Chapter 51 – You Should Give Me a Reward in Return

As soon as the little girl finished speaking, a heavy silence fell over the orphanage courtyard. It was as if the air itself had been filled to the brim with silence, and everyone clamped their mouths shut.

‘Perhaps this tension is just in my head.’

Evelyn thought, curling her fingers inwards. Before long, the more perceptive children clapped their hands over the girl’s mouth.

“Shh! Grown-ups said children shouldn’t meddle in adult affairs.”

“That’s right! Don’t put Sister in a difficult spot!”

‘No, that’s not it. You’ve got the wrong idea entirely.’

Evelyn bit her lower lip, frustrated by everyone’s misunderstanding.

Khalid, noticing her discomfort, soon smoothly intervened.

“I met the young lady quite by chance, during a volunteer event. There’s no need for such misunderstandings—”

“Why would I ever doubt Evelyn?”

Axion, cutting her off, let a graceful curve play at his lips. Today, a particularly chilly air seemed to hang around him, more so than usual. His crimson eyes, gleaming under the glow of the setting sun, shone with a quiet intensity. It was an overwhelming gaze that anyone who met it would instinctively wish to avoid.

Khalid responded with a composed nod.

“If that’s the case, then I’m relieved.”

“This concerns my lover. Of course I trust her.”

Even though his lips were curved in a smile, his eyes betrayed nothing of the sort.

‘He’s… definitely angry.’

Whenever something displeased him, his smile always took on a colder, more cynical edge. He seemed to be trying to conceal his feelings, but the chill in the air around him gave him away.

‘Ugh, it’s freezing.’

Was he upset because Khalid had broken their promise to cooperate? Evelyn couldn’t help but feel a touch of indignation.

Why do I always end up in these situations?

Still, for now, clearing up the misunderstanding was the priority. Her eyes darted about for a moment before she exhaled softly and moved to Axion’s side. Then, gently slipping her arm through his, she mustered a shy smile so forced it almost made her lips twitch.

“You’ve all got it wrong. This is the one I’m with.”

At that, the children’s eyes grew wide as startled rabbits.

“The prince isn’t someone else?”

“But you said you were engaged to someone else, Sister!”

“So this brother must be the one who’s going to marry you, then!”

‘…So this is what it feels like when a storm sweeps through.’

Watching the children’s excited antics, Evelyn shot Axion a wary glance. The man, with a satisfied smile on his lips, still had his eyes fixed on Khalid. She couldn’t help but wonder what sort of outlandish remark her fiancé might utter next, so she kept a close eye on him.

Just then, Axion spoke, his tone notably gentler than before.

“In that case, I’ll be taking my lover and heading off first.”

At those words, for the briefest moment, Khalid looked at them with an inscrutable expression. Then, the Duke of Rikeran drew his lips into a faint line and gave a small nod.

“…Very well. Go ahead.”

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

By the time they’d crossed the wide courtyard and escaped the children’s stares, Evelyn slipped her arm free from her fiancé’s.

“Axion, why did you come all the way here?”

She narrowed her eyes and shot him a glare, but Axion only looked back as if the answer should be obvious.

“I was about to ask you the very same thing.”

“…About what?”

Evelyn averted her gaze, unable to meet the piercing look in his eyes.

“When I visited the marquis’s estate, Brother was saying some rather strange things.”

“My brother? Are you talking about Viaton?”

She couldn’t hide her shock at the way he referred to her brother. Meanwhile, Axion tilted his head slightly and spoke in a low voice.

“He mentioned you’d picked up some boy along the way.”

Gulp—

So even he had heard about it already? Evelyn did her best to conceal her embarrassment, but then the man’s calm, deep voice cut through.

“Don’t tell me you’re planning to run some sort of foster home now?”

“I’ll build a shelter if I want to.”

She shrugged, making it clear she didn’t want him meddling in her affairs. At this, Axion’s brow furrowed ever so slightly, as if something about the situation displeased him.