IFLDMHF | Chapter 143

Episode 143

There was no doubt about it.

Having lived in harsh conditions on the battlefield and finally arriving at the imperial palace after a grueling march, how hungry must he have been while washing up and changing clothes?

Besides, the palace surely prepared some light food for the returning knights to eat before the banquet.

He must have eaten that food without restraint, and his stomach reacted badly to the sudden influx.

‘How is he even similar to Dior in this way too!’

I clicked my tongue and shook my head, but for some reason, the reactions around me were odd.

“Evgenia.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t think that’s it.”

Sionel spoke cautiously.

“Why not?”

“Because Alexis isn’t a child like Dior.”

Having said that, she seemed to lose some confidence.

“Well, he is a bit immature…”

Sionel added.

As I scoffed lightly and Sionel fell silent, Duke Basilian shook his head.

“You two are looking down on Alexis too much just because he’s younger than you. How could you compare him to that little Dior?”

Then, he turned to Euclid with an awkward expression, seemingly embarrassed in front of his son-in-law.

“I’m worried you might develop a bias before even meeting him. Alexis isn’t as mature as Marianne… and his personality is rather simple… but he’s a good kid.”

Excuse me, Duke? Are you sure you’re defending him? Marianne is much younger than Alexis, though?

Duke Basilian also looked a bit embarrassed after saying that, his face turning red.

Then Euclid quickly opened his mouth.

“I’ve heard Sir Alexis is an outstanding knight. You must feel very reassured having such a reliable youngest son.”

“Hm.”

Apparently quite pleased with Euclid’s comment, the duke nodded with a characteristic villainous smile.

His expression seemed to be saying, ‘As expected of my son-in-law!’

Seeing that, I suddenly thought Duke Basilian must be unlucky with his children.

‘An oblivious eldest son and a youngest whose mental age is like a child… what a combination…’

Of course, the biggest problem was probably his devious daughter who pretended to hate her family, played the villainess in public, and acted as the secret mastermind behind the scenes. Still, with a son-in-law like Euclid, things might balance out.

‘Yes, couples are said to become one in heart and mind after all.’

With that idle thought, I glanced toward the emperor.

He had been quite humiliated during the victory ceremony, so I hoped he’d let things go—but I couldn’t shake the feeling that he might still hold a grudge and not leave me alone.

But it was only the crown prince who kept glaring at me with burning eyes. The emperor himself was too busy examining the treasure from the Duchy of Dimondra presented by the grand duchess.

Just when I was thinking it was a relief—

“Oh, that reminds me. I wanted to show this golden egg to the Duchess of Rudion after so long.”

…Just like that?

As the emperor summoned Evgenia once again following the victory ceremony, the nobles’ expressions turned odd.

Originally, they had been curious to see how Evgenia, now married, would interact with the crown prince—but after her firm distancing, their interest had long faded.

The problem wasn’t Evgenia’s fault, but the victory ceremony turned into a mess because of her words.

Of course, what enraged the emperor most was the head priest who left after delivering a speech that didn’t sound like a congratulatory address at all—but in any case, the emperor’s feelings toward Evgenia couldn’t be good.

So there was no way he had called her out with good intentions.

‘What is His Majesty’s intention…?’

‘He’s probably trying to embarrass her subtly, right?’

That seemed highly likely.

Pretending to be magnanimous but actually petty, the emperor always stored grudges and found ways to get revenge later.

However, since he had never clashed directly with Duke Basilian, people were nervous about whether something serious might happen.

Meanwhile, some were more concerned about Kaiden than the emperor.

‘Why is His Highness the Crown Prince acting that way? He’s been staring holes into the duchess…’

‘Right? I thought he might not have heard about the marriage.’

But earlier, when the emperor called her “Duchess of Rudion” instead of by name, Kaiden showed no surprise at all.

Instead, he just clenched his jaw and stared at Evgenia even more intensely.

People began to suspect that something unknown had happened between the two of them.

However, no one seemed to realize the truly important event that had just occurred, one that subtly changed the atmosphere in the hall.

It was the fact that the emperor had called Evgenia “Duchess of Rudion,” drawing a line.

Of course, Evgenia understood the meaning instantly.

It meant the emperor no longer saw her as the daughter of Duke Basilian, but simply as the wife of the head of House Rudion—a hostile noble house.

And by summoning her as the “duchess,” he was effectively declaring her a target.

‘So much for letting it slide quietly…’

Evgenia thought, accepting that the inevitable had finally arrived.

At the same time, she couldn’t help but admire the emperor’s cleverness.

Since rumors already cast suspicion over House Rudion, summoning the duke himself could easily be seen as a political provocation. But attacking Evgenia—who was better known as the daughter of Basilian or a villainess—was a much safer move.

Still, the emperor’s choice was fortunate for Evgenia.

Even if Euclid could skillfully avoid the emperor’s traps and handle the situation, she never wanted to send him into such nerve-wracking circumstances to begin with.

Feeling light-hearted, Evgenia took a step forward.

She was now stepping up as the representative of House Rudion, so more than ever, she held herself with grace and poise.

Seeing her, the emperor unconsciously frowned.

Evgenia looked far too composed.

In truth, the emperor had always admired this quality in her, yet also found it displeasing.

Her refusal to lower herself even before the emperor, her arrogance—it all grated on him.

So when Kaiden had fiercely rejected her, the emperor had warned that Kaiden should marry her, but had made no real effort to intervene.

Though he would eventually accept her as a daughter-in-law because he couldn’t pass up the alliance with House Basilian, he had felt it would be best to crush that pride of hers at least once.

Now that the marriage had fallen through, the flaws he once overlooked seemed glaring.

‘Hmph! Turns out she met someone just like her.’

Pretentious despite having nothing—she reminded him so much of House Rudion.

Thinking about how he’d soon shatter that pride made the emperor smirk involuntarily.

“The duchess must remember it, having seen it before.”

At the emperor’s words, Evgenia flinched slightly and turned her gaze.

On the red velvet cushion with golden tassels held by the grand duchess lay a truly dazzling golden egg.

‘It really does look like an egg. Just… maybe three times bigger.’

I’d heard the comparisons before, but it was the first time seeing an actual golden egg.

And that was the problem.

“Don’t you remember? Didn’t you see this at the palace when you were young?”

The emperor tilted his head at Evgenia’s expression.

“As I recall, you even cried when you saw it. Well, it is a mysterious egg laid by a real goose, so I suppose it’s understandable to be shocked and moved.”

…What? Seriously?

A goose that lays golden eggs actually existed?

I had naturally assumed it was a gemstone forged from pure gold, so this was unexpected.

I was deeply surprised—but couldn’t let it show.

Listening to the emperor, it was clear Evgenia had indeed seen that golden egg as a child and had even cried.

“…Come to think of it, I think I do remember. It was really amazing.”

Evgenia replied with an awkward smile.

At that, Kaiden raised one eyebrow.

He vividly remembered the day Ecgenia first saw the golden egg. Of course he did.

It was the first time he had ever seen the emotionally reserved Evgenia cry.

But the tears she shed then weren’t from some naive emotion like wonder.

If anything, it was a deep, profound longing that defied explanation.

Still, Evgenia had been young, and more than that, she wasn’t the type to feel such wistful emotions.

So he had brushed it off lightly at the time…

“Haha. That’s why, even though you grew up seeing all sorts of rare things from birth, you must’ve begged to have it as soon as you got home.”

…She wanted it that badly?

Evgenia, who had everything as a daughter of House Basilian and never showed greed for anything, had actually longed for this?

Kaiden looked truly shocked.