TNWKM 16

Even after handing over the handkerchief, Theo did not leave the research institute.
He sat on a bench in the nearby garden, looking down at the blue flowers.

Even for a short while was fine. He wanted to stay close to Evelyn.

The imperial research institute, funded by the royal family, was large and magnificent.
A vast garden lay at its center, with buildings surrounding it.
The eastern building was the Historical Research Institute, and on its first floor, tucked away in a small corner, was the Ancient Language Interpretation Office.

No matter how unpopular the department was, wasn’t it a bit too small?

That was Theo’s first impression after seeing Evelyn’s workplace.

If she wanted, he could provide her with a much better environment.
He considered bringing it up—but soon shook his head.
It might come across as if he were belittling her work.

In any case, just keeping Evelyn in his sight made him so happy it was almost overwhelming.
Her startled expression lingered in his mind like an afterimage.

His feet refused to move, and he had to force himself to take a step.

Theo never regretted taking out the duke’s artifact for this moment.
The hat he was wearing was a magical tool that could change one’s appearance for three hours.
It was a treasured item of the Ashford family, a weapon meant to confuse enemies during critical battles.

Since it could only be used once a year, successive dukes had never used it lightly.
If the former dukes knew he had used it just to glimpse the face of the woman he liked, they would clutch the backs of their necks in disbelief.

But Theo was more resolute now than he ever was on a battlefield.

What kind of feelings did Evelyn have?

If she really only wanted his body……

Maybe approaching things more instinctively would actually be faster.

It was while he was seriously considering other methods—

“I don’t know. Why do you keep asking things like that?”

Evelyn’s voice drifted over from afar.

Was he hallucinating? Was he hearing things because he missed her too much…?

Even though he knew it made no sense, he turned his head.

Evelyn?

It really was Evelyn.

As if warm sunlight were pouring down on her alone, she looked radiant even from a distance.

“So how do you feel? I don’t know who sent them, but that man clearly likes you!”

A cheerful male voice followed.
Compared to Evelyn, his tone was extremely light.

It seemed to be lunchtime. The two were holding a sandwich and looking around for a place to sit.
They settled down not far from Theo.

Their conversation reached his ears from behind. Theo pulled his hat lower.

“Paul, worry about your own love life. And stop writing love letters.”

“I’m just curious. First flowers, then a handkerchief! That guy is seriously into you, you know?”

“I guess…?”

Evelyn let out a sigh.
At her negative reaction, Theo’s heart sank heavily.

Paul asked carefully.

“Why? He’s not your type?”

“No. That’s the problem. He’s too much my type.”

He’s insanely handsome.

At Evelyn’s words, Theo’s eyes lit up.
Every word she spoke sent his emotions up and down.

Come to think of it, Evelyn had said this while drunk.

‘Duke, you’re insanely handsome.’
‘You’re my type. Physically.’

So in the end, pushing things forward with his body really was the answer.

Just as Theo reaffirmed his resolve—

“Then what’s the problem?”

At Paul’s question, Evelyn hummed thoughtfully.

“There’s just too much that bothers me. And I don’t have the confidence to push through all of it.”

“Confidence?”

“Is his confession sincere? And even if it is, how long would those feelings last? Stuff like that.”

“You’re a coward.”

“Maybe.”

Evelyn nodded, unaware of how much her words affected the man sitting nearby.

Theo slowly stood up.
Quietly concealing his presence, he left the garden, using the same stealth techniques he had once used on the battlefield.

Still, he couldn’t hide the smile that kept leaking out.

Evelyn’s feelings toward him were closer to affection.
What was missing was only the certainty that he would never change.

I need to give her that confidence. Along with my body.

Having reached that conclusion, he headed back to the ducal residence.

Because he left too quickly, he failed to hear what came next.

Evelyn’s honest feelings were only just beginning.

In the space Theo had left behind, she covered her face with both hands.

“Even if he’s sincere, it wouldn’t matter. I don’t plan on things working out with him.”

“Why? Because you’re a coward?”

“Let’s call it extreme realism.”

“Sure, coward.”

“……”

Would you be able to easily accept the Duke of Ashford?
Someone whose status was overwhelming just to look up at?

Just imagining it made her future feel noisy and chaotic.
Countless gazes would pierce her whole body like arrows.

That was how the peaceful lunch break ended—without anyone knowing what kind of ripple this day would cause.

The Duke of Ashford became even more aggressively proactive.

One day, sweet desserts were delivered.
Not just for Evelyn, but enough for all the researchers in the Ancient Language Interpretation Office.

Everyone enjoyed the sweet fruit tarts and thanked Evelyn.
She tried to explain that it had nothing to do with her, but they only smiled knowingly.

[I’ll be waiting at the main gate after work.]

Looking at the note meant only for her, Evelyn made up her mind.
She had to meet the duke in person and make him give up.

After that, she deliberately waited until everyone else had left work.

As she headed toward the main gate during the quiet moment—

Someone suddenly rushed at her.

“Evelyn! I rewrote my confession letter—read it for me!”

It was Paul.

She pushed him away, saying she was busy, but he was completely oblivious.

“You’re not going to meet the guy who gave you the gifts, are you? Let me see his face too!”

“No! Let’s go out the back gate!”

At this rate, rumors would spread through the entire institute.

In the end, because of Paul, Evelyn failed to meet the duke.

A few days later, Theo sent her another message.
He would be waiting at the main gate again.

But before work even ended, the researchers began to stir.

“Did you see? The Duke of Ashford is just standing there, not moving at all.”

“Why?”

“Does that matter? We should escape through the back gate!”

“But I’m curious. Who did he come to meet?”

The researchers were full of curiosity about the duke’s purpose.

For Evelyn, it was extremely burdensome.

I should move once everyone’s gone…
This time, I’ll settle things once and for all!

Just then, Catherine, who had noticed Evelyn’s serious expression, spoke up.

“Shall we leave together today? Through the back gate.”

“What? I’m fine—”

“No. Seniors exist for moments like this.”

With a tone as if she were protecting her from a wild beast, Catherine dragged Evelyn away.

After that, Catherine continued walking home with Evelyn every day.

“Just trust me!” she would say, for reasons unknown.

The important thing was that Theo kept getting stood up.

Evelyn wanted to cry.

It was no different from ignoring the Duke of Ashford.

How dare I… someone like me…!

What should she do now…?

Should she ask the delivery man to pass along a letter? One rejecting the confession?

Evelyn thought of the man with dark green hair.
He was always the one delivering the duke’s gifts.

Remembering his displeased-looking eyes, Evelyn shook her head.

He looks prickly. Not very trustworthy.

Somehow, she felt like he might secretly read the letter.

It would also be more polite to say it directly herself.

Evelyn wrote down a suitable meeting place on a blank sheet of paper.
She planned to hand only this note to the man who brought the gifts.

However, the dark green–haired man did not show up even after noon.

“He’s not coming today? Guess the duke finally got tired of you!”

Paul shouted thoughtlessly—only to receive a sharp glare from Catherine.

Evelyn was puzzled as well.

Did something happen?

No… maybe Paul’s right. Maybe the duke has already given up.

Things seemed to be resolving more easily than expected.

Evelyn quietly slipped the letter into her desk drawer.

She tried to focus on her work, but her mind remained tangled.

What had the duke been thinking while waiting for her?
What kind of promise had she made to him?

Her thoughts continued endlessly.

It was the fifteenth day since she had kissed Theo.