Chapter Thirty-Nine
Evelia is a tall woman.
Recently, Alman has encountered a series of unfortunate events, including but not limited to inexplicably angering Evelia, working late into the night, waking up early for meetings, being mocked by the Second Prince, getting kicked by Carly, returning to the manor only to hear that Evelia seems to be on a date with someone else, and ultimately discovering that his favorite flowers are gone.
“Times are tough lately…”
Alman mumbled to himself as he squatted down, using the small dagger he pulled from his pocket to tend to the disheveled rose bushes.
The flower thief was well-prepared; judging from the neatly cut surfaces, he was skilled with a knife, and that knife was sharp indeed, but he lacked any artistic flair, leaving the beautiful stems devoid of any aesthetic quality.
“Hah…”
Alman supported his face with his hand, staring blankly at the rose bushes as if a child’s most cherished toy had been taken away, feeling inexplicably aggrieved.
“Ah—damn it—this is so annoying…!”
Looking around and seeing nobody, he decided to vent his frustrations. He stood up and began stomping his feet while shouting, the bricks beneath his boots almost cracking under the force. He even swung his fists at the air, the dagger humming as it sliced through the cold air.
Under normal circumstances, he would have been furious and ordered the old butler to investigate the matter, but right now, his thoughts were consumed by Evelia, leaving him feeling somewhat depressed. After throwing a few punches into the air, he put away his dagger and sat down on a nearby stone bench.
The bench was originally designed for enjoying the sight of the blue roses, but now Alman could only cross his legs and lean his head against the pile of green branches in a daze.
In any case, the roots of the roses had not been pulled out, and there would still be chances for them to bloom in the future, but—
What about Evelia?
Had Evelia only lost the flowers, or had the roots been taken as well?
No, no… perhaps the “roots” were never really with him…
Thinking this, Alman began to tap his fingers again, and when his resting hand on his face started to ache from the pressure, he stood up, looking despondently at his rose bushes. When he turned to leave, it felt as if his steps had become noticeably heavier.
“Ah… this is so annoying—huh?”
Just as Alman, feeling lackluster, was about to head back to his bedroom, he turned the corner and bumped into something. Instinctively, he brought his hand close to the dagger hidden in his clothes, but the faint fragrance that wafted toward him momentarily froze his actions.
“…Evel?”
Looking down, he saw the splash of pink right before him.
“Mr. Alman, you’re back.”
Under normal circumstances, Alman would not be clumsy enough to bump into someone, but right now, he felt somewhat listless. Plus, Evelia walked without making a sound, so it was inevitable that they collided at the corner.
Of course, Alman genuinely did not notice Evelia’s presence before bumping into her, whereas Evelia had been waiting there for a long time and had intentionally stepped into his path upon hearing his voice.
In fact, she had returned a while ago, just waiting at the corner of Alman’s usual route, a master of the art of surprise.
“Evel… you…”
Looking at the suddenly close Evelia, Alman swallowed hard. He called her name but could not muster another word. Perhaps it was because the girl’s form in his arms was too soft; he instinctively tightened his grip, and Evelia pressed herself against him, the rhythm of her heartbeat clear against his abdomen.
Though her heartbeat remained steady, Alman’s heartbeat pounded erratically, missing any semblance of rhythm.
Evelia’s warm breath brushed against Alman’s chest; the thin fabric of his shirt conveyed her body’s warmth, her fragrance enveloping his senses as her whisper lingered in his ears.
When she looked up at him, Alman felt as though if he just leaned down a little more, he could kiss her forehead.
Suddenly having Evelia so close sent Alman’s mind into overload. In the battlefield, he would react swiftly, but now he found himself at a loss of how to proceed. If Evelia was genuinely set on taking his life, he feared he wouldn’t even have a chance to react before a blade had pierced his heart.
But at the very least, Evelia had yet to show any murderous intent, and the Second Prince had not commanded her to eliminate Alman, so for now, she would not act against him, even worrying that the hidden blade in her skirt might injure his hand.
While Alman’s mind was malfunctioning, Evelia’s thoughts raced on. She interpreted Alman’s awkward pause as a sign of his “weakness,” making her recall what the shop assistant Anna had said.
—If she acted fragile, then she should be a bit more assertive.
That’s right, assertive.
Evelia was not just an ordinary fragile girl; she understood what it meant to be strong.
So, taking advantage of Alman’s moment of inattention, she boldly wrapped her arms around his waist.
If she had looked closely at Alman’s face at that moment, she might have noticed him blushing oddly, his eyes wide as if trying to figure out what Evelia was about to do.
However, Evelia would not do what he imagined.
Evelia tightened her grip, and before Alman could comprehend her intentions, he felt a sudden lightness beneath his feet. The man who towered 20 centimeters above Evelia and was all muscle was effortlessly lifted off the ground by her, a seemingly frail pink-haired girl.
“?”
Is this—assertive enough?!
Evelia held Alman tightly, looking up at the man before her. From Alman’s expression, he appeared to be completely stunned.
Seeing him still unresponsive, Evelia felt that she had not quite conveyed her message, so she decided to shift her stance.
Just like in the romantic novels she had read, resembling classic scenes that make a girl’s heart flutter, she pulled him closer with one arm, and while ensuring he wouldn’t fall, she used her other hand to lift his backside, steadied his thigh, and cradled his shoulder, laying him down securely in her arms.
Indeed, this was the legendary “Princess Carry.”
Alman was being securely carried in Evelia’s arms.
“Are you alright, Mr. Alman?”
Gazing at the bewildered look on Alman’s face, Evelia asked with genuine concern.
—He should be feeling my assertiveness now, thinking that I’m someone he can trust and rely on.
Evelia thought to herself, feeling a small delight at the smoothness of her actions.
As for Alman, though he was still full of confusion, not quite understanding what had just happened, Evelia’s image in his eyes instantly transformed into that of a grand and powerful figure.
