Story: Forever After

"(I finished interviewing the criminal slaves.)" [Ryner]

Ryner reported to Evelyn telepathically.

"(Please tell me the details once you're here.)" [Evelyn]

"(Don't you want to hear the results as soon as possible?)" [Ryner]

"(I want to talk to you in person. Can we?)" [Evelyn]

"(Sure, but aren't you pretty busy?)" [Ryner]

"(I'm in the middle of a meeting right now, but I'll have free time afterwards.)" [Evelyn]

"(Alright, I'll hurry back then. Is everything fine on your side?)" [Ryner]

"(Yes, he tries to flirt with me every five minutes, but it's nothing I can't handle.)" [Evelyn]

"(If you have to, beat him up. If he needs to die, I'll help you bury his corpse. However, if you've taken an interest in him and he's worthy, feel free to go on a date with him.)" [Ryner]

"(RYNER?!)" [Evelyn]

"(We've talked about this and I said that you can do what makes you happy without needing to worry about me.)" [Ryner]

"(I WON'T!! STOP BEING NOISY!!)" [Evelyn]

"(Okay, dropping the topic. See you soon.)" [Ryner]

"(Honestly…!)" [Evelyn]

"Is something the matter, Miss Ivyblood? You appear a bit distracted." [???]

"No, everything is fine." [Evelyn]

Evelyn smoothly lied to the other party who was a noble that often visited her mansion and continued on with their conversation.

"I see, but I must confess that I find myself often distracted by your charms." [???]

"Thank you, it is always pleasing to hear your praise." [Evelyn]

She did her best to keep her smile from turning into a frown of disgust until the end of their meeting.

Once they were done, after gently grabbing Evelyn's offered hand, the black-haired, handsome, young man, who was in his twenties, placed a light kiss on the back.

"Well then, it's been a pleasure as always and I shall see you again. Hopefully soon." [???]

He said, passionately stared at her with his green eyes and smiled sweetly. He was tall, slender and his hair and fair skin were smooth, in part due to him using products from Roseseed. As a good-looking man that was well-dressed, educated and affluent, any woman would agree that he was quite the catch.

But, his opponent, Evelyn, was utterly uninterested.

"Yes, until next time, Count Huffe." [Evelyn]

She replied and smiled politely.

"(I'LL KILL YOU!!! I'LL RIP YOUR LIPS OFF!!! I'LL RIP YOUR EYES OUT!!! DISGUSTING!!! YOUR EXISTENCE IS DISGUSTING!!! DIE!!! DIE IN A PUDDLE OF YOUR FILTHY BLOOD!!! JUST DIE!!!)" [Evelyn]

She also perfectly hid her true thoughts, so the other party couldn't sense that his life was in danger.

"Please, like I've said before during one of our lovely meetings, call me Daw." [Daw]

Blissfully oblivious to the hatred directed at him by the beautiful woman that he wanted to woo, the count winked and left in a good mood. He had been using the excuse of doing business with her company to meet her privately.

Daw walked through the hallways of the mansion, guided by a silent maid, while believing that he was one step closer to Evelyn. The place was clean and well-maintained. Several servants could be seen doing their jobs around the place. The fact that they were slaves and not nobles or people referred to by nobles made him frown. Some stopped and calmly bowed to him properly as he passed by, but others panicked, a clear display of their lack of education.

"(This is one flaw of Evelyn. I do not understand why she would choose to buy slaves to run her company instead of hiring the employees that I offer her.)" [Daw]

He thought, his good mood replaced by slight frustration from having all of his suggestions rejected by the one he fancied. His employees would spy on her, certainly, but they wouldn't slack off on their work.

"(Oh well, after we get married, I'll teach her to better listen to her husband's advice. At night preferably.)" [Daw]

While harboring some improper delusions, Daw kept walking and imagined a happy future with that beautiful woman by his side. Though many nobles were engaged young and married in their teens, he didn't have a wife yet since he wanted to play around. Several others like him also shared the same feeling. His father, the previous head of the house, had graciously allowed it. Thanks to that, his son had gained a lot of experience with the ladies and he was using it all to seduce Evelyn.

A short while later, Daw ran into Ryner, the one he considered both his lesser and an obstacle. Truly, it was weird that such an ordinary-looking man was the beloved cousin of someone as extraordinary-looking as Evelyn.

"Well, well, if it isn't Ryner. Pardon me for appearing in your home while you were away, but Evelyn and I had some business together." [Daw]

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Daw said mockingly, tauntingly as he walked towards him.

"… Who are you again?" [Ryner]

And nearly tripped from Ryner's question.

"It's me! Count Daw Huffe! I've visited this place many times already!" [Daw]

"Oh right, you're the new head of your family because your dad got himself killed." [Ryner]

"Father died fighting to protect the royal family! He brought honor to our house!" [Daw]

"And that's why the royals can't strongly tell you to stop bothering Evie if you don't actually have any real business with her." [Ryner]

"… Hmph, I wonder who's truly bothering her." [Daw]

Daw regained his composure, fixed his hairstyle that had become a bit disorganized and straightened his jacket. He secretly wished that he could one day call Evelyn "Evie." Rather, he would give her a different, better nickname.

"I know you and Evelyn are close as cousins. You've probably played together often during childhood." [Daw]

"I don't know about that, but yeah, we are close." [Ryner]

"(We're not cousins and I sort of raised her.)" [Ryner]

"And I can tell that she is quite fond of you." [Daw]

"Well, you're not wrong." [Ryner]

"(She assaulted me because she's got issues.)" [Ryner]

"However, quite frankly, you are a waste of her time." [Daw]

"Time? Like 'time on a clock' time, or 'time to die' time?" [Ryner]

"(You're a waste of time… Not my best insult.)" [Ryner]

"…" [Daw]

Daw sighed tiredly to Ryner's random replies, unaware of what he was quietly thinking as they spoke. He adjusted his expression that was scrunched up from irritation and walked towards him.

"It'd be better for you to keep your mouth shut since your brainless jokes only reveal your lack of manners, competence and education." [Daw]

"Like your fashion sense?" [Ryner]

"…" [Daw]

"Hey, that wasn't half bad." [Ryner]

At that point, the count no longer put on airs and glared hatefully at Ryner, his hostility undisguised.

"Don't get carried away just because the Welston royal family favors you. There is more than one way to make you fall from grace." [Daw]

"Ohhh, an actual threat instead of those veiled insults. I was getting bored of them." [Ryner]

"This little…! You want to see what happens when you make my house your enemy? The power, wealth and influence I command outstrips yours. No one would know where I buried your body." [Daw]

Daw growled out and snickered derisively as he stood in front of him.

"A fool who thinks he can have all he wants with arm strength alone, not knowing his place. Do you not realize the trouble you're causing Evelyn?" [Daw]

"Whoa, did you seriously say that when you keep bothering her to get a date? You know she's busy running a company, right?" [Ryner]

"I am giving her a chance! THE chance she needs to live a life suited for her!! Because this place is beneath her!!" [Daw]

Daw angrily raised his voice and pointed downward to emphasize his words.

"YOU are beneath her!!" [Daw]

He pointed at Ryner's face next, at the hateful man who kept staring at him with his half-closed, sleepy-looking eyes, unperturbed.

"You care about Evelyn?" [Daw]

"Well, yea-." [Ryner]

"Then stop interfering with my business so that I can make her mine!" [Daw]

"Huh? That's stupi-." [Ryner]

"That woman is clearly supporting you! You're holding her back, causing nothing but trouble!" [Daw]

"Hmm, honestly can't argue against tha-." [Ryner]

"You're why she rejects me! Because she worries about you! But whatever affection she feels for her worthless cousin will fade once she realizes that I'm the best choice!" [Daw]

"Kid, are you gonna let me finish a sentenc-?" [Ryner]

"Evelyn is MINE, understood?!" [Daw]

Daw declared strongly and intimidatingly in the hallway. The few servants that passed by chose to pretend not to hear or see the conflict between the two. Everyone hurriedly left, except for the maid guiding Count Huffe. She quietly stood by and observed the exchange.

"There are countless suitors who desire her hand and I don't have time to deal with her tiresome, inferior cousin too!" [Daw]

He tapped Ryner on the shoulder dismissively, causing the latter to gaze at where he touched.

"If you want her to be happy, then stop acting like a leech and encourage her to marry someone worthy of her beauty. Mainly me. Afterwards, you can do all of us a favor. Cut all ties and disappear from Evelyn's life forever. The two of you may be related, but she's better off without an ill-mannered brute hanging around her, diminishing her worth. You're strong, but strength is all you have while I represent a country. Perhaps you could serve as a soldier, but someone who can't show respect to his superiors can't ever join the army, much less become a knight. In short, you're not worth my time while Evelyn is, and she's good enough to be my wife. A noble's wife." [Daw]

After finishing his tirade, Daw pushed Ryner aside and continued on his way.

"Garroth does not need you to prosper. Leave my country before my next visit." [Daw]

"Uhhh, no." [Ryner]

The man with eyes of different colors replied rather casually, carefree and seemingly unaffected by all of the verbal venom. Count Huffe stopped and looked behind him, infuriated.

"Can your tiny intellect not comprehend a single wor-?!" [Daw]

But, Ryner wasn't there.

"Also…" [Ryner]

His voice could be heard from right behind him. He had closed the distance instantly and caught his unguarded back, causing Daw to go rigid, a shiver traveling down his spine.

"You're right. I cause Evie trouble all the time. But, I really do want her to be happy." [Ryner]

He put his hand on his shoulder. To the young noble, it felt strangely heavy and he couldn't bring himself to swat it away. In fact, he couldn't move.

"So, yes, if she finds a guy she likes, then I'll support her. But, just because I'm all for her marrying the love of her life doesn't mean that I don't care what kind of person he is." [Ryner]

The atmosphere around Ryner was completely different from earlier.

"And just because I'm her inferior cousin doesn't mean that the future groom won't need my approval. Because he will. He definitely will." [Ryner]

The air had suddenly become oppressive, unforgiving.

"That's why, see, if he's just a pretty face with bags of money and no substance, then, well, doesn't matter if Evie hates me for it, I'll crush him." [Ryner]

Daw could barely breathe.

"If he's just trying to bed her, I'll rip it off." [Ryner]

Cold sweat flowed down his forehead.

"And if he actually makes her cry…" [Ryner]

The hand that was on his trembling shoulder squeezed just a bit harder, making him imagine claws digging into his flesh.

"I don't care who he is or whether he's protected by armies, gods or monsters…" [Ryner]

Daw didn't dare look behind him.

"I'll chase down anyone that hurts that girl to the ends of the world…" [Ryner]

Because it felt like a monster would devour him if he did.

"And tear his soul to pieces. Do you understand?" [Ryner]

"…" [Daw]

"Nod if you understand." [Ryner]

The young noble, unable to speak, obediently and quietly nodded with difficulty.

"Perfect." [Ryner]

Ryner patted his shoulder twice contentedly and stood in front of him.

"Now, I love Evie very much. She can do something messed up and I'll still love her. I want her to find happiness." [Ryner]

He told Daw who was pale-faced and staring at him in fear.

"So the next time you come here to seduce her, you better be ready to put your life on the line." [Ryner]

To those commanding words, Daw could only frantically shake his head in agreement and left as if fleeing.

A few servants saw the end of their verbal conflict and all excitedly agreed that it was a clear show of Ryner protecting Evelyn, that he dearly loved her. Some even blushed and squealed at his declaration of deep affection.

"I'm going to the red light district." [Ryner]

"… Excuse me?" [Evelyn]

And had they seen him declare his intent to play around with women to Evelyn in her office, they would have covered their faces with their hands and called him an idiot.