IFLDMHF | Chapter 132

Episode 132

I really can’t stand it.

I thought it was unnecessary consideration last time too, but I understood it positively then because it was before I got close to Euclid.

‘But this time you’ve crossed the line.’

How dare you separate a married couple on your own?

……Of course, we’ve been in separate rooms all along except for our wedding night!

Sionel didn’t even realize I was glaring at him with gritted teeth, and he had a proud expression on his face as if he had accomplished some great achievement.

In fact, Duke Basilian spoke with admiration.

“Kid, you thought of that even in the midst of being busy?”

“Evgenia is coming home after a long time, so she shouldn’t be uncomfortable.”

You’re the uncomfortable one!

I looked at him with sincere feelings, but instead of looking at me, Sionel asked Euclid in a triumphant voice.

“I heard that in the North, people usually use individual bedrooms and have separate marital bedrooms. Am I not wrong?”

“That’s correct. Thank you for your consideration.”

Euclid nodded and answered gently.

But I was just dumbfounded listening to this.

‘Consideration? Thankful?’

Feeling an incredible sense of betrayal, I opened my eyes sharply, and Euclid flinched and avoided my gaze.

‘Hah……’

Right. I didn’t expect anything from Euclid anyway.

Euclid, the embodiment of courtesy and respect, wouldn’t spend a special night at the Basilian mansion when he had just let nights pass by at the Rudion duchy.

Above all, we had not yet confessed our feelings to each other.

I didn’t actually think anything would happen either.

I just expected to spend another night in the same room with Euclid.

‘I thought I might be able to talk about what’s inside.’

The hope I had been holding throughout the journey to the capital was shattered and flew far away.

Somehow, I didn’t like Sionel from the beginning, perhaps I knew this day would come.

I gave up on saying that I would share a room with Euclid here, as it would be wrong to Melissa who had worked hard to decorate the room.

So I stepped into the mansion, swallowing my tears.

Marianne and Dior felt as if they had come to a completely different world.

They had heard about it from Delano before coming to the capital.

— The Basilian mansion is the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to. Of course, the Rudion duchy is excellent too, but the Basilian mansion is so splendid that you don’t know where to look! In my opinion, although there might be a slight difference in scale, I think it wouldn’t be inferior to the imperial palace in terms of luxury!

They were already looking forward to going to their aunt’s house, and to think that house is the wealthiest in the empire!

How wonderful it must be, Marianne and Dior used all their creativity to imagine.

But the Basilian mansion they actually faced was even more magnificent than all their imaginations.

As Delano said, they had never felt any lack in the Rudion duchy where they had lived all their lives, but that was just enough.

There was no comparison between the Rudion duchy, which put all its effort into heating and maintaining warmth to endure the harsh weather, and the Basilian mansion located in the center of the capital with its mild climate.

The huge trees, flowers of all colors, the massive garden with a fountain displaying a brilliant rainbow, and the bright-walled mansion visible behind it was truly a beautiful house that seemed to have jumped out of a fairy tale book.

The inside was even more impressive. The shiny marble floor that reflected their faces, pillars that seemed too large to embrace with both arms. The paintings decorating the walls, the statues that could be seen every time they passed through the corridors with plush red carpets, and even the uniquely shaped vases.

Even to the eyes of children who knew nothing, they looked like magnificent treasures.

However, the children were most surprised when they were shown to the room where they would stay for a while.

— Si, sister… are we going to live here from now on?

— What nonsense are you talking about? Aunt said we’ll go back after a week at most, including the victory banquet and festival period.

— B-but the room is so big and nice!

— ……That’s true.

Although she scolded Dior, Marianne also thought it was understandable to be confused.

The room that the Basilian ducal family had given them wasn’t simply a guest room; it had a bedroom and bathroom, as well as a living room and a playroom with a small desk.

The closet was filled with clothes that suited the capital’s climate and were fashionable, and the playroom was full of fairy tale books and toys.

It was comparable to the room that Evgenia had newly decorated for them when she recently called merchants to transform the duchy.

Marianne was very surprised, but she just thought, ‘The rich are really different.’

It didn’t take long to realize that thought was wrong.

The dining room with a long, large table adorned with fresh flower centerpieces and five-branched candelabras that would only be taken out for important days like birthdays at the Rudion duchy, filled with luxurious food.

Marianne could tell not long after entering there.

— Evgenia, I had today’s dinner composed of all your favorite dishes. I told them to use specially procured ingredients, so it should taste good.

— Sister, if there’s anything uncomfortable or needed, please tell me right away! Oh, it’s so good to see your face after a long time.

That the people of the Basilian ducal family really liked Evgenia a lot!

Even the young duke who pushed food forward slightly without saying anything seemed the same.

However, Evgenia…

— Marianne, Dior. You haven’t seen much seafood dishes in the North, have you? Try this. If it doesn’t taste good or you feel strange, tell me right away. You too, Duke.

As usual, she only cared about them and Euclid.

Seeing the expressions of the Basilian ducal family members become slightly strange, Marianne worried if they might be disliked.

It was because of having spent a long time with jealous Amy.

But that was unfounded.

— Thanks to you all, I get to see Evgenia smiling. I’m really grateful.

— I-it’s nothing, Duke.

— Is there perhaps a secret… No, never mind. The capital is far, but come visit often in the future.

— Yes, Young Duke.

When the Duke of Basilian and the young duke first came to see them separately, they were a bit scared.

Even though they had faces similar to Evgenia’s, their expressions and atmosphere were so cold and stiff that they naturally felt intimidated.

So perhaps they were more relieved and touched by the subsequent words full of goodwill.

Especially when Melissa, Evgenia’s cousin sister, came to visit.

— I’m really envious of you. I also wanted to become closer to my sister and spend a long time together…

Their shoulders naturally rose with pride.

And they thought it was really fortunate to have become family with Evgenia.

As their uncle said, it was all thanks to Evgenia that good things happened in the North and that they received such generous treatment at the Basilian mansion!

“So this is not the time to be doing this, Dior!”

Marianne, wearing a new dress that Evgenia had pre-ordered by sending measurements to the capital due to the tight schedule, shouted firmly.

Then Dior, who was also wearing new clothes and enjoying ice cream provided by the Duke of Basilian while sitting on a children’s sofa, quickly nodded.

“I know! We have to protect Aunt.”

The days at the Basilian mansion with incredibly kind people despite their scary faces, and places that were new to see every day even after daily exploration, were like a dream.

However, Dior also did not forget the purpose of coming to the capital.

Yes, there was a reason why Marianne and Dior, acting unlike themselves, raised their voices and followed all the way to the capital. Although they really wanted to come along, there was an even clearer reason.

— Lady Marianne, Lord Dior! Please, both of you protect the madam who is the hope of the Rudion ducal family! I’m really worried that the madam might not return to the duchy at this rate!

A few days ago, after the trip to the capital was decided, Delano came to see the children.

The sudden request to protect Evgenia without any context was absurd.

But not returning to the duchy?

To Marianne and Dior, who had come to cherish Evgenia as much as their uncle Euclid, it was like a bolt from the blue.

Of course, Marianne and Dior, who volunteered to do anything, were told by Delano.

That Evgenia was going to the capital where there were many bad people who hated her without even knowing her properly.

Especially, he said that the Crown Prince had troubled her a lot, and if the two of them met this time, something terrible might happen.

— So when the Crown Prince appears, please use your privilege as children to somehow distract the madam’s attention! Don’t let them even get close to each other or make eye contact for a long time, let alone have a conversation!

It was an excuse made up forcibly because he couldn’t tell the young children that Evgenia had liked the Crown Prince and might stay in the capital because she couldn’t let go of her lingering feelings.