Special Side Story 3

Several days passed, and before long, Evelyn’s birthday was just around the corner.

Dyffrin let time slip by meaninglessly, unable to solve the task of choosing a gift.

Of course, he hadn’t agonized over it the whole time.

He figured he could just prepare something suitably expensive for the gift.

Yet he couldn’t act on it, because Rykal’s words—saying Evelyn would like whatever he gave—kept bothering him.

If Evelyn didn’t like it, that would mean he’d picked the worst possible present.

‘He shouldn’t have said that.’

His concern about the gift became a dart of irritation aimed at Rykal, and Dyffrin began to seriously contemplate.

‘What did Evelyn like?’

Then, memories from the past quietly surfaced.

It was when he was young enough that his grandfather was still alive. Pressured by his grandfather, he’d prepared a gift for Evelyn just once.

At that time, Dyffrin had felt burdened by Evelyn’s glances, so he kept his distance.

It was his way of being considerate. He couldn’t respond to the emotions that child couldn’t hide, nor did he want to.

He believed that not doing anything that could be misunderstood was the gentlemanly thing to do.

That’s why, even though he’d known Evelyn for quite a while, he had no memory of ever giving her a present.

He knew that giving her a gift would stir up all sorts of feelings in her.

But that year, forced by his grandfather’s firm attitude, he had to prepare a gift for Evelyn, even though he wasn’t keen on it.

‘What should I give her?’

Unlike now, he didn’t ponder for long.

Dyffrin ordered the head maid to buy something suitable for a young girl.

That evening, the head maid brought back a silk, wine-colored ribbon from the market.

She’d probably put some thought into it—the ribbon was soft and glossy. It seemed perfect for tying up long hair, a safe and decent gift.

As expected, Evelyn was so happy with the simple present that she teared up.

So Dyffrin thought Evelyn would wear that ribbon until it was worn and shabby. But Evelyn never wore the ribbon Dyffrin had given her.

Why?

He wondered, but since he wasn’t very interested in Evelyn, his curiosity faded quickly.

Much later, he found out Evelyn had carefully kept that wine-colored ribbon in the drawer beside her bed.

Recalling that forgotten memory, Dyffrin let out a sigh without meaning to.

That was how he used to be, yet now he was agonizing for days over something as trivial as a birthday present.

Ha.

Dyffrin gave a self-deprecating laugh.

That day, as he boarded the carriage to go home, Dyffrin told the coachman to head to the street lined with dress shops.

It would be silly to ask if she still had that ribbon, so giving her a new one wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Evelyn now wouldn’t just keep his present tucked away like a treasure.

So, before going home, Dyffrin stopped by a dress shop and ordered the madam to make a ribbon from the finest silk, choosing the same wine color as before.

He was only worried that there was just one day left until Evelyn’s birthday.

“When can I pick it up?”

“The ribbon only needs a simple stitch, so it’ll be ready by tomorrow.”

Dyffrin signed the receipt and paid twice the price the madam had quoted for the ribbon.

“By tomorrow evening at six.”

The madam, counting the unexpectedly large sum with wide eyes, quickly nodded, her mouth agape.

“Yes, understood!”

Clink.

As Dyffrin heard the light ringing of the bell on the door, he felt his heart ease.

Even though he arrived home quite late, the mansion’s lights were on. Evelyn greeted him.

“You’re late today…?”

Evelyn, rubbing sleepy eyes, approached Dyffrin.

Despite the chilly weather, she had draped a shawl over her shoulders and was lingering by the door.

Seeing her like that, Dyffrin found himself once again questioning whether his chosen gift was appropriate.

After all the recent events, Evelyn had been acting quite affectionate toward him.

It was as if she’d opened her heart a little.

He knew she’d liked him for a long time, but after their marriage, Evelyn had changed.

Even if she said, ‘I like you,’ it felt like she was keeping a careful distance, so her newly open attitude felt unfamiliar.

‘Unfamiliar, huh…’

As that thought surfaced, a strange sense of déjà vu quietly crept in. The old Evelyn would have waited for him until late without a second thought.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

Evelyn tilted her head, and Dyffrin’s thoughts quickly scattered.

“It’s nothing.”

At his bland reply, Evelyn blinked, then grinned and brought her face close to Dyffrin’s.

“More importantly, you know tomorrow’s my birthday, right?”

“I know.”

“I’m expecting something amazing, so you’d better prepare a really good present.”

Evelyn said playfully.

Yet, if he did prepare something amazing, she’d probably make an awkward face, as if it was too much.

Dyffrin objectively evaluated his gift.

Top-quality, but a simple ribbon.

‘Any ordinary noblewoman wouldn’t be satisfied, but Evelyn now…’

At that moment, Dyffrin realized a huge problem with his present.

If he gave Evelyn this ribbon, he’d find out whether she was the Evelyn he knew, or a completely different person.

If she was the Evelyn he knew, she’d mention that day as soon as she saw the wine-colored ribbon.

She might scold him, or be moved to tears as she was back then.

Whatever her reaction, the old Evelyn would show a subtle expression as soon as she received the gift.

But, though it sounded absurd, if Evelyn was truly someone else, she’d accept the ribbon with a completely unconcerned look.

His mind grew tangled.

Evelyn, watching Dyffrin, furrowed her brow in concern.

“…You really seem strange today.”

Evelyn placed her hand on Dyffrin’s forehead.

Comparing his temperature to her own, she muttered, 

“Doesn’t seem like you have a fever…”

Dyffrin brushed Evelyn’s hand away.

“I’m fine. You shouldn’t be wandering around in the cold—stay warm.”

He could still picture Evelyn collapsing.

Since then, Dyffrin often found himself worrying about Evelyn for no clear reason.

Evelyn, unaware of his feelings, complained, “Geez… Even when I’m worried about you.” Then she disappeared upstairs.

Left alone, Dyffrin sighed.

His chest felt tight.

No matter how hard he tried, soft words just wouldn’t come out of his mouth.

And what was he supposed to do with this gift that would unintentionally test Evelyn?

Most troubling of all was Evelyn’s sulky face from earlier.

Dyffrin felt he’d made a bigger mistake now than he had at age ten, when he’d carelessly told the head maid to buy Evelyn’s birthday present.

That night, Dyffrin couldn’t sleep.

He often stayed up due to insomnia, but ever since Evelyn had given him a massage, he’d been sleeping well.

Of course, he knew exactly why he couldn’t sleep tonight.

It was Evelyn’s birthday.

As usual, the sun rose, and he had to get through the day smoothly.

Getting through the day smoothly meant making the sulky Evelyn smile, giving her a present that wouldn’t make him feel inferior to Rykal, and seeing Evelyn’s reaction.

But both tasks were problematic.

He had no skill for soothing someone who was upset, and he still couldn’t decide if his present was suitable.

In the past, he might have wanted to test Evelyn with this gift, but not now.

Even if Evelyn was someone else, he didn’t want to let her go.

So there was only one answer.

Giving her the wine-colored ribbon was meaningless.

He needed to prepare another present, fast. But he had no idea what to get.

As he agonized, the sun began to set, and finally, before it was time to leave work, Dyffrin got up.

Rykal’s gaze followed him.

“Leaving already, Sir?”

“Is there anywhere still open at this hour? Somewhere I can get a present right away.”

Rykal, as if wanting to ask if Dyffrin still hadn’t bought Evelyn’s present, frowned, but seeing Dyffrin’s unusually urgent attitude, told him about the late-night shops downtown.

“If you go to Kelliston Street, there should be gift shops open late. If it’s for Lady Evelyn, should I go buy it for you?”

“No, I’ll go myself.”

Dyffrin grabbed his coat and quickly left the office.