Chapter 16

Evan regretted for a long, long time that he hadn’t asked the girl’s name that day. Whenever he dreamed of that moment, he would grab the girl’s hand and ask for her name. But because he didn’t know it, the dream always ended the moment she opened her mouth to answer.

Then one day, he found the girl’s face in a photo his classmate happened to be holding.

Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t have cared at all. He was nothing more than an annoying classmate who insisted on treating him like a rival. Nothing more, nothing less.

He still remembered it vividly—the feeling of a great wave crashing over him. The sudden rush of exhilaration he couldn’t suppress. Evan quietly stole the photo without Piote noticing. It was the first time he’d ever coveted something that wasn’t his, and the first time he’d stolen anything. It wasn’t right, but he didn’t care.

Evan blinked slowly, pulling himself out of the memory.

“If you like her, that’s what matters. She’s a cute child, just as you said. If she said she’d take responsibility, I trust she means it.”

The duchess stared at Evan closely. Though he was her own son, she’d always worried a bit—he seemed to have no interest in anything except swords. Now she could finally relax.

And adorable Lepina suited the duchess’s tastes perfectly. She wanted to reach out and poke those soft, cotton-candy cheeks of the child. Despite her cold exterior, the duchess was hopelessly weak to anything cute.

She glanced sideways at Evan, assuming he’d inherited her taste.

“I’ll talk to your father. Let’s proceed with the engagement.”

Evan gave a bright, innocent smile. Lepina probably never even thought about an engagement, but in this situation, “taking responsibility” was easily misunderstood that way.

Like it or not, word about Evan spread instantly. And no noble was willing to offer their precious daughter to someone who could be considered “flawed.” A few ambitious families obsessed with gaining a connection to a ducal house tried, but Evan rejected them immediately. They were low-quality ladies sent out to test the waters anyway.

So in this context, “taking responsibility” meant planning for his future and securing an engagement. A family like Count Clies’ wouldn’t be a mismatch as Evan’s fiancée. Some nobles might look down on the Count for being a businessman, but his skill was nothing to scoff at.

“Mother, I’ll leave it to you.”

“For you to actually ask me for something… truly, the world is full of surprises.”

And Evan had no intention of letting go of this situation. After all the uncertainty he’d endured, this was heaven’s gift.

‘Let’s seep in slowly… before Lep notices anything.’

His eyes curved into a beautiful arc as he smiled. But there was something dangerous lurking in that smile—a predator gauging its prey. A shiver would have run down anyone’s spine, but the person concerned wasn’t there to see it.

***

‘It’s not here! It’s not!! Why is there nothing about the Alosi Poison Herb? If this medical book came from across the continent, it should at least mention it! But there’s not a trace!’

It had taken me ages to get the book. But there was nothing on the Alosi Poison Herb—and nothing on the other herbs I needed, either. I skimmed through it several times, but the information I wanted wasn’t there.

I even begged Father to gather books for me, and got Piote to fetch herbology books from the academy in exchange for cheek kisses, but those didn’t mention Alosi either.

‘Ugh… I guess time really does change everything.’

A long sigh escaped me.

“Phew…”

I had boasted confidently to Evan—but I had nothing to show.

‘How ridiculous is it to know the ingredients needed to make the Alosi antidote, yet still be unable to make it because I don’t know where the herbs grow??’

I roughly grabbed my hair in frustration.

“…I should just go see Evan.”

My safe haven. The place that eased my heart. The place where Evan always greeted me with a bright smile.

I went to the Weiss estate at least once a day. Evan was stuck in bed, so I almost never skipped a day. I went to check on him, give advice—and in the process, I had become quite close to Baron Perio, the family doctor.

When I entered Evan’s room, he greeted me with a bright smile.

“Ah, Lep. Welcome. Have you been well?”

“Yes. Are you feeling okay?”

His pale face made my hand rise automatically to check his forehead. They said he was improving, but no one’s health recovers overnight. If he had even a slight fever, it would be serious.

“Hmm, no fever.”

Evan blinked at me before laughing softly.

“I’m fine. Would you like to sit?”

I pulled the chair next to his bed and sat down, as naturally as breathing. Evan had prepared it for me, since I visited so often.

“Evan… I’m sorry. I’ve been searching every possible way, but nothing’s working yet.”

Evan reassured me, saying it was fine, that I was doing my best. I smiled faintly.

Our routine was simple and peaceful. I would sit beside him reading herbology books, and Evan would either stare out the window or quietly watch me.

He often stared at me with a strange look, and sometimes the intensity made me uncomfortable. I wanted him to rest more, but he always said watching me made him happy, so I kept my mouth shut.

And when I lifted my head, he was usually already asleep. I would cover him gently with the blanket. Sometimes we chatted endlessly; sometimes we just enjoyed each other’s silence. It was always peaceful.

Right now, Evan lay quietly on the bed while I flipped through the book I’d brought.

“Lep.”

Just moments ago, he’d been lying still with his eyes closed. Now he opened them wide and reached toward me. I pulled my chair closer automatically.

I already knew what he wanted. Ever since the day he held my hand as we laid together, he seemed to have grown fond of the feeling. He often asked me for my hand, and I always agreed.

He intertwined our fingers. His fingers were thinner than mine, his skin cool. Every time I felt his cold touch, my chest tightened.

“Lep, you’re warm.”

“…”

Evan rubbed my hand against his cheek as if savoring its warmth. I stroked his hair softly. Sunlight streamed across his pale face, making his skin glow faintly.

Then Evan suddenly lifted his head. I froze in surprise.

He wriggled closer to the edge of the bed and lifted the blanket.

‘Ah… please don’t do this.’

A sigh escaped me.

I loved spending time with the person I liked. Loved it. But the way Evan acted sometimes left me helpless. The way he came close without hesitation—what made him trust me so much? I swallowed hard.

At first, I refused even holding hands because I was embarrassed, but he’d looked so pitiful, like a drenched puppy, that I gave in.

But Evan didn’t stop there. He frequently asked for things like this. Did he know I froze up like a statue every time? Or did he really not notice…?

“Lep… won’t you come here? Aren’t you cold? And sitting in that chair must make your hips hurt.”

The way he positioned himself looked like he was inviting me into his arms. His smile should have been innocent, but right now it looked dangerously seductive.

‘Why is he so… sexy?’

I shouldn’t think that about a sick person, but his weakened appearance somehow made it worse—like a fallen angel, worn down and sinful.

He blinked at me, clearly saying, You’re not coming?

“Lep… my arm hurts.”

And just like that, I found myself sliding under the blanket again.

‘I fell for it again!!’

Evan beamed like a child, as if he’d never been gloomy. I sighed helplessly.

Every time I looked at him, my heart ached.

‘When people suddenly treat you differently, you fall into despair. It means they never truly cared in the first place.’

After Evan went from the promising heir of a ducal house to someone given a death sentence, the nobles’ attitudes must have changed drastically. I knew too well what that kind of hypocrisy felt like; the memory alone made my chest hurt.

“Evan, stay strong!”

I clenched both fists and cheered. Evan tilted his head in confusion, then nodded.

“I’ve already gained great strength from you.”

“Then I’m glad.”

I smiled, hoping to bring even a small comfort to him. When I first met him, he had seemed proud and confident—like a noble young master. But these days, I could feel him craving affection. He pretended otherwise, but he couldn’t hide his anxiety.

We both pretended not to notice. Maybe that’s why I kept coming every day without fail.

Even the Duke and duchess didn’t pay much attention to Evan. The Duke was busy with work, and the duchess had endless social engagements. I’d only seen them once; never again.

And despite how often I visited, I never saw anyone else coming to check on Evan.

‘Because there’s no benefit left to gain from him.’

Anger simmered in my chest. Evan was fifteen—the same age as Piote. Still just a boy. He couldn’t even hold the sword he loved anymore, yet he wasn’t throwing fits or resenting the world.