ETDO Chapter 33

Eventually, we didn’t delay any longer and hurried back to the Duke’s residence. Having heard the whole story, the Crown Prince and Princess expressed their concern and wished me a speedy recovery.

I later learned that Arthur had originally planned to have the winning horse and jockey brought over for me to see. However, coincidentally, the incident that day fortuitously thwarted this plan, and I couldn’t help but feel inwardly relieved.

In truth, even without that incident, I had no desire to touch or approach the horses directly. Observing them from a distance was fine, but getting close or touching them was absolutely out of the question.

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In any case, after resting for two days, I had recovered enough energy to attend the Crown Princess’s charity event. Although Arthur seemed reluctant, we all headed to the venue together.

This time, it was a particular event for widows and orphans, with all proceeds going to a charity sponsored by the Crown Princess. A special event was held on the wide lawn in front of the Imperial Palace to encourage voluntary participation and exemplary conduct among the high-ranking nobles who governed the Empire.

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In the center of the large park, with its smooth, grassy expanse, three large tents were set up around a cleared space for the games. We were assigned to the same tent as the Crown Prince and Princess. As we entered the tent, the Crown Prince sprang to his feet.

“Well! You’ve arrived!”

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“We greet the Empire’s Little Sun.”

My response was formal and polite. As Arthur and I greeted him according to etiquette, the Crown Prince waved his hand and laughed heartily.

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“Formalities between us? Cut it out, Arthur.”

Arthur straightened up and smiled broadly. Ethan, with a stoic expression, passed the Crown Prince and paid his respects to the Crown Princess. Arthur and I followed suit, bowing our heads.

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“We greet the Empire’s Little Moon.”

“Welcome, Duke Berwick. And Duke Beaufort, Duchess Beaufort.”

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“Am I invisible to you?”

The Crown Prince glared at his cousin, who had completely ignored him to greet his wife more warmly. Ethan subtly stifled a laugh, seeing the Crown Prince glaring at him feigning a fierce expression with hands on his hips.

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“How could that be, Your Highness?”

“Oh, you’re just all smooth at talking.”

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“If you insist, I can be just as smooth with my actions as well.”

“Oh dear, how could I possibly beat you…?”

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The Crown Prince sighed dramatically, as if exasperated. Ethan, with a mischievous expression, approached him and playfully feigned a punch to his chest.

“Using the authority of the Crown Prince to suppress me is always an option, isn’t it?”

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A loud laughter erupted from the aides and attendants who had been watching with keen interest. It seemed this was the usual exchange between them, as the two men laughed like teenagers, slapping each other on the arms.

Until then, unsure if they were joking or serious, I had been slightly tense. Now, I finally relaxed and smiled as I looked at the both of them.

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“What have you been up to lately? It’s so hard to see you these days.”

“You’re the one who dumped all the military reorganization on me, weren’t you? I want to slack off and take it easy too.”

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Ethan quickly retorted to the Crown Prince’s grumbling complaint. The Crown Prince shook his head, as if to say he couldn’t understand Ethan, then turned his gaze to me, standing behind Ethan.

“Are you feeling better now, Duchess?”

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“Yes, Your Highness. Thanks to you. Thank you.”

I bowed my head in acknowledgment.

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“We have a fun event planned today, so I hope the Duchess will also join us.”

“I look forward to it.”

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I smiled at the Crown Prince and turned to the Crown Princess. I had seen her briefly at the racetrack a few days ago, but seeing her again, her pregnancy was clearly evident, having grown considerably in just a few months.

“When is your due date, Your Highness?”

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“Two months left.”

“You must be eagerly anticipating the day you’ll meet your baby.”

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“Indeed, I’m very excited. The baby’s kicks are so strong these days! Sometimes it’s difficult, but…”

The radiant glow on the Crown Princess’s face as she happily explained everything was truly remarkable. I engaged in conversation with the happy expectant mother, quietly gazing at her belly.

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Even knowing the responsibilities of being a Duchess were to come, the idea of having a child remained difficult for me to comprehend. I was well aware that I was not yet ready for such responsibilities.

Secretly, I wasn’t taking elderly physician’s prescriptions. I had accepted it from Mrs. Wilson out of courtesy, but I couldn’t bring myself to take it yet. Given my current complicated situation, it was impossible anyway, so in that sense, perhaps it was fortunate that my menstrual cycle was so irregular.

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While we exchanged brief pleasantries, the servants bustled about, setting the table with tea, drinks, biscuits, and fruit. Picking up a beautifully decorated biscuit, I suddenly turned my head.

The three men stood nearby, each holding a champagne glass, engaged in conversation. I was struck anew by the handsome appearance of the two Beaufort men. Their handsome features would have shone even in rags, but their formal attire—dark navy morning coats, dark gray trousers, and light gray vests were undeniably breathtaking. The only way to tell the twins apart was by their differently colored neckties.

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As if sensing my gaze as I stared absentmindedly at them, Arthur interrupted his conversation and smiled at me. Following Arthur’s gaze, Ethan grinned at me and winked.

My heart pounded loudly. The moment I saw the Crown Prince, standing with his back to me, turn his head towards me following the twins’ lead, I quickly averted my gaze.

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Feigning indifference, I casually glanced at the sky; where a few white clouds drifted peacefully. Summer had begun in earnest, and the occasional refreshing breeze made the weather quite pleasant.

‘What the hell? Why are they both smiling like that, making my heart skip a beat?’

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I grumbled, taking a deep breath to calm my needlessly fluttering heart. I slowly chewed on the cookie, trying to dispel the lingering images of the two men.

Soon, a servant rang a bell. The murmur of conversations ceased as the Crown Prince stepped forward to address the scattered crowd. With a smile gracing his face, he began to speak in a clear, resonant voice.

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“Thank you for participating in this special charity event. As you all know, today’s event is specifically aimed at raising funds for the vulnerable members of the Empire. The more actively you participate, the more benefits will go to those in need. Therefore, I urge everyone here to participate wholeheartedly and strive for victory, big or small.”

Once the Crown Prince stepped back and took his seat, his secretary, Lord Somerset, came forward to explain the rules.

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“This croquet game has slightly modified rules to suit the purpose of the charity event, so please take note. Today’s game will be played by families, not individuals. Each family will send two players who will compete as a team. Therefore, families engaged or betrothed to each other cannot form a team. This is a strategy to ensure a smooth and fair selection of the winning team, so please select your players based on your current family affiliation.”

At the slight murmur from the crowd, Lord Somerset raised his voice again.

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“In the preliminary rounds, each team will play with one ball to expedite the game. Once you reach the final round, two balls will be used. In the end, the first  team that hits the stake after passing through six hoop wickets will win and that team will have the honor of making the largest donation.”

Laughter erupted from the crowd. Lord Somerset also chuckled along and continued with his explanation.

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“Yes, that’s right. The winners don’t receive a prize; instead, they have to make a donation. However, the Crown Prince has promised that the winning family will receive a tax reduction equivalent to the amount donated. So, please, I urge everyone to put forth their best effort in the competition.”

A roar of approval erupted at this unexpected condition. As soon as he finished speaking, each family began bustling about, deciding which members would participate. Seeing Arthur and Ethan approaching me, I stood up.

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“Our team is simple, Lily. No need to overthink it. Obviously, you and Ethan should participate.”

“What? Me?!”

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I was startled. Arthur added an explanation as my eyes widened.

“It’s difficult for me to play because of my leg, so naturally, the only ones left are the two of you.”

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“That may be so, but… I’ve never played croquet before.”

I expressed my apprehension, but the twins showed no concern whatsoever.

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“It’s alright. It’s not that difficult, you’ll learn quickly.”

“That’s right. Besides, Ethan’s a former croquet champion. He’ll be able to guide you well.”

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Despite that, when I still hesitated, Ethan subtly raised an eyebrow. Eventually, I had no choice but to nod under the unspoken pressure from the twin brothers.

The crowd, divided into three large groups, decided the order of play with those sharing the same court. Then, they each chose a colored ball and picked up their mallets.

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In the center were three rectangular playing fields, each bordered by closely packed low wooden planks. We entered the boundary of Court number 3 with our mallets in hand.

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