WHERE DREAM AND REALITY MEET (3)
As Bruno was heading down to the first floor, he discovered Evangeline sitting down at the corner of the staircase. The sight of the girl resting her chin on her small hand seemed serious.
He got worried she might still be in a bad mood, so he approached her carefully. When he quietly sat down next to her, Eve turned around slightly and from what he could tell, she seemed okay.
“Eve.”
Evangeline glanced at Bruno then she turned back again and sighed deeply, like a tired old man.
Bruno pressed his lips together to stop himself from laughing. The serious look on her face was so cute that he just wanted to hug her.
“Why do you look down? Are you still mad at Damian? Do you want me to scold him for you?”
“No. I’ve made up with big brother Damian.”
“Then what is it?”
“Pretty big brother.”
“…Hm?”
“I wish I had someone who likes me the most.”
“What? Of course, there’s someone who likes you the most, Eve. Both your parents and Damian, they love you a lot.”
“No, I know that. But Father loves mother the most. And big brother Damian loves mother more.”
“…”
Caught off-guard, Bruno couldn’t say anything. And he couldn’t reply that it was not just Evangeline complaining.
The Taran family’s father and son were both in the very tight grasp of the Taran Lady of the House. But it didn’t mean they didn’t love Evangeline. The familial love for Evangeline, and the other form of love for the Duchess were both absolute. Since Bruno could sense this, it was hardly possible that Evangeline couldn’t. On the contrary, because she was a child, she was more sensitive to it.
“Big brother, you like mother more than me too, don’t you?”
“Eve.”
Bruno didn’t know what to do. He wondered how best to explain this in a way that wouldn’t hurt Eve’s feelings.
“You can’t compare who like who more when it comes to this. Eve, can you say you like one of your parents more than the other?”
Evangeline was quiet for a while then she muttered.
“…Jude isn’t like that.”
“Jude isn’t like what?”
“Jude said he likes me more. He said he likes me way more than his mom and my mom.”
Bruno lip’s twitched upwards crookedly. That little rascal.
“And so you like Jude?”
“Mn.”
Ha, Bruno snorted. And he remembered the affable smile of Jude, the younger brother of his friend, Chris.
‘We shouldn’t underestimate him because he’s a child.’
Didn’t he sneakily ask Eve to marry him? He had thought it was just something an immature little boy said without really knowing what it was, but perhaps the boy’s intention was more cunning than he thought.*
Even if he was Chris’s little brother, Bruno couldn’t leave his precious little sister to be eaten up. Bruno’s fighting spirit burned against Jude.
“Then I will be the one Eve likes the most.”
Bruno smiled meltingly as he watched his sister’s eyes open wide. It was a sweet smile that might have caused the young ladies who were always peeking at him to faint from ecstasy if they saw it.
“Or do you like Jude but not me?”
Evangeline quickly shook her head. Then she grinned softly with rose cheeks.
How cute, Bruno rubbed Evangeline’s small head then he picked up the book next to her and stood up.
“Let’s go upstairs. I’ll read it to you.”
“Mn!”
Evangeline took Bruno’s held out hand with excitement.
“But big brother. You’re really so pretty. You’re prettier than Patricia.”
Evangeline was still too young to fall for Bruno’s charming smile. So she expressed her appreciation from the viewpoint of a child. Patricia was a lovely princess doll that Evangeline cherished.
“…”
Bruno knew it was a compliment, but he let out a sigh. His complex mood couldn’t really be described as pleasant. He prayed for the day Evangeline would remove the title ‘pretty’ from his name.
* * *
“They say kids only listen when they’re kids.”
Hugo pulled her close and squeezed her shoulders. His large hand gently stroked her back.
“Are you still unhappy? Eve apologized and said she was sorry.”
“I’m not mad at Eve. It’s just…my heart feels lonely. She’s already so big…”
“It’s just a child’s tantrum. Don’t take it so seriously.”
“I guess I’ve only thought of Eve as a young child.”
“She is still young.”
“No. I think she’s grown up. I remember you saying this a while back: Even after raising them up, children will later go out to find their own path.”
Hugo laughed deeply as he listened to his wife’s grumbling. It looks like today, he was fated to appease both mother and daughter.
“I did say that. Let the kids grow. All I need is you.”
“…”
Actually, when he said it like that, Lucia was unwilling. Just as she couldn’t imagine a life without him, she couldn’t imagine a life without her children.
“Wow, you won’t say it back, even if it’s just lip service.”
“…Hugh. Um…”
“It’s fine. This is why they say the one who loves more loses.”
“Where in the world is that weird confidence coming from? Did you look into my heart or what?”
“Originally, the lacking side is the side that feels it.”[1]
Lucia was silent for a while then she sat up.
“Lacking?”
Hugo felt like he could see her rigid expression despite the darkness in the room, so he grabbed her arms and pulled her back into his embrace.
“Why’re getting serious again? Guess I can’t say anything.”
“I love you. I don’t want you thinking that I love the children more than you.”
“I know. It’s just an issue that can’t be helped. You have a definite priority between me and the kids and I know you have a hard time distinguishing it. I have no intention of pushing you to feel exactly like I do. I just don’t want you to worry too much over the children’s issue. Don’t set your sight elsewhere when someone who’s always thinking about you is right next to you.”
“…Your smooth talk is getting better and better.”
Lucia burrowed into his chest. When she lost her mother at a young age, she thought she would never meet someone who would love her unconditionally like her mother did. Sometimes when she felt the overflowing love he had for her, her heart was overwhelmed.
Translator’s corner:
[1] Not sure how to word this. From my (limited) understanding, he’s saying the side that wants more feels the lack of love?? That’s my best explanation. For anyone that knows KR, this is the raw: [“원래 부족한 쪽이 느끼는 법이야.”] If you have a better wording, please let me know.
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 67 - December 21, 2024
- Forget My Husband, I’ll Go Make Money – Side Story 21 - December 14, 2024
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 66 - December 14, 2024
Thanks for the new chapter!
So Bruno’s charm is not of a boy’s charm but comparable to her doll lol😂
Eve’s gonna get a lovelife as sweet as her parents. But only after a suitor surpass the Taran’s mighty wall🤣😂
Thank you so muchie for the chapter!😘✨
LOLOLOLOL BRUNO TURNING UP THE CHARM to keep playboy Jude out huh?
Many thanks
There’s a possibility for Eve and Bruno
😍🙏
That’s pedophilia HAHAHAHAHA Bruno is even older than Damian
Pretty big brother Bruno. He might be younger than Damian. I will be very happy if this Pretty big brother become Eve’s husband in the future. He was Lucia’s son in his dream, he’s a genius, he’s pretty means extremely handsome and Hugh care for him too. Damian also trust him. He’s perfect!
Hmm, I smell something delicious.. is it possible that Bruno will be bounded to eternity with Taran family through marriage? I forgot, how much his age gap with Eve is?
Thank you Miss Ruby & ShadowDog!
i believe he’s 19 and eve is 7. So……12 years?
Love ❤️
Awww I love this precious moment with Bruno & Eve. Also i can sympathize with Lucia, when I had my 1st child my husband would get grumpy 😾 because he felt neglected 😩. I once remember asking him if he was jealous of our child and he got embarrassed but did admit to me he felt my heart was taken from him and given to another ( another referring to our child ). Why do men act like children some times 😒.
But dat soo cute lovely shi AAGH
Oh Jude you better hurry make your territory for Eve before Bruno sliding tackle in the near future.
Thanks for the chapter!
Just how can one be born as Eve? A kind, gentke mother, a father that spoils you, a brother who dotes on you, a pretty oppa soon to be smitten, a prince as a childhood playmate and many more suitors to come who’ll suffer under the black lion of a dad!
Thanks for the chapter! 😘
Sorry Bruno haha… you’re probably going to be the pretty older brother forever.
Thanks for the chapter!
Hmmm?? What’s that smell you say?
IT’S THE POTENTIAL RELATIONSHIP OF BRUNO AND EVE THAT HAS BEEN FRESHLY BAKED. (つ✧ω✧)つ
Thank you for the chapter, Miss Ruby!!!
Thank you for the chapter Ruby ❤️ 😘
Miss Rubí, the translation would be [“원래 부족한 쪽이 느끼는 법이야.”] “This how the lacking side feels”, In Spanish is “Así es como se siente el lado carente”, which is almost the same as what you translated.
Thank you very much for your great work.
I love how consistent your post is MIss Rubi, compare to other group novel translators. their post takes longer to upload 1 chapter… thus making me feel dull to read it anymore. but you… even though you skip 1-2 weeks… you still give us more than 1 chapter. to repay back the week you skip. I love you!!
once I have money I will definitely ‘buy you a coffee’. 😀
the age gap is too far for bruno and little eva but this intervention for sure makes her immune to straying cherry blossoms
So… Eve + Bruno and Ted + Damian? Family is complete. Check <3
I know there’s gonna be age gap but I feel I like Eve and Bruno more to be the endgame. I think Bruno is the best choice to end up Eve, 1. his abilities is on par with Damian (smart & competent, looks, personality,etc.) 2. not only he has his own title & but also respectable reputation, 3. no relatives tying him, he’s alr detached from the Matin family, he’s basically on his own now, so political interest from relatives problem are solved as comparing if Eve ever marries a Prince or some other noble. Bruno can be easily that “live-in son-in-law” Hugo wanted (he already basically lives in the ducal house currently anyways) and lastly, 4. Bruno already has in-laws approval if ever (he already won bc Lucia’s approval is the winning vote lol). I also think his personality would match Eve, he would definitely pamper her and his desire for that warm & loving family didn’t have from his parents that grew even more from seeing Taran ducal couple would likely make him more likely to treasure his future family. Also the fact that he admires & respect Hugo &Lucia would definitely make him the perfect Taran son-in-law. Prince Ethan & Jude just won’t do for me tbh
right, other than the 12 years age gap (meaning that bruno would be 30 when eve turned 18), i feel like he’s the most perfect candidate.
idk how to feel about the age gap though. some will say its allright but some will feel a lil uncomfortable especially bcs of the fact that they’re having a very close brother-sister relation at the moment
This is sooo late. But I just wanted to say I am on board with Bruno + Eve ship. Even if there’s a huge age gap, are we forgetting Hugo + Lucia have 9-10 year age gap as well? That is all.
Oh I thought it’s just a five-year gap. He was 23 and she was 18 when they got married. It was mentioned in the earlier chapters when lucia proposed to Hugo.
Altho this is late reply, Hugh is 8 years older than Lucia. Lucia was 18 when she proposed to Hugh. Damien at that time was 8. Real Hugo (Hugh’s twin) which is Damien’s father was 18 when he fathered Damien.
So 18 + 8 is 26, making Hugh 26 years old when Lucia married him.
jude that fight 😂
I’m still curious about the brooch, has Lucia already given it to Hugh or is she still going to?
Thanks for the hard work, Ruby 💖🦋💖
Wahhhh although I want to board Bruno x Eve’s ship, I think author-nim already gave us a hint of whom little Evie would end up with.
Remember when little Jude already thought baby Eve as “pretty” when he himself is still a bubbly little older baby tot.