# 48
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Evelin, as usual, swallowed her medicine and got out of bed.
Whether the medicine was really effective or not, her condition was very good. If it weren't for the bruises on her fingertips, she wouldn't be any different from a healthy person.
So, lately she has been enjoying optimistic thoughts. Maybe her illness wasn't such a big deal after all.
However, she always wore gloves when meeting someone, because it wouldn't be good to show the dark marks on her fingertips. The same applies when you encounter Differin.
'If you think about it, it's time to hear news from Fenris.'
It has been a long time since I contacted him about finding a doctor who knows about Kendaline's disease.
'Has he not heard back from the doctor?'
Evelyn thought about this as she scrolled through today's messages. As she was flipping through two letters, she saw a party with no identified sender.
However, the envelope was overly lavish, indicating that it was not from a peddler.
If her memory was correct, Fenris had previously sent letters in such a luxurious envelope without indicating the sender.
Since he was unable to send a message with “Fenris Coutts” written in bold, it seemed as if he had left it blank. Differin may also recognize writing initials.
Evelin quickly tore up the envelope and spread the letter out.
[To my dear savior.]
As expected, she was from Fenris. How long had he been willing to use this title of “savior”?
[I have received a response from the doctor I was looking for. Unfortunately, he couldn't leave Princess Savian's side right away, so it would take some time for him to return to the empire. He said it could take about two months. If your condition is serious, it might be a good idea to visit the Kingdom of Yedburg directly.]
Evelyn stared at the letter, thoughtfully.
It would take at least two weeks to reach the Kingdom of Yedburg. It will take at least another two weeks to meet the doctor and return. If she receives treatment there, it will take longer.
However, to be away from the palace for such a long time, she would need to explain the reason to Devryn. Since it involves going to another country, she can't use any excuse.
Evelyn frowned.
“However, I do not feel inclined to do so.”
So far, everything has been resolved smoothly, and I have been given a good reason to receive alimony upon divorce.
Since Deferrin had been taking fewer headache pills lately, it was clear that massage disguised as physical contact was working. Of course, solving the duchy's salinity problem would also greatly help with expenses.
Within one year, Devryn would inherit the duchy, and then ask her for a divorce...
Evelyn suddenly stopped. Given Defrin's recent behavior, it seemed unlikely that he would ask her for a divorce. Facing this unexpected obstacle, she was stunned for a moment.
'Then what will happen...?'
In fact, the reason she decided to divorce was because of Dyfrin's cold treatment and abuse from relatives, but that was especially not the case now.
Although Dyfferin did not become overly emotional, he behaved reasonably well as a husband, and so did the relatives. Amelia still seems dissatisfied with her, but Dunswell, the family patriarch, has become quite supportive.
So there was no compelling reason for divorce, and living at a reasonable distance from Dyffryn as she was now wasn't so bad. Even though Amelia was a worry, she was able to handle it.
Above all… she didn't want to become a stranger to Devrin. Whether it was because she had become attached to him or she felt sorry for leaving him alone, she wasn't sure.
Feeling sorry for him.
This was a strange thought even for her, but she sometimes felt that way when looking at him. He looked like someone left alone in a dry, barren desert.
Evelin folded the letter and placed it on the table. Then she sat on the chair.
She didn't expect to suddenly be thinking about divorce. I felt as if the destination of the path I had so diligently paved for had disappeared.
'...Yes, let's wait a little longer.'
There was no need to make a hasty decision about divorce now. She wasn't even sure how serious her condition was.
Evelin's gaze fell to her tiptoes.
If it was a truly life-threatening illness like her real mother's, then leaving Differin would be the right thing to do.
She would not be able to produce an heir, and there was no need to burden him with a terminally ill wife.
Evelin's lowered eyes took on a slightly dark color.
In fact, it wasn't so much worry about him, but fear of the look in his eyes when that time came…
Evelyn didn't understand why she was so worried about Dyfferin's reaction.
She quickly shook off her gloomy mood and wrote a reply to Fenris. She wrote that it would be difficult to go to the Kingdom of Yedburgh, so she would wait until the doctor visited the empire.
Evelyn wrote the last word, folded the letter and put it in an envelope.
At that moment, Merlin knocked on the door. When Evelin asked her to come in, she peeked her head inside.
“Ma’am, all the food is ready downstairs. I also placed the flowers in a vase in the middle of the table.”
Evelin shook off her gloomy mood and got up from her seat. An important guest was scheduled to visit the duchy today.
He was Earl Aldris, head of the oldest vassal family in the Duchy of Leonnok. He was also a loyal follower of Dunswell, and because he had business in the capital, he decided to stay at the Duke's residence for a day.
Coincidentally, Dyffrin was also returning home early today to greet Earl Aldris together.
"Yes, I'll go down. And Merlin, can you send this letter tomorrow?"
Evelyn handed over the reply to send to Fenris.
Since the recipient's name was one of Fenris's companions, it was possible to avoid suspicions about their correspondence. Even if Merlin noticed, she's a reserved girl, so it would be okay.
Evelin went down to the dining room to check the food and the arrangements. Merlin always did her job perfectly, so there was nothing to adjust.
As soon as she finished her examination, Devrin's carriage stopped in front of the palace.
However, Defren did not go out alone; He was accompanied by an elderly man.
Devrin and the old man entered the palace together. The old man smiled cheerfully when he saw Evelin standing in the hallway.
“Ah. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Evelyn. This is our first meeting.”
Devrin introduced the old man to Evelin.
“This is Earl Aldris. He stopped at the royal palace first, then we gathered in the carriage.”
'So this is Earl Aldris.'
Although he was an elderly man and his face was full of wrinkles, his straight posture, elegant clothes, and elegant hat made him look like an elegant gentleman.
Evelyn smiled and greeted Earl Aldris.
“Nice to meet you, Earl. I'm Evelyn Leewohnuk.”
“Of course. Duke Leonok speaks so well of you these days that my ears are about to fall off.”
Earl Aldris laughed heartily. Evelin felt a little embarrassed and responded modestly
“Is this true?”
“You must be hungry from your long journey. Please come in.”
“Okay, I will accept your offer.”
Earl Alders took off his hat and handed it to a maid. Defren also took off his outer coat and gloves and wiped his hands with a wet towel.
The maids started serving the prepared food on the table before it got cold. As Earl Aldris sat, he spoke.
"You really didn't have to put in all that effort. It must have been a lot of effort preparing all of this."
“The effort was all on the maids, not me.”
Evelyn said with a modest laugh as she sat down. Earl Aldris smiled warmly and turned his gaze to Dyffryn.
“I can see why Duke Leonok speaks of you so fondly, Lady Evelyn.”
"Is this correct?"
Dyffrin replied with an unusually kind expression.
Evelyn found herf temporarily infatuated with Dyffryn. Recently, she had been coming to terms with the undeniable fact that Dyffrin was an exceptionally handsome and impressive man.
In the past, his good looks were overshadowed by his cold personality, but when he sometimes made such gentle expressions, it was as if a seal had been broken, and she couldn't take her eyes off him.
She felt as if her eyes were magnets attracted to a piece of metal.
Meanwhile, Dyffryn and Earl Aldris continued their relaxed conversation, oblivious to Evelin's gaze.
“As you know, Dyffryn, Duke Leonok often finds himf immersed in darkness. Decades have passed since Lady Chloe’s death...”
Chloe…
That was Devrin's mother. The heavy topic caused Evelin's hand, which was about to bring a spoonful of soup to her mouth, to stop in mid-air.
“Does the father still suffer from guilt?”
“It seems so. Even though we have told him countless times that it was not his fault, he seems to regret not climbing the Holy Mountain.”
Evelin couldn't quite comprehend the conversation they were having.
“Huh...”
If it had been mentioned in the original story, she would have known, but this conversation was completely new to her.
It seemed like an aspect not covered in the original story. Although this world was primarily based on the events of the original story, it did not include all the details, so there were sometimes unknown settings or characters.
In addition, the future can change slightly based on causality, leading to unexpected events.
Seeing Evelin's puzzled expression, Earl Aldris belatedly explained.
“Oh my God, it seems I accidentally left Lady Evelin out. It’s no big deal. It’s all in the past now.”
Earl Alders didn't seem willing to delve deeper into the previous conversation, but Evelin was curious.
“What is the Holy Mountain?”
Dyffrin answered on the spot.
“It is a mountain located in the duchy. There is a legend that a sacred fruit grows at its peak, and if you eat it, all diseases are healed. But it is also said that those who covet the sacred fruit will be punished by the gods. In fact, there were people who went crazy trying to obtain it.”
He emptied his cup of water and continued.
“My father carried the guilt of not seeking the sacred fruit when my mother was sick all his life.”
Earl Aldris muttered with a sad expression.
“It is a real tragedy...”