Chapter 43 – Essential Reading for Cultured Women

Axion raised one eyebrow slightly and added in a dry tone that, now that they had officially announced their relationship, the Marquis and Marchioness could finally stop worrying that she was romantically involved with her plants. He was implying that since she spent most of her time in the laboratory, she might as well use him as an excuse.

Truthfully, that was exactly what she wanted as well.

‘…So why does it feel so unsettling?’

Evelyn couldn’t quite believe Axion would help her without expecting something in return.

Lost in thought, her gaze drifted to her fiancé, who had been quietly perusing the shelves for some time now. But the moment she saw what book he held in his hand, she barely managed to swallow her gasp.

“….!”

It was because the book in his hand was none other than 《 Chosen as the Crown Prince’s Husband. 》

‘Oh, my God…’

She desperately wished this unfolding scene was just a nightmare. Otherwise, she might very well die of shame right then and there.

“What are you doing?”

She tried to act unfazed, brazenly attempting to brush it off, but her voice still trembled at the end.

《 Chosen as the Crown Prince’s Husband, 》 in other words, this Evelyn had reread countless times was a notorious, 19+ BL novel that had set the hearts of young noblewomen ablaze. Even when the collector’s edition was reprinted, it would sell out almost immediately, and she’d barely managed to get her hands on a copy herself.

That was why she had carefully stored it away in the connecting room, intending to read it and treasure it in secret…

Of all people, how did Axion Valentino end up finding it? For a brief moment, dismay flashed across Evelyn’s face but she quickly pressed on, demanding once more.

“What are you doing with that?”

“As you can see, I’m reading.”

Each time Axion, his eyes alight with interest, turned another page, Evelyn’s expression shifted rapidly from shock to disbelief.

“That’s not what I meant! Why are you reading that, of all things?”

Her cheeks flushed bright red as she demanded an answer, and the man tilted his head slightly as he replied.

“I was simply curious about my fiancée’s tastes.”

“….”

“But what exactly is this book?”

At his quietly added question, she swallowed hard. Her eyes darted nervously before she answered with feigned composure.

“It’s… It’s essential reading for cultured women.”

A wave of embarrassment washed over her at such a ridiculous excuse.

‘Ugh, how humiliating. Absolutely mortifying!’

Imagining herself reliving today’s events over and over, Evelyn felt the world go dark before her eyes. It was as if the ground beneath her feet had crumbled away.

Oblivious to her distress, Axion began to recite lines from the novel.

“Damon’s lips grazed across Helio’s pale nape before trailing lower beneath the rumpled shirt—”

“WAAH! Why are you reading someone else’s book without permission?!”

Evelyn cried, hastily reaching up to clamp her hands over his mouth.

Even though she desperately tried to play it cool, the embarrassment was overwhelming and her entire body felt as though it were burning red from head to toe. Perhaps her desperation got through because Axion finally closed the book. Yet, for some reason, there was a curious gleam in his crimson eyes.

“Hm, so this kind of rakish man is your type?”

Feeling as if he had struck a nerve, she averted her gaze and couldn’t bring herself to answer. No matter how much Damon was her type, the last thing she wanted was for Axion to discover her favorite character in the novel.

“Oh please, will you just keep your mouth shut!”

When she finally blurted out her protest in utter mortification, his eyes curved with amusement.

“I suppose that wouldn’t be so bad, either.”

“….”

“But even so, it still bothers me.”

At the man’s low murmur, her eyes trembled with uncertainty.

‘Who? Surely… not Damon?’

If he was going to lie, he could at least make an effort.

She shook her head vigorously, wearing a look as if she were chewing on a stale, soggy baguette.

There was no doubt he was just trying to tease her now, and she had no intention of letting herself get dragged along any further. First things first, she needed to get that book back from him. Who knew what sort of outrageous nonsense might spill from that wretched mouth of his? She had to secure the book before things got even worse.