CH 64

Now that he had become an adult, it was only natural to enjoy such things, but Evan rarely drank alcohol. 

Filled with dissatisfaction, her gaze followed where Evan was looking, and she saw people dancing.

‘Could it be that this guy… wants to dance…?’

Having such a thought, Riett blinked her eyes in a tipsy state and spoke.

“At least dance, why don’t you dance……?”

It was not only for Evan but also a remark for other women. Some noble ladies had been stealing glances at Evan, and it seemed they wanted to dance with him.

Surely Evan must have noticed those signals, but he had no intention of getting up from his chair. Nevertheless, Riett found it strange that he continued to watch the people dancing as if he wanted to join them.

“My partner sprained her ankle.”

Though it was an excuse, Evan muttered in a muffled voice.

‘…It’s a valid reason, so I can’t argue.’

Riett pretended not to hear Evan’s muttering and indulged in her whims.

“Riett!”

Just then, Riett’s busy mother noticed them and approached.

‘Mother, nice timing……!’

“Is your ankle okay? Oh my, is she drunk?”

Observing Riett’s flushed face and slightly unfocused eyes, her mother asked in surprise.

“That’s not true!”

Riett refuted, but neither of them believed her words.

Her mother looked around the less crowded reception hall compared to before.

“The party is coming to an end, so it doesn’t matter much…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be by her side.”

When Evan smiled brightly, Riett’s mother sent him a grateful look.

“I’m glad Evan is with Riett. Please take care of her in the future.”

“Of course.”

Why were they making such requests while the person concerned was present? Riett couldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable.

‘I can handle things on my own…’

Riett found this heartwarming scene a bit awkward.

At that moment, an idea popped into Riett’s head as she opened her eyes wide and watched them.

“Mother… Have you never danced before?”

“Well… because I’ve been busy with the guests.”

“Then, how about dancing with Evan…? He hasn’t danced before either…”

Riett looked at her mother with a helpless expression.

“Evan, are you okay with it?”

“I don’t mind, but I don’t want to leave Riett alone.”

However, as Riett stood up and grabbed Evan’s hand, she pulled him up.

“Don’t make fun of me! Am I a child…?”

Being pushed from behind, Evan had no choice but to get up and escorted her mother.

Waving their hands, Riett watched them leave and her gaze fell on a glass of apple wine.

‘Now’s the time.’

Quickly bringing a glass of apple wine, Riett poured the alcohol into an empty glass. Then she sat down and waited for Evan.

As beautiful melodies filled the reception hall, people moved gracefully. Riett focused her eyes on Evan and her mother. Both of them looked happy. Since Evan was good at pleasing her mother, she would surely like him as well.

When the music ended, Evan soon returned to Riett’s side. Fortunately, her mother had gone to talk to other guests and only Evan came back.

“Evan, are you thirsty? Here… drink this.”

Riett handed Evan the glass filled with apple wine. Evan accepted the glass.

While inwardly celebrating her success, she heard a sizzling sound.

“What is this?”

“It’s water.”

“Why is the water turning yellow?”

…Sharp one, huh?

Feeling annoyed, Riett swiftly took back the glass. Then, she chugged it down in one gulp.

“…You!”

“Yeah, it’s not water… it’s alcohol!”

Evan seemed to point out once again that she had drunk alcohol, but Riett was unyielding.

‘I’m an adult now!’

* * *

As the alcohol’s influence grew stronger, Riett leaned weakly against her chair, gazing around the hall. The crowd was gradually thinning, and it seemed that the party was preparing to come to an end.

She was starting to feel sleepy. Her eyes were closing little by little, and she felt like she would fall asleep any moment.

“Riett.”

“…Hmm?”

“Get some sleep over there. I’ll wake you up when the party is completely over.”

Evan pointed towards a secluded area behind the curtains. It was a resting space in the unused banquet hall, and there was a long sofa that looked perfect for sleeping.

Having attended Duke Marren’s parties frequently since he was young, Evan was familiar with various areas of the venue.

Riett nodded her head weakly like a sick bird and slowly stood up from her seat.

‘…I’m sleepy.’

Her body felt weak as if she had become an old person. With Evan’s support, she managed to walk without stumbling.

When they pulled back the curtains, a dark space unfolded before them. It felt like a cozy cradle.

Evan helped Riett lie down on the soft sofa.

“Most of the guests have left, so you can sleep comfortably.”

Riett expressed her satisfaction and buried her face in the plush sofa.

However, as she was about to fall asleep, a sense of unease crept into her heart.

‘Oh.’

Riett realized why she couldn’t sleep peacefully—it was because of the apple wine.

Riett reached out her hand towards Evan, who was about to leave the curtain.

“Just a moment…”

Fortunately, Evan heard her voice as he was about to go outside, so he turned around.

“Evan, you know…”

Though her mission of getting Evan to drink the apple wine had failed, she still wanted to share the special taste of the drink with him.

“The apple wine…”

“Are we still talking about that drink?”

“…The aroma is nice…”

As Riett murmured, she gestured to Evan. But lying down on the sofa, Evan seemed too far and high for her to reach.

‘Come closer…’

As Riett puckered her lips, Evan understood and knelt, meeting Riett’s gaze.

“Why?”

As Evan asked, Riett grabbed his face and pulled it towards her. Evan’s enlarged eyes came into view right in front of her.

Their lips touched and then separated.

The sweet scent of apples briefly lingered on Evan’s lips.

“The aroma…”

Is nice.

Hehe. Riett couldn’t finish her sentence and giggled softly. Having completed her sub-mission, she closed her eyes with a satisfied expression.

Soon, gentle breaths began to escape from Riett’s lips.

“…”

Evan gently touched his lips and looked down at Riett, who had fallen asleep.

“Riett.”

There was no response from the sleeping Riett.

Evan gazed at Riett with a reverent expression, as if looking at a goddess. However, his eyes carried a hint of sorrow and yearning.

“I don’t mind waiting for a long time. Just…”

Evan slowly lowered his head.

And he kissed Riett’s forehead.

“In the end, I hope I’ll be by your side.”

Evan briefly revealed the sincerity that he had buried deep in his heart.

* * *

The winter migratory birds chirped loudly, announcing the morning with commotion as they flew across the sky. In response to the natural alarm sounds, Riett woke up from her sleep.

As she opened her eyes, she remembered vaguely that she had fallen asleep at the banquet hall yesterday and had somehow been brought to her room by the maidservants. The maidservants must have struggled to bring her limp body all the way there. Not only that, but they had also changed her clothes and let down her hair.

Thinking foolishly that she should give apple pies as a token of apology to the hardworking maidservants, Riett huddled and clutched her pillow tightly.

‘Ah, I don’t want to get up.’

Perhaps it was because she hadn’t drunk alcohol in a long time, but her body felt heavy and sluggish. She had consumed a considerable amount of sweet-smelling, good-quality liquor yesterday.

Frowning and lost in thought, Riett recalled that it was apple wine. It had been twenty years since she last drank, and it was quite satisfying.

‘I should prepare that wine for the next party.’

As she was smiling happily, 

“…!”

A sudden realization struck her like a bolt from the blue. It was an impossible memory, something that shouldn’t have happened.

She wanted to deny it, but along with the scenes from yesterday, the vivid sensation lingered too.

‘What… what is this? Something is wrong…!’

If it wasn’t for that, she wouldn’t have kissed Evan yesterday! And it was her who initiated it…!

However, as her mind cleared, the cruel memory became more distinct.

“The smell was nice…”

Thud!

Riett buried her face in the pillow and let out a silent scream. She remembered Evan’s bewildered face vividly. How shocked he must have been.

‘Should I apologize…?’

Apologizing out of conscience was the right thing to do, but she also became afraid of how Evan would react. It was something she had never experienced before.

‘Would he be angry and resentful?’

The pleasant mood she had just enjoyed plummeted to the ground.

It happened when Riett sat with a sullen face, lost in thought.

Knock, knock.

“Riett, are you awake?”

Her mother’s voice came from outside.

“Yes.”

Riett replied weakly, and her mother opened the door and entered. Her mother noticed Riett’s pale complexion and asked with concern.

“You drank a lot of alcohol yesterday, so you’re not feeling well?”

“No…”

“But why do you seem so weak?”

Her mother brushed Riett’s hair with a worried expression.

“Just… like this…”

“It seems like it won’t do. Evan is downstairs; I should send him away.”

“E-Evan…?”

Riett’s eyes widened as she looked at her mother as if she had seen a ghost.

“Yes, he said he has something to discuss with you.”

Though she thought Evan would bring up what happened yesterday, she didn’t expect it to happen so soon.

‘Right.’

It was bound to happen anyway. She’ll apologize and be done with it…!

Riett got out of bed and tightly tied her hair with a determined expression.

“Can I meet him now?”

“Yes, I think it’s fine.”

Riett’s sudden change in attitude was strange, but the Duchess didn’t pay much attention and made way for her.

Riett called a maid and quickly washed up before heading downstairs.

She saw a tall black-haired figure. If she wasn’t nervous, it would have been a lie. She was worried about how he would look at her.

Taking a small breath, Riett opened her mouth.

“Evan.”

At the sound of her calling, Evan turned around, thankfully wearing his usual expression.

“You came down quickly.”

Relieved that he seemed just as usual, Riett even thought he had come to talk about “that incident.”

“…You.”

“Why?”

His smiling face seemed to put her at ease. But she couldn’t let her guard down yet.

“Do you have something to talk to me about?”

“Yeah.”

Evan nodded casually.

“Then let’s talk in the drawing room.”

“Okay.”

The two of them moved to the drawing room.

Once the door closed, Riett spoke first.

“What is it that you want to talk about?”

“I have something to thank you for.”

Thank you…? Riett asked with a suspicious expression.

“What are you thanking me for?”

She hadn’t done anything to deserve Evan’s gratitude.

“Yesterday.”

Yesterday. Riett nodded her head like a parrot imitating speech. And soon, she understood.

“You showed me how wonderful the scent of apples is.”

The expression of gratitude was just a pretext to bring up “that incident.”