Chapter 143 – Why Are You Here?

With so many concerns weighing on her recently, Evelyn suddenly recalled something she had let slip from her mind. In truth, the information she wanted most was something else entirely.

“Marcen, is there still no word of His Highness the Second Prince?”

Perhaps it was because he had concealed his whereabouts for so long, but to learn anything of Riovan was like finding a needle in a haystack.

The guildmaster’s expression stiffened for an instant before he replied in a thoughtful tone.

“It seems we will need a little more time.”

“I thought as much.”

Even though she had expected this outcome, she couldn’t help the feeling of disappointment.

‘If only we could learn the Second Prince’s whereabouts soon.’

Evelyn forced her disappointment beneath a calm composure and rose from her seat. What she didn’t see was the faint tremor that ran through Marcen’s hand beneath the table.

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

Evelyn arrived at the black market, said to be operating in secret within the capital, accompanied by her knight. To avoid recognition, she had even gone so far as to drink a potion of disguise before coming to Serpene.

“Evelyn, why are you here?”

That’s exactly what I want to know!

Running into her fiancé before she could even step inside made her want to weep on the inside.

‘They said it was a potion that enabled a disguise… was this all just a marketing scam?’

She had bought it after seeing the advertisement claiming it would change her hair and eye color. But despite pulling her hood low to hide her features, Axion had recognized her at once. In addition, she had taken care not to tell anyone of her visit here, except for one person, Gideon.

At the thought, she cast a sharp, accusing glance at the knight standing awkwardly at her side. Flustered, Gideon threw up his hands as if to swear his innocence.

“It wasn’t me, my lady!”

“Then why is he here?”

Axion, who had been quietly listening to their exchange, let out a scoff as if exasperated.

“So, you’re not even trying to hide it now.”

Ah, that’s right. I was keeping my true purpose from him, wasn’t I…?

Realizing her mistake, Evelyn averted her gaze and smoothly replied.

“I had no intention of hiding it from the start. More importantly, what are you doing here?”

At her question, his neatly shaped eyebrows slanted upward.

“To find out who dared cross the Desmon Trading Company.”

It seemed he had come to Serpene under the guise of the company’s vice-master to investigate. The man’s crimson eyes, fixed intently on her, soon gleamed sharply.

“Though I never expected one of them to be my own fiancée.”

As the conversation twisted in an unexpected direction, Evelyn shook her head quickly.

“No, that’s not it! I’ve never betrayed you.”

Still, her words failed to convince him. Axion pressed his lips tightly together, as though dissecting her every move, his gaze seemingly probing her.

‘At this rate, I’ll have no choice but to explain everything!’

Unable to risk crossing the Valentino family, Evelyn decided it was best to douse the immediate flames first.

“The truth is…”

After hearing her explanation from beginning to end, Axion shot her a dissatisfied look, as if something didn’t sit right with him.

“So you came to a place like this, alone?”

“Alone? What do you mean alone? I brought my most dependable knight with me.”

Evelyn cast her loyal retainer a pleading look, silently begging him to support her. However, Gideon seemed intent on wriggling free of the issue alone.

“I tried to dissuade her many times. But you know well enough yourself, my lord, what sort of temperament the young lady has.”

Somehow, his words held a strange persuasiveness, and Axion gave a slight nod.

“That’s true.”

“Ha—”

True? What part of that is true? Care to let me in on it?

Evelyn let out a dry laugh and turned on her knight with a sulky glare.

“We should head inside before it gets any later, Sir Gideon.”

Rather than waste more time bickering with her fiancé, she chose to step into the black market at last. However, for some reason, Axion caught her slender hand.

“Sir, you may leave for the night.”