Chapter 67 – I’ve Been Looking for You

“Phew, I finally got away.”

Evelyn murmured, relieved as she slipped upstairs from the banquet hall, at last free from her fiancé’s side.

Throughout their first dance, Axion had been shooting sharp glances at anyone who so much as glanced in her direction. Not that she blamed him. After all, if anything happened to her, it would be difficult to explain to both their families. Only after enduring his rather overbearing protection did she manage to slip away.

‘Where on earth is Dr. Fabian?’

He was supposed to be wearing a red bow tie and a fox mask…

From the upper floor of the banquet hall, Evelyn gazed intently down at the main hall and let out a quiet sigh. Perhaps it was from staring at the dazzling array of colorful masks, but her eyes were beginning to feel strained. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, then rubbed them gently to ease the discomfort.

Just then, a voice reached her.

“How could you come all the way up here to find me?”

“You wouldn’t meet with me no matter what I tried, what was I supposed to do?”

Gasp. Am I witnessing a lovers’ quarrel?

From the conversation drifting over, it seemed the two were having a secret affair. All of a sudden, Evelyn remembered something Madame Angela had whispered to her that the midnight soirée like these were usually free-spirited, with an air of sultry tension.

‘Pretend I saw nothing, pretend I saw nothing…’

She tried to quietly slip away.

“What if someone sees us?!”

“And who exactly would be watching—”

At that very moment, Evelyn’s gaze met that of a middle-aged man.

Oh my. I didn’t see anything, so carry on with what you were doing.

However, contrary to her hopes, the man, whose rough, intimidating appearance was impossible to miss, began to move toward her. Just as Evelyn instinctively frowned and stepped back, a man in a silver mask appeared as if out of nowhere, greeting her with apparent familiarity.

“There you are. I’ve been looking for you.”

A man in a silver mask appeared from somewhere and greeted her as if they were acquainted. With his tall frame, he completely blocked their view of her.

“Pardon? Me…?”

‘Who is this man, looking at me with such a heart-fluttering gaze?’

As her emerald eyes wavered with confusion, the man dipped his head slightly and spoke in a low, gentle whisper.

“Bear with me just a moment.”

Only then did Evelyn recognize the owner of the voice, and she nodded in relief. The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment, then quickly slipped away with his lover.

Their swift change in demeanor made her let out a quiet, incredulous laugh. She glanced at the man who had come to her side—golden-blond hair, blue eyes shining behind the mask. Even with his face partially concealed, Khalid’s beauty was unmistakable.

Entranced, she found herself staring at him before finally expressing her gratitude.

“Thank you for your help, Your Grace.”

As she bowed her head politely, Khalid responded with a gentle smile.

“I simply did what anyone should do.”

Evelyn recalled how he had approached her earlier, the way his eyes and voice dripped with honey had taken her by surprise.

‘It was almost as if he were the hero of a romance novel, speaking to the heroine.’

Lost in that thought, she gazed at Khalid, noticing how his earlobes and the nape of his neck began to turn a shade redder by the second. Clearly, he was still embarrassed by what had just happened.

“About earlier, I…”

He started, but his words trailed off. Sensing his discomfort, Evelyn quickly interjected with a bright voice.

“Don’t worry! There’s no misunderstanding, I won’t think anything of it.”

At her response, Khalid gave a noncommittal smile and nodded. Then, as always, he asked her kindly.

“But what brings you here, my lady?”

“I’m attending the soirée with my fiancé.”

Evelyn replied as if it were nothing, then glanced over her outfit.