Chapter 138
(Special Side Story Chapter 3)
Given the circumstances, I wonder what people thought when Cassis sent her a letter of divorce?
Didn’t they think that the clueless Evelia Vanein thought Adelhard was trying to make the child their heir, and that she’d been kicked out of the house for trying to manipulate?
‘Actually, I don’t care what others think, but I’m not pleased to see you come and gossip about it.’
Arthur Vanein escorted Evelia to the banquet hall and then left to attend to his own business. Evelia was glad he wasn’t around, because she was uncomfortable with him.
But even in the corner of the ballroom, the stares and people actually talking to her were annoying.
If there was Arthur Vanein, no one would have come.
Evelia, who sighed for a while, left the banquet hall to avoid people’s eyes.
At that time, I heard a step from behind.
When I stopped walking, I saw a familiar face.
“Oh, Sir Denoa.”
It was Samuel Denoa, head of Siero and the successor of the Marquis Denoa.
He was dressed in ornate robes, unlike those seen in Siero’s home base.
He was already a flamboyant-looking man, so he stood out even in a light shirt and pants, but when he was properly dressed, the atmosphere was quite different.
With his hair neatly slicked back, Samuel bowed.
“I didn’t know that I would see the lady in this place.”
“I didn’t expect to meet the Lord at the banquet hall, either. I thought you would come to the banquet even if I thought about it a little. It’s a different feeling to see you in the light.”
“That… ”
Samuel, who looked down at Evelia’s smiling face for a moment before his expression softened.
“If I had known you were coming, I would have asked to be your escort.”
“Then it’s a good thing you didn’t, because if you had asked me, Count Vanein would have tried to set me up with you, and you would have been in a lot of trouble.”
“……. ”
Evelia changed the subject, hoping to break the awkward atmosphere hovering between them.
“I’m feeling much better now, and while I won’t be able to rest easily until the cure Erin Launer is working on is properly formulated, I’m grateful enough for what I have. At least Aria isn’t having sudden seizures anymore.”
“I’m glad to hear your sister is doing better, too, because it’s best for kids to be healthy.”
“However… ”
“Yes, tell me.”
Samuel didn’t say a word, even with Evelia’s approval.
She waited in silence, and when she was about to press him again, his lips parted in a serious expression.
“Aria, my sister wanted to meet the lady…”
“Lady Aria, how does she know me?”
“She said she wanted to see the person who healed her, to be precise. She’s a very perceptive child, so she quickly realized that there was someone who helped me.”
“Ah…”
“She kept asking what kind of person it was, and asked if it was some weird old man with a white beard, so I told her it wasn’t like that, but a lady, and she got all excited for some reason…”
“That’s cute.”
Samuel hadn’t explained the exact circumstances, but Evelia had a vague idea of what was going on between the siblings.
The little friend, at the peak of her curiosity, was probably wondering if her beloved brother had a girlfriend.
“So, do you think I could go visit Lady Aria sometime?”
“… Would that be okay? ”
“Why not? I’ve always wanted to meet Lady Aria myself ”
Even though she had broken up with Cassis and had bluntly declined Ruth’s invitations to tea, Ruth’s presence remained a burden to Evelia.
Even if she couldn’t help Ruth directly, she thought it would be a good idea to tell Aria about her future friend.
“But I don’t think I can meet Lady Aria in my current capacity, so we’ll have to wait until I leave the Vanein mansion, which won’t be long now anyway.”
“As you wish, I’m sure Aria will be thrilled to hear the news. Then, until the banquet hall, I will escort… ”
“No, I think it’s best if we go in on our own, since we have eyes to watch.”
“… All right, then I’ll watch you go in and I’ll be there a little later, lady.”
“Thank you.”
Evelia retraced her steps back the way she’d come, though the ballroom wasn’t exactly welcoming.
Another hour or two and she would be able to return to the manor.
And in a few days, she’d be able to get out of the Vanein house completely…
“……! ”
I was walking toward the corner of the ballroom, trying to think positive thoughts.
Suddenly someone blocked the front and felt wet the shoulders and chests. At the same time, I heard giggling all around me.
“Oh my god. It seems to have slipped from my hand. ”
“No, it’s not that, you just didn’t realize there was a person in front of you.”
“Maybe you didn’t see it because it wasn’t a person standing in front of you?”
Aha, so now you’ve decided to just go ahead and mock him outright.
Why?
Because you think you’ll score points with Duke Adelhard for doing this?
‘You don’t know Cassis Adelhard.’
The couple broke up for different reasons than people expected.
Even if the speculation were true, Cassis would not be pleased.
He may have been a cold-blooded and ruthless man, but he was not without manners and common sense.
‘Let’s call it a grand farewell.’
These were faces I would never see again. There was no need to be angry, no energy to face them.
If anything, any reaction from here would only make them more excited.
Evelia kept her face as expressionless as possible and stood tall and proud.
The people around her were surprised for a while by her attitude.
But soon their expressions changed from surprise to fear.
Like a prey in front of a beast…
‘… Beast?’
I’m not a beast, I’m a herbivore with no sharp teeth or claws, right?
As I ponder this, I feel something on my shoulder. I looked down to see a black men’s robe, nothing fancy, but classy looking.
‘The person who was wearing these clothes today…’
A low voice spoke from overhead faster than Evelia could recall who the robe belonged to.
“Pathetic.”
I wasn’t used to it, but I had heard it someday.
“It’s really transparent because it looks obvious in my eyes.”
It was Cassis Adelhard.
Just a month ago, the hostility heading to her was now heading to others.
Only one person, evelia, avoided it.
The next moment, she felt Cassis’s arm around her shoulders.
“Let me escort you to the mansion.”
Evelia followed him out of the ballroom, barely able to get the words out.
“Why…”
“Well, let’s just say it’s the least I could do for someone who was once my fiancée.”
* * *
Evelia, who had been sleeping soundly, opened her eyes slightly at the touch of a hand on her forehead. Cassis was nearby, looking down at her.
“Did I wake you, I thought you were having a serious dream and thought I’d take a quick look.”
“No, it’s not like that… I just opened my eyes. ”
Evelia wrapped her arms around Cassis’s neck. Cassis moved on top of her casually, kissing her face here and there.
“It’s tickling.”
Evelia let out a small laugh. But she didn’t hate the weight and warmth of his body on top of hers.
She nuzzled Cassis’s head, whispering to him as she kissed his ear.
“……? ”
“Even if we had broken up because you were willing to accept my request for a divorce, you would have come back to me at some point.”
