CHAPTER 21
Watch Your Words Day and Night
“Pardon………………? Lady Lorenheim, you say?”
Evelyn’s face filled with surprise and confusion.
No one had ever set foot in her botanical garden except her family and Aksion.
‘It’s not that I dislike Dahlia!’
At the very least, she wanted only those she had known for a long time to be allowed into that place.
Evelyn, who had been hesitating, soon spoke with a slightly troubled expression.
“I’m sorry, my lady, but I don’t like letting others into my personal space.”
As she politely refused with a reasonable excuse, a look of embarrassment appeared in Dahlia’s eyes.
She clearly seemed flustered, as if she had never expected to be rejected.
‘I hope she doesn’t take it to heart!’
Just as Evelyn was watching her carefully, Dahlia held both of her hands and apologized.
“I didn’t mean to put Lady Inevassel in a difficult position. I was thoughtless.”
“I’m fine, Lady Lorenheim.”
“Actually, I really wanted to become close with you.”
“Pardon? With me?”
Feigning surprise, Evelyn blinked rapidly and looked at the woman before her.
This was a development she could never have imagined in the original story.
“If it’s alright with you, Lady Inevassel, would you call me by my name from now on?”
Seeing the harmless smile on Dahlia’s face, Evelyn hesitated for a moment.
Becoming close with Dahlia had never been part of the original setup, so it was understandably confusing.
Still, she thought that perhaps a change from the original story might not necessarily be a bad thing.
Although she had gained the same Seal as Aksion and ended up forming an Imprinting, she hadn’t felt any major changes yet.
‘If anything, getting close to the female lead might help me avoid death.’
Nodding slightly, Evelyn answered with a gentle smile.
“Then please call me Evelyn as well. I look forward to it, Dahlia.”
At those words, Dahlia’s face brightened with a fresh smile.
She soon checked her pocket watch and spoke.
“I’m sorry. I’d like to talk more, but I have a prior engagement.”
“It’s fine, you should go.”
When Evelyn replied casually, the woman smiled warmly with her eyes.
“Then I’ll see you next time, Evelyn!”
As she watched Dahlia’s retreating figure, a knight approached her side and tilted his head.
“Sir Gideon, is something wrong?”
When Evelyn looked at him with a puzzled expression, he scratched the back of his neck and answered.
“It’s nothing. I must have been mistaken.”
Unable to understand his words, she simply gave a small shrug.
Returning to the Marquis Marshall residence, Evelyn sat in the dining room with a displeased expression.
It was because an unwelcome guest had arrived at the mansion.
Glancing at the man sitting beside her, she frowned slightly and whispered.
“You’ve been coming to our house a lot these days.”
At that, Aksion raised an eyebrow and replied calmly.
“What’s strange about visiting my lover’s house?”
It seemed the phrase “watch your words at all times” was meant exactly for him.
Shocked by her fiancé’s words, Evelyn stepped hard on his foot without hesitation.
Even though it must have hurt, Aksion only twitched his brow slightly and showed no other reaction.
‘Ugh, he’s so annoying!’
As she wondered what to do with that shameless man, he curled his lips and whispered softly.
“If you want, I can grab my foot and collapse right here.”
“Just stay still.”
Watching their bickering with satisfaction, the Countess spoke gently.
“Seeing you two like this, it feels like nothing has changed since you were children.”
“Mother, how can you say that—”
“Thank you for seeing us kindly. Though it does seem a little different now.”
Aksion naturally cut in and looked at Evelyn with a newly affectionate gaze.
A rough thought suddenly crossed her mind, and her green eyes trembled violently.
No. Don’t say anything!
Ignoring her silent plea, Aksion took her hand and added.
“We’ve decided to officially start seeing each other.”
This… this lunatic………………
Just as Evelyn felt like grabbing his hair and shaking him violently—
“Pffft—”
The one most shocked was not the Marquis Marshall nor the Countess, but Viaron Inevassel.
It seemed shocking enough for him to spit out the water he was drinking.
With his mouth wide open, Viaron stared at Aksion in disbelief.
“Brother-in-law, is that really true?”
Aksion gave a slight nod and lazily lifted the corners of his lips.
“I suppose we’ll be seeing each other often from now on, brother.”
“Ha, now we’re truly family.”
Good grief.
Evelyn shook her head in disbelief at the sight of the two.
She didn’t know when they had become so close, but they seemed to get along surprisingly well.
“Evelyn, is what the young Duke said really true?”
At the cautious question from Marquis Marshall, Evelyn’s green eyes trembled slightly.
“Well………………”
If she skipped the process and only looked at the result, it was true that she was seeing Aksion.
Even if it was only a temporary contract relationship.
After moistening her lips, Evelyn gave a small nod instead of answering.
Thinking her daughter was shy, the Countess covered her mouth with both hands and beamed.
“Oh my, congratulations to you both.”
“Thank you.”
Seeing her fiancé respond so calmly, Evelyn felt her appetite disappear.
‘He really knows how to say things that cause misunderstandings!’
Just as she was inwardly mocking him, a bite of food was suddenly brought to her lips.
“W-what is this?”
The one holding out the fork was none other than Aksion.
His uncharacteristic behavior made chills run down her spine.
‘What kind of new harassment is this now?’
When she narrowed her eyes, a graceful smile spread across his lips.
Judging by the gleam in his red eyes, he was clearly enjoying the situation.
Whenever he teased her, he often wore such a satisfied expression.
Barely hiding her shock, Evelyn whispered so only he could hear.
“Hey, are you crazy? Stop messing around.”
But unfortunately, his eyes curved gently.
“Are you embarrassed?”
“You………………! You don’t even know what shame is.”
When she glared at him slightly, Aksion tilted his head and said.
“What’s wrong with taking care of my lover?”
At his shameless words, cracks seemed to form across her composure.
‘He’s as rotten inside as his head!’
As she bit her lip, Evelyn suddenly realized her family’s gaze was on her.
The Marquis, looking awkward, cleared his throat a couple of times before speaking sternly.
“Ahem, continue what you were doing. But in your rooms—”
“They’re both adults. I’m sure they’ll handle it themselves.”
The Marquis’s weak warning was immediately cut off by the Countess’s remark.
After the eventful dinner ended, Evelyn grabbed her fiancé’s hand and hurried out of the dining room.
***
Entering the connecting room linked to the bedroom, Evelyn shook off the hand of the man who had followed her obediently.
“Aksion, don’t you have something to say to me?”
Despite her cold gaze, Aksion merely shrugged indifferently.
Unable to hold back, Evelyn pressed him again.
“Why would you say something like that in front of my family!”
“I don’t think I said anything wrong.”
Indeed, from the outcome alone, his words weren’t wrong.
But this was merely a temporary relationship formed through negotiation.
Rubbing her aching head, Evelyn snapped her head up.
“Even so, how can you suddenly reveal it like that!”
“Well, isn’t it better to reveal it early?”
