CH 109

“I want to talk about Miss Laria’s greatness to all of the neighborhood. I am moved when I see someone who does a good job.”

It was a remark that made me understand why Morand, a great talent, was in Duchy Icard.

I sighed and unfolded Olivia’s tiger fan. This fan had the effect of strengthening my weak image at once.

“It’s an order, Morand. Review the other things once in a while, and there’s quite a bit of deadline left, so don’t tell anyone until the deadline.”

Entrusting me with tasks with deadlines must have meant to ‘just take a look.’ Of course, I was planning to run away within that deadline.

“A person who is so outstanding…”

“Uhh.”

As he continued, I tapped the fan once and hit my chest, and Morand shut his mouth immediately. It seemed to have the same effect as seeing Lady Olivia.

“I want it to be more perfect. I’ll think on my own, so if there is a better way, I will try to revise it, so give me a little more time.”

“No, this alone is great…”

Even though Morand even stomped his foot, I frowned and nailed it sternly.

“It’s my first job, so I really want to do well. So tell them later, later.”

“…Yes, I understand. Still, I’m sure the two will really appreciate it. Of course, so do I.”

I yawned and stood up, leaving Morand, who was once again moved by the papers.

“Then, I will go to bed. See you tomorrow, Morand.”

No matter how much Evan liked to have a room alone, he should be asleep by now. I couldn’t sleep uncomfortably in the library for two days in a row. Besides, tomorrow was the Imperial Palace Banquet! It was like the last event before living in hiding, so I had to get a good night’s sleep in order to fully enjoy it.

‘I’m really just going to sleep… I’ll never make you feel uncomfortable even if I come, Evan Icard.’

I left the library and went to the room with Evan after such a very long time.

* * *

“Why are you so late?”

As soon as I entered the room, Evan asked.

“Why did you go to the library? You don’t really like books, do you?”

“I’m afraid you’ll be uncomfortable.”

I answered casually.

“You seem to want to use a room by yourself, so I just came here to sleep.”

“What are you talking about? What if you overdo it, and your body gets sick even more? You should have kicked me out.”

“…This is your room? I’ll wash up first.”

After I washed and changed into my indoor clothes, Evan was standing with his back to me and glancing out the window.

‘Who’s husband is this, he is so cool.’

I thought to myself as I gazed at the tall stature, broad shoulders, and outstretched legs.

‘It’s worth looking at. However, with that physicality, he doesn’t want to touch a woman’s skin. What a waste…’

Still, seeing that the day he stopped by the tower or hung out with me at the masquerade and he didn’t seem that bad, the family seemed to be okay again. But looking back, Evan wasn’t quiet. It looked like he was singing some kind of hymn…

“Evan, are you singing a hymn? Are the lyrics very reverent and solemn?”

“It’s a hymn.”

Even the song about ignorance and thoughtlessness, so I was absurd.

“…It’s a little odd to say this, but you haven’t been baptized.”

“Uh. So it doesn’t work, damn it.”

Evan sighed and wiped his eyes.

“Are you okay with the nosebleed earlier? You look exhausted, so go to bed early.”

As I went next to him and checked his complexion, I could see that his ears were red, so I carefully placed my hand on his forehead.

“Do you have a fever?”

“….”

“I’m going to sleep really quietly, so you should sleep well as well. Tomorrow, you’ll be busy reporting this and that to father again. No, right now, ask father to reduce your work.”

“…No. It’s okay.”

Evan slowly raised his hand and took my hand from his forehead. I continued as I felt my fingers intertwined.

“Even if you are an adult, you are still young and…”

He gently cut off my words, which were meant to criticize Duke Icard slightly.

“From that moment on, I…”

Suddenly, he clasped my hands that were overlapping each other before slowly lowering them from his forehead.

“I want to listen to all of Father’s wishes.”

“…What?”

“Perhaps, because I can understand my father’s sense of loss. In the past, I felt pity for myself, but now I feel pity for father beyond comparison.”

At that moment, the shoulder straps of my dressing gown slid down and I hurriedly lifted it up.

“What does that mean? How did you…”

Nevertheless, he didn’t answer my words. Evan passed me by without hesitation and headed for the closet.

“…Wait a moment.”

The next moment, he opened his closet, pulled out his robe, and immediately wrapped it around my body. Even though his clothes were so large that they looked ridiculous, he wrapped me in a robe and laid me on the bed. And he rolled me over again with the duvet.

“Evan? It’s not winter right now…”

“Good night, Laria.”

Was there such a bizarre case of forcing the other person to go to sleep during a conversation?

I asked angrily.

“What about you?”

“I’m going to do some exercise and sleep.”

“…Right now?”

Without answering, he dropped himself and started doing push-ups.

‘…Is he crazy? He’s been doing this every night? What kind of exercise addict is he?’

Even the speed was fast.

I watched him do furious push-ups in spite of his exhaustion.

“Laria, aren’t you sleeping?”

“Well. It’s just fun to watch.”

“What is it?”

“Your body is entertaining.”

To be honest, it was the funniest thing I’d seen lately.

“….”

Evan squatted, got up and went into the bathroom to take a shower. And, surprisingly, he did it all night long.

‘Is he an idiot? Why is he doing sit-ups again after taking a shower?’

Taking turns doing the three things—singing a hymn, exercising like crazy, and showering—I ended up falling asleep because I was bored.

‘No matter how beautiful the cherry blossom is during the cherry blossom viewing season, you can’t see it all night long…’

I thought that Evan’s body was pretty. So, if those muscles were maintained by exercise like that every night, the result and effort were not bad.

The following day, Lady Olivia and Duke Icard came in at the same time. Possibly she had just arrived at the Duke’s residence for a banquet this evening and had heard the servant’s report of the attack.

“Laria! A bomb went off in your room?! Who dared to do that to my goddaughter?”

“Laria, are you hurt anywhere? Are you very surprised?”

They both ran to me and checked my complexion in haste.

“I’m, I’m fine…”

Lady Olivia and Duke Icard glanced at Evan behind me and exchanged glances.

“Aunt, it seems that you didn’t hear properly because you came in a hurry.”

“I know. I heard up to ‘The bomb exploded in Miss Laria’s room…’”

Finishing her words, she glanced at Evan calmly and continued, “Were you in Laria’s room? Are you the one who got hurt? Your face is a mess.”

Olivia sighed and added.

“Yes, if it was something to hurt one person, it would be better for my strong nephew and grandson than my weak goddaughter to take it. Your limbs are still intact, that’s a relief.”

Duke Icard also frowned and intervened.

“Your complexion is so bad, what did the doctor say? You must have been seriously injured.”

Indeed, Evan’s face was dark enough to be misunderstood.

‘I didn’t know he could do such a sadistic thing all night long. It’s definitely not normal. Still, he’s my husband, so I’ll keep it a secret.’

The secret to a nice and fun body was exercising every night.

“I’m fine. Do not worry.”

I turned my gaze away from Evan, who spoke calmly with his tongue twitching. Then, a knock resounded the next moment.

“Miss Laria, you need to prepare to go to the banquet soon… Oh my, everyone is here.”

Lisa came in and spoke calmly, but she paused in surprise.

“Oh, right. If you want to dress up, you have to start now.”

Lady Olivia straightened her back as if she had come to her senses now.

“I saw enough because I saw that everyone was okay. You have to dress up, so I’ll go.”

Duke Icard also muttered a few words about Evan’s work and left. Not long after, Lisa came in with a bright smile and a dress and jewelry.

“Did you rest well, Miss Laria? After a long time, we will dress up here! It reminds me of the past.”

In the end, I had no choice but to start preparing for the banquet with a bit of absurdity. Anyway, it was my last event with Duchy Icard’s people.