Chapter 257.2: A Feeling of Family (Part 2)
Maybe it was because he was getting older, or maybe the poison had worn away at him for too long.
This time, his illness had clearly hit harder than usual, and his memory was slower to return.
Even though he was speaking and moving normally now, his low-grade fever still hadn’t gone down.
But because he’d been standing in the sun, no one noticed the flush on his face caused by the fever. They just assumed he was a little warm from being outside.
“——Dad!”
Even though Rachel and Salana were still a bit of a distance away from the adults, perhaps because of the strong bond between father and daughter, Salana noticed her father, Carle, as soon as he arrived. Delighted, she jumped up and ran toward him.
Hearing her voice, it wasn’t just Armand and the Carle couple who looked over. Even Evelia, who had just finished studying her cookbook and was planning to show off in the kitchen, looked up from not far away.
She had even read in that book that ketchup could boost male vitality. So now, she had no choice but to add even more ketchup into Armand’s meals.
“Dad, you’re finally done with work! I missed you~”
Salana ran up to Carle and let her father lift her into his arms. She happily rubbed her face against his, and then gave him a light kiss on the cheek. After that, she did the same to her mom, Melian, giving her a sweet kiss too.
Not far away, Evelia stopped in her tracks, watching the close bond between Carle and his family. Her eyes lingered on Rachel, and then shifted to Armand.
In that moment, something stirred inside her heart.
The happiness she saw in that family, it left Evelia a little dazed.
Could she... also become like that?
Could she one day be part of a family like that, together with Armand and Rachel?
This feeling… what was it?
Seeing what others have, and wanting the same for yourself...
Was that longing?
Or was it... envy?
Was she really... feeling jealous of something like this?
If right now, she could also stand beside Armand and Rachel, together as a family—
Whoosh—
A sudden breeze blew past, snapping Evelia out of her thoughts and scattering the birds from the trees.
She looked up but only saw drifting leaves. And somehow, a question quietly formed in her heart.
—Do I really deserve a family like that?
Evelia silently turned away, as if the warmth and laughter from that group had nothing to do with her.
Even though she had worked so hard to come this far…
Even though she wished to be part of a family…
At the moment she saw the closeness of those three, she suddenly felt like she didn’t quite belong.
“You three are way too sweet, it’s almost sickening,” Armand muttered helplessly from the side.
“Then why don’t you get married too?” Carle teased. “I’m sure you already have someone in mind.”
Carle set Salana down, letting her run back to play with Rachel. Meanwhile, he and Melian continued their little “talk” with Armand, trying to nudge his thoughts in a certain direction.
After everything that had happened, both Carle and Melian strongly believed. Armand needed someone who could truly take care of him. And the best person for that role... was a wife.
As for who that wife should be…
Well, that much was obvious to everyone.
Ever since Armand brought Evelia as his date to the ballroom. The way they looked together, the chemistry between them…
Everyone could tell, that spot beside Armand was meant for Evelia.
"Someone I like, huh..."
Even Armand himself, the moment he heard those words, the first person who came to mind was Evelia.
But because of their current positions and circumstances, he still couldn’t fully be close to her.
Even though, deep in his heart, he had already saved a place just for her.
While Evelia was still unsure if she truly belonged by his side, Armand had already made up his mind.
“—Haha.”
In the end, Armand could only let out a dry laugh.
“That kind of thing is still far off. I’m only twenty-six. I’m a man, what’s the rush?”
He was still avoiding the topic, like a helpless coward.
“Winter is almost here. You’ll be twenty-seven soon, won’t you?”
Winter was the season Armand feared most, because of his health. But ironically, he was born in the coldest part of winter.
When the wind howls and the snow is thickest, that’s when his birthday comes.
“Still plenty of time. No rush.”
“That so.”
Carle tilted his head and glanced at Armand, who was leaning on the garden fence. He noticed how Armand’s fingers were tapping quickly against the wooden rail.
“I think you’re about to die from not doing anything.”
“...!”
Realizing Carle was watching, Armand quickly pulled his hand back. He shoved it into his coat pocket and rubbed his fingers nervously.
It was obvious to anyone. What Armand lacked wasn’t opportunity, it was courage.
“Ahem~ We just got a batch of beautiful pink diamonds recently, Mr. Armand,” Melian suddenly stepped in, clearly noticing Armand’s unwillingness to keep talking.
“This batch is very popular with young ladies, and they’re quite rare too. I remember how sparkly that pink dust was. It looked just like Miss Evelia at the ballroom.”
“...Hm? Mm...”
Armand sounded a little interested, but he still looked unsure. He lifted his head, then lowered it again.
“You’re an old friend of my husband’s, and we’re grateful for your help. So how about this, just help me with one little thing, and I’ll gift you one of those diamonds. Deal?”
“Ah—what kind of thing?”
“Well~ Miss Evelia has very beautiful hands. Ever since I saw them at the ballroom, I haven’t stopped thinking about them. I’d love for her to be my hand model. What do you say?”
“Uh...”
“Oh no no, it won’t trouble her at all, Mr. Armand.”
Seeing Armand still hesitate, Melian quickly added with a cheerful smile.
“It won’t bother her, I promise. I just need her hand measurements. We’ll do a hand sculpture based on the data. To show off our new ring designs, we especially need the middle finger measurements, particularly the ring size~”
As she spoke, Melian walked right up to Armand with the kind of perfect smile only a seasoned businesswoman could wear.
“You won’t say no, right? It’s just a little measurement, after all~”
Though behind that elegant smile...
There seemed to be a tiny hidden plan.