IFLDMHF | Chapter 150

Episode 150

I slowly opened my eyes.

For some reason, my mind didn’t clear right away, and I felt a bit dazed.

“Madam, you’re awake?”

At that moment, Anne’s voice came through.

She must have been preparing water for washing and spotted me while coming out of the bathroom.

“Mm…”

I answered absentmindedly, rubbing my eyes, and then suddenly sprang up in shock.

What is this? I was definitely confronting that crazy Crown Prince in the Grand Hall—why am I like this now? Don’t tell me it’s already the next day?

Looking outside the window, it really was morning.

I hadn’t even drunk alcohol, and yet I’d blacked out!

It was absurd, but to be honest, not entirely incomprehensible.

Even though I had a fear of blades, I’d never had much trouble with daily life.

But the moment the Crown Prince drew his sharply honed sword, I experienced a panic like never before.

Just like when I first transmigrated and saw Gressel’s spear guarding my door—I couldn’t even shut my eyes tight.

If I even blinked wrong, I felt like the Crown Prince would swing his sword and injure Euclid.

That thought moved my body before anything else.

The urge to protect Euclid had overcome my fear.

It might have been that desperate—or I might’ve been out of my mind.

Well, that would explain why I had the nerve to threaten a man with a sword.

‘I think I told him not to lay a hand on my husband or family…’

Honestly, I was so worked up that I couldn’t quite remember what exactly I’d said.

What I remembered more clearly was what I asked Euclid after the confrontation with the Crown Prince.

— Are you okay?

— …You’re asking if I’m okay?

— You’re not hurt, are you?

— Wife, are you really asking me that now?

I could still vividly see Euclid’s face, eyes reddened as he asked back.

Now, I understand how shocked and worried Euclid must’ve been by my actions.

But at the time, all I felt was immense relief that Euclid was unharmed.

And that was the last thing I remembered.

I must’ve fainted once the tension released.

“How did I get home?”

“Duke Rudion carried you back, unconscious.”

Ah… I had a feeling, and of course, that’s what happened.

Evgenia, you idiot. You should’ve kept your senses sharp.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime historic moment—Euclid doing a princess carry—and I missed it!

It was so unfair I felt like crying.

‘The people who were at the Grand Hall yesterday hit the jackpot.’

They got to witness what I didn’t even see.

I thought of it like a joke, but thinking about how I became the star of a scandal far bigger than the Emperor’s slip of the tongue or the Tower Lord’s revelation, my chest tightened.

It would’ve been perfect if things had ended when the Tower Lord delivered that crushing blow to the Emperor.

Just as I was rubbing my temples with a sigh.

“Madam.”

A voice, full of sorrow, came through.

Startled, I looked up to find Anne gazing at me with teary eyes.

“Were you very worried?”

Only after asking did I realize what a foolish question that was.

Anne had always stayed by my side since my transmigration, so of course she would be worried.

“The wound was really deep. You bled a lot, too.”

“…”

“That’s why you lost consciousness.”

Still visibly shaken from witnessing the incident outside the Grand Hall, Anne spoke sorrowfully.

‘Should I apologize for making her worry? Reassure her I won’t do anything dangerous again?’

But that wasn’t how I truly felt.

Even if time were turned back, I would’ve acted the same.

In the end, all I could say was that I was fine…

Just then, I remembered how Euclid had firmly denied my claim of being fine and bit down on my lower lip.

“Still, Madam.”

“Mm?”

“I was actually happy when I heard what happened at the banquet.”

“…Were you?”

“Yes. I couldn’t say it out loud, but it was really frustrating and upsetting that everyone believed you liked the Crown Prince. Every time you returned from meeting him, you looked so distressed… And yet they kept spouting nonsense, not even knowing that.”

Anne wiped her tears and smiled brightly.

“But now, no one will be making such ridiculous misunderstandings anymore.”

Seeing Anne’s face filled with genuine relief made me smile as well.

But soon, worry crept in.

“The rumors are already all over, aren’t they?”

Rather than gossip about me and the Crown Prince, I had hoped that news of the Emperor, Duke Rudion’s family, and the Emperor being attacked would spread far and wide.

Oblivious to my inner thoughts, Anne nodded brightly.

“Yes, even though we didn’t do anything special, the rumors have already spread all over the capital.”

“That far?”

“It looks like the noble families who attended the banquet yesterday started moving.”

She explained that many parents who had only suspected or refused to believe their daughters until now saw the Crown Prince’s true nature with their own eyes—and began to think those long-held doubts might actually be true.

Because of that, rumors about the noble ladies who had gone missing due to the Crown Prince were also starting to circulate little by little.

‘Wow… at this rate, isn’t the Crown Prince’s marriage prospects completely blocked?’

He turned the woman he obsessed over into a villainess and ruined the lives of women he wasn’t even interested in.

Even if he changed and genuinely wanted to form a proper relationship with someone, it wouldn’t be easy. The noble ladies would likely run away in fear the moment he showed interest.

‘Well, I’m sure at least one person will come flying in like a moth to a flame.’

The position of Crown Princess or Empress is still attractive, after all.

I had no interest whatsoever in the Crown Prince’s romance or marriage, but just thinking about how my name would be dragged up alongside his every time made the back of my neck ache already.

I was just irritably sweeping my face with both hands.

‘Huh?’

At that moment, I felt a strange sense of incongruity and looked down at my palm.

There was no sign of the wound that had supposedly been so deep I fainted from blood loss.

As I stared blankly at my perfectly fine hand, Anne quickly explained.

“Duke Basilian contacted the temple immediately last night.”

“At that hour?”

I asked in surprise, and Anne nodded. Then, after a bit of hesitation, she continued.

“And the High Priest came.”

“Ah.”

It was Damien, who had traveled all the way to the distant north saying he would help me according to the will of the Duchess, so it was only natural that he would come in person after hearing I was hurt.

I wasn’t particularly surprised by that fact, but I did think others might have been startled.

Though, given how shocking the events of the banquet were, maybe they didn’t even have the mental space to care about that…

“It seems the High Priest noticed something.”

Huh? Noticed what?

While I was briefly distracted by other thoughts, Anne bowed her head.

“It’s definitely because of me. I should’ve been more careful when he came to the duchy last time, but I didn’t expect him to appear just then… No, that’s just an excuse. You told me before that the High Priest seemed sharp, that even with the robe, he might pick up on unconscious habits or gestures, so I should be cautious—but I let my guard down. I’m sorry, Madam.”

“No, it’s okay.”

My mind was full of question marks, but when I saw Anne about to kneel, I hurriedly stopped her and responded reflexively.

Then Anne pouted and protested.

“But you wanted to keep it a secret. Things like how you used to give out bread and clothes when the High Priest lived in the slums, or how on the last day of every month you would pray in the secluded chapel…”

“…!”

Oh no. There was such a backstory with Damien?

As soon as I heard Anne’s words, something from the original story flashed through my mind.

On the day the goddess Hesseirin hears prayers, there was a scene describing how Damien would head to the least frequented chapel in the temple!

That’s why Melissa missed him when she went to the temple, and I remembered it clearly because of that.

‘Evgenia… could it be that your identity is actually like an onion?’

Another secret hidden beneath layers was coming out.

At least it wasn’t a twisted connection with Damien—thank goodness.

Of course, even if that were the case, the devout Damien would have helped me according to the will of the goddess.

‘If he found out I was the benefactor, he’d surely become even more determined… Wait, don’t tell me.’

Could it be that when Damien spoke of “pain and sorrow” to the Crown Prince during the victory ceremony, he was talking about me?

He’s known for treating nobles and commoners alike with fairness and impartiality—could such a righteous High Priest really act on personal feelings like this…?

It seemed doubtful, but even if I felt uneasy, it was already done.

Fortunately, it passed without major issues.

Still, I felt an odd sense of responsibility and immediately gave an order.

“The temple might face retaliation from the imperial family because of the High Priest’s blessing. Go and personally tell him that if he ever needs help, he can come to me without hesitation.”

Anne widened her eyes and stared at me.

I could tell exactly what she was thinking, so I chuckled and added,

“I mean as the Duchess of Rudion. The fact that I wore a robe and did volunteer work and went to the chapel still stays a secret.”