Chapter 114

“Ellie, I’ll take you home, so let’s be on our way.”

“No! We haven’t finished our conversation yet.”

The man arched a brow at his young cousin.

“And what did you have to discuss with my fiancée?”

In answer, the little girl crossed her arms and, in an almost comically imperious gesture, crossed her short legs as well.

“I can’t accept the lady as your fiancée!”

Her clear, ringing voice carried across the garden terrace. The words, as explosive as any thrown gauntlet, left Evelyn momentarily speechless.

‘So she’s on my side after all?’

Axion shot her a look that held more than a hint of displeasure, as though wondering if she and Elodie had struck some sort of bargain behind his back.

Feeling unfairly accused, Evelyn shook her head frantically.

‘It wasn’t me. I didn’t put her up to this!’

Still, he seemed unconvinced. Tilting his head toward the child, he asked lightly.

“Ellie, what’s got you sulking?”

As though he had struck the very heart of the matter, Elodie’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit’s. Pouting, she clutched the hem of her skirt and declared.

“The lady didn’t tell me.”

“Tell you what?”

“Why she likes you, of course!”

Evelyn, who had been quietly listening until now, found her mouth falling open. She had absolutely no idea how she was supposed to respond to that.

At his young cousin’s words, one side of Axion’s mouth curved, a deep dimple appearing. He tilted his head slightly, his voice tinged with quiet amusement.

“Hm. So that’s how it is.”

“….?”

“What do you think, Evelyn?”

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

After finally soothing Elodie and sending her off, Evelyn strolled through the garden, her expression noticeably lighter. Of course, she had parted with the child only after receiving a sharp little threat that, next time they met, she would get an answer.

Then, quite suddenly, Evelyn halted mid-step and turned her head sharply.

“Axion, why haven’t you left?”

When she narrowed her eyes and glared, he stopped walking as well.

“My fiancée is always so cold.”

His voice was utterly flat despite the hint of wounded feeling in his words. He should have left after his business was finished, yet she couldn’t understand why he still lingered at the marquis’s estate.

“If anyone heard you, they’d think you’re actually upset.”

As she retorted with a dry laugh, the man gave a light shrug.

“Well? What do you think?”

The faint smile slipped from his lips, and Axion fixed her with a serious stare. In the blaze of the sun, his crimson eyes gleamed more vividly than ever.

Evelyn found herself caught in that gaze, her breath stilling, until she startled and turned away.

‘That might’ve been a bit dangerous…’

She had to admit that Axion was distinctly handsome in a way that defied typical male lead standards.

Needlessly so…

A strange breeze seemed to stir through her chest, leaving an unsteady flutter at her heart.

At the fleeting surge of emotion, Evelyn’s brows drew together ever so slightly. Then, wishing to lighten the mood, she released a small, deliberate cough.

“Ahem. I heard something rather strange from Young Lady Sinclair earlier.”

“….?”

The man tilted his head, inviting her to go on. She stretched lazily, then continued nonchalantly.

“You like sweets, don’t you? But she said you don’t.”

After all the years she had known him, there was no way she could be mistaken about his tastes.

‘Maybe he had simply given his cousin the treats out of kindness.’

She had only asked to clear up what seemed to be Elodie’s misunderstanding. However, for some reason, a peculiar light flickered in Axion’s eyes.

He held her gaze for a long moment before he replied plainly.

“I don’t.”

“What?”

“I said I don’t like sweets.”

She could only gape at him, unable to believe it. Had he told her sooner, she would never have given him confections as gifts.

“Then why have you been eating them all this time? I’ve seen you eat plenty in front of me!”

Just as Evelyn, feeling an inexplicable pang of guilt, urged him for an answer in a flustered voice, the man’s unreadable crimson eyes turned to her once more.

“Because you like them.”