Chapter 117 – Of Course, Only With You

Evelyn froze, her eyes losing focus, trembling slightly. The perilous nearness of his touch against her pale skin made it hard to draw even a proper breath.

“You, what on earth are you…?!”

Even though she managed to force the words out, she couldn’t bring herself to finish them. Axion was only fastening the ribbon on her dress with unhurried ease. It seemed the knot had looked ready to come undone at any moment, and it must have been bothering him.

Watching him work at the ribbon so casually stirred something in her chest for no reason she could name. When at last his deft hands stilled and the bow lay tied in perfect order, she let out a short, quiet breath.

‘He could’ve said so from the start.’

Her cheeks warmed with embarrassed relief, her eyes darting restlessly away. At that moment, Axion lowered his hand from her shoulder with languid grace and murmured.

“It’s done.”

Satisfaction curved the man’s gaze into something almost tender.

Just now, he looked so…

He looked like the male lead from a melodrama.

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

The gentle strains that had been drifting through the air gradually brightened, shifting into a lively variation.

As the orchestra played the accompaniment, nobles began to take their partners and make their way to the dance floor. Standing at her side, Axion regarded her with a gaze devoid of expression. Then, lowering his head just slightly, he spoke in a voice meant for her ears alone.

“Don’t you think we should dance at least once?”

“Huh?”

When his eyes shifted toward the dance floor, Evelyn gave a quiet shake of her head.

“Oh, don’t be absurd. Dancing, really.”

“I want to dance with you.”

“….”

At that moment, the young ladies nearby began to murmur among themselves. Pretending not to, they had clearly been paying close attention to the two of them.

“The two of them have been together so long, and they’re still so sweet.”

“No wonder they call them the couple of the century.”

Excuse me. We can hear you.

At the noble ladies’ pleased smiles and sideways glances, Evelyn felt the heat rise to her cheeks.

Axion let out a quiet, amused breath before extending his hand to her.

“This should be better than staying here.”

Evelyn, burdened by the intense attention directed at them, placed her hand over his.

“I’ll agree to that.”

Once they stepped onto the dance floor, the two began to move in time with the flowing accompaniment. She lifted her gaze, and it caught upon her fiancé’s striking face—those garnet eyes with their faint golden sheen, the proud line of his nose, the sharp cut of his jaw, and the well-formed curve of his lips.

Perhaps it was the glow of the chandeliers above, but tonight his beauty seemed all the more pronounced. If not for his exacting temperament, he could easily have rivaled the original male lead.

‘If he kept his mouth shut, that is.’

In that fleeting moment, her expression soured, but she quickly composed herself and continued her reflections. A man of commanding height and a well-built frame, dressed in a crisp uniform that fell neatly over his broad, squared shoulders.

As though sensing her gaze, Axion tilted his head a fraction.

“Do you have something to say?”

Guiding her through the steps with practiced ease, he watched her closely. Evelyn turned through the movement and replied evenly.

“Not particularly.”

“For someone with nothing to say, your stare was rather ardent.”

“….”

Really, he never let a single word pass without comment.

Evelyn cast her fiancé a brief sidelong glance, her lips curving into a faintly petulant smile.

“You’re handsome.”

“What?”

For a moment, surprise flickered across the man’s crimson eyes, as though doubting his own ears before it was gone.

Was he actually taken aback?

Surely it wasn’t the first time he’d heard such a thing. Even now, the young ladies on the dance floor stole glances at him whenever they could, far more interested in her partner than in their own.

Evelyn gave a small shrug, her tone light and unconcerned.

“You know how handsome you are.”