APML 11

Chapter 11

After placing her order, Evelyn looked around with a face full of anticipation.
Although the weather didn’t exactly feel like spring, the young ladies strolling about were dressed in bright, light outfits, making it seem as if spring had indeed arrived.

“The festival really is a festival. Everyone looks so happy.”
“Indeed.”

Cain, who had been casually scanning the surroundings, finally realized the reason for the sense of discord he felt between Evelyn and the other young ladies.
Evelyn’s clothing was dull and dark compared to theirs.
Moreover, that black robe made it stand out even more.

‘She didn’t have many clothes either…’

Recalling the things Evelyn had brought when stopping by her house, Cain looked at her once again.
Evelyn didn’t seem to care about her own attire; she was entirely focused on the three-tiered tray filled with cakes, chocolates, and cookies.

She even stomped her feet impatiently, as if urging the staff on, which made Cain smile without realizing it.

“Enjoy your meal.”

As soon as the staff finished serving and left, Evelyn popped a cookie covered in chocolate into her mouth.
As the sweetness spread across her tongue, it felt like her fatigue was melting away.
Soon, a blissful smile appeared naturally on her face.

“So simple.”

Watching Evelyn eat, a faint, involuntary smile appeared on Cain’s lips.

“They say it’s good to eat something sweet when you’re having a hard time.”
“Who says that?”
“Oh, it’s just a folk remedy that’s floating around.”
“Folk?”

Cain’s puzzled expression made Evelyn blush slightly and add:
“Well, at least in my hometown, that’s how it is.”
“That’s nonsense, really.”
“Doesn’t matter. As long as it’s tasty.”

Evelyn cheerfully popped another cookie into her mouth.

“See? Someone seems very happy.”
“Wow, that’s a relief. At least one person is happy.”

Evelyn gave a mischievous grin, and Cain couldn’t help but smirk.

“Here.”

Evelyn held out a cookie toward Cain, who still looked indifferent.

“What’s this?”
“Try it.”
“No.”
“Why not? Give it a try. It’s tasty.”

She smiled and offered the cookie again, but Cain frowned and shut his mouth.

“You don’t like sweets? This cookie isn’t too sweet. Try it.”
“I don’t like it. I’m not eating it.”

Cain turned his head away, avoiding the cookie. Evelyn hadn’t expected him to dislike it so much.
Embarrassed, she awkwardly withdrew her hand and gently placed the cookie back on the plate.

“Tch.”

Cain, appearing annoyed, picked up the cookie and tossed it into his mouth, still gazing nonchalantly at the square.

“How is it?”
“Not good.”

With that curt answer, Cain raised his coffee cup.
‘Such a temperament… he can’t speak a single polite word.’

Evelyn muttered to herself, glancing at Cain.
When their eyes met, she was startled and quickly laughed.

“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Commander.”

Cain’s suspicious gaze made Evelyn feign ignorance and reach for some chocolate.

“But you…”
“Yes?”
“Shouldn’t you fix the way you address me?”
“Huh? But everyone calls you that…”
“Those people are under my command. You’re not a soldier, so why call me that?”
“But I’m a trainee staff member… isn’t that okay?”

Evelyn widened her eyes as if she had no idea.

“You shouldn’t call me that outside.”
“Why not?”
“If people find out a military commander is walking around like this, what do you think will happen?”

Ah, this is for waiting on the assassin in the prophecy. Any variables would be troublesome.
If Cain’s identity were revealed to civilians, he couldn’t move around so freely.
And it would be even worse if other people targeting him got involved.

Evelyn nodded, understanding.

“So what should I call you?”
“Call me by my name.”
“Cain?”
“Much better.”

Cain’s indifferent answer quickly turned into a scolding.

“Eat that. Five minutes have already passed.”
“Ugh.”

With a groan, Evelyn turned her attention back to the dessert plate.
Thanks to that, she didn’t see Cain smirking at her.

Evelyn moved her fingers as if mapping out the order in which she would eat each dessert.
Once decided, she began devouring the desserts at a rapid pace.
Cain found her seriousness even more astonishing than when she had been making a prophecy.

“Were you starving? I’m pretty sure you ate your meals on time.”
“I might die in a week, so I’m eating everything before I die.”
“Ah, in that case, don’t worry. I can prepare your final meal however you like.”
“Oh, thank you. If I really die, I’ll look good while doing it.”
“What? Look good?”

Cain frowned, and Evelyn quickly shut her mouth and avoided his gaze, but she wouldn’t just let it slide.
She seemed to have an endless supply of unnecessary comments.

“Do you still spend your free time in the library?”
“Yes. There isn’t much to do inside the castle, and I like reading.”
“What book are you reading now?”
“Art. Specifically, paintings.”

Odd for her to read paintings. She had drawn future attack scenarios before, but so poorly that drawing with her feet might have been better.
Maybe it was her yearning for a talent she didn’t have.

“There’s a painter I want to meet when I go to the capital. I’m hoping to act like I know him.”
“You can only understand by seeing the painting directly. What good is reading about it in a book?”
“I’m just memorizing it. I might use it someday.”
“Memorizing?”

Cain asked in confusion, and Evelyn quickly cut a piece of cake and popped it into her mouth.

“Wow, this is really delicious too.”

For a moment, Cain thought it was admirable she was trying to do something, but then wondered if she was just spacing out.
Still, she seemed pretty sharp.

“Did you go to school properly?”
“I did, but it wasn’t at the level you might imagine for a rural village.”

She said only that and resumed eating cake.
Even if Cain wanted to know more, there wasn’t much she could say.

‘It can’t be helped.’

If she was going to be “Evelyn,” it would have been better if she retained her memories.
It was as if her soul had been swapped at some point; she had no recollection of the previous “Evelyn.”
Everything Cain knew about Evelyn’s past had been deduced from conversations with the villagers.

If there was any silver lining, it was that Evelyn had an accident.
Because of it, she could act a bit suspiciously, and people would forgive her, thinking she simply didn’t remember.

Before Cain could ask more about her past, Evelyn changed the topic, asking casually:

“Really, you won’t try it?”
“I told you I don’t like sweets.”
“Oh, what a shame.”

She said it with a face showing no disappointment and put another piece of cake in her mouth.
Just watching her, Cain felt overwhelmed by the sweetness and shook his head.

“Empty words.”
“Oh, could you tell?”

Evelyn smiled as she finished the last piece, then put down her fork with a satisfied expression and drank her coffee, smiling contentedly.

“I’m full.”
“Well, of course. You ate that much. You even had lunch before coming here.”
“Tsk, tsk. You don’t know. Women’s dessert stomachs are separate, you see?”
“Oh, really? Then you’re done now?”

Cain, staring at her with disbelief, called the staff to pay the bill.

“Get ready to go.”
“Ugh.”

Evelyn’s face darkened instantly.
However, since she had made a promise to Cain, she didn’t complain and slowly got up.

“Your expression.”

At Cain’s remark, Evelyn immediately forced a smile.

“Shall we go, Cain?”

She walked ahead of him awkwardly.
Cain noticed her reluctant steps and smirked.

As Cain settled the bill, Evelyn, who had exited the café first, almost collided with a man walking toward her.

“Ah, sorry…”
“Have you been well?”
“Huh?”

Startled by his low, grim voice, Evelyn turned toward him.
She didn’t recognize him, but the man gave her an eerie feeling.

He seemed like he was about to say something, but upon seeing Cain appear behind her, he shut his mouth.
Making a motion as if brushing his hair back to cover his face, he passed by Evelyn and disappeared into an alley.

Cain quickly approached Evelyn, who was watching the man disappear after bumping into her.

“What’s wrong? Did he do something?”
“Oh, no. We just bumped into each other.”

Evelyn tugged Cain’s arm, urging him to hurry, but she couldn’t help glancing back.
The man was gone, as expected.

‘Who was that?’

He wasn’t someone she knew, nor anyone she had passed by today.
At least, Evelyn had no memory of him.

‘Something about him feels off.’

She kept glancing back while walking beside Cain.
Cain noticed and glanced back, but all that was visible on the streets were people enjoying the festival.

When Cain returned to the castle and entered his office, Jade greeted him.

“Welcome back. It seems today was another fruitless day.”
“Yes.”

Cain took off his jacket and tossed it carelessly over the sofa backrest, sinking into the sofa wearily.

“Do you have a report?”
“Yes. It’s the results of the background check on Miss Evelyn.”