Chapter 8

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I stared blankly at Ophelia, who even seemed elated. I could not believe my ears.

…What? Wh—Who?

What is she saying…?

At my reaction, Ophelia just laughed softly. She had an angelic smile that could bring the dead back to life, though it only gave me a headache.

‘What the hell is she talking about now?’

I hurriedly shook my head.

“There is no way I would like him. What the hell made you think that?”

Surprised, she opened her eyes wide.

“Isn’t it like that?”

“Absolutely not.”

Ophelia raised an eyebrow and looked at me.

“But, sister said it before, ‘bring me a really handsome man, and I will marry him!’”

Ah.

I shut my eyes tight before opening them slowly.

It was because I remembered a few months ago. Tired of my madness, my parents thought that getting married would make me less demented.

So, I, who was in danger of suddenly becoming a married woman, demanded if the person I was going to be married with was a handsome man, I would make a fuss at the ceremony.

“I did say that. But, the writer…”

“Actually, I did not think there was such a man who would meet sister’s standards like that…”

Ophelia was speaking her words without even breathing.

“However, I knew the moment I saw him. The reason why you said that was because you loved him!”

“….”

I was speechless.

Because…

‘Mother, I can’t marry this man. ‘

‘Why not? Look, aren’t his looks as good as you wanted? I have heard that he has a docile temperament to accept even your picky temper.’

‘I like black hair.’

‘What…?’

‘I also like the mysteriously shining golden eyes. Overall, I hope he will give off a languid and seductive atmosphere.’

’….’

‘Oh, it is only natural that his nose and chin have to be perfect—like a sculpture. I wouldn’t marry him unless he was handsome enough that I was enchanted the moment I saw him.’

I must be out of my mind…

As all the memories came to my mind, I groaned.

In order to escape from my parents, who were pushing all kinds of handsome men in the world to me, I recited the praises for the appearance of the male protagonist in the original work as I recalled them…

It was not the conversation that I had in front of Ophelia, but she seemed to have been secretly eavesdropping.

At my silence, Ophelia said, her eyes twinkling.

“So, don’t worry. I have no intention of presumably pursuing him!”

* * *

“It is all done, Miss Evelyn.”

He could hear the locksmith’s greeting after finishing his work.

Cassius’ eyes lit up.

Evelyn suddenly wanted to cover his mouth with a cloth, so he did not expect such a move. Again, she has always exceeded beyond his imagination.

Who would have thought that there was a Young Lady who would imprison the well-known Cassius Brudenell?

Evelyn’s ferocious voice was heard.

“Good work. I paid the remuneration earlier, but because you did a good job.”

Then, a rattling sound followed.

Obviously, it was gold.

“Oh, thank you!”

The locksmith made a fuss and thanked her profusely.

Moments later, Evelyn came in triumphantly, lifting the tent, and hurriedly unwrapped the cloth covering Cassius’ mouth.

“No one will be able to come in anymore. Of course, you will not be able to go out, too. So, do not even think about making a false move.”

Cassius gazed up at Evelynn and smiled obliquely.

“I was just joking around with Miss Ophelia, but didn’t you like it that much?”

“….!”

Evelyn’s face hardened in an instant.

She licked her lips as if wanted to say something important though she could barely utter a single word.

“…The bandage, I’ll change it for you.”

“I will do it myself.”

“No.”

She shook her head.

“Since you have not fully recovered yet, I will do it.”

He enjoyed Evelyn’s gaze as she carefully changed the bandages, examining his wounds.

“Why isn’t it getting better…?”

As she muttered softly, Cassius shrugged his shoulders.

“How am I supposed to know what?”

“…Sir, have you been picking through the wounds?” Evelyn said, narrowing her eyes and looked up at Cassius.

Though he only laughed weakly.

“If the wounds were not to heal, I would get sepsis and die. I am not stupid enough to do that.”

“That is true…”

Eventually, she spoke as she treated the throbbing wounds attentively.

However, in fact, Evelyn’s guess was correct. Cassius agitated his wounds every day whenever she left.

And, the reason was simple.

Evelyn Garneid will drive him out of the house as soon as his wounds heal.

It was the last thing he wanted.

‘I need more time.’

Evelyn Garneid was a strange woman—more interesting than anyone he has ever seen. She sent him letters to save his life and reported the inn to the guard, but at the same time, she seemed to have an urge to kill him.

‘I know that face.’

It was the eyes that he had seen many times until now.

The look of hatred and fear, of wanting to kill him filled her eyes.

All those who have had such eyes until now have stopped breathing. If Evelyn Garneid was different from them, it was that she kept Cassius alive while still staring at him like that.

So, he wanted to know about Evelyn.

What does she like, what she hates, what is her biggest goal in life, and what kind of future she is dreaming of…

‘I will find out everything about Evelyn Garneid, and then I will get them all in my hands.’

Unfortunately, however, Cassius does not know much about her. Even the easiest thing to understand about what she likes most, he still does not seem to know.

‘…Oh, there is only one.’

A girl with an angelic face.

Cassius muttered quietly. “…Miss Ophelia.”

Evelyn reacted like a flame.

“What about that illegitimate child?”

Cassius glanced at her hand. Evelyn was clenching her fists tightly as she normally does whenever she is nervous.

“I remember her as a beautiful person.”

Hearing his words, Evelyn was frightened, as if she had heard something that should not have been said. On the other hand, Cassius, who was enjoying her reaction, continued his speech.

“Was this place originally used by Miss Ophelia?”

“That—how…”

“I could see golden hair everywhere. It is neither yours nor mine, so it must be Miss Ophelia’s.”

Evelyn’s eyes widened.

She seemed to be trying to be brave, but her voice trembled as she could not help it.

“You know about Ophelia…”

“That is not true.”

“Do not lie.”

Although Cassius was not lying.

He really had no idea about ​​Count Garneid’s illegitimate daughter. So, of course, he did not even investigate Ophelia beforehand.

All he knew was information about Evelyn Garneid.

Except for the fact that she started acting deranged half a year ago, there is nothing special about the Count’s Young Lady.

Evelyn Garneid. That was the only thing he cared about. Hence, it was none of his business to follow around the illegitimate child, her younger sister.

“All I know about Miss Ophelia is that Evelyn—she is your sister…”

He smiled lightly and added more words, “And, now I know that this was originally her room.”

“…That is everything I know. Is there any more information that I need to know?”

Concluding his sentence, he stared into her eyes.

“….”

Evelyn’s eyes flickered.

She turned her head towards the wall, trying to avoid Cassius’ persistent gaze.

“In the first place, she is not even my sister. She is the illegitimate child of a vulgar woman. So… do not pay attention to her in the first place.”

“Is there any reason why I should not be interested?”

“Because she is a dirty, insignificant girl. Out of your league, Sir.”

Evelyn frantically poured her words out. It looked like she didn’t even know what she was talking about.

“Even if you pay attention, the Count will never see Ophelia, no matter what. She was locked up in her room. She will always be!”

Bingo.

Seeing her in a panic state, Cassius had to try not to smile.

‘Something she likes? This is something even more than that.’

Now, he found Evelyn Garneid’s only weakness. A person’s weaknesses are more useful than any other information.

That is the case right now, too.

Isn’t Evelynn Ganid begging him with her earnest voice right now?

“So, stop thinking about that stupid girl, get the treatment and then go home, okay?”

* * *

They said time is medicine.

A month of nursing, which seemed as though it would never end, has finally come to an end.

“Please turn around.”

I gazed at Cassius’ solid bare chest without any emotion.

When I first saw it, I was only thinking about stopping the bleeding immediately because he was bleeding an abundant amount of blood. Besides, I have changed so many bandages that I have seen it so many times that I now feel indifferent.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes. It is all thanks to you.”

It is not wrong, but why do I feel like it is rather twisted?

The answer was also found quickly.

The reason I had to take care of Cassius in the first place was because of his madness.

Eventually, I quietly pulled him out of the house.

After Cassius had crawled out of the hole I used to get out of the County, he brushed the dirt off his clothes and peered at me with a curious gaze.

“Thank you, Evelyn. I will never forget this grace for the rest of my life.”

…What will happen if I ask you to repay the favor by forgetting it for the rest of your life?

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