Chapter 86

Before she knew it, he handed her a small case. Evelyn accepted it, eyeing him with suspicion.

“What is this?”

Axion, wearing a rather indifferent expression, gave a reply as sharp as it was nonchalant.

“It’s a gift from my parents.”

“What? From the Duke and Duchess Valentino?”

Surely they hadn’t sent over a family heirloom again, had they?

The thought alone was enough to make her press her lips together, anxious at the possibility. The duke and duchess were certainly capable of something like that. She still kept the hairpin she’d once received from the former duchess, safely tucked away in her drawer.

Suddenly, a question struck her, and she tilted her head to the side.

“But why did you come yourself? You could have just sent someone.”

Axion ignored her question entirely and replied in his usual dry tone.

“Well. Aren’t you going to open it?”

“Of course I am!”

Fighting back a sigh, Evelyn opened the case, which looked exceptional even at a glance. It pained her. She knew she’d likely break off the engagement with Axion one day, yet these ever more extravagant gifts left her feeling uneasy.

But the moment she saw what lay inside, her eyes widened.

“This is…!”

Nestled within was a ribbon brooch set with a peridot gemstone, its clear, green brilliance a perfect match for her own eyes. Under the sunlight, the peridot sparkled even more vividly. With quality like this, it could only be the finest.

‘Now that I think about it…’

A recent article she’d read flickered through her mind. It had been mentioned that the Duchess Valentino had purchased a rare peridot from a distant country at a steep price.

Could this be that very gem?

Confronted once again with such an overwhelming gift, Evelyn felt her ears ringing in alarm. Was she truly allowed to accept something like this? Her green eyes shimmered with uncertainty.

As if sensing her thoughts, Axion’s lips curved in a faint smile.

“Your birthday is coming up soon.”

Since this would be her first birthday since coming of age, it seemed the duke and duchess had prepared something especially meaningful. Evelyn, who had always been grateful simply to have her birthday remembered each year, made a mental note to write them a letter soon. She’d heard they were away, visiting their lands at the moment.

“Even so, this feels far too extravagant.”

She murmured, absently scratching her cheek at the unexpected gift. Just then, Axion’s deep, gentle voice reached her.

“It suits you, Evelyn.”

“….!”

She looked up, meeting his crimson eyes. His words carried no discernible emotion, yet somehow, she couldn’t tear her gaze away. Snapping out of it, she bit the inside of her cheek, suddenly self-conscious. For some reason, she felt she mustn’t let him see how unsettled she was.

At that moment, she remembered the handkerchief she’d meant to give him. Evelyn cleared her throat softly.

“Ahem, I have something for you too.”

“For me?”

His neatly shaped brows arched in mild surprise, and she put on a deliberately prim expression.

“Yes. Did you really think you’d be the only one giving gifts?”

Her tone sounded more composed than she felt. As she reached for the handkerchief, her fingers trembled ever so slightly.

Why am I so nervous?

Evelyn drew a quick breath and exhaled, then held out the handkerchief she’d been hiding behind her back.

“Good luck, Axion.”

She stole a glance at her fiancé, hoping for a reaction. Yet, for some reason, Axion remained perfectly impassive, his gaze fixed solely on the black embroidery stitched into the white handkerchief.

‘Is it that bad?’

Embarrassed by her clumsy needlework, her cheeks flushed a faint pink. She had expected as much, yet she couldn’t help but feel a little self-conscious. As she nervously bit her lip, she finally spoke up.

“If you don’t like it, I—”

“Is it a black panther?”

He spoke quietly, as if musing to himself, having somehow recognized the pattern she’d embroidered. No one else had ever figured it out before, and Evelyn’s lips twitched upward in surprise and delight.

“Oh, how did you know?”

When she asked, her voice unusually bright, Axion tilted his head and let out a brief, amused laugh.

“So it really is.”