Chapter 042
As I settled onto the sofa in the office, he followed and sat down in front of me.
“About the reconstruction of the territory. What do you think is the most urgent need right now?”
I cut straight to the point without any preamble.
He raised an eyebrow at my question but soon answered diligently.
“Since we’re located near the border with the kingdom, establishing a defensive line is currently the most important priority.”
“Then would it be helpful to set up protective magic circles in the border areas?”
“It would be beneficial if we could, but with the current personnel in the knight order, we’re struggling just to dismantle the offensive magic that was installed by the kingdom during the war.”
Dismantling magic circles could be done using magical tools, even by someone who wasn’t a magician.
However, not just anyone could use magical tools.
One needed to have a basic understanding of magical power and how the tools operated; those capable of handling magical tools were rare, even if not as scarce as magicians.
Fortunately, there were a few knights in the Ballestain Order who could handle magical tools, but I had heard they had been working tirelessly for days, unable to sleep, just to dismantle the magic circles discovered at the last border inspection.
‘This is why people say a single magician can determine the outcome of a war.’
The overwhelming difference in power was evident, and it was easy to understand why magicians were treated as state guests in various countries.
“By the way, why do you suddenly ask about that?”
“Just curious. I thought it might be helpful for me to know.”
I noticed a skeptical expression on his face at my response.
Instead of answering his question, I decided to keep quiet and said I would let him know once it was confirmed tomorrow.
‘I should go see him again tomorrow.’
Given the magician’s abilities, I believed that the dismantling magic currently troubling the knight order and the defensive magic circles that would greatly assist the territory could be handled easily.
I thought that if things went well, his current tasks might also become somewhat easier.
‘By the way, why do I feel so dazed all of a sudden?’
From the moment I stepped into his office, I felt something was off with my body.
My mind felt slightly hazy, as if the tension in my body was easing…
At that moment, Evan, who had been watching me, spoke up.
“Milady. Are you feeling unwell?”
At his words, I lifted my head and stared directly into his eyes.
I noticed his lips twitch slightly.
“Why are you still calling me ‘Lady’?”
“What do you mean…?”
“I call you by your name.”
Once the words started flowing, my mouth wouldn’t stop, and I continued speaking.
I had been pretending everything was fine until now, but today, I felt like I had to bring this up.
“Do you know that you promised to call me by my name last time but haven’t done it even once since?”
At the same time, a feeling of disappointment welled up in me, and I looked at him with a hurt expression.
His gaze, meeting mine, was like a ship caught in a fierce storm, swaying aimlessly.
Seeing this, I leaned in closer and spoke again, almost pleading.
“Say it. Call me Dahlia.”
In our continued eye contact, it was Evan who looked away first.
“…milady. Have you been drinking?”
Evan’s expression had noticeably hardened, and he bluntly remarked in his usual blunt tone.
But I wouldn’t back down.
“It’s Dahlia.”
“Lady…”
“Dahlia.”
His lips pressed tightly together in a straight line.
I continued to gaze at him with shining eyes.
Eventually, after a few moments of brushing his face, he finally spoke the words I had been hoping to hear in a faint voice.
“…Dahlia.”
It was the first time I had heard my name from his lips.
Even though it was the same name, somehow hearing it from him felt different and somewhat special.
“You’re doing well. From now on, call me by my name.”
I stayed firm, not backing down until I heard him acknowledge it, and Evan nodded awkwardly.
“Pfft.”
Having achieved what I wanted, a pleasant laugh escaped through my mouth.
Feeling a bit hazy, as if I had been drinking, I found myself doing things I normally wouldn’t have dared to do.
“Then let’s make a promise.”
I extended my pinky finger in front of him.
Evan, watching my finger shake in front of him, let out a soft sigh and raised his right hand.
His strong, rough finger intertwined with my weakly flailing one.
“Is it done now?”
His slow question came out quieter than usual.
I looked down at our connected hands.
In the sunlight, my pale skin, which didn’t tan easily, contrasted sharply with his bronze skin.
The size difference was striking; his hand seemed nearly twice the size of my fist.
Then, I suddenly noticed Evan’s forearm, which was exposed because he had rolled up his sleeves.
As I looked at the small scar marks etched into his skin, memories of that night flooded back.
‘How much pain must he have felt?’
The purple-tinged skin was vividly etched in my mind.
I naturally released the grip of our fingers and carefully brushed my fingertips over his forearm.
At the same moment, I saw his forearm twitch and tense up.
“Did it not hurt?”
It felt like my mouth had decided to spill out everything inside me, showing no signs of stopping.
I was aware that something felt off, but that was as far as it went.
“Why did you do that?”
At that moment, my emotions were taking over my rationality.
Seeing my face, which looked like I was about to cry, Evan let out a deep breath, as if in disbelief.
“How much have you been drinking?”
His sudden question felt almost harsh.
The thought that had been circling in my mind immediately turned into action.
I jumped up from my seat and moved in front of him, wrapping my arms around him tightly.
“When you held me like this.”
“When did I ever do that…!”
Evan’s body stiffened in my embrace, and he began to struggle to get away.
“You did!”
But not wanting to let go, I held him even tighter.
Then, from beneath my chin, I heard Evan’s urgent voice.
“Okay, okay, just let go for a moment…”
Just then, the door opened, and Roman walked in.
“Your Grace. We sent a search party to the area you mentioned last time…”
As Roman entered the office with documents in hand, he froze in shock at the scene before him.
I could see his gaze land on my face and gradually move downwards.
Eventually, after confirming who was in my arms, Roman’s mouth began to open wider, and he stammered out a few words.
“I-I’ll go check… I’ll go back out. Please forgive me!”
Bang!
True to his knightly demeanor, he swiftly exited the office without any unnecessary movements.
With Roman fleeing, we were left alone in the office once more.
“Dahlia, please…!”
Evan, trapped in my embrace, finally grabbed my shoulders and gently pushed me back.
As I lowered my gaze, I saw Evan’s face, flushed to the point of bursting.
Seeing that, I couldn’t help but smile and said, “You’re calling my name well now.”
“Ugh.”
With his face still red, he looked up at me in disbelief, mouth agape.
His hair was tangled from struggling in my arms, and I noticed it falling into his eyes.
As my consciousness began to fade, I gently stroked his hair and whispered, “From now on, you’ll call me by my name. We promised…”
Thud.
With those words, my last memory was Evan’s flushed face as he caught me as I collapsed into his strong embrace.
***
The next day.
“Ugh…”
Waking up in bed, I felt a sense of confusion over how well-rested I was.
Turning my head toward the window, I could see the bright sky in full view.
midori
thanks! oh my God, i sane chapter, totally cute! ahahaha, aggressive is the way to go! thank you Roman, for bearing witness LOLOL