Chapter 75: Abruptly Ending A Story Arc…?

— [Progress to Hidden Ability: 10/100] —

*** Mechanist Street

After capturing the owl, faster than the original timeline intended.

The two walked through the streets in silence, with the sack hung over Julius’s shoulder as they both tried to bring him to the local officials.

“What do you think they were doing…?” Julius asked, his mind a literal wreck after witnessing the scene.

“Beats me, but I guess the rumours of them being lovers were true, huh?”

“That somehow disturbs me more than the literal murders.”

Julius replied nervously. Evelina was already a problem in his eyes, but now that she has someone equally as eccentric as her? The mere thought alone gave him shudders.

“Don’t be dramatic…” Lillian waved his concern off.

“Dramatic? Remember what happened during the tournament!?”

“Of course I do! But… maybe they’ll change?”

“You’re way too optimistic…”

*** Arden Estate – Cael’s Room

[Profaned Step]

FWOOSH!

We both teleported back to my room mid-movement, ending with a deep dip, her back arched in my hold, my grip secure at her waist, our hands still entwined as I hovered above her, close enough to feel her breath.

“Did you have fun?”

I asked, fully composed, but Evelina, meanwhile, was surprisingly sweating and panting; even if she was skilled with magic, she still wasn’t a physical powerhouse.

“More than I thought I would dancing on top of a rooftop like that…”

She replied, breathing heavily.

Although learning to dance was required of every noble, especially her, she had never had the chance to use it. At almost every ball or party, she stayed on her own, focusing on building connections, using her words rather than dance to gather people to her side.

It irritated her to no end. What was the point in being taught how to dance if she never even used it?

But now… maybe it was worth it after all.

“Where’d you learn to dance like that?”

She asked as I twirled her around and finally let go of her hand, finishing our impromptu performance.

“Isn’t that required for every noble?”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. Nobody’s that adaptable to an impromptu dance, especially in such steep terrain.”

“Is that really surprising?”

“No, not really.”

Evelina laughed, noticing the way her sweat clung to her attire. It was uncomfortable, especially with how stuffy her clothing was.

“You didn’t seem to sweat at all. That seems unfair, doesn’t it?”

“I am the brawn in this relationship after all, maybe you’d like to train with me sometime?”

“I’d have to refuse… I’ll focus on magic for now.”

“A shame.”

I replied with a smile, pocketing my hands. I was starting to get used to being in an official relationship with Evelina.

My nerves had finally begun to steady, starting to get used to her presence without the constant hyperventilation and absurd dramatics of acting like a dog.

That doesn’t mean I’ve completely abandoned it, though.

“Right, you need a change of clothes!”

I headed to my doorway to ask my servants, but…

[Fabric Chains]

She blocked the door immediately, taping it off like an entrance to a crime scene.

“No need, I can just borrow some clothes from you, male clothes suit me just fine, don’t you think?”

While she had asked the question, she already knew I didn’t need an answer; she’d seen my thoughts and fantasies back when we explored the tomb.

She had also seen the way I imagined her in boyish attire.

“Don’t answer that.” She laughed. “You really did imagine me in everything, didn’t you?”

“It seems you’re no longer flustered by it.”

“I adapt quickly, same as you.”

“I’m choosing to take that as a compliment,” I said dryly.

“How else would you take it?”

Evelina turned away from the door, the fabric chains dissolving into threads that faded back into the air.

She walked past me without hesitation, already scanning the room as if it belonged to her, which, considering everything, wasn’t far from the truth.

Her eyes landed on the wardrobe.

“…You don’t mind, do you?”

“My main clothes are back at the academy, I don’t mind.”

“Good.” She smirked. “Saves me the trouble of teleporting to get clothes.”

She opened the wardrobe and rummaged through it with surprising familiarity, fingers brushing past uniforms, coats, and spare shirts until she pulled out a plain black one. Practical. Minimal. Very her.

She held it up against herself, tilting her head.

“This one will do.”

I turned away instinctively, more out of habit than embarrassment.

“Feeling shy?”

“I’m just practising modesty.”

Evelina laughed. Was I seriously saying that after everything that had happened between us?

“Say, what if others see me in this state? What would you do?”

Her question hit me like a truck; it came so completely out of nowhere that it even managed to catch me off guard.

“Before, I’d wait for your orders before doing anything, however…” I turned around slightly, enough to catch a glimpse of her.

“I’d probably kill them…”

Evelina took a step back, feeling a tingle travel throughout her spine, even though she didn’t expect a reply like that coming from me.

But it didn’t take long for her to immediately recover.

Remembering how she literally nearly killed someone in my courtyard just because I was training someone.

“That’s fair…”

She finished changing her clothes, only wearing an oversized black t-shirt that fit her impressively well, or more accurately… exactly just as I had imagined.

“That’s fine with you?”

“Its practical, as long as it works as clothing, I couldn’t give a damn. Besides, you’re the last person I’ll be worried about seeing me like this.”

Evelina tugged lightly at the hem of the shirt, testing its length, then shrugged as if the matter was settled.

“See? Perfectly serviceable.”

“That’s one way to describe it,” I replied, leaning back against the desk, arms crossed.

She glanced up at me, eyes narrowing just slightly, catching the undertone.

“Does this help remind you not to invite other girls to your estate again?”

“You fully know I didn’t mean it that way…”

“Mmm.” She seemed pleased more than anything else.

She walked closer, bare feet silent against the floor, stopping just a step away. The oversized shirt shifted with her movement, the fabric hanging loose enough to make it obvious she hadn’t bothered with anything else underneath.

Casual, dangerous, and entirely her.

“So,” she said, tilting her head, “are you going to keep staring like a statue, or are you going to say what’s on your mind?”

“I’m weighing my thoughts,” I answered honestly.

“Oh?” A slow smile crept onto her lips. “And?”

“They’re severe.”

She laughed softly, the sound low and amused. “Good. I’d be disappointed otherwise if you suddenly became sane.”

She turned away again, this time heading for the window, peering out at the darkened estate grounds below. The moonlight spilt into the room, outlining her silhouette in pale silver.

“Do you know,” she said idly, “this is the first time I’ve stayed in someone else’s room without it being for strategy or necessity?”

“That so?”

“Yes.” She looked back over her shoulder. “It’s… strangely calming.”

That was unexpected.

Evelina D’Arclight didn’t do calming. She was pressure, presence, inevitability. And yet, here she was, barefoot in my room, wearing my clothes, speaking like this was natural.

I pushed off the desk and joined her by the window, keeping a close distance.

“The two of them saw us,” I said.

She snorted. “Hope we captivated our audience then.”

“You don’t seem bothered by it.”

“Why would I be?” Evelina replied, eyes still on the moon. “Let them misunderstand, let them think, let them be confused, it just makes them easier to manipulate in the long term.”

She paused, then added, quieter, “Besides… they aren’t the type to spread rumours.”

She pushed off the window and stepped closer again, closing the remaining distance. This time, she didn’t stop until she was well within my space.

“Let’s rest,” she said simply. “Tonight was… entertaining.”

“And tomorrow?”

Her smile sharpened.

“Tomorrow,” Evelina D’Arclight said, “Hmm… we’ll figure it out.”

She turned toward the bed without another word, utterly at ease, as if this had always been where she belonged.

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