IFLDMHF | Chapter 144

Episode 144

Of course, it was undeniable that it was a mysterious item.

But even so, wasn’t it just for ornamental use?

Kaiden doubted whether the golden egg really held enough value for Evgenia to be interested in.

Even though he was practically scouring the entire continent to retrieve that golden egg under the emperor’s orders, he still felt that way.

‘Then why hasn’t she told me about it until now?’

If she had told him she wanted it, he would have offered the golden egg to Evgenia instead of the emperor.

As Kaiden thought about that absentmindedly, he realized for the first time that he had never tried to deeply understand what Evgenia truly wanted.

Even though he had suspected there might be another reason behind her rejection of the crown princess title, not just as an excuse.

Instead, he had only wished for one thing.

That Evgenia would relent and truly love him, just as he wanted.

This was the first time he had ever reflected on their relationship in this way.

“……”

For some reason, his chest felt tight and his mood strange.

He had always known that his relationship with Evgenia wasn’t normal, but he had believed that all the blame lay with Evgenia.

‘Maybe…’

The thought that he himself might have been at fault as well made his stomach churn.

But Kaiden, born with an inherently arrogant nature, couldn’t bear even the fleeting notion that he might be wrong.

So, furrowing his brow, he shook off that feeling.

And along with it came a foreboding premonition—that if he continued like this, he would never be able to close the distance between him and Evgenia.

“I still remember it clearly. The Duke of Basilian came to me asking if he could buy it, saying it was the first thing you ever said you wanted.”

Recalling the moment fondly, the emperor spoke but then paused mid-sentence.

He had gone out of his way to call her the Duchess of Rudion and draw a clear line, but now, excited, he had unwittingly dragged the Duke of Basilian into it.

Still, the Duke of Basilian would be sensitive to anything involving his daughter, regardless of titles.

But as he held the empire’s financial power, there was no need to create hostility.

The emperor added with a gentle smile.

“Of course, considering what the golden egg symbolizes, it was an excessive request, but didn’t it also show the deep trust between the Duke of Basilian and the imperial family?”

Then he returned to the main point.

“Of course, unless he were to offer an entire mana stone mine, the golden egg is a priceless item beyond monetary value, so I had no choice but to refuse.”

At those words, Evgenia’s eyes lit up in disbelief as she asked,

“An entire mana stone mine?”

“Of course. The golden egg is worth that much!”

Whether it was arrogance or sincerity, Evgenia couldn’t tell.

But she was delighted to hear the word “mana stone” from the emperor’s mouth.

She hadn’t intended to hide it, so her reaction was one of open interest, prompting the emperor to ask with a puzzled expression,

“Why? Are you planning to offer a mana stone mine in exchange for the golden egg?”

“If I did, would you accept the deal?”

With no real intent, Evgenia asked slyly in return.

The emperor scoffed.

“Hah! I might consider it, but even the Duke of Basilian, the wealthiest man on the continent, doesn’t own a mana stone mine.”

And finally, the emperor uttered the name of the family he most wanted to involve in this matter.

“Of course, the Duke of Rudion is no different. It’s a pity, really, that they don’t even own a decent mine, let alone one with mana stones.”

The emperor shook his head with an exaggerated voice.

“There are rumors going around that I discriminate against the North and the Duke of Rudion, but isn’t that a completely ridiculous claim? I am the father of the empire—what father would wish for his child’s failure?”

At those words, Kaiden unconsciously twisted his lips.

Unaware that his only child was mocking him, the emperor continued with a disappointed look.

“But the barrenness of the North has existed since the founding of the empire, and since the Duke of Rudion has consistently refused the imperial family’s aid, what more could I do?”

‘Ah. So he intends to dump all the blame on the Duke of Rudion this way?’

Evgenia curled up one side of her mouth.

“Is that true? Did the Duke of Rudion really reject your support?”

The emperor was caught off guard, not expecting Evgenia to question him here.

“Of course. Do you think I, the emperor, would lie?”

But he quickly stiffened his face and threw the question back at her.

Because he had calculated that there was no way she could directly contradict his words here.

The House of Rudion, which barely caught its breath through this marriage alliance, had no solid foundation and would be doomed if it opposed the imperial family.

Even if they trusted the House of Basilian, they had no military power to confront the empire.

Now emboldened, the emperor found Evgenia—who had dared to put him on the spot—deeply offensive.

So he deliberately mocked what she had said at the victory ceremony.

“It seems you haven’t grasped the situation yet, as you’ve only recently become the duchess. It would be best for you to have more conversations with your ‘one and only wonderful’ husband.”

His words carried more than sarcasm; they insinuated that, despite appearances, she hadn’t even been entrusted with the internal affairs of the House of Rudion and that theirs was a distant, superficial relationship.

Considering that Evgenia had begun organizing the ledgers just a day after arriving at the ducal estate, his words were absurd.

It was at that moment that Euclid, who had been listening, became choked up and almost stepped forward without thinking.

“I see. Perhaps I misunderstood Your Majesty’s sincerity by only looking at the reality in front of me.”

As if she had anticipated Euclid’s outburst and sought to stop it in advance, Evgenia quickly bowed her head.

If she agreed with the emperor’s words here, it would later undermine the legitimacy of independence.

So she used the word misunderstanding, leaving room for interpretation and stepping back just enough.

Fortunately, the emperor seemed satisfied with having drawn even this degree of polite response from the usually prideful Evgenia, and he soon put on a benevolent expression.

“If you’ve realized it now, then that’s a relief.”

And once again, he emphasized the grace of the imperial family, opening his mouth to further paint the Rudion ducal house as ungrateful for not recognizing that grace.

“In fact, I was a bit disappointed to hear that you were staying at the Basilian mansion instead of the Rudion estate here in the capital.”

“……”

“Of course, it’s not that I don’t understand your desire to stay at your family home, Duchess, but I do hope you’ll visit the capital frequently even from the North. After all, the Rudion estate in the capital, which is managed entirely by the imperial household down to the servants, has been left empty without its mistress.”

Evgenia let out a hollow laugh as she looked at the emperor, who had finally brought up the Rudion estate in the capital, something she had only suspected he might do.

She had already received a report on the matter and now found his words shameless.

But whether he had become engrossed in his own lie or not, the emperor wore the pitiful expression of a magnanimous ruler willing to embrace a wayward subject at his own expense.

Even Evgenia, who had only recently become the duchess, felt a surge of anger seeing that face—how much more must Euclid be feeling?

Evgenia glanced sideways at Euclid with concern in her eyes.

As expected, his expression was dark and sunken.

Biting her lip slightly, Evgenia’s gaze passed Euclid and briefly turned toward the terrace, before finally landing on the closed main doors of the grand hall.

Then she brightened her expression and turned back to the emperor.

“I had no idea Your Majesty cared so deeply for the North and the House of Rudion.”

“But of course—”

“Then, may I take it to mean that Your Majesty wishes for the North to rise from its hardships and prosper, unlike in the past?”

The emperor paused at the sudden question.

Even if he had immersed himself in the role of a benevolent monarch, it wasn’t enough to completely conceal his true intentions.

“Why? Didn’t you just say so? That there’s no father who would wish ill upon his own child. Surely you weren’t being insincere in all you’ve said until now, were you?”

“Th-that would be absurd. Of course I sincerely wish for the North to flourish.”

Pressed by Evgenia’s barrage of questions and suspicious gaze, the emperor had no choice but to answer through gritted teeth.

If he hesitated here, even his feeble excuses about never oppressing the North or the Rudion house would fall apart.

But with that forced reply came a creeping sense of shame and defeat over having said something so hollow.

On top of that, blessing the North when he knew full well his words carried no real weight left him feeling uneasy.

So he added words that didn’t need to be said.

“But the North’s poverty isn’t something that started yesterday or today. Even if the Duke of Basilian stepped in, that barren land won’t easily change. Though my heart aches, if prosperity were so easily achieved, it would have happened long ago…”

At that moment—

Suddenly, the grand hall’s main doors burst open, and a belatedly informed attendant shouted,

“Th-the Tower Master is entering!”