IBOTDI Episode 117

<Episode 11 7>

When Eveline opened her eyes again, a full day had passed. The flood of changed facts came rushing into her mind.

Abellard was gone. There was no longer anyone by that name in House Wilden.

She realized he had used divine power to erase every trace of himself from her life.

Knock knock.

dssssssssssssssss”Young Duchess.”

She already knew she was now the young duchess. The memories entering her mind felt so natural, as if they’d always belonged to her.

The laws of the Croppers Empire had changed—no longer could only men inherit the title. Because Abellard, now a god, had rewritten them.

“Come in.”

Eveline found she actually liked the changes Abellard had made. Too much, in fact—almost as if he understood her perfectly. That was the problem.

Click.

“Lord de Robein has been here since this morning.”

“Isn’t it only seven?”

“Yes, Your Grace. He arrived at six-thirty.”

At the maid’s words, Eveline frowned slightly.

She felt a little sorry. In her relationship with Elkais, she had always been the one making him wait. Maybe not when he first proposed, but nearly every other time after that.

“Help me get ready, quickly.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The maids dressed Eveline in the fastest method they knew.

What was strange, perhaps because she was now the young duchess, was that they dressed her in a uniform—not a gown.

The duchy’s uniform was quite beautiful. It was a different design from the one Abellard used to wear.

As Eveline made her way to the drawing room, she glanced at her reflection in the window. Her red hair was tied up in a single bun, leaving her neck completely exposed.

The white uniform paired well with the crimson cape, and the family crest was engraved on both her ring and the epaulets—both gold.

Even the cape, which swayed lightly with the breeze, bore the family emblem.

There was something strangely nostalgic about it—it almost reminded her of her old days as a police officer. The design was completely different, and yet…

Just as all the new memories finished settling into her mind, Eveline arrived at the drawing room.

When she reached the door, click, it opened from inside.

“Elkais.”

“Eveline. You’re here.”

He greeted her with a bright smile.

“I thought you’d sneak into my room.”

“A proper guest stays longer, right? I’m going to be your husband anyway.”

He spoke lightly, but there was a flicker of indignation as he continued.

“Who would’ve thought that rat bastard would pull something like that?”

It was obvious he was talking about Abellard. Eveline smiled. She had expected him to do something petty, but she also knew this was probably the worst of it.

“Right? To go so far as to erase our engagement.”

“And making you the young duchess so offering you my dukedom would mean nothing? That was low.”

Eveline let out a soft laugh.

Elkais was a little irritated at Abellard’s cheap trick, but seeing her smile made that anger melt away.

“I’ll send another proposal letter today.”

“Is that really necessary?”

“What…?”

Elkais froze at her words, staring at her intently.

“Eveline.”

“…What is it?”

He tried to read her eyes with growing unease. But then Eveline smiled wide and said,

“Marry me.”

“What?”

“Let’s get married and have lots of kids. Ten, maybe?”

“Eveline…”

He looked at her, eyes wide with surprise, and she smiled again with crinkled eyes.

“Do you not want to?”

“No—I’m so happy it feels like a dream.”

“I’ll be the one to send the proposal letter.”

“…Okay.”

Elkais, face flushing red without realizing it, buried his face in one large hand to hide his embarrassment.

But Eveline could tell—just from his red ears and shaky breathing—how nervous and happy he was.

* * *

“I’m getting married.”

“What?”

“I’m getting married.”

Eveline spoke as if she were notifying the Duke of Wilden, not asking permission. The duke slammed his office desk and shot up from his chair.

“To who?!”

“To Elkais.”

“You mean Lord de Robein?!”

“Yes.”

“Absolutely not!”

At that, Eveline instinctively frowned as a rush of cursed memories flooded her mind. The Duke’s furious reaction upon hearing Elkais’ name wasn’t without reason.

Thanks to Abellard’s blunder, the failed merchant guild had been pinned on Elkais as the one who swooped in and took it.

“I won’t give my daughter to some scoundrel like him! And you’re going to become a duchess! You need to take a consort!”

“Elkais would probably be fine being a consort if I asked him.”

“Never! Absolutely not! Do you know how I raised you?!”

“Sure. Yes. Got it. But I’m still going to get married. And if you try to stop me, I’ll just become the Duke of de Robein myself.”

“What?”

At those words, the Duke clutched the back of his neck and slumped back into his chair—then began to sob.

“Do you know how I raised you…!”

“…”

“And now I have to give you to that man?!”

“Elkais is becoming mine. And I belong to myself.”

Eveline replied flatly. It wasn’t even wrong.

“I’m going to deliver the proposal letter, so if you’re against it, say it now. Because I’ll cut ties.”

“Eveline!”

She looked at her father, bawling in his chair, and walked out of the duke’s office without another word.

Somehow, it felt even stranger because she could tell—he wasn’t faking those tears.

* * *

Not long after that, Eveline really did get re-engaged to Elkais.

The Duke of Wilden tried to stop her, crying multiple times, but she remained firm. Still, even the duke—who had been so adamantly against it—slowly started to change his mind once he actually saw Elkais in person.

“Are your legs okay?”

“They hurt, but I can manage to walk… You’re really fast these days.”

“That’s how you become a beloved husband.”

From his office terrace, the Duke of Wilden was watching Eveline and Elkais below. Unfortunately, the main entrance of the mansion was located directly beneath the office.

The duke clenched his fist tightly as he watched Elkais carry Eveline in his arms.

“If you don’t feel like walking, call me. I’ll walk for you and carry you around instead.”

“I can’t be that lazy. I am the young duchess, after all.”

“You look beautiful in uniform too, Eveline. You always feel new to me. Always beautiful.”

At his words, Eveline blushed and hugged him tightly around the neck.

“Save that kind of talk for when we’re alone.”

“I already do. But my heart overflows. I try to hold back, and it still slips out—what can I do?”

The Duke of Wilden couldn’t help but wonder if this was truly the same Lord de Robein who used to glare at him like a beast.

Ever since he got engaged to Eveline, Elkais had become strangely calm—almost like a completely different person.

So thoughtful, so composed… to the point the duke wondered if the man he’d known before had been a fake, or if his own memories had been tampered with.

More than anything, Elkais respected the fact that he was Eveline’s father. He listened to the duke’s wishes, but never backed down when it came to Eveline.

That particular trait… was starting to grow on him. And that was the real problem.

Not to mention—on the day of their engagement, Elkais gifted the House of Wilden a diamond mine. Any previous financial loss was immediately smoothed over.

He even said that if he married Eveline, he’d transfer all property under his name into hers. Eveline had firmly refused and smoothed things over, but just seeing the actual documents in his hands meant he had meant it.

It felt surreal to the Duke—just a while ago, Eveline and Elkais were at each other’s throats, and now they were this affectionate.

At the same time, he couldn’t help but think: how could he possibly say no to the man his daughter loved this much?

“Elkais.”

“Yes?”

He responded gently, eyes filled with love as he looked at her.

“I’m going to sleep at the de Robein estate tonight.”

“…Is that alright?”

“Yes.”

“No, absolutely not!!”

The Duke’s voice, nearly a shriek, came from above, and Eveline looked up.

There he was, fists clenched, shaking in fury.

Elkais, so focused on Eveline, hadn’t even realized the duke was above them—he flinched and tried his best to smile through the panic.

* * *

The wedding day had arrived.

Eveline could have worn her uniform, but she chose a dress instead. Just like the one she wore on that deserted island—lavish, full-skirted, and with a low neckline.

She already knew Elkais would be wearing the same ceremonial outfit he had worn back on the island. He was someone who looked stunning in a crimson cape, and his red eyes were truly beautiful.

So Eveline waited in the bridal room, checking her reflection in the mirror as the ceremony neared.

Knock knock.

“Eveline.”

“They say the groom shouldn’t see the bride before the wedding.”

“For a superstition like that, we’ve been through too much.”

Before Elkais even finished his sentence, Eveline opened the door.

“I want to walk in together.”

“My father’s going to cry.”

“Let him.”

At Elkais’ reply, Eveline chuckled and said,

“Alright. But tonight, you have to do everything I ask.”

“I’m always ready for that, Eveline.”

She beamed at those words and took his hand.