Chapter 283: The Feelings I Have
“...!”
For Evelia, something like a marriage proposal felt a bit too far away, like a dream.
She stared at the ring that matched the color of her own hair, completely lost for words. She didn’t even know how to describe the feeling in her heart.
“...This is...”
Evelia couldn’t believe it. Happiness seemed to come all at once. Today, not only had she shared her feelings with her beloved Armand, but now she had even received a ring from him.
Even though Evelia lacked some basic knowledge about the world, she still understood what a proposal and marriage meant.
It was the true promise, to be with someone for the rest of your life.
“As you can see, it’s a proposal, Eve,” Armand said, smiling awkwardly with a blush on his face. “So... will you accept it?”
This man, who always called himself “too old” despite being in his twenties, now had his face flushed with nervous excitement. He looked even more thrilled than he had earlier when they were physically close.
“—Ah!”
Evelia finally snapped out of it when she heard his words. Eyes wide open, she quickly reached her hand out from under the blanket that was wrapped tightly around her.
“I… I of course…! I… I…”
She had never felt this excited in her entire life. She stuttered as she tried to answer him, feeling like this was the happiest moment she had ever experienced. But then—
“Ugh… Of course I’ll accept it, Mr. Armand…”
Tears suddenly fell.
Even though this was such a joyful moment, something worth celebrating. The tears, which usually came from sadness or pain, began to fall from her eyes and landed on her outstretched hand.
“I’m sorry…” Evelia panicked a little as she wiped her tears. “I… I shouldn’t cry on such a happy day…”
“It’s okay, Eve.”
Armand gently took her hand, and with his other hand, wiped her tears away.
“These are happy tears.”
“Happy… tears?”
“Of course. People cry when they’re really touched or moved. So this is totally normal. And you know what else, Eve? It means you’re starting to understand what real feelings are. You can smile, cry, and now you’re crying from happiness... That’s what it means to have emotions.”
His voice was gentle and kind. Evelia, who had tried to hold back her tears, now found them falling even faster. Through her blurry vision, she tried her best to see Armand’s face.
But even if she couldn’t see clearly, she knew he was still looking at her with that warm expression.
Armand often said she had him completely wrapped around her finger. From the outside, it looked like her mission as the "Red Crow" was complete.
She had earned Armand’s trust and love. The once-tough and unshakable knight commander had completely fallen for her. She had also become his lover, his most trusted person.
But the truth was she had fallen too. Just like tasting forbidden fruit for the first time, Evelia had completely sunk into Armand’s love, enjoying the peace and comfort he gave her.
Yes, this was clearly a betrayal of the Second Prince. A betrayal of his trust in her. But still—
Evelia didn’t think it was wrong.
Because this was her choice, and she wasn’t going to turn back.
Between the Second Prince who lived in darkness and Armand who stood in the light, just like how people are naturally drawn to light, she chose Armand.
“I see…”
As Evelia wiped away her tears, a smile slowly appeared on her face. A smile born from happiness.
“I’ve finally… learned what emotions are. I can finally become friends with others, be like everyone else… I can finally be a ‘person’.”
Only now did she finally understand—
Why Anna had cried so hard when Evelia returned.
Why Armand had hugged her and sobbed when he woke up and saw her.
Why the maids who cared about her had red eyes when they welcomed her back.
So this is what happiness feels like.
Back then, everyone was really happy I came back.
From that moment, or maybe even from long ago, she had not been alone.
And now, she had someone even more important by her side. Someone who would stay with her for the rest of her life.
“Then… I’m so happy.” Evelia smiled through her tears of joy. “Now I can stay by Mr. Armand’s side forever, right?”
“Of course.”
Armand gently took the ring and slid it onto Evelia’s slender finger. The ring, made under Melian’s careful supervision, fit perfectly. Though its design was simple, it matched Evelia’s pure and gentle nature.
“From now on, you’re mine,” Armand said softly. “I won’t leave you, and in return, you’re not allowed to leave me so easily either, understand?”
He kissed the ring on her finger lightly. As he made that promise, he also made a vow with Evelia.
“Mmm…”
Evelia opened her palm and gently touched Armand’s cheek. The cold ring slowly warmed up between their hands.
“I won’t leave you… From now on, you are my one and only. You are… my partner for life.”
“—”
Hearing those sweet and emotional words from Evelia surprised Armand a little. Even though the simple word “partner” made his heart beat faster, he never thought Evelia, who wasn’t usually the type to say romantic things, would say it so naturally.
“Where did you learn to say something like that?”
He kissed her palm playfully and even gave it a light, teasing bite.
“Hmm… from a novel.”
“A novel?”
“Yes, that really popular one… The Maid’s Knight.”
“Ah, that one.”
Since Armand was a real knight, he knew about that famous romance novel. They had even met the author once before.
“So it had a big impact on you, huh?”
“Mm… I guess you could say that. I used that book as a guide to get closer to you…”
Since her secret identity was already out, Evelia didn’t hide anything anymore. She told Armand everything she had done.
Armand’s way of thinking was different from Evelia’s, so he understood what kind of story that novel told. When he realized that Evelia had misunderstood parts of it and taken them so seriously, he couldn’t help but laugh. His laugh left Evelia a little confused.
“Haha, looks like you’re starting to understand human emotions, but still need to work on common sense a bit. But that book must really be something. I mean—look! You did win my heart, didn’t you?”
Just like the tagline on the novel’s cover—“Watch how the maid wins the knight’s heart”—
Evelia, the maid, had truly captured the heart of Armand, the knight. In fact, not just any knight, but the commander of the knights.
Even though her attempts to follow the book’s advice didn’t always go as planned, in the end, she succeeded.
In some ways, the book turned out to be pretty useful.
“So, what else did you learn?” Armand held her hand with interest, clearly wanting to hear more.
“...Hmm…”
Evelia thought for a moment, then leaned down and gave him a light kiss on the lips. She gently ran her toes across his knee, sending a small ticklish feeling through him.
“This too, Mr. Armand.”
Her kiss left a warm feeling on his lips, and just before pulling away, she even blew a little warm air at him.
—Well, the book did have a lot of scenes like that.
Evelia used to think those parts were just silly or embarrassing. But now… they seemed kind of useful after all.
“—Ha.”
That small, playful act made Armand’s heart itch. He couldn’t help himself anymore. He leaned forward and pushed Evelia back onto the bed.
“Shall I test how well you studied?”
“Mmm… if it’s you, Mr. Armand… do as you like…”
“Still calling me ‘Mr. Armand’ even in this situation?”
“……”
That question made Evelia pause. Words started floating around in her head. She blushed even more, her eyes darting away in embarrassment. Then, after swallowing nervously, she whispered shyly, almost testing the words.
“‘Mr.’ doesn’t feel right… then… ‘husband’? Or maybe…”
She blinked a few times, pressed her lips together, and turned even redder.
“H-honey…?”
“Haha, there it is.”
Hearing her say that and seeing her flustered, red face made Armand burst out laughing.
“What did you just say...?”
“I said… my lady, my dear wife is the cutest person in the whole world!”