# 24
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Fenris frowned.
This was an unimaginably rude gesture from the usual Differin. Not only did he push the prince's hand away, but he also interrogated him as if he were a criminal.
But Fenris didn't feel bad about it. Seeing Defrin so disturbed was a rare sight.
“There seems to be a misunderstanding. I only caught her because she was about to fall.”
Evelyn barely managed to interject into the conversation.
“...That's right, Dyffrin. He just helped me not fall.”
However, it did not seem that Defren would dispel the misunderstanding easily.
“Why were you together in such an unusual place?”
“I was resting here, and we met by chance... Since we know each other, we talked a little.”
“Acquaintances…?”
“Yes, I mentioned before that I helped a man covered in blood. That man was Your Highness.”
Fenris helped explain.
“As the lady said, at that time I was not in my capacity as a prince but as an injured person receiving help.”
While Devrin understood the situation, he was once again filled with inexplicable anger at the fact that Evelin and Fenris had gotten involved in a situation of which he was unaware.
With his characteristic gentle expression, Fenris spoke.
“I approached the lady first, so I hope you won't get angry with her.”
'Who does he think he is to ask me not to be angry with Evelin?'
Devrin suppressed his boiling emotions, barely able to speak.
“Even if you are the prince, it is not appropriate for you to be alone with a married woman in such a dark place.”
“Because I was grateful for the help I received, I failed to notice my surroundings. Therefore, I apologize to you, Lord Dyffryn.”
Devryn stared coldly at Fenris, who responded calmly. In return, Fenris said clearly,
“But you know, I have a personality where I have to repay what I receive. When the opportunity arises, I will definitely repay the favor I received from the lady.”
Upon hearing the word “favor,” Devrin’s eyes shone with anger.
“Always pay debts” was Fenris’ creed.
This doctrine usually applies to negative matters.
Like how he was sure the scores would be settled with Noston's attack.
Not only was he politically warning Dyffryn, he was also provoking him by using Evelyn.
Dyffrin felt his mind go cold. Thanks to this, his agitation calmed down significantly.
"I hope the favor I have mentioned is not of the usual kind. My wife is not as flexible as Lord Noston."
Having understood Diffrin's hint, Fenris could not maintain his calm expression. His voice turned dark.
“It was Noston who ordered the dirty work this time. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have needed the lady’s help.”
“Although what Your Highness Noston did was not right, considering what Your Highness did before...”
“Uh...Differin...”
As the argument between Dyffryn and Fenris escalated, Evelin pulled Dyffryn's sleeve.
Devrin averted his gaze with a stiff face. He saw Evelin's pale skin.
“…Evelyn?”
Evelin closed her eyes and swayed as if she was about to faint.
“I… I have no strength...”
Before she could finish her sentence, Evelin's body leaned toward the ground.
“Evelyn!”
Devrin quickly grabbed Evelin's fallen body.
She closed her eyes, hearing Devrin calling her name as the last thing.
***
When Evelin fainted, she had a dream.
In a blurry vision, she saw a frail woman lying on a hospital bed. Little girl sitting on a chair next to the bed.
“Mom, you said it was just a cold, so why aren’t you getting better? Neighbor Tom got better a long time ago.”
The woman looked at the girl and opened her dry lips.
“Evelyn. Your mother will be better soon.”
“Liar. You said that a month ago too.”
The woman managed to smile weakly, her trembling lips barely rising.
“Your mother will not lose to illness. Because I have a beautiful daughter like you, Evelyn...”
"Then promise me! Promise me you'll be awake by next week!"
Little Evelin raised her hand and extended her little finger. The woman barely reached out and wrapped her finger around Evelin's.
"I promise. Your mother will get through this and show you that you can be healthy too, Evelyn."
The current Evelin, who was just observing this scene, felt uncomfortable knowing the outcome for the woman.
“Evelyn’s biological mother lived a short life...”
Because of illness.
Evelin suddenly wondered about her own symptoms.
“Could it be… related to the disease her biological mother suffered from?”
But in the original work, it was said that Evelyn died of depression.
Even though it was a dream, she felt like her surroundings were spinning.
Then she suddenly opened her eyes.
‘Haha.’
The scene before her was familiar.
If she thought about it, she had passed out while Devrin and Fenris were talking.
Evelyn moved her fingers.
Her body, which had been as weak as a sick chick, felt like it was normal again as if nothing had happened.
At that moment, she even heard breathing beside her. Evelin had to bite her lip to suppress the gasp of surprise that was about to escape her mouth.
Defrin was asleep in a chair next to the bed, leaning against the wall.
Evelin was surprised for the first time by his appearance, as if he had fallen asleep while taking care of her, and for the second time by the fact that he looked so handsome even in such a state.
'He's really a handsome person...'
I realized this again at the party. The admiring looks directed at him, and the looks of jealousy and envy directed at her.
There was also a strange effect that made the men around Dyffryn appear blurry. Like the effect of light, Differin stood out even among well-dressed men.
When Evelin looked at Differin’s face, he frowned slightly.
“Uh…”
When a groan finally escaped him, Evelin hurriedly shrugged.
"Differin...! Are you okay?"
Devrin slowly opened his eyes. His blue pupils gradually focused.
“Evelyn...?”
“Yes, I am. You were moaning in your sleep, so I woke you up. Did you also get a headache while sleeping?”
At Evelin’s quick question, Devrin seemed to quickly regain his senses, and his gaze became clear.
In a tone of disbelief, he said,
“Is this really the time to worry about me?”
At the reprimanding tone that came out of his mouth, Evelin closed her mouth.
“Why did you insist on going to the party when you were so sick that you collapsed? Do you know how worried I am?”
His emotional tone was tinged with worry.
Evelin was momentarily taken aback by Devrin's words, but then spoke in a calm voice.
“I'm sorry to bother you... You taught me how to dance hard, so I really wanted to attend the concert.”
"Parties happen several times a year. Never do anything rash again."
Evelin nodded, looking sad like a child being scolded.
Devrin ran his hand through his hair irritably and took off the tie that was choking his neck.
"The doctor who diagnosed you with a cold was fired immediately. He is incompetent."
Although it was not necessary to expel him, Evelin somewhat agreed with Dyffrin's feelings.
As he said, these were not symptoms of a cold.
“The doctor who saw you after your collapse said it was likely nervous exhaustion due to stress.”
'Stress-related fatigue...?'
The diagnosis was completely unsuitable for Evelyn. Although she was nervous, she wasn't that nervous.
“However, just in case, go get checked by a doctor at the largest medical center in the capital. Ask the maid to make an appointment.”
"…Good."
“And also...”
With Devrin's firm voice, Evelin tensed for no reason.
‘…Is he going to talk about the incident with Fenris earlier?’
But he brought up something completely different.
"Until you recover, don't worry about my headache. I'm not in such a serious condition that I need help from someone who faints easily."
Although it wasn't about Fenris, his ultimatum was just as disturbing.
She came up with another excuse to demand spousal support, but she couldn't let go of Differin's headache either.
But seeing his fierce gaze, it seemed better to accept it now.
“I see...”
Evelyn answered weakly. Defrin heard the answer he wanted, so he got up from the chair.
“You seem fine now, so I'll go back to my room. If you feel unwell again...”
Defrin couldn't complete his sentence. He seemed upset at the thought of her feeling unwell again.
'If you're so worried about me, why don't you sleep in my room?'
Evelyn suggested jokingly, and Dyffrin frowned as if he heard something he shouldn't.
"It was a joke. It's getting late, so go back and get some sleep."
“…Don’t make such jokes.”
Defrin responded coldly and left the room.
Evelin smiled alone, remembering Dyffrin's disgusted expression.
'Well... the idea of us sleeping together is already impossible.'
Although he was more passionate than before, sleeping together in bed was a completely different matter.
He had grown up not knowing what it was like to be pampered and, of course, had never experienced sleeping with another person. Therefore, sharing a bed with someone would be as unpleasant as sharing a toothbrush.
The same applies to their marital relationship. He viewed the act of a man and woman sleeping together only as a means to produce an heir.
‘If we have a marital relationship, his headache will completely disappear.’
This act was the highest form of physical intimacy. Thus, the headache will not only ease but will disappear completely.
However, in the original story, Devrin and Evelyn never shared a bed, and these hidden details are only revealed in the end.
Of course, in this life too Differin headache will never go away.
There will never be a time where you will lie in the same bed with Differin.
With these thoughts, Evelyn concluded her eventful day.