Chapter 5.3

“S-Sir Grey!”

Evan stared intently at Daphne’s retreating figure, who didn’t look back. As he turned his gaze to the hand tapping the back of his hand, he saw Jermel’s expression was anything but ordinary.

When Evan let go, Jermel took a deep breath and looked him up and down as if pitying him.

“You idiot.”

Evan didn’t bother to reply, but Jermel shrugged as if to say he knew exactly what Evan was thinking.

“You should have made the most of your chance. Do you really think you’re the only one interested in Sir Grey? Well, public opinion isn’t great after what happened yesterday.”

“What do you mean?”  

“You didn’t know? You saw that man too, didn’t you? Different surname, but he seems to be Sir Grey’s father, right? Maybe she was kicked out as an illegitimate child of the family? Anyway, there are plenty of people who’ve suffered because of that guy. Like father, like daughter, they say.”

“Sir Grey would never do that!”

“You never know with people. That’s why you get called an idiot.”

Jermel, still watching the direction Daphne had disappeared, patted Evan’s shoulder and asked,

“Still, she’s a commoner, right? Or maybe not anymore? Well, whatever. So, what do you want to do about Sir Grey?”

Evan fell silent at the question—did he want to marry her or something?

Marriage….

He wasn’t sure about that, but one thing was certain. He wanted to see her smile. The way her cheeks puffed out when she smiled was so lovely. And if possible, he wanted to stay by her side—not be avoided like this.

“Don’t tell me you want to marry her? Even if you can’t inherit the family, you’re still a son of an Earl. But Sir Grey… Look at you!”

Jermel clicked his tongue, watching Evan’s expression brighten and darken as if lost in thought. Not just an idiot, but a madman.

“Are you really serious?”

Seeing Evan’s face on the verge of tears, Jermel regretted bringing it up. The brothers of the Clyde Earldom were known for their close bond, so they’d probably welcome any woman Evan brought home.

But the woman he wanted as a bride was the daughter of that Baron Lewin. The daughter of a slippery conman with no clear background.

Jermel’s own family had once been scammed by Baron Lewin. Though it was a small amount, so they hadn’t bothered to pursue him.

So, even if she seemed fine on the outside, who knew what she was really like? If she’d approached Evan with bad intentions from the start, he’d have to stop it before it was too late.

“Hey, get a grip. I wouldn’t say anything if you just wanted to have a little fun, but marriage is too much. Of course, since there are only men here, maybe it was a big deal for you, who never showed interest in that stuff. But think about it objectively. Sir Grey isn’t even that pretty. She’s smart, sure.”

Her hair was nice, maybe because she took care of it. But compared to noble young ladies who really put in the effort, it was like straw.

Besides, she always wore her uniform and a white coat, never anything else. Sometimes she wore glasses, but he never found her especially attractive.

Well, that aside, just thinking of her as a woman who’d seen several men’s below wasn’t exactly pleasant. It was something all knights had to go through to serve the Empire, but being forced to take off your pants wasn’t a happy memory.

And she hadn’t even seemed embarrassed—her eyes looked at them like stones! As a man, it was downright humiliating.

But his own family circumstances weren’t much different from Evan’s, so he’d had no choice but to become a knight. Still, he couldn’t understand how anyone could fall in love after all that.

Unless there was some kind of blackmail.

But someone as upright as Evan wouldn’t have any weaknesses. He was the best swordsman among the new knights, and his looks were more than just decent.

Jermel glanced at him with a tinge of jealousy. He himself wasn’t lacking, but next to Evan, his own features seemed to fade.

“Hey, just forget it. Since it’s come to this, you should move on. I’m sure your brothers will introduce you to a really good woman. Right? And if you put in a good word for me too, I’d appreciate it.”

Jokingly, Jermel tried to lighten the mood, but Evan only glared at him. Seeing Evan’s unwavering attitude, Jermel clicked his tongue again.

“Why so serious? She’s the one missing out, not you.”

“Don’t say that.”

“Wow, you’d give her your heart and soul if she asked?”

“As much as she wants….”

Wow, this guy really is crazy. 

Jermel quietly lowered his hand from Evan’s shoulder and shook his head.

With things this bad, maybe he’d need help from Evan’s brothers.

Resolving to save his precious friend, Jermel made up his mind.

* * *

“So, what did you need?”

“Well….”

Evan hesitated, unable to speak. Daphne didn’t rush him and waited.

After a long moment of hesitation and visible internal conflict, Evan’s eyes suddenly filled with determination and he finally spoke.

“A-are we not doing that anymore?”

“That?”

“The research….”

“Oh, that. I’ve been so busy lately I haven’t had time to think about it. Sorry, I should have told you.”

“It’s fine. I just… wanted to know if we’re really not doing it anymore….”

Evan’s ears were burning red. Not doing it anymore? Well, that was true. The main purpose had always been to satisfy personal curiosity.

“Is it not allowed?”

“What?”

Startled, Daphne echoed him. Evan ran both hands over his face and let out a rough sigh. Then, looking straight into her eyes, he said,

“I want to do it. Because it helps you, Sir Grey.”

Everything had to follow the plan. That was the only way to reduce error in the research results. There was no point in conducting research based on faulty premises.

Perhaps it was his unusual mood, but Daphne unconsciously licked her lower lip.

“Sir Grey.”

Evan’s voice trembled as he called her name. He was clearly trying to suppress the emotions bubbling up from deep within his chest, but his voice betrayed his will.

She hadn’t prepared anything for data collection—would it really be alright to proceed like this?

But one thing was certain: at the very least, she wanted to spend even a little more time with him.

Daphne wanted to ask him—had he ever been tormented by such inexplicable impulses?

But before she could voice the question, Evan’s lips were already on hers. Words hovered at the tip of her tongue, but she didn’t want to ask them now.

His lips, still cool from the night air, felt unexpectedly warm and soft. Rising onto her toes and wrapping her arms around his neck, Daphne felt Evan grip her waist tightly.

Theory didn’t matter at all. They just needed to do what they wanted.

The answer was unexpectedly simple. Daphne tilted her head and moved her lips. Responding to her, Evan’s hands moved slowly and gently.

Even though his hands only roamed over her clothes, it felt as if a fire had ignited. The tingling in her lower abdomen was almost unbearable, and Daphne let out a soft m*an as she opened her eyes and slowly pulled away.

Their lips barely parted, their breaths mingled hotly at close range. There was clear longing in his eyes, and a vivid, unmistakable desire within them sent a thrill through Daphne.

“Would you like to come to my place?”

She’d managed to say it with some courage, but Evan didn’t answer. So Daphne added,

“It’s cold outside.”

It was anything but cold—she was sweating. Besides, he was the type to train shirtless even in the dead of winter. The weather wasn’t cold at all, but Daphne used it as an excuse to bring him home.