Side Story 6

However, unlike Ellia, who looked as if the sky had fallen, Dyffrin simply erased the incorrect answer and explained the solution.

“You got it wrong, but you were very close. Since you’re solving advanced problems, it’s okay to take your time and not rush.”

“…”

Ellia calmed her pounding heart.

‘…Dad isn’t speaking harshly.’

After that, contrary to Ellia’s expectations, Dyffrin continued to teach math kindly.

And something even more unbelievable happened.

“I made a mistake.”

Dyffrin said as he erased his own solution. Ellia’s eyes widened. Her blue eyes looked like they were about to pop out.

‘Oh… Dad made a mistake…!’

At that moment, it seemed to Ellia as if the ice surrounding Dyffrin melted away.

From then on, Ellia approached the lessons much more comfortably. She even asked questions unrelated to the lesson.

“What will I learn later on?”

Ellia asked with bright eyes.

“Later on?”

“When I get older.”

Dyffrin thought for a moment before speaking.

“Evelyn wants you to learn swordsmanship.”

“Swordsmanship? Isn’t that something boys learn…?”

“Not necessarily.”

Ellia was surprised by Dyffrin’s unexpected suggestion and thought about swordsmanship for a moment. It didn’t seem bad.

The thought of herself swinging a longsword like the knights later on seemed quite cool.

“Ellia, you need to focus.”

Dyffrin gently reminded her, and Ellia turned her attention back to the book.

Time flowed quietly after that.

When the lesson ended, Evelyn came in with a plate of snacks.

There were apple slices cut into the shape of rabbits and milk with honey.

“Did you have a good study session with Dad?”

Ellia glanced at Dyffrin and nodded slightly.

“Yes.”

“Well done.”

Evelyn kissed Ellia’s cheeks a couple of times. As Dyffrin stood up, Evelyn grabbed his sleeve.

“You should have a snack with us.”

Dyffrin made a subtle face, as if asking if she really wanted him to eat those rabbit-shaped apples.

Evelyn pretended not to notice and said,

“It’s too much for Ellia to eat alone.”

Dyffrin sighed softly and picked up a rabbit-shaped apple. The sight was so mismatched that Evelyn couldn’t help but laugh.

At that moment, Ellia spoke seriously.

“…You shouldn’t eat the head first.”

Dyffrin, who had been chewing the apple absentmindedly, stopped and looked at Ellia.

“You should eat the body first.”

“Hahaha!”

Evelyn finally burst into loud laughter.

The sight of Dyffrin being corrected by Ellia was too much to bear. Of course, this laughter also contained joy.

It seemed like the wall between Dyffrin and Ellia had significantly crumbled.

Wiping away the tears that formed at the corners of her eyes, Evelyn looked at Dyffrin.

“You heard her? You have to eat the body first.”

Dyffrin looked a bit weary as he ran a hand over his face.

Even so, he started eating from the body, and Evelyn secretly smiled with satisfaction.

* * *

“It seems you did well on the assignment I gave you.”

In the evening, before going to sleep, Evelyn spoke to Dyffrin. Sitting on the bed, Dyffrin looked somewhat exhausted.

“It wasn’t easy.”

“But it seemed like Ellia felt much more comfortable with you. You should help her with her studies more often. Your relationship will improve significantly.”

Dyffrin patted his knee.

“Alright, come here. I need you right now.”

Evelyn smiled sweetly and walked over to Dyffrin. He pulled her onto his lap by her waist.

“It seems I finished the assignment you gave me well.”

“Absolutely.”

Evelyn pulled his face closer and kissed him, slowly unbuttoning his shirt from the top.

Dyffrin’s body reacted to her touch.

Evelyn briefly pulled her lips away and said,

“Sometimes, it seems like you want to have a second child.”

“That’s not true. Ellia alone is more than enough for me.”

“But someone like that, ugh…”

Dyffrin hastily kissed her.

After sharing a passionate kiss for a while, they found themselves lying on the bed.

“You don’t know any shame, but your spitting image, Elia, is so shy. Why is that?”

“She doesn’t know love yet.”

At Dyffrin’s playful words, Evelyn’s face turned red.

And once again, Evelyn had to go to bed late that night.

* * *

“Did you hear, Madam?”

Merrilyn said as she served morning tea.

“The newly crowned Emperor is personally traveling around the empire to check on the people.”

“Really…?”

“Yes, he’s traveling incognito around the empire. I heard he caught the Earl of Bocart embezzling taxes, and it caused quite a stir.”

Although it wasn’t typically an emperor’s job to travel incognito and root out corruption like a secret inspector, Evelyn thought the newly crowned emperor might be eccentric enough to do so.

‘Fenris would definitely do that…’

It seemed he was personally stepping in to keep the nobles in check. There were still factions that supported Nosellerton.

Many people still talked behind his back about his origins. This incident would positively sway public opinion, so it couldn’t just be dismissed as odd.

Fenris might even visit the Liwonoc Duchy. He might have already passed through.

‘Dyffrin must know about this too, right?’

But he hadn’t mentioned it to her, probably because he was reluctant to talk about Fenris.

Evelyn thought about this as she took another sip of her now lukewarm tea.

Just then, the door burst open, and Ellia came running in.

“Mom! A prince has come to the castle.”

Recently, Ellia had started speaking more formally to Evelyn.

‘A prince…?’

Ellia called all handsome men “princes.” So far, she had called Dyffrin, Isaac, and Rykal by that title.

“A tall man with black hair…”

“She’s talking about His Majesty the Emperor.”

Dyffrin said as he lifted Ellia into his arms.

Seeing how natural this had become was comforting, but Evelyn was shocked to hear it was the Emperor.

“His Majesty the Emperor?”

Had Fenris really come here?

Since their last farewell, Evelyn hadn’t seen him, so the thought of meeting him after so long felt surreal.

Time had passed, and Fenris had ascended to the throne, so the situation had changed.

Dyffrin frowned, clearly displeased with Evelyn’s reaction.

“He said it’s an inspection.”

“…We should go greet him.”

After entrusting Ellia to Merrilyn, Evelyn and Dyffrin headed to the reception room.

There, Fenris was comfortably seated, sipping tea as if it were his own home.

“We greet His Majesty the Emperor.”

Evelyn greeted him formally. Dyffrin also bowed his head respectfully.

“I’m here incognito as a commoner, not as the Emperor. So you can treat me casually.”

Even though he said that, Fenris had just overturned the Earl of Bocart’s household.

Evelyn and Dyffrin sat across from Fenris. He gestured for his attendants and guards to leave the room.

“The Liwonoc Duchy was clean and without issues. I came here simply to see you both after a long time.”

“I don’t think we’re close enough to warrant such a visit.”

Dyffrin said rudely. Evelyn looked at him in surprise, but Fenris just smiled.

“If you speak so comfortably, how can we not be close?”

“I don’t speak like this to people I’m close to.”

Dyffrin seemed to find Fenris’s visit unpleasant.

He seemed to think that Fenris had come under the pretense of an inspection because he missed the woman he once loved.

“I didn’t expect a warm welcome, but you’re colder than I thought.”

“Isn’t that to be expected?”

“Still, since I’m here, I’ll say what I came to say.”

Dyffrin frowned. Evelyn also tilted her head, puzzled by Fenris’s words.

Something he came to say?

“It’s something I should have said before, but I haven’t been able to until now.”

Fenris smiled calmly. Then he turned to Evelyn.

“If you don’t mind, Madam, could you leave us for a moment? I’d like to speak to the Duke alone.”

“Yes… I’ll do that.”

Evelyn didn’t feel comfortable leaving Dyffrin and Fenris alone, but even though Fenris said he was here incognito, his words were still an imperial command. She had no choice but to comply.

After Evelyn left, Fenris remained silent for a moment. His expressionless face seemed to be organizing his thoughts or clearing his mind.

Finally, Fenris spoke.

“In the past, the Madam asked me for a favor.”

Dyffrin looked up at Fenris.