CH 113

Even though Riett knew that Evan wasn’t there, she couldn’t help but worry and looked around. After realizing once again that he wasn’t there, she finally spoke up.

“Mister, actually, Evan… he confessed to me…”

Riett’s gaze wandered downward. As she spoke, she recalled the situation from that day, and her face flushed.

“So, he finally told you. Well done.”

Riett raised her head in surprise at the mister’s casual tone.

“Finally? So, you knew…?”

Riett asked, flustered. The mister drew an awkward smile on his face.

“Haha… I’m sorry, Riett.”

She was the only one who didn’t know…! 

Riett realized anew that she was insensitive to other people’s emotions, especially in matters of love. 

Even when a nobleman who showed interest in her was constantly around, she had no idea about his feelings. She just thought they coincidentally crossed paths. 

There was also an incident where she only found out when he faced her directly and said, ‘I have admired the Duchess. Will you accept my love?’

“Riett… What do you think?”

At the mister’s cautious question, Riett blinked her eyes dazedly.

“What do I think…?”

“It’s about Evan’s feelings. Although Riett’s feelings may not be the same as Evan’s, I wonder if there’s a possibility you would accept him.”

Riett couldn’t utter any response and just stared blankly like a goldfish.

She didn’t expect him to ask so directly. But the mister’s gaze was serious, so Riett mustered her courage and expressed her honest feelings.

“To be honest, I’m already troubled enough. When I see Evan, I move like a malfunctioning machine, unnaturally and rigidly. My heart beats so fast that it impairs my rational judgment. So, even if I try to think about Evan’s feelings properly… Why do you look at me like that, mister?”

As Riett tried her best to reveal her thoughts while enduring the awkwardness, Duke Kreutz’s face seemed odd.

He looked as if he had seen a monster or something. Riett wondered if a bug had crawled out but soon realized that his gaze was directed at her, who was earnestly speaking.

“Riett!”

Duke Kreutz grabbed Riett’s hand firmly. Riett looked at her right hand, tightly held by his hands.

‘…What’s with this reaction?’

Riett found it difficult to understand the seemingly delighted reaction from the man. As she stared intently at him, he released her hand and cleared his throat.

Then, as if contemplating something, he looked up for a moment before slowly opening his mouth.

“In my opinion, Riett, it seems like you are starting to view Evan as more than just a friend.”

Upon hearing those words, Riett stood up abruptly as if she had stepped on a spring. And without realizing it, she glared at the man with a fiery gaze.

However, if she didn’t react like this, she wouldn’t be able to handle this shock.

“Oh, so you mean that I… I have romantic feelings for Evan…?”

Duke Kreutz nodded without any hesitation.

“That’s right.”

Koogung-!

A bolt of lightning struck Riett’s mind. And the strange sensations that had occurred in her body rushed by like a fleeting glimpse. 

The excessively racing heartbeat, the strange tingling sensation, the swirling thoughts, and even a filter made Evan look much more handsome than usual. 

Was all of this because she perceive Evan as a romantic interest?

‘H-How… How can I see Evan like that?’

She had grown up with Evan like a lifelong male sibling… Evan was a childhood friend, nothing more and nothing less.

“Don’t be surprised. Everyone starts that way.”

Riett’s head, which had been deep in thought, whipped back toward the man. He seemed to be suppressing his laughter for some reason.

“Riett, examine your feelings carefully. Put aside heavy and tedious matters like the Spirit Stone or tax reforms, at least for now.”

Riett sat back down.

‘Why didn’t I realize?’

She was shocked by her failure to notice that Evan had liked her all along. And to some extent, she could empathize with what the man said. 

She had been so entangled in external matters like the Spirit Stone and tax reforms that she hadn’t properly taken care of her inner self.

‘Now that I think about it, it’s hard to believe I didn’t realize.’

As Riett reflected on her past for a moment, she heard familiar footsteps outside. Soon, the door creaked open.

“Father, are you here… Riett?”

The gaze that had been directed toward the mister quickly turned to Riett, who had just sat back down. Riett thought it was bad timing.

‘Even a tiger shows up when you mention it.’

Evan approached Riett with his long legs. His eyes, gazing down at her, were filled with depth.

“Are you done with your break?”

“Yeah… Yeah.”

Riett made an effort to appear nonchalant. 

In truth, her heart was pounding rapidly as soon as Evan appeared and stood before her. If these symptoms were occurring because she perceived Evan as a romantic interest, did her heart have to suffer like this every time?

Riett was greatly flustered by these unfamiliar emotions. There was a hint of dissatisfaction in Evan’s expression.

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I was going to tell you……. It ended today.”

In the past, she would have retorted, ‘It’s my heart!’ but Riett couldn’t do that now. She simply… felt sorry to say it that way.

As Riett wore a somewhat deflated expression, Evan kindly asked, 

“Did you feel any pain or sadness while you were away?”

Something felt off. Riett wished Evan would tease her with a playful tone instead. She couldn’t bring herself to look directly at Evan’s face as she answered.

“Not at all. I was extremely busy.”

Riett’s palms grew slightly damp.

‘This is a big problem.’

The discrepancy between her usual behavior and her current behavior was too great. 

The awkward tone of her voice and avoiding looking Evan in the eye. Just as Riett made up her mind to escape and stood up, Evan sat down beside her.

A gust of wind blew. 

Today, Evan’s scent seemed unusually strong. 

Even the pleasant smell only added to her tension.

“Why aren’t you looking at me properly?”

Riett’s throat made a squeaking sound as she turned to face Evan. 

She met Evan’s gaze. As if there was some strange filter, he seemed to emit a halo.

‘Why does he look so handsome today?’

Heat rose to her face.

“Riett… Are you running a fever?” 

Evan placed his hand on Riett’s forehead. Startled, Riett swatted his hand away.

“No!”

Riett felt resentful of her own overly sensitive reaction, but it was an inevitable reflex. If she hadn’t, her face might have turned as red as her hair.

“…”

Evan looked at his hand that had been pushed away. Then, he lifted his head and looked at Riett again. His black eyes pierced through her.

Riett held her breath for a moment, like a herbivore facing a predator. She desperately hoped he wouldn’t notice anything.

However, when a faint smile appeared on Evan’s expressionless face, Riett knew something was wrong.

“Riett.”

His gaze became even more persistent.

“Why?”

“Since your break is over starting today, how about we have dinner together as a celebration?”

Caught off guard by the awkward suggestion, Riett pondered.

‘If I have dinner with Evan now, I might choke.’

However, before Riett could refuse, the awkward mister who had been sitting there added his input faster.

“That would be nice. I have a dinner appointment to attend, so I have to leave. Riett, please have dinner with Evan.”

Riett resentfully looked at Duke Kreutz. But he avoided her gaze and stood up.

“Well then, I should be going now.”

His exit was incredibly unnatural.

Riett couldn’t say anything and just looked at Evan. There was still a gentle smile on Evan’s lips.

“When we came back from Parman, there are times when I suddenly feel a bit restless. Riett, have you never experienced that?”

“Huh?”

Riett didn’t grasp the intention behind the question and asked Evan back. Evan chuckled softly.

“Maybe that’s why I thought of Duchess Marren’s healthy meals recently. Maybe a low-sodium meal from Duchess Marren could help dispel this restlessness.”

This brat… The reason he mentioned Parman was because he wanted to suggest having dinner at Duchess Marren’s. If she said she didn’t want to, he would casually say, ‘Well, then starve, I guess.’

Evan, as if he knew what decision Riett would make, got up and took his coat.

Riett looked at him and thought, 

‘Please, let nothing happen today.’

* * *

Riett and Evan stood in the lobby of Marren’s mansion. 

Since there was no need to go back and forth, Riett had decided to eat at the Kreutz’s mansion, but Evan insisted on eating there. Evan crossed his arms and scanned the surroundings.

“Duchess Marren’s mansion is just the same.”

“Well, did you expect anything to change?”

Riett’s response earned her a cynical expression from Evan.

“After not showing your face for a month, I thought there would be something interesting inside.”

“There’s nothing like that. I’ve only been practicing spirit magic with Mishan.”

Evan’s expression instantly hardened.

“Continuously for a month?”

“Yeah. We’ve been working hard together, focusing on special training.”

Lost in the memories of the difficult training, Riett didn’t notice the change in Evan’s expression.

“He’s not here now. Mishan left to find Perante. It’ll take some time for him to come back.”

Evan murmured, ‘Hm… Is that so?’. Then he spoke to Riett.

“Riett, I have a question.”

“Huh?”

The slight upturn of her lips made Evan’s expression even colder.

“Can spirits also vanish or be extinguished?”

“Well… I think that might happen when they get older, but since spirits have their lifespan, I’m not sure. But if a great force is exerted that could cause their extinction, it might be possible.”

As Riett answered seriously, she tilted her head curiously.

“But why do you ask?”

Evan smiled brightly.

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

There was something ominous about his smile. Riett thought his smile was strange, but she didn’t pay much attention to it. 

She was hungry, after all.

As they entered the mansion, Riett guided Evan to the dining room. 

Soon, the food was served. Natasha, who appeared suddenly, looked flustered when she saw Evan.

“Duke Kreutz visits after a long time, and the prepared meal is too ordinary. If you had mentioned it earlier, I would have prepared something special…”

Riett reassured Natasha that ordinary was fine and sent her away. This unexpected visit was entirely Evan’s fault.

Riett and Evan locked eyes.

“I’m fine. I came here because I wanted to have the usual low-sodium meal.”

“I see… Then, eat a lot.”

Riett responded with a puzzled feeling.

The two of them sat at the dining table, and Evan elegantly sipped the soup that was served. The only sound that filled the meal was the clattering of utensils.

It was the beginning of a night that felt like the calm before the storm.