“A gift?”

“Yes, since he’s going to the subjugation campaign, I wondered if you were preparing a gift to wish for his safe return.”

Come to think of it, she had often heard that wives prepared gifts for their husbands going to war. It was something like a good luck charm.

“People usually gift embroidered handkerchiefs or silk ribbons for swords, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Eve considered it seriously.

And before long, her consideration turned into determination.

She didn’t want to be so cold-hearted as to not prepare a gift wishing for his safe return.

Besides, she thought it would be good to repay him in some small way for all she had received. The problem was…

‘I’m not very skilled with my hands.’

She didn’t want to spread unnecessary gossip in social circles by hastily bringing in a teacher.

‘A teacher who won’t spread rumors and will sincerely help me.’

Why look far when there was someone right in front of her? Eve’s gaze fell on Lady Anna. Without needing to think further, a reliable ally was right there.

“I haven’t had any experience with embroidery since childhood. Could you possibly teach me how to embroider? I’m too embarrassed to call another teacher with my current skill level.”

“Of course. Being of help to the Duchess is my great pleasure. Starting tomorrow, I’ll bring materials for embroidery and teach you.”

“Thank you, My Lady. I’m always receiving help from you.”

Lady Anna smiled gently.

***

Time passed quickly.

In the mornings, Eve prepared and planned for what would happen during the subjugation campaign, and in the afternoons, she met with Lady Anna to practice embroidery.

Medric, who had always joined her for meals, hadn’t been seen for a week. As Eve ate alone in the dining hall again today, she thought about asking Hans about him.

‘No, should I go see him myself?’

If she went to the study, she could see him working and ease her concerns about him.

But she worried that she might disturb him by going there.

“Hmm…”

Would it be alright if she just briefly checked on him and asked how he was doing?

If so, when would be the best time to visit?

Should she announce her visit in advance?

Numerous concerns crossed her mind.

As she finished chewing and swallowing her food, Eve put down her utensils.

‘Let’s just go now.’

She had made her decision.

The more she thought about it, the more her concerns multiplied. It seemed better to act before she became paralyzed with indecision.

Eve wiped her mouth with a napkin, stood up, and headed straight to the study.

She walked confidently until she reached the study, but once she stood in front of the door, her resolve wavered.

Why did the door seem so large today?

It felt like a huge wall between Eve and Medric.

Knock, knock. After she knocked, Medric’s voice was heard from inside telling her to come in.

She felt nervous for no reason, took two deep breaths, and opened the large door.

Medric’s study was still filled with documents.

Somehow, there seemed to be even more than when she had last seen it. His figure was barely visible behind the high stacks of papers.

“What is it?”

A flat, low voice shot toward Eve. She hesitated momentarily at his businesslike tone but soon spoke:

“I’ve found it difficult to see you lately, so I came to check on you.”

“Ah, is that you, My Lady?”

Fatigue was evident in his voice.

As he stood up, she could finally see his profile. It had been a while since she had last seen him.

“Yes, you don’t seem to be eating meals lately.”

“I haven’t had time to eat. How many days has it been now?”

He pressed between his eyebrows and asked someone.

“I don’t know… four… maybe five days…”

Eve nearly screamed.

A voice came from a place where she hadn’t expected anyone to be.

A figure stirred among the piles of documents in one corner of the study. Looking closely, it was David.

Eve composed herself and looked at David.

He looked much worse than when she had last seen him. His dark circles nearly reached his chin. David was mechanically signing documents with a vacant expression.

“I just want to sleep now…”

Eve stepped back hesitantly.

‘Meals aren’t the main concern here.’

Medric’s condition looked serious, but David seemed like he could collapse at any moment.

Medric looked at David with concern before turning his gaze to Eve.

“As you can see, we’ve been too busy to eat. Is there a problem with the meals?”

“No, no. There’s no problem, just…”

She couldn’t bring herself to say she was worried and instead mumbled vaguely.

She regretted not bringing some refreshments. She had come empty-handed in her haste.

Of course, she knew they were busy. But she hadn’t imagined they would be working without eating or sleeping.

Eve’s lips parted in surprise, but she soon closed them.

It felt like her mere presence was disturbing them.

“I was just curious, so I came to check. Now that I’ve seen you, I’ll be going.”

Before Medric could say anything else, Eve opened the door and left the study.

While she regretted disturbing him, part of her felt relieved to have seen his face.

‘He wasn’t deliberately avoiding me.’

Her mind eased as her worry was resolved.

Then Eve shook her head and slapped her cheek with a smack.

‘He could have been avoiding me. Did I really need to come check?’

She was the one who had asked for a divorce without giving a reason. From his perspective, he might have been angry at how she repaid his kindness, and it would have been natural for him to avoid her.

Yet she couldn’t resist coming to check on him. Eve felt a belated sense of guilt.

As she was turning to go back to her room, the study door flung open, and David walked out.

“His Grace asked me to escort you to your room.”

Eve blinked at his words.

“…You have a lot of work. You don’t need to do this. It’s not far from here to my room.”

“His Grace insists I escort you to your room, saying you might collapse on the way.”

David grumbled, “He singled me out because there’s no one else nearby, and I couldn’t refuse.”

Eve eventually walked with him to her room.

It was awkward being with David like this for the first time.

“In just two weeks, you’ll be heading to the subjugation campaign.”

Eve spoke first to break the awkwardness.

“In two weeks, I’ll finally escape this h*ll. I wish the campaign day would come sooner.”

His answer was unexpected.

“Viscount Iosif, you seem to actually enjoy going to the subjugation campaign.”

“When we go on campaign, I no longer have to look at tiny, densely packed letters.”

“Couldn’t you just tell the Duke that you’d prefer to work in martial affairs?”

David fixed his gaze out the window as he answered.

“His Grace prefers to use me for literary work. Nothing to be done about it. We can’t always do only what we want in life.”

Was this the sorrow of a genius?

The more intelligent one was, the more tasks they were given and the more responsibilities they had.

A talented individual like David would find even ten bodies insufficient.

“After saying this, I should clarify so you don’t think I dislike working. I don’t hate work.”

His previously unfocused eyes became quite serious.

“What I hate is not being able to sleep.”

He stopped walking and continued.

“Do you know how happy it is to fall asleep in warm, cozy bedding under the cold northwestern air? It’s my only hobby. But these days, I can’t even indulge in the occasional drowsiness that comes, let alone proper sleep.”

David smiled happily as if imagining being wrapped in a blanket, but soon remembered reality and pretended to cry.

She hadn’t known he loved sleep this much. And such a person had been working for days without proper rest.

“Although when we go on campaign, we’ll march long distances, sleep poorly, and exhaust our bodies, we’ll still get more sleep than at the mansion. There’s a certain charm to resting in a tent after a hard day’s work.”

He was more… modest in his desires and sources of happiness than she had thought.

Following David’s gaze out the window, Eve could feel the weather growing colder day by day.

“I’ve talked too much. Let’s go.”

David, who seemed to have been dreaming of sleep, came to his senses and quickened his pace. Eve watched him for a moment before hurrying after him.