Chapter 276: The Future
It was a sunny day, just like usual, but the air outside was still cold.
Luckily, the mansion was built with excellent heating, so the house stayed warm. Once it started snowing in a few days, they would probably need to light the fireplace, that was the time of year Armand always found annoying, but also the time he enjoyed the most.
Click, click, click.
Also like always, Evelia was making coffee for Armand. Maybe Armand thought it was too boring for her to just stand around doing nothing, so he let her try making some hand-ground coffee.
As Armand watched her busy figure, he spun the pen in his hand, and a feeling like a small spark began to stir in his heart.
“……”
“……”
It looked like a peaceful silence, but besides the sound of grinding coffee, there was also the loud pounding of Armand’s heart, though only he could hear it.
He took a deep breath and nervously rubbed his earlobe with his fingers.
The carefully wrapped engagement ring was still in his pocket. He didn’t even want to place it with his alchemy tools, for fear it would bump into weapons or armor and get scratched.
“Eve.”
His dry throat swallowed hard, but it didn’t help. Maybe only by saying it out loud could he soothe the burning feeling in his throat.
“I’m here, Mr. Armand.”
He’d heard that same answer from her so many times before, but it always reminded him that Evelia was right beside him.
“……”
Still, Armand felt nervous.
He rubbed the pen in his fingers, unsure of how to start this conversation. He didn’t know how long he’d been hesitating, but when he looked up again, Evelia was still waiting for him.
“Um… Eve, have you ever thought about the future?”
The words finally came out of his throat. Armand’s fingertips tapped against the pen, and the tapping got faster the more nervous he felt.
“The future?”
Evelia went quiet for a moment. That question sounded very familiar to her.
Was it because she had once thought about it herself? Or had Armand asked her something like that before?
Actually, it was something Armand had asked. It was back when they first met, on the night of the bonfire party when he had taken her outside.
Back then, she’d answered in a vague and casual way, telling Armand, who was still just a mission target at the time, ‘I’ll probably just keep being a maid?’
That line ended with a question mark, like she was leaving the rest unsaid. And now, the question that hadn’t been answered back then had returned to her.
From early spring to late autumn, from taking off her heavy cloak to now putting on warm clothes again. It hadn’t been a full year yet, but these past few months were enough for Evelia to start looking at her life differently.
Back then, she would’ve just shaken her head, not caring about something like the future.
Because in the past, she believed her future was already decided. Whether she lived or died, succeeded or failed, it all depended on what the Second Prince said. It had nothing to do with her own will.
After all, back then, even her breathing had to be approved by the Second Prince…
But now, maybe because she had been away from the Second Prince’s control for so long, or maybe it was Armand’s influence, or both. Evelia felt like she could finally breathe more freely.
“Yeah, the future. Hmm… maybe something not too far off, like next year, or the year after?”
Armand leaned on his hand, copying Carle’s lazy posture from before, trying to make the mood feel lighter.
“The future…”
Even though Armand had tried to make the topic less serious, his sudden question still caught Evelia off guard. She didn’t know how to answer it right away.
She was like a child who had just begun learning to imagine things. When a small crack opened in the galaxy of her thoughts, only a few tiny stars fell through. It would take time for the full band of light to appear.
“Then… let me change the question a little. Eve, do you want to stay here?”
“Hmm?” That didn’t sound too good, Evelia quickly looked up. “Are you trying to send me away?”
“Huh? No, no,” Armand waved his hands quickly to explain. “It’s just that… every year we rethink how the household is organized. I was just asking for your opinion.”
Armand tried to test Evelia’s feelings with that vague question, like he couldn’t quite bring himself to say what was really in his heart.
“…I’m not leaving.”
Even after hearing Armand’s explanation, Evelia still frowned a little and mumbled softly.
“Hm? You mean…”
“I said I’m not going to leave, Mr. Armand.”
It seemed like that short moment of misunderstanding made Evelia suddenly make up her mind.
She didn’t want Armand to send her away.
Not because of the Second Prince’s mission, but simply because she didn’t want to leave Armand.
Even though Armand had quickly explained himself, her heart still sank for a second, and in just a few seconds her mind ran wild, imagining what her life would be like if she had to leave him.
…That can’t happen.
Almost like it was instinct, Evelia shook her head.
She enjoyed the life she had with Armand, and she hoped she could stay by his side forever.
Or rather—
“My future… is to stay by your side, Mr. Armand.”
That was her answer.
In just a few seconds, this young assassin gave her honest and certain response.
Not for any mission, not because of impulse, but simply because she followed her heart.
The heart that quietly beat beside Armand every night.
The heart that wanted to remain near him.
The heart that hoped to greet every morning with him.
The heart that belonged to her true self.
—If only I weren’t “Red Crow.”
At the same time, that thought quietly echoed in her heart.
If only she wasn’t one of the Second Prince’s people.
If only she wasn’t “Red Crow.”
If only she hadn’t been changed by alchemy.
If only she were just a normal girl who could stay by Armand’s side.
These sad thoughts also rose up from deep inside, and she bit her lip without realizing it.
What she felt for Armand was real. It was a precious emotion she had learned through their time together.
But she had to admit, that emotion… was covered by the lie of “Red Crow.”
She couldn’t bring herself to tell Armand the truth about her past. Because it was too ugly, too shameful.
But maybe… it was okay.
At least for now, he didn’t know.
She didn’t know how long this peace would last, but for now… it still existed.
Her desire to stay by his side was real, without question.
But if the lie was ever exposed… what then?
“……”
Across from her, Armand froze for a moment.
He hadn’t expected Evelia to answer him so directly. His heart, already burning, now beat even faster.
“…R-Really? Is that… true?”
He asked again, trying to confirm it. When he saw Evelia nod, Armand, whether from nervousness or excitement, covered most of his face with both hands.
“…Ah, uh…”
His eyes darted everywhere, as if he couldn’t focus on anything. Even though he was the one who asked, Evelia’s answer had completely caught him off guard.
In all the excitement, he didn’t notice the complicated emotion on Evelia’s usually calm face. He just covered his face, smiling with relief, though no one could see it.
—So that’s how it is.
That’s Evelia’s answer…
If that’s the case, maybe…
Thinking this, Armand swallowed hard. His throat felt even drier now, as if the fire in his heart had only grown stronger.
“Eve… tomorrow, can I visit your room?”
“Of course, Mr. Armand.”
Evelia nodded, and lowered her head. She let her long hair fall forward, hiding the strange look on her face. Meanwhile, Armand, completely flustered with joy, looked nothing like his usual composed self.
…Was this really the future she had hoped for?