# 23
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After Oakley left, Evelyn was alone again. I asked one of the palace maids serving drinks what time it was.
The maid checked her pocket watch and told her it was 8:30.
“It's been an hour already, why haven't they arrived yet?”
Waiting for Differin and Recal to arrive, Evelin suddenly felt a strange sensation as if gravity was pulling her body down. She felt as if she had returned to the state she was in before she left for the palace.
Thinking some fresh air might help, Evelin left the banquet hall and went to the garden.
People who recognized her tried to engage in conversation.
In her current state, she found it difficult to respond with a smile, so she gave them brief answers and moved to the back of the banquet hall to avoid them.
Fortunately, the deserted back garden was quiet, with a single bench under a large oak tree.
Evelyn took a handkerchief out of her bag, spread it on the seat, and sat down.
Seeing the handkerchief reminded her of Fenris. She had been worried about meeting him here, but it seemed that he had decided not to attend the banquet.
Maybe he was hiding and waiting for a chance to confront Noston.
While she was thinking about this, a familiar voice spoke.
“I see you are not using the handkerchief I returned.”
Evelyn gasped when she heard the soft, deep voice coming from the darkness.
As she slowly turned her head, she saw beautiful black hair shining gently in the moonlight.
“I only mentioned that because the napkin you're sitting on doesn't have purple embroidery.”
The handkerchief she had used to stop Fenris' wound was embroidered with purple lavender flowers. The handkerchief she was sitting on now had no purple embroidery on it.
As he spoke, Fenris naturally sat down next to her.
'Speaking of the devil.'
Evelyn answered her question with astonishment.
“I couldn't use the bloody handkerchief.”
“So, my efforts to get him back were in vain.”
His rude answer made Evelin frown.
“If you had recognized me that day, you could have told me frankly.”
Instead of hinting through a tissue.
“You pretended not to know me, so I played with you.”
'Then you should have played until the end. Why did you reveal that?'
'Besides…'
He changed the way he addressed her. Evelyn realized that he had revealed her true identity.
At that moment, Fenris spoke with a malicious smile.
“Today I learned that my savior is the lady of the famous Duke of Leonok’s house.”
He must have been hiding somewhere in the ballroom, watching her. He was a really mysterious person.
“Yes, that's true. My husband was very adamant about not getting involved with strangers, so I hid my identity.”
Evelyn decided to keep pretending that she didn't realize that Fenris was a prince.
Fenris, who seemed to have no intention of revealing his status, continued speaking indifferently.
“Do I look like a stranger to you?”
“How often do you see someone covered in blood and collapsed in the street?”
Fenris nodded as if that made sense, then spoke in a steady tone, a smile on his face.
“But I am not a person who indiscriminately harms others. On the contrary, I am a decent person who always pays his debts. That is why I want to return the favor you have shown me, ma’am.”
Evelyn was tired of the word “religion.” The only person she wanted to remember her kindness was Dyffrin.
Evelin slowly got up from her seat, collected the handkerchief she had placed on the seat and said,
“No. I already returned the favor by returning the handkerchief. So please, forget about that today.”
"I only returned the handkerchief to its owner. Such a small act cannot be considered a return for a favor. A gentleman should return a lady's help."
“A gentleman's duty is to listen to a lady. My husband is very jealous. He hates me getting involved with other men.”
As Evelin was talking and trying to leave, she suddenly felt dizzy and groggy.
Thanks to Fenris quickly grabbing her wrist, Evelyn was able to steady herf.
At that moment, I felt someone approaching through the darkness.
In her stunned vision, she saw a man angrily advancing towards them.
'...Differin?'
He had a terrifying expression, looking like that of a demon.
Devrin approached and violently slapped Fenris' hand away from Evelin's wrist.
His voice was low and deep when he asked,
“Why are you holding my wife’s wrist, Your Highness?”
* * *
A few hours ago.
Dyffrin couldn't help his stern expression as he headed to meet Noserton.
“Are you worried about Lady Evelin being alone in the banquet hall?”
Rykal asked, causing Dyffrin to frown naturally.
“Rekal, you've been making unnecessary comments lately.”
"I'm saying this out of concern. If I had been more honest, things would have been much better."
“Better how?”
“I mean your relationship with Lady Evelyn.”
Devrin gave him a cold look.
“Has anything happened between you recently?”
Normally, Rykal would have remained silent, but for some reason, he didn't stop talking.
"It was all about the way you spoke. You're a person who usually keeps his emotions in check, but suddenly, you seemed upset."
Although disturbed by Rykal's transgression, Devrin thought about his actions over the past few days.
He wondered if he was unable to hide his annoyance to the point that Raekal noticed.
The fact that he could not hide his personal feelings was a huge shock to Deverin.
In fact, he'd been feeling uncomfortable lately, just like Rykal had said.
Since the last dance practice with Evelin, his mood had been a mess. Or rather, it was because of something Evelyn said during rehearsal.
“One day, I think this marriage will be a really good memory.”
Evelin's words were truly ambiguous.
'Good memories?' Why did she say that?'
Suddenly, Evelin, who had said that she would strive to become a member of Duke Leonok's House, suddenly felt weak and distant. Almost like an illusion.
Once again, the image of a canary flying out of the cage into the sky came to his mind.
Since that day, he had not been able to face Evelin as usual.
No, thinking about it, even that statement was misleading.
Originally, he didn't want to face her. But at some point, he started talking to Evelin about this and that normally.
He felt tight in his chest. An unfamiliar, unanswerable emotion flooded his heart. It was not a problem that could be answered by asking someone or looking in books.
Thus, his time passed with difficulty, and before he knew it, he found himf riding in a carriage bound for the imperial party.
“I heard that Lady Evelyn had a fight with Miss Carina when she entered the ballroom. It seems she responded brilliantly to some nonsense.”
“…Are people still talking about it?”
“Yes, everyone was surprised by Evelin’s ability to argue so well.”
Rikal spoke with a rare gentle expression.
“I must admit, at first, I didn't find Evelyn very nice, but now I see that she is kind and intelligent. So, Lord Dyffryn, please be kinder.”
"kindness…?"
It was a word too far for him. He had never been nice to anyone in his life, and no one had been affectionate with him.
Now, it would be ridiculous for him to seek affection from Evelin.
As the confusion deepened in his mind, Devrin spoke in a stiff voice.
“Don't interfere, it's none of your business.”
Rykal knew when to hold back, so he replied, “Yes, I have gone too far,” and opened the door of the drawing room where Noserton was.
Noserton welcomed Defferin warmly.
“Oh, Lord Dyffryn. Thank you for coming to the party today. I even checked to see if the sun was rising in the west when I heard you were attending.”
Ignoring the inane remark, Devrin thanked him politely.
“Thank you for the invitation.”
“Anyway, the jokes don't seem to affect you. Please, have a seat. We have a lot to discuss.”
Noslerton's main topic concerned Fenris.
When he mentioned sending someone to attack Fenris, Devrin let out a low sigh.
“Why did you do that?”
Noston explained as he watched Differin's reaction.
“It wasn't just because that bastard embarrassed me by falling off a horse. He was secretly investigating the unauthorized use of the imperial seal.”
But Noston's explanation made Defrin's outlook darker.
In the past, Noston had used the Imperial Seal without permission to win the Chief Justice.
Although the Chief Justice eventually sided with Noston, using the imperial seal without the permission of the emperor or the keeper of the seal was a serious crime, even for a prince.
If this incident came to light, Noston would not have escaped expulsion.
“Fenris found crucial evidence, so I had no choice but to have someone take it from him.”
Defrin felt a headache coming on, and he could barely speak.
“Next time something like this happens, please tell me.”
“I would have… but I felt bad always leaving you to clean up my mess.”
“If you are sorry, please consult me before doing anything.”
Dyffryn's stern words made Noston stutter awkwardly.
After discussing various topics, they went out and Devrin realized that a lot of time had passed.
However, when he returned to the ballroom, Evelin was nowhere to be seen. After asking around, he discovered that Evelyn had gone to the park.
Evelyn wasn't in any of the groups of people talking in the park.
Defrin felt inexplicably anxious, and he quickened his steps.
Finally, when he reached the back of the dance floor, he felt as if the barely extinguished flame in his heart had resurfaced.
Under the dark night sky, a beautiful man and woman stood side by side, as if they were having a secret meeting.
At that moment, Fenris grabbed Evelin's wrist.
As he approached, he saw that Evelin’s skin was as pale as a corpse. He wondered if Fenris was teasing Evelin unilaterally. The burning passion inside him seemed to burn all the way to his head.
Devryn immediately smacked Fenris' hand away.
“Why are you holding my wife’s wrist, Your Highness?”