My Husband Never Dies - Chapter 44

“Hah…”

Evelyn exhaled heavily, roughly wiping her face with both hands. Her mind was as heavy and tangled as it had been when she had to carry out an assassination plan riddled with holes.

Her steps faltered, and she stopped several times. Though the hallway was nothing more than a simple corridor, it felt like she was facing a vast cliff. Each cautious step forward required extreme care and attention.

Please, please.

As she entered the room, she noticed the familiar case resting on the antique table. Laura, upon seeing Evelyn, bowed respectfully and asked:

“My lady, shall I heat the water for the tea now?”

“…Yes.”

Once Laura hastily exited, Evelyn sat down before the table and opened the case.

Beside the dried Fiolle tea leaves was the unfinished poison, still present.

“Ha!”

Evelyn let out a short laugh. Despite the relief of not having to go through the trouble of acquiring the poison again… a wave of nervousness still washed over her.

The thought of what might happen if she missed this opportunity fueled her impatience.

She considered removing a few more uncertainties before going ahead, but deep down, she knew she couldn’t wait any longer.

The memory of the snake-like tongue that had touched her palm sent another shiver down her spine. She couldn’t bear the thought of enduring that unknown presence any longer. Faced with the overwhelming terror, she was nothing but prey before a predator.

This was directly connected to the life she had lived, and perhaps even to her beliefs. She had never felt this weak.

Evelyn gripped the container filled with tea and poison tightly. She couldn’t keep making plans forever.

As the sun began to set, the master and mistress of Brumfield sat face to face, not for a formal dinner but with a casual spread of food laid before them.

The table was set in a private room meant only for the masters of Brumfield.

Blood-red wine filled a clear glass halfway. With his elbow resting on the table, Calix spun his glass thoughtfully, then spoke.

“Come to think of it, Eve. Is this the first time we’ve had a drink together?”

Evelyn, who had been glaring at him, nodded in response.

“Interesting. You don’t like alcohol much, do you?”

“Not particularly.”

In truth, Evelyn didn’t enjoy drinking. The way it clouded her mind made her uncomfortable. It was likely a result of her survival instincts.

In a life where the slightest slip of the guard could cost her everything at any moment, she had to keep her senses on high alert.

“And you said you needed to drink because you feel like shxt?”

Caught off guard, Evelyn narrowed her eyes instead of answering, causing Calix to smile playfully. After taking a sip of wine, he said with a hint of amusement.

“Well, there’s always a first time for everything.”

Evelyn, deliberately ignoring his teasing tone, took a quiet sip of the wine. The bitter, sour taste was accompanied by a faint sweetness that lingered in her nose.

It was just as she expected.

The wine tasted like liquid from discarded fruit. It was unpleasant, and she had no desire to drink more.

The meal was simple, more of an accompaniment to the wine, yet Evelyn finished her glass for the first time in front of the jailer of Brumfield.

To mask the taste of rotten fruit, she swallowed a whole roasted bird without chewing it properly, and then called out to Laura, who was waiting outside.

“Laura.”

“Yes!”

Laura responded quickly and approached, bowing her head. Calix, who had shown no attention to Laura’s movements, kept his focus entirely on Evelyn. The man watched her actions and words like an audience at a play.

Evelyn did her best to ignore his gaze.

“Bring me a different drink.”

“Yes, of course.”

With a polite bow, Laura stepped back to leave. Just as she did, Calix, resting his chin on his hand, spoke lazily.

“You didn’t even ask what kind of drink it was. Did you tell her beforehand?”

His relaxed tone made Evelyn swallow a dry lump in her throat. His piercing blue eyes felt like the poisoned arrows of the Zelakent guards, focused solely on her.

“Why? Didn’t you like the wine?”

“…It tastes awful.”

“You expected honey wine to be sweet, didn’t you?”

“How did you…?”

Evelyn’s lips parted slightly. The shock in her wide eyes made Calix smile.

“You thought I wouldn’t know?”

Her lips felt dry, and she forgot how to breathe through her nose. She took a shallow breath through her lips. Just then, the man suddenly began speaking again.

“Ah, do you think you can drink this, my lady? Just the smell alone is so potent.”

Evelyn’s pupils flickered. Calix, who had uttered something Laura might say, finished his wine in one swift gulp before continuing.

“Why choose honey wine over regular wine, I wonder? Wouldn’t champagne be better? You know, if by any chance we were expecting a little one, strong liquor wouldn’t be ideal.”

Calix looked lovingly at Evelyn who returned his gaze with an unblinking stare.

Knock, knock.

A knock echoed from outside.

“My lady, it’s Laura.”

Laura’s voice overlapped with Calix’s at the exact same moment.

Startled, Evelyn flinched and shot up from her seat. Her chair tipped backward and clattered loudly to the floor.

“Oh dear.”

With a chuckle-laced sigh, Calix rose from his chair. He strolled leisurely around the table, picked up the fallen chair himself, and gently guided Evelyn back into her seat with a hand on her shoulder.

“Don’t tell me… you… can read minds?”