Chapter 17
“Riette, Evan is downstairs.”
Riette slowly lifted her head, feeling her body much lighter than yesterday.
‘Does that guy ever sleep? What could possibly be so fun that he’d come to someone else’s house at the crack of dawn?’
Grumbling to herself, Riette threw off the covers and answered her mother.
“Please tell him I can’t see him today.”
“Oh my, why? Are you still feeling unwell?”
“No, I’ve pretty much recovered.”
“Then why?”
The Duchess of Meren approached the bed, surprised.
“Did something happen between you and Evan? Did you two have a fight?”
“Do I look like a child? It’s nothing like that.”
“Then at least go say hi and let him know you’re feeling better. He nursed you all day yesterday, remember?”
Ugh.
She knew that. But yesterday, she had made up her mind.
To distance herself from him.
That way, he’d snap out of his delusional feelings sooner.
“I still feel a bit chilly… I don’t think I’m fully recovered. What if I pass it on to Evan?”
“…He asked me to keep it a secret, but Evan’s already caught a cold too.”
Riette fell silent at her mother’s words.
After staying by her side all day to nurse her, he’d inevitably caught it.
‘See? Why did you nurse me when I didn’t even ask for it…!’
This has nothing to do with me!
Suppressing her guilt, Riette lay back down on the bed.
“In that case, I really can’t see him. I’m sorry, but please tell him to just go home and rest.”
Left with no choice against her daughter’s firm tone, the Duchess of Meren agreed and exited the room.
At the time, Riette thought Evan would give up after a day or two.
But Evan came again the next day.
“Riette. You won’t see me today either?”
And the day after that—
“Don’t tell me… not today either?”
And even the day after that.
“Riette, I don’t know what’s going on, but can’t you cheer up? Doesn’t your heart ache even a little for Evan, who’s come every day?”
Despite the Duchess’s attempts to persuade her—clearly misunderstanding the situation—Riette kept her lips tightly sealed.
That guy was more persistent than she thought.
His schedule must be packed, yet Evan had visited the Meren estate every morning for five days straight.
Thanks to that, Riette’s own routine was being disrupted.
Trying to avoid Evan meant she was practically stuck indoors.
“Ugh, I can’t sit still any longer.”
Unable to bear it, Riette waited until Evan had left before grabbing her horse Atom and heading out.
Of course, her cold had long since passed.
Which was why she confidently took her horse out despite the early winter chill.
Riette quickly saddled Atom and mounted him. She planned to ride along the Atrentha River alone, just like she used to race Evan.
‘Still… I wonder if Evan’s feeling better.’
It had been several days since she’d heard he caught a cold, but she still felt a twinge of guilt.
Even if it was his own fault for nursing her without permission, she’d recovered by the next day while he fell ill.
As she stepped out through the gate, still uneasy—
“Where do you think you’re going?”
A voice she didn’t expect rang out.
Turning stiffly, she saw Evan—the very person she’d been avoiding for days—standing there.
“Evan? Why are you here…?”
“You wouldn’t meet me, so waiting for you to come out was the only option.”
Judging by his red ears and nose, he wasn’t lying about waiting.
Out in the early winter cold, and already sick too…
“Are you out of your mind?!”
Her first reaction wasn’t guilt or sadness—but anger.
Dismounting, Riette tied Atom’s reins to the gate and dragged Evan inside the estate.
Thankfully, the fireplace in the hall was lit.
She sat Evan in front of it and called out to a passing maid.
“Jane, can you bring a cup of warm milk?”
“Yes, my lady.”
Once the maid had gone, Riette glared at Evan.
“Don’t tell me you’ve been doing this every day?”
“The Duchess said you might go out for a ride today.”
She hadn’t expected an informant inside the house.
Still, at least he hadn’t been waiting outside every day like an idiot.
When the maid returned with the milk, Evan took the cup in both hands and asked,
“Why are you avoiding me?”
Did he really not know?
Honestly, she wanted to say: “It’s because I’m the only girl your age you’re close to. You’re confused. That’s why I’m the one putting distance between us.”
But even if she said that, he’d only complain she didn’t understand his feelings, tell her not to deny them.
“I’m not avoiding you.”
“Then?”
“Once you warm up, go home.”
Ignoring Evan’s pitiful gaze, Riette stood up.
But Evan, unwilling to let her go so easily after finally meeting her, grabbed her hand.
“Riette.”
“…”
“Riette.”
“…”
“Are you going to keep this up forever?”
His voice was quieter now, his emotions tightly reined in, and Riette flinched.
“You won’t talk to me. You won’t even look at me.”
“…Goodbye.”
It might hurt now, Evan. But later, you’ll thank me. Just don’t cry.
Riette truly believed this was for his sake and turned away without hesitation.
“Riette, you’re such an idiot.”
“…What?”
At the word “idiot,” Riette paused, surprised. Evan blinked in surprise too, but then resumed his usual tone.
“Actually, you’re not just an idiot.”
“…”
“You’re a total coward. Hiding just because someone said they liked you.”
“You little—!”
I’m doing this for your good, you jerk!
Furious, Riette’s glare turned sharp, but Evan remained calm.
“Am I wrong?”
“You are! Who hides because they’re told someone likes them!”
“Then stop running away.”
Evan looked straight at her.
“If you run again, it means you lose.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
Even as Riette shouted, Evan didn’t back down.
“If you’re going to keep avoiding me, go ahead. I’ll just think of you as Coward Riette.”
Riette no longer remembered Evan’s confession. All that remained was the word “coward,” blazing like fire.
She couldn’t ignore his provocation.
“Riette, I heard you were very sick. Are you feeling better now?”
Duke Croyte looked at Riette with concern after seeing her for the first time in a while.
“Yes. It was just a cold.”
“Still. I didn’t get to see you for a whole week.”
Riette scratched her head awkwardly.
‘Has it already been a week since I started avoiding Evan?’
Since she’d been avoiding him, she hadn’t visited the Croyte estate either—so naturally, she hadn’t seen the Duke.
“Don’t worry, sir!”
“I’m glad to hear that. It seems the flu is going around lately. Evan also caught it not long ago.”
At the mention of Evan, Riette glanced around.
Class was about to start, but he hadn’t arrived yet.
‘How dare he challenge me and then not show up?!’
Snorting, Riette remembered Evan’s words:
“You’re just a coward. Hiding because you’re scared someone said they like you.”
“If you run again, it means you lose.”
Because of Evan’s provocation, she no longer felt like avoiding him.
That’s why she had boldly returned to the Duke’s estate today.
“What about Evan? Is he too sick to attend today?”
“No.”
The one who answered wasn’t the Duke—it was Evan, eyes red, finally appearing.
“You…”
“No need to worry. Just a bit of a fever.”
“Who’s worried about you?!”
Riette snapped, but Evan looked clearly unwell.
It couldn’t be helped. Yesterday, in that weather, he’d waited outside despite being sick.
Riette turned her head with a huff.
The Duke also looked at Evan with concern, but he knew his son well enough—there was no point trying to stop him.
“Well then, let’s begin. Take your seats.”
Reluctantly, the Duke pulled out a book and began the lesson.
Riette tried her best to ignore Evan and focused on the lecture.
Fueled by the desire to prove herself against the boy who called her a coward—and with noble school entrance exams approaching—she didn’t want to miss a single word.
But after a while, she noticed no movement beside her and glanced over.
Evan sat there, head drooping, blinking slowly like a dazed herbivore.
“Hey.”
“…”
“Evan.”
“Mm…”
He looked like a sick baby chick—a flashback to when they were kids. At least he wasn’t unconscious—he just seemed drowsy from the fever.
“Sir, I think Evan should rest for today.”
“Yes, I suppose that would be best.”
The Duke sighed and lifted his son in his arms.
Evan, now fully asleep, was carried gently to his room.
While the Duke went to call for a maid, Riette looked down at Evan’s sleeping face.
“Idiot.”
His red, feverish cheeks looked pitiful.
“Who told you to wait outside like that?”
“…”
He didn’t respond, of course. But Riette mumbled anyway.
“Why did you have to say something pointless like proposing?”
“…”
“I like competing with you way more than having cringy conversations. You’re the only one who challenges me like this.”
“…”
“So just hurry up and get better.”
Riette offered comfort he couldn’t hear. Finally, she tapped his forehead gently and stood up.
She lingered, looking at Evan with his eyes tightly shut, before quietly leaving the room.
“…”
Left alone, Evan slowly opened his eyes.
“Haa…”
His dark pupils reflected his bitterness. Placing a hand on his forehead, he whispered,
“You really are…”
