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Chapter 9
That’s Not What I Meant by “Let’s Touch Lips”!
At this point, even Evelyn couldn’t help but grow suspicious.
Could it be… that the Duke has feelings for me?
She slowly lifted her head.
Theo’s violet eyes were fixed on her.
They were completely different from the look he had given her when they first met.
This went beyond simple interest—
No. I’ve lost my mind.
Evelyn shook her head.
It was ridiculous.
They had only met a day ago.
And the gap in status between her and the Duke was unimaginably wide.
A hollow laugh escaped her at her own foolish assumption.
But that didn’t stop her from being conscious of him.
Isn’t this basically a confession…?
Her throat kept drying up from tension, and her movements grew stiff and unnatural.
Theo quickly noticed the change in her.
His presence had clearly grown larger in her awareness.
But in the next instant, Evelyn’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“Do you act like this with just anyone?”
“What?”
“We haven’t even known each other for a full day.”
“Is that important?”
His confident response left her momentarily speechless.
He continued,
“The time spent together doesn’t matter. What’s important is the moment.”
“The moment?”
“Yes. Like this flower.”
He tapped lightly on the vase at the center of the table.
Inside the glass vase, white hydrangeas were in full bloom.
“To see a flower bloom, you must endure endlessly. You must watch it carefully and devote effort to it.”
“……”
“And yet, the reason we continue to seek flowers is to capture this very moment.”
Theo’s eyes curved gently.
“I’ll never forget today. The moment you came to save me.”
He was certain.
This was the moment his life had changed.
It wasn’t some vague attraction.
It felt as if someone had gripped his heart—tight, overwhelming, and full.
Every time he looked at her, his chest tingled. Warmth filled his body.
“All I did was throw a book at you…”
“That image is vividly etched into me. Though there are other reasons, too.”
He continued,
“I enjoy being with you. Talking to you. Watching your expressions change in so many ways.”
“……”
“I swear—this is the first time I’ve ever felt this way.”
He wasn’t taking her lightly.
“I want you to let me into your world. And I’ll do my best for your happiness as well.”
“So this is….”
“Yes. It’s a confession.”
The confession crashed over her like a tidal wave, leaving Evelyn completely disoriented.
“……I’m very flustered right now.”
“I understand.”
“We only met today. I don’t even know your name.”
“I don’t intend to force your feelings. For now, just as I said… let me fill a small space in your world.”
Everything felt overwhelming.
My head is spinning!
Theo let her be, watching with satisfaction as she sank into her thoughts.
At that moment, the restaurant owner approached.
“We have an excellent wine. May I recommend it?”
“Yes, please!”
Evelyn nodded quickly, eager to break the awkward tension.
There was no way she could endure this sober.
She decided she would rely on a bit of alcohol to survive the rest of the evening.
Theo looked at her with mild surprise.
“Do you like drinking?”
“When necessary.”
Soon the wine was brought out.
The proprietress uncorked the bottle and poured it into their glasses.
At the same time, she quickly assessed the atmosphere between them.
She and her husband had been quietly eavesdropping on the pair for a while.
We have to help them!
The meddlesome, romantic couple decided to intervene. Nothing helped advance a relationship quite like alcohol.
She swiftly recommended a well-aged wine, sincerely hoping their hearts would connect.
Evelyn stared at the red liquid streaming into her glass and, the moment it was filled, downed it in one go.
“Another?”
After the owner stepped away, Theo refilled her glass himself.
She emptied that one just as quickly.
“Shouldn’t you slow down?”
“No, I need a little more.”
She drained several more glasses.
Then she let out a long breath.
Her face hardened with determination.
“May I be honest?”
“Of course.”
The alcohol gave her the courage to reject him.
The problem was—it also doubled her honesty.
“You’re ridiculously handsome, Your Grace.”
“…What?”
“You’re exactly my type. Physically.”
“Well, thank you.”
Theo chuckled softly at the unexpected comment.
The conversation was completely unpredictable.
Still, if it meant capturing her heart, he didn’t mind.
Evelyn continued,
“But that’s all.”
“……”
“Just because I’m from the countryside doesn’t mean I’m ignorant. I know reality.”
“For example?”
“The gap in status is enormous. And the environments surrounding us are completely different.”
“So you don’t dislike me.”
“How could I? You’re this handsome.”
Once she started being honest, her mouth wouldn’t stop.
Theo shrugged as if he saw no problem.
“Then what is the problem?”
This man’s head is full of flowers.
Evelyn sighed.
“There will definitely be people who look down on me. No—there will be plenty.”
“As long as we’re fine, isn’t that enough?”
“What will you say to the Ashford family?”
“My parents aren’t alive. Convenient, isn’t it?”
How could he say something like that so cheerfully…?
He repeated that as long as their hearts aligned, nothing else mattered.
Evelyn pressed her temples.
The wine must have been stronger than she thought; her body was warming with intoxication.
Her judgment was beginning to blur.
Somehow, everything he said sounded right when spoken with that face.
Before she knew it, she was nodding with hazy eyes.
Clinging to her fading clarity, she spoke again.
“But I don’t understand my feelings. Is my heart racing just because you’re handsome? Or is it romantic?”
“That’s troubling.”
Theo gently took her wine glass away.
Her hand felt empty mid-reach.
“You should stop drinking. I’ll take you back to your lodging.”
Think about it again when you’re sober. About my confession.
He smiled and lifted the glass he had taken, drinking from it himself.
“For dessert, we’ve prepared lemon sorbet.”
The restaurant owner’s voice helped clear her head.
A refreshing dessert was placed before her.
A short while later, when the owner removed the empty dish, Evelyn stared at the plate in shock.
Did I eat all of that?
Even in her daze, she must have cleaned her plate.
Her full stomach felt oddly embarrassing.
The proprietress smiled warmly.
“You two will soon become lovers.”
“Does it look that way?”
Theo sounded pleased.
“My husband and I were friends for a long time. Then suddenly, we became lovers.”
“How?” Evelyn asked curiously.
“By chance, we held hands one day. And I didn’t dislike it.”
If you touch them, you’ll know your feelings.
Evelyn blinked.
“You can tell just by holding hands?”
Oh my, of course not.
The woman leaned closer and whispered something into her ear.
Evelyn’s eyes widened.
“Pardon…?”
Speechless at the unexpected revelation, she could only stare.
The woman winked before turning to Theo.
“Rather than going straight to bed, a walk would be good. It clears the head.”
“Is there somewhere nearby?”
“I know just the place.”
The owner recommended a nearby lake.
They mustn’t miss it at sunset, she insisted.
The lake wasn’t far.
A gentle breeze carried the fresh scent of water.
Just as the couple had said, the lake under the setting sun was breathtaking.
The sky and the water were painted in warm hues.
The surface shimmered in gold, and now and then leaves drifted down, sending soft ripples across the water.
Evelyn was completely captivated by the crimson scenery.
“I want to sit.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to walk a bit more?”
She nodded.
Theo laid a handkerchief on the grass so she could sit comfortably.
Still tipsy, Evelyn plopped down onto it.
Theo sat beside her.
Why does he feel so close…?
Perhaps it was because of the confession, but the distance between them suddenly felt painfully noticeable.
