USML 22

Chapter 22

“So you ate it and threw it away, is that it?”
“What kind of bullshit is that supposed to be?!”

Did this man even know what he was saying? As Evan slowly blinked, the anger in his eyes faded, replaced by resentment and hurt.

“That’s not what I meant….”

I stopped speaking when I saw Evan lower his eyelids pitifully and swallowed hard.

“This is driving me crazy.”

Looking at his face made my conscience feel like it was being pricked over and over with needles. Honestly, it would’ve been better if he’d glared at me like he was furious and out for revenge.

As expected of Evan—did he still have feelings for me?

While my thoughts were a mess, my hand had already reached out toward him.

“Your Highness, for now, please calm yourself—”

“You were my first….”

My hand fell short, unable to reach him.

Like hell I was your second!

Evan stretched out his words and turned his face away. Soon after, with a mournful expression, he placed a hand over his chest and clutched at his lapel.

“No, what are you even—.”

Stunned, I took two or three steps back. Evan turned his back on me, his eyes rimmed red. If I so much as touched him by mistake, it felt like those blue eyes would overflow and start pouring out tears.

Forgetting my guilt, I pounded my chest in sheer indignation.

First, my ass. I didn’t even get a taste—what did I supposedly eat? The only thing I ever stuffed myself with was cake! If I’d at least licked him like rainbow candy, I wouldn’t feel this wronged.

Yes, I did hurt him by acting like a flirt—that much is true. But this kind of thing needs to be made clear!

“Hah, seriously.”

Feeling his words weren’t even worth responding to, I turned my head sharply and hurried off to leave the alley. What else was I supposed to hear if I stayed? Let’s just end this quickly.

“Miss!”

Dona hurried after me.

Evan didn’t take his eyes off me until the moment I left the alley. Every few steps, an uneasy feeling made me glance back—and every single time, he was staring at me with eyes like a puppy abandoned in the rain.

I’m going to die of unfairness. Someone save me.

“Vanessa!”
“Ugh!”

My solar plexus. After leaving the alley with Dona, we reached a carriage parked in a corner. The moment I got on, Sherry rushed straight into my chest, making the carriage lurch violently.

“Sorry, hic, I lied, hic, I was fooled, hic! Misunderstanding! Hic—!”

“Okay, I get it, so could you please give me a little space?”

“You won’t, hic, go out with me, hic, and yet, hic, with Evan—hic!”

My chest gradually grew damp with Sherry’s tears as she sobbed, her shoulders shaking. Roughly translated, it was:

“I misunderstood because I was tricked by Duke Dustin’s lie. I was upset because you wouldn’t date me but went out with Evan instead.”

Evan hadn’t exactly lied. I swallowed the words rising to my throat and awkwardly crab-walked into my seat.

Sliiide—.

Sherry, who sat down after me, slowly slid from my chest down to my thigh.

“Hic, hic—.”

Even then, her crying didn’t stop. I scratched my head awkwardly, just as Dona got into the carriage.

“Dona.”

I tried to signal her to calm Sherry down, but Dona merely smiled awkwardly, as if to say this was beyond her abilities.

“Hic!”

After some time passed, Sherry finally seemed to calm down. Breathing roughly, she slowly lifted her head.

“Pfft.”
“Pfft.”
“I can’t see Vanessa very well….”

Of course you can’t. I covered my mouth with my hand and turned my face away. Dona did the same.

Sherry blinked in confusion—though I wasn’t sure her eyes could even blink properly. Her eyelids were so swollen they looked like she’d been bitten by mosquitoes.

Seriously, which one of us is the younger sister?

“Dona, give me a handkerchief.”

Dona bit her lip, holding back laughter, as she handed it over. Judging by her trembling shoulders, it’d take her a while to get her expression under control.

I wiped away the tears gathered at the corners of Sherry’s eyes.

Clatter—.

Having already forgotten how miserably she’d been crying, Sherry was now smiling blissfully with her eyes closed.

If it weren’t for me, those two would probably have fallen in love by now.

I lowered my hand and let out a deep sigh. Hearing it, Sherry lifted her eyelids and looked at me with clear eyes.

“Unni, I’m sorry.”
“N-no, Vanessa. I’m the one who’s sorry!”

Did she even know what she was apologizing for? Sherry waved her hands frantically.

“No, I’m more sorry.”
“What do you have to be sorry about?”
“No, I—”
“No, I’m sorry! To atone, I’ll stay by your side for the rest of my life!”

That’s not what I meant, you idiot. This woman just subtly reserved the seat next to me for life. I narrowed my eyes and stared at her.

“I don’t know what you’re sorry for, but….”

At that moment, an inexplicable glimmer of expectation filled Sherry’s eyes. She clasped her hands together, eyes sparkling.

“Then will you play with me?”
How did the conversation end up there?

“Unni, of course…!”

This is bad…. I could only open my mouth, unable to easily refuse her request.

“Huh? Vanessa.”

Why do I become so weak around her? Is it because I saw her cry because of me? Come to think of it, except for when we were very young, I’d always been soft on her.

Ever since long ago, whenever she looked up at me this earnestly, I couldn’t say no. If she called, I’d even attend family gatherings I hated.

In Sherry’s eyes, the reflection of me already looked utterly resigned.

“Yes, fine.”

Phew. I should just hurry up and leave for Centro.

“I’m exhausted. So exhausted.”

Today was the day we came to the capital for a date, at Sherry’s request.

The condition was that I wouldn’t tell Count Dave about running into Evan. But this is Sherry we’re talking about.

The evening before the date, there’d been a small commotion. Sherry had bragged to the Count and Dave that she was going on a date with me.

‘This can’t be happening.’

They stared at me pitifully, like people facing the end of the world.

What do you want me to do about it?

‘See? Love belongs to the one who claims it.’

As Sherry said something incomprehensible with a bright smile, the Count and Dave glanced at each other and muttered quietly.

‘So jealous… Next time, I—’
‘We have to keep order. Father goes first.’

Truly words not worth responding to.

That wasn’t all. This morning, they loitered in front of Sherry’s room, pretending to get ready for work. Both Dave and the Count were holding little notes.

‘They say the apple tart at the “[Latte Neung Maria]” patisserie is famous, Sherry.’
‘Apparently there’s a play in the square this afternoon.’

Even after Sherry left her room, they followed her around. Dave hurried after her with his hands clasped behind his back.

‘Sherry, make sure you don’t let go of Vanessa’s hand and stay close together. Oh, and do you need a porter by any chance?’
‘……’
‘Sherry, always stay calm.’
‘Yes, Father.’
‘Ahem. Still, I don’t think one escort knight is enough. Coincidentally—fatefully—I happen to have time. What do you say?’

Sherry covered her ears with both hands as if she couldn’t stand hearing their voices.

‘I think I should come along, Sherry.’
‘Yes, Sherry. This father should—’

Finally snapping, Sherry dropped her hands and shouted,

‘I have absolutely no intention of going together, so wake up from your dream!’

Only then did they head off to work, gloomy clouds hanging over their heads. After all that effort, we finally managed to make it to the capital with Sherry.

And yet….

What is this? Am I the only one seeing him? The only one noticing? Is it just me who finds this weird? Sherry. Dona. How can the two of them so consistently ignore Evan?

I let out a hollow laugh thanks to Evan showing up everywhere we went. No matter how I looked—forward, backward, even rolling on the ground—running into Evan this often wasn’t a coincidence.

The encounters continued in order: a crafts shop, the square, and then a restaurant.

As we were leaving the first stop, the crafts shop, I heard murmurs nearby.

‘Evan?’

Evan standing blankly in front of the shop was the source of the noise.

At first, I passed by, thinking it was just a coincidence. Considering the eyes of other nobles, it wouldn’t do me any good to acknowledge him.

The second location, the square, was the same.

With Evan hovering around us, eyes from all walks of life—young and old alike—were drawn our way.

“Unni, don’t you see it?”
“See what?”
“Dona, don’t you see it?”
“Pardon? See what?”

It was as if there was some kind of filter over their eyes, completely blocking Evan out. They ignored him the entire time.

Nothing changed even when we moved to the restaurant.

Though Sherry and Dona sat at the same table as me, I was the only one bothered by Evan, who was staring intently at us from a diagonal angle.

I signaled to Robert, the knight from the Feard Merchant Guild who was acting as our escort.

You see Evan, right? He’s bothering you too, right?

But Robert only smiled faintly with a knowing look, showing no particular reaction.

“Is there something you need, miss?”
“No, I’m fine.”

How did Evan end up being treated like this?

Just then, something touched my lips.

“Vanessa, go on—say ah.”
“Unni, this is a bit….”

I gave an awkward smile and refused the egg tart Sherry was offering.

“I just want to feed Vanessa something tasty.”

Sniffling, Sherry practically threw the egg tart onto the plate and pushed it aside. Her sulky voice dug into my ears.

“Then I won’t eat either.”
“Miss….”

Dona looked between Sherry and me with a troubled expression before fixing her gaze on me. Her face clearly said, Please just accept it once.

Why won’t I? Because Evan is staring holes into me from across the room. I’ll get indigestion at this rate.

At that moment, the chatter of the nobles inside the restaurant drifted over.

“Oh my, Duke Dustin is here all alone without even a single escort.”
“Would His Grace even need one? I’m curious about something else.”
“What is it?”
“Why he isn’t accompanied by his fiancée.”

See? This is exactly what happens when Evan suddenly wanders around the capital.

I sighed and pressed a hand to my forehead. Please, just let things stay quiet until this outing is over.

But contrary to my hopes, Evan had already risen from his seat and was now leisurely making his way toward me.