# 3
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Evelyn approached Devrin.
“Are you having a headache again?”
Devrin remained silent.
He was the type of person who rarely showed his pain to anyone. Like a wild animal hiding its wounds.
The only people who knew about his chronic headaches were a ect few, including Evelyn, who had grown up with them since childhood.
Defren's reasons for hiding his pain were related to his childhood.
He was raised under the strict discipline of Amelia, the current Duchess of Levonok.
In fact, Amelia was the second wife of the Duke of Levonok, who entered the dukedom after the death of Dyffryn's biological mother.
In other words, Amelia was not Defrin's biological mother. She had no real feelings for him, and he was raised under her harsh and strict supervision.
While she arguably contributed greatly to Dyffryn's excellent development in terms of abilities, her strict disciplinary methods had caused a fatal emotional deficiency in him.
Devrin grew up without receiving a warm embrace, causing him to grow up into an adult who knew nothing about nebulous emotions like affection and love.
Therefore, Devrin's harsh family environment was another reason for his inability to love Evelyn in the original work.
'If his biological mother hadn't died...'
Not only would he not have grown into a proper adult with normal emotions, he probably wouldn't even have had these chronic, headache-splitting headaches.
The headaches were caused by the trauma Defrin experienced when his mother died.
Ironically, Evelyn looked and behaved like his mother, so when Evelyn would cry or be sad, Dyfferin's headaches would become more severe because it reminded him of his mother's death.
‘The heroine and the hero really make a strange pair…..’
But right now, the past wasn't the important thing. What mattered to Evelin at this moment was to make good use of his headache to secure alimony after two years.
He'll get relief from the chronic headaches he'll carry with him throughout his life, and she'll get money, so it's a win-win.
"Did you know, Differin? Nothing is better for a headache than relieving tight muscles in the neck and shoulders. The nerves are concentrated there, you see."
Evelyn said as she gently placed her hands on Devrin's shoulders.
Since she couldn't achieve the usual contact by holding his hand, she had to find a way to make physical contact through methods such as massage.
Dyffrin's dark gaze gleamed between his lowered eyelids.
"What do you do?"
"What do you mean 'what are you doing'? I'm just trying to help you. Isn't it a wife's role to help her husband?"
Evelyn tried to put her hand on Dyffrin's neck, but her wrist was caught in the air.
“I don't know what you're trying to do, but stop.”
“I'm not in the mood to accept your incomprehensible behavior now.”
Evelin's eyebrow twitched.
She couldn't back out now.
Differin's headaches were very annoying to him.
There was no better guarantee of maintenance than this.
“Okay, then let's bet.”
Devrin's eyes narrowed.
"bet?"
“Yes, bet.”
Evelyn said as she pulled her hand out of his grip.
“If I can relieve your headache even by a small amount, you should allow me to take care of you every day.”
Devrin furrowed his eyebrows. Evelyn admitted inwardly
..’..asking you to ‘let me take care of you’ seems a little strange.’
“Then…..only cooperate with me when I try to relieve your headache whenever possible.”
Devrin stared at Evelyn.
“How do you intend to do this?”
“I told you, by massaging tight muscles and soothing sensitive nerves. “If the headache never gets better, I won’t bother you anymore.”
It was a rather tough offer, but Evelin felt it was necessary to make it in order for Dyffrin to accept.
Although he still seemed suspicious of her suspicious actions, he responded slowly, as if he preferred the condition that she would not talk to him if he didn't succeed.
“Okay, then try it.”
Evelin wasn't very excited about the idea of massaging this cold man, but when she imagined the generous alimony she would receive after two years, she calmed herf down.
‘Ah….’
Evelin wasn't skilled at massage anyway, so she was just planning to pretend to be.
As long as their skin is in contact, the headache will ease. The secret was the warmth of the human touch.
When Evelin put her hands on Dyffrin's neck area, he trembled slightly, surprised.
Devrin cleared his throat awkwardly, as if embarrassed by his reaction.
Evelin gently pressed his neck, and to expand the contact area, she slowly moved her hands to massage his shoulders.
With tension flowing from his stiff shoulders, Evelin smiled softly and asked
“How are you now, Devrin? Is your headache getting a little better?”
Defrin did not deny it.
He couldn't deny it.
‘I know everything about Devrin’s past, and even his future.’
Even though she was just placing her hand on it and then lifting it repeatedly, what she was doing could hardly be considered a massage, it would definitely have an effect.
Seeing Differin silent, Evelin smiled lightly and continued the physical contact camouflaged as a massage.
'But if I don't push hard enough, will he feel suspicious?'
Since she claimed it was a massage, it would be strange if the pressure was too little, so Evelin pressed her hands firmly on the stiff shoulders she felt.
'Ah, his shoulders are tighter than I expected.'
Given his excellent sitting, she didn't expect them to be this tight.
Evelyn pressed hard on the hard spots on his shoulders. When she felt the tension lessen a little, she withdrew her hand.
'I ended up taking it seriously.'
Evelyn decided that she needed to calculate how much “massage fee” should be factored into the alimony calculation.
But before that, she had to directly ask the person about his feelings.
“Differin.”
Dyffrin raised his head when Evelyn called him after she finished the massage.
His sharp features usually carried a cold expression, but now he looked a little confused. Seeing his vulnerable appearance made her feel like laughing for some reason.
Evelin suppressed her laughter and asked
“So, do you think I won the bet?”
Defren returned to his normal expression after a while.
The new sharp look indicated that he was not satisfied with the situation.
'Of course he wouldn't be satisfied.'
As Evelin said, his headache was relieved. But admitting that would be inappropriate for him.
However, he had no choice but to admit it. The annoying headache disappeared with a few minutes of massage - how could he resist these temptations?
“…It never occurred to me that a simple massage could relieve a headache.”
In the end, Defrin muttered, admitting defeat.
"Did you see that? You were right, weren't you?"
When Evelin raised her shoulders with a smile, Devrin looked at her and said
“Tell me what you want.”
“Huh?”
“I don't want to be indebted to you.”
“Indebted to you.” These words were like music to Evelin’s ears.
This was exactly what she was hoping for.
So, right now she didn't want to make a vague request that would dilute his sense of obligation.
“Now, what should I order?”
As Evelin was thinking, she suddenly realized that this was the perfect opportunity to put into practice the decision she had made in the carriage.
“What I want is...”
Instead of responding, Evelin walked closer to Dyffrin and leaned towards his face. Before he could say anything, she gently blew into his ear.
Devrin was surprised and covered his ear as he stared at her.
“Evelyn!”
She took a step back, smiling.
“I just want to be allowed to do a little prank like this.”
Seeing Devrin's confused expression made her feel more satisfied than she expected.
It was so much fun to watch someone who had it all – perfect looks, extraordinary abilities, and a great family – fall apart.
“You're just too stiff, you know.”
“Don't be silly, why should I put up with your jokes...”
“I don't want anything else.”
Evelyn Diffrin interrupted, and answered firmly.
“It's not that hard to give in just for a little prank like this, is it?”
Devrin looked dissatisfied, and looked like he was about to say something, but Evelin left his room after leaving him the last comment.
“I feel tired from the massage, so I'm going to my room now.”
***
After being left alone, Devrin continued to stare at the place where Evelin had disappeared from, and then began to move his head.
The room was silent, but to him, it felt like chaos as if a tidal wave had swept over the place, leaving him disoriented.
Even in the midst of this, his headache, which he had suffered from for a long time, had completely disappeared, to the point that he felt something strange.
'Can a simple massage really…'
His headache had been bothering him for so long, he couldn't remember when it started.
The only thing he knew about his headache was that it got worse whenever Evelyn was near him.
That's why he didn't want to marry her.
Whenever he felt her fixed gaze on him, it made him feel suffocated and distressed.
Living with Evelin would undoubtedly make his condition worse.
But even though it was only their first day, Evelin was acting completely different from what he had expected.
She wasn't looking at him the way she usually looked, she wasn't looking at him anymore as if he was everything to her.
Her look was strange and distant, as if she was looking at a stranger.
'Could this be the same Evelyn I know?'
He wondered a little if the person in front of him was really Evelin. But the fact that she mentioned his headache confirmed to him that it was really her.
Only those closest to him and Evelin knew about his headache.
However, he couldn't get used to her changed behavior. Normally, she would have cried at his words, but instead, she responded calmly and asked to give him a massage without him asking, and she pulled that weird prank.
He was wondering if this was a new way she was trying to get his attention, but her demeanor was very dry.
Devrin recalled the feeling of Evelyn's breath on his ear. He was completely surprised, not expecting someone's breath to touch such a place.
It had been a long time since he'd been surprised like this. He later felt a little uncomfortable about being manipulated, but at that moment, he didn't feel as bad as he expected. Was it because he felt confused?
The wet feeling that lingered in his ear was very real.
Feeling that his ear was warm again, Dyffrin opened the window and sat heavily in the chair.
“Fuck.”
The cold wind coming from outside made him feel strangely warm.
***
Evelyn spent her first night in the strange duchy. Morning arrived before she knew it.
Knock, knock.
While she was sleeping deeply, Evelyn had to open her eyes when she heard the sound of someone knocking on the door.
She rubbed her eyes and sat up in bed.
She had worried that she wouldn't be able to sleep well in an unfamiliar place, but that was just unnecessary worry. On the wide and soft bed, she was able to enjoy a deep and comfortable sleep.
If there hadn't been that knock on the door a moment ago, she would have slept better.
'Who could it be this early?'
It was not yet seven in the morning.
She wondered if it could be Dyffrin, coming to greet her before he went out to work.
While she was thinking about this, a low, masculine voice was heard from outside announcing his identity.
“Lady Evelyn, it’s Rekal.”
Of course, there was no reason for Devrin to come kindly to her before he went to work.
Evelyn put on a robe over her nightclothes and opened the door.
Rykal, Devrin's assistant, was standing there with a cold, expressionless face.
“Good morning, Lady Evelyn.”
“Yes… well, what brings you so early?”
“There is something I would like to discuss with you, Lady Evelyn.”
Evelin was wary of what this man might say to her this early in the morning.
"What is it?"
“You have officially become a member of the Duchy of Leonok as of yesterday, and you are now the lady of this palace.”
"…Yes, this is correct."
Rikal moved his freckled lips as he spoke with a serious face.
“So there are some things you need to educate yourf about, Lady Evelyn.”