IFLDMHF | Chapter 134

Episode 134

“Auntie, you look so pretty today!”

“Seriously the best! The most beautiful witch in the world!”

I was so envious of my niece and nephew who could speak so honestly, just as they felt, without any fancy embellishments.

“Haha, really?”

Evgenia smiled, stretching her lips wide, seeming pleased with the children’s reaction.

“Is that so, Duke?”

Evgenia asked Euclid once again.

“Yes. Truly… beautiful, my wife.”

Euclid said, having finally mustered the courage.

But his face grew hot, and he couldn’t bring himself to meet Evgenia’s eyes.

Lowering his gaze, Euclid suddenly recalled their wedding day.

Evgenia had been dazzlingly beautiful then, too.

At that time, unlike today, he had no trouble honestly expressing how he felt.

So why was it so hard now to utter words of praise, and why did even meeting her eyes feel so difficult?

Maybe it was because of the veil that had faintly concealed her face back then. Or perhaps…

‘It might be because my mindset has changed.’

Looking back, even on their wedding day, his feelings toward Evgenia had far exceeded what he had expected.

However, at the time, he had no hope of actually becoming a real couple with her.

He believed it shouldn’t happen, and that it couldn’t.

But now… in a marriage he had entered without any expectations, he found himself growing greedy.

Realizing this, it suddenly felt like a miracle that someone so beautiful and kind had become his wife.

‘When the marriage proposal arrived from the Basilian Duchy, I never imagined this day would come.’

As he reflected on the day he had signed the contract with a heavy heart, unaware of the luck that was about to unfold before him—

“Aghhk, I knew it would come to this!”

Delano wailed behind him.

Euclid looked back as if to ask what was wrong, and Delano whispered with a tearful face,

“Does Your Grace truly not understand why Her Ladyship dressed up like that today?”

It’s all because of His Highness the Crown Prince! His Highness!

Even though Delano had lowered his voice significantly, to Euclid it sounded like a thunderclap.

Euclid was not one to get angry easily, and it was even rarer for him to show it.

But Delano had been bringing up the Crown Prince ever since before they came to the capital, and eventually, that started to wear on him.

‘I’ve been trying so hard not to think about it…’

No matter how much Evgenia had said she’d given up on the Crown Prince, and even though he said he believed her, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

The fact that she had once liked him was enough to make him feel that way, and today, of all days, the Crown Prince was the star of both the victory parade and the banquet—it was impossible to ignore his presence.

And now that Delano kept linking Evgenia to the Crown Prince at every turn, Euclid’s mood sank beyond words.

Euclid stared at Delano with a visibly displeased expression.

But Delano, who was already convinced that Evgenia hadn’t let go of her lingering feelings for the Crown Prince and looked as if his world had collapsed, didn’t even notice.

“…….”

Anxiety was a contagious emotion.

Just like before, Euclid meant to say firmly that he trusted Evgenia, that she would never do such a thing. But before he knew it, he turned his gaze to her.

‘…Could it really be true?’

If he’d thought about it even a little rationally, he would have realized how absurd that was.

Evgenia’s dress today, like during the duchy inspection, was coordinated to match his—a couple outfit.

This time, it even matched the outfits of Marianne and Dior.

It had clearly been arranged in advance to make it obvious to everyone that they were one family.

Of course, among them, the lady of the house, Evgenia, wore the most extravagant dress.

Her gown, which transitioned naturally from a pale blue to violet, sparkled like a galaxy with diamond-like gems no larger than a pinky nail scattered from her chest all the way to the wide hem.

Even though he only now realized that the four of them were dressed similarly, Euclid’s heart had already been shaken, and a thought slipped through his mind.

Maybe Evgenia had matched their outfits to emphasize that the two of them were husband and wife, and a family—perhaps… to show the Crown Prince.

And perhaps it was also her way of reminding herself of her original intentions for choosing marriage, a way of grounding her heart.

Had Evgenia known that Euclid was digging himself into such a mental hole with all these needless thoughts, she would’ve stomped the ground in frustration.

After all the effort she had put in, her favorite person still had such low self-esteem—it was heartbreaking.

But unlike usual, Evgenia didn’t notice what Euclid was thinking or how he felt.

Because she was…

It was the day of the final showdown.

I exhaled solemnly like a general going into battle.

I had gotten up early, summoned all the dressing maids of the duchy, and put utmost care into styling myself from head to toe.

The result was… even I had to admit I looked stunning, and fierce… the very image of a perfect villainess.

‘Yes, I need to look at least like this if I’m going to face off with the Emperor.’

And it would put pressure on the nobles who had likely gossiped recklessly about me and Euclid.

Besides, today’s couple look—no, family look—was not just a product of my selfish desires.

‘Finally! The day has finally come!’

The day I would cleanly put to rest the dark past of chasing after the Crown Prince and the rumors that I still hadn’t gotten over him even after marriage!

One of my main goals today was to show a harmonious image with Euclid to prove to the whole world that I had given up on the Crown Prince and was now happily married.

Honestly, it didn’t seem all that difficult.

Euclid’s breathtaking looks were enough to make anyone understand why I had changed my heart!

‘Surely everyone will come to their own conclusion, right?’

And truly, Euclid looked exceptionally handsome today.

Even though I had poured all my energy and time into getting ready, he was so dazzling that just standing next to him made me feel invisible.

Still, I was at peak confidence right now.

Partly thanks to the children’s compliments.

‘Euclid’s gaze was unusual, too.’

He probably didn’t realize it himself, but the way he looked at me—as if he were entranced—was just like a man in love.

The way he barely managed to say I was beautiful, turned bright red, and couldn’t even meet my eyes properly—he was so cute.

‘I could stare at Euclid all day and never get bored.’

Sadly, I didn’t have that luxury right now.

It was still a bit early for the banquet, but the Emperor had insisted we attend the victory parade, so it was time to head to the palace.

Just imagining having to stand in front of the palace and wait for the Crown Prince was already exhausting.

Especially with the Emperor and the nobles watching, ready to attack at any moment—it was even worse.

I was unconsciously tensing up from the nerves when—

“Big Sister…”

Melissa, who had come out first, called to me softly.

But her expression seemed a bit gloomy for some reason.

“What is it, Melissa?”

“Ah… it’s nothing, really.”

It didn’t seem like nothing, but I nodded for now.

“Then let’s head out.”

The Duke of Basilian and Sionel were going to meet us directly at the palace, so it was just us leaving now.

Even during the carriage ride, Melissa continued to look gloomy.

‘Is it because of Damien?’

Since he came to the Rudion Duchy for volunteer work, Melissa probably never got the chance to confess.

So maybe she never got hurt either.

‘Or maybe it’s because of the Crown Prince.’

If he sends another proposal now that he’s returned, things could get complicated. So of course she’d be worried.

In the original story, the Crown Prince didn’t propose to Melissa right away, but he did act like he had chosen her as his Crown Princess.

‘Which made the original Evgénia, who was obsessed with him, go even more mad… Ah.’

I habitually recalled the original plot, only to remember that it didn’t matter anymore.

The villainess Evgenia had turned out to be a mastermind plotting rebellion, and the tragic hero Richard had abandoned revenge and been moved by a pure-hearted child.

‘Even High Priest Damien said he would follow the will of God and support me, didn’t he?’

Most importantly, I wasn’t obsessed with the Crown Prince anymore. Starting today, I intended to draw an even clearer line between us.

Which meant, Melissa’s relationship with the Crown Prince might change as well.

…And maybe even her relationship with me.

‘No way… Come on, that’s ridiculous.’

Still, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling as the Crown Prince’s face flashed in my mind before battle.

I tried to push it aside and calm myself.

“My wife… I believe we’ve arrived at the palace.”

Euclid, with a slightly stiff voice, looked at me and checked my expression.

‘…?’

Now what’s with him looking so uneasy?