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

Chapter 96

 

“A good harvest?”

“Yes.”

Evelia paid attention to those words.

‘Isn’t there some connection between the rain falling in a place where there was a drought and a good harvest?’

Evelia asked again, thinking that she should find out the connection between the two.

“Is there anything else? Why, you’ve said before that the royal family has a mysterious legend, do you know anything more about it?”

“It seems like you are very interested in the Cesia royal family.”

Evelia felt like her secret would be revealed if she continued like this, so she made up a face that looked as innocent as a child.

“Yes, it’s fascinating. There is no such legend in the Empire, but there is in the Kingdom of Cesia. And in fact, the place Prince Lionel visited had a good harvest. Is that also related to the legend that comes down to the royal family?”

Nikita laughed as if Evelia was cute like that.

“There are still rumors like that among the kingdom’s citizens. But madam, I think that’s just a legend. It’s probably a story made up to increase loyalty to the royal family.”

“Aha, I see.”

So Nikita said there was no need to pay any more attention, but Evelia couldn’t stay still.

She started searching the library again. Fortunately, the library in Adelhard’s mansion was larger than the one in the capital’s mansion and contained many books.

‘Let’s see. The legend of the Cesia royal family…’

After searching for several days, Evelia was able to find a passage with similar content to the story she had heard.

“Wherever the prince traveled, the goddess of plenty accompanied him…”

There was also a story about a giant wolf protecting the princess in the forest, and another about a dragon soaring into the sky.

They were similar to the stories Nikita had told before.

‘But Ruth doesn’t have that power.’

If Ruth had the power to make rain or a good harvest, Adelhard’s territory would have had a good harvest every year.

However, unlike the southern territories with fertile land, the northern part was not suitable for farming. Naturally, the harvest was also small. Even so, there were many old-growth crops such as sweet potatoes and potatoes.

At least it meant that Ruth didn’t have that kind of power.

‘It’s going back again.’

Evelia, who had been staring intently at the story of the wolf who protected the princess, closed the book and left the study.

Ruth’s curse was important, but now it was time to prepare for the guests.

 

*****

 

“Ruth!”

“Aria!”

As soon as Aria got off the carriage, the two children hugged each other.

When someone saw me, they were happy as if they hadn’t seen each other for a decade, not just a month.

“How have you been?”

“Good! What about Aria?”

“I had a good time too!”

“Thank god!”

The children were now embracing each other and spinning around. Evelia burst out laughing and belatedly greeted Aria.

“Aria, welcome.”

Not long ago, Evelia started calling Aria by her first name rather than ‘Lady.’ Because Aria wanted so, and Samuel also said so.

“Yes!”

“Wasn’t it difficult to get here?”

“It wasn’t! I just traveled through a mana portal!”

“Then I’m glad.”

“Oh right. My brother told me to give this to you!”

Aria went back into the carriage. Evelia followed the carriage and picked up the box that Aria was wrestling with. The box was quite heavy and I couldn’t lift it.

“What is this?”

“These are apples from our estate!”

“Oh my, that sounds delicious.”

“Yes!”

When Evelia gestured, a servant came and heard it. Evelia carefully opened the box. A letter was placed on top of a deliciously ripe apple.

When I opened the letter with the seal of the Denoa family and read it, I found Samuel asking her to take care of Aria. He said he had to work and was worried he wouldn’t be able to pick her up.

‘I should reply that she arrived safely.’

Evelia thought so and held each child’s hand in each hand.

“Okay then, shall we go in?”

“Yes!”

Aria, who had been shouting excitedly, suddenly shouted as if she remembered something.

“That’s right, Ruth! Happy birthday!”

“Ah…”

Unlike Aria, who smiled brightly, Ruth twisted his body.

“Thank you.”

Three days later was Ruth’s birthday. Perhaps Aria had come to celebrate Ruth’s birthday.

“I’ll throw you a birthday party!”

“I love it so much. This is my first time having a friend come to my birthday party.”

“Really?”

Aria laughed.

“Then you should come to my birthday too. got it? My birthday is in spring!”

“Okay!”

The sound of two children’s laughter filled the front of the mansion.

 

*****

 

Aria and Ruth spent all day together. They ate together, studied together, and slept together.

Two days passed and it was the day before Ruth’s birthday.

After eating lunch with the children, Evelia entered the kitchen with a determined look on her face. The chef who spotted her hurriedly came out to meet her.

“Madam, what’s going on here…”

“Did you make Ruth’s birthday cake?”

“No, not yet… I was just about to make it.”

“Good thing.”

Evelia, dressed in light clothes, rolled up her sleeves.

“I’ll make Ruth’s cake myself.”

Ever since Ruth and Cassis made her a birthday cake, Evelia had been looking forward to this day. The day when I will make Ruth a birthday cake filled with my love and sincerity.

‘I have to make it delicious.’

But the chef was shocked and stopped her.

“How can I let water get on Madam’s hands? Please let me do it.”

It was a chef plea.

“Hmm, but Ruth and Cassis made a cake for my birthday, so I wanted to make it myself this time.”

The chef’s face turned pale, as if he had heard something he couldn’t hear.

“Ma-master…”

Evelia smiled calmly as she put on the apron hanging on one side of the kitchen.

“Okay, I’ll try it.”

The chef covered his head and groaned. “If the master knows…” It seemed like he was afraid of incurring Cassis’ wrath if she got her hands wet.

“It’s okay. I will speak well to Cassis. Oh, no.”

Evelia thought of a good idea and smiled brightly.

“I could make it together with Cassis.”

The chef’s face was no longer as white as it had been. Evelia pretended not to have seen it and left the kitchen to find Cassis.

 

*****

 

Cassis was watching the knights’ swordsmanship in the training hall.

“Oh, wife.”

He found Evelia and approached her with a slight smile. Then, his face hardened.

“The gymnasium is dangerous.”

“What’s dangerous? It’s not like they’re all using real swords.”

“But if a wooden sword flies by….”

Evelia poked his side with her elbow.

“You’re worried for no reason.”

“But….”

Cassis, who was about to say something, kept his mouth shut when Evelia’s charming voice continued.

“Can’t I come to see you?”

He looked at her with a slightly dazed expression, but soon came to his senses and asked:

“Why did you come to see me?”

“Do I have to have a reason to come see you?”

“That’s not it….”

“Actually, there is a reason. By the way.”

Evelia smiled and looked over his shoulder. The knights were looking at this place with curious faces.

Cassis looked at them and gave them a hard look, and they returned to their seats and continued practicing their swordsmanship.

Only then was Evelia able to say why she came here. She held Cassis’s hand, shook it gently and whispered.

“Do you have time right now?”

“Yes.”

His expression was determined, as if he was saying he would make it even if there was no time.

“Then, won’t you help me?”

“What’s going on?”

“Well, it’s Ruth’s birthday tomorrow, and I’m going to make her birthday cake, and I was wondering if you could help me make it…”

I couldn’t help but think of Cassis baking a cake. Evelia’s voice grew quieter and quieter.

When she lowered her head in embarrassment, Cassis held her hand tightly.

“Sure.”

“Yes?”

“Let’s go.”

Cassis took her hand and headed toward the kitchen. The knights looked at the two people walking away with their mouths open.

 

*****

 

“Now, put on your apron.”

As soon as Evelia came into the kitchen, she hung the apron around Cassis’ neck.

However, despite Evelia’s words, Cassis just stood still, holding the apron strings.

Evelia reached behind her back and pretended to tie the apron.

“Put the string back like this…. No, no. I will do it for you.”

Evelia walked up to Cassis, grabbed the strap, and reached behind his back. Then it seemed as if she was hugging his waist.