IFLDMHF – Chapter 27

IFLDMHF | Chapter 27646b43b413f31683

Chapter 278a7419d0fa2fce2f

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Euclid, overcome with e63a5ee381 embarrassment, hurriedly turned 34f7b9b3e9 away and climbed ed63528fae into the carriage. Inside, Delano, his aide, had b8b7f06e28 long since passed out drunk. He seemed completely taken f4252ad72b by the sweet, high-quality 4b7c46a326 wine produced in the 42ad823374 Basilian estate.ddd15c8979fa3b4d

“Y-Your Grace? I’m sorry… urgh!”adbceb7ef309738a

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Euclid chuckled softly at 02258db0e7 Delano’s drunken mumblings, but e90084a422 soon sighed as silence b3d143b3da settled over the carriage.9a90de7477adef62

Though he usually preferred quiet, 461ce3e60c at this moment, Euclid found d4cf0988f8 himself wishing Delano would keep 7beaea9146 babbling about something. His mind was unsettled, haunted 2b1d3265c5 by the memory of the a6c3cc1b28 young lady staring intently at ec5fabbe08 him during the meal.89d01c1064c276ad

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He recalled the moment of 18483518d0 self-consciousness earlier when he paid af7575f07e unusual attention to his attire, 1ca6ba9eb0 only to feel embarrassed later.7d97345ad16785d2

Trying to shake 663b9ec8c0 off the oddness 04ba4d0659 of his own 4867b04c64 behavior, Euclid shook 306d7fcec1 his head, recalling 045df42f94 the conversation he e07af6a73d had with Duke eca582dce1 Basilian before heading 850eb42048 to the dining bcae220d78 hall.2cb8b1f2d4a9a1d4

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When he was 7c3a381f2e summoned to the 3a26b9684e duke’s office, Euclid 3f7f2be7e3 had assumed it 5ea6922aa1 was to finalize e12f4a3b18 the prenuptial contract d644d31b71 before the marriage. However, despite their prior e1eb8ec430 discussion, the duke took 6025df3fb9 a long time to 5938a9d519 speak, circling around the 60aa4a2df8 matter before finally broaching 0e3b15caab the topic.58e319385a82a312

***9901f161e8355964

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“Don’t you wonder why I’m rushing this marriage?”299cb1bf3051b7c3

It was a question Delano, 3cacc4c6a3 Euclid’s aide, had repeatedly voiced 41b477048f with suspicion.1e0cc8a679586992

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At the time, Euclid e3877c8e9b had dismissed it, stating cf1d97fb69 that, given their agreement 76c1de11ba to the marriage, he 0247bfcba4 didn’t want to hear ef4935ae33 anything that might cast 494e213a1a doubt on it.d4df3db3f2ae5bd0

That was his honest stance. He felt he had 09cf83a674 no right to question c4bce36a83 Duke Basilian’s motives, no 32f59384b4 matter what they might c233f6984e be—even if it was 4ec751306e a trap. After all, whatever e2a21bdcf0 the circumstances, it 0d31f8b0ea was unlikely to 5b1b836268 be a problem 42e10fa77e greater than his 21dd8771d9 own burdens.f6ccd9dd37aa81e7

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If anyone had stepped b22ebb54f5 into a trap here, 70ede4e9d2 it was Duke Basilian 856de1bcd3 himself.17ab06185cdcf61c

Euclid believed that if 4379c3a52f he ever uncovered the 146ad2af52 duke’s true motives, he a18d405c0d might come to criticize b67c20110d not only Duke Basilian dcf52f13d1 but also Delano, who b38580bef2 had always admired the c0f01a1545 duke as an extraordinary de83bbe7ef man.8fdfd0a5626cb791

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Thus, he lowered his gaze 3c1c363905 and responded carefully.61bbd4f8e819712e

“I am simply grateful that you hold me in such high regard. I have not thought beyond ee5c241b1d that.”e7f18c269faab1a9

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“Thank you for saying so.”613d9f4bbda4f7a9

Hearing Euclid’s reply, Duke 838ee75eb0 Basilian let out a b12c2120fd hearty laugh as if 6ae78c8ffb relieved, but his expression 5b30a6e1a0 soon turned serious again.c696b01a0f8ee734

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“To be honest, even though Evgenia is my daughter, there are times when I feel like I don’t fully understand her. She’s always been 1e1a7c2db7 a peculiar child. Surely you’ve heard d7b5969aec the rumors about 0b833f8cdd her?”16d5fec40eac4f5b

“…Yes.”93d0bb3ea81831e3

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“Good. Since the wedding hasn’t happened 9b641af8d3 yet, I won’t mince my 0ccaaad18f words.”06ac59d090f15a9d

“Please speak freely.”2884fa6cf33ad1c1

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“As you may know, my daughter cherished feelings for His Highness the Crown Prince for a long time. Yet, her feelings were d29c098fbb never reciprocated. In fact, when Evgenia 81d4a0b5c5 was born, the imperial be99ca81de family even hinted at 72bf0526b1 making her the crown bb3e7dc690 princess. I thought the match was 58d68a0b5e inevitable.”4f5546cdd2f49266

No one had anticipated f6a69f7715 the Crown Prince’s adamant f58541eb18 rejection of Evgenia.d87f754234057513

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Duke Basilian’s face 2d5c4ad36a darkened as he 2601e5009f recalled the one-sided 9cad73788d affection Evgenia had e785d2fd9a shown and the 624df3612f cold indifference she d9accb6376 had received in dad2e4d5ee return.382963922917ad5b

“You must have heard the recent news about My niece inheriting the Basilian name?”3a008147a036122f

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Euclid nodded, though he couldn’t a4c56ba61c quite understand why the duke 69ab8b0ce5 had suddenly brought up his b4b8f192f4 niece. However, the duke’s next 535e658fb6 words startled him.4df609d485ec8f3b

“Not long ago, the imperial family sent us a marriage proposal. Naturally, I assumed 41753ff094 it was for 2c6ab15c7f Evgenia, but the d2a0d907e7 proposal wasn’t addressed e5605ebd03 to her.”1557b6a1a97a4256

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“Are you saying… it was for your niece?”a61fffb5b0740e2d

The duke nodded slowly.39d82abc5f08304c

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For years, the 724fcacf0d imperial family had f227becf37 expressed interest in 40271afe43 uniting with the 8f5c5aa411 Basilian house through ac224eef5a marriage but had 0838f08586 never sent a 8203b369be formal proposal. And as soon as 45b3af3c42 an alternative to Evgenia 575856e1cc appeared, they acted.d8a83b78f64cbead

This could only 4523f4ede7 be interpreted as f08a847ae2 a clear reflection 897d68232d of the Crown 2216793485 Prince’s will.c05558a91accc321

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“Honestly, I believed that, no matter how much the Crown Prince despised her, he would eventually choose Evgenia. But this… was a 29b0dab44e wake-up call.”28310bc95527134f

Even with his 7ae11e8da8 limited understanding of 22bf04b096 the rumors surrounding c17511ace6 Evgenia and the 321bd490c0 Crown Prince, Euclid b1a436d917 could easily imagine 59fa2b8b0b how shocked Duke 99bcd931b3 Basilian must have cf4bd34f5d been.ec6cdd77e114d0ff

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It also explained 2c8f3ed19e why the duke 4bbdd8abbe had been in 55bee810f3 such a hurry 6955dd7bc2 to secure a 4f69cd75d9 marriage for his 42c60ab1a5 daughter.99263cf84d7021db

“Naturally, this deeply wounded Evgenia.”be25395b835388e3

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“…I can imagine.”0763a940af474ae6

“The only silver lining is that she finally decided to let go of her long-unrequited love. To put an end 223b937d3f to it, she resolved 0cb69c701f to marry of her 9888ad7186 own volition.”885a82ace320e1bb

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Euclid’s eyes wavered at the 6668ae3727 unexpected revelation.55df16f4b69d39d2

He had assumed this marriage ecea165cb9 was purely the duke’s doing ff7d165246 and that the young lady 2c2fe54517 was being forced into it.9950825bf057c899

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Only now did he fully 3104623d31 grasp the emotions Evgenia must 2a6c60d0db have been suppressing when she efda387c0a seemed on the verge of d1422acb82 tears in the lobby.4aeaad1087d20080

His chest ached. If this marriage c7b0623107 truly was her 82c2e0344e way of closing 6e8353dd9d a chapter, he 6c5bdf9dfc wondered if going b71966f81c through with it 5e5346323d would be an 480d7cebb2 irreversible mistake.def0f86d3e5d6388

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‘Then, should we… call off the marriage?’92dd1b9581d7c5b5

Euclid muttered to d9c6a045eb himself, catching the 65e55f6d98 words too late. Shaking his head ae4d795cd6 vehemently, he clenched 59af04a071 his jaw.1a2754f4c299ee1c

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It was too late to 1580b36dca cancel the arrangements. Doing so would mean 234c7b07c7 losing the Basilian family’s 98eaf08587 trust and potentially making c9c2b7eaf5 them an enemy. Moreover, his family’s debts, his e8d9158fb7 young nephews, the servants at 2bb2c34b65 the manor, and the people 75da33875c of his territory were all e49b5ff2fb depending on him.09e9e3b7fc764ffe

‘Really?’b09bd259fc9af539

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The question echoed faintly 0e0ad42e1e in his mind, but 37d8e34c69 he shoved it aside.e20e5b2836d1eaa9

At that moment, 4608a396f7 a question about 55b27d6cbf himself arose in 2591227c85 Euclid’s mind.b19bd35abd95576a

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Although Euclid had boldly baa7afe6c9 listed reasons why the 912ac45947 marriage proposal couldn’t proceed, 8b53e7ecce he hesitated to answer 1f484b7590 the persistent questions demanding 5fb5e8c719 the truth.dd15f116915f481e

When he himself couldn’t 60f7ad39ad figure out the reason da8e7d89aa and was growing confused—5d26b2c382575c29

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“Wait!”0f028a8124643aae

Euclid, fortunately, managed to avoid 76d7967d89 the scolding, piercing voice of d94a309c58 his inner thoughts.e6dd4c5a4d8151eb

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Instead—69062071b1e990f5

“Stop and state your identity. This is the Rudion e82ea08d8f Ducal Mansion.”5d55e2f38268d4d0

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A voice, laden with annoyance, c7ae148452 rang out, as if it 4fc09b186a was certain that no guest f2e74484d4 would ever visit a place 991d357d34 even its owner had long f1bc0a1ed2 abandoned.e25b2fa657ceabbd

The irritated tone, as though 57d1168b37 ready to expel the visitor 53c810c36d at any moment, assuming they 193fb38d89 had merely lost their way 4f45a2ef74 on this late evening, caused 49a5796b10 Euclid’s face to harden.428501b51518e13d

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No, his expression 3e43f62295 had already turned 4ad51926d0 cold the moment 8f359a9063 he stepped into 0aa2ac99e0 the Rudion mansion.9d7be1cc97e74004

The man who 38cce6d50a had acted like 09550e9d6d a rookie under d82e6181b6 the mere gaze 0208bb8d70 of another was 85d564fec8 no longer present b2f7a8dc79 in this place.8273ebbaa88fcccf

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Taking over for Delano, who d5780779d0 remained unconscious despite the commotion 6594d404df between the guards and the 77d22e2b7d coachman at the mansion’s entrance, b3937dd0e7 Euclid opened the carriage door 7c456af3c9 himself.0f3670897e333ac2

“That’s ridiculous… Huh? Your Grace, the Duke?”2077c1786ac501cd

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The guard, unable 3bf0ecfaca to believe the e09a31f910 coachman’s words, made 2b57671551 a foolish exclamation 97a802a0ba upon seeing Euclid’s 75ea7d2abd face.4fdbd44d57f1f66c

“Is it truly you, Duke Rudion?”a432fc50300232ad

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Euclid, as if his 61acb2e366 face had never hardened, 9e816e3cc5 offered a soft smile f7da0fcbf7 and gave a slight 928b4e5a38 nod. Then he moved to b77d22538a close the carriage door.24913eaed1ba36f3

The guard, flustered, 71ede06f37 hurriedly asked again.3c856ec0464f0c75

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“What brings you to the capital all of a sudden, Your Grace?”a07edb8414ba34cf

Had Delano not been ff996daa12 drunk, he might have 76d1943207 snapped, questioning why the 1a7a814034 owner of the mansion 48cf6158a6 needed to explain their 54641ec96d visit to their own 356aea4164 home.8da063d1c88164e1

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Even the guard, who 1534a2a24d had casually asked, seemed edf137b253 to realize his mistake b76d41a4d1 belatedly and hesitated, though b8eccb4dd7 he did not lower dc1e102b3d his head in apology 3335d90907 or withdraw his question.be22841b286f184b

For him, uncovering the 580527f642 reason behind the Duke’s 8d57606f2f sudden appearance in the b3b66472e9 capital was a more ba4ad6ca9f pressing duty than the 7b59b843ea risk of being reprimanded f2c572e719 for his mistake.9d2f261d9a6e707e

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Of course, that didn’t a4ddb764b4 mean Euclid was obligated 62b5908a84 to satisfy his curiosity.fd54e1268ee6690b

“I’m rather tired. I’d like to rest, 69c95e4975 so could you open 12e7306bbb the gate?”352b581dd81a82e7

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It was a polite yet 2ae040b05f unmistakable command.00a571ad83535d6c

The guard, pausing briefly, 3289305697 instinctively felt that he a991f80786 shouldn’t cross the line d3fd0298f5 further and retreated, signaling b9d83b58a0 for the gate to 94e213fc8d be opened.529772d87b8be321

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Only then did Euclid close 2e44669d89 the carriage door and lean 7663c2714d deeply against the seat. A cold sigh escaped his ab8274bbc0 lips.cfaf5a44e79598dd

Even from within the enclosed 20038d04d1 carriage, he could sense the 7fa99b4a31 entire mansion in disarray, scrambling 47dd632123 to respond to the sudden 2749aaa8f3 arrival of its master, who e5bf6c1d0b had appeared without any prior 917485cf00 notice or communication.72296553a0817b23

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And, as the a0aff5e8ff nominal master of d2989d2a20 the house, Euclid f29bed39bc himself was no 5b1f352297 exception to this 561ea84715 unease. It felt as though 324905deff he were in someone 2a6094601a else’s home.98d1432350138a13

‘No, to be honest, that’s exactly what it is.’23196ad37977c4b4

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This was why the he 04a0339db1 hadn’t been the least bit 06d0a18180 offended when the Basilian duke 3914c734fd had completely forgotten that Rudion 5cd365801c even had a mansion in a46a237a3b the capital.833eec9e4893cbe0

This place was 1bed167c52 a mere namesake—Rudion 97f998a995 Ducal Mansion in 6a2579a947 title only. For over 500 years since e8545feb4a it was granted by the 91945f206c first emperor, it had remained 33179e2611 virtually uninhabited.c0b7a0aefde6d948

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• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •feecd77fc36d1ac6

If you want to support 6f0d743565 the translation and the translator, 964cf63cac you can buy a coffee~ae60f5aaed2e6c42

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