Chapter 281: A Love We Share
"Mr. Armand... I’m sorry… I’m so sorry for lying to you… I… I just wanted to stay by your side… Please don’t abandon me… Please… don’t leave me all alone… I want to stay here… I don’t want to go back… it’s so dark over there… I can’t see anything… please save me… take me away from that place…"
Evelia trembled as she cried in Armand’s arms, apologizing over and over. The tears she had held back for so long all poured out at once. She was almost screaming as she released all her fear and sadness. Even though her words were broken from sobbing, she kept taking deep breaths and repeated the same things again and again.
"Yeah… I understand, Eve. I’ll help you… Don’t be afraid."
Armand gently wiped away the tears on Evelia’s face with his large, rough hands, being careful not to hurt her with even the smallest touch.
Just a moment ago, he was full of doubts, wondering if his love for her had all been one-sided. He was upset about her loyalty to the Second Prince. But now, all he felt was guilt, for pushing Evelia to this point.
"It’s okay now… Don’t be scared. I’m right here. As long as I’m here, you don’t have to be afraid."
He softly brushed away Evelia’s long hair that had stuck to her cheeks because of the tears. Her eyelashes were soaked, her eyes red and swollen from crying. Seeing her like this hurt Armand deeply. His heart twisted with pain, and his nose started to sting. It was hard to breathe.
He had stayed at the House of Nightingales once. At the time, he was under the control of the Second Prince’s mother, not the prince himself. So from a “servant” point of view, his experience might not be exactly like Evelia’s. But even so, he understood her feelings.
Fear. Doubt. Helplessness.
He had felt them too.
He had walked through that same heavy darkness, carrying those feelings step by step. Every step had felt like dragging a heavy weight.
But back then, because he had lost his father early, he matured faster than most kids his age. And thanks to his mother’s strong spirit, he became the first person to escape that place. He also had people by his side who helped him, little by little, leave that darkness behind.
Now, it was his turn. His turn to become that kind of person for Evelia. The one who could help her walk out of the shadows.
His mother had made him strong and his father had made him gentle. That was their gift to him, the one thing the fire that destroyed everything else couldn’t burn away.
He held Evelia close, letting her tears soak into his fine shirt. He wrapped his legs around her gently, pulling her fully into his embrace so she would feel safe and secure.
Armand believed that Evelia needed this emotional release, so he didn’t stop her crying. He didn’t say things like "Don’t cry anymore."
For someone under intense stress, crying is a way to let out all the pain inside.
He just patted her back gently, whispering comforting words near her ear, hoping they would help ease her sadness sooner.
Still, if she cried too much, he would gently ask her to rest a little. After all, it wouldn’t be good for her to cry so hard that it damaged her eyes. Especially not over something like the Second Prince. Just thinking about that made him feel it wasn’t worth it.
Evelia cried her heart out in Armand’s arms, her sobs muffled against his chest. His shirt was completely soaked, but she still didn’t stop crying.
“...Let it all out,” Armand whispered softly into her ear.
“You don’t have to hide your feelings. Do whatever you want. Even if you want to curse and call him ‘that damn bastard Second Prince,’ it’s fine. Or think of something even worse, really nasty insults. It’s okay. Don’t be afraid. I’ll stay with you, always.”
He continued holding Evelia tightly in his arms. Just like he promised, he would stay with her.
Even as her breathing slowly returned to normal, he didn’t move or adjust his position, even though his arms had started to ache.
“Mr. Armand…”
No one knew how much time had passed before Evelia finally raised her head from his chest. Her red, puffy eyes looked both pitiful and a little funny.
Armand had never imagined Evelia would make that kind of expression. Seeing her cry like that, he gave a helpless little smile.
“Feeling better now?”
He gently rubbed her eyes, looking at her with eyes full of tenderness.
“Yeah… a bit better now… thank you, Mr. Armand.”
“No need to thank me. This is what I should do.”
“Something you should do…”
Evelia looked at Armand. She opened her mouth, but didn’t speak. The words seemed stuck.
Armand noticed her hesitation right away. So he gently hooked his finger around hers and then held both of her hands in his palms.
“What is it, Eve?”
He smiled, the same warm smile that always made her feel safe.
“…I was just… just…”
Evelia couldn’t hide her vulnerability in the face of his kindness. She lowered her head in embarrassment, staring at her hands being held in his.
“I was just wondering… Mr. Armand… do you really… love me?”
This girl, who had always struggled with emotions, was truly overwhelmed by the words “I love you.” Even after calming down, she still didn’t fully understand what love meant. She only knew that “love” was something very important, so important it could be a promise to stay with someone for a lifetime.
And such a big promise… was actually given to her?
Someone as amazing as Armand really loved someone like her? Someone who lived in the shadows, like a lowly insect?
“Of course.”
But Armand’s firm answer came without even a second of doubt. It hit Evelia’s heart like a heavy hammer and crushed all the walls of doubt she had started to build.
“I love you, Eve.”
His voice was strong and sure. His eyes held nothing back. The way they sparkled made Evelia feel like she couldn’t even look directly at him.
“I… I…”
His honest confession left Evelia flustered. She didn’t know if she was shocked by how deep the feeling was or simply overwhelmed by the way her heart was pounding so hard in her chest.
“Wait, does that mean… the love you said you felt for me, was that fake? You just told me you loved me too, didn’t you?”
Seeing her hesitate, Armand pushed the question straight at her. Honestly, when she had said she loved him, his heart had also gone wild.
“Love…” Evelia bit her lip.
“I don’t really know what love is. I just… I just know that whenever I see you, I feel calm. I want to hold you. I want to stay by your side, Mr. Armand. I want to rely on you… because you’re the brightest light in my life. You’re my… hope. I just want to stay here… stay with you.”
Because she didn’t know how to describe what she felt inside, Evelia just said everything she was thinking.
That feeling of wanting to rely on someone.
That feeling of wanting to stay with someone.
That feeling of never wanting to leave—
She said it all.
“That’s what love is, Eve. I feel the same. I love you too.”
Armand smiled and gently rested his forehead against Evelia’s.
Just like that day, they were so close to each other. They looked into each other’s eyes, and in their gaze, there was only one thing for each other.
Back then, Armand had held himself back. When Evelia’s breath had brushed against his lips, he resisted.
But now, after they had both shared their true feelings, Armand was no longer going to be “polite.”
“Ar—mmph—”
Armand kissed her without any warning. Heat passed between them in that moment.
There was still a faint taste of ketchup on their lips from earlier, sweet and sour, just like the love between them.
This kiss wasn’t like any of the secret kisses Evelia had stolen before. This one wasn’t “sneaky” or hidden, it was real.
Evelia was swept up in Armand’s kiss, her mind spinning. She didn’t even have the strength to fight back. She just let him express his love and melted into the feeling.
Their soft kissing sounds were soon covered by quick, heavy breaths. Each short pause was just a chance to catch air, before the next round began.
—Thump.
With a dull sound, Armand gently pinned Evelia against the door. Her body, already weak and trembling, leaned there with no strength.
The once fearsome, cold-blooded "Red Crow" now stood there blushing deeply. Though her face still lacked strong expressions, her eyes were full of desire.
“Mr. Armand…”
Her voice was sweet, softer than usual, as if all the strength had been pulled out of her. Her face was red, and her heart was racing.
“Is… this your way of loving me, Mr. Armand…?”
“If you like it, then yes, this can be how I show my love.”
He kissed her palms… the backs of her hands… her arms… her shoulders.
His lips traveled to her neck, her cheek, and finally, to her eyes, where he kissed away her tears.
Evelia had secretly kissed Armand many times before. She had kissed his face, even his body. She remembered the scent of his skin, the warmth of his touch.
But none of those moments ever felt as intense as this.
Her heart was pounding.
Her breath was quick.
Her eyes were filled with Armand’s image.
Her ears were echoing with his voice.
She was lost in this moment, and wanting even more.
“Then, my dear Mr. Armand… please love me more.”
Just like Armand did before, she opened her arms wide, showing him all her softness. All her vulnerability.
“Ha.”
From the sound of his laugh, she could tell, this was the answer he wanted.
“Then how could I say no, my lady Evelia?”
The next moment, their fingers intertwined.
And so did their hearts.