Evelyn's eyes immediately fixed on the Relation section. Her face transformed into one of mockery.
Evelyn (Thoughts): "Fiancé... ha... does he really consider me his fiancé? I almost forgot about him after recalling the memories of someone I once obsessed over. I used to do all sorts of foolish things for him, but he never even glanced at me..."
Her gaze shifted down to the Trait sections.
Evelyn (Thoughts): "I know he's strange, but what kind of trait is that? Wait... he doesn't like me. Does that mean he wants to destroy me or what?"
Evelyn turned her eyes back to Edrick. He was glaring at her with murderous intent. She had been looking at the panel for so long, it seemed as though she had been staring at him the whole time, which clearly irritated him.
Evelyn (Thoughts): "Aha... I guess he does want to..."
Evelyn gave him a wry smile and said gently,
Evelyn: "Take a seat, Roddick."
Edrick was immediately frustrated by her mispronunciation of his name. He was obsessed with perfection.
Edrick: "It's Edrick, Your Highness."
He walked over to the couch, took a handkerchief from his pocket, and meticulously wiped the seat before sitting down. Evelyn raised an eyebrow at his strange behavior.
Evelyn (Thoughts): "The couch was already clean. There's no way a princess's room wouldn't be properly kept. Even though my mansion isn't grand, Cassy always makes sure my room is spotless. Was there really a need for him to wipe it again? I mean, being clean is one thing, but this is a little extreme. The system did mention he's obsessed with perfection, but I didn't realize he had severe OCD."
Evelyn: "Yes... Aric."
Edrick: "Ha... I heard that after hitting your head, you couldn't even say someone's name properly. Looks like it's true."
He sat down, adjusting his posture as though the act of sitting required meticulous attention.
Evelyn: "The reason I came here is the same, please break off the engagement..."
Evelyn: "Why should I?"
Edrick: "What?"
Evelyn: "Give me a reason why I should break off the engagement."
Edrick: "I don't like you. Is that not reason enough?"
Evelyn gave him a sly smile.
Evelyn: "That's not a reason. It's just an excuse. We're both still children. You can try to like me, or wait until we grow up, or even start tomorrow. Give me a good reason."
Edrick: "You are arrogant, willful, rude, mean, selfish, and unmannered. Everyone knows you are a powerless and useless princess. You don't even act like a princess."
Evelyn fell silent for a moment. Then she slowly smiled again and looked at him.
Evelyn: "I don't act like a princess because no one taught me how a princess should act. I'm arrogant because no one taught me whay kindness is... I'm willful because no one taught me what benevolence is... I'm rude because no one taught me what politeness is... I'm mean because I was never shown gentleness... I'm selfish because no one taught me what selflessness is... I have no manners because no one ever taught me that. I was never taught any of those things... I've never received them from anyone, so it's natural I wouldn't know."
She paused and added, her gaze piercing into him,
Evelyn: "But I don't think I've ever been any of those things toward you, have I?"
Edrick fell silent, unable to respond. It was true. Evelyn had never treated him with those traits; she had always been clingy and overly affectionate, to the point of being annoying. But she had never pointed it out before.
Edrick was trying to reconcile the calm, adult-like Evelyn standing before him with the young girl who used to cling to him incessantly. He was at a loss.
Evelyn: "Anyway, I'm still a child. I'm only six years old. It's still the time when I'm growing. I can change over time. Or you can change me the way you want as we grow. Give me a reason."
Edrick: "I... we... we're not perfect for each other."
Evelyn: "Nobody's perfect. Everyone has flaws. Can you bring me someone who is absolutely perfect?"
Edrick: "Th... that... I..."
Edrick couldn't find the words. Evelyn looked at him in silence for a moment, then asked abruptly,
Evelyn: "Do you have someone you like?"
Edrick was taken aback, his eyes widening in shock. Evelyn, who had always snapped in anger when she saw him with someone else, was now asking him about his feelings.
Edrick: "NO!!!"
He blurted out loudly, so loudly it echoed throughout the room. Evelyn laughed.
Evelyn: "Then there's no reason for me to break off the engagement. You can call it off yourself if you want."
Edrick: "You... you..."
Edrick stood up, anger boiling in his chest. He felt like she had been playing with him. His hands clenched at his sides, but he managed to regain control, placing a hand on his chest and bowing his head.
Edrick: "I should take my leave for today, Your Highness."
Evelyn: "Yeah. Sure, Aric."
Edrick stormed out of the room, fuming with rage. Evelyn watched him leave, laughing at his outburst.
Evelyn: "What a perfection freak."
Edrick had come many times before to break off the engagement, but the old me always rejected him because I was completely obsessed with this guy. Now, I would have agreed because I have no desire to shamelessly hold onto someone who doesn't want to be with me and dislikes me. But he should have asked more politely, who told him to mock me...
Although I admit, after living so many lives, I have trouble remembering some names, but he shouldn't have mocked me anyway.
Huh... I don't even need to remember anyone's name, I have the great E.L.S. system.
As Evelyn lost herself in thought, Cassy entered the room with a plate of snacks. She looked around, as if searching for someone.
Cassy: "Has the young master left already?"
Evelyn: "Yes. I'll be resting now, so I won't see any more visitors. Don't let anyone in, Jessy."
Cassy: "It's Cassy... (muttering). Yes, Your Highness."
As Cassy left, Evelyn suddenly called her back.
Evelyn: "Wait, Callie."
Cassy stopped in her tracks and turned around.
Cassy: "Yes, Your Highness."
Evelyn: "Leave the snacks here."
Cassy: "But you had snacks not too long ago."
Evelyn: "I'm still growing, Callie. I need to eat more to grow faster."
Cassy: "...yes, Your Highness."
With a sigh, Cassy left the room, leaving the plate on the table, knowing she couldn't win against Evelyn.
Evelyn picked up a book titled "The History of Aristynne." She began reading seriously, eating her snacks as she went along.
Meanwhile, outside the palace, Edrick walked briskly toward the palace gates, but as he reached the entrance, he stopped. His carriage waited for him just outside the palace grounds. He looked back, his gaze lingering on the towering walls for a moment. A sigh escaped him as he muttered to himself, barely audible over the clatter of the horses' hooves.
Edrick: "She was so different today..."
His mind replayed the strange interaction they'd just had. If it had been any other day, Evelyn would have clung to him like a leech, throwing tantrums and refusing to accept the cancellation of their engagement. The palace would have been in chaos, with everyone scrambling to calm her down. But today...
His thoughts were interrupted by the memory of Evelyn's words, her sharp yet honest declaration.
Edrick: "...Today she was really different..."
He shook his head as if trying to shake off the thoughts swirling in his mind. It didn't make sense. He had known her for so long, and yet, today, something about her was off. In all the years they'd spent together, she had never said something so raw, so unguarded.
Shaking his head, Edrick climbed into the carriage, settling on the plush seat as the vehicle began to move. He leaned back, letting the motion of the carriage calm his restless thoughts. But Evelyn's unexpected question suddenly resurfaced, and he froze for a moment.
[Evelyn: "Do you have someone you like?"]
Edrick's heart skipped a beat, the question catching him off guard. His mind drifted to the memory of a small girl, no older than three, crying softly in the corner of some bushes. Her tear-streaked face and those wide, innocent eyes haunted him, though there was an odd sweetness to the image.
Before he could even process the thought, Edrick's eyes flew open, and he sat up straight in the carriage. His ears flushed crimson, and his face burned with an unexpected heat. He quickly covered his face with his hands, as if trying to hide the blush that had spread across his cheeks.
Edrick (Thoughts): "Cute... Seriously, have I gone crazy? What am I even thinking about?"
He groaned and slapped his face lightly, trying to snap himself out of the strange daydream.
Edrick: "It's not gentlemanly to think of someone like that... Stop it, Edrick... Stop."
He sighed, rubbing his face and trying to regain his composure. His heart still raced, but he did his best to steady it, taking a few deep breaths. He glanced out the window, the passing scenery doing little to ease his troubled mind.
Edrick (Thoughts): "Maybe I'll find out what's wrong with her on my next visit."
With a final, thoughtful glance back toward the palace, he settled back into his seat. It wasn't over. He had a lot more to figure out.