It Feels Like I’m About to be Divorced, But my Husband is My Favorite

Episode 48

The voice was filled with concern, as if worried the Duchess might misunderstand.

It was the first time Euclid had been this tense, glancing nervously at someone else.

Amy, shocked by this and by Evgenia’s unexpected attention to such matters, felt her cheek twitch involuntarily.

‘Goodness, how could such a shameless woman exist?’

Even though she had famously pursued the Crown Prince all over the Empire, now that she was married, she was interrogating Duke Rudion?

Moreover, her indifferent expression didn’t make it seem like she had any special interest in the Duke.

Even after hearing the explanation, all she did was give a slight nod, her cold gaze still fixed on Amy.

‘It feels like she just doesn’t like me for no reason…’

Amy couldn’t even guess why.

The only thing that came to mind was the infamous stories about Evgenia that had even reached the far northern territories.

Stories about her slapping young ladies who danced or partnered with the Crown Prince and humiliating them so thoroughly they couldn’t show their faces in society again.

The Basileian lady—now the undisputed Duchess of Rudion—seemed capable of eliminating her without a trace.

She wouldn’t care that Amy was the younger sister of the late Duchess. Judging by how Duke Rudion was struggling to defend her, Evgenia wouldn’t hesitate to tarnish his pride either.

As the daughter of a family that owned a moderately successful trading company, Amy quickly calculated her chances.

‘I’d better avoid her.’

It didn’t hurt her pride; the situation was just that unreasonable.

Besides, she had already set things in motion with the Duke’s precious nieces, whom he adored.

‘It would’ve been nice to confirm things myself…’

But there was no need to insist, especially when so much attention was on her.

Confident her plan would succeed without a hitch, Amy adjusted her demeanor and spoke politely.

“Since today was the Duke’s return, the young master was quite restless and fussy, causing me to intrude until this late hour. I’ll take my leave now.”

She subtly sowed the seeds for what would come next, shifting some of the blame onto Dior.

“Will you come tomorrow as well?”

“Pardon?”

“What time will you come?”

But that cursed Basilian lady—or rather, the Duchess—seemed to be focused solely on her.

Amy had planned to visit again, as if it were her own home, but under such scrutiny, she couldn’t bring herself to say so.

Then Evgenia unexpectedly spoke again.

“I plan to tour the estate in the morning tomorrow. If you’re coming, do so in the afternoon.”

The head maid and other servants standing by the wall stirred.

It was customary for noble ladies to wake up late, closer to midday.

And wasn’t tonight supposed to be their first night as a married couple?

So, what could it mean if she planned to wake early and inspect the estate instead?

While the servants were confused, Amy was reeling for another reason entirely.

Normally, she would head straight to see Marianne and Dior upon arriving at the estate. But Evgenia’s words made it clear she expected Amy to greet her first.

Effortlessly asserting her authority, Evgenia was no ordinary woman.

‘I’ll have to lay low for a while.’

A strange, ominous feeling swept over Amy.

“Then, I shall take my leave.”

“Pardon? Oh, yes.”

It was only after receiving permission that Amy could finally leave the dining room, biting her lip in frustration.

Before she exited, she discreetly signaled to Dior, who had been thoroughly distracted by the delicious food in front of him.

Startled, Dior flinched, lowering his head instinctively.

Because of that, he missed the sight of Amy hurriedly fleeing like a startled foal.

But someone else was watching Dior with keen interest.

“It seems the children might be hungry. We should begin the meal,” Evgenia said.

Her words startled Dior, who looked up in surprise.

His aunt was watching him. Her gaze seemed a little sharp, causing Dior to shrink back slightly.

But it was strange.

‘I was told she’s a bad person…’

Actually, when I first saw her, and even now, her face was a little scary.

Perhaps it was because she gave me so much candy and so many gifts.

I couldn’t help but think that he might actually be a good person.

‘B-but I like Uncle more!’

It was only natural to say so.
To Dior, Uncle Euclid was just like a father.

And Amy had told him that he had to help so that Uncle wouldn’t get into trouble.

Repeating those words earnestly in his mind, Dior hurriedly began to chew on her food.

“Dior, you must have been very hungry. But eat slowly, or you’ll get a stomachache.”

Then came her uncle’s always gentle voice.

The warm comfort that drove away the dark, frightening shadows spread throughout her chest.

When Dior nodded vigorously, his uncle smiled softly and cautiously asked,
“Dior, were you very scared because Uncle wasn’t here?”

Startled, Dior glanced at Euclid, as if trying to gauge his reaction.

Seeing only worry and guilt in his gaze, Dior unconsciously avoided his eyes.

His foolishly kind uncle hadn’t even scolded him for saying mean things instead of welcoming the new aunt. Instead, he must have felt sorry after hearing Amy’s words.

‘Honestly, I was a little scared.’

Until now, Uncle had rarely left the mansion without Dior and his sister.

Unlike the quietly falling snow, on those rare stormy nights of thunder and lightning, he would always grab his pillow and run to his uncle’s room. And he would always greet him with the same expression.

But this time, knowing that Uncle wasn’t in the mansion, he had visited his room at night out of habit, only to find it empty. And he had cried a little.

He couldn’t admit that—it was too embarrassing.

During the day, his sister was there, and she tried to get by, remembering her uncle’s words that he would return soon.

Hearing the news of Uncle’s marriage, Amy’s hysterical reaction had been both scary and slightly amusing since her sister said it was so funny she could die.

In any case, feeling like a baby throwing a tantrum made Dior a little embarrassed, but he still nodded.

“J-just a little.”

“I see. I’m sorry, Dior.”

“Mm.”

His uncle’s kind tone completely eased his tension, and Dior wriggled with delight, only to snap to his senses and open her eyes wide.

“T-then…”

“Yes?”

“T-tonight…”

‘No way, is this fool really about to ask to sleep together tonight?’

Seeing her younger sibling hesitate, Marianne looked flustered.

— Well, that probably won’t happen, but maybe it’s not a bad idea to outright block their first night together. They couldn’t even spend their first night in the Grace Room; how could she act so high and mighty as the lady of the house?

Certainly, mean Amy had mumbled that, insisting Dior stubbornly stand her ground for Uncle’s sake.

‘I told him not to listen to Amy!’

Amy was the last person who would ever do anything to help Uncle.

Above all, Marianne liked the new aunt.

It wasn’t that she, like her naive younger sibling, was won over by candy and toys.

— She’s filthy rich!

Even Amy, who was always whining about the Duke’s household being poor, said so. If Amy admitted it, the chances were high that she was unimaginably wealthy.

Of course, there were countless concerning things, like if she had a bad personality or liked someone other than Uncle, but that didn’t matter.

She would definitely help Uncle, who was always sighing over financial struggles, even while working tirelessly.

So, when Dior finally seemed determined to speak, Marianne cut in first.

“I heard you two are spending your ‘consummation’ together today?”

“Gasp!”

“Eek!”

The horrified reactions of the head maid and servants made Marianne tilt her head, but then she noticed Uncle Euclid frozen like ice and was startled.