Chapter 36

“I was curious about what my fiancée wanted.”

Ever perceptive, Axion seemed to sense that she had some scheme in mind. His gaze all but insisted she get straight to the point, so Evelyn handed him a document without further preamble.

Resting her chin on her hands, fingers interlaced, she spoke in a voice filled with quiet resolve.

“Axion, I’d like you to sign these papers.”

He fixed her with a steady, indifferent gaze, unfazed by her sudden request.

“And what’s this, all of a sudden?”

“Ahem. It’s a contract, I wrote it myself.”

Saying so, she pointed to the document she had stayed up all night preparing, her expression brimming with pride. After all, last night’s impulsive marking had left them without any real discussion or agreement, so she had carefully drafted a contract, outlining every detail of what they each must follow.

Axion glanced through the papers, then let out a short, incredulous laugh.

“Evelyn.”

“….?”

Suddenly, he called her name, his eyes gleaming with unmistakable danger.

“Both the engagement and the imprint. It’s far too late to undo either.”

At her fiancé’s low warning, Evelyn’s eyes trembled uncontrollably.

“Too late… to undo it?”

Axion raised one eyebrow at an angle, then delivered his answer with breathtaking audacity.

“I told you, didn’t I? There’s no point in regrets.”

‘Surely… he doesn’t mean to bind me to him?’

Her heart began to pound rapidly in her chest. She couldn’t shake the gnawing sense that something had gone terribly, irreversibly awry. It was as if, for Axion, the mere fact that they were imprinted meant he already considered them bound for marriage.

Flustered though she was, Evelyn forced herself to appear calm and spoke with as much composure as she could muster.

“Listen closely, Axion.”

One by one, she carefully explained the terms of the contract she had spent all night preparing.

“It’s really not to your disadvantage, I promise.”

She had even included a clause stating that, even if they were to break off the engagement in the future, she would still cooperate with him as his imprinted partner. All she wanted was for him to understand and accept her reasoning, but it seemed that was nothing more than a futile hope.

Axion’s lips curved ever so slightly, making it clear he had no intention of yielding.

“But, Evelyn…”

“….?”

She swallowed hard, bracing herself for whatever outrageous remark he might make next. Then, he gazed at her with a smile so dazzling it sent chills down her spine as he finished his words.

“You took me in, so now you must take responsibility.”

“….!”

Evelyn, unable to hide her confusion, could only open and close her mouth in silent shock.

All she had wanted was to break off the engagement and maintain a suitable, distant relationship as his imprinted partner. For some reason, she had the unsettling feeling that Axion was thinking of something even beyond that.

But why on earth…?

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

Having come to the Imperial Library to return a book, Evelyn found herself quietly watching a familiar figure from behind. It was difficult to simply walk past a man who stood so still for such a long time.

After a moment’s hesitation, she made her way to the shelf where he was standing.

“Ahem. Your Grace, have you been well?”

Announcing her presence with a soft cough, she waited as Khalid turned and greeted her warmly.

“It has been some time, my lady.”

She answered his greeting with a gentle smile, her eyes soon drawn to the slip of paper in his hand. On it was written the call number showing the book’s exact location.

“Are you, by chance, looking for a certain book?”

At her question, Khalid reached up to rub the back of his neck a bit sheepishly and replied in a low voice.

“I’m afraid I still haven’t quite gotten used to this system. It’s a bit difficult for me to find things.”

The library had only recently adopted the use of call numbers, and Evelyn often found herself helping patrons who seemed a bit lost.

“If you’d like, I could find it for you instead?”

“My lady, you would do that yourself?”

Seeing the surprise on his face, she offered him a bright, confident smile.

“If there’s one thing I’m confident about, it’s finding things.”

Besides, her parents had always taught her to help those in need.