Chapter 336.2: The Important Person Who Only Exists in the Past (Part 2)
So… does that mean Armand also went through the same things?
He went through loneliness, through emotional struggles. Just like her, he had desperately hoped that someone would hear his voice.
Because Evelia had felt that kind of pain, when she imagined Armand experiencing the same thing, her heart ached even more.
“…What’s wrong, Eve?”
Seeing Evelia suddenly look sad, Armand reached out his hand and gently brushed away the messy strands of hair at her cheek with the warmth from his feverish palm.
“It’s just… I was thinking, if Mr. Armand had gone through the same thing I did… it must’ve been really painful for you.”
“…No, Eve.”
Armand shook his head and gently patted her on the head.
“My life later on was a little better. If I had to give a reason, I guess it’s because I was already a teenager back then. I had grown up enough that my mind wasn’t fully wiped out yet… so I had the strength to escape those nightmares. But you, Eve… you must’ve lived in that hell since you were really young, right? Just like my friend back then… You were a poor, pitiful child.”
Compared to Evelia, who had been broken from a very young age, Armand had already formed his own personality by the time he was taken in. That’s why he wasn’t as easily controlled.
Even though he had once been the Second Queen’s lackey, once he realized the truth, he still had the strength to fight back.
Unlike Evelia, who was too young at the time and didn’t yet have a complete self. She had no choice but to follow others’ commands, and it was hard for her to find the courage to walk out of that darkness.
But unfortunately, even though Armand had realized the truth and wanted to resist back then, he still didn’t have enough strength.
“If I had been able to save that child back then… they would probably be about your age now. Maybe we could’ve even been good friends…”
Whenever he thought of that child, all Armand could remember were the blame and resentment in their eyes.
“I clearly promised them… ‘I will definitely take you out of here.’…”
“—!”
It was as if she had suddenly heard something very familiar. Evelia’s body trembled hard.
She listened to Armand’s words filled with guilt, and for some reason, her heart tightened.
In that moment, many memories seemed to flash through her mind. But they were too messy and unclear. In the end, she could only remember one clear fragment—
—A young boy once promised her that he would take her away from that place.
Ah… that vow, that promise… how familiar it was…
Evelia had been holding Armand’s hand, but now, her grip quietly loosened.
Nervousness. Fear. Confusion—
So many emotions swirled together, and a voice of doubt rose in her heart.
They said the one who promised to help her escape had abandoned her.
Armand said… he was someone who escaped from the House of Nightingales.
The timeline… did it match?
“Eve?”
Armand noticed something was wrong with Evelia, but he didn’t know why she looked like that.
“Are you okay? Is it because talking about the House of Nightingales made you uncomfortable? I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have brought it up…”
Even though Evelia had brought up the topic on purpose, Armand was the one apologizing now. His pale lips trembled, and it looked like his nosebleed was about to drip from the tissue again.
“Mr. Armand… I want to ask you something… Do you still remember that child’s name?”
—Please, let it not be that name.
“The name… Of course I remember. Even now, I still use part of it in my own name.”
—No… It can’t be… Those few characters in Mr. Armand’s name…
“Furst…”
With a bitter smile, Armand said the child’s name—
“Furst Talia.”
—That was Evelia’s real name in the past.
“…Ah…”
When she heard that name, countless memories came flooding back.
Memories she was supposed to forget. Memories from the past… memories she had been ordered by the Second Prince to erase. Those memories didn’t belong to the “Evelia” she was now.
But…
Ah… but still—
What was this feeling?
Frustration. Anger. Resentment. Regret—
So many feelings tangled together… My heart is a mess—
I… finally found him…
I finally found that person… the one I once swore to find, even if it took my whole life—
The one who left me in that hell and walked away.
That liar. That bastard.
That person I once trusted so much—
Aeg...
—I've finally found you.