# 25
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Devrin left Evelyn's room, called Merlin and asked her to make an appointment at the medical center.
Merlin agreed with a worried expression and quickly disappeared.
Devrin was about to enter his bedroom when he stopped and looked into the room where Evelyn was.
'In very weak health...'
Her face had always been pale and her demeanor delicate, as if she might collapse at any moment, but this was the first time she had actually fainted.
When he heard the diagnosis of nervous exhaustion due to stress from the doctor, he drained all the strength from his body.
He was relieved that it was not a serious illness, but at the same time he wondered what had caused Evelin so much stress.
However, he decided not to ask anything now. Even about Fenris as well.
The fact that the man Evelin helped on the street turned out to be Fenris still didn't sit well with him, but there was nothing he could do.
“Lord Dyffryn, please be more gentle.”
correct. All his life, the word “kindness” had been far from its meaning, but he decided to at least try to pretend it was.
Hoping that the unpleasant feeling squirming inside him would go away, even if just a little.
* * *
Fenris sat crookedly at the desk in his office, moving his fountain pen back and forth.
His gaze was unfocused, not looking at anything in particular.
Then he raised one of his eyebrows slightly - a habit he does when deep in thought.
“Hmm...”
Fenris was remembering what happened at the party today.
Since it was a party hosted by Noston, he couldn't show himf in public, so he wore a wig and makeup to disguise himf as a server while he scanned the area, carrying drinks.
Since most of Noston's inner circle and supporters were likely to be present, eavesdropping on the conversations was not a bad idea.
It was then that he discovered Evelyn. Based on her clothes in the library, he had guessed that she was a noble of some status, but having Devrin as her partner was unexpected.
“I must have been really socially distanced.”
He did not recognize Dyffryn's famous bride, Evelyn, so he smiled bitterly.
Contrary to rumours, she seemed very close to Defren. He heard that their relationship was not good.
Specifically, it was said that Defrin was not in love with Evelyn. But it wasn't hard to understand why Defren's attitude changed. She was undoubtedly a charming person.
It was clear without having to see it that social circles would remain buzzing for some time over the controversy involving a maid named Patricia.
It was surprising that Evelyn, known for her calm demeanor, responded to the other lady without blinking. But what's even more surprising is that Defrin stepped in to stand by his wife.
This hints at something important. Fickle ladies will wonder if they should ally themves with the new lady of the Leonok house.
Fenris also had a lot on his mind.
“Of all people, Dyfferin.”
Dyffryn was perhaps a more annoying character than Noston. No, it can't even compare to Noslerton. Noston was an idiot who couldn't do anything on his own.
If Dyffryn had not supported him, he would have long ago been exposed for his mistakes and deposed as Crown Prince.
So, his real opponent was not Noston but Dyffryn, and he was a formidable opponent.
However, he didn't want to give up on meeting Evelin. He wanted to get closer to her. How could he give up something so interesting he found after such a long time?
Fenris, twirling the fountain pen, moved his eyes softly. The toxicology book he had borrowed from the library that day caught his eye.
“Well, first, I'll deal with Noston.”
He would think about Evelyn next.
Fenris picked up the fountain pen he was twirling and placed it on the cover of his detoxification book.
* * *
The next day, as soon as Evelin woke up, she headed to the medical center designated by Merlin.
Normally, she would have called a doctor to the palace, but for a comprehensive examination, she had to go to a medical center with proper equipment.
Merlin prepared the umbrella and opened the carriage door for her.
“Please come in, ma'am.”
"Thank you."
She climbed into the carriage with Merlin's escort.
As the carriage set off, Merlin began to babble about what had happened yesterday. Evelyn reassured her several times that she was fine to ease Merlin's fears.
“However… wasn’t there something particularly stressful that happened yesterday? Otherwise, I can’t see a reason for you to collapse.”
In fact, there were some incidents. For example, arguing with Carina and Dyffryn verbally and being with Fenris.
Of course, the latter caused more severe stress.
Just when she thought things were getting better with Dyffrin, seeing him show such a gloomy expression made her expect that he wouldn't let things slide that day.
'Although he surprisingly didn't say anything about it…'
In the original story, Devryn and Fenris were constantly at odds. Partly because Fenris was courting Evelyn, but also for political reasons.
Defrin was Noston's closest associate and de facto planner.
In other words, in the political arena, they were almost inseparable.
Thinking of it this way, there was one thing that bothered her: the detoxification book that Fenris had borrowed.
‘Vinegar is really… going to make poison to attack Noston?’
In the original story, the kind Evelyn stopped Fenris when she learned he was planning to make poison, but she didn't get particularly involved because she didn't want to get involved with him.
But now, for some reason, she was worried about his plan.
If Noston is seriously harmed by Fenris poison, Differin may also be affected.
The poison could then have been targeted at Differin.
Even though she knew that Devrin was someone who could navigate any muddy road, she couldn't ignore the nagging feeling, like a thorn in her throat.
After careful thought, Evelin finally changed her mind.
'I must meet Fenris again.'
She couldn't hastily reveal her knowledge of the poison, so she needed to meet him and skillfully explore his intentions.
It will be very important.
Evelin didn't know why she was so concerned about Devrin's affairs, but she concluded that it was because she had become close to him because of his recent kindness.
Otherwise, there would be no other reason.
“Ma’am, we have arrived.”
The vehicle stopped in front of the medical center just in time.
Seeing the white building sparked a sudden wave of anxiety. It was because of the dream I had last night. It sounded like a warning directed at her.
Evelyn entered the medical center, hoping that the doctor would not utter the name of a terrible disease.
Indeed, being the largest medical center in the capital, it was equipped with various facilities, including several magical devices that emitted blue light.
The doctor led Evelin around, using various tools, and finally spoke with a serious expression.
“I can't determine why.”
After an hour-long examination, he was unable to find the cause. Evelyn frowned.
"What do you mean?"
“The symptoms are strange. They are like a cold but without fever, and they look like nervous exhaustion caused by stress, but the pulse and brain waves measured by the magical devices are normal. Normally, the pulse is irregular.”
“I didn't come here to hear that.”
The doctor looked disturbed. After all, his patient was the Duchess, and he had discovered nothing.
Using all his medical knowledge accumulated over 30 years, the doctor finally came up with a possible diagnosis.
“There is a very small possibility, but it may be a rare disease called 'Kendalen'.
“Kendalyn…?”
“Kendalyn shows symptoms similar to the common cold at first glance, but it is a completely different disease. “It is a serious disease that is difficult to treat.”
Evelin furrowed her delicate brows.
Although there are some similarities to what the doctor described, it is too early to conclude that it is the same disease based on such a brief explanation.
“Is it a hereditary disease?”
“I heard it is not hereditary... but if the mother contracts the disease during childbirth, the child may be born with it.”
Evelyn was even more puzzled by the vague answer.
‘The disease is not known even in the largest medical center in the capital.’
“Is there any doctor in the empire who knows Kendalyn's disease well?”
“There was a scientist who researched the disease in the past. Kendalyn became known thanks to his papers. However, his current whereabouts are unknown.”
It seemed there was nothing to be gained from this doctor. Evelyn stood up, deciding that she had extracted all the useful information she could.
The doctor realized that his words were irresponsible, so he hurriedly got up and said,
“I will inquire with the Imperial Medical Association to find this doctor…!”
“Let me know if you find it.”
Evelyn received a prescription for medication to relieve her symptoms from the pharmacist and left the medical center.
At the very least, the medicine should reduce her cough and body weakness, so she had to trust that now.
Merlin, who was waiting in front of the carriage, ran up to Evelin like a little squirrel and asked her,
“Madam! What did the doctor say about the illness?”
Evelyn hesitated. She wondered if she should reveal the unknown disease. However, her hesitation was brief.
“Nervous exhaustion caused by stress.”
"The doctor who visited the house yesterday said the same thing. It must be really stressful."
“He said I would be fine with the medication.”
“This is very convenient.”
After seeing Merlin's relieved expression, Evelyn decided it was best not to tell anyone about the illness until she had more information.
'There's no one else to tell.'
Other than Merlin, no one was interested in her.
Evelyn briefly thought about Dyfferin but quickly rejected the idea.
Just because he was nicer than before didn't mean he loved her.
If he knew that she had contracted an unknown illness, he would definitely look at her with the same tired and annoyed expression as before.
Even though she knew that Devrin was originally that kind of person, she couldn't help but feel a little bitter.