APLM 27

Chapter 27

Evelyn was, quite literally, busier than ever.
Countess Ransel, who had gladly accepted Cain’s request, arranged for etiquette, waltz, and refinement instructors to come.
With the victory banquet approaching, rigorous training continued from the moment she woke up in the morning until she fell asleep at night.

Moreover:

“My father will be your guardian.”
“Huh? Why? Why him of all people?”

Cain was just as embarrassed as Evelyn was shocked.
He thought it necessary to give her prior notice about her debut, so he stopped by the archduke’s residence to explain the situation.

“That’s perfect. If Evelyn’s debut coincides with the victory banquet and she’s under your protection, it will look splendid.”
“Yes.”
“Then I suppose I should prepare a bit myself, as her guardian.”
“……Excuse me?”
“You’re unmarried and around the same age as me, with no title—so it might look awkward otherwise.”

Internally flustered, Cain tried to find a reason to refuse.
But when it was presented as common practice in high society, no valid objection came to mind.

“There can be no mistakes when the archduke’s name is at stake.”
“But Father, the Viscount and Viscountess died young, so Evelyn never received proper noble education.”
“I know. I noticed when I met you at your mansion.”
“It will be difficult to learn like the ladies of the capital in such a short time.”
“It’s a matter of will and effort. I’m not asking for perfection—just enough so as not to disgrace the archduke’s house.”

Thanks to the goodwill of Marquis Leonard and Cain, she was already connected to the archduke’s family.
The archduke was now gauging how useful she could be and how he might utilize her.
Thus, he intended to test Evelyn’s value with this opportunity.

“So make sure she’s well-prepared.”
Cain knew full well that once the archduke issued this ultimatum, he wouldn’t change his mind.

“Haah.”
Evelyn buried her face in the table, exhausted.
“It’s tough, isn’t it?”

Kate, dragged along by the countess’s insistence that she also join the training, looked at her sympathetically.
Having been educated from a young age, Kate herself found it exhausting—so Evelyn must have it even harder.

“Living as a noble lady isn’t easy. I thought it was just wearing nice clothes, eating delicious food, and living in a grand house.”
“You’re doing well. Even reaching this level in such a short time is impressive.”

Kate tried to comfort her, but Evelyn felt no solace.
At first, she had approached the preparations lightly, thinking she only needed to meet the appearance of propriety.
But as soon as she heard the archduke would act as her guardian at the banquet, the intensity and frequency of the training doubled.

She could endure the physical strain, but the mere thought of standing with the archduke was a burden.
She felt lost, with nowhere to rely on.

“You must really hate Cain, huh? He’s the cause of all this.”
“Hm, but maybe that’s why he’s been treating me really well lately.”

Evelyn thought of Cain for a moment and gave a small smile.

“I’ve been a bit irritable lately and tend to say things that get on his nerves. Yet he endures it all.”
“Cain? No way.”

Cain was somewhat soft with Evelyn, but he had never overlooked a chance to scold or critique her.
She found it surprising that he would apologize and endure everything.
To Kate, Cain was someone who, even in situations that warranted an apology, would have a clear reason and likely wouldn’t apologize at all.
Yet here he was, apologizing and tolerating it all—something Kate couldn’t even imagine.

“I was surprised too. But I’m careful. If I cross a line and he really gets angry, that would be a problem.”
“Well, having fought on the front lines, he’s used to rough words and jokes. He can handle them easily.”

Contrary to everyone’s expectations that he would join the general staff after graduating from the military academy, Cain had been assigned to an elite frontline unit.
The experience of dealing directly with ordinary soldiers on the battlefield greatly shaped him.

“So he’s fairly tolerant. If Evelyn crosses a line, he’ll probably just think it’s cute.”
“I don’t know if he finds it cute, but he does seem to enjoy it.”
“It must have been a refreshing experience for him.”

Evelyn couldn’t deny that and laughed.

“But Evelyn, hasn’t it been less than a month? You must have gotten your salary—are you planning to stay here indefinitely?”
“Well…”

Evelyn sighed.
“The amount is… a bit tricky.”

According to the Snowfl standard, after deducting rent and living expenses, she could send some allowance to her grandmother.
But in the capital, that wasn’t enough.
Rent in a safe area suitable for a woman living alone was high, leaving barely any room for a cup of coffee—she had to live frugally.

So Cain’s provision of meals and lodging was truly a blessing.

“At this rate, when can I ever be independent?”
“Hm? So the salary is just enough, huh?”

Kate, thinking mischievously, decided to subtly interfere with Cain’s refusal to have her assist on emergency duty during the banquet.
She leaned close to Evelyn and whispered conspiratorially:

“There’s a way to enjoy independence and a comfortable, affluent life at once.”
“What is it?”
“Most young noblemen will attend the banquet. Why not pick a kind, wealthy, handsome one?”
“Huh?”
“My mother knows all the decent young nobles. I’ll talk to her.”

In other words, she’d help Evelyn find a suitable match while simultaneously having her mother arrange it.

“No, I’m not really—”

Before Evelyn could respond, Countess Ransel entered.

“Ah, Mother. You came at the right time. At this banquet—”
“Yes, I came just in time. You’re still here. Go practice your dancing.”
“Huh?”

The countess grabbed Kate’s arm, who had hesitated.

“Hurry, Evelyn. The dance instructor is here.”
“Mother, wait! The important thing is me, not—”

The countess ignored Kate’s protests and dragged Evelyn along.
Evelyn had to suppress a smile as she hurried after her.

Cain returned earlier than usual and approached Evelyn, who was strolling in the garden with a bouquet.
Spotting him, Evelyn walked gracefully toward him.

Thanks to her training, her posture and steps now exuded elegance.

“Back from your walk?”

But Cain, accustomed to her lively, cheerful stride, noticed she seemed tired.

“If you’re exhausted, why not rest inside instead of being out here?”

Evelyn said nothing, just gazing at him.
Though the day’s training had exhausted her, seeing Cain made the lump in her throat subside—though it didn’t make her feel like smiling.

Cain quickly thought of a way to console her.

“Shall we get some coffee? Dirty Snow. You liked it, didn’t you?”
“Now?”
“For dinner as well.”
“……No. They said I need to lose a bit more weight to fit the dress for the banquet.”
“Where is there more to lose?”

She was already so petite that any tug would make her feel as light as a feather.
Apparently, her reduced meals lately weren’t by her own choice.

“Wasn’t the dress made to your measurements? Why lose weight then?”
“The countess suggested it during the fitting. White can look bulky, so it’s better to slim a bit.”

Debutante dresses were usually white. Embroidery and decorations could use colors, but the base had to be white.

“The countess is gone. Besides, one meal won’t hurt, right?”
“No. She worked so hard. It would be disrespectful to do it secretly while she isn’t here.”

The countess had stayed at the mansion nearly every day, carefully supervising every little detail of Evelyn’s training.

“True. After the banquet, we should find a way to repay her.”
“Yes. She really worked hard.”

Cain looked down at Evelyn nodding politely, and then noticed the bouquet she held.

“What flowers are those?”
“Oh, these? The gardener gives them every week for me to put in a vase and enjoy.”

She had become friendly with the gardener during their brief chats in the garden.

“Shall I put some in your room too?”
“No need. Let’s go inside. Better eat something and rest a bit.”

At that moment, a bee flew around the bouquet.

“Wait, stay still.”
“Why?”

Cain reached out to shoo the bee, and Evelyn instinctively pulled back.

“……Are you afraid I’ll do something?”
“No, it’s not that……”

Evelyn hesitated, flustered. Previously, she had been fine with Cain approaching.
She even teased him, stepping closer deliberately. Recently, however, it felt uncomfortable.
She suspected it was due to her etiquette training as a noble lady.

“People have a psychologically permissible distance and a physical distance, depending on the relationship.”
“What does that mean?”
“Well, this close distance is allowed only in certain types of relationships.”
“What kind of relationships?”
“Like parent and child, or close friends.”
“You and I aren’t parent and child, nor close friends, but we’ve been this close before.”

Cain stepped closer, making Evelyn blush.

“So what are we, then? Are there no other kinds of relationships?”
“Or… lovers—”

The words were so small they barely left her lips.

“What? Say it properly.”

Cain prompted her, leaning closer.

“Uh… um… lo-lo—”
“What?”

“Lovers—.”