Chapter 335.1: The Place That Once Was (Part 1)
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry—Your Highness… I won’t run anymore—I'm sorry…!"
—That liar.
"Ahh—it hurts… my leg…! I won’t run again… please—"
—Why did he leave me here all alone?
"I-I'll stay here… Your Highness, I’ll stay by your side forever—I'm sorry—I'm sorry—I'm sorry—"
—It hurts so much.
"Your Highness—Your Highness—!"
—It hurts!
"It... it was my fault. From now on, I will… I will only be loyal to you…"
—Please let me go.
"I will definitely stay loyal to you—!"
—I swear I’ll kill him—!!
………………………………………
"Mr. Armand, slow down, have some water."
"Okay… thank you."
Armand took the cup from Evelia and was just about to drink when he noticed he still had two tissues stuffed in his nose.
"Haha… no wonder it was so hard to breathe…"
Armand gave a weak laugh, but there was no real smile on his face.
"Take it slow, Mr. Armand, you still seem to have a bit of a fever."
Evelia gently reached out and touched Armand’s forehead. After that incident, Armand had been running a low fever. His confused memory had gotten a little better, but he was still somewhat dazed and had trouble speaking clearly.
"I’m sorry for making you worry…"
But the good news was, this Armand right now, was really Armand.
Not a version of himself from some lost memory. It was like the fever had burned through the fog in his head. This was truly Armand himself.
"No… it’s okay. This is what I should be doing."
Now that she was finally face-to-face with the real Armand, Evelia had so many questions in her heart.
What exactly was that marking about? And what was the real story behind the "House of Nightingales" she had tried to ask about before? Evelia wanted to ask everything.
If Mr. Armand really was a member of the House of Nightingales—
No, that can’t be…
How could someone from the House of Nightingales rise to the position of Captain of the Royal Knights?
Could it be… was this all a plan set up by the Second Prince?
If that’s true, then all my rebellious thoughts…
Did the Second Prince already know?
Did he know I would betray him, and that’s why he sent Mr. Armand…?
—No, no.
No no no no no—
It’s not like that. That’s wrong. It can’t be. No, definitely not.
Mr. Armand’s kindness is not fake. This can’t be some kind of test from the Second Prince. It just can’t. Even if Mr. Armand really is from the House of Nightingales—
But why?
Why would Mr. Armand be someone from the House of Nightingales?
What is really going on here, why?
Why would the person the Crown Prince trusts the most be connected to the House of Nightingales?
What’s the truth behind all of this—
“Eve?”
Armand, still dazed from his fever, looked at Evelia. His eyes went to her face, which kept changing between bright and cloudy expressions. He slowly sat up and leaned closer to her.
“What’s wrong?”
His voice was full of concern. His hand was very warm from the fever. Right now, his whole body gave off a fragile feeling, like if Evelia even touched him a bit too hard, he would shatter like glass.
“I—I just...”
If it were before, Evelia probably would have said something like “It’s okay” or “It’s nothing.”
They had already said those kinds of comforting words so many times, just to avoid worrying each other. It had almost become a habit.
“I just... care about you, Mr. Armand.”
But Evelia didn’t know how to say what she really wanted to say. She didn’t know how to ask the questions she had in her heart.
Judging from Armand’s current state, he seemed to be fully aware of everything. There was no need to introduce herself again, or explain her past and where she stood. All she had to do was ask. Just say the questions out loud.
But how should I say it?
Evelia was completely confused by now. She was even beginning to doubt where Armand truly stood. Was he really working for the First Prince, or was he secretly a spy for the Second Prince?
All the kindness he had shown her, was it real love, or just part of the Second Prince’s plan?
If it really was all arranged by the Second Prince… then that would mean…
Please… no…
Just thinking about that made the horrible memories come rushing back. That inhuman torture. It left Evelia in a place where she couldn’t live, but also couldn’t die.
Just remembering it made her feel pain. Every inch of her skin hurt. And there was also that mental drug that made pain feel even worse. Even breathing was painful. Even pulling on a strand of hair felt like her head was going to explode.
And back then, Evelia was just a kid.
At that time, only the Second Prince could stop the torture. Only by pleasing him could the pain stop. Only then could she breathe like a normal person again.
Finish the mission. Get the antidote. That was all. But only the Second Prince...
“—Eve?!”
In her panic, it was like she couldn’t even hear anything anymore. It wasn’t until Armand shook her body hard that she finally snapped out of it.
She looked at Armand with fear still on her face. One of the tissues in his nose had fallen out, and a stream of nosebleed slid down his chin.
That patch of red made Armand’s pale face look even more colorless. But he didn’t care about his own condition at all.
He was only worried about her.
This kind of… this kind of Mr. Armand. Could feelings like this really be fake? No, that’s not right.
I love Mr. Armand. So my feelings can’t be fake. He should love me too. No, he does love me. And if even that turns out to be acting, then I would willingly fall for the lie.
Feelings like these, these are the kind of feelings I’ve always wanted. They can’t be fake.
“Eve, what’s wrong? Did someone bother you while I was asleep?”
Armand frowned. The relaxed, half-smiling look he usually had was completely gone. Now, he looked genuinely worried and anxious.
And there was even a low anger in his voice, like he was upset someone had dared to hurt Evelia.
“No… Mr. Armand.”
Evelia swallowed hard. Her heart was beating so fast it felt like it was going to jump right out of her chest.
She wanted to know.
No, she didn’t want to know.
What if the answer was something she didn’t want to hear? But if it really was all a lie, shouldn’t she leave immediately?
Ask him. Find out the truth.
No, don’t ask. If she asked, she might hear something painful.
Don’t do it… but also, ask him. If it’s Mr. Armand—
Yes, if it’s Mr. Armand…
Because it’s Mr. Armand. The man she had always trusted, and the man who had always trusted her.
Ask him.
Yes… go ahead and ask.
Evelia kept repeating her question silently in her heart, going back and forth with herself. The part of her that believed in Armand wanted to ask. But the scared part of her, the part lost in fear, just wanted to cover her mouth and say nothing.