Chapter 624 - 625: You Are ...

"Don’t shush me you bastard... I haven’t seen you in almost a month and it seems you still haven’t grown as a human being."

Evangeline leaned in and whispered in his ear.

She was clearly bickering with him again as they always did, however, to the eyes of a third party it seemed as if the lady of House Brightwater had jumped into a man’s arms and was whispering into his ear.

Maybe these jealous bastards didn’t know that he was her cousin... ohh wait, they didn’t know.

However, Evangeline knew it and so did Damon. They just didn’t know the other knew. At this point it was more of a refusal to communicate than anything.

Damon did like keeping his secrets after all.

As for Evangeline... she had always been close to Damon, more as someone she constantly got into fights with and always lectured, but they were still really close.

Finding out he was her cousin just made her feel all the more close to him. This was someone she could be herself around. There was no need to put on an act or wear a fake smile or feel grateful even if he did something for her.

In fact, troubling him should be par for the course.

Damon’s breathing seemed a bit off, so Evangeline narrowed her eyes. Before she could say more, her gaze fell on his face hidden under the hood. His body language was still the same as before, but there was a subtle difference.

"Hey... are you hurt?" she whispered, causing Damon to pause. His face under the hood was a little pale. No matter how well he tried to act like he was alright, he was in fact in some degree of pain.

"Wha... what are you on about... woman... wait, fine, fine, you got me... seeing your face really puts me in a state of agony... where did you go off dressing like a sweet lady?"

Evangeline’s expression didn’t change, her golden eyes still calm as ever.

"Hey... you know sometimes I wish you’d get run over by a carriage."

Damon chuckled softly.

"You’re saying your intrusive thoughts aloud."

She shook her head with a sigh, strands of golden hair slipping past her cheek.

"But I don’t actually want you to die or anything, even if you piss me off."

Damon raised his hand, wagging a finger at her.

"I’ll stop you there. What is this? Why are you ruining our usual dynamic... are you sick or dying? Why are you being nicer?"

Evangeline’s brows twitched, then she smiled lightly.

"Right, I might be a little sick... but not as sick as you are. You’re definitely not feeling alright."

Damon’s heart began to pound. Was his condition that obvious? He was standing on his own two feet, but his head was killing him.

Evangeline shook her head, lowering her voice.

"It’s fine... you did the same thing in Lysithara. You know you don’t have to hide things from me. Of all people, I’m someone you can lean on even if nobody else... after all we are... fa..."

She caught herself before she stupidly said family.

"Friends. We’re friends, really good friends."

Damon glanced at her with a sneer as she stumbled on her words.

’This stupid girl actually found out... she knows.’

’What should I do... should I just tell her I know, or just play stupid?’

Of course she knew. How could she not figure it out? Come to think of it, no wonder she was so on edge when they arrived in Lumos.

’She found out before even I did... look at this girl, she’s growing into a real liar.’

He glanced at her as she tried to awkwardly deflect. He decided to just play along. It seemed she was the one member of the family who just wasn’t a good enough liar.

Placing a hand on her head, he smiled faintly.

"Stay as pure and innocent as you are, okay? Keep being a good girl."

Her golden eyes went cold, seeing the condescending expression on his face as he publicly placed a hand on her head like she was a child.

"You really want to die, don’t you?"

He smiled, placing his hand on his chest.

"Yeah I do. But my condition isn’t that bad really. You wanted me to mess with some people for you, I gladly will. In fact, I insist."

She raised her hand, pushing his hand away before holding it tightly.

"I didn’t ask you to mess with anyone. And your hands are shaking... are you really going to be alright? Maybe we should find a place to sit..."

Renata, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke after seeing how Damon had more or less told Evangeline he was not feeling well.

"My lord, perhaps it would be wise to consider her offer. Not because you need rest of course, but simply because it is beneath you to associate with common rabble."

Evangeline raised an eyebrow, her gaze snapping toward Renata.

"My lord...? Since when did you two get so close?"

Damon smiled, shrugging lightly as if it were nothing.

"Mehh, it’s a long story. No need to bore you with it."

She narrowed her eyes, shaking her head slowly.

"It’s fine, I have time. What is up with you anyway? Do you have some weird pheromone that attracts women, or are you just a lecher who’s always surrounded by them?"

Damon rolled his eyes at her.

"You’re here too, and I only count like... two. Who, just so you know, are just friends."

He elbowed her slightly, teasingly.

"Except if someone here is jealous and has a litt—"

"If you complete that sentence, I will blast you with magic..." she cut him off with a thin smile on her face.

Their words were hushed so no one else really heard what they were saying.

However, Evangeline’s expression and occasional smile made it clear she was very comfortable around Damon, especially since she even allowed him to touch her head, elbow her slightly, or lift her chin.

This level of proximity was something that made many of the young nobles go green with envy.

Especially since Evangeline was known as an aloof woman who didn’t really pay people much mind.

Someone gritted their teeth as Evangeline stood beside Damon. His footsteps were light, a wine glass now in his hand.

With a crown on his head... this was naturally the prince Evangeline had ignored the moment she saw Damon.

He walked up to them, confident in his status.

"You must be the Ascendant I’ve heard so much about."

He spoke as if Damon should feel honored to be addressed by him.

Damon glanced at him, taking note of the imperial emblem brooch and the crown.

"You are..."

The crowd went silent.