Chapter 60

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Chapter 60

* * *

The banquet didn’t end until midnight.

Vietti and Bern had a few arguments, and both went back first.

‘Tsk, tsk, tsk.’

You shouldn’t act recklessly in a place like this. Especially when there are some issues. It’s like giving a despicable opponent a chance to act.

And, that despicable opponent was me.

‘That’s how high society is…’

I thought so while flapping the fan Olivia gave me.

‘This is just a kid’s joke, huh?’

Of course, that kind of kid’s joke has alienated Kate for a long time. I was already quite friendly with Kate.

As Vietti and Bern disappeared, I went to Kate’s side to talk.

“I used to be close to young lady Vietti.”

Kate spoke quietly.

“But, she probably thought I was getting more attention than she was. At some point, she started to keep me in check and then turned me away.”

Usually, bullying starts with best friends.

Vietti and Kate were one of those usual cases.

“Young lord Bern, who was dumped by me, is completely attached to Vietti now.”

“He must have been wary of threats.”

I smiled softly and said.

“Let’s make it worthwhile.”

Even though Kate alone would be impossible, though if we were together, we could definitely do it.

“To do that, you have to forgive the person who asks for your forgiveness. Can you do it?”

It meant that most of the children who ignored Kate on Vietti’s side should be accepted.

At my words, Kate sighed and nodded.

“I guess so. The social circle here is rather small.”

I’ve managed to pick out those who don’t have a lot of grudges with Kate. Then, while walking around with Kate, one by one, he began to intervene.

Based on the data Serena gave, it was a matter of properly bringing up a common topic. With such a well-established foundation, everything went according to my plan. The second half of the banquet was like Kate and my stage.

‘After this banquet is over, the social circle will be completely changed.’

The banquet that accomplished everything ended as Evan and I saw the guests off.

Each one sent a brief greeting, and it was Seymour’s turn that came.

“Thank you for the invitation. Thanks to you, I had a good time.”

He spoke while looking at me.

“I saw the painting hanging in the corridor. I must have been staring blankly for about an hour.”

At that, Evan frowned and said low. “Has anyone ever looked at a painting for an hour? Your eyesight must be bad.”

Perhaps Evan was unaware of the southwestern tradition of hanging paintings by the banquet’s organizer.

Seymour replied with a smile.

“I heard that Miss Laria drew it herself. If your eyes are right, of course, you should watch it for two hours.”

“….”

I smiled kindly, ignoring Evan’s quick change of posture.

“Thank you for the compliment. Goodbye.”

“See you next time.”

Seymour spoke leisurely and left the banquet hall. After dismissing all the guests, I yawned wearily.

Next to me, Evan spoke.

“You did a great job.”

“Mmh? Yeah. You, too. I just did some talking. You were really busy. You must be like an idol for those young swordsmen.”

Evan chuckled as he listened to my words, then hesitantly said.

“By the way, Laria…”

“Mmh?”

“When I saw Baron Litshua off earlier, he was kinder than I thought.”

“That was just a greeting…”

“Though for some reason, at some point in the banquet, his expression seemed to have loosened up a little from a moment.”

Perhaps because the sword competition was such a big issue, Evan was surrounded by people. So, I thought I wouldn’t have anything to worry about, but I think he had seen even the most subtle changes in expressions.

“Ah, we had a little conversation in the garden earlier.”

I lied skillfully.

“In the garden?”

“Yeah. I had a headache for a while, so I went out to get some fresh air, and I ran into him by chance.”

“By chance…”

“But, there was a misunderstanding.”

I smiled softly and continued. “As Serena said, he wasn’t a stalker. He didn’t even see me as a woman at all.”

“…Really? It’s hard to believe.”

“I mean it. It’s true.”

Evan escorted me to my room with a dissatisfied expression on his face.

“He didn’t look like a bad person.”

“So, what was the painting and the book in the last correspondence all about?”

“We happen to have similar tastes. That’s all. We misunderstood for no reason.”

“…I don’t like him. I hate that he looked at us and said we were like siblings.”

“What’s wrong with being siblings?”

I raised my hand and stroked his hair. “It’s like saying that we are a family, cherishing each other.”

“…Still.”

“Evan.”

Saying so, I laughed and continued playfully.

“Perhaps, are you jealous?”

“What do you mean by jealousy?”

Even though he said that, Evan grunted and looked away before opening his mouth to answer me.

“We’re already married. That Baron is no big deal.”

“That’s right, Evan. That’s it. I know it well.”

“I still want to get rid of him from the world.”

“….”

“Is this jealousy, too? What do you think?”

“Well… Who knows.”

“Just looking at his face makes me want to draw a sword. It’s the first time I’ve had this impulse since Ludvar.”

When his second wife, Elanie, had an affair with Seymour, he was calm, and it was an unexpected reaction.

‘As expected, it’s Ludvar after all.’

I kept a smile on my face as I thought.

‘That naughty bastard left the child alone.’

Not jealousy, but the urge to kill, it was definitely not in the normal category.

Evan came into my room and leaned against the window because he said he would wait with me until Lisa came to help me wash up.

I stared quietly at his side profile.

‘He looks lonely…’

The Duke’s love for Matilda was absolute.

After learning that the purpose of Duke Icard was Matilda, he immediately lowered his head and said, “I’ll never be enough even if I roll backward and forwards.”

Even I was a little sad about that, so I couldn’t imagine how much of Evan’s insides would crumble. He, too, will find it difficult to fill Matilda’s vacancy even if he rolls backward and forwards.

Evan was still thirteen.

He is too young.

His complexion was rather big, but he fell apart after a few traumatic words from the Knight’s commander.

“Anyway, I… I really hate him.”

“Evan, no matter how much I’m your wife, I can’t live without doing things just because you don’t like.”

I couldn’t live without saying what I wanted to say. At this point, I needed to say a harsh word.

“I know that, but…”

“He’s a nobleman who lives in this area, and we had a better conversation than I expected. Wouldn’t it be an unreasonable request to not even exchange some words just because there was a misunderstanding?”

“…Yeah, you’re right.”

“What happened with Ludvar was a bit shocking, but… But that doesn’t mean I can’t stop interacting with all men.”

“That’s right. Actually, you are right.”

Evan replied gently. “I hate it instinctively, but I can’t do anything about your personal relationships.”

We’re having a good conversation!

I smiled proudly.

“That’s right. So, trust me, and I hope you don’t mind me hanging out with any guy in the future. You will never have anything to worry about.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“…All right.”

Evan stared intently at me and added.

“I won’t ask for anything you don’t like. Because I trust you.”

Contrary to his appearance, he was a good boy who listened to everything I had to say.

“Yeah, let’s not fight over this.”

Enough with this story, I said with a smile. “Evan, when are you going back to the Duke’s residence?”

“I’ll be leaving in three days.”

“Still…”

I hesitated and carefully spoke my next words.

“Is it still hard to see people in blue uniforms?”

“…How did you know?”

“I just happened to know.”

“Um…”

Evan replied with his eyes down. “Actually, it’s a weakness to have such a trauma for a person who uses a sword.”

“Mmh…”

“I once asked one of the knights to try on a blue uniform, it was fine until I picked up the sword.”

“And?”

“When I held the sword, my arms and legs were stiff.”

His voice was calm, but it seemed that the trauma was really deep. Hearing that, my heart ached just thinking about my stiff limbs.

“Evan…”

“It’s a bit embarrassing.”

“What are you ashamed of?”

However, his face was slightly darkened. I regretted it a little because it was an issue that he didn’t want to mention. Well, I wouldn’t like it if he kept asking about my weaknesses.

‘It would have been best for Evan to pretend I don’t know anything at all.’

So, I decided to not press it anymore and change the topic impulsively.

“Go and have a good time.”

“Mmh?”

“Don’t think too much about what will break you.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“I’m just saying.”

Looking at Evan’s red eyes, I muttered as if possessed.

“I just…”

“You?”

“I want you to be happy.”

Perhaps because Evan’s happy appearance was never described in the original story, my words were meaningless, though he gazed at me with a serious expression.

“We should be happy together.”

He answered in a low voice.

“We are a family.”

“Yeah. Actually, you didn’t have to but thank you for coming to see me. Come to think of it, it was the first time we danced together.”

I turned my head towards the window and smiled. The spring flowers were in full bloom.

“Every time I look at the blossoming petals, I will think of that first dance.”

Then, a knock was heard.

“Miss Laria, it’s Lucy. I came to help you wash up.”

Our conversation ended like that.

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