Read Novel Full Chapter 802: Wordless Confession
Chapter 802: Wordless Confession
"Are you going back now?" Evalyn asked.
Nolan nodded. "Yes, I have to return to the Imperial Palace. My father summoned me to take care of something important."
Actually, he wanted to go to the Eastern Region to meet Elina. But last night, his father had sent a letter asking him to return as soon as possible.
He didn’t know why his father had summoned him, but since the letter had been sent directly, it had to be important.
"I see..."
Evalyn’s expression turned annoyed and uneasy.
Nolan naturally noticed her discomfort. He smiled and lifted her chin with his index finger.
"What’s wrong? Are you sad that I’m leaving?" he asked jokingly.
Strangely, Evalyn didn’t deny it. She fell silent for a moment, then took a deep breath and looked at him seriously.
Nolan was caught off guard. He didn’t understand why her expression had suddenly changed.
"What’s wrong?"
Evalyn remained silent. Then, she suddenly stepped forward, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him on the lips.
Nolan’s eyes widened in surprise. But before he could react, Evalyn had already let go and turned away.
"You idiot... Why are you never sensitive to things like this?" She muttered softly, but loud enough for Nolan to hear.
Nolan snapped out of his daze and was about to say something, but Evalyn cut him off.
"I don’t need your answer right now. Think it over carefully, because opportunities like this don’t come twice."
Without saying another word, she ran off, leaving Nolan frozen in place.
After Evalyn disappeared from sight, Nolan finally came to his senses.
He rubbed his lips, then let out a helpless smile.
"That woman..."
***
"Hah... Hah... Hah..."
Evalyn gasped for breath and collapsed onto the bed. The scene from earlier replayed in her mind, making her face flush with embarrassment.
But this time, she didn’t deny her feelings. What Roseline had said was completely true—she loved Nolan.
If she kept denying it, she would only let that golden opportunity slip away.
"But what I did just now was really bold! Even bolder than before."
She patted her flushed cheeks. She didn’t know whether Nolan’s view of her would change after what had just happened.
Still, deep down, she hoped it would.
That way, he would no longer see her as a childhood friend but as a woman worthy of standing by his side.
"Ah! Still, why is that man always so clueless? Are men really born that way?"
Evalyn stomped her feet on the bed in frustration. Come to think of it, Rei had been the same way.
If not for her persuasion, the ancestor of the Lionheart family might never have realized Roseline’s feelings.
Well, regardless of whether they would have ended up together without her interference, Rei had been just as clueless as Nolan, that smelly guy.
Evalyn continued grumbling until, without realizing it, exhaustion began to take hold of her.
Her eyelids grew heavy, and before long, she drifted off to sleep on her bed.
***
"Nolan, wait!"
A man’s voice called out from behind him.
Nolan, who was about to leave, stopped and turned around. He saw Cedric approaching alongside Allen and Margaretta.
His eyebrows rose slightly. A guess crossed his mind, but he remained calm and kept his thoughts to himself.
"What’s the matter?" he asked, feigning ignorance.
Cedric stopped in front of him and reached into his pocket before handing over a check.
"Here’s the bet money."
Nolan glanced at the check and took it. When he saw the amount written on it, a mocking smile appeared on his face.
"I didn’t expect you to come up with this much money so quickly. What did you have to sacrifice, Second Brother?"
Cedric flinched as anger surged within him.
"That’s none of your business."
Without another word, he turned and walked away, pulling Margaretta along with him.
"He’s engaged to my sister. Funny, isn’t it?" Allen said with a playful grin.
Nolan shot him a cynical look.
"Oh, I see. That’s good news. Young Lady Margaretta is quite beautiful, so I’m sure Cedric is very pleased with the engagement."
Now, he understood how Cedric had managed to gather the money so quickly.
An engagement between a prince and a noblewoman was an important matter, especially for someone involved in the battle for the throne.
That was because an engagement could tie the heir apparent to the bride’s family. His father, Ragan, had been a perfect example before ascending the throne.
The support of the Malvain family was one of the reasons he won the last battle for the throne. That was also why Vanessa, the younger sister of Jason Malvain, had risen to the position of Empress.
Normally, candidates for the throne avoided becoming engaged to anyone, including the daughters of Dukes.
It wasn’t because they were arrogant, but because a binding engagement could leave many parties dissatisfied.
After all, countless nobles hoped their daughters could marry one of the candidates for the throne.
Even if the chances were slim, that hope remained and motivated them to offer their support.
So what would happen if that possibility disappeared?
Wasn’t the answer obvious?
The nobles backing that candidate would likely lose a lot of their enthusiasm, while the neutral ones would just shift their attention to another candidate who wasn’t already taken.
"Tsk! Does that mean I’ve left him with no other choice?"
Thinking about it, Nolan felt a little sorry for Cedric. But what could he do?
Everything had happened by mutual agreement. Cedric accepted the challenge, and he lost. Everyone knew that.
"So, what do you need from me?" Nolan asked coldly.
Allen smiled awkwardly. Waving a hand, he said casually, "Your Highness, don’t be so stiff. Although we had our conflicts in the past, that’s all behind us now. Am I right?"
He tried to appear humble, without a trace of the arrogance he had shown a year ago.
However, Nolan could see through his act and let out a soft chuckle.
"Cut the nonsense. Tell me what you want."
Allen’s smile immediately stiffened.
"W-What do you mean, Your Highness? I just wanted to have a casual chat with you. Is that not allowed?"
Nolan remained calm, but his purple eyes stared at him intently. It was as though they could see straight through to the depths of Allen’s heart.
Under that sharp gaze, Allen realized his intentions had been completely exposed. There was no point in hiding them any longer. It would only push Nolan further away.
"Alright, I give up."
He raised both hands helplessly.
"Nolan Lorian, I came to you for one reason."
His expression turned serious.
"Help me secure my spot as heir to the Ashvale Duke family. I’ll make it worth your while once everything’s done. What do you say?"