Special Side Story 4

As soon as Dyffrin left the Imperial Palace, he headed for Kelliston Street, but all the decent gift shops had already closed.

He could have bought a passable present, but for some reason, Dyffrin didn’t want to settle for something like that.

A gift bought in a hurry from just any shop.

Dyffrin decided not to think about why he was so concerned about the gift anymore.

He told himself it was just pride—not wanting to give a worse present than his subordinate, Rykal.

As a result, he returned to the mansion empty-handed.

He had ultimately failed to find a gift he was satisfied with. In the carriage, Dyffrin checked his pocket watch.

8 p.m.

He had come home later than usual, wandering around Kelliston Street.

Recalling Evelyn’s sulky face from yesterday, he felt his chest tighten again.

“Dyffrin!”

But contrary to his expectations, it wasn’t a sulky Evelyn who greeted him, but Evelyn with a face full of worry.

Dyffrin felt as if he were seeing a mirage.

“Why are you so late?”

“…I had somewhere to stop by.”

Dyffrin’s voice grew small, like a child being scolded.

“Sir Rykal stopped by earlier and said you left the palace a while ago. But you still hadn’t come home, so I was worried.”

Hearing that she’d been worried, Dyffrin felt a gentle warmth rise in his chest.

It was similar to when Evelyn would rub a stain from his chest.

“Such silly worries…”

Despite the tight, aching feeling at the base of his throat, the words slipped out on their own.

“You haven’t eaten yet, right? The chef made a feast since it’s my birthday, so come eat quickly.”

After confirming that Dyffrin was all right, Evelyn pulled him by the hand.

Even though her hand was much smaller than his, Dyffrin let himself be led without resistance.

“The food’s gotten a bit cold since you were late, so don’t complain.”

Dyffrin noticed that the dishes on the table had dried out a little.

Just as she said, it was because he’d come home late.

His pounding heart soon sank heavily.

“…I didn’t manage to prepare a present.”

Before being questioned, Dyffrin confessed first.

He fully expected Evelyn to look even more upset than yesterday, but instead, she just smiled brightly as if it were nothing.

“Is that really so important?”

“…”

“I’m just happy to have you with me on my birthday.”

Those words weren’t meant to comfort him, nor to break the awkward mood.

Dyffrin, for some reason, felt a lump in his throat.

Maybe it was because the result of his days of worry had passed so gently, almost anticlimactically.

That night, Dyffrin couldn’t remember what he ate, or how it tasted, or even what he and Evelyn talked about.

All he remembered was that the evening was brighter and warmer than usual, and that memory stayed in his heart for a long, long time.

* * *

Dyffrin finished his work, signing the last document.

Fortunately, it seemed he wouldn’t have any trouble attending the summer solstice festival Evelyn had mentioned so many times.

He stretched his stiff body and moved to the study, taking out a thick book.

Inside was the wine-colored ribbon he’d bought long ago as a birthday gift for Evelyn.

The ribbon he’d prepared as a birthday present had neither been thrown away nor given to Evelyn, but was kept here all this time.

Dyffrin took out the ribbon and held it in his hand. The glossy ribbon fluttered down, swaying softly.

Looking at this ribbon brought back memories of how awkward and foolish he’d been that day.

How immature and foolish he’d been.

If he’d just told Evelyn that he’d been late because he was searching for her birthday present until late at night, it would have comforted her enough.

Dyffrin silently reproached his foolish actions, but he also knew that, at the time, that was the best he could do. Before meeting Evelyn, he’d been just that lacking.

Even though this ribbon reminded him of his clumsy self, there was only one reason he hadn’t thrown it away.

Evelyn’s true self.

After living as a married couple for so long, he’d held onto the hope that one day she would honestly share everything with him. That hope kept him from throwing away the ribbon.

This feeling was a mix of a desire to truly know her and an almost possessive longing.

Just as he knew every part of Evelyn’s body, he wanted to have all of her secrets to himself—a childish kind of greed.

Knock, knock.

At that moment, a knock sounded.

Dyffrin knew there was only one person who would come to the study at this hour—Evelyn—so he tucked the ribbon back into the book.

As soon as he gave permission to enter, a small, pale face peeked through the open door.

“I didn’t see you in the office, so I checked the study. You really were here.”

“I was looking for some material.”

Dyffrin skillfully hid the truth.

At his reply, Evelyn looked dissatisfied.

“Tell me now, Dyffrin. If you can’t go to the summer solstice festival with me, I’ll just go with Woody.”

Evelyn had put in a lot of effort to go to the festival with Dyffrin alone. She had to carefully explain the situation to the children and make sure they didn’t feel left out.

Elia, with her packed schedule, had said she probably wouldn’t have time for the festival, but she couldn’t hide the look of longing on her face.

Woody, of course, insisted on going too. For Woody’s sake, Evelyn had asked her father-in-law, Dunswell, but his answer was always the same—he wanted to go with the whole family.

Because of that, Evelyn had to soothe Woody, who cried and pleaded, and pretend not to notice Elia’s hopeful looks.

After all that effort, if Dyffrin couldn’t go to the festival, it would all be for nothing.

Evelyn thought that would be the worst possible outcome.

“What do you think I’ve been staying up late for these past few nights?”

Dyffrin took Evelyn’s hand and pulled her into his arms.

He hugged her from behind, holding her close, and Evelyn’s cheeks flushed a gentle red.

“Does that mean you can go…?”

“I don’t want to miss the chance to go out alone with you after such a long time, either.”

With those words, Dyffrin buried his face in Evelyn’s hair.

Evelyn’s hair—no, her whole body—always smelled wonderful. She never wore perfume, but the subtle scent of her skin was more pleasing than any fragrance.

Evelyn, held in his arms, gradually stiffened. Even without looking, Dyffrin could picture her eyes darting about, lost in the air.

This was why she still seemed like a girl to him. Even after so many nights together and two children, she still got so shy.

“…What do you want to do at the festival? I… want to try the folk dance, holding hands with everyone and spinning in a circle. And…”

Evelyn rambled on, clearly saying whatever came to mind to cover her embarrassment as her body grew warmer.

Did she know how unbearably adorable she looked?

“What you want is what I want.”

“…What does that mean?”

When Evelyn pouted her lips, Dyffrin turned her to face him.

His long fingers gently lifted her chin.

“I’m looking forward to something even more than the festival.”

Dyffrin gave a soft laugh, and Evelyn’s face turned completely red.

“…Not in the study.”

“Of course.”

“And since it’s late, nothing too rough either.”

Watching Evelyn, who spoke like a teacher giving instructions, Dyffrin felt he was reaching his limit.

He might not be able to keep her ‘nothing too rough’ rule at this rate.

Dyffrin suddenly picked Evelyn up in his arms.

Kyaa—!

“You never said I couldn’t carry you to the bedroom like this, did you?”

“Dyffrin!”

Even as Evelyn shouted, her face looked ready to burst with steam, but Dyffrin’s steps didn’t falter.

A mischievous smile played on his lips.

“If you keep calling my name like that, I might not be able to keep your second rule.”

“Really… you beast!”

“No, I was wrong. I think your voice itself is what’s most tempting.”

Dyffrin held Evelyn tightly so she couldn’t escape and, still smiling, headed for the bedroom.

Evelyn, realizing it would be another long night, stopped struggling and let herself go limp.

“…I should just keep quiet.”

“Wise choice.”

With a gentle kiss on Evelyn’s forehead, Dyffrin opened the bedroom door.