TNWKM 15

Julian, who was rigid by nature and lacked flexibility to begin with, kept prying into what had happened that day.

“Isn’t that enough already?”

Even when his superior openly showed how annoyed he was, Julian simply continued working in silence. Before he knew it, he had filled the report to the brim and gave it one last scan.

“Isn’t there a clue here? I think it would be best to try doing exactly the same thing.”

“You want me to get blood on my hands like you did? And who exactly is going to do that?”

“That’s for them to figure out.”

“Those cowardly priests—like they’d ever step forward.”

Saying he needed to head to the imperial palace as soon as possible, Julian gave Theo a perfectly proper bow.

“Why not send someone else?”

“As it concerns an important matter involving the imperial family, it’s only right that I go myself.”

Yes, yes.
At that thoroughly Julian-like answer, Theo waved him off.

Leaving the office, Julian walked quietly down the corridor with impeccable posture. Then he ran straight into a set of brisk footsteps coming from the opposite direction.

The woman striding toward him with fluttering red hair and a refreshing smile was Vanessa.

“Oh my, Assistant, it’s been a while!”

“Please refrain from giving my lord unnecessary advice.”

Julian clicked his tongue without even returning her greeting.

Watching him pass by coldly, Vanessa giggled.

“I told you—he’s cute.”

She then knocked on the office door.

“My lord, it’s Vanessa.”

Once Theo gave permission, she entered cheerfully.

The duke did not casually share details of his love life. It seemed he wanted to keep his memories with Evelyn to himself. Still, whenever he completely lost his way, he would call Vanessa.

She glanced at the stack of romance books piled on one side of the desk and spoke regretfully.

“My lord, romance isn’t theory—it’s practice.”

“I know. That’s why I called you.”

Even dozens of books had failed to give him an answer.

She crossed her arms and sat on the office sofa.

“You haven’t forgotten what I told you, right? If you push too hard, it becomes a burden, so you need to hold back for a few days. But you can’t let her forget you entirely either.”

“So what exactly am I supposed to do?”

“Give her notice before you visit her directly. That way, she’ll grow restless and secretly wait for you.”

“I did that.”

Theo had thought about it all night. Then he remembered that Evelyn liked flowers, and decided to send white hydrangeas filled with memories only the two of them shared.

“You sent flowers? That’s not bad.”

Vanessa nodded, imagining a small bouquet.

“I made sure it wasn’t burdensome at all.”

Theo spoke with confidence.
In truth, he wanted to fill the entire research institute with flowers, but restrained himself and sent only enough to cover a desk.

“In about two days, I’m planning to send another gift.”

“May I ask what it is?”

“A handkerchief.”

Theo’s expression softened.
There seemed to be some story attached to that handkerchief.

Even if she asked, he wasn’t the type to answer, so Vanessa didn’t press further.

“Alright. One heartfelt handkerchief.”

“……”

“Don’t tell me—two?”

“……”

“Ten…?”

She decided to change the subject.

“But what’s the problem? Why did you call me?”

“I miss Evelyn.”

That was it. The greatest trial was longing.
He had refrained from visiting her out of consideration, but she continued to linger vividly before his eyes.

“When will I be able to see her?”

At Theo’s question, Vanessa looked at him like he was hopeless.

“Endure for about fifteen days.”

“This next gift—I’ll deliver it myself.”

“Are you planning a public confession?”

Vanessa asked in disbelief.

“What nonsense? I’ll hide my identity.”

“Wow, like that’ll stay hidden!”

Who in the imperial palace didn’t know the Duke of Ashford?

Theo continued calmly.

“Tell them I’ll be going to the armory soon.”

“The armory? Don’t tell me—”

Vanessa’s face filled with disbelief.

Two days passed after that.

Evelyn agonized over what sort of reply she should give Theo, then stopped herself. Even a small reaction might only fuel the fire.

Fortunately, the researchers’ interest seemed to have died down as well. Reassured by the quiet routine she had regained, Evelyn thought today would pass uneventfully too.

Then a pitiful voice reached her ears.

“Evely—yn……”

It was Paul, sitting next to her.

“What.”

Despite her lukewarm response, he beamed like a child and pulled out a letter he had prepared.

“Please just read this once. I worked really hard on it.”

“What’s the point? You won’t even be able to give it to her anyway.”

Paul’s face crumpled.

He was hopelessly in love with a librarian at the imperial library, yet hadn’t even managed a proper confession. Hearing rumors that she was well-versed in literature, he read poetry day and night and wrote love letters—but Paul had no talent for writing.

“This time it’s really good. Please read it, okay?”

“Why are you asking me to read it?”

“We’re friends. And besides, there’s no one around me who likes books as much as you do.”

“You don’t realize how torturous it is to read a friend’s love letter, do you?”

Grumbling, Evelyn still took the letter from him.

[Oh you who resemble the sun, your shining eyes always drive away winter and grant spring to all.]

“Ugh.”

That was her verdict the moment she read the first line.

It was greasy and childish, as always.

Paul became dejected again. Evelyn finally stopped gagging and asked,

“Why the sun, of all things?”

“Her eyes are golden. Brilliant and beautiful……”

He wore an expression like he was dreaming.

She didn’t want to know about her friend’s love life.

“I’ll rewrite it again……”

“How about just confessing simply?”

“Is it really that bad?”

Instead of answering, Evelyn laughed it off.

That was when—

“You can’t go in there……”

A sense of déjà vu washed over her.

As one researcher tried to stop someone, a man replied,

“I have imperial authorization.”

“Ah, I see. Please go ahead.”

The man was holding a refined-looking red velvet box. He slowly looked around the small laboratory, then spotted Evelyn.

‘Why is he looking at me like that?’

His eyes trembled so intensely it startled even her. They shone as if he had finally found a long-sought treasure.

The moment their gazes met, she felt a warm gentleness bare and undeniable.

This kindness directed at her was……

“Duke…?”

Evelyn murmured unconsciously.

It was so quiet that no one else could hear, but the man’s eyes lit up—
as if he had read her lips.

There was no way he could be the duke.
Evelyn hurriedly gathered her thoughts.

The man before her had an appearance you could easily see on the street. He resembled Theo in no way at all.

Feeling foolish over her mistake, she turned her attention back to her paperwork.

Thump—

The box was placed on her desk.

It was the same man who had been bothering her.

“What is this…?”

“……”

The man said nothing and simply looked at Evelyn. Then he quietly left.

“What is this?!”

Instead of the frozen Evelyn, Paul noisily opened the box.

Handkerchiefs?

Silk, cotton, pale pink, ivory……
Inside were handkerchiefs of all kinds of materials and colors.

‘You threw away a handkerchief because of me.’
‘It’s fine.’
‘When we go to the capital, I’ll give you a new one.’

Memories from the north suddenly flashed through her mind.

At this point, she could no longer avoid it.

‘I need to clearly convey my feelings.’

Evelyn steeled her resolve. At that moment, Paul exclaimed,

“There must be a hundred of these!”

“A—a hundred?!”

Was she supposed to spend her entire life just wiping her hands?

Evelyn was horrified.

The flowers last time, the handkerchiefs this time—the duke’s spending was on a whole different level.

Then she noticed a neatly arranged paper envelope.

The moment she spotted it, her heart began to tremble softly.

With careful hands, she took out a white letter envelope. Soon, the neat handwriting inside greeted her.

[I trust that you, too, remember the promise made after our kiss.]

It meant: keep the words you spoke, just as I have.

After our kiss?

Evelyn had absolutely no memory of what came after that.

‘What? What did I say?’
Just what on earth happened—?!

She grabbed at her own hair in panic.

Paul could only stare at his colleague with a completely bewildered expression.