Chapter 22

“Then… please have a comfortable time.”

I walked into Evan’s room in a daze.

‘I felt this before too… am I getting dragged around by this family?’

I couldn’t shake the odd feeling, but the most urgent matter was the engagement papers. I was about to protest immediately, but the moment I saw Evan lying neatly on the bed, smiling softly to greet me, every word died in my throat.

“You came to see me again today. I’m truly happy…”

He always lit up like he had gained the whole world whenever I visited him. Seeing Evan’s bright smile—his only visitor—made my heart weaken. I forced myself to calm down after the commotion that morning. I shouldn’t raise my voice at someone who’s sick…

“Um… Evan, something like this arrived at our estate this morning…”

I thrust the engagement documents I had stuffed into my pocket right in front of his eyes.

“Oh, it arrived well.”

‘What? So it wasn’t a mistake?!’

“Wait… why…?”

His calm, matter-of-fact answer left me speechless. But I couldn’t yell at a patient. I held the scream clawing up my throat. Actually—I couldn’t even get angry. As irritating as his nonchalance felt, the moment I looked at his face, all my anger melted away.

You must never raise your voice at a beautiful face after all.

Evan took the papers. He didn’t seem bothered at all by being engaged to me. If anything, he looked pleased the documents had arrived properly—and genuinely happy that I had come.

‘W-wait. Something is very wrong here.’

I stared blankly at him. A sudden thought hit me: this completely destroys the future I was expecting. If Evan gets engaged to me, what about the heroine?

‘No, no, this can’t happen. Evan is supposed to live happily ever after with the heroine… Does he seriously prefer being engaged to me?!’

Of course, I immediately dismissed the absurd idea that Evan might like me. When would he have developed such feelings? We barely knew each other. And our first meeting was a total disaster.

Logically—family benefit? But he’s the son of a Duke. I’m just a Count’s daughter. What possible benefit could he gain? None.

Which only left the other option—but that made no sense either.

‘Why me? I’m the one who ruined his life.’

My inner voice was already tearing its hair out. Outwardly I maintained a smile, but my lips trembled.

“It arrived safely. You could have just stamped it and sent it back by mail… Though of course, I’m happy you came in person…”

He was talking smoothly when his expression suddenly froze. His eyes widened in shock and began trembling. The fear must have shown on my face too, because my hands started shaking with his.

‘Why? What happened?!’

The amethyst eyes that were overflowing with joy moments ago were suddenly clouded with worry. He tilted his head slightly and looked up at me with such a pitiful expression that even I felt my heart shrink.

“E-Evan?”

“…Lep, please tell me honestly. Did I… perhaps…”

His trembling voice made me swallow hard.

“…Did I misunderstand?”

“What?”

I blinked dumbly. Evan’s shoulders slumped and a bitter smile tugged at his lips. He awkwardly scratched the back of his neck and murmured, “I see…” The word echoed in my ears.

“W-what do you mean?”

As I pushed him for an explanation, he looked at me sorrowfully.

“You said you’d take responsibility.”

I nodded vigorously. Yes, I did.

“And… you said you’d stay with me for the rest of my life.”

“…”

“That made me really happy…”

He closed his eyes as if reliving the moment, the soft smile on his lips dazzling. With the way he murmured, it sounded exactly like someone recalling a love confession. His cheeks were slightly flushed—so beautiful it made me lose my breath.

And then it hit me.

‘No way… Did he think “I’ll take responsibility” meant “Let’s get engaged”?!’

That wasn’t what I meant at all! Only now did I realize that for nobles, “take responsibility” could mean that. No wonder Piote lectured me about responsibility…

And I also told Evan we’d stay together for the rest of his life—like driving a nail in.

Guilt stabbed me. Evan had clearly gotten his hopes up, while I meant none of that romantically…

I opened my mouth to explain gently: that “responsibility” meant I’d protect him from his poison, and “stay with you” meant as a friend.

“But… Lep is different from me…”

He trailed off. He looked so sad that I instantly knew whatever he didn’t say wasn’t good. His lips moved several times, unable to finish the sentence.

My resolve from yesterday wavered. I didn’t want to see that expression on his face again.

‘Father, Piote… I’m sorry. I can’t leave Evan alone.’

Really—what other young lady who believes Evan will die soon would sincerely worry for him, comfort him, protect him?

Besides, the heroine hadn’t even appeared yet. The original plot wouldn’t start for a while. For now, I’m the only one by his side.

‘If it makes Evan smile… an engagement is nothing.’

Noble engagements break and reform all the time. When he eventually meets the heroine, he’ll fall for her anyway. Until then, being his fiancée would let me stay close and keep weird snakes away.

“Evan, don’t worry. …Let’s get engaged.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Of course!”

“…Really?”

His hand, gently gripping my sleeve, was pitiful. The touch seemed to carry the nuance, ‘Are you doing this just because of me?’ His slightly wavering eyes were another factor that made my heart ache.

“Yes! I want to!”

Finally, a smile formed on his lips. As expected—he looked best when he smiled.

“I honestly worried… that I’d only be a burden to you. My future is practically nonexistent, after all.”

His hand rubbed his neck awkwardly, sorrow lingering in the gesture. His deep eyes were calm, as if he’d already accepted his fate. The calmness hurt even more.

“So I was glad. Engagement means you won’t leave me. That you’ll always stay with me. …I wasn’t mistaken, was I?”

The words felt oddly coercive, but I nodded anyway. How could I refuse someone pleading like that?

“Of course!”

“I’m relieved.”

His elegant eyebrows, the gentle curve of his smile—everything about him dazzled me. Before I knew it, engagement didn’t feel like a big deal anymore.

“I told you before.”

His grip on my hand tightened—not painfully, though close—and he clearly wanted something visible to others, not just words.

“I won’t leave. Don’t worry. I’ll stay by your side.”

“Then… this is the proof.”

Evan slipped something around my neck. A small pendant glowing a soft pink. It looked like any other accessory I’d received from my parents—but because it was from Evan, it felt special.

“This is…”

“I bought it because it reminded me of you. I didn’t think it would be used like this… I can’t leave this place, so please wear it always. It makes me feel like I’m with you.”

“I’ll treasure it!”

I clasped both his hands tightly.

A fleeting thought about how to explain this to my family crossed my mind, but Evan’s smile made me shrug it off. I’d manage somehow.

***

Everyone was shocked when I proudly announced that I had gone to question the engagement… and instead ended up confirming it.

“What?!”

Piote reacted the most dramatically. He looked like he was physically holding back a scream, his face scrunched up like a crushed plastic bottle.

Mother’s reaction was the most normal.

“Lep, do you like Young Lord Evan?”

I blinked and nodded slightly. How could I not like him?

“Yes. I do.”

Father and Piote staggered as if struck in the head, but Mother gave me a warm smile and encouraged me. She must’ve given Evan high marks for saving me.

I confidently presented the engagement papers.

“Please stamp them and send back our agreement.”

Father ended up crying on the spot.

And as soon as morning broke, I headed for the Weiss Ducal House again. Yesterday, my head had been full of the engagement papers, so I completely forgot the Duke told me to visit about the trading company.

‘I won’t forget today.’

I was curious about the person who brought the Alosi poison and even more curious about the person the Duke found troublesome.

Liman greeted me, as always. When I said I was here to see the Duke instead of Evan, his eyes widened.

All I ever asked before was, “I’m here to see Evan. How is he? Is he all right?”