# 6
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According to Evelin's plan, the palace gradually underwent changes.
Since 200,000 Dalians was not enough to completely renovate the palace, they decided to repair the most troublesome parts first.
In the first month, using what remained of the family budget, they repaired the noisy staircase.
The creaking sound of the stairs was annoying every time someone went up or down.
Of course, with the richness of the duchy, building a completely new palace was not a daunting task.
However, the reason why Evelin carefully spent the family money to gradually renovate the palace was because of Rikal.
She didn't want him to say anything behind her back.
She didn't want to hear any comments about her spending too much money.
In fact, Rikal did not bother her about the ledger or other palace affairs.
“No, he couldn't do that.”
Instead, Evelin scolded him.
With the house in such disarray, I asked Rykal how he didn't mention a word to Devrin about it.
Rekal opened his mouth with a confused expression, then immediately closed it like an oyster.
Since then, he has not looked at her directly.
'Instead, he seems to be avoiding meeting our gazes…'
Evelin sat on the chair at the table set up in the central hall, drinking tea while looking at the now elegant staircase.
At that moment, she saw a car stopping outside the window. It was Differin.
“He came back earlier than usual today.”
Usually, Devrin returns late in the evening and doesn't bother to greet Evelin.
So for the past month, their paths have crossed and they have hardly had any conversations.
Naturally, she also failed to fulfill her promise to massage him to ease his headache.
“No… to be precise, I didn’t really break the promise.”
He was coming back so late that she didn't have time.
Dyffryn had not yet inherited the title of Duke, but he was already busy.
Evelin was also busy with Rikal's lessons and learning how to manage the palace, so she naturally forgot about the agreement.
***
When Devrin entered the front door, a maid approached him and bowed her head. He handed his coat to the maid and then looked at Evelin.
Evelin, who was standing by the window in the first floor hall, greeted him calmly.
"I had returned."
Devrin stared at Evelin silently without responding.
She blinked. She had expected a short greeting before he left, but now he was simply staring at her.
“Have you had your dinner?”
“Huh?”
Evelyn found Dyffrin's question puzzling.
“Not yet...”
“Then let's have dinner together.”
Evelin blinked her eyes and nodded.
"Good."
Then Devrin turned carelessly and went up the stairs.
There were about 30 minutes left until dinner, so it looked like he was planning to rest in his room before heading downstairs.
But when he walked up the stairs, he suddenly stopped.
His gaze was fixed on the now elegantly restored staircase.
But he quickly resumed his steps and went upstairs.
* * *
Evelyn also went back to her bedroom and spent time reading a book.
Knock, knock.
When the clock struck six, a knocking sound came from outside the door.
“Just in time.”
Evelyn closed the book and opened the door.
Defrin was standing outside.
“Let's get down.”
Evelin nodded, so Devrin turned around and headed downstairs first.
Defren's more reserved than usual behavior is no longer surprising.
She was just a little curious.
I wondered why he suddenly suggested having a meal together.
Of course, there were times when Devrin would join her for meals when he finished work early.
But at the time, it was more like a coincidence that they were in the same dining room, rather than planned.
No words were exchanged at the dining table, and Devrin did not invite her to have a meal together as had happened today. It was like going to the dining room because it was dinner time and meeting him there.
'What is the reason for his behavior today...?'
Evelyn found herf lost in thought in the dining room before she knew it.
She pulled out a chair and sat down, and Devrin took the seat across from her.
The maid served warm pumpkin soup as an appetizer.
“Enjoy the meal.”
After the maid's words, the dining room fell silent.
Evelyn was the first to pick up her spoon and put it in her mouth. When her plate was about half empty, Devrin spoke up.
“The head maid has been replaced.”
As he said, Patricia had handed over her duties to the new head maid, Merlin for the past month and had left the palace this week.
Evelin thought that Rekal might have reported this matter to Dyffrin, so she didn't need to mention what happened separately.
“Rikal said you were the one who made the change.”
Evelin felt that she now knew why Devrin wanted to have dinner together today.
He wanted to hear directly from her about changing the head maid.
Even though Rykal told him the reason for the change, he was asking her anyway.
“Patricia was embezzling palace funds.”
Evelin put down her spoon and gently wiped her mouth with a napkin.
“For this reason, except for some parts of it, this palace was mostly in disarray.”
Her eyes, hiddenly full of reproach, turned to Dyffryn.
“Were you not aware of this fact?”
“I knew.”
“Then why didn't you take any action?”
“I didn't consider it particularly important.”
Devrin's gaze drifted toward the doorway.
"I don't like bringing guests into the Ducal Palace, and even if I did, I wouldn't take them any further than the reception room. A little chaos wouldn't be a big deal."
“Then what about you? Wouldn’t you mind living in this miserable palace?”
Dyffrin was silent for a moment.
After a while, he responded.
“Well, if I said I didn't care, I'd be lying. But I had to choose the cheaper option.”
‘…What an indifferent man.’
“Did you also know that Patricia was embezzling money?”
“Almost. I was aware that a lot of money was being spent compared to the state of the palace.”
However, he didn't say anything. That was remarkable. It's no wonder Patricia has become more daring.
“I didn't mind Patricia stealing the money as long as it wasn't a large amount. As I said, my time would be better spent on other matters than finding errors in the palace's accounts.”
Evelyn gave up on saying anything else to Devryn.
Good. Time was limited, and he was already immersed in other important matters, so there was nothing more to say.
Likewise, Evelin also thought that it would be better to enjoy the warm soup rather than stare at Dyfferin dissatisfiedly.
When she was about to bring the spoon to her mouth, Devrin spoke again.
“I noticed earlier that the stairs had been repaired.”
“Yes. I plan to gradually renovate the palace and replace the old furniture.”
Evelin quickly put a spoonful of sweet pumpkin soup into her mouth after finishing her words.
The delicious soup seemed to calm her mind.
Meanwhile, Devrin seemed uninterested in the soup and simply continued to stare at it intently.
“So the palace’s expenses will be greater for a while.”
'Did Rikal not take the whole matter to him?'
She clearly told Rekal that she would use 100,000 Dalians to increase the wages of the remaining maids, and another 200,000 Dalians to renovate the old palace.
Evelyn resigned herf to eating the now cooling soup and placed her spoon on the table.
“Expenses will be the same as before. I plan to maintain the previous palace budget and use the money saved from cutting unnecessary expenses.”
Defrin seemed to hear her but did not respond.
Then, in a slow motion, he picked up his spoon.
“…There is no need to exaggerate to this extent. Rikal asked you to check the palace’s accounts to reduce unnecessary expenses, not spend them on necessities.”
Dyffryn probably didn't care how much money was spent on this palace, but Rykal did.
If Evelin spent a large amount on renovations, Rekal would definitely find fault with it behind her back.
He will claim that she was extravagant or that she spent money recklessly without regard to the budget.
“It's okay. I don't want to recklessly spend the hard-earned money of you and the Duchy's subjects.”
Evelin couldn't criticize Rekal directly here, so she responded in general.
Devrin had a strange expression on his face. Honestly, he looked a little stunned.
At that moment, the maid brought the main course – grilled lamb steak with a salad of lettuce and tomatoes.
“Enjoy the meal.”
Evelin smiled slightly and quickly took her knife and fork before Dyffrin could say anything else.
Contrary to her fears, Differin also began eating his meal.
Although it may have been her imagination, Dyffryn seemed deep in thought throughout the quiet meal.
After the quiet meal, Devrin put his hand into his pocket and took out a small glass bottle.
The bottle contained some pills.
When she saw the headache medicine, Evelin slowly got up from her seat.
'This is the perfect timing.'
Since she couldn't meet Differin very often, now was the perfect opportunity to seize the opportunity to obtain future compensation under the guise of a massage.
Devrin's gaze followed Evelin's movements, a flash of curiosity in his sharp eyes.
Ignoring his questioning look, Evelin walked over and stood in front of him. His teacup was conveniently empty.
“You're going upstairs, aren't you?”
Dyffrin didn't respond, but Evelin energetically grabbed his arm and began pulling him upstairs.
“Let's go up together.”