly and spoke with a somewhat troubled expression.
“I am remiss in my duties, for I still do not know your name.”
Only then did Evelyn realize that they hadn’t exchanged names during their last meeting.
At Khalid’s consideration in deliberately blaming himself, she was truly impressed.
‘Oh. As expected, the male lead is different!’
Unlike that good-for-nothing someone she had known for so long.
Soon, Evelyn, wearing a refreshing smile, readily told him her name.
“I am Evelyn Inevassel.”
Khalid held her name in his mouth for a moment before speaking with a calm smile.
“So you were the daughter of Count Inevassel.”
Evelyn blankly admired his face, like that of a child whose curiosity had been satisfied.
When the man belatedly noticed her gaze and awkwardly touched the back of his head, she suddenly came to her senses.
“By the way, what brings you all the way to the capital, Your Grace?”
p>Evelyn asked the question she had been curious about.
To this, Khalid glanced at the sword at his waist and answered.
“I was on my way back after retrieving a sword commissioned from the blacksmith.”
He explained that he had naturally ended up here after following the scent of baking bread from somewhere.
In the original story, it was said that he, the empire’s greatest sword master, really liked sweet foods.
Shaking her head, Evelyn boasted with a bright smile and a triumphant voice.
“You will absolutely never regret coming here today!”
As she told him the recommended menu of Marong Bakery, Khalid, who had been looking at her with curiosity, let out a chuckle.
“I don’t think I would regret it even now.”
At Evelyn’s bewildered expression, the man pointed ahead and spoke.
“It seems to be our turn.”
Before she could even process his words, as her turn approached right before her, her eyes sparkled brightly.
***
She had definitely intended to buy only the patisserie’s ambitious creation and part ways right there.
“Um…………… aren’t you busy?”
Yet for some reason, the two people who should have gone their separate ways were walking side by side down the street.
At Khalid’s gentlemanly act of even carrying the dessert box, turmoil stirred in Evelyn’s green eyes.
When the confused Evelyn mustered her courage to ask awkwardly, he gave a faint smile.
“It’s fine.”
I’m the one who’s uncomfortable. You clueless Duke.
