Chapter 116

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

Beneath the glow of chandeliers adorned with pale crystal, the orchestra’s melody floated through the air like a soft caress. The chime of wine glasses meeting rang out across the grand hall, and the evening’s revelry deepened. Maybe because even those noble houses that rarely left their estates had joined the imperial season’s festivities, the banquet room thrummed with warm, animated conversation.

From her place at the upper gallery, Evelyn leaned lightly against the railing, her gaze wandering over the gathered guests.

“When will he ever arrive?”

Her eyes swept the crowd in search of that dark-haired man, but it seemed he hadn’t arrived yet.

Before the banquet, her fiancé had sent word that they would enter separately since he needed to manage family affairs in the absence of the Duke and Duchess Valentino.

‘I never thought I’d see the day I’d be waiting for Axion.’

Evelyn gave a faint, incredulous laugh at her own thoughts and was about to turn away when a familiar voice reached her.

“What are you doing here alone?”

His black hair was neatly swept back, his dress uniform immaculate and free of a single crease. She hadn’t even noticed when he had entered the ballroom, yet here he was, suddenly at her side.

“So you’ve finally arrived?”

Her clear eyes brightened, unable to hide her relief at the sight of her fiancé, but he only knit his brow.

“No one has bothered you, I trust.”

At the sudden, cool edge in his demeanor, she shook her head with exasperation.

“No, of course not.”

It seemed he was still dwelling on the incident at the masquerade. Wanting to shift the mood, Evelyn tilted her head slightly and asked,

“By the way, where did you come in from?”

She had been watching the main hall for some time, but had never once seen him make his entrance. At her question, Axion merely gestured toward the balcony doors with a careless glance, as though it were nothing.

“You didn’t come in through there, did you?”

Where had he left his sense of propriety?

Although she stared at him in disbelief, the man only nodded his head once.

“The formal summons was tedious.”

It seemed he had chosen a quieter spot to avoid the swarm of nobles that would no doubt descend upon him. With the Lord of Valentino serving as acting head of the family, everyone was eager to secure his favor in advance.

Understanding her fiancé’s reasoning, she let out a short sigh.

“No wonder I couldn’t find you…”

Wait, didn’t that make it sound as though I had been waiting for him all this time?!

She shut her mouth abruptly, afraid he might get the wrong idea again. But of course, her uneasy premonition proved correct. Axion’s lips curved in a smooth, knowing smile.

“Seems you must’ve been waiting for me.”

“As if I would…”

It was hardly convincing, but she feigned ignorance all the same. Even so, the pretense left her feeling flustered, and heat crept into both her cheeks.

“If you say so.”

Fortunately, he seemed uninterested in pressing the matter and let it pass with ease. Relieved, Evelyn risked a glance at him, only to notice a glint of crimson under the light. Upon closer look, a ruby-set chain brooch adorned the lapel of his pristine tailcoat.

‘Oh? So he liked it?’

Her smile warmed with quiet satisfaction, pleased she had chosen well, when his unyielding gaze refused to stray from her, a faint ripple stirred in Evelyn’s green eyes.

“Do you have something to say to me?”

At that moment, Axion’s straight, sure hand brushed lightly against her slender shoulder.

‘….!’

It was only the faintest touch, yet when his firm hand brushed her skin, it burned as though seared. In the breathless tension that followed, the ribbon resting on her shoulder slid loose with a soft whisper, falling away without resistance.