Chapter 31 – Didn’t Your Heart Flutter, Even a Little?

Evelyn had spent the night wide awake, eyes open, body heavy and stiff as she finally pushed herself up from bed.

‘Why did I have to remember that moment…’

Axion’s fragile appearance from before still lingered in her memory, a shade she couldn’t quite shake off. Then, her gaze fell to her left hand, where she saw the same serpent sigil as her fiancé.

“Maybe… it’s better to imprint after all?”

Even so, she hadn’t the slightest intention of marrying Axion. She simply wasn’t cruel enough to stand by and watch someone else’s suffering without doing anything.

“Maybe I should try negotiating with Axion instead?”

Perhaps he intended to use marriage as a way to bind his imprinted partner to him, to keep her from escaping. But Evelyn was certain she could find a better way.

She patted her cheeks lightly, as if to chase away the fog in her mind.

“There’ll be far more important things ahead. I need to keep my wits about me.”

Rising from the bed, she settled herself at the desk and, after a moment, began writing in her notebook with a fountain pen. 

Since the original female lead of the story had taken refuge with the Count’s family earlier than planned, the date of the upcoming party at sea had also been moved forward. The riverboat party held special meaning above all else, as it was the day Dahlia and Khalid would meet for the very first time.

‘Axion will surely see Dahlia for the first time that day, too.’

The original story hadn’t said exactly when he first began to harbor feelings for the heroine, but Evelyn thought that, once her fiancé met Dahlia, his views on marriage might shift, if only a little.

‘And if that happens, negotiations will be so much easier.’

With renewed determination, Evelyn clenched her fist and steeled her resolve.

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

Bwoooong—

A deep horn blared, echoing across the water, announcing the grand beginning of the lavish riverboat soirée. The sky was awash in the colors of dusk, and the sunlit sea shimmered with resplendent, golden light.

‘I’d heard the rumors, but the scale of this is truly something else.’

As expected from an event hosted by a great magnate, the ship party was both splendid and majestic in scope. Not just the nobility, but members of the bourgeoisie, businessmen and high-ranking officials, were in attendance.

“We offer our deepest thanks to all our distinguished guests for gracing this occasion!”

A short and succinct welcome, tailored for the many young guests.

The Duke of Winterwald, having recently led his business ventures to success, recited the opening address he had prepared for the event. Chloe Winterwald, Evelyn’s dearest friend, shook her head with a hint of exasperation as she watched her father on the dais.

“Honestly, you’d think he’s desperate to make sure no one misses out on his latest achievements.”

“Chloe, His Grace would be terribly hurt if he heard that.”

When Evelyn chided gently and offered her friend an awkward smile, Chloe grinned in return.

“Oh, please, I’d only ever say something like that to you.”

Chloe had been her cherished friend ever since she first stepped into the world of the nobility. Evelyn, who normally cared little for society gatherings, had only come to this riverboat soirée to celebrate her friend’s family.

‘…Still, where is Dahlia?’

She had already heard from the Count of Lorenheim’s household that they would be attending. If the story unfolded as it did in the original, tonight would be the night the Count revealed Dahlia’s existence to the world. Dahlia was a young woman with extraordinary sacred power, her hair the color of pure silver and her eyes as clear as wisteria.

As she glanced around in search of the story’s female lead, Chloe discreetly covered her mouth with a fan and whispered.

“Hm, you look like you’re searching for your fiancé.”

At those words, Evelyn frowned slightly, as if she had heard something she shouldn’t.

“Honestly, Chloe! You’ll get us into trouble, talking like that.”

She denied it with as much seriousness as she could muster, but Chloe only shrugged, amused.

“Well, it seems the young lord is looking for you, too.”

“What are you…?!”

Before she could finish, a thick wool jacket settled across her slender shoulders. Startled, she looked up and found herself meeting a pair of indifferent red eyes.

Whatever he was scheming, Axion wore a faint, enigmatic smile as he offered a gesture of dubious kindness.