Chapter 95

It had been a long time since I had been this close to him. I thought we were close enough to hug and sleep together when we were young, but from one moment on, Evan didn’t touch my body even with a single fingertip.

“Uh, um…”

I couldn’t even see his mask properly because of the thought of having to move him away from the knight procession. His mask was a black cat studded with jewels.

‘It strangely reminds me of Neo…’

It was a mask that reminded me of Sven’s cat, who was said to be the incarnation of the devil.

His black hair was not covered with a wig.

While I stared at his mask, Evan remained silent as well. On the other hand, my mask was a squirrel, and I even wore a brown wig to match it. There was no particular reason, I just picked it because it was cute.

Our bodies facing each other made our collars stiffen. It was normal contact when we were young, though now, it was awkward for each other. He was even wearing a mask, so it felt more unfamiliar as if I was being hugged by an unknown man.

“It would be uncomfortable if I am like this.”

Although I twisted my body slightly in embarrassment, his arm holding me was so strong that I couldn’t get out right away.

“…Laria.”

I couldn’t see Evan’s expression under the mask, but instead, a somewhat muffled voice rang out.

“In your eyes…”

I was slightly nervous at the slow, low voice, but I tried not to show it.

“Do I still look like a thirteen-year-old who grunted and hid while being beaten by Ludva?”

“No.”

I replied shyly.

“I have eyes too, so of course… Still, trauma doesn’t go away so easily.”

The silence passed for a moment.

As I hesitated for a while behind the mask, I added my words slowly, “…So, It’s unavoidable to be worried.”

“Why do you—”

“I think you will be more comfortable once I come down….”

“Wait a moment.”

Evan said lowly.

“Now… I’m a little cramp.”

“Oh.”

I muttered sadly.

Ugh, he had been bluffing, and turned out, he got cramps.

“Okay. Anyway, let’s get some rest here.”

Since there were no other people’s eyes focusing on us, I took off the stuffy mask. Certainly, for me to continue to wear a mask, no matter how cured I was, it was still a little difficult for me as my lungs were not healthy.

“Would you like to take it off, too?”

Evan, as if slightly startled at my question, remained dazed again.

“…Well, if you want…”

Then, he began to unbutton his shirt slowly in a slightly indifferent voice. Seeing that, I was startled and slapped him on the wrist while hurriedly replying.

“The mask, the mask!”

“Ah.”

Evan immediately stopped his hand as if he had come to his senses.

“…Sorry, I was thinking about something else.”

Despite the fact that he pretended to be strong, asking if he still looked thirteen, he still seemed to be in a panic.

I smiled slightly as I looked at him.

“I mean, you can take off the mask. There is no one here.”

“…No, I think it would be better not to take it off.”

“Really?”

Noticing how solid the cat’s mask was, I couldn’t even see his red eyes.

“But, the mask is really surprising. Black cat, why did you choose this?”

“It’s just.”

As usual, I tried to lead the conversation in a friendly way, but he was strangely silent.

“I felt something.”

“Felt something…?”

“It’s like being connected to me, it’s just kind of a weird feeling.”

He should just say that he liked it, but it felt really refreshing.

“Evan.”

I slowly raised my hand and ran it through his black hair.

It became difficult for me to caress him like this as he moved away from me for some time. I vividly remembered how he liked it when he was young whenever I brushed his hair like this. When did he grow up so much…?

“When did you get so big?”

Silence passed again.

“Uh… Well—”

Perhaps, that was such an embarrassing thing to do and Evan couldn’t give a proper answer.

“I mean… It’s been a while, but my posture is…”

“What are you talking about? Haven’t you been this tall since you were seventeen?”

“Yes, that’s right. Cough.”

I was usually the one who coughed, but Evan coughed for nothing in vain. He then added bluntly as if something was off.

“Then, why do you ask? I’ve stopped growing taller since I was seventeen, so I can do it.”

“What’s with you all of a sudden?”

“Did I sound like I was offended? Oh sorry…”

Evan sighed and said, “In the future, if I say something you don’t want to hear, hit me right away or get angry.”

“That’s not necessary… But, if you get angry, I’m a little scared so I’ll stop you.”

“Are you saying you’re going to shut my mouth? Then what will you do to shut…”

“What?”

“….”

Evan stiffened again for a moment, then he sighed heavily.

“I’m sorry, Laria.”

“Why?”

“My head is full of other thoughts… So, I guess something went wrong. It’s because I’m out of my mind right now.”

His voice was clearly stiff.

Even though in the past his voice was low, it was cute. Now, I couldn’t find anything really cute about him anywhere. The first time I saw him in front of the academy felt like yesterday. No matter how blunt he was in the original story, he was always nice to me…

“…I really hope you get off me now, Laria.”

I was thinking something sweetly, but Evan’s stiff voice was firm.

“What?”

“Hurry.”

The dimness was shattered like that.

“As long as you…”

I grunted, got up and tried to sit next to him.

“Ah!”

However, as soon as I changed my position, a tingling sensation rose from my ankle.

“What’s the matter?”

“…My ankle hurts.”

“Where, where exactly? Does it hurt a lot…?”

Evan quickly grabbed my ankle, took off my shoes, and began to look closely. It didn’t hurt that much though he soon wrapped my ankles with a simple bandage made from his torn clothes.

“You don’t have to do this much…”

“That’s right. It’s a little too much.”

Evan replied as he carefully examined my ankle and added, “Would you like me to take it off since it’s too much?”

“No.”

“Then, do you want me to massage it to loosen up your muscles?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Would you like me to lick it then?”

What was the point of this…

Before I could even make a silly expression, he shook his head.

“…I guess I’m really out of my mind. I’m sorry.”

Anyway, Evan’s panic seemed to have subsided a bit because I injured my ankle. We were able to sit side by side and regain our serenity. It was a bit steep, so I could see a garden full of masked people. Fortunately, the knight’s procession seemed to be over.

“It’s fun.”

I sat and muttered, hugging my knees.

“It’s fun to see people working hard to decorate the place. It’s really spectacular. I think I can watch it for hours.”

The next moment, the loud music began to be heard. It meant dancing time.

“I also wanted to wear a mask and dance with an unknown person.”

I mumbled bluntly.

“Do, don’t.”

I was surprised to hear Evan being so astonished with that straight face.

“You hurt your foot.”

“…Oh, yes.”

It was inconvenient because I couldn’t read his expression because he was in a mask. His voice is originally somehow blunt, so it seemed like he was still angry…

“Evan.”

“Yes.”

“You don’t want to dance?”

“Why? Are you dancing…?”

“Well… It’s exciting, and it’s possible to face the skin between lovers.”

“Hmm.”

Evan mumbled lowly.

“I don’t like touching women. I don’t really want to have any physical contact.”

Oh, that was why he didn’t even touch me from one day.

It seemed that the mystery had been solved. To be honest, there was a time when I wondered what to do if Evan asked me about the duties of a married couple. Unlike the original, our relationship was pretty good on the outside anyway.

Nonetheless, since Evan had never made such a demand, I felt a sense of distance. I really don’t think he sees me as his wife like in the original story. But, that was the way it was originally, so he wouldn’t be able to get along well if he married Elanie later.

“So, I am very happy to be with you like this. I don’t need anything else.”

Be like this…

So, it seemed like he was talking about living a simple life like a friend. Besides, Evan seemed to draw a strange line. It meant that we got along quite well, but we did not want to share our love with each other.

Although everyone said we were a good couple, I’d been careful even holding his hand these days. Even though Evan passed the age of maturity, we each shared a room so the people of the Duke’s residence didn’t even talk about succession.

I didn’t want that kind of relationship with Evan from the beginning, but I just realized the greatness of the original story. I wondered what would happen if I got too close to him and couldn’t run away while having to think about the duty of the successor… but, I was worried for nothing.

It was not for nothing that I had a beauty like Elanie by my side and pursued only power.

“And, Laria.”

“Yes?”

“I won the bet.”

His voice was so determined that I almost forgot to reply.

“I found you first and called you by name.”

‘Even being terribly cruel to his wife…’

I managed to resist the urge to reply to him sarcastically, ‘Yeah, you won.’

“Yes… We were able to pass beautifully, so congratulations on getting the win.”

Saying that, I couldn’t help but smile. Nonetheless, my voice trembled slightly so I continued, “It would be really nice for me to be able to win while I was running frantically looking for you.”

“Yes, that would be nice. Then, I will tell you my wish now.”

Evan’s hand came up slowly, gently stroking the ends of my hair.

“I’ll be nice.”

Surprisingly, his voice was as gentle as when he was very young.

“I will never do anything that offends you. So…”

It was a voice that sounded even desperate for something, so I kept quiet.

“…My wish is that you never leave me.”