Chapter 19

Evan’s current title was the Duke’s dying heir. Everyone said it. That the Duke’s brilliant successor was about to die soon…

Among nobles, relationships were often built on cold calculations. Even I had to attend tea parties I didn’t want to. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t stop the instinctive disgust that came when someone I’d never seen before pretended to act close.

Whenever I saw Evan’s empty, silent room, I couldn’t hide my sorrow. Even those who once kept good relations with him must have turned their backs the moment they decided there was no more benefit to cling to.

He looked so pitiful as he turned to the window with a bitter smile. Was it my imagination that I saw a slight tear in his languid eyes?

Anger welled up inside me. I wanted to fume, but I held it in.

‘My boy is so handsome and cute—did they really approach him only because of his family?’

If their friendship had been real, at least someone should have come to visit him while he was sick. But no one had.

I asked Piote to visit Evan with me, but he only said Evan wasn’t the kind to collapse easily—so there was no need.

His grumbling tone couldn’t hide it. He still believed his friend would overcome the poison.

But aside from Piote, there was no one.

‘Does everyone think Evan will die sooner or later…?’

How painful must it be to have people who were once close suddenly drift away?

As if determined to tug at my tears, Evan added another remark. His murmured words were so sorrowful they could make a stranger clutch their chest.

“Lep, you’re the only one who still visits me. But… if you start your merchant guild, you’ll be busy. You may stop coming. You might… stop wanting to see me. I’m afraid of that. It’s stupid, isn’t it?”

“That would never happen.”

“But… I have nothing to offer.”

His gaze shifted to the swords placed by his bed—his usual blade and the one he bought when he first saw me.

He was known for his exceptional swordsmanship. Talent, yes, but also effort—enough to one day reach the rank of Sword Master.

I knew what that life looked like. Piote trained at dawn, running laps before even beginning drills. Evan’s days must have been the same. But now his body wouldn’t cooperate. He couldn’t even lift the sword he loved. He couldn’t wake early.

I had seen it countless times—how he could barely rise from bed until I visited.

Yet Evan hadn’t given up. He never abandoned what he loved. Anyone could see that from the sword leaning by his bedside.

That was why… the sight of him lying there so weak tore at my heart. I visited the Duke’s mansion again and again.

His sad smile stole my words. My throat tightened. I swallowed hard and mustered strength.

“Don’t worry. Why do you think I accepted the merchant guild in the first place?”

I grabbed his hand before it could curl in on itself. Everything I did was for him. There was no way I would do anything that would darken his world.

I held his hand tightly.

“I won’t leave you lonely.”

I glared with wide eyes.

‘Anyone who makes my bias cry—I’ll go kick them myself!’

I hoped he felt my sincerity. The reason he ended up thinking things like this was because of the people around him. And that included me.

“Evan, do you remember what I told you last time?”

“…”

“I said I’d take responsibility. Do you think I’d ever leave you alone? There’s so much I want to do with you.”

I smiled as gently as I could. And it was true. Ever since I realized he was my bias, all I’d wanted was a path full of flowers for him.

‘I hope he’ll get along with Piote, hope we could be friends, hope we’ll hang out. When we attend the academy, I hoped we’ll have a good upperclassman and junior relationship.’

I lifted my head and met his eyes.

“Evan, get better soon. Let’s make good memories together. I’m entering the academy soon—let’s have fun there. We can chat, eat together, rest together… If you get hurt during sword training, I’ll treat you. It’ll be great.”

I didn’t know if I could save him within a year, but that was my wish. Small, distant, but heartfelt.

I gently stroked his thin hand.

“I accepted the merchant guild because I thought it would help me find an antidote to the Alosi poison faster. I’m doing this for you. Why would I ever choose something you hate?”

“…Yes. I worried for nothing. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said such weak things.”

He looked away, ears turning red. I shook my head. The fault was mine for not reassuring him sooner.

“And what do you mean you have nothing to offer? To me, Evan is a hero. Don’t be afraid. The fact that you saved me won’t disappear.”

He saved me. I was the one who should have lived a shortened life, suffering as my organs rotted.

“You’re wonderful just as you are. Please don’t belittle yourself.”

“Truly? Even though I have nothing… you’ll stay with me?”

His trembling voice reached me. I smiled and met his gaze firmly.

“Yes. Of course. Honestly, I’m the one who wants to ask. Evan, stay with me… for life.”

I would always stay near him, watching him, cheering him on.

Evan’s lips quivered. His pupils trembled too. My hand moved on its own, cupping his cheek.

“Don’t worry. I don’t go back on my word. Get better soon and let’s go anywhere you want.”

“Just the two of us?”

“Yes!”

Then Evan broke into a bright smile, as if he had never trembled at all.

He tugged my wrist, pulling me off balance onto the bed. His arms wrapped around me tightly. It felt like he fit perfectly into my embrace.

‘He must feel so lonely… adjusting to a life where everything changes overnight. The more time passes, the more painfully he’ll feel what he can no longer do…’

If only he would cry or scream—it might be easier. But he endured, bottling everything inside, showing only the occasional sliver of his true feelings.

I kissed him on the forehead—the same affectionate kiss my family loved receiving from me. I didn’t even think. His smooth brow looked too perfect not to.

Evan jerked his head up, eyes round in shock.

This time, he was the flustered one.

His expression was so adorable I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Lep…? Just now…”

Smooch.

I kissed his forehead again, louder this time. His cheeks turned bright red.

“Evan, I really do like you.”

His eyes went unfocused at once—as if covered by a soft fog. I tilted my head. Something felt off.

His head drooped as if he lost strength, and in a small, barely audible voice, he whispered, “I like you too…”

“Yes!”

His weakened look awakened my protective instincts. My smile twitched with joy.

I finally understood why Piote always hugged me and rubbed his cheek against mine.

Because I immediately pulled Evan close and rubbed my cheek against his for a long, long time.

***

Evan watched Lepina’s bright smile until she disappeared from sight. Only after her carriage left did he get up from bed and head to the Duke’s office.

The butler tried to stop him, but his body wasn’t fragile enough to collapse from a bit of walking.

The pain in his chest was tolerable. The bothersome part was the sudden bouts of blood he coughed up. Aside from that, there was nothing wrong. He could’ve left the sickbed long ago, and he even trained with a sword whenever he could.

No wonder people didn’t worry about him.

Only Lepina saw him as though he might faint at any moment. She was the strange one—not the others. Any normal patient would suffer greatly, but Evan was different.

He called out to the Duke, who was calmly reviewing documents.

“Father.”

Duke Weiss glanced at him and chuckled. He knew exactly why Evan had come.

His son storming in the moment Lepina left—it was obvious. The Duke was amused and curious.

“What is it?”

“What is it? Didn’t I tell you to send the engagement documents first? What were you thinking, letting Lep feel pressured?!”

Evan criticized him sharply.