IFLDMHF – Chapter 16

IFLDMHF | Chapter 16a8e88c30a5c155aa

Episode 163c50755fb6731bcb

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“Is that so? Then, shall we head straight 3e9c2ef453 to the office…?”3c4a80d0d08290c7

“No, I’m feeling a bit peckish. How about we discuss things c4ba1c3368 over a meal?”0442b798bc549097

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Surprised by the 55d6bf01ac unexpected suggestion, I a3ada88c56 hesitated. The butler, who had been 03304d5b84 observing the situation, quickly and f064d8c445 politely chimed in.b50c734ba13fce40

“My lady, the Duke usually eats immediately after returning from work.”21bf0260178fc628

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A man who had 22cef55835 been working all day 1782c1f875 and came home hungry fc94b8abb4 wanted to eat first.d44f2278a58fe19c

And he was an dc64a637f8 elder, much older than d4d229c8a9 me, suggesting we dine 50cbc69fa6 together. I had no 0fa9e979fd reason to refuse.9fdbd329c7f9b56d

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‘Well, I came all the way here because I wanted to get this conversation over with anyway.’18530b38b0347026

Though I felt like 8553c1158a I was drifting further b53b07ac1b from my initial resolution 812a45a6c5 to keep a distance 70ad68a410 from Evgenia’s family, I 51076d1da5 reassured myself that it 71d4fa0581 was fine since I d9b6f7a5f0 wasn’t married yet, and 6d23a4b660 I responded.7a2a006f44b7eb0d

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“Alright, let’s eat together.”5971bd864124b63b

I sincerely hoped that what c6044a2808 the Duke had to say babd11f71d was the news I’d been 680e7fb258 eagerly waiting for.30b6b19571d39a10

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***455f3ee9b9b5b99d

Since waking up eddcdeb0d7 in Evgenia’s body, 9e187db928 I had always e6f29db766 eaten in my 29956c9fc7 room. Initially, it was b7a6695033 due to being ece8af80f2 ordered to reflect 710370cf3c on my actions, 0cc2c1b23f and later, it 3889c6be09 was because I b411410d90 was treated as dddb3e2029 an invalid—or so c2a687587b I thought.0198298500196e93

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“What? What are you doing here? You always eat alone gloomily 97451a4e95 in your room!”dd436638d44c1815

Apparently not.8d2ca5f1b7dd455f

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I thought it 2e0b44cc96 was fortunate that ee7dcc26eb Alexis wasn’t home, 5edcde3854 likely off training, 84c19f6c09 but he rushed 486920f50a straight to the bfac2d073b dining room after 13344140fd work and exclaimed cc4f211a5f in disbelief.1862d286da08541e

“There are days like this and days like that. Why are you making a a138a58701 fuss at the dining table? Isn’t that right, Melissa?”466dc225aef5b193

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“Haha…”3ddf989da5fc36bc

Caught off guard f155c605fb by this sudden a06b42abaa involvement, Alexis stammered, fb3627c4a4 his lips parting e5bd49f93c wordlessly.61b8f5e0a40c741e

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“Evgenia is right.”ff9cc91829300d49

At that moment, Sionel, who 5790462f49 had just entered, supported me, 649ff9ec72 addressing Alexis.022bee18083e74ad

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Did he learn this 32c7fc8ae2 from watching the Duke a2a1a965a1 earlier? Why was he fc8d22d8af suddenly taking my d167af4eb6 side?1eba369cf0459df4

I looked at Sionel curiously, cb45ee8fd2 but I couldn’t discern his 68bf14862b intentions.fa5f55494837ba4a

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It was then 8bf696f524 that the Duke 77dd700a38 entered the room, fc4d88942e putting an end 6d872a836e to my musings.aa0383be2789276d

As soon as the Duke f5baca197f sat down, the servants began 045f72cc98 bringing in the dishes, as e35a452ca8 if on cue.1f37155877fbc8d1

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Given the family’s b4ce134c15 immense wealth, I 00ad7b1acf feared we’d have 29b0c7e523 a multi-course meal a21606eda8 lasting hours, but 66c1321dd3 thankfully, the servants 170de49ac8 quickly exited the b9c01aa069 dining hall.3ec11f16926a520b

“It’s been a while since the whole family gathered,” the Duke remarked.063915b59377dd6a

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As he said, only those 76e4154573 bearing the Basilian surname were 5802510b45 present in the dining hall.595d208708337c2d

For some reason, 26e592f7c3 this realization made 99d679cbed my chest tighten, 3cabad1dbd and my appetite 98a143419a vanished. Still, I forced myself to b46aa017ac suppress my discomfort and began c131959640 eating.12c5c5cffc7c505f

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I couldn’t even taste 79f18de582 the food, just shoveling 24571cf853 it down when the a0bf3b2bfe Duke, who seemed focused 5062ca9f32 on his meal, suddenly b920d3145d spoke.8068afb287b84096

“Evgenia. I hear that ef382db9cb His Highness the 32ac11e4fb Crown Prince visited 3efc789601 the Duke’s residence 57aa0dcd49 today.”7329b9330a5267eb

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I finally understood why 05aee50fab the Duke had seemed b0d7266bcf so grim in the 93981156cb lobby earlier.636f96834f96867b

I had wondered if the f7967708d8 butler had delivered some grave 04b349115a report, but it turned out a7e054243a to be this.1dd5b38e7d137a41

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‘Ah, so that’s why he suggested eating together…’633ddb9ac058c7c3

Perhaps the Duke had been 0901a32ebb worried that I, who had f93a27db92 rushed to greet the Crown 222343bb1d Prince as soon as he 2ee771bab5 arrived—a behavior uncharacteristic of me—might 9f3345d0ff retract the words I had 599b49d8f2 firmly stated a week ago.b4c0034d528108fc

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Evgenia was known for faeb6287b2 her pride, so he 4710cc242a likely calculated that bringing 03366094d8 up the topic in 74f4be73da front of the assembled 234ef094c8 family would make it aaf5796f72 harder for me to 75549072ab backtrack, hence his suggestion ad2ed1bee5 for a meal.dd2a8e4940c25214

Within the brief 0b4dd71884 moment Sionel and 3eead692b7 him had been f78bed76b5 conversing, the butler f7ded5fa57 must have reported 0d64875e52 to the Duke, f25b122df5 who then devised fd892564fe this plan.7ccb8dc2c0a9e313

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‘So they say the Duke of Basilian is a natural politician and businessman—it seems to be true.’2e345002c022905a

After all, the first 7f4363d65f patriarch of the Basilian 1177a0a082 family, originally a merchant, 45e0b6cf9f was said to have c7db02636c been the first to b6f00612ae recognize the talents of eaea080d6a the founding emperor and eafc76616e invest in him.20bed9a1310d9697

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Thanks to this, the first 0b9ab4f68d emperor was able to defeat 941dbd4805 the dragon, then called an 71eafef3b7 evil tyrant, and the Basilian 4586fca1c0 family became one of the 0a907fd9d0 founding noble houses…6b24dff78e77a4b8

“Evgenia?”c5ecbc7fcec2868c

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Lost in recalling the novel’s be229530f5 background, I was startled back 0d8b36acd7 to reality by the Duke f24a2fdd09 calling my name.bfee9374b8cd9768

“What is it? Are you unwell?”d812f59048d51e9e

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“What? No, I’m fine…”f151c3db0a6ad153

“If you’re fine, then why are you gripping the napkin as if you’re about to rip it? People might think you’re d3227d02a7 about to grab your 4ece1e0256 father by the collar…”ed6eaaac459f78d7

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“Alexis.”514ce3504e0eda4f

“You’re always picking on me, brother!”edf837840f07335d

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As Sionel and Alexis started dd712f0f96 bickering out of nowhere, I a07d2a2350 noticed the napkin I was 73905849df clutching tightly, a moment too 6d8cc31614 late.ea570ed889c6b40c

Flustered, I quickly fd5dc4877f loosened my grip 04c45b7255 and looked at 80d5b8907c the Duke.af4fa2782bd20fba

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Seeing his concerned 3210dbc01e gaze, I recalled d413ecacb0 his earlier question.d73b0188e5d3f0fb

‘I was planning to bring this up at the end of the meal…’fb0c17641eb4422b

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Since the Duke had initiated 0262d0690c the conversation, I had no d133d7af36 reason to hesitate.2020a6aed24d3e83

“Yes, His Highness the Crown Prince showed up unexpectedly without prior notice.”76ac1e4581510ef6

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“I heard he came because the rejected of his proposal. But… I also 418ab86afe heard he sought df010ed1ec you out, not 786ad9a6a0 Melissa.”7b7ef1756f07008b

“I assumed he’d call for Melissa as well, but that wasn’t the case.”26598a1730f48519

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Understanding the puzzlement in 2c0211d42f his expression, I nodded 8f5ff09636 casually as I spoke. The Duke’s brows furrowed slightly.290eb38ded762781

“Did he, by chance, reproach you for turning down the proposal?”e36d1ba7f5ba419b

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His gaze was c3caba0889 filled with concern, a130eddb6e worried that I 6b3384b487 might have been 3ff79b5e30 hurt by the 7533212249 Crown Prince’s words 2663be3422 or attitude. I shook my head 646f7481ee to reassure him.1848e9f88d611ccc

“No, not particularly. However…”8bce71f781ea22d2

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“However?”c5ce9ac52528d649

“He seemed to know about the shameful scene I caused when I heard Melissa had received his proposal.”c1e197601ca355c2

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As I spoke, lowering my f2f53501b3 shoulders as if embarrassed, the 50a6f18e53 Duke’s expression changed drastically.94ac16f016c4ae99

“Who dared to reveal such a thing…!”7b4394c7336de8dd

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Seeing him trembling 8b8e45d7c5 with anger, I 94f84f4a99 softly whispered, “Alexis 6596fec8a2 did,” in a 4a3151dfb8 delicate voice. Instantly, all eyes in 0227ef37bc the dining room turned 9a75bbcbe5 to Alexis.079ac72b578e22ba

“Uh, well, I mean…”45c93b6c0c3dc02d

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Caught off guard, Alexis tried 3c9d967b27 to stammer out an excuse, 26a747a262 but I didn’t give him 2da8332d25 a chance.c7883fc45c5c3308

“Anyway, I told His Highness myself that I’ve let go of any feelings I had for him.”9fb465acf3617c89

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“You… did that?”d806058cadf4a1a0

The Duke’s eyes 881326b73c widened at my a1b265a7f8 words, clearly relieved 5bb5181e35 that I wasn’t 5894acfa2d reconsidering my rejection.a961c1425c8bda01

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“Yes, but he didn’t seem to fully believe me. In fact, he told me ceb4dbc718 not to dream of becoming 21db6af053 his consort or even a 5d7ade5a7f mistress…” I choked up as 96c03eed48 I let my voice trail 0ea85e0d67 off, pretending to be overwhelmed.3f10a1b77dfa1be5

The truth was, 9b03846f25 I hadn’t paid b1feaef45e full attention to b824e63555 what the Crown c23d56f01a Prince said because 792c398954 I’d been focused d72e9db765 on the insect 14a3d11828 at the time. I simply made d5bd46d8f3 up a believable 5e7768cf73 story and faked 8ff19a1fe4 being emotional. The atmosphere in the f7256f2d3b dining room turned icy.0b09679db8d30f6f

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“What… a mistress?”e0c890fbb531ad37

“Hey! Have you been putting d00f8b7449 up with such nonsense 69162233dc all this time?”cd439bdf1d9e97ec

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“Alexis, be quiet. Evgenia, tell us more,” the dff1d13456 Duke commanded, his eyes now f9decb0163 icy and intense. Sionel and Alexis both 511faed539 had similarly severe expressions, 6644c133ed and even Melissa seemed d53ac33dba shocked, covering her mouth c8f128c236 with her hand.47d9df077f7edfca

Feeling the tension 07586d9636 rise, I tried 45b3347188 to downplay the 6ab84d6cc7 situation.4c266b9096ec4e95

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“There’s really not much to explain. It’s all in the past…”bb8297d441757066

Sionel raised an eyebrow sharply.8e92ab1929f8a9a7

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“The past? It hasn’t even d7073b3fa6 been half a f73f967541 day. For royalty, of all a512281fb1 people, to speak of 976e09328d mistresses to an unmarried afc34cbb76 noble lady—if I had d1e89c22ae been present, I’d have 34de6d76c1 thrown down my gauntlet 089cbe9fa0 immediately. Don’t worry. I’ll formally protest tomorrow.”d802fcf3c2ceb0a4

A formal protest? Challenging the Crown 8cda6e8cf3 Prince—renowned as a 71c1775073 swordmaster and a eb52520dcb war hero—to a 6b5e913382 duel? His tone was 09b6b0142e calm, but I 38a569a208 couldn’t help thinking 6b159be9a7 Sionel might be a344ebba3d the most agitated 713dd75176 person here.3f65d730d0385df0

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While I appreciated his 07007c8253 intentions, I began to 7eab8fa96c worry that I’d gone c7da6ea6bb overboard with my story. Panicked, I waved my hands 56e3d2a8b8 to stop him.c5e998df62a745a8

“Please don’t do that. I didn’t stay silent either.”d791ddc2fd6fb9ed

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“You didn’t stay silent?”57c8df123489289a

“Yes… In fact, I slapped His Highness.”8810b8d6b2cff768

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I confessed in a 7d3c542a2c timid voice, recounting the 2d328b3d46 incident. Of course, the 97d5c94240 truth was different, 46a9af65e2 but I doubted 2fdead45fd anyone would believe 6ca8d3e5a4 me if I 1b9465af26 said I slapped bd50847407 the Crown Prince 383cdc885d while trying to 82d848d2ba kill a bug.cb55507962b28b89

‘Even the Crown Prince himself couldn’t believe it.’0136255c6f376583

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So I figured saying I 57c235a3d3 slapped him out of anger 9900fafc4c would align better with Evgenia’s bfc040ba7e typical behavior.7477875cc2507cb0

“W-who did you say you slapped?”9c1a56b067cd14b8

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Alexis stood abruptly, his 0a2eb4c956 face a picture of d16822c98e shock.b3f98224112b934b

Was this him, ddf3119866 a member of a4e75ea486 the royal knight 661d506bc5 order, being indignant 07b26e1976 about an insult c2ae4c833b to the Crown 9958ffb3f2 Prince?3271f97fed42c350

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“Seriously? You slapped His Highness? You, of all people, Evgenia?”378e24a80fa8d1f3

…Wait, aren’t you a royal knight? Shouldn’t you be 39fc68a4fb worried about the 0f1b23c98b Crown Prince here?e270e8b8ca5883d6

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• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •8abf509fc76f5efe

If you want eff98aa836 to support the ab6aeba307 translation and the 46c0ca1d99 translator, you can 8001e1b034 buy a coffee~d77d721000d3fad8

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