# 30
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Meanwhile, after Evelin left, Devrin felt an unusual stillness in the house and looked around.
Even though they spent most of their time in separate spaces under the same roof, he felt strange that the Grand Palace seemed so quiet just because Evelin was so far outside.
In the past, Devrin hoped that Evelin would make friends and not bother him.
However, seeing Evelyn excited to meet her friend did not please him.
Maybe it was because one of Evelin's notes stuck in his mind.
"But sometimes I miss the warmth of human contact. You know...I don't have a family anymore."
This was something Evelyn said on their wedding day. Looking back, the word “warmth” particularly bothered him.
Warmth was a physical and emotional stimulus that could be felt with anyone when they became close.
He was really upset.
Maybe it was because Evelin's new source of warmth was a woman laughing as warmly as a man, or maybe it was because the place she was visiting was the head office of a trading company full of men.
Devrin tried to clear his thoughts from Evelyn as he finished his work in the office. As usual, time passed quickly.
While he was immersed in his work, he realized that the sun had already set when he finally raised his eyes. He ate a simple dinner and resumed his work. As the time for Evelin's return approached, it seemed as if time had slowed down.
At that moment, a maid knocked on the door.
“Is Evelyn back?”
He looked up from his documents and asked the maid to come in. She approached and bowed her head.
“Sir, you have a guest.”
"a guest?"
Devrin looked at the clock. The hands were pointing to eight o'clock. No one was scheduled to visit at this late hour.
“She is Lady Rachel, daughter of the Marquis Benford.”
Dyffrin scrunched his face in anger at the unwanted name.
However, he couldn't refuse to meet a gentlewoman who came in at such a late hour, so Devrin came downstairs to greet the unexpected visitor.
Under the balcony light, his platinum blonde hair shone brightly.
“Good evening, Devrin.”
Rachel bowed slightly as she greeted him.
“What brings you here at this late hour?”
“My apologies. I came because I really need to talk to you, despite the time.”
“With me, ma'am?”
“Duchess Amelia sent a message.”
Devrin barely stifled a sigh.
‘It seems that Mother has not yet given up on making the Marquis of Binford as her husband’s relatives.’
Otherwise, she wouldn't have sent a message to Rachel to break the news to her.
“Looks like this is going to be a long conversation...”
Rachel glanced inside the palace, indicating that she wanted to be let in.
Devrin reluctantly stepped aside and said.
“Please, come in.”
"Thank you."
Rachel entered with a beautiful, doll-like smile.
In return, Defrin pressed his temples. He had taken his headache medicine just an hour ago, but his head was starting to throb again.
Dyffryn wasn't willing to let Rachel into the house this late, even if she had a reason. Evelyn will be back soon.
As Rachel looked around the house, she asked,
“The lady of the house is away, I suppose?”
"She's out. She should be back soon."
Although this meant that she had to leave before Evelin returned, this lady either didn't care about others' words or didn't understand them, as she responded with an innocent face.
“Then it might be best to wait and see her before I leave.”
“There is no need for that.”
Defrin replied firmly.
Rachel's face dropped, but Dyffrin only looked tired.
“Let's go to the reception room.”
Rachel seemed briefly depressed but quickly regained her spirit, engaging in several small conversations once she was seated on the drawing-room sofa with Dyffryn.
Even though it was late, Devrin politely answered Rachel's questions conciy, without being rude.
Rachel sipped her tea elegantly, then tested the waters and said,
“Duchess Amelia seems to have had a lot of worries lately. Forgive my boldness, but are you and your wife getting along these days?”
“I would say there is no need to worry.”
Defrin wanted to end the introduction here. Dealing with Rachel was more stressful than wrestling with the documents.
He knew why Rachel had mentioned his mother and inquired about Evelyn.
Rachel was one of the women who had expressed her feelings for him a long time ago.
She looked at it like it was a rare diamond necklace she couldn't have. Even after his marriage, the desire in her crimson eyes did not disappear.
Therefore, confronting Rachel was as annoying as confronting Evelin in the past.
“…This is a relief.”
Rachel couldn't hide her gloomy expression.
“I think it's time to hear what my mother asked you to convey.”
Unable to hold on any longer, Defrin urged Rachel to speak, and she raised her head.
“Ah, excuse me, I came to convey a message from the Duchess.”
Just as Rachel was about to continue, a maid knocked on the door, bringing unpleasant news.
“Um… sir, the lady of the house has returned.”
* * *
The deal with Oakley ended successfully.
Since there was no money to put down for a down payment right away, it was agreed that the Kashyak seeds would be paid for when they arrived. This payment will later be covered by Duke Leonok.
Thanks to the Duke's credit, Oakley immediately agreed. Evelin was able to return to the palace with a lighter heart.
That is, until she saw the Marquis of Benford's carriage in front of the palace.
When Evelin entered, the maids looked nervous. There was an awkward atmosphere in the air.
It seemed as if the maids were witnessing a scene as the lady of the house entered and exposed her husband on an illicit date.
“Do we have a guest?”
Evelyn asked the maid who was taking her coat and gloves. The maid, who seemed uncomfortable, replied,
“…Yes. Mrs. Rachel Benford just arrived.”
“At this late hour.”
Evelyn was a little upset that Dyffryn had let Rachel in while she was away, but she knew logically that he could not refuse a guest from the Marquis.
“Mr. and Mrs. Rachel are in the drawing room.”
“Since we have a guest, it is appropriate for me, as mistress of the house, to greet them.”
Rachel had come at this time to challenge her, and Evelin was ready to face the challenge.
Evelyn headed to the reception room. When she opened the door, she saw Devrin with a stern expression and Rachel looking surprised.
Rachel stood up slowly and greeted Evelyn first.
“Hello, ma’am. I heard you were out, but you’re back now.”
“Yes. I was surprised to find a guest so late.”
Evelyn spoke softly, showing her criticism of Rachel's late visit.
No doubt Rachel understood the hidden meaning. However, she subtly put on an appropriately apologetic face.
“I'm sorry about that. I had something urgent to report, so I had to come at this time.”
“You had better send someone. It is too dangerous for a sensitive young lady like you to be out so late at night.”
Evelin scolded her subtly, feigning concern. For the first time, Rachel couldn't come up with a response.
Rachel, who opened and closed her mouth for a moment like a fish, managed to calm herf down.
"You're right. I wasn't thinking clearly. I just felt it was important to deliver the message from Duchess Amelia myf."
Rachel smiled with an innocent, childish expression.
Of course, her original intent was clear: Amelia had sent the letter to Rachel, not Evelyn.
“The message stated that Duke Leonok left for the capital the day before yesterday. Based on the time, he should arrive tomorrow morning. The Duchess asked me to pass on this message as a separate message will not be sent to the palace.”
"That's why I had to visit at this time. I didn't want everyone to be disturbed by the Duke's sudden arrival tomorrow morning."
Rachel added that the message would have arrived earlier had it not been for road construction delays.
Evelin frowned slightly.
She knew that Duke Leonok would be coming to the capital for a horse riding competition soon, but she did not expect to be informed in this way.
Maybe the future was changing little by little due to causality. Evelin felt a little uncomfortable.
Rachel continued, her voice as soft as rolling pearls.
“The Duchess also asked me to take good care of the Duke when he arrives. She knows how busy Dyffryn is.”
Amelia had specifically asked Rachel, not her daughter-in-law Evelyn, to look after the Duke. That was a blatant insult.
In the original story, this also happened, and Evelyn spent many nights crying because of it.
"Oh, ma'am. Just to reassure you I've always had a close personal relationship with the Duchess, and we often exchange such personal requests. This time is no different, so please don't feel bad."
Rachel spoke gently, trying to comfort Evelyn, even though her intention was to fan the flames.
“Of course, a kind-hearted person like Evelin wouldn’t be upset about something like this.”
Just as Rachel finished with a sweet smile, Devrin interrupted.
“However, I think my mother overstepped her bounds this time. There was no need for someone else to break this news.”
Rachel smiled. She looked confused, as if wondering why Differin was interfering.
"The same goes for you, Miss Rachel. If you have urgent news to report so late at night, please send someone next time. It might tarnish your honor."
Although his words expressed his concern for Rachel, Dyffrin's tone was cold.
The air in the room turned cold. Rachel's long eyelashes twitched slightly.
At that moment, he knocked on the door again, breaking the tense silence.
“Sir, Lord Rykal has come with an urgent message.”
It looked like tonight was urgent message night. Devrin stood and looked at Rachel.
“I think it would be best for you to leave now, Mrs. Rachel.”
"No, it's okay. You spoke too harshly and startled Mrs. Rachel. I'll console her."
Surprisingly, it was Evelyn who stopped Rachel from leaving.