IFLDMHF – Chapter 16

IFLDMHF | Chapter 16e4436f7cdeca3f6d

Episode 167d4fd5fb75e413cc

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“Is that so? Then, shall we head straight 682441461a to the office…?”31849f185990a028

“No, I’m feeling a bit peckish. How about we c300f23470 discuss things over 143aa7454a a meal?”35cc5ca7e57748a9

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Surprised by the f1520ebeb2 unexpected suggestion, I a9ffe34a15 hesitated. The butler, who had 2b2a289ac5 been observing the situation, c951d9c470 quickly and politely chimed 853cfeb888 in.4bfb976f48a28a93

“My lady, the Duke usually eats immediately after returning from work.”cf58c0fac5d04202

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A man who 72e8b2a7ca had been working 250918991d all day and e2ab2f072d came home hungry 6a0123634e wanted to eat 39209a09c0 first.6306a053571115de

And he was an 105e485ce2 elder, much older than 3732f17772 me, suggesting we dine 6c55bffb58 together. I had no 7599df9b73 reason to refuse.5c4247851ba07829

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‘Well, I came all the way here because I wanted to get this conversation over with anyway.’7acf8ed70f4bde2e

Though I felt like I 989f7a82e1 was drifting further from my e883cfde10 initial resolution to keep a 6623e3ecb4 distance from Evgenia’s family, I 9bfd247c5b reassured myself that it was 96e0e32222 fine since I wasn’t married 69ea1832f6 yet, and I responded.612dccdbe1a59705

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“Alright, let’s eat together.”a2065e9ebbfe07ec

I sincerely hoped that what ceddd7c6ce the Duke had to say 8637d88982 was the news I’d been 6c32cefc00 eagerly waiting for.dcf37704f60a5458

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***7c9d0937e8bfe255

Since waking up in 7fe479b21c Evgenia’s body, I had d289af2b3e always eaten in my ed50ae1a65 room. Initially, it was due to c8fa48a812 being ordered to reflect on 573dd404a4 my actions, and later, it 8f695a62bd was because I was treated a0d031919a as an invalid—or so I f8735adc4a thought.efbdc4f4e3d5ff4b

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“What? What are you doing here? You always eat alone 0e35b0a31b gloomily in your room!”964b838ba13bbb5b

Apparently not.24af9867f48fc930

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I thought it was a3305cc6b2 fortunate that Alexis wasn’t fa7c0c4003 home, likely off training, 87f8bc512f but he rushed straight 8b51f02d79 to the dining room c8d68d469f after work and exclaimed f33894d8fa in disbelief.5f24c1141c74482e

“There are days like this and days like that. Why are you making 5d7bcb0305 a fuss at the cc3f5b76cb dining table? Isn’t that right, Melissa?”4846ae44d3a77ad5

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“Haha…”d624265ed281ee72

Caught off guard by 154508340c this sudden involvement, Alexis 810df59a33 stammered, his lips parting 7eccef8dd5 wordlessly.8e9d5791e903271d

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“Evgenia is right.”39f833a64dca21c1

At that moment, Sionel, who 03128fc060 had just entered, supported me, 4a40060091 addressing Alexis.c63b5c0372d88c9c

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Did he learn 259b17231b this from watching 62736cb61b the Duke earlier? Why was he 1303a29b69 suddenly taking my dd842e4f6d side?d40703d669345e75

I looked at Sionel curiously, fe37ae7d36 but I couldn’t discern his 336dd50bd1 intentions.916dbcd95f85ebb8

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It was then that 02d8f12b3d the Duke entered the d0cf59ddb2 room, putting an end 844a51e490 to my musings.33c7fe94f78b88e3

As soon as the b44bfc77bc Duke sat down, the 925e3a52e6 servants began bringing in 4145845e64 the dishes, as if 46a8515ccf on cue.7bd3d06353a9ae1c

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Given the family’s immense wealth, d186a4bb5e I feared we’d have a 84fa4da58a multi-course meal lasting hours, but da761c7926 thankfully, the servants quickly exited c184be9dd4 the dining hall.eb44b53995c4930d

“It’s been a while since the whole family gathered,” the Duke remarked.2c1314a3e15690f7

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As he said, only those 5bb5f6ef01 bearing the Basilian surname were c0afa6c25d present in the dining hall.91c5bb8258fb782d

For some reason, this 34348ef6e1 realization made my chest 29884b45da tighten, and my appetite 56e532b2f7 vanished. Still, I forced 0a50b82c27 myself to suppress 65d17a5cbe my discomfort and 0019777dec began eating.90dafe0cdc78d9f5

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I couldn’t even taste the 8fc10ebd96 food, just shoveling it down 19ff3b544a when the Duke, who seemed cd0db2a7b0 focused on his meal, suddenly 4dd40b81a4 spoke.3d2a493a4300bd1e

“Evgenia. I hear that fbeed8f723 His Highness the 349dbe0cd3 Crown Prince visited ef95a6a379 the Duke’s residence 97141f2a33 today.”40455d9d46fc96ac

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I finally understood why the 58b897ccf8 Duke had seemed so grim f6afbe9c9e in the lobby earlier.c92b9f838d6bf0b8

I had wondered f325b63371 if the butler e17875fb95 had delivered some efcf6fb61a grave report, but a5a4be8f40 it turned out c777785384 to be this.384d9cbde1f64645

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‘Ah, so that’s why he suggested eating together…’985500cd67c60135

Perhaps the Duke had been 56020144cf worried that I, who had 15310c866a rushed to greet the Crown 1a6f53ad92 Prince as soon as he cf50529598 arrived—a behavior uncharacteristic of me—might 46ff5f82c9 retract the words I had 4015f5e8ee firmly stated a week ago.0f6d114527ff6813

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Evgenia was known c654d83017 for her pride, 3d1ee18845 so he likely b2de3d6fca calculated that bringing 2ce7876e7d up the topic ddab53c4e0 in front of 803572ee2e the assembled family 414452d5ac would make it be3e379992 harder for me 3bc76f4828 to backtrack, hence 279a824e12 his suggestion for a793d97478 a meal.9316e8acd0f48861

Within the brief 02d7da6fce moment Sionel and ccd43fae0a him had been 8dd0aa1ec8 conversing, the butler 6681c4f64d must have reported 76da5dba08 to the Duke, b67ce155ef who then devised 7fea965486 this plan.7a846e1d5f9d2a71

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‘So they say the Duke of Basilian is a natural politician and businessman—it seems to be true.’5ae24d73af8b0118

After all, the first patriarch 734123aa03 of the Basilian family, originally 05e303fb4f a merchant, was said to e94238efc5 have been the first to 108917f284 recognize the talents of the 0a1adbab38 founding emperor and invest in f4e6aa1dc2 him.70a21f7dfd903bfb

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Thanks to this, 49363de3e3 the first emperor 2c85598436 was able to 80860d2c42 defeat the dragon, 06af08a6da then called an d15c1619ff evil tyrant, and 9402e22734 the Basilian family 2c151a7a54 became one of 3541752a1a the founding noble c9a3120e79 houses…96a5b565d43d84b0

“Evgenia?”faaf2cd9bc8ab97b

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Lost in recalling the novel’s 0e2c74ada8 background, I was startled back dc7e7d993a to reality by the Duke ee2f88d2fb calling my name.b57b12a37a859ad2

“What is it? Are you unwell?”84b5b2206e86b2c5

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“What? No, I’m fine…”7a8ebce92a2de06f

“If you’re fine, then why are you gripping the napkin as if you’re about to rip it? People might think b34e524598 you’re about to 3e6a842c89 grab your father 4494259715 by the collar…”4d2b4b4c7c33a0fd

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“Alexis.”47f11476d0392c69

“You’re always picking on me, brother!”0a9f7b1676898c16

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As Sionel and 49b4abafe0 Alexis started bickering 0a05e740b3 out of nowhere, 56a815b353 I noticed the 22892f28b9 napkin I was 6b58fe9540 clutching tightly, a 2e57f06cdd moment too late.d0ceab1f74f8d7c6

Flustered, I quickly d34f7654d5 loosened my grip 4506614b73 and looked at 6b8634645f the Duke.2e2fae3d9e061f43

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Seeing his concerned gaze, I 9b7d083ef6 recalled his earlier question.49d4d0e62b10cff8

‘I was planning to bring this up at the end of the meal…’0ecd62b434fbf0e8

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Since the Duke 94771163b7 had initiated the 56e009f8e2 conversation, I had f68e38356b no reason to 0816fef5f4 hesitate.6a679d222dd4848b

“Yes, His Highness the Crown Prince showed up unexpectedly without prior notice.”aec9242e9345ad6a

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“I heard he came because the rejected of his proposal. But… I also heard he 5ca59228f3 sought you out, not Melissa.”26208f8232107cc8

“I assumed he’d call for Melissa as well, but that wasn’t the case.”890e33f66cef34e5

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Understanding the puzzlement bb0b67371f in his expression, 96fae59aca I nodded casually 655b681b1e as I spoke. The Duke’s brows furrowed slightly.9ba94436e2746b46

“Did he, by chance, reproach you for turning down the proposal?”4ad21f78fc8af4e2

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His gaze was filled with 86fabf8086 concern, worried that I might cc109ad6d7 have been hurt by the 2682fcd18d Crown Prince’s words or attitude. I shook my 3d61621f69 head to reassure d2a15a6cfb him.40ea19e1f28b94c6

“No, not particularly. However…”5f39f3282d63c057

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“However?”f7579275698f14c5

“He seemed to know about the shameful scene I caused when I heard Melissa had received his proposal.”8c3d198ff47ede64

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As I spoke, 2caffd119c lowering my shoulders bc4175993f as if embarrassed, 9d3217aad1 the Duke’s expression f17d137784 changed drastically.29dee996dedc63b9

“Who dared to reveal such a thing…!”9d334cccd487bc08

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Seeing him trembling with fe123484da anger, I softly whispered, f28a3035bc “Alexis did,” in a 71de8db704 delicate voice. Instantly, all eyes d432bdaab4 in the dining 9944497e06 room turned to d387d16f6d Alexis.7c220858c55168b5

“Uh, well, I mean…”d717f8b62bb84a1b

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Caught off guard, Alexis tried c595c9b6b3 to stammer out an excuse, 17bee39f3c but I didn’t give him c24ad7ead5 a chance.7ed6129181f12078

“Anyway, I told His Highness myself that I’ve let go of any feelings I had for him.”1d75bfa442c63997

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“You… did that?”a4c89e0a0d42f12a

The Duke’s eyes 5f5e53a91f widened at my ba5639a85f words, clearly relieved 16eb41af54 that I wasn’t 9deecac6dc reconsidering my rejection.c23bd67d31d6f7cb

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“Yes, but he didn’t seem to fully believe me. In fact, he told 9e161e7210 me not to dream 07fd5fb0fd of becoming his consort 51c2ad021d or even a mistress…” 1fbdc2a23c I choked up as 77b0ffcaae I let my voice 1b59e39e63 trail off, pretending to 23b72e2704 be overwhelmed.fc0296cabd40e178

The truth was, 6b0314f79e I hadn’t paid 3359d13413 full attention to 229799d96f what the Crown 116ef7d9e3 Prince said because 230beb174b I’d been focused 72939b0063 on the insect 76e229ebf9 at the time. I simply made up 4cee4a71d8 a believable story and 7a21fbaae3 faked being emotional. The atmosphere in 626c73fa4e the dining room 43132685d8 turned icy.c2b62b48a2329fb7

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“What… a mistress?”39863e5db03054ae

“Hey! Have you been putting up e874e19a20 with such nonsense all this 33c28c2d4e time?”fe428b90976193da

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“Alexis, be quiet. Evgenia, tell us more,” 14e7e1c316 the Duke commanded, his 045fd2a4e1 eyes now icy and 4d2838c692 intense. Sionel and Alexis both da383418e4 had similarly severe expressions, d1b793e198 and even Melissa seemed 1179c834fe shocked, covering her mouth 1ec1ab8531 with her hand.5d4070205c9b0728

Feeling the tension db5cd9f396 rise, I tried 0f4001ae6d to downplay the 13f69e42e3 situation.aada9c3c1a30e28e

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“There’s really not much to explain. It’s all in the past…”c92d0a03f5d65e80

Sionel raised an eyebrow sharply.ac6138748cce6dbe

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“The past? It hasn’t even bce87162dc been half a c12a598cd0 day. For royalty, of all people, fb1f7f30f6 to speak of mistresses to 7845daf6b4 an unmarried noble lady—if I 7fc321f12c had been present, I’d have 5f616e8a13 thrown down my gauntlet immediately. Don’t worry. I’ll formally protest tomorrow.”70785c593f3aef0a

A formal protest? Challenging the Crown 3aec61da1a Prince—renowned as a 3f99501ed0 swordmaster and a 370defa506 war hero—to a 8f60999441 duel? His tone was calm, f396ef2fb7 but I couldn’t help 69efb67cd4 thinking Sionel might be 1174572305 the most agitated person 37313707c0 here.4966b93dc63fe8d8

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While I appreciated his 127f9d9f86 intentions, I began to c504ef2bed worry that I’d gone eb03b33ccf overboard with my story. Panicked, I waved 24276ac413 my hands to befa4285b1 stop him.225d67f8436aeaad

“Please don’t do that. I didn’t stay silent either.”803f59c2f5efd8f0

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“You didn’t stay silent?”5eb22b7c5e5c02fe

“Yes… In fact, I slapped His Highness.”803a406837c54bef

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I confessed in a timid 6bcfe84a47 voice, recounting the incident. Of course, the truth 1e859f1bb1 was different, but I 7e9c956063 doubted anyone would believe 6c79625419 me if I said b4dffe8ded I slapped the Crown f7b9f056fa Prince while trying to 1e4628e402 kill a bug.6ffe7d2a116f55b0

‘Even the Crown Prince himself couldn’t believe it.’1faac44a96ed4dfb

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So I figured saying I 8dd81d34e0 slapped him out of anger 55632a351a would align better with Evgenia’s a75998d86d typical behavior.5ca112fc45cfde28

“W-who did you say you slapped?”562c0cd28b0795a1

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Alexis stood abruptly, 5496a67426 his face a 22a67000fb picture of shock.5b5e71e9dd7ef3c4

Was this him, a member c73e708cb1 of the royal knight order, 7f8d0f2b42 being indignant about an insult 47ef8c8887 to the Crown Prince?b2db799698a24b0c

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“Seriously? You slapped His Highness? You, of all people, Evgenia?”164e7360f4bcebb1

…Wait, aren’t you a royal knight? Shouldn’t you be worried 2aaa6a6199 about the Crown Prince 4dee0ae3be here?59a4af84c7ee6859

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• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •36a34e73e910b995

If you want to support 06dfcbb12e the translation and the translator, a5dc53221b you can buy a coffee~e53816f6872acd38

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