Special Side Story 2

Inside the carriage heading toward the imperial palace. Dyffrin and Rykal were riding together.

Since both were rather taciturn, the carriage they rode in was always filled with silence.

Today, it was even more so. That was because Dyffrin was lost in other thoughts.

From time to time, Dyffrin felt a strange sensation, as if a warm energy lingered in the spot on his chest where Evelyn’s hand had brushed against him.

As he absentmindedly moved his fingers in a steady rhythm, he suddenly turned his gaze and caught sight of Rykal reading a book.

The book Rykal was reading had an illustration of a cat. The illustration was so vivid, it looked as if the cat might leap right out of the book at any moment.

‘He’s reading something that doesn’t suit him.’

Dyffrin knew that the reason Rykal was reading such a book was because of Evelyn.

Evelyn and Rykal were truly an ill-matched pair, yet these days, they could often be seen chatting lightly together.

While Dyffrin thought it was Evelyn pestering Rykal, whenever he saw the faintest smile appear on the otherwise expressionless Rykal’s lips during their conversations, he couldn’t help but think that perhaps it wasn’t just that.

That made Dyffrin feel rather unpleasant.

Not even knowing why he felt this way, Dyffrin spoke to Rykal.

“Don’t you think Evelyn seems different from before?”

Rykal, who had been reading, slowly lifted his head.

“Yes, she has changed.”

“It’s not just that she’s changed—a few times, she feels like a completely different person.”

Rykal didn’t say anything, as if pondering.

That was because, for a time, he had thought so himself about his superior.

But such suspicions were not only rude, but the idea of someone becoming a different person was simply absurd to begin with.

“Are you saying someone is wearing a mask of Lady Evelyn?”

Dyffrin, too, seemed to decide that didn’t make sense and shook his head.

“……Of course not.”

“Don’t think too deeply about it. Everyone changes. Perhaps Lady Evelyn is trying to use this marriage as a turning point to change herself.”

It was a realistic answer, close to the truth.

Not only Rykal, but even Evelyn herself had said as much.

Even so, Dyffrin couldn’t erase the small doubt lingering in a corner of his heart.

However, whenever he reached the thought, ‘Is it worth obsessing over this seed of distrust in my heart just to find out the truth?’ his turbulent feelings would cool down.

‘It’s meaningless.’

Whether Evelyn had become someone else or not.

The fact that he had married that woman would not change, nor would it affect his life.

Up until then, Dyffrin believed that.

It was only after returning from the ball that Dyffrin’s suspicions about the changed Evelyn, which he had not been conscious of for a while, resurfaced.

Dyffrin could say with certainty that, of all the days he had ever lived, that day was the most headache-inducing.

Lady Karina’s revelation, Fenris Coates’s provocation, and, as if to cap off a chaotic day, Evelyn collapsing.

Just recalling the events of that day made the back of his neck feel stiff. Still, there was one thing he could no longer deny after that day.

Namely, that he was paying more attention to Evelyn than necessary.

When apart from Evelyn, he wondered what she was doing, and when together, he couldn’t help but glance at her repeatedly.

Would his past self have ever imagined that he would care this much about Evelyn?

No, since all he had wanted was for the tearful Evelyn to disappear from his sight, he could never have dreamed it.

“……Um, Master.”

At that moment, Head Maid Merrilyn cautiously spoke to Dyffrin.

“What is it?”

“It’s just… Madam’s birthday is coming up. How should we prepare?”

Dyffrin pictured this month’s calendar in his mind. Among the string of dates, a familiar day came to mind.

‘So Evelyn’s birthday is this month.’

Normally, he would have simply told her to handle it as she saw fit, but this time, such an indifferent order didn’t feel right.

Perhaps it was because, after Evelyn had collapsed in the banquet hall garden, things between them were no longer bad.

Dyffrin recalled how she had learned to dance from him, given him massages herself, and even become his poker opponent, and he sneered.

At this point, pretending not to know her birthday would actually seem unnatural.

“Let’s keep it simple, at home.”

“Will you be joining the event as well, Master…?”

When Merrilyn asked cautiously, Dyffrin nodded.

“I will.”

At Dyffrin’s answer, Merrilyn’s face brightened.

“Yes! I’ll inform Madam accordingly.”

Merrilyn had worried that her master might leave his wife to spend her first birthday after marriage alone.

So she had no complaints about keeping it simple at the mansion.

Usually, nobles held extravagant birthday parties, but since Madam had recently collapsed, no one would think it strange to keep it quiet.

Once Merrilyn disappeared with light steps, Dyffrin grabbed his tie and pulled it down.

“Phew.”

He thought it was a natural decision under the circumstances, but in truth, the one who had made the decision did not feel at ease.

This wasn’t the kind of birthday party he had attended out of formality, but a simple celebration at home—he had no sense of how to go about it. It was a different feeling from simple acts like a massage or poker.

Dyffrin frowned.

He was annoyed and even angry at himself for being so anxious over something as trivial as a birthday party.

‘It’s just another day.’

As if to erase the image of himself agonizing over Evelyn’s birthday party, Dyffrin let out a short breath, composed his expression, and went to his room.

* * *

“Lady Evelyn’s birthday is soon, isn’t it?”

In the carriage, once again shrouded in silence, Rykal suddenly asked Dyffrin.

Dyffrin, who had been looking out the window and recalling the day’s schedule, turned his gaze to Rykal.

“That’s right.”

‘But how do you know that?’

Dyffrin wanted to ask, but couldn’t bring himself to say it.

There was no need to ask such a question, and no matter what answer he heard from Rykal, he felt he wouldn’t like it.

As another inexplicable discomfort began to rise, his mouth felt dry.

“Since you haven’t sent out invitations yet, it seems you’re planning to keep the party quiet at home. Since Lady Evelyn collapsed at the ball, that would be best.”

“……”

“But have you prepared a gift?”

Dyffrin, suppressing the strange feeling at the word ‘gift,’ furrowed his brow.

“A gift?”

Rykal nodded immediately.

“Yes, a gift. I asked in advance just in case, but you really hadn’t thought about it.”

Rykal let out a sigh, as if it was unbelievable, and Dyffrin glared at him.

Other than work, Rykal never meddled, yet here he was being nagged about his wife’s birthday party preparations.

And what was with that face, as if he was about to scold him for being slow?

Was Rykal always this insufferable?

Dyffrin found himself doubting his long-time aide.

“So you’ve prepared something?”

“Of course.”

At the immediate reply, Dyffrin’s brow furrowed even more.

“I’ve prepared a set of imported teacups as a gift. Lady Evelyn enjoys drinking tea.”

“……”

“And since she’s not one to like flashy or expensive things, I chose a design and color that are simple, with an elegant pattern subtly engraved.”

Dyffrin almost blurted out, ‘Ah, I see. But since when did you know Evelyn’s tastes better than I do?’ and pressed his hand to his lips.

“There’s no need to agonize over it.”

Rykal said in a calm voice.

“In any case, Lady Evelyn will be happy with whatever gift you give her, Sir Dyffrin.”

Dyffrin lifted his head and looked at Rykal. The corners of Rykal’s mouth were faintly curved.

It was unexpected advice.

‘He thinks Evelyn will be happy if I give her a present…’

But it didn’t quite sink in.

Unlike Rykal, Dyffrin didn’t know Evelyn’s tastes or her heart. He felt like an inferior student.

Until he arrived at his office that day, Dyffrin considered various possible gifts, but in the end, he could not find an answer even as the sun set.