“We’ve arrived at the manor, my lady,” Veronica said from the driver’s seat.

“Oh… okay,” Evandria replied, blinking back to reality.

She stepped out of the car into the cool night air. Elion was still standing nearby, but she stubbornly refused to look at him, fixing her gaze on the ground instead.

“Go inside,” Elion said.

Evandria did not move. Instead, she finally looked up, her eyes still slightly wet.

Noticing the faint shimmer in her eyes, Elion sighed, then spoke. “What? Why are you crying?”

“Who said I was crying?” Evandria fired back instantly. “I’m not that weak. If you think that’s enough to shake me, then you're clearly mistaken.”

She held his gaze, refusing to back down. “I’m not afraid of you.”

“Alright, I heard you. Now go inside,” Elion said and turned away.

But Evandria did not move and spoke again.

“Where are you going at this hour?” she asked, more confidently now. “Back to your dirty work again?”

Elion stopped and looked back, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Do I owe you an explanation? Why are you asking?”

“Didn’t you say earlier that I have to act like your wife? Then isn’t it my right to know where you’re going?” Evandria said.

Elion stared at her for a moment, then simply shook his head. “Forget it. Just go inside.”

“And it’s Evandria. Not girl,” she shot back with a small glare as Elion started walking, remembering what he had called her earlier.

Elion only cast a brief glance over his shoulder. He did not say a word.

Satisfied with getting the last word, Evandria turned around and marched inside the manor.

***

A while later…

Evandria was now in her room, lying on her bed and staring up at the ceiling.

“What a day… or rather, what a night,” she murmured to herself.

First he left me alone. Then, when I said he did it on purpose, he didn’t deny it. And after that, he threatened me.

“As if I’m afraid of him.” She huffed aloud. “Hmph.”

Pouting, she rolled over onto her side, staring blankly at the wall.

But… what was that? Why did I act like that today? I’ve never gotten that angry before. I said so many things to him. But more importantly… why did it feel like he suddenly changed by the time we reached the manor? He was clearly angry with me in the car.

Did he dwell on it and realize it was his mistake? That’s why he didn’t say anything when we arrived?

A small, triumphant smirk played on her lips. Maybe it was because of the way I talked to him today. I should definitely talk to him like that from now on.

Feeling a bit more accomplished, she rolled onto her other side. But her curiosity quickly got the better of her.

“But where did he go tonight? I bet he went behind the mansion again,” she whispered to herself.

Since the first time she had seen Elion going behind the manor, she had noticed him going and coming from there several times.

“What does he even do there? As far as I know, there’s nothing but a vineyard.”

She frowned, her imagination running wild. He’s probably doing something bad there.

“Ugh… I can’t sleep. I’m thinking about this too much.”

Frustrated, Evandria sat up and noticed a book lying on the table beside her bed. She picked it up, flipped it open to a random page, and began to read.

The candlelight trembled between us, casting golden shadows on the stone walls. He stood close enough now that I could feel his breath, warm and uneven. His hand slowly reached for mine, fingers brushing first before finally holding me. His lips parted—

“W-what am I reading?” Evandria gasped.

A bright crimson flush rushed to her cheeks, and she instantly slammed the book shut with a loud thud. She stared at the cover in disbelief, finally realizing it was a romance novel.

“Who brought this book here?” she muttered, pressing her warm cheeks with her hands. “I’m reading a romance novel when there's no romance in my life.”

Sighing, she slid out of bed and walked over to the large window, opening it slightly to let the cool night air soothe her blushing face. But as she leaned against the sill, movement in the courtyard caught her eye.

Down below, a familiar silhouette emerged from the darkness. It was Elion. He was walking back, coming straight from the direction behind the manor.

“I knew it… he went to the vineyard,” Evandria whispered to herself.

Should I follow him next time and find out what he’s hiding out there?

“But… what if I follow him and get caught? Th-then who knows what he’ll do… No. I shouldn't follow him.”

Shaking her head to clear the reckless thoughts, she stepped away from the window and closed the curtains. She climbed back into bed and pulled the covers over her shoulders, deciding not to think about it anymore.