CH 13

Even while I was thinking for a moment, the butler urged me to go back to my room.

However, Evelia stiffened her back and said.

“I have no intention of going back.”

“……”

“I can’t make the Duke wait any longer.”

Evelia walked past the butler and back into the drawing room.

I was worried that the butler might forcefully drag me into my room, but fortunately that didn’t happen. He just silently followed me.

Evelia arrived at the drawing room and grabbed the doorknob.

Through the crack in the slightly open door, the voice of Countess Venion, obviously embarrassed, came out.

“Duke, as I said, Evelia is not feeling well. How about you come back later?”

As soon as I heard that hateful voice, Evelia burst into laughter.

‘You mean you want to save face?’

Countess Venion was particularly concerned about her appearance in society.

Even though she hated Evelia to death, she gave her expensive clothes and accessories as gifts because of her ‘noble face’.

She tried to package herself as a ‘generous wife who embraces even her husband’s illegitimate child’.

But what would happen if Evelia appeared in front of her fiancée with a face that was clearly beaten by someone?

The image of the Countess, which she had managed so far, would be shattered.

I felt a strange sense of rebellion. When I was told not to do it, I had the urge to do more.

Evelia smiled brightly and opened the door.

“I told no one to come in… Evelia?”

The Countess, who had looked around the door ferociously, opened her eyes wide when she saw Evelia.

She hurried over and grabbed Evelia’s arm.

She whispered softly.

“Why do you come here looking like that?”

Evelia looked at her and smiled brightly, pretending not to know anything.

Just a moment ago, I was annoyed at having to meet Cassis with this face on, but when I saw Countess Venion acting, I thought it was a good thing to come out.

“Since the Duke said he won’t go back until he sees me, I have no choice but to come.”

“Go back to your room right now. Are you going to disgrace my face?”

“If you were worried about that, why did you hit me in the first place?”

Evelia spoke coldly, but a shadow suddenly fell over her head. Cassis, who had approached before I knew it, was looking at the two of them.

“Why are you coming now?”

It was a cool voice. However, even though I had heard that voice a few times, I wasn’t as nervous when I first met him.

Evelia casually greeted him.

“I’m sorry. I had to make some last-minute arrangements.”

It was a scolding comment that he should have contacted her first.

But Cassis didn’t bat an eye. He looked down at Evelia, his eyes slightly frowning.

“What kind of picnic hat is that?”

“Ah…”

I had come only to see Countess Venion fidgeting. But when Cassis showed interest in me, I was embarrassed.

While Evelia couldn’t answer properly, Cassis asked again.

“Do you have any reason to cover your face?”

“That is…”

It was before Evelia could even answer. Cassis flipped her hat off. Torn lips and swollen cheeks were exposed in front of him.

Seeing her face, Cassis’s face hardened.

“This too… Are you hurt by a fall?”

“It’s just a little bruise from…”

Countess Venion hurriedly interrupted, but Cassis’ gaze was fixed on Evelia.

“Lady, please tell me yourself. Who did this?”

Evelia looked up and stared into Cassis’ eyes.

His red eyes shimmered like hot lava.

This time, she was sure. He was angry now.

“Why?

While Evelia thought blankly, Cassis took her face with his right hand.

Contrary to the angry expression, the hand holding the face didn’t have much strength.

He lifted Evelia’s head and studied her face a little more closely.

“You’ve been hit. Who did it?”

He looked at Countess Venion with shining eyes.

“The person who hit my fiancée.”

“I swear I didn’t hit her!”

At the Countess’ denial, his gaze turned to Evelia.

“Who?”

There was only one answer Evelia could give.

“I didn’t get hit.”

To be honest, I didn’t know what Cassis would do to Countess Venion. That’s how brutal his atmosphere was.

Cassis didn’t ask twice. Instead he let go of Evelia’s face and took her hand.

He said as if declaring to Countess Venion.

“I can’t let my fiancée stay in a place like this. I will take Lady Venion.”

“Yes?”

Then he took Evelia and left the drawing room. Evelia followed him blindly.

Since he didn’t hold her hand too tightly, I could have easily shaken off Cassis’s hand.

But Evelia couldn’t bear it. Because from the corner of her eye, Cassis’ face looked more sad than angry.

So Evelia climbed into Adelhard’s carriage as he led her.

When Cassis climbed into the carriage after her and closed the door, the carriage began to depart.

Evelia asked him afterward.

“What are you doing?”

He had come unannounced, got angry at her wounds, kidnapped her, and talked about engagement.

It was a situation she didn’t understand and didn’t want to understand.

Evelia wanted to hear a proper explanation from Cassis. But instead of explaining, he asked back.

“What are you doing, lady?”

“Yes?”

“Why are you being treated like that? Why did you say you would break off the engagement instead of asking me for help?”

His calm voice cracked at the end. He had always tried to hide his anger, but now he was letting it show.

He expressed his emotions as it was.

Seeing him like this for the first time, Evelia was taken aback and couldn’t answer.

She was the one who should be angry, but why is Cassis angry?

After a moment of thought, she managed to squeeze her voice.

“I’ve already told you that no matter how I’m treated at Count Venion’s family, it’s none of the Duke’s business.”

“Is this because of your request to break off the engagement?”

“Something like that.”

“Then let me make it clear to you today: once engaged, you are already mine. I will not break the engagement.”

“Yes?”

“So I think I have the right to meddle in the young lady’s affairs.”

“How…”

Evelia managed to suppress the voice that was about to rise.

“You’re not going to break up? why?”

“Didn’t I already tell you, we’re already engaged once, and you already mine.”

Even as he said that, Cassis couldn’t understand himself.

It was the Venion that he hated until yesterday.

Even when Evelia asked to break off the marriage, he had thought about it.

But then I changed my mind. I had seen with my own eyes how Evelia had been mistreated, and I could not leave her in Count Venion.

I was willing to marry her if necessary. It was what I had decided to do anyway, so why not?

But he couldn’t say it out loud. He couldn’t convince himself, and he didn’t think she would be convinced either.

So Cassis made up a reason for her to understand.

“I can’t trust the information the young lady promised to tell me.”

“Yes?”

“Even if the young lady gives me information, I need time to verify that the information is correct.”

“What if the information is correct?”

“I’ll do whatever the young lady wants.”

“What if it is wrong?”

“In that case, I will have no choice but to deal with Count Venion again.”

Evelia crossed her arms in displeasure.

‘That’s right.’

After reading the original novel, Evelia could be sure that the information she had was correct, but Cassis had no choice but to approach with caution.

What if Evelia broke off the engagement and disappeared, but the information was wrong?

From Cassis’ point of view, even the hand to trade with Count Venion will disappear.

She understood, but she couldn’t help but feel dissatisfied.

“But my condition was to break the engagement. If you don’t break off the engagement, I won’t be able to give the Duke any information.”

“It’s okay. Even if the lady doesn’t give it to me, it’s because I’ve already agreed to receive it from Count Venion.”

“But you didn’t want to marry me.”

“……”

I expected him to say yes, but there was no response from Cassis.

“Duke?”

Evelia urged him, and only then did he open his mouth.

“I have no intention of forcing you.”

“…….”

“But even if you don’t want to marry me, I would like you to stay at the Adelhard Mansion for a while.”