The Male Lead’s Father Refuses to Break Off Our Engagement

Chapter 41

 

5. Difference of opinion

Perhaps it was the sea breeze. As soon as Evelia returned to the mansion, she caught a cold.

She was a little embarrassed.

‘Everyone is fine…’

Cassis, Annie, and Logan, who were camping, as well as Ruth, who was supposed to be weak, were fine. Evelia was the only one who wasn’t feeling well.

Because of this, the Adelhard Mansion was in an emergency situation. There was a fuss in the kitchen about making special meals for patients, and the fireplace was burning in the guest room.

Even if Evelia said it was okay and that it wasn’t a big deal, Laura and Annie didn’t let her take a single step out of bed.

Little Ruth was in tears and wouldn’t leave Evelia’s side.

“I guess you’ve been pushing yourself a little too hard these days.”

Erin, who had already become Evelia’s doctor, examined her and came to that conclusion.

Evelia just laughed as she recalled what happened after being possessed.

“Yes, I’ve been a little busy these days.”

It’s only been three weeks since I was possessed. I was so busy that it felt like three months had passed, not three weeks.

An unintentional marriage contract with Cassis, a contract with Samuel, and even a fight with Venion.

Even thinking about it now, it’s a dizzying memory.

“Still, I’m glad it’s okay. Please rest well for a few days to prevent it from getting worse.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh, and young master.”

Erin spoke softly, but quite firmly, to Ruth, who was standing a few steps away from the bed.

“Young master, you must not come here until Lady Evelia is completely healed.”

Ruth’s face was shocked like when he couldn’t eat the chocolate cookies.

“Why?”

“You will catch a cold.”

“I am strong! I won’t catch a cold!”

Ruth tightened his right arm and tried to show off his biceps. However, there was no trace of biceps to be found on the slender child’s arms.

As Evelia laughed, the child lowered his arms as if embarrassed.

Erin urged Ruth.

“But that doesn’t work. Now, shall we go out so Lady Evelia can rest in peace?”

“But…”

Evelia turned away from the child’s gaze, which was looking at her anxiously. Otherwise, I felt like I would have told him to stay here.

“Young master, listen to Erin. I’m fine, but if the young master catches a cold, it’ll be a real problem.”

“Yes.”

Ruth must have read the sternness in Evelia’s words and left the room with his shoulders slumped.

Erin also left, saying that she would bring the medicine soon.

Evelia, who was alone, looked blankly out the window.

‘It’s peaceful.’

I don’t know how long it’s been since I had such peace. I was unable to spend time alone because I was under pressure from my family at Count Venion’s residence and spent time with Ruth at Duke Adelhard’s residence.

‘Well, this isn’t bad either.’

Logan said he would set a wedding date in three months. Since there wasn’t much time left, I was planning to get busy again with wedding preparations.

It would be nice to spend a few days leisurely like this before then.

Evelia ate the special meal that Annie had brought and cooked in the kitchen, and the medicine that Erin had given her, and went to sleep. I didn’t think I was very tired, but I fell asleep easily.

When I opened my eyes again after sleeping for about two hours, I found Ruth dozing at the bedside. In the child’s hands was a storybook that Evelia had read to him before going to bed.

At first I thought it was a dream. However, the wheezing sound was quite realistic.

It seems that he sneaked in while the maids were leaving her to sleep soundly.

“Young master? Why are you here?”

Ruth opened his eyes slightly and was startled when he met Evelia’s gaze.

“Ah, Eve, that’s…”

The child hesitated and held out the book he was holding.

“I want to read a book to Evelia.”

“A book?”

“Yes. Eve must be bored too, so….”

Evelia didn’t say anything, but Ruth had tears in his eyes as if he had been scolded.

“I’m sorry.”

“No. it’s okay, you don’t have to apologize, I only asked you to leave because I was worried about young master, I didn’t mean to scold you.”

Actually, I was planning to tell him to leave immediately. However, Ruth cried first, so I missed the moment to reprimand him.

Evelia barely resisted the urge to hug and comfort the child who was wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.

Instead, she stood up and placed her hand on Ruth’s forehead. Fortunately, the child did not have a fever.

Evelia lay down on the edge of the bed to get as far away from the child as possible. I even covered my nose with the blanket.

“Can you read the book for a little bit?”

“Really?”

“But only a little bit. I don’t want you to catch a cold.”

“Yes!”

Ruth smiled brightly and began to read the storybook. It was Ruth’s favorite story about the knight defeating a dragon.

“Once upon a time, um, so…”

The child, perhaps not yet familiar with letters, stuttered or omitted words from time to time. There were also places where entire sentences were skipped.

Evelia, who knew the contents of the book after reading it to Ruth several times, knew it all, but didn’t show it.

“The hero… Without fear, aim at the dragon, raise the sword… away.”

Oh, I forgot. Evelia chuckled with her eyes closed.

Listening to the child’s cheerful voice, she understood why Ruth had come to read to her.

For the child, the time when Evelia read a book to him before going to bed was very cozy.

Just as Evelia feels secure now listening to Ruth’s voice.

Evelia fell asleep again while listening to the child chattering. When I opened my eyes again, Ruth was not there.

Instead, an unexpected person was sitting in the chair next to the bed.

“Duke…?”

It was Cassis Adelhard. When Evelia woke up in surprise, he gently grabbed her shoulder and pressed it.

“Please lie down.”

“Uh, okay…”

Why is Cassis here and not anyone else? Could this be a dream?

Evelia squeezed her hands tightly, just in case, and she could vividly feel her nails digging into her palms. It meant that it was not a dream but reality.

Cassis’ eyes looking down at her were serious. Even in the thick darkness, his red eyes were particularly clearly visible.

However, Evelia could not read what emotions were fluttering in those eyes.

Evelia didn’t know what to say, so she just moved her lips and then finally asked.

“Um, where did Annie go?”

“She left a moment ago to change the water.”

“Okay.”

Evelia pursed her lips once again. There was actually a separate question I wanted to ask.

Why is the Duke here? But the question did not come out of my mouth.

When she remained silent, Cassis asked:

“Are you okay?”

Evelia could no longer be surprised by his greetings.

“Yes I’m okay.”

She wasn’t lying, she really was fine. Erin was a better doctor than Evelia thought, and the medicine she mixed was more effective than any other medicine.

Until morning, my fingertips were cold and my body was chilly, but now my whole body felt warm. My sore throat also got better.

However, as if that answer was not enough for Cassis, he reached out and placed his hand on Evelia’s forehead.

Evelia stopped breathing in surprise.

It was insignificant touch. A small action that can be made to a sick person, like Evelia did to Ruth.

But is it because the opponent is Cassis? It felt different somehow. It’s a friendly hand gesture that can’t be considered simply dealing with a patient.

Evelia was blankly thinking that Cassis’ hand was a bit cold, but he withdrew his hand.

When the rough hands disappeared, I felt some kind of regret.

“You have a fever.”

Evelia felt frustrated. She put her hand on her forehead. As expected, there was no fever.

“It’s not that I have a fever, but the Duke’s hands are cold.”

“My hand… You mean?”

“Yes. You came back from outside, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

“That’s why it’s like that. It’s not that I have a fever.”

Evelia pushed herself up to sit, despite Cassis’ protests. It was because she didn’t like Cassis looking down on her earlier.

When I saw him at the same eye level, I felt much more at ease. Only then did I feel like I could ask the question I wanted to ask.

“But what brought you here?”

“…….”

Cassis was silent. However, rather than avoiding the answer, it seemed like it was because he couldn’t find the right answer.

‘Well, you could say you came here because I was sick.’

Evelia was thinking that and was about to say that it was okay if he didn’t answer it. Cassis opened his mouth.

“Didn’t you ask me to go see Ruth when he was sick before?”