Chapter 150: A Questionable Method
Unlike the two men who were having the time of their lives playing around, the two ladies were still stuck and didn’t know what to do next.
No, more accurately, it was because of Evelia’s stubbornness that things weren’t moving forward at all.
Come on, Miss Evelia! If you just looked at Mr. Armand and said “I do,” he might just drag you off to the bedroom right then and there!
“Ugh... maybe it’d be faster to just drug him.”
Anna propped her chin on her hand, sighing in frustration as she muttered that suggestion like she had totally given up. To her, it was just a random joke she'd made before.
But—
“Miss Evelia... please don’t give me that ‘I just realized something’ look…”
—because Evelia suddenly looked like she’d had a revelation.
“You’re right. That could work.”
Evelia touched her chin, deep in thought.
“If I used some kind of drug, the results might come much faster.”
She mumbled this to herself, and for a moment she thought about asking her if she knew someone who could make that kind of drug. But she stopped herself before saying it out loud.
One reason was that she didn’t want Anna to get involved in things that were too serious. Another was that she didn’t think a merchant like Anna would know much about this kind of stuff anyway.
“Tch…”
She let out a small annoyed sound through her nose. The only alchemist she had known was the one who had changed her own body. But unfortunately, she had already killed him.
So she’d have to settle for a different option...
If there was no real love potion that could actually control emotions, then how about... something like an aphrodisiac?
Evelia definitely knew about those. She had read about them before. Even though she’d never actually used one in real life, the idea was simple enough to understand.
Compared to a potion that manipulates feelings, aphrodisiacs were more common, and easier to get.
“Miss Evelia…”
Anna, getting more and more nervous, looked at Evelia’s face, which was growing increasingly serious.
“U-Um—Miss Evelia!”
Seeing that her quiet call didn’t get a reaction, Anna raised her voice and even pressed her palms together and lifted them above her head.
“Hmm?”
The dramatic move worked, Evelia’s attention finally turned back to Anna.
“I was wrong, Miss Evelia.”
Anna lowered her head and spoke sincerely.
“I was just joking when I said that. Please don’t take it seriously!”
Trying to make Mr. Armand fall in love by drugging him or forcing intimacy, that’s absolutely not okay!
That’s not pure love at all!
Using love potions is a really bad idea!
Even though Anna really wanted to see Armand and Evelia end up together, maybe even have a child someday, this definitely wasn’t the way to do it!
Using some drug to force things instead of letting it happen naturally? That was just wrong!
Just thinking about it gave Anna a headache. Even if the night went “well,” who knows how much trouble it might cause afterward?
If Mr. Armand was the kind of man with traditional values, then all the hard work Miss Evelia had done to build his trust would instantly go to waste!
“No, Anna,” Evelia said seriously, clearly not realizing how dangerous that path was. “The method you suggested is very good.”
“It’s not good at all!”
This was the second time today Anna regretted running her mouth without thinking.
“I believe… something like this has to be done by both people willingly. That’s what real love is, don’t you think, Miss Evelia?”
“......”
Evelia paused for a moment.
Then she said something that made Anna feel like she’d just been hit on the head with a rock.
“I don’t understand.”
“Why does this kind of thing even happen…” Anna rubbed the back of her head like it hurt, her brows twisting like a pretzel.
“Anyway… what I mean is, doing something you’re forced to do and something you choose to do yourself are not the same, right? Miss Evelia, you get that… don’t you?”
“Ah…”
Maybe because Anna’s words were clearly aimed at Evelia’s own situation, the normally slow Evelia actually understood what she meant.
“A lover and a mistress are two very different things, Miss Evelia. If you have the chance to become a lover, why lower yourself to be a mistress?”
“…Is that true…” Evelia muttered. “Are you saying I could really become Mr. Armand’s lover?”
“That’s what you picked up on…?”
Anna was a little exasperated by Evelia’s focus. But thinking it over, that was the main point she wanted to get across.
Anyone could see that Miss Evelia was the most likely person to become Mr. Armand’s lover, maybe even his wife.
Even her brother Carle had said something like that to her once while picking out clothes at the shop.
He had said he could tell that Armand had feelings for this quiet little maid that were anything but normal.
Anna had planned to recall more of what Carle said back then, but when she looked up, she found Evelia staring right at her, waiting for her reply, with a hopeful look in her eyes.
It was so obvious she wanted to hear something good.
“Ah—yes!” Anna quickly picked up where she left off.
“Miss Evelia, you are absolutely the person most likely to become Mr. Armand’s wife!”
She even used a stronger word, changing “girlfriend” to “wife.”
“I see…”
As usual, Evelia didn’t have any big reaction after hearing Anna’s answer. She just repeated those plain words quietly, with no change in expression.
But from Anna’s point of view, she could almost imagine flowers blooming on top of Evelia’s pink hair.
…Is this what a girl in love for the first time looks like…?
“So, I still can’t use a potion?”
But in Evelia’s mind, using a potion still seemed like the safest plan. If only there was really something that could change how someone thinks…
“Where did that idea even come from…? Anyway, Miss Evelia, even if someone does use a potion, timing is very important. And besides… I’ve never seen a girl use one on a guy…”
“If I do it, then you will.”
Well, technically speaking, Evelia wasn’t exactly a normal woman either.
“No, that’s not what I meant…”
Anna wanted to argue more, but seeing how serious Evelia looked, she knew she wouldn’t be able to stop her. So, she just sighed and scratched her head, trying to think of another plan.
Hmm…
—Got it!
“Miss Evelia, instead of using a potion, why not do something in between? Try drinking wine with Armand.”
When people get drunk, their guard is down!
“Wine…?”
“Yes! Wine! Even if drinking won’t make Armand fall in love with you, you know what they say, ‘drunk people tell the truth.’ You can use that chance to find out how he really feels about you. Then we can adjust our plan based on what you learn!”
“Hmm…”
To Evelia, Anna’s suggestion actually made some sense. After thinking for a moment, she stood up.
“I understand, Anna,” Evelia said with a nod. “I’ll go buy some really strong wine.”
“Actually, I didn’t mean strong wine… Don’t give Armand something that’ll make him pass out.”
“It’s fine if he falls asleep. He has dark circles under his eyes. He always looks like he doesn’t get enough rest. It’s a good chance for him to catch up on sleep.”
“……”
Anna listened to her, then watched Evelia walk out of the shop. She leaned back against the sofa with a long sigh.
“Sigh… Really now, Miss Evelia… you do care about him, don’t you?”