Chapter 16

Translator: Nabi

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Chapter 16

If it had been other men with such an expression, they would have looked mean, but Cassius’ good looks have turned even such a mean look into a cold, charismatic smile.

“Of course, we only exchanged letters. I came here today to meet you. Don’t you know well enough that you are the exception?”

“….”

Indeed, I have nothing to say.​​“Anyway, you like a man who keeps his promises… I will try to keep it even more thoroughly, Evelyn.”​​I nodded my head at his words.

No matter how much Cassius Brudenell had promised me, he would never approach Ophelia openly.​​Of course, he will try to persuade and coax his way in like he did with my parents. Nevertheless, Ophelia, unlike my parents, was not an easy child.

“Anything else?”

Cassius’ alluring voice drew closer.

“For example… like appearance?”

Hearing that, I replied reluctantly.

“Not really.”​​“Is that true?”

Cassius’ mouth drew a soft arc.

“Certainly… The reason Count Garneid’s Young Lady has not been married yet is because her ideal type is a handsome man with black hair and golden eyes… I heard that was the case.”

Crazy.​​I managed to barely swallow the curse word. What he said was so shocking that I almost lost my mind in an instant.

…Are you saying that the Lord’s informants are free enough to find out such frivolous information?

“The intelligence of the Lord of Brudenell is truly remarkable.”​​“Do you like it?”

He laughed out loud as he continued his words.​​“Soon, it will all be yours, Evelyn.”

Snap.

There was a sound of breaking of reason.

I just could not stand it. He has the nerve to shamelessly pretend to be a lover. After all, he knew, and I knew that Cassius Brudenell’s target was Ophelia.

‘I am sick of pretending not to know.’

If I just put up with it like this, I thought I would die from anger before I would die from Cassius. Besides, if I openly reveal the fact that I know…​​Maybe it’s possible to cancel the engagement.

No matter how much my parents agreed, the engagement has not yet been officially announced. Now, was the last chance to cancel the engagement.​​“Lord Cassius.”​​A hard voice came out.

Cassius also looked straight at me as if he had noticed something unusual. Seeing so, I slowly opened my mouth. It was only a word, but it took a lot of courage to speak out.

“Aren’t you ashamed of trying to create a marriage between me in order to get my sister?”

There was a moment of silence.

“…What do you mean?”

He had a puzzled look on his face as though he had no idea what I was talking about.​​However, such a trick would not work for me. Already, his various works could be seen as clearly as a clear pond to me after reading the novel.

“If I marry you, Ophelia will try to follow me no matter how hard I try. What you are aiming for…”

“Evelyn.”

Cassius cut me off.​​ “I had no idea you had such an illusion.”

I had to try not to laugh.​​An illusion…? There was always a strange longing in Cassius, who gazed at Ophelia or whenever she was mentioned.

I will devour my opponent…!

“Ophelia… Why her?”

“Are you listening to what you are saying?”

I continued to snap back in amazement. “Ophelia is much more beautiful than I am. Enough to satisfy even the temperament of the picky Cassius Brudenell.”

I was certain.​​I do not know what it was like in the novel, though in this reality, I am going through now, Cassius fell in love with Ophelia at first sight. Otherwise, the moment they first met, a strange spark would not have occurred.

And, that spark would have spread into a considerable fire thanks to Ophelia’s natural appearance and character.

“What is the use of such fragile beauty?”​​“…Yes?”

There were emotions in Cassius’ voice that I could not even judge. It was not a surprise, not even a pleasure.

Then…

‘…Anger?’

I bit my lip.

It was apparent why Cassius was angry. It must have been upsetting to see that the prey, who seemed to be fooled so far, rushed in with its claws exposed. However, for me and Ophelia, it was a matter of survival.​​Moments after, his cold voice was heard.

“Evelyn, do you love me?”

“…Are you crazy?”​​Cassius did not answer. Instead, he took a step towards me.

Because our distance was already close, I could feel the heat emanating out of his body.

“Look at me, Countess Garneid.”

He did not force me to do anything. It was a matter of refusing and moving away.

However, the force majeure led me to look upwards.

As I glanced up, I could see Cassius was looking at me with a devouring gaze.​​“Why don’t you love me?”

My body froze at the words his sculptural lips spoke.

“…I do not think anyone can match my appearance.”

I took a breath.

Now, I seem to understand this bizarre situation.

This crazy guy…

Since I have mentioned that he would have fallen in love with Ophelia for her good looks, he must have thought that I fell in love with his appearance, too!

Though, contrary to expectations, I was angry because I did not like it at all.

What was even more surprising was that Cassius was really handsome. He was not just a handsome man. He is also a man who has the charm of captivating people.

That was Cassius Brudenell.

As I said nothing, his golden eyes narrowed.

“Tell me, Evelyn. If I had a crush on your sister, wouldn’t you have a crush on me, too?”

“….”

He openly moved his head slightly at the angle that showed his handsome face best. The evening sun shone on his sharp jawline, and his alluring gaze deepened even more.

In an instant, my face heated up.

Okay.

Even though I have denied it so far, Cassius Brudenell was a handsome man that made my heart tremble just by looking at him.

It was because he is crazy enough to make my heart tremble with fear!

I licked my lips slowly.

When I came to my senses, I was already completely absorbed in Cassius Brudenell’s pace. I had no idea how to get out of this situation.

Just then.

Knock, knock.​​Someone knocked on the door.

I was terribly nervous. It was because there was a possibility that Ophelia might have knocked on the door to help me.

“Lady?”

As the person outside of the door spoke, I breathed a sigh of relief.

It was not Ophelia’s voice.

‘She is a maid… My parents must have sent her.’

Although the voice was a little unfamiliar, how many aristocrats can memorize the voices of the maids one by one?

“Come in.”

As expected, the maid showed up with an elaborate porcelain teapot, teacup, and a tray full of various refreshments.

“Since the conversation is getting long, the Madam has sent me, worrying that you may be thirsty.”

“….”

I swallowed a sigh.

It was because my mother’s face, who was happy to see that I was talking with Cassius Brudenell without rushing out, came to mind.

‘She really wants to make this marriage happen…’​​The maid bowed her back and poured the tea.

Mother seemed to have sent a maid who was meticulously good at brewing tea.

In essence, it was something a noble young lady, who entertained her guests, should have done, but my tea-brewing skills were feeble. Of course, I did not know how to do it in the first place, and I did not even try to do it well, so it’s only natural.

Originally, Evelyn brewed tea pretty well, though it was not really my thing. After all, everyone thinks I am crazy, so what is the point of not making tea?

When she had finished her work, the maid bowed politely and quickly walked out of her drawing room.

‘Huh…?’

The moment I stared at the maid’s back without thinking much, a strange feeling struck me.

‘‘That maid… I have never seen her before.’

As I said earlier, it was almost impossible to memorize the voices of the maids one by one. Nonetheless, this was not some kind of palace, and it is the first time I have seen a maid in charge of brewing and pouring tea?

This was not possible.

“It smells good.”

Cassius lifted the teacup gracefully and smiled.

Turning back at him, my body stiffened by itself. A little while ago, he was expressing displeasure, although now he suddenly feels better?

“The tea will cool down.”

He titled his head towards the teacup.​​“Let’s drink it.”

It was as if he was the host of a guest.

I kept my back straight.

“I will not drink it.”

“Why? I heard you like tea. Especially a luxury tea like this.”

“…How do you know if this tea is luxurious or not?” I said as I narrowed my eyes and glared at Cassius intently.

“There is no way with such a rich aroma and refreshing acidity be a low-quality product.”

“….”

I ran out of things to say and quietly touched my forehead.

It was because the brutality of Cassius in the original did not disappear from my mind.

…The way he got Ophelia out of Count Garneid’s mansion was to put sleeping pills in the drinking water.

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