Chapter 120

The intense activity that the doctor had warned about ended five hours later.

Evelyn felt as if she had been beaten. Wrapped in a blanket, she squirmed like a caterpillar.

“I told you not to provoke me.”

Dyffrin said, looking at Evelyn who was frowning.

“It’s not the concussion that’s the problem. It’s your body.”

Dyffrin’s body was fierce. It was completely different from his neat and stern face.

“Fraud.”

Evelyn muttered to herself.

Then, feeling resentful, she grabbed the blanket and asked,

“How did you hold back all this time if you were going to pounce like this?”

“By enduring a pain you can’t even imagine.”

“So… are you satisfied?”

“It’s nice not to have to use contraception.”

Evelyn’s face turned red.

“Is that all?”

“It feels like I stopped eating a sweet dessert halfway.”

“Why is your stamina so good?”

“It’s not about stamina; it’s because I love you.”

The unexpected confession made Evelyn’s heart race.

For some reason, her cheeks felt hot, and she buried her face in the pillow.

“Evelyn.”

Dyffrin hugged her from behind.

“…”

“You’re strangely quiet about certain things.”

“It’s because I’m embarrassed.”

“About loving me?”

“About saying I love you.”

For some reason, Evelyn found it difficult to say “I love you” to Dyffrin. Joking was fine, but saying it seriously was hard.

Even though she knew she loved Dyffrin and he loved her.

It was a psychology she couldn’t understand herself.

Dyffrin nibbled on her earlobe and murmured.

“That’s disappointing.”

“Do you really need to hear it to know?”

“They say a husband who asks that isn’t a good husband.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Evelyn apologized with a face full of regret.

“Well, I’ll wait.”

“…”

“But if you want to end our lovemaking early, saying ‘I love you’ is one way to do it.”

Evelyn’s face turned so red it seemed like it would boil over at his risqué words.

Their golden honeymoon days passed one by one. They mostly spent their time walking along the beach or hiking in the mountains.

They collected pretty seashells on the beach and ate unique dishes at local restaurants.

In the mountains, they took naps in hammocks set up by Gunther and gathered herbs.

Although Dyffrin wasn’t very enthusiastic, he participated in the activities Evelyn wanted to do.

It was an incredibly enjoyable time.

It was a pity that they had to return to the mansion tomorrow. Although she liked the mansion, there would be a mountain of work waiting for them upon their return.

Especially Dyffrin, who would be busy with estate inspections and meetings with vassals.

Evelyn felt a bit down. Noticing her mood, Dyffrin said,

“It wouldn’t be bad to come back here around this time next year.”

“…Really?”

“I have no intention of ever selling this villa. So we can come whenever we want.”

“Won’t you be busy…?”

“I’ve lived my whole life being busy. So now I can afford to take a little break.”

Evelyn knew that even as Dyffrin said this, he would never let go of the responsibilities on his shoulders. He was a diligent person to his core.

“Thank you, even if it’s just words.”

Evelyn threw a pebble into the sea. It splashed with a plop.

“It might be just words to others, but not to you.”

“No, you wouldn’t even say something like this in passing to others.”

“That’s not wrong.”

Evelyn let out a weak laugh and stood up.

“Since today is the last day, there’s something I want to do with you.”

Dyffrin followed her gaze with a questioning look.

Evelyn pointed to a high cliff rising by the sea.

“Let’s climb up there. Mary said the sunset view from there is amazing.”

“It looks too steep.”

“There’s a path on the other side. I heard it’s not difficult to climb because there are stairs.”

Hearing Evelyn’s confident words, Dyffrin stood up.

There really was a gentle staircase on the cliff side. However, there were quite a few steps, making it look challenging to climb.

In the past, Dyffrin would never have allowed such a climb.

“Shall we start?”

Perhaps because it was the last day, Dyffrin didn’t nag and took the lead up the stairs.

Evelyn followed behind him. Less than ten minutes in, she was already breathing heavily. Meanwhile, Dyffrin seemed as comfortable as if he were walking on flat ground.

“Why don’t you ever get tired?”

“Male nobles undergo swordsmanship training from a young age. Physical strength is fundamental for wielding a sword.”

“I don’t understand why female nobles don’t go through such training. If I have a daughter, I will definitely teach her swordsmanship.”

It was a thoughtless comment, but Dyffrin looked momentarily stunned.

“…That wouldn’t be bad.”

“If we have a son, I’ll teach him embroidery. I want to receive a handkerchief with beautiful embroidery as a gift. You wouldn’t do that for me.”

“I can if you want.”

“It probably won’t be pretty.”

She spoke too bluntly without thinking.

Evelyn regretted it a bit, but Dyffrin didn’t seem to mind. It made sense when she thought about it.

Seeing Evelyn struggle, Dyffrin soon stopped.

“Let’s take a break.”

“That sounds good.”

Dyffrin found a flat rock and laid a handkerchief on it for her. He had been acting quite kindly lately, even if it was in a nonchalant manner.

“Thank you.”

Evelyn sat down to catch her breath. Her slender body had no muscles, so even a little movement was exhausting.

It wasn’t her fault. It was the empire’s fault for not teaching swordsmanship to female nobles.

‘I will definitely teach my daughter swordsmanship.’

Evelyn resolved again in her mind.

Then Dyffrin, leaning against a tree trunk, asked,

“Do you want to have children now?”

“Of course. I think they would be so cute.”

“Not for the sake of an heir?”

Evelyn understood what Dyffrin was asking.

“In the past, I was just reluctant to have children because of my illness.”

“I see…”

“I want to have a daughter who looks like you and a son who looks like me. A daughter who looks like you would be as pretty and smart as a doll, and a son who looks like me would be kind and dependable.”

Evelyn spoke with sparkling eyes. Her brown eyes, reflecting the sunset, looked at Dyffrin.

“And you?”

“I… it doesn’t matter. If I had to be greedy, I’d want them to look like you, whether they’re a boy or a girl.”

Dyffrin said with a faint smile.

Talking about the future with the sunset behind them was so precious that Evelyn slowly closed and opened her eyes.

“At this rate, the sun will completely set.”

“That can’t happen!”

Evelyn jumped up. She couldn’t let the climb go to waste without reaching the top.

Before starting again, Dyffrin extended his hand. Evelyn looked at it blankly.

“Take it. It’ll be easier than climbing alone.”

Seeing Dyffrin’s subtly embarrassed expression, Evelyn gladly took his hand.

His hand, much larger than hers, felt strong and reassuring.

Maybe it was just her imagination, but holding his hand made climbing the stairs feel much easier.

It might have been because Dyffrin was pulling her along.

Finally reaching the top of the cliff, Evelyn looked at the sunset disappearing beyond the horizon.

Fortunately, they weren’t too late.

“Dyffrin, the sunset is so clear!”

The round sun shone brightly over the sea.

“Yes, it is.”

Dyffrin smiled, rare for him. It was a perfect moment.

The memory of the tough climb up the stairs faded away.

“Isn’t it beautiful?”

Dyffrin nodded.

“If it weren’t for you, I would have lived my whole life without knowing how beautiful the sky becomes when the sun sets.”

“Dyffrin…”

“I have to live my whole life being grateful to you.”

Evelyn felt so moved by his honest confession that she almost cried. Her eyes turned red.

“You have an unexpected talent for touching people.”

Dyffrin wiped Evelyn’s reddened eyes. The tears disappeared.

“It’s a talent I found thanks to you. I should be grateful for that too.”

“I’m not joking.”

Evelyn lightly scolded Dyffrin. Then they stood side by side and watched the setting sun.

As the surroundings grew darker, Evelyn felt a sense of urgency.

There was something she wanted to say under the sunset. It was also the reason she insisted on coming here.

It was nothing special, but she felt nervous, and her palms started to sweat.

“Um… Dyffrin.”

Dyffrin, who had been silently watching the scenery, turned his head.

“I’m always grateful to you. And…”

Evelyn did her best to suppress her shyness.

“I love you.”

She finally said it. She didn’t understand why she had hesitated so much over these words.

“Anyone would think you were about to confess to a m＊rder.”

“Are you going to say that when I’m being serious?”

As she glared at Dyffrin for not appreciating her effort, he suddenly pulled her into a tight hug.

It was a strong embrace that almost took her breath away. She could hear his heart beating fiercely.

“It feels like my heart is struggling.”

“It’s because of you. Even a touch of your hand does this to me.”

Knowing that someone’s heart beat so strongly because of her made her chest tingle.

“I love you, Evelyn.”

His confession brought a strange sense of fulfillment. She realized that just a few words could make him so happy, yet she had avoided it out of shyness.

She felt a bit sorry.

But they had plenty of time to spend together. They would continue to whisper love and share joy.

Evelyn was sure of it in this perfect place with the red sunset and blue sea below.

That they would be happy together.

<The Goal is Alimony> Main Story END