The Masked prince
Chapter 177: Evelyn Learns To Read And Write

Chapter 177: Evelyn Learns To Read And Write

After Evelyn had some snacks, she didn’t know what she should do. She also realized that Regan was present in the same room.

Before it didn’t feel peculiar as they were talking but now amidst the silence, she suddenly felt awkward.

Regan could see this and immediately thought of something. A moment later, he finally came up with something

He had actually thought of asking her before but amidst everything that happened in the past few days, he didn’t get any chance. So he asked her today.

"Evelyn, how much can you read and write?"

Evelyn was startled to hear the question and then she shook her head with a blank expression on her face and whispered

"I don’t know any words, Your Highness. I can’t read and write at all."

Regan frowned and it made Evelyn lower her head. She thought that Regan was displeased to hear this but Regan was thinking something else.

He was wondering why Oliver didn’t teach Evelyn anything. As much as he remembered, Oliver was very studious and according to Evelyn, he was the only person who had been nice to her.

In fact, Regan didn’t think the same about Oliver. Marrying Evelyn who didn’t know anything about marriage back then made Oliver selfish in Regan’s eyes.

Even if he loved Evelyn, how could he do this to her?

However, he was considerate enough not to say such things to Evelyn. He could see that Oliver was a deep wound in her heart which he didn’t know how long would take to fill and he didn’t wish to scratch it at all.

"I will start teaching you words from today. Let me bring some ink, a brush, and papers from the study room. We don’t have any in this room."

Regan said and then left the room.

On the other hand, Evelyn stared at his back in a daze.

Was she really going to learn how to read and write?

All the depression suddenly vanished from her heart when Regan really appeared with Brush, ink, and paper in his hands.

Evelyn suddenly felt excited like a child. Without even waiting for Regan to call her, she walked to him and sat down on one of the chairs he had arranged around a table.

Regan smiled when he saw this but didn’t let her see it.

He spread the paper on the table and said

"We will start from the basics today. It might not be possible for me to teach you every day. But every day there will be an exercise for you. You are supposed to complete it whether I am able to check it or not otherwise you will be punished. Do you understand?"

Evelyn blinked as she looked at the strict expression on the prince’s face. He changed within a second.

But when she saw that he was waiting for her answer, she immediately nodded her head.

Satisfied, Regan picked the brush, dipped it in the ink, and showed her the first word she was supposed to write.

Evelyn watched with amazement. She then heard from him what sound the word made and how it was used.

"Try to copy it."

Regan said as he passed the brush to Evelyn. Evelyn’s hands were slightly trembling as she held the brush.

She remembered that she had held Oliver’s brush once but when Gianna had seen her doing this, she had told her not to do that again.

Gianna had said to her that the studies were not supposed to be for girls.

And she being the obedient girl had not touched it again. At that time, she had not opposed Gianna though inside her heart she really wanted to study.

Oliver used to read very nice stories from books to her. She wished to read them on her own one day. However, she never got the chance and after being sold as a slave, she had never imagined having such a chance.

Yet, here she was today.

Seeing that her hands were trembling, Regan held her hand and helped her write her first word.

Evelyn’s lips quivered as she smiled.

"Try on your own now."

She heard Regan say and she tried again. She could see that her word was very crooked as compared to the one the prince had written.

However, she still felt happy as she practiced again and again.

Amidst this, her eyes unconsciously found Regan who was grinding ink for her so that she could practice more.

Evelyn actually wondered what good deeds she had done to have Regan on her side in this life.

If all the suffering she went through was to reach here today, then she didn’t mind any of them.

Tearing her eyes away from the prince, she started to practice the same word silently.

The room was silent but the two people found comfort in each other presence.

.

.

.

It was dinner time and a maid came and informed Evelyn.

"It’s enough for today."

Regan said as he folded the paper and put aside the brush and ink on the table.

After that, they went to the dining room together.

When they stepped inside the dining room, they saw Rex talking to a maid. They walked closer and heard her say

"Go and ask Lady Irwin if she wishes to have her dinner here...and yes Lady Laurel as well. If they wish, they are most welcome here."

The maid curtsied and left to do the said chore.

Rex’s eyes then fell on Regan and he immediately dragged him closer and whispered

"I am giving you chance to get closer to your wife. Am I not a good brother?"

Regan looked at Rex with narrowed eyes. However, instead of talking to him, Rex looked at Evelyn and said

"Evelyn, I have been thinking this since morning. Lady Irwin might have been sent by His Majesty intentionally. He might have doubted that your and Regan’s marriage is just a pretense. Therefore she will observe yours and Regan’s and each and every move."