IFLDMHF – Chapter 21

IFLDMHF | Chapter 213593bdf162e86742

Chapter 21a211267ecdbe9901

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Alexis, grumbling about whether 4c11306f03 he was a loose 204f5f775b talker, quickly shut his db8db3e9a3 mouth the moment the 6e9af2dac8 Crown Prince was mentioned.091c1558ed422a33

However, it was only brief. With a hint of 7b2263d163 resentment in his voice, 43f0534102 he added in a b059eab745 subdued tone,“Do you think 01c555d46b I brought it up 9a4837fcf9 on purpose? His Highness asked 0a9227e562 about the proposal b2949435af first and inquired c24c63c81a if you were 4e1ececa48 behaving yourself.”5e7dd9adde1d7842

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“So, you just confessed everything when he asked?”02a4f4da15c1c8fd

“What else could I do?”64f170063e8acaa1

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“You could’ve pretended not to know!”acad7f82bf3afd1d

I scolded him 7f82897738 harshly, though I 2e5bb9daf5 couldn’t say I e404f01666 didn’t understand his a9873bd3a7 position. After all, as a knight be10397d96 of the royal guard, it e670717cf0 was only natural for him 6b237d0b3c to respond to the Crown bbf425b20a Prince with sincerity.38f65ee299cf9c53

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At that moment, Alexis, seemingly 6588957543 oblivious to my attempt to c87c4d0506 sympathize with him, grumbled,“And why 03d6d2af9e shouldn’t I mention the marriage? Do you think anyone would 568c875693 even care?”6071937c936c9828

“Hey.”2d28a63c46e96e59

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“Honestly, from His Highness’s perspective, wouldn’t it feel like getting rid of a toothache? If it were e8e9c9536e me, I’d feel 5fe7fb7974 so relieved that 7970d749b6 I’d finish the b8d0c0e684 war faster and 3d9724e16b return home.”d984dbb18f2adc7d

If that could truly e3ef403ab8 happen, he seemed ready 49f57ccc44 to inform the Crown f6645f63eb Prince of my wedding e367a435a5 at that very moment.7f1dc6fd5678fb3b

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“Do you really want to die by my hands?”5b612c0b9303679f

“Fine, fine! I get it!”ac3050f454bad01e

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Under my menacing d3c911b68d warning, Alexis finally 4a0f92eb24 promised not to 0df25156bb say another word fad8a11fda about it. Even then, I 5f7ac11a58 made him swear 7523f295c0 several more times 332b67b4cf before I was 0473ea853f reassured.c1f7e7c22b1c352a

Truthfully, I thought Alexis 1b891fea70 was right. The Crown Prince would 09aba9e5f6 probably be delighted if c3447b5d6f I announced my marriage. Still, I couldn’t shake 39503c36bc the uneasy feeling in b8b4fc30b6 my chest.4e4379959388ec61

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It was entirely because of ec549a89b0 the Crown Prince’s strange demeanor 0f6cb46c1f that day.df0d2852dd0aa985

Was it just my imagination? No matter how I think d2526f6ec7 about it, his gaze that 30fd4852b5 day seemed a little off!92de3796793b61c6

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Anyway, I had soothed Alexis 5197418caa and obtained the answers I cc68bf9fc5 came for, so my visit f73bf9c077 had fulfilled its purpose.f4bce9b2f3b8acc7

As I watched 24a7eae870 Alexis smirking while b702f41b90 holding onto the 5e22ddce9a handkerchief I’d given 77b7300413 him, I stood f555887fae up to leave.872ae363fa83a06c

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Then, Alexis, who d7fbdcc4c9 had been dismissive 0bc1d1515c of me just 02bc4caa6f moments earlier, suddenly 9063955e15 sprang up and dbb374c23d opened the door 176ff3e41e for me.2a4e1ba9be87447e

Hmph. Snorting, I walked past c806faa302 him, only for Alexis 3767ce8250 to grin slyly and a1af051f8b remark from the doorway,“By b353c9baae the way, this upcoming 50af4b9f2f deployment is a quiet f9b40ddf28 departure at dawn with 6d901a40d8 no send-off, right? Thanks for the handkerchief.”00734f7fffa6ca43

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Before I could 939bfa7395 reply, he shut 7feb8d1cd8 the door behind 555aa6c97d me.b8486e6662e4b5f0

Idiot. Did he think I 6913b4367a wouldn’t know that?e07c6905859017e0

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Of course, I was aware. The royal family, pretending to 4f95b04914 be indifferent, was conducting this 801a0350c1 low-profile departure ceremony at dawn a2ca71d0b7 to avoid the Temple’s attention.047cc4df776bd29b

I only gave him 14f8d64f82 the handkerchief to wish 0dc8f30368 him a safe journey.edbb05f41b5fdbb7

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Shaking my head, I 56e1ccaa0b turned away.e877b5882e77037a

***68b13e50bf04f047

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Two days later, 49094cb3f6 at dawn, Alexis f0118c040c departed for the 54fef821b3 southern kingdom of 0e4840417c Aruhin alongside the 2ad66e40ba Crown Prince as 93fed56ec3 planned.e0ca39d3b23a9773

And two days after 28c936ea3d that, Euclid arrived in b19e344293 the capital for the 850cbc501b wedding.51d9b1e65b1646f3

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***5705fb77cc6f5371

Chapter 3: When the 14c12e9bfe Villainess Met Her Favoritedb33cbae83ce2e24

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“This is my first time riding a magic carriage. It’s definitely fast and impressive.”8a5cf2a9fa9495f4

The journey from the northern 209f9a7c5e Rudion Duchy to the capital b059a21539 typically took three to four a6f55adb12 days, sometimes even longer if 63d9cb5b02 the schedule was relaxed.7219d2831e8ef72f

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Delano, born and raised 291b9f5205 in the north where d354fb632d trips to the capital c0b1b87934 were rare, had been 3ce03abad9 quite nervous about the a488736de5 unfamiliar mode of travel.ab8e53c403461735

However, despite his worries, d8463cfc96 they arrived at the 04a43df2d1 capital in no time, 7a35d00bf9 even with breaks for 0e5eb55cfa meals and rest.baca8c6eea5f177d

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This was all thanks 6416cef1df to the magic carriage ab75956fab sent by the Basilian e4a48ab245 family to accommodate the b1dd8c5369 wedding schedule.340a3d56ec0d634b

Not wanting to appear as f7ca516e6a a country bumpkin from the c8b81cd5f1 north, Delano had held back f19328e223 his amazement for two days, 47d05b6f54 but in the end, he 90bd2f195c couldn’t suppress his admiration.cdf8abb3bc7db52f

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Magic carriages, luxury goods b2faba74e0 sold by the Magic 923448391a Tower alongside magic stones, f8610ee432 were so expensive that fa0e9956b9 they rivaled the cost 946096887c of mansions in the da8da23cb0 provinces.6caa2f0da1cc3951

Naturally, they were 89095b9aff rare, not only a60b0208bc in the north 947eeaba7b but also in e08e4d2e2b other regions, and 83d1bc7df1 were considered extravagant e86a745bf9 possessions. Rumor had it that 88754172ff nobles in the capital 57adbfb292 even went into debt 8f28cd394f to purchase them just db978f0dec to keep up appearances.29a603cf3c0e9991

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Initially, Delano had f38d47e973 scoffed at the edba3df198 idea, thinking, It’s 366b2f00a7 just a carriage. How could it 8c104fa250 cost as much 779e17ce9c as a house? But after experiencing its convenience 5c0b8703aa firsthand, he began to understand fb2c0de9ac why people were willing to 7ce52bce44 spend so much on it.590536889226b0c7

“If time can be bought with money, it might actually be a bargain,” Euclid commented.12880e8303007510

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“Exactly,” Delano agreed with a smile and nodded.789d6a7f410b66c2

“I didn’t expect Duke Basilian to show such generosity. It’s truly appreciated.”030d7d63598189dd

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However, Delano wasn’t as quick ea55f57679 to agree with what followed. With a slightly reluctant 0197e3c2e0 expression, he remarked,“Well, they’re 341b63a69c not called the Empire’s 8faddef735 wealthiest family for nothing. Didn’t they also 2f0679d506 send a large a59afdc455 quantity of magic b1ceec773a stones? Just those alone 5521dc3739 must cost a 1353a31651 fortune…”092a17621f48a520

At first, it 66ebcbadee sounded almost like 4792ed2504 admiration, but the 5133bfdbd9 subtle shift in 78b91256d0 tone at the 5f089fb10d end carried a 66350d5320 strangely negative nuance.f15a106ecbbd82ad

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Euclid, who quickly 518feabfb6 sensed this, put 7fe75e706e down the file 6ccf408878 he had been 65866cd3a6 reviewing and silently 6fb4577910 gazed at Delano.af98401e8f135461

Feeling caught, Delano continued.c3dbc81a283bbe5a

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“The more I think about it, the more unsettled I feel. I can’t help but 2ba1d16dc5 wonder—what scheme lies behind 90d2e31fd5 such lavish generosity?”1b7a25586bf16870

“A scheme, you say?”54a145cb38402d08

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Delano struck his 932629a786 chest in frustration a52ada8975 at Euclid’s seemingly 5ab8ca1a6b innocent expression.c7aa9e89926f2353

“Have you forgotten already? They suddenly appeared 5547021c03 out of nowhere, acb9073958 proposing to open 4433679ef5 a branch in a3d1fbdf96 the North, using f8491babec that as a cde5534c2a pretext to send 4901abcd7d a marriage proposal. And now, the dowry 500884b84a list has doubled beyond 77df5d18f7 what was originally promised, 580671372e not to mention the 8bcb93daeb inclusion of a magic e40dd3a9c9 carriage and so on…”348156eb8e04782d

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Lowering his voice edeb029bea as if he ae6b312012 couldn’t shake the 82b794a8ef feeling that there d79d863fc7 was some hidden 7b992cddc2 conspiracy, Delano whispered, 7dc2979cd2 “Why are they 6a76d83e49 so desperate to a9d2f50892 rush this marriage?”1bc723e3a2cc5e05

It was a 861a70d455 union between two d73fde8201 of the Empire’s 60a0ba1851 founding noble families, c76455e1b7 both holding the 9a313348e1 rank of duke.27f5e6ba2f98226d

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Though the Rudion a6fc84a63d Duchy had lived 927174f947 in near obscurity 128385fb86 in the North, 4589d23007 the Basilean Duchy d1362c81a7 was the most bbd5205817 powerful and influential b32b4eb59b family in the 05181e875e Empire. Why would they 70ff4df816 rush into a 3d1adfe317 marriage as if 17f58c2d7f their feet were 0eb30ce989 to the fire?63ec8fd89de0e27c

“To think they’re holding the wedding at a temple instead of sending out grand invitations and gathering people in a show of celebration.”13d61d23e74b00f1

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“Perhaps they simply have strong faith. After all, theirs f2995000bc might be the 97bc1d6add family that donates 223272060f the most to 95702b9768 the temples.”98cc922299c48a3e

“That may be true, but still…”bb823b7af67a2c2a

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“With the timing coinciding with a military campaign, they might prefer a quieter ceremony.”cfe7917dce209c62

“Even that sounds like an overly convenient excuse!”8eb789b1a8b3cf8d

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The exchange between the two—one 7d38e1f5a2 attacking, the other defending—felt like 74f688ddf2 a battle between sword and 1b5c1b6237 shield.530848b3579efe31

Finally, Euclid, who had set 61cb86d9ac aside the documents completely, spoke 0c6327c8f7 in a low voice.996b8a43ab33f430

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“Delano, what exactly are you trying to say?”dac0d687adb49d77

“Don’t you think it’s strange, my lord? That the Basilian Duchy 6eb123eb85 is rushing this marriage eb0c941046 so urgently, and conducting 4c761a34ef it so quietly as 42bf4f7cfc if they fear others 29ed7c0ded finding out?”362c935fde4d661c

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Delano swallowed hard and turned b558eb977f the question back on him.0f5fc5cb2fe57233

From Euclid’s perspective, 7761075f97 a quick and 2dd2db7b3b discreet marriage would 721289fcb6 indeed help ease ef962f114e concerns among the 568e7ce29d retainers and residents b439cff6bc of his domain c944f7a61c who might be faaf4ea3d5 unsettled by the 9a07386cb2 identity of the 491839d1ef future duchess.f100bdd1ac249bbd

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But why would the prestigious ce355cd772 Basilean Duchy go to such 8af7a5a2eb lengths, practically giving away so b0f2a1d932 much in the process?2fb1a9be5cce773c

“Is there some urgent reason why the marriage must happen now, or perhaps… a flaw they’re trying to hide?”88570c317f330786

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“That’s enough.”206de95abec7d2fd

Just as Delano was 46e4c49882 about to voice the 167a76bb5b thoughts he’d been holding 2942bfb433 back, Euclid decisively cut 609c4aa0e0 him off.f31e81363dd9cc3f

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The faint smile that always 3f733afed2 lingered on Euclid’s lips had 35b57fa5e4 completely disappeared, causing Delano to c758f7e584 freeze and fall silent.21852aa2173f0625

“I know your words come from concern for me and the duchy, but the lady and I are already betrothed, and by tomorrow we will be husband and wife. No matter how 226d90c4fd well-meaning your intentions 456963dfdd are, I don’t 29d5432291 wish to hear b387f71500 any more of f36a3140ad this.”4ea23646e267a9c2

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Realizing he had crossed a 6543ef971a line, Delano lowered his head.b188dbf2fe24fc10

Although he thought he 72f1517f8f had accepted it when 77ddc5de93 Euclid signed the marriage ebf0341097 contract, deep down, it 3662f394a2 seemed he still couldn’t 08a7a92391 bring himself to acknowledge aafbec5765 her as the Duchess d346905363 of Rudion.96dc207cc3b8e269

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“My apologies. I overstepped,” Delano said, his 682959924f voice heavy with guilt.a4fce75d3c8e5405

A wave of remorse 60828b8d97 swept over him. How could he utter such 477faf43db slanderous words about the future 2ca66c72ba mistress of the Rudion Duchy, 3fd718acba someone he would swear loyalty 302cb300f2 to as of tomorrow?2c3a859740c84393

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Still unable to lift 73bb493b04 his head, Delano heard 60eea217b6 Euclid speak gently, almost 1f2eca932e as if to console 689cf7dd4d him.4d10d0492a728946

“It’s good that you understand now. But if you 95b8ce0f50 continue to make 5cd59d0019 disrespectful remarks about 259f6de4bb the lady or f02ba5ed83 the Basilian Duchy, dc0e2a0fdf I will consider 167f812603 it an insult 5fe60a3a2d to myself.”302e41ca103e7998

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“Yes, my lord. I will take this to 0cdede5db4 heart,” Delano replied firmly.48d83a851f37fa12

• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •4109320ceb2920bf

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