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

Chapter 73

 

From the next day, Evelia began to worry.

‘How do I embroider?’

‘Evelia’ also learned embroidery as a basic skill. The problem was, she’d only learned to do it.

She knew how to embroider, but since she didn’t have anything to do, her skills didn’t improve. As a result, the current Evelia also had poor embroidery skills.

Evelia lifted the handkerchief she had embroidered, observed it, and made a sound that could be either exclamation or sighing.

“Wow, this is really…”

Annie clenched her fists.

“It’s okay, I told you it’s all about sincerity!”

Even if she died soon, she would not say that she had embroidered it well. That probably means it’s a mess.

“Ah…”

Evelia sighed heavily and fell down on the table.

“Maybe, I shouldn’t give it to him.”

Annie and Laura were surprised to hear that, and belatedly added that it was okay and that the Duke would also like it.

But Evelia’s mood did not improve.

 

*****

 

Regardless of her embroidery skills, Evelia threw away several handkerchiefs before she finished the one for Cassis. It was the day before the hunting competition.

On the day of the hunting competition, Evelia, Ruth, and Cassis prepared from dawn.

Ruth and Cassis wore hunting clothes, and Evelia wore a simple dress. This is because we are just going to wait in a safe tent anyway.

In fact, Ruth, who was still young and did not participate in the competition, did not need to wear hunting clothes, but he insisted.

The clothes the three wore today were, of course, Madame Olette’s clothes, and the color and design were navy blue.

Annie and Laura made a fuss when they saw the three people standing side by side.

“Oh my god, it’s so pretty!”

“All three of you look like pictures.”

The most exciting one was Ruth.

“Really? Am I cool?”

“Of course you are.”

Evelia got into the carriage with Ruth, who let out an exclamation. The carriage departed only after Cassis got on it.

The carriage raced across the capital, and soon they were out of the city and on their way to the hunting grounds on the outskirts.

Ruth, holding Cassis’ hand, got off and admired the dense forest.

“It’s so pretty.”

Evelia, who got off under Cassis’s escort, agreed.

“It is.”

Perhaps the three were a little late, but the vacant lot that served as the base camp for the hunting competition was already crowded with nobles.

The three headed to the tent assigned to the Adelhard family. Although it was larger than the other family’s tents, the inside was unexpectedly cozy.

There were chairs, tables, and blankets to take a quick nap.

As I waited there for a while, I heard the sound of a horn announcing a hunting competition. Evelia saw Cassis off with Ruth.

“Take care, father.”

“Yes.”

Cassis lowered his waist and whispered to Ruth.

“You must take good care of your mother while I am away, got it?”

“Yes!”

Ruth tapped the wooden sword he had tied to his waist as if to tell him not to worry.

Evelia let Ruth into the tent and then approached Cassis again, who was inspecting the horse saddle.

“Cassis.”

“Yes.”

“Have a safe trip.”

“Yes.”

“And….”

Evelia rummaged through the bag she was holding.

‘I was debating whether to give it to him or not…’

Still, since it was a handkerchief I had already made, I thought it would be better to give it to him.

“Don’t look at it and laugh at how sloppy it is.”

Evelia deliberately turned away from Cassis and held out her handkerchief.

Cassis, who received the handkerchief, made a mysterious expression.

“… It’s wonderful.”

“You don’t have to force praise.”

“I’m serious. Especially looking at the spirit of this lion….”

Evelia tilted her head.

“A lion?”

“Yes, here…”

Evelia’s expression turned grim. Cassis’s expression grew serious as he realized something was wrong.

“That’s a rose… … .”

“Ah….”

He made a belated correction.

“The roses are very pretty.”

“That’s actually not a rose, but a fire lizard.”

“The fire lizard is so cool….”

“It’s a joke. That’s right, it’s a rose. It’s okay, so you don’t have to force it to praise me.”

“I mean….”

Cassis was unable to do this or that, but then spoke cautiously.

“Still, I like it.”

It was a voice full of sincerity. Evelia scratched her cheek.

“I’m glad if you like it…”

Evelia didn’t know Cassis’s inner thoughts. Even though I knew he wasn’t a man who would say things he didn’t like, I thought to myself, ‘Do he really like that?’

But Cassis carefully folded the handkerchief and put it in his arms, as if it were a precious item. Then he got down on one knee and looked at her.

“Ah….”

Evelia belatedly realized what he wanted to do and held out her right hand.

Cassis took off Evelia’s white lace gloves and gently kissed the back of her bare hands.

It was a very reverent gesture, and she watched it mesmerized.

He parted his lips and this time placed the back of her hand on his forehead and whispered.

“I will bring you the best one.”

Evelia spoke with sincerity.

“There is no need for that. Just don’t get hurt and come back safely. There’s no need to overdo it.”

“All right.”

Cassis kissed the back of Evelia’s hand once again and then stood up.

He immediately tucked her flowing hair behind her ear and lightly got on the horse.

“Then I’ll see you later.”

“Yes.”

Cassis glanced at Evelia for a moment, then kicked the horse’s side and took off. Several knights of the Adelhard family followed behind him.

‘You must be careful.’

In terms of ability, Cassis was the second best player in the empire, so I knew there was no problem. Still, I felt anxious for no reason.

It was when Evelia managed to shake off her anxiety and was about to enter the tent again.

“Sister Eve!”

A beautiful voice was heard, and Aria rushed over and hugged her waist.

“Miss Aria.”

Evelia raised her head and looked in the direction where Aria ran. Samuel, dressed in hunting clothes, was standing there.

He approached Evelia with wide strides and bowed his head.

“I was just wondering, but you came as expected.”

“Yes. The Duke said he would participate this time. But you brought Miss Aria. Is the Marquis also here?”

“No. My parents did not come. Actually, I was going to leave Aria behind, but she insisted so much that she would go….”

Samuel grumbled slightly but stroked Aria’s head affectionately.

“That’s how it went. Can you take care of Aria while I’m out on the hunting grounds?”

Evelia nodded willingly.

“Of course. Ruth would love that too.”

“Thank you. Aria, listen carefully to the Duchess.”

“Of course! I’m a good kid!”

“Yes, yes. Then I’ll come back.”

“Wait for a sec.”

Aria rummaged through her pockets and handed Samuel a handkerchief. The handkerchief was wrinkled because she had put it in her pocket.

Samuel opened his eyes wide in surprise.

“What’s this?”

“Handkerchief! They said that handkerchiefs should be given to people who participate in hunting competitions.”

“Who?”

“From the book!”

“Yes, I see.”

Samuel looked at Aria with a moved face.

Soon, Aria spoke with a bright face that destroyed his emotions.

“My brother doesn’t have a fiance. So I prepared it!”

“Ha, Aria. Where else can you hear that…”

Evelia smiled brightly today as she listened to the cheerful conversation between the two siblings.

Samuel made an embarrassed face and carefully took the handkerchief that Aria gave him.

“Thank you, Aria. Brother will come back safely.”

“Yes, come back safely.”

“Then let’s go.”

Samuel looked at Evelia with a strange look and then got on the horse. Evelia watched him until he completely left and then took Aria’s hand.

“Okay, shall we go in now?”

“Yes!”

As the two went inside, Ruth came up with a very excited look on his face.

“Aria! I see, you’re here!”

“Yes, hello!”

Aria waved her hand and looked Ruth, who was wearing hunting clothes, up and down.

“Do you hunt too?”

“No, I’m still young…”

“Really?”

Ruth quickly exclaimed when Aria made a disappointed face.

“But when I’m a little older, I’ll be in the hunting tournament too!”

Ruth held up a dagger-sized wooden sword and swung it vigorously. It seemed like he wanted to show off in front of Aria.

“Aria, I’ll catch the rabbit for you then!”

However, Aria’s reaction was cold. The child made a disgusted expression and then shook his head.

“What are you going to do with the rabbit?”

“Uh, um….”

Ruth was unable to continue speaking and looked at Evelia. It was a look that was asking for help.

Evelia appeared as if she was holding a rabbit in her arms to make it as easy as possible for the child to understand.

But it was a failure. Ruth stuttered before answering:

“Well? Eat… it?”