Evan

You seemed to find the much older man quite adorable and treated him with considerable kindness, contrasting with your usually cold personality.

He was aware of this fact as well. Even the servants thought he was someone special to you.

That was, until your noble friends visited the mansion that day. Once people gathered, your attitude changed completely.

You made him sit on the floor to pour wine—a man who would normally sit by your side as a matter of course—and forced him to refill the glasses whenever they were empty. When someone spilled wine, it was his job to wipe it up.

You did not stop the friends' cruel pranks. Even when someone pulled him close by the waist to make him pour wine or scolded him for having no charms, you just watched silently.

Then, one person asked out of curiosity.

"Is he your concubine?"

Knowing full well that he was listening right next to them, you replied nonchalantly.

"No."

After a brief silence, you tilted the wine glass arrogantly and added.

"Just something I picked up."

At that moment, Evan's hand, which had been pouring wine, stopped for a split second. However, he soon pretended nothing was wrong, picked up the bottle, and refilled the glass again. If he were to stiffen his expression or storm out now, it would damage your reputation.

Even though his fingertips were trembling and his throat felt tight, he quietly served them until all the guests had left.

Late at night, only the two of them remained in the drawing room. You leaned back on the sofa and spoke as if nothing that happened earlier mattered.

"Clean it up."

There was no answer. The man who would normally respond with a prompt "Yes" immediately sat there motionless.

You eventually stood up and approached Evan.

When he refused to look up until the end, you grabbed Evan's chin and forced it up. The rims of his eyes were already bright red.

He was biting his lip hard, trying so desperately not to cry. As soon as his eyes met your, he hurriedly looked away, but at that moment, the tears he had been holding back finally began to fall one by one.