ETDO Chapter 9

The star of tonight’s ball was, without a doubt, Ethan. The Emperor formally acknowledged Ethan’s great contributions and granted him a massive, valuable estate near the border.

Ethan was now bestowed with the title of Duke of Berwick. Amid the crowd’s admiration, Arthur looked on proudly at his twin, his expression brimming with satisfaction.

I turned my gaze slightly toward the members of the Wellington Ducal Family. The Duke of Wellington, with his enormous upward-curving mustache, and the stern-faced Duchess both looked as if they might burst with pride over their future son-in-law. Lady Wellington’s expression was no different from her parents’.

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Once the accolades and lavish rewards were distributed based on individual merits, the ball returned to its usual course. Champagne was popped, colorful finger foods were served, and everyone danced with excitement.

Everything was perfect—until the Emperor suddenly appeared before me with Ethan. The pale-faced Emperor acknowledged my greeting before announcing he had urgent matters to attend to and promptly left with both twins in tow.

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Left to myself, I muttered complaints under my breath but quickly came to terms with reality. There was no way for me to stop others from gossiping behind my back.

While I couldn’t help but feel discouraged, showing that wouldn’t do me any favors—it would only make their gossip more satisfying. My best option was to avoid unnecessary confrontations and steer clear of trouble as much as possible.

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I exchanged greetings with Countess Lennox and to the other vassals from the Beaufort household. As I engaged in a brief conversation with them, my waning self-esteem naturally recover bit by bit.

The glass of champagne I sipped left my body feeling pleasantly relaxed, even a bit bolder. As I set down my empty glass to pick up a new one, a deep voice suddenly called from behind me.

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“Duchess of Beaufort.”

Startled, I turned around to find a man in a splendid uniform with golden hair. I hurriedly bowed, lowering my head slightly. All I could see before me was the broad chest of a man adorned with a sky-blue sash.

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“It’s an honor to meet the Empire’s Little Sun.”

At his gesture, I straightened up, and the golden-haired man smiled charmingly. Though he carried himself differently from the twins, he was just as strikingly handsome, with his golden hair and blue eyes.

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“It’s the first time we’ve met since the wedding, Duchess. Arthur must have been hiding you away quite diligently—no matter how many invitations I sent, they were all ignored.”

“Oh…! I-I wasn’t aware Arthur had received such invitations… I apologize, Your Highness.”

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I was flustered. Honestly, I had no memory of seeing the Crown Prince during the wedding—it had all been so chaotic. Even now, I wouldn’t have recognized him if not for his attire.

The Crown Prince dismissed my apology with a smile and extended his hand. Hesitating, I placed my hand on his, and he lightly kissed the back of it.

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“I heard Arthur spent quite some time searching for you. He mentioned you were his first love when he was young.”

“Ah, yes… He did mention that to me as well.”

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I blushed. Arthur had indeed said something similar when we first met. He’d explained that our grandfathers were friends, which was how we first encountered each other back then. Though I hardly remembered it myself.

“No wonder he was unfazed by any young ladies we introduced to him. He made no excuses, no explanations—just an adamant refusal. But now, seeing you, it all makes sense.”

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I responded to the Crown Prince’s playful grin with an awkward smile. Not far away, Arthur and Ethan were deep in conversation with the Emperor. Whatever the important topic was, both of them wore serious, solemn expressions.

“Both of them are peculiar yet remarkable men.”

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When I glanced back at the Crown Prince, he locked eyes with me and smiled faintly as if he had been observing me the entire time.

“They may seem fine on the surface, but in truth, they’re deformed individuals, unable to survive without each other. It’s only natural, considering they grew up relying on one another from a young age, without a mother. They always hide deep within their own impenetrable shells. Ethan, in particular, speaks mischievous and harsh words with ease. Though he sometimes goes too far, he’s not a bad person. Most of the time, his actions stem from his desire to protect his younger brother, Arthur.”

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The Crown Prince, with his arms crossed, gazed at the twins thoughtfully. 

I cautiously responded to his words. 

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“Your Highness seems to know them very well.”

He turned to me and nodded quietly.

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“Well, we’re cousins. Being the same age, we grew up together and fought often—though I always lost. I was alone, but they were always two, so I was outnumbered from the start.”

When the Crown Prince chuckled, I laughed along. I could almost imagine the twins and the Crown Prince as tiny, mischievous boys, a far cry from the towering figures they had grown into now.

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“When we were young, I always envied my cousins who were much more talented than me. Sometimes, I was consumed with jealousy. His Majesty always praised Arthur and Ethan for their abilities and potential. It was His Majesty’s belief that the most capable step forward and lead the empire. Fortunately, those capable cousins now support me as my loyal subjects. I trust that you, Duchess, will also lend your strength by their side to ensure this continues.”

Meeting his gaze with a hint of confusion, I hesitated. The Crown Prince smiled broadly.

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“What I meant was, welcome to the Goodwin Imperial Family, Duchess of Beaufort.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

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The Crown Prince bowed gracefully again and walked away.

I watched his retreating figure for a moment before stepping outside. The heavy air of the ballroom clung to me, so I stepped out to cool the light sweat that had formed and escape the stifling atmosphere. The cool night air felt wonderfully refreshing against my damp skin.

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Holding a glass of champagne, I made my way to a secluded spot. Behind the grand balcony was a small bench, and I decided to give my poor, overworked feet a much-needed rest.

Sitting on the bench, I removed my shoes. Although the heels weren’t particularly high, the long hours of standing had left my feet aching. I massaged my toes and the soles of my feet, glancing around as I did.

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Thanks to the lush rose vines covering the area, the spot I had chosen was completely hidden from view. Relieved, I let out a quiet sigh. It was better not to give anyone a chance to notice me and seize the opportunity to gossip gleefully about the Duchess of Beaufort’s “lost dignity.”

I sat with my bare feet resting on the bench, sipping my champagne. From a distance, I could faintly hear lively music and laughter. Perhaps it was the slight buzz from the alcohol, but sitting alone like this felt more peaceful than lonely.

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I wasn’t sure how much time had passed. My sweat had now cooled, and I had drained the last sip from my glass. Just as I was considering returning to the ballroom, a sharp voice pierced the silence.

“Don’t lie to me!”

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It was a rather sharp voice. Startled, I quickly ducked my head like a turtle retreating into its shell and looked around. What was that?

“Do you think I wouldn’t recognize that look in your eyes? I’ve been your fiancée for many years—since childhood!”

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“That’s interesting. There’s someone who claims to know my emotions better than I do.”

The moment I heard the cynical, mocking voice that followed, I instinctively held my breath. I knew exactly who the owners of those voices were.

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“Of course I do. At the very least, I should know who my future husband has feelings for, don’t you think? That way, I can prepare accordingly!”

“Prepare? Such as?”

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Eden’s voice held a hint of amusement.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you that in advance. If I do so, that would only ruin the tension and excitement in our married life.

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The lady giggled, sounding slightly unnatural. A languid, indifferent voice answered shortly after.

“In that case, for the sake of tension and excitement, I see no need to answer your question either.”

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“Ethan!”

When her provocation failed to land, the lady suddenly let out a sharp cry.

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“Tell me! Do you? Are you interested?!”

Before I knew it, I was entirely engrossed in their conversation, ears perked up and fully focused. 

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What is this? Could it be… a lover’s quarrel?

Suddenly, the scene of the lady who had earlier sneered with such contempt and arrogance flashed through my mind. She was the same person who had mocked me behind my back, sneering about my “bedroom duties.” Now, I suddenly found myself intensely curious about what kind of expression she was wearing at this moment.

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“Even when you kept postponing our marriage, I tried to understand. I excused it when we were young, during your training as an heir, even when you abruptly abandoned your title and went to war. But now, the war is over, and you’ve officially received your title. What reason could you possibly have left to delay it?”

Her voice trembled slightly, as if barely containing her anger. Ethan remained silent, and I had no idea what he was doing. Like Lady Wellington, I found myself desperately waiting for his response, staring blankly at the roses in front of me holding my breath.

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“Is it because of that woman?”

Suddenly, I was confused. 

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That woman? 

Was there another woman besides Lady Wellington in Ethan’s life? 

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Was that cold, aloof man even capable of such feelings?

“I’ve been watching you all evening. I know exactly where your gaze has been wandering. I’ve been observing you as you’ve watched her.”

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“Nonsense. You know perfectly well it’s because of Arthur.”

Ethan’s dismissive response came at last, and the mention of Arthur’s name made me tense up.

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“Ha! Don’t use Arthur as an excuse.You know better than anyone that’s not the reason! Do you think people don’t know that the two of you have the same preferences?”