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Chapter 24
Even at his mother’s funeral, Cain couldn’t even think about crying because he was terrified by his father’s angry expression.
He simply stood by the side of the grand hall with a blank face, doing as he was told.
At that moment, a lady with silver hair arrived as the last mourner.
She was from the same northern region as Cain and had been close to his mother. Cain had even met her once with her young daughter.
The lady, tears brimming in her eyes, embraced Cain silently, patting him gently in consolation.
Her soft silver hair tickled his cheeks, and her tender hands stroked him so kindly that Cain nearly burst into tears.
Perhaps sensing that Cain was holding back desperately, she whispered that it was okay to cry—a voice Cain still remembered.
At that moment, he seemed to crave such permission, such empathetic consolation.
He could not receive it from his only remaining family, his father.
After the funeral ended, Cain slipped away and entered a small, wooded grove.
It was a forest behind a lion statue, though in his childhood eyes, it had seemed more like a dense thicket.
Even when crawling inside caused scratches on his face and scrapes on his hands and knees, Cain persisted.
He didn’t want to get caught by his father and get scolded.
In a small clearing at the innermost part, Cain crouched down and hugged his knees.
It was only then that he could finally cry.
“Cain?”
“Hm?”
“Are you okay?”
Worried that she had brought up a sad memory, Evelyn didn’t know what to do.
“Ah.”
Cain slowly turned his head toward Evelyn.
Her concerned expression reminded him of that lady with silver hair.
Perhaps because they were both from the north and had silver hair, there was a resemblance.
For some reason, Cain felt that Evelyn’s worried gaze didn’t feel unpleasant at all.
Until recently, he had found worry or consolation entirely patronizing, yet now…
Cain let out a small, casual laugh and pointed to the coffee cup on the nearby table.
“You want to drink that?”
“Are you going to buy it for me? Why all of a sudden?”
Cain asked, as if puzzled by her hesitation.
“You also wanted a carrot, didn’t you?”
“But I haven’t done anything worthy of praise.”
“That I was cute as a child is true. Consider that your reward.”
“Ha.”
Cain actually said that himself. Was that even a joke?
Seeing Evelyn’s hesitant expression, Cain teasingly added a hint:
“But drink it quickly. I’ve only got half left.”
“Then you could drink first. We came separately; we can leave separately too.”
“…I guess so.”
“Really going to order it?”
“I said yes. Want me to order it for you?”
Cain called a waiter and ordered a Dirty Snow.
Finally, Evelyn smiled in relief.
“Is a simple cup of coffee really that delightful?”
“Of course. Happiness comes from simple things, after all.”
“Oh, really?”
If one cup brings contentment, then two must double the joy. How simple.
Cain chuckled quietly, about to lift his cup, then paused.
Evelyn’s coffee would arrive soon, so he thought he’d pace himself.
When Evelyn returned, she began opening the pile of gift boxes in her room.
They contained clothes, shoes, and accessories brought by a designer from a fashion house previously visited at Cain’s request.
“There’s so much… and it’s expensive. When am I supposed to pay all this back?”
She did need clothes and shoes, as she had almost none, but she hadn’t considered the price when the designer suddenly measured her.
After checking the delivery list and price tags carefully, Evelyn held her head in disbelief.
The amount was overwhelming.
“I guess I’ll only keep what I need immediately and send the rest back… but it’s such a shame. Everything’s so pretty.”
Unable to decide what to keep, Evelyn rifled through the items.
“I still need to thank Cain for being thoughtful.”
Evelyn chose her favorite light purple dress, put on shoes, and left the room.
“Hm?”
She stopped when she saw a man descending the stairs from Cain’s office.
His attire wasn’t unusual, but his expressionless face, devoid of any amusement, had struck her as peculiar.
Seeing him at each location made her wonder if he had been forced to come along.
‘Did he have a guard with him?’
Cain had always opposed her going out alone, fearing accidents. Yet now he had permitted it—and even appeared at the café. There had been a reason.
“What are you doing there?”
Cain spotted Evelyn standing in place as he opened the office door.
“Oh, Cain.”
Evelyn turned to face him and smiled.
“I was just heading to your office anyway.”
“Why?”
Evelyn spread the dress wide with both hands, the thin fabric falling lightly in the warm weather.
“I just received it today and wanted to try it on.”
“Ah, it’s arrived then.”
“How do I look? Like someone from the capital?”
“…Not bad.”
Cain awkwardly fidgeted with the back of his neck.
Seeing her play with the hem suggested she liked it, which was a relief.
“It feels light and comfortable to move around in.”
“That’s good.”
“But it’s way too expensive.”
Evelyn sighed, putting down the dress.
“To pay for all this, I’d need a lifetime contract with no salary.”
“Who said you have to pay? Just keep it.”
“But it’s so much money…”
“Don’t care. I never thought about the price when buying it.”
Somewhat irritating.
Yet Cain genuinely didn’t seem concerned, not trying to act superior.
“Really okay?”
“How much can it be? It’s not a lump sum, and it’s not like I’d have to pay forever. Receiving it is already troublesome.”
Ah, so irritating.
If she had fallen into this world, she wished she had become a noble heiress.
She had been content with her quiet life, but now she found herself grumbling.
“And the shoes?”
“Huh?”
“I told you to prepare comfortable ones.”
“They’re really comfortable—and pretty too.”
Evelyn lifted the hem slightly.
Though the toe looked narrow, the soft, thin leather fit perfectly.
“They don’t hurt even if I run away in them.”
“Oh? So if I buy shoes for you, you’ll run?”
“Yes, that’s it.”
Cain watched her for a moment, then stepped closer.
Evelyn lifted her head to meet his face.
“If you want to run, try it. But you’ll have to give it your all.”
“….”
He had never missed anyone fleeing right before his eyes.
His red eyes flickered like flames.
Boom.
Evelyn’s heart thumped loudly.
‘Right now… I feel…’
Flustered, she placed her hand over her chest and bowed her head.
Her stomach churned; she couldn’t keep staring.
“But you’re good at running, right?”
“Huh?”
The close voice startled Evelyn.
Cain’s laugh reached her, but she couldn’t look up.
“Last time, rolling seemed faster. How do you expect to escape properly?”
Gulp.
Evelyn glared at him.
“What do you mean? I’m pretty athletic, you know! I saved you purely thanks to my agility!”
“Oh, really. If you want to believe that, fine, let’s go with it.”
“Why talk as if saving your life was some act of charity?”
Cain’s playful expression returned immediately.
“Alright, lifesaver with great reflexes, consider this my repayment—accept it gladly.”
“Huh?”
“If you don’t take it, I’d just throw it away anyway.”
“Throw it away? Why waste it?”
“Then who else would use it? I don’t have a sister or younger sibling.”
“Can’t it be refunded?”
“No, it’s custom-made.”
Evelyn frowned, perplexed.
Cain smiled.
“It suits you.”
“Huh?”
First proper praise from Cain. She blinked in surprise.
Cain turned back to his office.
“You probably have a lot to organize, so go in.”
“Huh? Oh, yes.”
Startled by her awkward tone, Evelyn was relieved Cain didn’t react.
Once he disappeared, her stomach fluttered again.
“What… the heck.”
Her heart thumped so heavily it made her dizzy.
‘No way… did I just… get flustered?’
Unused to such feelings, she shook her head vigorously.
‘I’ll find a way back to my world with Res.’
She dashed into her room.
The door closed more firmly than expected, and she flinched.
‘I can’t. Cain’s going to like the heroine anyway.’
Seeing the inevitable result, she didn’t want to act inefficiently.
Evelyn sat against the door for a while, dazed.
“This is…?”
Jade, waiting for Cain’s approval, noticed a letter on the desk.
There was nothing odd about the letter itself, but the family seal was unexpected.
“The woman’s identity… Evelyn.”
