Chapter 031
“Haha, that’s how it looks to me.”
Roman seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, then soon spoke in a low voice.
“Even though he seems like a solid rock on the outside, on the inside, he is actually empty. I’m talking about things like the emotional exchanges between people that you should have naturally learned as you grew up.”
Only then did I realize why Roman had brought up the past, which I hadn’t even asked about, by making such a ridiculous bet.
“Roman, you’re very perceptive. It seems no one else noticed.”
“It’s my job to assist the Duke and the Duchess. How could I not notice something so important?”
It seemed Roman had been observing the cold war between Evan and me over the past few days, waiting for the right moment to bring up the conversation.
“I don’t know what the Duke said, but the fact that he’s concerned about you is undeniably true.”
“…I know.”
No matter how curt and prickly his attitude might be, when it comes to me, he’s cautious to the point where it’s noticeable.
Thanks to Roman’s words, the complicated thoughts swirling inside me felt a bit clearer.
“Let’s head back.”
I turned and walked quickly toward the lodgings.
I suddenly wanted to see Evan’s face.
***
In the dining hall on the first floor, there were already a few people leisurely enjoying drinks after dinner.
“Roman, go have your meal.”
“Understood. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
Roman, after bidding me farewell, blended into the group sitting at a nearby table.
Before heading up to my room, I took a quick glance around the first floor.
“Is he in his room? He’s not on the first floor.”
Just as I turned to head upstairs after confirming he wasn’t there, a voice called out to me.
“Excuse me, guest? Are you staying here tonight?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
A middle-aged woman carrying a large basket of blankets approached me. She seemed to be the owner of the place. Looking at my hair, she clapped her hands together.
“Oh! That’s right! Go on, get some rest. Your room is on the fourth floor, the farthest room on the right. It’s the best room here. Hohoho.”
The owner smiled warmly as she directed me to my room. I nodded in acknowledgment and slowly climbed the stairs.
“What should I say when I get to the room first?”
I felt nervous, my body trembling at the thought of finally talking to him after two days.
“Ah? Madam Dahlia!”
Just then, I bumped into a knight coming down from the upper floor.
Seeing his youthful face, I called out his name.
“Oh, Vero.”
He was the knight who had been with Caelan the last time I used magic to lift the carriage. His cheeks were slightly flushed, suggesting he had already shared a drink with his fellow knights on the first floor.
“Madam Dahlia, I’m really sorry about last time… Next time, I’ll think before I speak.”
I expected him to continue downstairs, but suddenly he bowed his head and apologized.
“Vero?”
“I didn’t mean to bring up the Crown Prince on purpose, but… oh no, I did it again…”
His voice trembled, and I could see tears welling up in his eyes, as if he were overwhelmed with emotion. It seemed like he had gotten scolded by Roman since then. Vero didn’t seem to be the most perceptive person, judging from his usual behavior.
“It’s fine; you can stand up now.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
“Alright, go on your way now.”
I hurriedly sent him off, worried that if I said anything more, he might burst into tears. Then I turned back toward the room.
“Um, Madam Dahlia… Uhm, why are you going up another floor?”
As I started climbing the stairs again to reach the fourth floor, Vero, still behind me, asked with a puzzled expression.
“I was told my room is on the fourth floor. Why?”
“Oh, well, I thought it was on the third floor. I just saw the Duke enter the far right room on the third floor.”
“Is that so?”
I recalled what the owner had said earlier.
‘Did I mishear and think she said the fourth floor instead of the third?’
Either way, knowing that Evan was in the room brought me some relief.
“Thank you for letting me know.”
“Haha, it was nothing. Well then, I’ll be off!”
Watching Vero’s now-energized figure leave, I chuckled softly and turned toward the right room.
When I finally reached the door, I took a deep breath before gripping the doorknob and opening it.
Creeeak.
I stepped inside, reciting the words I had prepared in my head.
“Evan, I’m here. Can we talk for a bit—”
As I had expected, Evan was in the room. But what I hadn’t anticipated was that he had just stepped out of the bathroom, completely naked.
“…”
I stood frozen as I watched water droplets on his hair trail down his neck, across his muscular chest, and slide between his perfectly symmetrical abs.
As the droplet of water continued to slide down his body, I opened my mouth…
“S-Sorry!”
Bang!
I moved faster than I ever had in my life, rushing out of the room.
I slid down the wall, my back pressed against the door, clutching my still-pounding chest.
Then, I quickly shouted to him beyond the door.
“Evan? I’m sorry! I swear I didn’t see anythi—”
Wait.
I stopped myself mid-sentence.
If I said I hadn’t seen anything, wouldn’t that hurt his pride in a different way?
Sitting there by the door, I spent a few minutes deliberating before deciding to go with honesty.
After clearing my throat a few times, I leaned closer to the door and spoke cautiously.
“Um, I did see… but don’t worry. I’ll forget it soon—well, it’s not exactly something I ‘can’ forget, but I’ll try to…”
I was so flustered that I didn’t even know what I was saying.
Time passed as I sat in front of the door, and eventually, the door creaked open, revealing Evan’s face.
“Come in.”
His voice was so low and cold that it made me shudder.
“Yes…”
Like a child about to be scolded, I dragged my heavy feet into the room.
Without a word, Evan went to sit on the sofa in one corner of the room.
I quietly took a seat across from him, sitting properly.
As if by some unspoken agreement, both Evan and I stared at the floor in silence, neither of us daring to speak.
Just as the indescribable awkwardness was reaching its peak, Evan’s calm voice broke the silence.
“What brings you here? Your room should be on the floor above.”
“Huh? Are we staying in separate rooms? The knight I met earlier told me the room was on the third floor…”
I had assumed we would be sharing the same room, so his words left me puzzled. I looked up at Evan, whose expression seemed even darker than usual, and our eyes met.
Quickly.
Without either of us meaning to, we both looked away at the same time.
‘Oh no, stop thinking about it…’
I tried to clear my mind, but the overwhelming image from earlier kept distracting me.
Then Evan spoke again.
“I had informed the innkeeper separately, but it seems the message wasn’t passed along correctly. When we reach the estate, we’ll have no choice but to share a room, so wouldn’t it be better to rest comfortably tonight?”
“Oh…”
In other words, he had arranged separate rooms out of consideration for me.
I sighed softly, thinking of the innkeeper I had met earlier.
‘So I ‘did’ hear correctly that the room was on the fourth floor. Vero, not knowing the situation, must have assumed I’d be staying with Evan and told me it was on the third floor.’
“Sorry, I didn’t realize because the message wasn’t passed on. Thank you for being considerate.”
I thanked him for his thoughtfulness.
midori
thanks! she got a look, lolol! while i see the need for it, i don’t really fancy having outside people like roman getting involved in a relationship i hope it won’t become a pattern