<Epiosde 68>

 

“Ah.”

Elkais let out a soft sigh. Eveline, knowing it was a breath of happiness, couldn’t help but smile.

“Oh, right.”

Eveline thought it was time to finally take off her uncomfortable dress. It was difficult to move around in, and she also needed to take out the bullets. Maintaining her firearm and keeping it clean was essential.

Especially in this humid, rainy place.

The more the weather deteriorated, the more crucial it became to properly maintain the gun. If not, a malfunction or even an explosion could occur. If it exploded while in her possession, that would be fortunate, but if it misfired in an unwanted situation, it could spell disaster.

So, Eveline decided to take off the uncomfortable dress, separate the bullet box, and clean the gun.

With that in mind, she glanced at Abellard and Crown Prince Ferite, then unconsciously looked at Elkais.

Elkais, the moment their eyes met, widened his eyes in surprise, showing a bright expression she hadn’t seen before.

Feeling strange about his expression, Eveline found it hard to hold his gaze and quickly turned her head away.

“Brother.”

“Huh? I didn’t fight! We were just talking!”

“Yes, I know. Please help me take off my dress.”

“Huh? Sure! I’d be happy to!”

Abellard gave Ferite a condescending look before quickly approaching Eveline.

“My dress is uncomfortable. Can I borrow your coat while I take it off?”

“Of course.”

“You can wear mine instead,” Elkais chimed in, holding a dish in his hands.

“Yours is too big for me, Elkais. I’ll wear something that fits better.”

“Hehe. We match perfectly, don’t we?”

Abellard, as if making sure everyone heard, said this as he stood behind Eveline.

“I’m so nervous. I have to undress you, Eve.”

“Yes, you can tremble as much as you want, but please just undo the buttons.”

“Alright.”

Although Eveline’s tone was dry, Elkais was overly concerned.

“Oops…!”

Abellard’s hands were truly shaking, and in his nervousness, he tore off one of the buttons at the top of the dress. With a loud snap, the button rolled across the floor.

“I’ll do it.”

“Step aside. I’m her brother. Why should you help?”

“Wouldn’t it be better if I helped? Lord Robein is in the middle of cooking, and you, Lord Abellard, are shaking.”

“Fine.”

Eveline casually accepted Elkais’ offer. After all, she was wearing a negligee underneath, and she had lived in nothing but negligees back on the other island, so it wasn’t particularly embarrassing.

“Eve…”

“You can stay up here, brother.”

Eveline said, gently pulling his hand to bring him forward. He smiled awkwardly, placing his hand on her head.

“The veil is still tangled.”

“Yes, it is.”

Abellard carefully removed the crumpled veil.

Eveline was oddly aware of how gently Crown Prince Ferite was unbuttoning the back of her dress. His touch was soft and cautious.

“My lady, could you move your hair forward? I can’t see the buttons well.”

“Yes.”

As Eveline moved her hair forward, his hands lightly brushed against her, tickling her.

In front of her, Abellard was focused on removing the veil. She stared at his face, and when their eyes met, he gave her a radiant smile and called her name.

“My beautiful Eve.”

He said this as he gently moved his hands.

“I really love you, Eve. I love your hair too. I hope one day you’ll wear this dress when we get married,” Abellard said.

“That’s a big dream. It’s always good to dream big about impossible things.”

“Pfft…”

Crown Prince Ferite couldn’t help but laugh at how Eveline dashed Abellard’s hopes.

“Siblings can’t marry each other.”

“Eve and I aren’t actual family. You know that.”

“Aren’t you supposed to pretend you don’t know?”

“No, not really.”

Even as Abellard spoke, he didn’t seem too bothered, gently playing with Eveline’s hair. After completely removing the veil, he brushed her cheek with his hand.

“Shall I take these off too?”

“Yes, please.”

Abellard carefully unclasped her earrings, first removing the back part behind her ear, then gently pulling the front out.

“Ugh…”

“Did that hurt?”

“Yes. But I didn’t even have pierced ears before. How do I have earrings?”

“Right? I was planning to be the one to pierce your ears.”

Eveline glanced at Abellard’s ears.

“I’ll take one of these.”

“Go ahead.”

“Why don’t you keep the other one?”

“Sure.”

Eveline watched as Abellard took one of her earrings and put it in his own ear, not giving it much thought.

Meanwhile, Elkais was thinking a lot.

“Ugh…”

“Ah, sorry. Your hair got caught in a button.”

Crown Prince Ferite carefully untangled her hair and gently moved it to the front.

“You’ve undressed other Omegas easily, but you’re taking your time with Eve,” Abellard teased.

“It’s my first time with a wedding dress.”

“Eve, this guy has a disease.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“I’m just saying, be careful.”

Eveline knew Abellard was making things up, so she didn’t react much. After all, the original novel’s secondary male lead having a disease was impossible.

“I’m serious. This guy has syphilis.”

“I don’t have any symptoms of syphilis. How could I possibly have it, Lord Abellard?”

Crown Prince Ferite answered with a lighthearted laugh, not taking it seriously.

“You believe me, right, Eve?”

“Sure, if you say so.”

Abellard smiled in satisfaction at Eveline’s response.

Soon after, Ferite gave a small chuckle and Eveline felt the tension ease behind her.

“Please move your arms forward.”

“Looks like you’ve done this a lot.”

“You have a talent for amusing jokes, Lord Abellard,” Ferite replied with a smirk.

Eveline followed his instructions and slipped out of the wedding dress, only to realize there was a corset beneath her negligee.

“This wasn’t here last time.”

“Indeed.”

Eveline sighed as she looked at the corset. No wonder it felt tighter than usual.

Crown Prince Ferite quickly loosened the strings in the back.

“Ah…”

Suddenly, she could breathe easier. Eveline sighed in relief, feeling as though her chest had opened up.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“It was nothing.”

Ferite smiled as he met Eveline’s gaze.

“Eve! Now that you’ve taken it off, let’s set up a place to sleep.”

“Alright.”

Sensing something unusual, Abellard quickly pulled her attention away.

Eveline smiled as she watched Abellard take her wedding dress, spread it out on the ground, and pat it down before lying on it.

“You enjoy sleeping on dresses, don’t you, brother?”

“Yep. Come on, Eve. Let’s rest before dinner.”

“Unfortunately, dinner’s already ready,” Elkais said, bringing the food over and placing it on banana leaves he had prepared.

“It smells amazing. Lord Robein, as always, you are excellent at everything.”

“You’re too kind, Your Highness.”

Elkais found Ferite increasingly irritating. Once, they had shared a bond as Alphas, but now Ferite was nothing more than Eveline’s first love and a rival showing interest in her.

<It’s because of the pheromones too.>

Elkais couldn’t help but wonder if Eveline’s attraction to him was simply due to her Omega instincts, craving an Alpha’s seed.

No, Eveline wasn’t that kind of person. The reason he was feeling this way must be due to his own insecurities.

She wasn’t someone who would give herself to just any Alpha.

Elkais tried to convince himself, but seeing Ferite’s constant attention toward Eveline and the way they exchanged smiles made him feel uneasy.

Unlike Elkais, Ferite didn’t reject the primal instincts between Alphas and Omegas.

If something were to happen between Ferite and Eveline, much like when they got caught in that unexpected rain…

It was inevitable that Ferite would end up bonding with her.

Realizing this, Elkais couldn’t bring himself to keep smiling.

“My lady enjoys meat, doesn’t she?”

“Yes. If we have any leftovers, we can make jerky.”

“But it’s too humid here. We’ll need to dry it in a place that’s not as damp, and there’s nowhere dry around here.”

Ferite’s voice was strangely gentle. Eveline didn’t seem to notice, but Elkais did, as he casually sat next to her and handed her some food.

“This one’s seasoned with salt.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Elkais took note of Abellard sitting beside Eveline and had no choice but to sit directly across from her.

Something about being outnumbered three to one made Elkais feel uneasy.

“Thank you for cooking. And for the hunting too.”

“It’s nothing. Eat plenty, Eveline.”

“Yes, you too, Elkais.”

Her smile made him avert his gaze unconsciously. His ears felt too hot, and his chest tightened as his heartbeat quickened.

Eveline took a bite of the leopard meat.

“It’s delicious,” she said, chewing with small bites.

Elkais couldn’t help but notice how her lips seemed more tempting today, glistening with the oil from the meat.

He ate absentmindedly, trying to hide the unbidden reaction of his lower body beneath his cloak.

“Elkais.”

“Yes?”

“You’ve got something on your face.”

When Eveline tapped her cheek, Elkais instinctively replied,

“I can’t tell where it is. Could you wipe it off for me?”