Chapter 349: Hidden Secrets and Different Goals
There were still a few small secrets between Armand and Evelia. But maybe because their relationship had already grown so close, when Armand hesitated to speak, Evelia didn’t press him. She simply leaned on his shoulder, enjoying the warmth he brought her.
But perhaps the real reason Evelia didn’t ask was because she also had things she hadn’t said.
Just like today, she left the manor alone, telling Armand she was just going out to buy some tomato sauce.
Armand laughed, teasing her for still loving tomato sauce so much, and told her to come back soon. He said once he recovered, he’d be able to enjoy her tomato dishes again.
If life could be a little more peaceful, the two of them might have already become like an old married couple, living a simple and happy life like any ordinary family.
But for them right now, that kind of peaceful life was still just a dream.
Armand watched Evelia leave. The moment the door gently closed, the smile on his face became stiff. He sighed and rubbed his temples.
Even now, he still felt that he owed Evelia far too much.
More accurately, he owed the old Evelia, Furst, far too much.
Armand had always wanted to follow in his parents' footsteps and become a great knight. He was raised with that goal in mind and truly believed he would walk that path, but reality turned out differently.
He had taken too many wrong turns. And now, as if fate was punishing him, he had to endure the pain and suffering caused by his illness.
He wanted to be a light in others’ lives. He wanted to be a sun, because he had experienced pain, he hoped to make life more comfortable for those around him.
He kept working hard for this. He kept pushing his limits mentally and emotionally.
…Life was so exhausting.
Maybe the chaos of recent days was getting to him. Even someone as cheerful as Armand was struggling to hold everything together.
He wanted to be someone who could let things go. But the truth was, he couldn’t.
In the end, everything he did was for Furst.
At the House of the Nightingale, he gave up serving the Second Queen for Furst.
After they escaped, he joined the Crown Prince's side to take revenge for Furst.
Even after being poisoned and being told he might not live past thirty, he still became the Captain of the Royal Knights. He dragged his wounded body around, all to take revenge for his friend.
And now… it was still the same.
He kept working hard to make Evelia happy.
His whole sad life had basically been lived for her.
If one day Evelia really wanted his life, he would give it to her without hesitation.
After all, he had ruined her past, so he was willing to pay her back with the little future he had left.
But… before that, there were still some things he had to take care of.
Like Evelia’s future, and arrangements for the Knights. Even though he didn’t want to manage the second part, his cursed sense of responsibility wouldn’t let him ignore it.
“Sigh…”
Armand frowned and let out another long sigh.
It really felt like he was planning for his own death.
…………………………………
On the other side, Evelia, who had gone out to buy tomato sauce, had safely left the manor.
The winter air was freezing. Evelia wore a thick coat that made her look like she had gained two sizes.
She tucked her long hair into her collar, like she was trying to keep her neck warm.
To be fair, she really was running low on tomato sauce.
She couldn’t even remember the last time she had gone out to buy basic things like that. Ever since Armand got sick, her life had become just as chaotic.
If Armand didn’t use the calendar every day to check whether he was still remembering things correctly, Evelia might’ve already lost track of time completely thanks to his mixed-up memories.
—Whoosh.
That was a deep breath from Evelia. It felt like it had been a long time since she’d last breathed in fresh air like this. Even though it was so cold that it almost made her throat freeze.
She lifted her head and looked up at the sky, standing alone in place. To anyone passing by, she might’ve looked like a weirdo. But Evelia never cared about what others thought. So she just kept her head raised, quietly staring at the clear sky.
…Was it really clear, though?
A question suddenly rose in her heart. Even though it felt like Armand’s condition was slowly getting better, for some reason, Evelia still felt uneasy.
—Hey.
Just as she was deep in thought, trying to figure out where that uneasy feeling came from, a man’s voice suddenly reached her ears.
Her hands moved instinctively in her coat pockets. If the man had shown any sign of hostility, she probably would’ve punched him in the face right away.
But Evelia didn’t throw a punch, because the moment she looked at the man, she saw he was holding a bottle of what looked like very expensive tomato sauce.
“Hello, this is a new product from my shop. Would you like to try it?”
It was such a bad pickup line, even Evelia could tell there was a hidden meaning behind his words.
She looked down at the bottle in the man’s hand. Then, in a small corner of the label, she spotted a leaf.
It wasn’t just any leaf. It was the same special alchemical material she had once used to communicate with the Second Prince.
“…How much is it?”
Evelia glanced around, then casually took the tomato sauce bottle from the man’s hand.
“You’re interested? Would you like to see our other flavors? We also have a spicy version!”
The man smiled warmly. Even with his glasses on, she could sense the smile in his eyes.
But that look made Evelia uncomfortable. The way he was sizing her up made her frown.
“Lead the way.”
If this was a message from the Second Prince… then she had no choice but to follow.
She had once thought about cutting ties with the Second Prince, about joining forces with Armand and trying to live an ordinary life with her current husband…
But the moment she saw the leaf, the one used for secret communication with the Second Prince, her body acted before her mind could decide. She automatically waited for his orders.
‘…Anyway, I’ll just play along for now,’ Evelia thought.
She couldn’t let anyone find out about her relationship with Armand. She’d just pretend for now, and talk things over with him when she got home.
So Evelia followed the tall man to a small shop nearby. It didn’t look like anything special from the outside. But when they reached the door, the man didn’t go in first. Instead, he opened the door, stepped aside, and gestured politely for her to enter.
Evelia didn’t say a word. She simply followed his gesture and stepped inside the shop—
“—!!”
Then her eyes widened in shock at the person sitting in front of her.
The moment she saw the flash of golden hair, she knew exactly who it was. The man sipping tea was none other than her “master”, the Second Prince Eric.
“It’s been a while, Red Crow,” he said, lifting his gaze.
His rose-red eyes watched Evelia’s every move. From his face, she couldn’t tell if he was happy, angry, or anything in between.
“What’s wrong, Red Crow? Has it been so long that you’ve forgotten the rules?”
The Second Prince blew on his tea and took a moment to examine the girl who looked a little different from how he remembered.
“—Red Crow, kneel.”
Thud.
Crushed by a heavy pressure she couldn’t resist, Evelia, dressed in white, fell to her knees the moment those words left his mouth. She bowed low to the ground, her posture full of submission.
“…I greet… His Highness the Second Prince…”