Chapter 53 – Just So We Could Be Alone Together

As the carriage carrying Jactor passed through the teleportation portal, Evelyn cast a sidelong glance at her fiancé.

“So, what is it you wanted to say?”

She was genuinely curious about what could be so important that he insisted on a private, sealed carriage. She’d watched him recite an incantation to ensure no sound would leak outside.

Axion’s lips curled into a smooth, almost languid smile.

“Why else? Just so we could be alone together.”

Ugh, that infuriating mouth.

Of course, that insufferable man would never just give a straight answer.

“Enough with the nonsense!”

Evelyn snapped, rubbing her forehead with a touch of irritation, while an impish smile played at the corners of the man’s lips. Was it just her imagination, or was she gradually being swept along by his pace? With her pride a little bruised, she pouted slightly.

Axion casually brushed his tousled fringe back with one hand. He then leaned his chin on his hand with casual indifference and spoke in a low voice.

“There’s something I need to take care of, and I need your help.”

“You… need my help?”

She tilted her head, eyeing him with a trace of suspicion.

As if to put her curiosity to rest, the man drew an invitation from within his coat. On the invitation, scrawled in golden ink across black paper, were the words: ‘A Soirée Blooming at Midnight.’

“What’s this?”

She accepted the invitation, her gaze puzzled, while Axion raised one eyebrow in an arch.

“A troublesome matter has come up there.”

A hint of annoyance flickered across his face as he explained in a rather dry tone.

Apparently, a certain guild from the underworld had been caught smuggling a forbidden substance. Normally, his men would have tidied things up quietly and efficiently, but since this was a new guild, he seemed to have decided to intervene personally.

‘A kind of undercover investigation, is that it?’

She studied the invitation her fiancé had given her with keen interest. The dress code for the soirée was ‘masks.’ Perhaps it was all those crime dramas she’d watched in her past life, but even though she tried to appear indifferent, she couldn’t help feeling her heart beat a little faster.

‘Still, something about this feels off.’

She couldn’t shake the thought. In the original story, the incident with the drugs at the banquet was supposed to be uncovered by the male lead, Khalid.

While she was momentarily lost in thought, Axion cut straight to the point.

“Evelyn, I want you to be my partner.”

Since the invitation to the banquet required arriving with a partner, it was only natural that he would choose his fiancée.

Even so, she couldn’t quite rid herself of a lingering sense of suspicion. For a man who always demanded something in return, his terms seemed almost suspiciously modest this time. Besides, she’d attended as Axion’s partner many times before, and this was hardly an inconvenience.

“…Is that really all you want?”

Narrowing her eyes, she regarded her fiancé with open doubt. At that, a languid smile played on his lips, and something bright and mischievous glinted in his crimson eyes.

“Would you rather something more?”

As if I’d ever agree to that.

“You can’t take back words once they’ve been spoken.”

When she shot him a sharp, daggers glare, Axion only gave a light, indifferent shrug.

“That’s a shame, then.”

He didn’t look the least bit disappointed, despite what he said.

Evelyn clicked her tongue inwardly and shook her head. Just then, as she was about to turn away, she caught the man watching her intently, a sly smile tugging at his lips.

“You said it first, Evelyn.”

“Said what?”

“Now that you’ve spoken, you can’t take back this promise, either.”

She looked at him, puzzled by his cryptic warning. Axion, however, continued in the most tranquil voice.

“I’ll send you a dress that will suit you soon.”

“Forget it. I don’t need any more dresses.”

When she frowned slightly, finding him rather excessive, he replied smoothly.

“Then, we should go choose one together.”

“No, just send it!”

At her sudden change of heart, he flashed a grin that was more devilish than charming.

“As you wish, then.”