ETDO Chapter 35

Arthur didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. He put on his usual polite smile and replied,

“The victory is practically guaranteed, so I should have a celebratory drink.”

The Crown Prince chuckled and offered his glass to Arthur. They clinked glasses, smiled, and took a large sip.

The Crown Prince’s gaze which had been wandering lazily over the field where the final match was taking place, lingered on Court 3. In a low, somewhat somber voice, he murmured,

“Those two… they really suit each other…”

Startled, Arthur turned to look at his cousin. Though he felt a flicker of annoyance, he pretended to care and retorted playfully,

“Hey, are you getting confused again? You keep seeing us together, so it’s natural. We’re twins for a reason, that’s all.”

Arthur’s deftly worded deflection made the Crown Prince chuckle and nod.

“That’s true. You have a point.”

“You’re not still getting us mixed up, are you?”

“Hahaha!”

The Crown Prince burst into laughter at Arthur’s sharp question.

“When we were younger, I fell for your tricks all the time.”

“That’s because you were always so gullible!”

Fueled by the alcohol, the two men giggled like boys. After taking another sip of wine, the Crown Prince spoke again.

“But it’s time to stop those childish pranks. You have a wife now. What if your wife mistakenly falls for the other twin?”

The Crown Prince added slowly, 

“You should be even more careful since your wife is a beautiful woman who stands out so much.”

The implication felt loaded with knowledge of something Arthur didn’t want to hear. He quickly downed his wine. Even though he knew the Crown Prince was just speaking casually, as his cousin was always like that, he still felt his mouth dry.

The twins had been mistaken for each other countless times. And turning those misunderstandings to their advantage was child’s play.

It was impossible that anything that happened in their private sanctuary would ever leak out. They were acutely aware of the rigid morals and expectations that bound their society, so he and Ethan were extra cautious about security.

More importantly, with Mrs. Wilson guarding their bedroom like a gatekeeper of hell, there was nothing to worry about. He was just an outsider, with no knowledge of their situation, jumping to baseless assumptions.

However, the slight prickle of unease he felt was probably just anxiety about a future that might actually happen.

Bang!

As soon as the loud sound echoed, it was followed by a roar of cheers. Jolted out of his thoughts, Arthur turned his head towards the sound.

Ethan and Lily were hugging each other, jumping up and down in place. Arthur was astonished and stood up abruptly. 

They had done it! They had actually won.

As he took a step towards them, Lily suddenly emerged from the crowd. With her slightly sweat-dampened black hair fluttering behind her, she ran swiftly and boldly threw herself into Arthur’s arms.

“Arthur! Look, we won! We actually won!”

Arthur bent down, looking down at his wife, still overwhelmed with the joy of their victory. Her excited trembling shoulders and flushed cheeks were incredibly lovely. He hugged his wife tightly.

“Well done, Lily. I knew we would definitely win.”

With those words, he lowered his head and captured Lily’s lips. He delved between her feverish, hot lips, tangling their tongues together. As he explored the sweet depths of her mouth, he barely suppressed a moan that threatened to escape.

He wanted her right then and there, but it was impossible in this place. As he reluctantly broke the frustratingly brief kiss, people started to swarm around them.

“Wow! Congratulations! The Beaufort family is the winner!”

“That was an amazing final shot, truly worthy of a champion!”

“That was incredible!”

Amidst the deafening noise, someone gently placed a hand on his shoulder. Arthur turned his head and saw a man with the exact same face as his own, standing before him as if he was looking through his reflection. He grinned at Arthur.

“We’re about to become beggars after making a huge donation, brother.”

Arthur unconsciously burst out laughing. He hugged his twin tightly.

“You’re the main reason we’re going to become beggars, so that will be deducted out of your share.”

He slapped Ethan on the back, beaming. The earlier unease seemed to vanish. The joy of victory surged over him, his spirits soaring once again.

At that moment, Lily, standing next to the two men, embraced both Arthur and Ethan. The three of them hugged each other, their faces radiant with happiness. 

It was truly the best day ever.

 

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

 

‘This is interesting.’

The Crown Prince licked his lips, a sly smile playing on his face. 

He sat in the middle of the celebratory party, intently observing the three members of the Beaufort family for a long while.

His instincts as a hunter, which he prided himself on, kept whispering to him that there was something going on between them. But he was unsure exactly what it was, so he chewed his lip with impatience. He was practically itching to uncover the mystery.

His usual prey was generally animals like rabbits or deer, but sometimes it was an intangible target. Therefore, the act of identifying and pursuing his prey wasn’t necessarily limited to its physical form.

All day, Ethan hadn’t even spared a glance at his fiancée. Because of that, the poor noblewoman had been subjected to almost the same humiliation as being formally dumped, even though she hadn’t received an official notice of broken engagement from his cold-hearted cousin. To everyone, it was clear that Ethan was interested not in Lady Wellington, but in Elizabeth Beaufort.

Throughout the game, Ethan had been stuck by Lily’s side, like a dog following its master. He even took it upon himself to teach her the game’s rules and techniques, and even fetch her some water, practically acting as her servant. 

That Ethan Beaufort, a man whose arrogance was second to none in the Empire! A man who, even to him, the Crown Prince, held his head high and spoke his mind without hesitation! 

It was truly astonishing, a sight to behold to everyone who was watching.

That was why he observed Lily Beaufort with even more interest. She was undoubtedly one of the most striking beauties among the women present. But what was it that made a man as arrogant and cold as Ethan so captivated by her?

In fact, he himself didn’t believe such a thing as pure love. In a world where arranged marriages based on mutual benefit and political calculations were common, the idea of someone fretting over a girl they met in their childhood was laughable.

‘And to allow his twin brother have the woman he brought in like that…’

A wry smile touched his lips. If he would believe it outright, it would be the same as to admit to being an utter fool. Because if he did, he would never allow anyone to linger near a woman he possessed.

There was definitely something about her elegant and composed face that stirred a primal male instinct. He carefully observed the three of them, engaged in cheerful conversation while sipping wine, and a smirk suddenly formed on his lips as a possibility struck him.

‘Could it be…?’

Could both of them be sleeping with her? Arthur, of course, but Ethan as well?

It might be unbelievable to anyone else, but with those two, it was entirely plausible. The more he considered it, the more sense it made. If so, it would explain Ethan’s strange behavior today.

Her pale, fair skin and long black hair… her naked sight lying on the bed would certainly be delectable. He imagined Lily and unconsciously licked his lips.

‘Watching that face cry would be quite interesting as well.’

He grinned, pleased with the inspiration that struck him like lightning when someone suddenly grabbed his arm.

“Edward, are you listening?”

“Of course, Victoria.”

He looked back at his wife, feigning a smile as if he hadn’t missed a single word. The Crown Princess, as always, looked at him affectionately.

“You’ll grant it, won’t you?”

“How could I possibly refuse a request from my wife?”

Edward smiled sweetly and took his wife’s hand, kissing the back of her hand.

“Thank you.”

Looking at the Crown Princess with a tender smile, he suddenly raised his hand above his head and snapped his fingers sharply. With a flurry of activity, Lord Somerset rushed over and handed him a neatly folded blanket. Edward spread the blanket and carefully draped it over his wife’s shoulders, saying with concern,

“Even in summer, the evenings can get chilly, my dear.”

“Thank you, Edward.”

Victoria smiled softly. Ignoring the admiring glances from the ladies-in-waiting standing behind her, he chuckled inwardly. 

Women! Fortunately, they were much easier to deal with than those wily old ministers.

He picked up his wine glass again, lifted his head, and spotted Lady Wellington standing in the distance, facing Ethan. He arched an eyebrow with an intrigued expression.

In contrast to Lady Wellington’s expression, which seemed as though she might burst into tears, Ethan’s face was almost impassive. 

No, rather, he looked bored? 

Edward barely managed to suppress a laugh.

‘Those two are quite amusing as well.’

His eyes sparkling, he fixed his gaze on the two and took a sip of the fragrant wine. He had applied sufficient pressure to Lady Wellington, so now he would just have to wait and see what would happen.