Surviving As An Obsessive Servant – Chapter 199 – Evo (IF) Side Story Chapter 7

Author: Asternkm

Evo studied Edric Denkart carefully.

The man’s features were identical to the one he remembered from the other world — same face, same sharp lines — but the atmosphere around him was completely different.

His small face, large eyes, and narrow shoulders made him look almost delicate — fragile, even.

Compared to the Edric he knew before, this one seemed far weaker, almost brittle.

‘…More importantly, why is he here?’

Even with their trade relations, there was no need for him to visit in person. Letters would have sufficed.

Besides, Evo had already been putting distance between himself and Denkart. There was no reason the duke should have come all the way here.

As Evo’s gaze hardened with quiet suspicion, Edric’s brow lifted slightly — sharp and irritated.

Evo had felt it before, but it was obvious again: the man didn’t like him.

That was only natural.

In both of their lives, Evo had envied and resented Edric, and he had never bothered to hide it.

At his side, Lobel also seemed to have noticed Edric. Her grip on Evo’s arm tightened unconsciously.

Evo placed his arm gently around her shoulders.

“Ha.”

Edric’s eyes narrowed as if the sight disgusted him. Then, before Evo could say anything, he turned and pushed open the office door on his own.

Lobel stared blankly at the vanishing figure. No matter how high a noble he was, such rudeness was almost impressive in its audacity.

Evo was the first to recover, speaking to Lobel in a calm voice.

“It’s nothing. I’ll just have a quick word — wait for me a little?”

“Ah… yes.”

Though flustered, Lobel nodded quietly, and Evo entered the office.

Inside, Edric was already standing in the center of the room, arms crossed, examining the tidy space as if it were his own.

Evo didn’t raise his voice. He shut the door behind him and spoke quietly — mindful that Lobel was right outside.

“You’re being rude.”

“Yes, I’m rude — and you’re far too tense.”

“…”

“What is it? Something you’re hiding from Denkart, perhaps?”

It wasn’t really a question — more of a jab. Evo didn’t take the bait.

Edric eyed his silence with visible irritation.

“Why have you withdrawn from trade?”

…So that was it.

Realizing the visit wasn’t about Lobel, Evo felt his chest loosen slightly — though he didn’t show it outwardly.

He replied in his usual composed tone.

“The support you’ve given me has already been more than generous, Your Grace. Naturally, I intend to repay that kindness. I’ve always believed it proper that the larger profits go to Denkart first.”

“…What a tedious excuse.”

“I apologize for the dull answer, but it would be far worse to dress up the truth as a lie in front of Your Grace, wouldn’t it?”

Having regained his calm, Evo smiled faintly — the same polite expression as always.

“Unfortunately, today isn’t the best time to receive a guest. If you’d allow me to arrange another day, I’ll make sure to host you properly.”

He wanted Edric gone — away from both himself and Lobel.

The firmness in his tone bordered on dismissal. Edric’s brow twitched upward.

Nobles and merchants alike — all of Terua would jump at the chance to speak even once more with the Duke of Denkart. Evo Martin was the only one who would dare to send him away.

Well — him, and one other person: his wife, Lobelia Martin.

Edric had come here precisely because the two of them persistently refused to cooperate with the Elkatan Guild.

For years, something about the pair had unsettled him — a lingering unease he couldn’t quite explain.

But that was all.

He didn’t press further. With a look of disdain, he turned to leave, still unsure why their presence had bothered him so much in the first place.

And then—

“Ah.”

“…”

“Hello, Duke Denkart.”

Lobel had apparently been standing right by the door, listening anxiously.

When Edric opened it, she was suddenly there — offering an awkward greeting.

His irritation flickered openly across his face. He didn’t even bother to respond.

Instead, his cold, green eyes swept her up and down once, then he turned sharply and strode away.

The echo of his steps filled the corridor before fading into silence.

Lobel called softly to Evo, who still hadn’t relaxed.

“Um… brother.”

Her eyes, laced with worry, revealed the discomfort she felt but couldn’t name.

When Evo smiled faintly, as if to say it was fine, she smiled back — though she kept opening her mouth as if wanting to speak.

He waited patiently. And when she finally did, her words caught him completely off guard.

“Do you… not like Duke Denkart?”

Evo was so surprised he couldn’t answer right away.

Lobel laughed awkwardly and continued,

“I’ve noticed for a while. You always seem… tense around him. I thought maybe you just didn’t like him.”

“…”

“Well, I don’t like him either, honestly. The previous duke was unbearable too. They look alike — and act alike.”

“…”

“…Oh. Um.”

She realized too late how inappropriate that might sound.

Publicly, Evo was known to be deeply indebted to the Denkarts.

People often said his willingness to hand over lucrative deals was simply his way of repaying that favor — the mark of a loyal, moral man.

Seeing his silence, Lobel squeezed both of his hands and smiled sheepishly.

“Should I not have said that? I just thought — we’re married, so we can talk honestly about things like this…”

Evo Martin had long since discovered how to choose which world he would wake up in.

There was the world where Lobelia Denkart lived — and the world where Lobelia Martin did.

Living between the two, Evo often felt as though he belonged to neither — drifting in a space that never fully seemed real.

Even he himself felt confused — and afraid.
He worried this might all be a dream that could shatter at any moment.

Sometimes he wondered if both of his lives were just illusions, if he was simply a madman lost in his own delusions.

But this moment felt different.

The warmth in his hands reminded him — this was real.

“You’re not mad, right?”

“…We’re married, so I’ll be honest. I don’t really like Denkart. To tell the truth, I actually dislike him.”

Lobel nodded slowly, as if saying so it’s true, though confusion still lingered in her eyes.

To her, Evo allowed a sliver of sincerity to show.

“He… made you go through a lot.”

Lobel’s eyes widened.

His voice and expression were still gentle, but the truth behind them was unmistakable.

She’d never expected such an emotion from someone usually so calm and composed.

‘…He really does hate him.’

Maybe there was something in the past she didn’t know — something that made their relationship that strained.

She was relieved Evo didn’t like Edric as the original story had, but still — this much tension was worrying.

How could she ease him? How could she reassure him?

After thinking for a while, Lobel clasped his hands tightly and spoke brightly.

“You must’ve misunderstood. I’m really fine. Back when we worked together, it wasn’t that hard, honestly. Work’s work — more business just means more profit for a guildmaster.”

Noticing her unease, Evo covered her hand gently with his own.

“I’m fine too. Because Lobelia Flor is my wife.”

“What are you saying? Of course I am. I’ll always be your wife. And you’ll always be my husband.”

“…Well.”

“…?”

“People say merchants exaggerate, but I don’t want to make a promise I can’t keep — not to you.”

He let out a soft laugh and pressed his lips to her forehead.

“But I’ll promise this — I’ll always love you.”

“Even just hearing that makes me happy.”

Lobel, looking suddenly moved, threw her arms around him.

With things like this, there was no chance either of them could focus on work.

So they decided to gather their papers and head home.

But as soon as they climbed into the carriage, Lobel asked quietly,

“Why don’t you ever get angry?”

“…Hm?”

“You’ve never once been angry at me.”

It meant: You can be honest with me, at least.

Evo understood and smiled gratefully, answering gently.

“Well, I am older than you, Lobelia. I should be more understanding.”

“…”

But Lobelia looked oddly serious.

“…You know, brother,” she said softly.

“Yeah?”

“What if I’m actually older than you? Like… if there really are other worlds — maybe in one of them, I lived longer than you did.”

“I’ll still be the older one, no matter what.”

“How can you say that so confidently?”

“You know me. My intuition’s never wrong.”

“Ha. That’s ridiculous.”

Evo turned to the window, smiling quietly at the passing scenery.

Then, in a calm, thoughtful tone, he began to speak — letting out feelings he’d been holding inside.

“If there’s another world, maybe in that one, you’d love someone else more than me. Someone like Edric Denkart.”

“That’s absurd. Of all people, him?”

By then, the carriage had reached their estate.

Evo stepped out first, opening the door for her with his usual quiet smile.

Lobel’s gaze sharpened suspiciously.

“What’s that look for? You’re not secretly saying you want to meet someone else, are you?”

“Why would you think that?”

“Ugh, you know… people say newlyweds are all lovey-dovey for a year or two, but then they change.”

Evo blinked, surprised.

At first, he thought she was joking, but her tone held real worry.

She must’ve heard such things from others — unpleasant comments.

He’d heard the same, actually.

Their family’s steward had once fussed endlessly about how newlyweds should spend their first few years inseparable.

But Evo didn’t care much for such talk.

After all, there was only one person in his life who mattered more than gain or reason — and that was Lobel.

So, after two lives and twenty long years of waiting, he finally spoke the one truth he was sure of.

“I won’t be like that.”

“We’ll see.”

“Mm. I love you.”

“There you go again. You always end the conversation with that one line.”

Evo just laughed as Lobel giggled, pretending to be annoyed.

He said it again — that he loved her.

It was the confession he’d waited decades, even lifetimes, to say.

He could’ve said it hundreds of times a day and still not felt it was enough.

And now, there was one more person to say it to — so he’d say it even more.

“I’m sorry, Abel. Mama and Papa have been so busy…”

Hearing the carriage wheels, the servants had already gathered outside the estate.

Lobel took the baby from the nanny’s arms and apologized over and over.

Abel.

It was the name her father had brought back from the naming house — a name both she and Evo loved. It sounded almost like a blend of their own — Evo and Lobel.

Her younger brother Robert even joked sometimes, calling them Big Bel and Little Bel.

After whispering a few more apologies to the baby, Lobel turned to Evo, cradling the child gently.

“I decided to move the guild headquarters.”

“…Oh?”

“You might be fine, but I’m not. I don’t want to be away from you.”

“…I felt the same.”

Her soft laugh sparkled with warmth.

“I know. And I know what you’re going to say next — I love you too.”

Lobel smiled so brightly her whole face glowed.

Then, standing on tiptoe, she kissed him several times — loud and quick — her laughter filling the dusk air.

“I love you, my E-vo.”

Her small, shy confession made Evo laugh aloud.