Chapter 401: Reunion
Armand’s answer seemed to make Evelia’s mind freeze for a moment. She blinked, rubbed her eyes, and kept checking over and over, trying to confirm what was really happening right in front of her.
“Mr. Armand?”
Evelia still felt it was hard to believe. She looked him up and down, calling his name again and again, almost as if she didn’t know what to do with herself.
“Mm, I’m right here.”
Compared to Evelia, who had believed her partner was already dead. Armand, who had only thought of her as “missing,” seemed much calmer. He removed his sharp gauntlet and gently brushed the dirt off Evelia’s face. But because her tears were already sliding down, his wiping ended up smudging her cheek instead.
“Mr. Armand…”
Evelia gently held his hand in hers. The warmth in his palm felt nothing like she had imagined. It was warmer, more real.
She cherished that warmth, letting his large hand cover half her face, as if half of her whole self was wrapped inside it.
Maybe because this happiness came so suddenly, Evelia lowered her eyes, looking hesitant. She didn’t know if she should accept this scene that felt like a dream.
The night before had been so cold, but now that sunlight was spilling down, Evelia could feel waves of warmth.
“Is it really… Mr. Armand?”
“Mm. Of course.” Armand rubbed his fingers and gave her cheek a gentle pinch. The realness of that touch made Evelia lift her head, lips pressed together.
She looked like she wanted to say something, but the words stayed caught at her lips. Her eyes flickered instead, as if they wanted to speak all the feelings in her heart.
“…I’m so glad.”
Her voice was soft, but full of effort.
She held back her tears, not wanting her voice to sound choked when Armand heard it. She even lowered her head again, letting her emotions swirl in her eyes.
“You’ve been through a lot, Eve.”
While she kept her head down, Armand’s hand gently patted the top of it.
It was just a light tap, but Evelia’s head dipped slightly, and her tears spilled out as if his hand had knocked them free.
“I… I thought you were dead…”
The moment her tears fell, her tightly pressed lips loosened too. Like a child who had been holding back for too long, she kept her head lowered, letting Armand stroke her hair in comfort.
“I thought I’d never see you again… I… I thought… from now on it would only be me, alone…”
Evelia didn’t even know how many times she had cried by now. Every time, she told herself she would be strong afterward, but every time she saw Armand again, she ended up like this. Unable to control her emotions, breaking down with just a few actions or a few simple words from him.
Yes… Mr. Armand had long since learned every single weakness she had.
Thinking back to the order the Second Prince had once given her, “Use the Knight Commander to gather information, and after you’re done, kill him”, Evelia then looked at herself now, crying uncontrollably, unable to keep her emotions in check.
How could someone like this possibly defeat Mr. Armand…?
“Sorry, I came late.”
Armand rubbed Evelia’s head, his voice full of endless pity and tenderness.
“But maybe it’s for the best. If I’d seen you earlier, you would have caught me crawling on the ground, unable to even control my legs. That would have completely ruined the image you have of me.”
Perhaps because the moment of reunion felt too heavy, Armand spoke in a teasing tone. His hand rubbing her head moved a little faster, like he really was petting a big pink-haired cat.
“No matter what kind of Mr. Armand… I like you all the same…”
Tears still lingered in Evelia’s eyes. Her golden irises, stained with tears, shone like amber in the light, and sealed inside that amber was Armand’s reflection.
“I feel the same,” Armand smiled, gently wiping her tears away. “No matter what kind of Eve you are, I’ll love you all the same.”
“Then…” Evelia curled her fingers, as if afraid he might disappear if she moved too much, like some fragile illusion. She carefully pinched the edge of his cloak. “Please… don’t leave me again. I’m begging you.”
“Of course, Eve. Even if you didn’t beg me, I’d be begging you not to leave me. You don’t know how nervous I was when I heard you might have gone back to the House of Nightingales. I was terrified that brat Eric might steal away my Eve, and then I’d be a poor single father raising poor little Rachel all alone. Right?”
Armand leaned over to glance at Rachel on Evelia’s other side. Rachel, quick on the uptake, instantly played along, hugging Evelia’s arm, rubbing her face against it while pretending to cry dramatically.
“That’s right, without Mom, I’d be a stray kid!”
“What are you talking about? You still have Dad, don’t you? Didn’t you just say you wanted Dad to protect you? Already changed your mind?”
Rachel’s enthusiasm was almost too much for Evelia, but maybe because they’d been apart so long, watching Rachel’s over-the-top acting actually made her feel touched.
After the joy of reunion settled in, Evelia’s cheeks turned slightly red and her heart beat faster. She shifted closer with a soft “thud,” leaning against the armor on Armand’s body.
“Ah, Eve, my armor’s a bit hard. I don’t want it to hurt you. Let me take it off first—”
“No need, Mr. Armand.”
Evelia closed her eyes, tilting her head slightly as if enjoying a rare moment of peaceful rest, leaning against his shoulder.
“Only this small bit of pain… can remind me that this isn’t my dream.”
“….” Armand paused for a moment, then gently wrapped an arm around her.
“When I wake up, you’ll still be here, right?”
“Mm. Of course. Rest well. We’re all here.”
He patted her shoulder like soothing a tired child, then placed a light kiss on her forehead. A simple gesture carrying his love.
Their reunion had come in less than a month since they last met, yet there were countless things Armand wanted to say. Even if he wasn’t good at fully expressing his feelings, he would still speak more than Evelia ever could.
But since she was tired now, he decided to let her rest first.
Armand swayed gently while holding Evelia in his arms, the sound of his armor softly clinking.
Even though the sun was up, he hummed the lullaby they both knew well, calming the girl in his embrace.