IFLDMHF | Chapter 104

Episode 104

‘Could it be because I didn’t visit today after going every day?’

Although I never openly expressed my affection, my heart was always set on moving forward toward my favorite person.

Just seeing him made me happy, I wanted to treat him well, and I wanted to give him everything.

So, I never even considered playing hard to get. But people’s emotions are truly fickle.

‘Maybe this is how one goes from being a novice in love to an expert.’

As I nodded slightly to myself while staring at him, Euclid, still avoiding my gaze, spoke.

“I will prepare for the outing, then.”

“Yes.”

“I will inform you of the schedule once it is finalized.”

“Alright.”

As I answered quickly, I observed Euclid’s reaction. For some reason, it seemed like the tips of his ears had turned red.

In the midst of the peculiar silence, I tilted my head slightly.

Just as I thought the conversation was wrapping up, Dior’s eyes sparkled as he asked,

“Uncle, shall we go on a picnic?”

Really, this child has an incredible sense.

While I marveled at his quick wit, Euclid stroked Marianne and Dior’s heads, smiling bitterly.

“Yes. You haven’t had the chance to go outside properly, have you? I’m sorry.”

“No! It’s not like we don’t know how busy you are.”

“Now that there are no more blizzards and the ground isn’t slippery, we can have fun! Hehe, I’m excited!”

Although circumstances had been difficult, and the harsh weather made it unsafe for the children, preventing them from going on outings, Euclid still seemed to feel guilty about it.

It was heartwarming to see how the children understood his feelings and reassured him.

Especially Dior, who had been sulking since the secret passage was closed off—noticing his brightened face, Euclid seemed relieved.

The duke’s servants, who had been worried about Dior’s unexplained gloom, were just as happy to see his cheerful expression.

“Lord Dior, you seem to be in a good mood today.”

“Yes! Uncle, Aunt, and my sister are going on a picnic with me!”

Dior proudly lifted his small chin as he boasted to the butler, looking absolutely adorable.

Even during dinner, the lively conversation continued—what they wanted to do on the picnic, what snacks they should bring—filling the atmosphere with excitement.

‘He really must feel bad about not spending much time with his nephews.’

Thanks to Euclid, who was particularly cooperative today, we even stayed together for dessert while finalizing the plans. Before we knew it, it was time for the children to go to bed.

After playing and chatting endlessly since the library, the courtyard, and through dinner, it was no wonder they were exhausted.

Especially Dior, who must have tired himself out by being extra perceptive. He started nodding off and eventually fell asleep.

Without hesitation, Euclid gently picked Dior up and stood.

Naturally, Marianne and I followed him.

Marianne went to her room first, and I somehow found myself awkwardly following them all the way to Dior’s room.

Standing by the door, I watched as Euclid laid Dior in bed, carefully pulling the blanket up to his neck and stroking his head with affectionate eyes.

“Have sweet dreams, Dior.”

Then, knowing Dior sometimes had nightmares, he left a gentle goodnight kiss on his forehead.

Watching that scene, a sudden lump formed in my throat, and my chest felt tight with emotion.

Euclid was already an incredibly caring uncle, but if he ever had children of his own, he would surely be an amazing father.

At the same time, I felt a deep, almost tearful envy toward Dior, who was blissfully unaware as he slept.

I sniffled and murmured to myself,

“I wish he’d do that for me too.”

“……”

A deep silence instantly filled the space.

Euclid, who had turned to look at me, froze in place, his smile halting mid-motion.

Though his body remained still, his eyes wavered chaotically.

Sensing that something was off, I slowly blinked and asked,

“Did I… just say that out loud?”

Euclid couldn’t hide his discomfort and awkwardly averted his gaze.

His silence was his answer.

At that moment, alarm bells rang in my head, and sirens blared in my ears.

‘Evgenia, are you crazy? Have you lost your mind?’

No matter how heartbroken I was from his constant rejection—how could I let my guard down and make such a massive mistake just because the mood felt good today?

Looking back, even confessing my feelings to the children had been impulsive.

‘Not that I regret it.’

But Euclid was different from the children.

My hands began to tremble as I struggled to figure out how to fix this situation.

Then, after a long silence, Euclid spoke in his usual gentle voice as if nothing had happened.

“You must be quite tired, my wife.”

“……”

“Shall we go, then?”

The moment he casually asked, my trembling stopped.

I stared blankly at Euclid as he brushed past me.

‘…Is he ignoring it?’

This was a situation where he could have easily assumed I had unconsciously voiced my true feelings—how could he just let it pass without a word?

Did he genuinely believe it was just meaningless talk from exhaustion?

‘It was a slip of the tongue, but that doesn’t mean it was meaningless.’

For the first time, Euclid’s kindness and consideration felt cruel.

The worst possibility was that he knew my words carried sincerity but deliberately pretended not to.

Just thinking about it made my eyes sting with tears.

I clenched my hands tightly, stopping their trembling.

“As Your Grace said, I am indeed quite tired.”

I finally spoke after stepping out of the room, closing the door behind me.

Euclid, who had been waiting outside, flinched and turned to look at me.

As he quickly masked his expression and prepared to say something casually—

“So, if I say I want to lie down in bed right now,”

I locked eyes with him and asked,

“Would you give me a goodnight kiss too?”

So that he couldn’t dismiss it as a mistake.

So that he couldn’t ignore it any longer.

N/LMAAAOOOOO!!!!!

Click.

I opened my bedroom door with an exhausted body.

“My lady, you’re back? Dinner ran quite late tod—huh?!”

Anne, who had been tidying the blankets, greeted me cheerfully but suddenly gasped and stepped back in shock.

“L-Lady… your face….”

Why? Do I look pitiful after being blocked by my beloved yet again?

“You—y-you’re too scary! I thought I had finally gotten used to it, but—!”

Anne, looking distressed, murmured that her training still wasn’t enough.

…Had I really become that easy for Anne to tease?

There was a time when she wouldn’t even dare to breathe loudly around me.

But I didn’t have the energy to argue.

With a drained expression, I glanced at the mirror hanging on the wall.

And I was momentarily startled by how murderous my expression looked.

So this is what my face looked like right now.

— My wife, you seem surprisingly mischievous.

When Euclid dismissed my words as mere teasing, I realized—

Yes.

Rather than looking wounded, it might be better to look angry instead.

‘He acted as if he was finally opening up, only to shut me out again!’

Just thinking about it made my eyes sting.

But I held back, smoothing my face as I stepped toward the window.

Sensing my foul mood, Anne silently backed away.

‘Ha… This isn’t easy….’

I thought that once we were married, I could live happily with Euclid right away.

But reality wasn’t what I had imagined.

I had believed I had been holding my emotions together well, but they burst out so easily.

At first, I regretted speaking without thinking.

But now…

‘I think I did the right thing.’

Because despite laughing it off, Euclid had looked even sadder than I did.

That utterly pained expression—desperately pretending not to understand me—made me believe that maybe, just maybe, he had a reason he couldn’t say.