# 8
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The next day, Evelyn woke up late for the first time in a while.
There were usually a lot of things to take care of around the palace, so she always woke up early. However, today she had no other plans, so she decided to take a long rest.
By then, Devrin had gone to work, and Rykal no longer stayed at the palace as Evelyn's training in palace management was completed.
“I'm glad I don't have to see Rekal at the palace anymore. It was quite uncomfortable.”
Although Rykal has calmed down regarding the palace's accounts, he tortured Evelyn so much in the original story that his presence in the same place still seems strange.
She had to be careful in every action to avoid giving him any reason to criticize her.
Evelin thought about pulling the bell rope to call a maid but instead stretched out and decided to get dressed herf. Since she would be staying inside the palace today, there was no need for elaborate care.
“I'll go downstairs, have some tea, and then come back.”
Evelyn loved the hall on the first floor of the palace. On sunny days, sitting on the sofa there and sipping tea was perfect, with the wide windows providing a beautiful view of the clear blue sky.
With an anxious step, Evelin opened her bedroom door to go to the first floor.
But…
“Huh…?”
There was someone who shouldn't be here at this time standing outside her bedroom door.
With dark gray hair and a rather handsome but stern face, this man was undoubtedly…
“Mr. Reckal?”
She wondered why Rikal was here at this time when he was supposed to be working in the Imperial Palace with Devrin.
Rikaal was carrying large bags in both hands.
As if he had just arrived...
Rykal greeted Evelyn with unusual hesitation.
“…Good morning, Lady Evelyn.”
Evelyn approached Rykal and asked him.
“What are all these bags for?”
Rykal sighed briefly and placed the bags on the floor.
“I apologize, Lady Evelyn, for not asking for your consent first.”
“Agree to what…?”
“It looks like I will have to stay in this palace for a while.”
'Ah, that Differin…'
'He should have told me something important like this earlier…!'
After all, she was the lady of the palace.
A slight frown appeared on Evelin's smooth forehead, prompting Rekal to hurriedly explain.
“The decision was made recently, so Lord Dyffryn may not have had time to inform you.”
Evelin gradually relaxed and asked.
“Why was this decision made suddenly?”
“My grandmother was confirmed to be infected with the Adam Hill Plague this morning. She is the only family member living with me in the Capital Palace.”
Evelyn blinked.
“The Adam Hill plague that's spreading now?”
Rykal nodded.
"Yes, this is correct."
Evelin looked at Rekal with worried eyes. Adam Hill's plague was the same plague I had discussed with Dyfferin yesterday.
“Count Rycal, did your grandmother live with you...?”
“Yes, since the medical facilities in the capital are more advanced, my grandmother lives with me.”
'Why does it have to be his grandmother...?'
Although mortality and transmission rates of this plague were low, elderly people were still at high risk.
“Isn’t it better for her to be in the medical center instead of staying in the palace?”
“The medical centers in the capital are full, so she has no choice but to stay in the palace.”
Rykal rubbed his forehead, looking tired.
“I would have liked to take care of my grandmother personally, but if I contracted the plague, it would disrupt the upcoming important schedules, so I had no choice but to stay here.”
“Is there anyone taking care of your grandmother?”
If his grandmother had the plague, he couldn't leave her alone.
“For now, the maid will visit her twice a day to bring her meals and check on her condition.”
“What about your other family members…?”
Rykal shook his head.
"I haven't told the other family members on the property yet. There's no need to worry them."
Rikal suddenly lost his tired expression and said to Evelin
“I need to move my things and return to the palace. Can you excuse me first?”
“Yes, yes.”
Evelin quickly stepped aside to let him pass.
Evelin was happy that she had asked the maids to clean the room in advance, as she watched Rekal carry his bags into the guest room.
* * *
That evening Dyffryn returned home early, and Rykal, who was now staying at the palace with him.
Evelyn had dinner with Differin and Rykal.
It was an unusual sight, as the three of them were sitting around the dining table.
Evelyn exchanged glances between the two strong men sitting in front of her.
'This is the first time we've had a meal together like this.'
Now that she thought about it, she'd never had dinner with Rykal before.
Evelin looked at Rekal and asked,
“Rekal, how is your grandmother?”
“She has a mild fever, but not severe.”
Rykal answered as usual, but it seemed like he was in a bit of a gloomy mood.
Evelin didn't particularly like the idea of Rykal staying in the palace, but she couldn't show it. She knew from her previous life how difficult it was to have a sick family member, so she understood his or her suffering.
“Although your mind may not be at ease, I hope you can rest comfortably here.”
"… Thank you."
Evelyn looked at Rikal with sympathetic eyes.
As she turned her head, she noticed Dyffrin staring at her intently. When she tilted her head questioningly, Devrin averted his gaze.
At that moment, the main course was served, and they began to eat.
Contrary to Evelin's expectations that Rykal would be gloomy, he engaged in a casual conversation with Dyffrin during the meal, mostly about business matters.
Evelyn listened inattentively as their discussion turned to the plague.
Dyffrin spoke in a rare worried tone.
"The situation appears to be more serious than expected. At this rate, the number of infected people will continue to rise."
“We still cannot determine the exact transmission route, so it is uncertain how long this plague will last.”
“Did they find anything about the source of the plague?”
“I heard that Adam Hill residents have all been evacuated to other areas, making it difficult to gather information.”
As Evelyn listened to the discussion of the plague, she remembered details from the original story.
'How is this plague transmitted again?'
In the original story, Evelyn contracted it while helping an elderly person who had fallen to the ground, who turned out to be suffering from tuberculosis...
She frowned as she tried to remember the details, and finally remembered the scene of Evelin approaching the collapsed elderly person.
In surprise, the old man, who was suffering from tuberculosis, coughed and spat out blood.
Some of that blood splattered on Evelyn.
Later, it was revealed that the transmission route was through blood. Blood-sucking parasites such as mosquitoes and bedbugs were the carriers.
Evelin suspected that she had unfortunately gotten some of the old man's blood into her eyes or mouth.
But the important thing here was not the method of transmission of the disease.
There was a very simple solution. Katun grass was very popular.
The problem was that it would take time for them to realize that Caton's herbs were the cure for the plague.
Evelyn wished she could share the solution to the Adam Hill plague with Dyffrin and Rykal who were seriously discussing the epidemic, but she couldn't.
Even if you told them that Katun herbs were the cure, they wouldn't trust it. She could not prove the effectiveness of the drug by feeding it to patients, as she had no explanation for how she knew about it.
Moreover, Evelin did not want to interfere with the natural order of this world. The plague was a part of nature, and she did not want to take responsibility for the changes that would follow if she interfered without any good reason.
'Okay, let's just take responsibility for what I can handle.'
That's what Evelin thought at that moment.
* * *
Evelyn had skipped the massage she was usually giving Devrin that day.
She had seen him taking headache medicine earlier, and with a guest in the palace, it seemed best not to visit his room.
Going to Dyffryn's bedroom at night could also lead to misunderstandings with Rykal, which could be very embarrassing.
Whoosh-
At that moment, the sound of the wind blowing outside the door reached her ears.
Evelin, who was about to turn off the lights and lie down, couldn't ignore the loud sound of the wind.
“The window in the hallway appears to be open.”
When I went out into the hallway, I actually found a window open.
The maid seemed to have forgotten to close it.
After closing the window, Evelin was about to return when she heard a rustling sound from the end of the hallway.
Turning her head, she saw a strip of light peeking through the guest room door, which was slightly open.
'Rikal should be there…'
Wondering if something was wrong, Evelyn approached the guest room.
She peeked her head through the open door and saw Rykal standing anxiously on a chair, reaching for the light fixture.
“Mr. Raikal, what are you doing?”
Rical was startled by Evelin's voice, looked down and his eyes widened at the sight of her. Then he lowered his hand from the light fixture.
“The light fixture was flickering, so I was checking it briefly. Ms. Evelin, why haven’t you fallen asleep yet?”
'With the window left open and you making such noise, how can I sleep?'
But instead of expressing her dissatisfaction, Evelin spoke in a calm tone.
“I heard some noises from the end of the hallway, so I came to check if everything was okay with you.”
“As I said, it's nothing serious. It was late, so I didn't want to disturb the maids, so I decided to take care of it myf.”
Evelyn looked at the wavering light.
“Hmm...”
“It looks like we need to replace the light. I will inform the maids to take care of it tomorrow. If the flashing bothers you, I will ask them to replace it immediately.”
Rykal quickly waved his hand.
“No, that's not necessary... I was just having trouble sleeping and was drawing some drawings.”
“Draw…?”
Evelin's gaze wandered around the room, finally settling on the desk. There, she saw a very intricate and beautifully done drawing.
“Wow, can I take a look?”
When Evelin asked admiringly, Rekal hesitated before responding.
“I was just drawing, it's not a good drawing.”
Although Rykal spoke modestly, Evelyn, who had enjoyed drawing in her previous life, was immediately able to recognize his talent.
The drawing depicts the exterior views visible from this room, drawn in bright colors using only a thick pencil.
"It's really good. I'm surprised you have such a hobby, Lord Rykal."
Considering Rykal's usually stern demeanor, it was hard to believe that he could draw such beautiful drawings.
So much so that Evelin didn't notice the footsteps approaching in the hallway.
From behind her, a deep voice broke her admiration.
“What are you doing here?”
Evelyn and Rykal both turned their heads toward the door.
Defrin was standing there, brow furrowed and arms crossed.