Chapter 179: Still the Same as Always
"Master Armand, what happened to you? Is this some kind of special defense strategy of yours?"
"Stop with the sarcasm and just get me out of here."
"Alright, alright, as you wish, Master."
With a face trying hard not to laugh, the old butler Lug pulled Armand out of the trash can. If Rachel hadn’t told the butler, “Mom lost something, maybe it got thrown out by accident,” when she returned the sunglasses, Armand might’ve stayed stuck in there a while longer.
But thankfully, since this estate was managed very carefully, even the trash bins were quite clean. Plus, this one was mostly used for old clothes and had just been emptied, so it wasn’t too dirty.
Armand stood up and brushed off his clothes, looking a bit helpless.
Before going to find Evelia, he figured he should change clothes. Although Armand wasn’t the kind of person who cared too much about staying super clean, and didn’t think his clothes were that dirty, he still knew he was going to see a lady. He couldn’t exactly go wearing the same outfit he had just climbed out of a trash can in.
“Did you and Miss Evelia have a fight?”
Thinking about what Rachel had said, and now seeing Armand looking like this after being dumped in a trash can, it was easy to guess.
If anyone could put him in this kind of situation, it was either his friend Carle or Evelia. If it had been anyone else who tried this, Armand probably wouldn’t have let them off so easily.
“Nope—” Armand still stubbornly denied it as he walked toward his room, shaking his head. “Eve and I… how could we possibly fight?”
“Hmm…” The old butler followed behind and made a meaningful sound, which made Armand feel a little guilty.
“It’s just—ahh, forget it. It’s nothing.”
Just like the butler had said before, Armand now acted like a teenager in love. When it came to relationships with women, he always got embarrassed and didn’t want to talk about it. Even if everyone around him could clearly see what was going on. Still, he kept his thoughts and feelings to himself.
“Is that so? Well, it’s good if it’s nothing. You know, young people always have little arguments, it’s normal. As long as you make up afterward, it’s all fine.”
“There’s nothing like that going on!!”
Yep. Definitely sounds like a lovesick teenager.
After blurting that out, and under the butler’s knowing stare, Armand quickly rushed into the bathroom and then rushed out again just as fast.
He changed into clean clothes and hurried out of his room, moving so fast that no one would believe “nothing happened.”
“Hahaha.”
The butler watched Armand’s flustered back from the balcony with a smile, then turned around and neatly folded the clothes Armand had thrown off in a hurry.
“Youth is such a wonderful thing.”
…………………………………………
Elsewhere, Evelia had returned to the familiar rose garden.
But it wasn’t blooming season yet. Plus, she had pruned the roses too much last time. So now, all she could see was a sea of green leaves.
The leaves were growing thick and strong, completely different from the potted plant she had overwatered to death.
Armand had taken such good care of this flower field. Evelia couldn’t help but think, hadn’t she also tried so hard to take care of that potted plant?
But in the end, the outcomes were completely different.
One would bloom again in the next season. The other had withered into dried-up scraps in a forgotten corner.
Rachel stood beside Evelia. Unfortunately, she had arrived at the estate a little late, so she didn’t understand what this patch of green, bare of any flowers and unlike the rest of the colorful garden, really meant.
But just by seeing how Evelia came straight here the moment she entered the garden, Rachel could tell, this place meant something very important to her.
While Evelia stood there with her head lowered, lost in thought, Rachel crouched down and took a closer look at the bare rose bushes.
As for Evelia, she was completely wrapped in her own sadness. Looking back, she found it a little ironic.
Back then, when she wasn’t accepted…
When the other servants disliked her…
This was the place she came to.
She had sat right here, all alone.
At her loneliest moment, Armand had come.
Just like always, he found her. And just like always, he pushed away the darkness in front of her.
He sat next to her and listened quietly as she talked about everything in her heart.
Yes, it had always been him.
It had always been Mr. Armand, the one who had comforted her again and again.
That person who seemed to shine with light. The person whose smile she remembered from the very first time they met.
Armand Systalia, he was her mission target… and also the lighthouse in her fog.
But now, it felt like that lighthouse had just been an illusion in the mist. As she struggled forward, trying her best to reach it…
When she finally got close enough to touch it, she realized it had only been a dream, something she had imagined all by herself.
She could still clearly remember how, back then, Armand had sat beside her. Just sitting quietly, listening to her complaints.
But… in the end… was he really the same as everyone else?
Even though Rachel was sitting next to her now, so she wasn’t truly alone…
Still…
She didn’t know why, but she wanted Armand’s recognition more than anything.
Was it because of the mission? Was it because she had to do this kind of thing?
Was it because she saw everything as just a mission, and rushed ahead too quickly. That it turned into such unrealistic hopes?
Rachel didn’t speak. She didn’t know what to say. She knew that in this kind of moment, only Armand could get through to Evelia.
…He should be here soon.
Judging by the time it took her to talk to the butler, Armand should be on his way by now. Even though the back garden was quite large, since Evelia had walked straight here, Armand should know exactly where to find her.
And yes, Armand did know where to look.
He had run all the way over. The heat from the sun had already dried the hair he had rinsed with cold water to cool off. When he reached the back garden, he didn’t hesitate for a second and took the path leading to the blue rose patch.
Rachel noticed him first. She saw the nearby resting servants stand and bow, and then saw Armand’s figure appear.
She stood up and softly said, “Mom, wait for me a bit.” Then she gently patted Evelia’s hand and ran off in Armand’s direction.
Evelia lifted her head slightly but didn’t look in the direction Rachel had gone. She just stared at the patch of blue roses, unsure of how to express the feelings in her heart.
If only… Mr. Armand could still come.
Even though Evelia had already lost hope in their relationship. Deep down, she still wished to see him again.
She had clearly rejected him…
She even threw him into a trash can…
But still, she really did want to see him again—
“Mr. Armand…”
“I’m here, Eve.”
Just like a magic spell that really worked, the moment Evelia softly said Armand’s name, he really appeared right in front of her.
He held her hand and gently placed it against his cheek, then repeated again:
“I’m here.”
This moment… felt so familiar.
Back then, when she had no one to rely on, he also appeared in front of her, just like this.
Same place. Same person. Even the scene was the same.
He knelt on the ground, and she sat on the bench. As if this man in front of her… was her very own knight.
She had just been mocking herself for being foolishly emotional. She had just been crying inside, thinking she’d been abandoned.
But now, with Armand truly standing in front of her, looking at her with those sincere blue eyes…
She couldn’t help it, she felt at ease again. That peace in her heart was slowly pushing away the loneliness.
It was like Evelia was sick with no cure, and Armand was the only medicine that could help her.
Armand was her illness… and also her only cure.
But this time, it felt a little different.
She could feel that he was really here, right next to her. But because of all the pain inside, she didn’t have the courage to reach out and hold onto him like before.
Armand held Evelia’s hand and gently guided it across his cheek. But that real, warm feeling scared her. She was afraid it was just another joke. Another cruel trick.
Her first reaction was to pull her hand back. Not because she didn’t want him, but because she was afraid.
She thought she had nothing, so she feared that this kindness might be taken away too.
But Armand didn’t let her go. He held her hand tightly and didn’t loosen his grip at all.
He looked up into Evelia’s golden eyes. This time, unlike the calm look he usually had, he clearly saw something different in her eyes, something that looked like struggle.
He gently traced her hand with his fingers, then took her hand and lifted it to his lips. Just like a knight making a vow. He kissed her knuckles lightly.
“Mr. Armand…”
“I’m here.”
Evelia called his name again, and once more, Armand answered.
“I’ve always been here, Eve.”
He slowly let go of her hand and stood up, his tall, strong figure standing firmly in front of her. Then he reached out and gently brushed away the long hair that had been covering her face.
Maybe it was just because her hair hadn’t been taken care of. But when Armand lifted it, Evelia felt like the whole world suddenly became a little brighter.
And then, she saw Armand’s smile. That same gentle, warm smile as always.
“Let’s talk, Eve.”
He smiled, and carefully tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.