Chapter 71 – Why Do You Always Say You’re Fine?

“So the rumors were true. There really is a beautiful young lady here.”

Ugh. The stench of alcohol.

At the sudden appearance of a drunken young nobleman, Evelyn instinctively furrowed her brows.

“Are you not hearing a word I’m saying?”

“Young lord, it seems you’ve had far too much to drink.”

The fact that he was spouting such nonsense said it all.

She bit back the rest of her words and clicked her tongue inwardly. However, the man, as if offended by her remark, suddenly jumped and raised his voice in protest.

“Ab-so-lutely not! I’m not drunk. Just look at me. Even now, the moon goddess herself has guided me here…”

He’s drunk. Hopelessly drunk.

A faint sigh slipped from Evelyn’s lips. She had thought, just for once, that her luck was finally turning, but it seemed the heavens had no intention of letting it last.

No longer wishing to witness any more of his disgraceful behavior, she decided to take her leave. However, just as she moved to slip naturally off the balcony, the young noble’s rough hand seized her slender wrist. A sharp ache throbbed through her wrist under his tight grip, and her eyes twisted with pain.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Her sharp tone made the young lord falter for a moment, only for his fingers to tighten even more, as if determined to keep her from leaving the balcony.

“I told you, didn’t I? The moon goddess has granted me a reward.”

Did some new cult spring up while no one was looking? If not that, then maybe this man was simply so drunk he’d started seeing things.

Evelyn let out a dry, incredulous laugh, as if she’d just heard the most absurd nonsense.

“It seems the moon goddess forgot to teach you manners.”

Whether the jab struck a nerve, his face twisted into a scowl.

“What are you implying?”

“Does your doctrine also teach you to force yourself on someone who clearly said no?”

When she replied in an even firmer tone, the young nobleman’s eyes wavered violently.

“But… the woman with the deep-rose hair was supposed to be my fate—Huup.”

As if he’d just let slip something that should never have been said, the young noble hastily covered his mouth. For a moment, Evelyn doubted her own ears and looked at him with a suspicious expression.

“What did you just say?”

“….”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he abruptly released her wrist and stumbled away, making a clumsy escape from the balcony.

Thud—

But he collided with someone and collapsed straight onto the ground. The young nobleman’s face was soon filled with terror, as if he were about to be dragged to the gallows. It was because standing in front of the balcony was a man radiating a cold and menacing air, his piercing gaze gleamed like sharpened steel.

“What’s going on here?”

The voice was low and chilling, matching the hardened expression on the man’s face.

There was only one family, aside from the Master of the Magic Tower, whose magical presence exuded such overwhelming pressure. His mere presence was enough to make one tremble, so much so that the young noble couldn’t even form a proper sentence.

“L-Lo, Lord Valentino…?”

He stammered out the name and looked wildly between the man before him and the woman behind.

“Then this woman is… Evelyn Inevasel?”

Axion Valentino took a heavy step forward.

Meanwhile, startled as if he’d seen a ghost, the young nobleman began to crawl backward on the floor, still seated in a clumsy sprawl.

“I-I didn’t know! Had I known she was your fiancée—”

“Evelyn. Close your eyes.”

It seemed Axion had already pieced the situation together. His crimson eyes gleamed with a chilling light, like blood under moonlight. Seeing her fiancé look as though he might do something to the young lord that very instant, Evelyn cried out urgently.

“No, Axion!”

“….?”

As the man’s gaze settled on her, his brow twitching slightly, she continued speaking in a composed voice.

“There’s something I need to ask him.”

Axion stared at her for a few long seconds before giving a small nod. Then, without a word, he turned his cold gaze back to the young noble.

“It seems I need to remind you who it is you dared to lay a hand on.”

“Ghk—!”

The nobleman shrank back, pressing himself against the balcony railing. It seemed he thought the floor wasn’t high enough to cause serious injury if he jumped.

Axion let out a faint, chilling smirk as if mocking the man’s pitiful attempt to escape.

‘That expression is downright terrifying…’