Chapter 24

‘No, what is this…?!’

Mother, you didn’t tell me it was today!

She knew you should strike while the iron is hot, but to visit the Duke’s estate so suddenly?!

As Evelyn stood there in shock, Axion watched her for a moment before he went straight into the flower shop.

Left with no other option, she followed him inside, and the sweet scent of flowers greeted her as soon as she walked in. While she looked around the flower shop, filled to the brim with blooming flowers, her green eyes naturally sparkled. It was because it was hard to see such vibrant-colored flowers in the botanical garden she had inherited from her father.

While she couldn’t take her eyes off the flowers, he picked up one of the displayed flowers.

“If you want, I can give it to you.”

Startled by his words, she glanced at her fiancé.

Even if they were engaged, the two of them weren’t really friends or lovers. The truth was, they were nothing more than formal partners, only pretending to get along for appearances’ sake.

‘Seriously, with the way things are between us, giving flowers just doesn’t make sense.’

Just imagining receiving a flower from him made her shudder.

“I’m fine. I don’t need a flower.”

When she waved her hands and flatly refused, Axion tilted his head slightly.

“No, I meant the shop.”

“….!”

Evelyn’s mouth fell open at her fiancé’s sense of scale, which was truly beyond imagination. But just as quickly, she assumed he was probably just teasing her again, so she shook her head.

‘He’s just the type to do something like that…’

Worried that Axion might actually buy the whole flower shop, she quickly protested.

“Don’t you dare do anything like that!”

“All right. If that’s what my fiancée wants.”

‘Did he really understand what I meant?’

Evelyn stared at the man, who was wearing that knowing smile, still not entirely convinced.

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

Inside the carriage to the Valentino estate, Evelyn sat holding a large bouquet of lisianthus flowers in her arms. All she had planned for today was to simply have a quick cup of tea with Axion and head home, just like always. But with everything that had happened so unexpectedly, she found herself blinking slowly, still in disbelief.

If she had to describe how she felt right now, it was that she wanted to go home immediately.

Axion, who had been gazing out the window the whole ride, glanced over at her gloomy face for a moment, then flashed that infuriating, teasing smile of his.

‘Ugh, he’s so annoying.’

She shot him a half-hearted glare before turning away to look out the window. No matter how many times she came here, the Valentino estate always felt unbelievably intimidating, nothing like any other mansion she had seen. Even though she had visited a few times before, she had never managed to see all of it.

Soon, the carriage gradually slowed to a stop, and the coachman informed them of their arrival through the sliding window.

“We’ve arrived at the estate, Young Master.”

Axion stepped out first, then offered his hand with smooth, practiced ease.

Evelyn, watching his unhesitating movements, let out a faint sigh. Lately, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she kept getting swept up in his pace.

‘I honestly don’t even know where things started to go wrong.’

Wearing a pout, Evelyn took her fiancé’s hand and stepped out of the carriage.

“Welcome, Lady Evelyn.”

At the Duchess’s greeting, she quickly composed her expression and bowed gracefully.

“Thank you for having me, Duchess.”

She didn’t know why, but every time she stood in front of the Duke and Duchess, she always felt nervous. If she had known about today’s plans in advance, she would never have come empty-handed. As she handed over the bouquet she had managed to pull together at the last minute, the Duchess’s lips curved into a soft smile.

“These are my favorite flowers. Thank you so much.”

It was a good thing Axion had thought ahead and ordered the lisianthus bouquet. Otherwise, she would have looked like a completely thoughtless guest.

‘Not that the Duchess is the type to take offense at something like this, but still.’

Evelyn was swallowing a sigh of relief when Axion’s arid voice cut through.

“Mother, didn’t you mention you had something for Evelyn?”

It was his subtle way of saying, ‘greetings are done, let’s go inside the mansion already.’ At his comment, the Duchess clapped lightly, her crimson eyes sparkling.

Caught between the two of them, Evelyn swallowed nervously.