Chapter 129 – What, Should I Feed You Myself?

‘Come to think of it, didn’t Axion give me a ring?’

In truth, she had found the ring she received as a birthday gift from Axion burdensome and had planned to quietly tuck it away in her jewel box along with her opal ring.

Now, however, he wore a faintly sardonic smile, as though displeased.

“I take it the ring wasn’t to your taste.”

“No! The ring is truly beautiful.”

Evelyn flurried her hands in protest, desperate to deny it.

To be honest, the ring he gave her was arguably the most beautiful diamond ring she had ever seen. However, it was also true that she was hesitant about whether she should actually wear it. As she pondered how to explain herself, her fingers curled in upon themselves.

Axion’s gaze lingered on her hand for a long while before he finally spoke with an indifferent look in his eyes.

“What a pity. It was meant to be insect repellent.”

“…What?”

“My fiancée doesn’t even wear her engagement ring normally, after all.”

As if she had heard something she shouldn’t have, Evelyn’s brow furrowed slightly.

What is he even talking about now?

The engagement ring he spoke of was a child-sized ring she had received when she was around ten years old. There was no way the engagement ring he had given her back then could fit on her left ring finger now.

Besides, back then, he had clearly…

“Evelyn, I don’t want you to expect too much.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“That this ring alone would change anything between us.”
“What are you talking about? Why would I ever have that kind of misconception!”

Back then, his words had stung her pride, and out of sheer defiance, she had refused to wear the engagement ring.

Now, watching him recall so vividly what had happened so long ago, Evelyn couldn’t suppress the faint, incredulous laugh that slipped from her lips.

Really, what sort of man says things like that?

With disbelief written plainly across her face, she cast him a sidelong glance that held no real anger. In response, Axion tilted his head at an angle.

‘Forget it. What’s the point of arguing with him?’

Shaking her head, she then propped her chin in her hands and asked a question.

“So what has gotten into you? You’re the one suggesting we go out.”

The word ‘date’ felt far too awkward, so she had deliberately phrased it differently. Axion, acting as if it were nothing, pulled two tickets from his breast pocket and set them on the table.

“Are these… opera tickets?”

She stared at her fiancé, completely bewildered by his unexpected behavior.

Other than the occasional family dinner, there had scarcely been an instance where they attended a formal outing together. Moreover, the tickets he handed over were for the most popular opera performance in the capital, known to be incredibly hard to obtain.

Just as she tilted her head, wondering how he had managed to acquire what was essentially a golden ticket, the man lifted his teacup, took a leisurely sip, and spoke in a low, unhurried tone.

“My mother gave them to me.”

“What? The Duchess?”

The thought left her utterly dismayed, since now she had lost any pretext to refuse. Setting his cup down with the same unhurried motion, Axion’s lips curved faintly.

“She must wish for us to spend some time together.”

“….”

“Just you and me.”

At a loss for words, Evelyn pressed her fingers to her throbbing temples and rose abruptly from her seat.

“Wait here.”

“Where are you going?”

He inclined his head, and she answered with a look that implied it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“There’s no way I can go out looking like this.”

Her face was still swollen from the uninvited guest who had arrived at dawn, and she hadn’t even managed to run a brush through her hair.

At her petulant expression, Axion let out a languid, amused laugh.

Wondering why he was laughing like that, she raised an eyebrow, but he continued his reply nonchalantly.

“You’re still beautiful, Evelyn.”

As she looked at Axion, impeccably dressed without a hair out of place, he looked every inch the part. Evelyn let out a sigh.

Even if you say so, it doesn’t sound the least bit convincing, you insufferable man!