Episode 9
I avoided his intense gaze and lowered my head slightly.
“I trust that Father will choose wisely, but still, a family with too low a status…”
“Evgenia.”
As I hesitated, feeling somewhat intimidated, the Duke suddenly called my name.
“No need to say things like that. You are the Basilian Duke’s daughter, no matter what anyone says.”
“…Right?”
When I looked up at the Duke in response to his obvious statement, he cleared his throat and continued.
“The family has its pride. We would never choose someone beneath our standards.”
It seemed like my intentions had been clearly understood—that if I couldn’t become the Crown Princess, I would at least want to become a duchess.
“Yes, that’s right. If their status is suitable, then wealth doesn’t matter. After all, you’ll make sure I don’t suffer by providing a generous dowry and trousseau, right?”
I said this to further secure my position, and maybe to extract a little more money if possible.
Even though I hadn’t reincarnated as an ordinary noble young lady or a maid but as the wealthiest Duke’s daughter in the empire, my fortune seemed to be favoring me in this world as well—but it never hurts to be sure.
The Duke, caught by my sparkling, determined gaze, nodded and stammered, “Y-Yes, of course.”
Although I already knew from the novel how magnificent Evgenia’s dowry and bridal gifts were, it was satisfying to hear confirmation once more.
Still, outwardly, I maintained a sad smile. Now that I had said everything I’d prepared and received the answer I wanted, I was ready to turn and leave the office.
“…”
But my feet wouldn’t move.
For some reason, I felt an urge to say something more.
As the Duke’s curious gaze fell upon me, my mouth moved on its own.
“I admit I’ve acted recklessly until now.”
“Evgenia.”
“I’ve been harsh on the family as well.”
“…”
Seeing the Duke look at me with an indescribable expression, a heavy feeling, a suppressed sense of guilt that had been weighing on me, began to rise.
“There will be no more of that.”
No matter what mistakes I make, the Evgenia you’ve worried over and cherished so much no longer exists.
Even though I could apologize, I didn’t have the courage to tell the truth.
Feeling like a coward, I quickly turned to leave the office.
At that moment—
“Huh…?”
Suddenly, my head spun, and my body tilted to the side.
“Evgenia?”
“E-Evgenia!”
“Summon the physician at once! Evgenia…!”
***
After Evgenia collapsed.
The employees who opened the office door to find the Duke urgently searching for a physician felt a strange sense of déjà vu, even though it was a rare sight.
It couldn’t be helped; a similar situation had occurred less than a week ago.
The difference this time was that Evgenia had quietly lost consciousness.
“Her forehead is burning! Did you summon her here without realizing she was unwell?”
“Quiet, Alexis. Step aside.”
“Where is the physician? Has the physician arrived?”
“Father, please calm down. The physician will come directly to Evgenia’s room.”
Unlike before, new faces were present, surrounding the panicked Duke.
Sionel, carrying Evgenia swiftly to her room, was followed closely by Alexis.
“I prescribed some medicine for her, as she mentioned feeling a bit under the weather. You don’t need to worry too much,” the physician, who had rushed to Evgenia’s room, spoke, trying to reassure them, and the Duke finally relaxed, sinking into a chair before shouting again.
“How could she catch a cold when she’s been confined to her room for days?”
Both Anne and Alexis, who knew of Evgenia’s brief outing, flinched at this.
Sionel, who was gazing at his pale, perspiring sister, furrowed his brow.
“Could this be a consequence of her previous accident?”
“Excuse me? Not at all! As I reported to the Duke, it was just a minor bruise on her forehead. She fainted that time merely from the anger she felt.”
Anne pursed her lips slightly at the physician’s words.
A minor bruise, indeed. That incident had caused her to lose a bit of her memory—a terrifying development!
Although it seemed unlikely, she couldn’t help but wonder if the Duke’s physician was perhaps incompetent.
Apparently, she wasn’t the only one harboring this doubt, as the Duke’s voice thundered.
“Then why is Evgenia in such a state?”
“Well, I believe it may be that the Lady’s body and mind have become severely weakened…”
As the doctor hesitated uncertainly, the Duke’s face contorted in a frown, ready to start lecturing him.
“Oh, so the child is sick, and yet you leave the house! Imagine waking up after fainting and not finding any family around – the disappointment and hurt she must have felt! No wonder her condition didn’t improve, but worsened instead!”
Alexis shouted angrily at the Duke.
“What? Disappointment? Hurt?” The Duke’s face was bewildered, finding these words far too out of character for Evgenia.
Just then, as Sionel was about to say something, he heard a quiet “Ah.”
Noticing the small sound, Sionel turned toward the maid.
Caught under the gaze of not only the Duke and Alexis but also the young lord, Anne spoke cautiously.
“In fact, when the young lady woke up, she did ask why the Duke hadn’t come. When I told her he was away, her eyes filled with tears as she gazed toward the door.”
“…!”
“…!”
The Duke and Sionel, taken aback, looked down at Evgenia’s face in unison.
“See? I knew it!” Alexis’s triumphant voice echoed in their ears.
***
A heavy silence filled the office as Duke Basilian and Sionel returned. The Duke finally broke it.
“She… Evgenia… she looked for me, and even felt hurt. I can hardly believe it. I only hoped she wouldn’t cause a scene like last time, saying she’d rather die…”
He was sincere. His heart still skipped a beat recalling the time when Evgenia, enraged upon learning of his marriage proposal to Melissa, had hit her head against the wall in fury, bleeding from her forehead as she collapsed.
Even while away from the capital, he constantly received updates about his daughter. Though reassured by reports that Evgenia remained calm, he felt like it was the calm before a storm.
And upon his return, when a maid came to him, he knew the moment had come.
As always, he expected her to act out.
So, knowing she’d hate it, he summoned Sionel, unwilling to witness her injure herself again.
But then…
“Father…”
Sionel didn’t mock the Duke’s amazement, as if he were a parent hearing “dad” from their child for the first time.
In truth, he shared a similar sentiment.
Evgenia, who had loathed her family since childhood, keeping her father, himself, and their younger brother Alexis at arm’s length, treating them almost as mortal enemies.
‘She held back tears even when their mother passed, only breaking down alone in her room…’
Outwardly calm as ever, Sionel wrestled with the complex emotions stirred by his sister’s tears.
“I was told her health was fine…” The Duke murmured skeptically, noting how Evgenia seemed unlike her usual self.
“The crown prince’s engagement to Melissa must have been a shock to her,” Sionel replied.
The Duke clenched his teeth in anger toward the crown prince who had humiliated his daughter.
His proud Evgenia! How much effort had she put into winning the prince’s favor?
Granted, he knew Evgenia’s attachment to the prince was excessive. But she was the distinguished lady of a founding noble family, after all.
Yet, he had proposed to Melissa, her cousin, instead of her!
“It’s sad Evgenia was hurt, but ultimately, it’s for the best.”
The Duke nodded in agreement.
Though he’d worried about convincing her to marry, she now seemed open to the idea. It couldn’t have been better.
“We should proceed with Evgenia’s marriage right away.”
“Right away… you mean?”
Although he had already decided and was fully prepared to arrange her marriage, he found himself hesitating now that it was time to take action.
“Father. Evgenia is as stubborn as she is capricious. She may be feeling betrayed now, but we don’t know when she might change her mind.”
“That’s true, but…”
“Moreover, there’s no shortage of suitable candidates.”
The Duke recalled the tall, elegant young man with a gentle demeanor. Not a single flaw in his eldest son’s reasoning.
“Yes, we must act quickly.”
Before Evgenia could change her mind.
With a man of matching stature to the Basilian house, someone who wouldn’t refuse her despite her reputation and the rumors surrounding her.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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