Chapter 75 – Anyone Would Think I Meant to Devour You

Evelyn stared fixedly at the path that led in the opposite direction of her destination, then hurriedly turned to her trusted attendant.

“Sir, what’s down that way?”

Gideon glanced around, following her gesture, and soon replied with a touch of reluctance,

“It’s best not to go near that place.”

“What? Why not?”

“Because it’s a den of the worst sort.”

Evelyn was thoroughly bewildered by her attendant’s unusually serious words. And with good reason…

It was because she had clearly seen Dahlia Lorenheim there.

Even though Dahlia had pulled her hood low, as the wind swept by, her face was unmistakably revealed. With her thoughts in turmoil, Evelyn kept her eyes trained on the spot where the woman had been for quite some time. Perhaps noticing his mistress’s strange behavior, Gideon asked, his expression growing more serious.

“My lady, is something the matter?”

“It’s just… I think I saw someone I know over there.”

Though it was little more than a mutter aside, her knight nodded and replied.

“So you noticed Lady Lorenheim as well, my lady.”

“How did you…?!”

As her eyes widened in surprise, Gideon glanced discreetly around before lowering his voice.

“In truth, I’ve seen her before.”

“Lady Lorenheim?”

“Yes. At the time, I wondered if I might have been mistaken, but seeing her today, I’m certain of it.”

He explained that he’d once encountered Dahlia outside the apothecary while waiting for Evelyn. She had been in such a hurry that they’d nearly collided, but it seemed she hadn’t recognized him.

“She went straight down that very alleyway.”

Gideon was remarkably observant, so it seemed he had managed to recognize Dahlia even in passing.

‘So that’s why he acted that way…’

Only now did she realize why her knight had behaved so oddly at the market stall that day. While she let out a quiet sigh, Gideon, his gaze thoughtful, spoke again in a cautious tone.

“If you wish it, I can look into the matter discreetly.”

Despite the fact that she was certain nothing would happen to the female lead of the original story, Evelyn couldn’t shake the vague sense of unease.

After a brief moment of contemplation, she quietly gave her instructions.

“Then I’ll leave it to you. Please find out where Lady Lorenheim is going.”

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

It was a Sunday afternoon in late winter, with soft, gentle sunlight warming the land. Wildflowers were beginning to bloom, slowly emerging across the ground still holding a trace of the cold. Evelyn, gazing for a moment at the clear blue sky, suddenly snapped back to herself and checked her pocket watch.

“Gasp, I’m going to be late…!”

With exactly ten minutes left until three o’clock, she arrived in front of a building. Painted such a deep, foreboding black that one might believe it the very source of all evil, the place radiated an eerie, unsettling atmosphere.

‘That’s strange. He definitely said he’d send someone.’

Evelyn checked the sign 《 Desmon Merchant Guild 》 several times, unable to hide her dismay at the building, which was shrouded in darkness without so much as a single light. The guild closed twice a month for regular holidays, and as luck would have it, today appeared to be one of those days.

She tried to open the door, but it was locked with a magical device, so there was no way to get inside.

“Did I get the date wrong?”

She was quite sure she’d come on the right day. As she tilted her head and paced in front of the building, a familiar voice called out from just behind her.

“Why are you just standing there instead of going in?”

Startled, Evelyn spun around.

“…Axion!”

Only then, feeling reassured at last, did she, rarely for her, greet her fiancé warmly. Axion, as if surprised by her reaction, raised one eyebrow in mild surprise.

“I’m quite certain I told you to wait inside.”

At his words, which seemed to demand an explanation, Evelyn stuck out her lower lip in a small pout.

“But there was no one around to let me in.”

Thud—

“Have you been waiting long… Oh, Vice Master?”

Just then, a senior member of the trading house appeared. Upon spotting his superior, he immediately wore a flustered expression.

“My apologies, it’s just that—”

“Your apology should be directed to my fiancée, not to me.”

Under the weight of Axion’s commanding gaze, the subordinate bowed deeply to Evelyn.

“My apologies, my lady. There was a mix-up, and I arrived late.”