IFLDMHF – Chapter 27

IFLDMHF | Chapter 27bd311d43c7fe4f2f

Chapter 27c4b4fb8d1ce33d4c

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Euclid, overcome with embarrassment, d376946dcf hurriedly turned away and ff43a72afe climbed into the carriage. Inside, Delano, his aide, b71e9d8bbc had long since passed 24ae7a470d out drunk. He seemed completely 3fbc1e31bc taken by the e6c2ec0990 sweet, high-quality wine 7917d6eefa produced in the f5b6b5f73c Basilian estate.9cf9c6c882f59eea

“Y-Your Grace? I’m sorry… urgh!”7c193e6885a3724e

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Euclid chuckled softly at Delano’s e3f6b5f7d7 drunken mumblings, but soon sighed 86cf37a4e5 as silence settled over the ac8f6d6199 carriage.ae5bc1de5d7dce64

Though he usually 01b52e441c preferred quiet, at 6eb435ca04 this moment, Euclid f3afef68c9 found himself wishing b86900963f Delano would keep 4dcdbbd1fe babbling about something. His mind was cb09091cbb unsettled, haunted by bc34beb43a the memory of 7b1ee995be the young lady b20a9d5a85 staring intently at 3511ca8b07 him during the 4f90901426 meal.8414500a074dfef9

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He recalled the 512112d3e1 moment of self-consciousness 790c9dbc8a earlier when he 7e973e49a1 paid unusual attention 391a5e2742 to his attire, 6d6b9514dc only to feel c009685d96 embarrassed later.4c0542e4e07cdd16

Trying to shake off 1dedfd7e5f the oddness of his 49fe724228 own behavior, Euclid shook fc9e8c5afa his head, recalling the c18eb4c15b conversation he had with 31a7e137ff Duke Basilian before heading da924ceb97 to the dining hall.b05b709d48648836

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When he was summoned 9bae59b43f to the duke’s office, fdae41f6b2 Euclid had assumed it badbe48749 was to finalize the a491eac24a prenuptial contract before the d6f20e33a9 marriage. However, despite their prior discussion, 63536d071b the duke took a long e5e5d3674a time to speak, circling around a770e83849 the matter before finally broaching 717b8db742 the topic.1266703965c17196

***9d3d7c419f23212b

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“Don’t you wonder why I’m rushing this marriage?”2d08c62d94c8c871

It was a 45cc166792 question Delano, Euclid’s ca5ac41087 aide, had repeatedly cbbf169994 voiced with suspicion.ff80c50bd5ca7d83

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At the time, Euclid 6fa01e9d09 had dismissed it, stating f5af123fa8 that, given their agreement 166b112f03 to the marriage, he 74f07f6842 didn’t want to hear 3d4d1db9cd anything that might cast 83b08b463f doubt on it.887445c5996e3146

That was his honest stance. He felt he a1eb7a2789 had no right 79f08fbde4 to question Duke 437316eb1b Basilian’s motives, no 6b124ff5f1 matter what they efb1b9ad74 might be—even if a002bf182a it was a 9a3f47c3b6 trap. After all, whatever 73f8e0aa28 the circumstances, it d3d2b24d28 was unlikely to 57c88e3df8 be a problem 984c450a5c greater than his 0c097759cd own burdens.527d808bf3ff6cfa

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If anyone had stepped 7ccaded199 into a trap here, a539455571 it was Duke Basilian d0bf3a7145 himself.d850709233344bf3

Euclid believed that if he 5dff4a69ec ever uncovered the duke’s true 00d4a44a10 motives, he might come to b52ad4b612 criticize not only Duke Basilian 55ffb05c1d but also Delano, who had 5dcef4ffe8 always admired the duke as 5991e36684 an extraordinary man.b911b13980579480

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Thus, he lowered his gaze 73680d60c3 and responded carefully.a96be5c0fb510691

“I am simply grateful that you hold me in such high regard. I have not 7ee30700b5 thought beyond that.”e32a33ae7343b971

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“Thank you for saying so.”0e2c300fcd11326e

Hearing Euclid’s reply, Duke Basilian 3515597c7d let out a hearty laugh 7b76c0923c as if relieved, but his e7cd27f6dc expression soon turned serious again.4ad022d6b65e8c14

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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 a 0302fd82c5 peculiar child. Surely you’ve heard ff64f9fbe6 the rumors about f66304b762 her?”07bd3aa9cb704617

“…Yes.”acbff9b0ade2e078

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“Good. Since the wedding hasn’t 69b9e6bece happened yet, I won’t bb3d268d97 mince my words.”8dc98e6a5ac87d5c

“Please speak freely.”decf51158bea4eb3

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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 f433f99de6 never reciprocated. In fact, when Evgenia was 82aa5ca565 born, the imperial family even c588cc02ba hinted at making her the 427c4199ae crown princess. I thought the match c3d3c35a32 was inevitable.”df9015f051e4baa7

No one had anticipated the 930ae1fa8c Crown Prince’s adamant rejection of 89e469c6a4 Evgenia.986b7f8a2f6f2a92

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Duke Basilian’s face 7e9bc0eb52 darkened as he b9694944f9 recalled the one-sided e4b1fd042b affection Evgenia had 33419b49c5 shown and the 03644fee5a cold indifference she 7448a110cc had received in 7dc573df9c return.0603470b32988d2b

“You must have heard the recent news about My niece inheriting the Basilian name?”a6d565a760b266a6

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Euclid nodded, though he 6440795fdf couldn’t quite understand why 2e265482c7 the duke had suddenly 8a76c9499a brought up his niece. However, the duke’s b65d55e218 next words startled 6d9c0b853d him.bcd632427ea9fcab

“Not long ago, the imperial family sent us a marriage proposal. Naturally, I assumed it was 1576bd8b25 for Evgenia, but the proposal 0e1fc01f5d wasn’t addressed to her.”4857f5cd78c08150

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“Are you saying… it was for your niece?”e9b78eaee1a31599

The duke nodded slowly.4b2144d7673f1534

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For years, the bafcf1ce04 imperial family had a796e5b4bb expressed interest in 33369fcadb uniting with the 52bdff0fc7 Basilian house through e4e021ab80 marriage but had 48f9891891 never sent a 003c64e3fa formal proposal. And as soon as an 9d36bfc3df alternative to Evgenia appeared, they 925d0e6d7f acted.5207572e0e4db611

This could only cd059ccaa7 be interpreted as 8c3499319d a clear reflection 89871b18d5 of the Crown 5d7b4bd4e5 Prince’s will.dcde674569a6bee5

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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 3462d3c90a wake-up call.”dea82833cd25a0c9

Even with his 2752d3020d limited understanding of 7beddbdfcb the rumors surrounding bbbc00d091 Evgenia and the 9c4f9faf2c Crown Prince, Euclid bb87618929 could easily imagine a4f71b38b6 how shocked Duke 02d71425bb Basilian must have 5108fe4ca2 been.a2685eb32b759ac3

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It also explained why ce48152f39 the duke had been 726fb0eb2a in such a hurry a0c533765b to secure a marriage b0b6d294f2 for his daughter.6aeccb1a93f8d98f

“Naturally, this deeply wounded Evgenia.”68fdab780883986b

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“…I can imagine.”f25ce4b0386d4692

“The only silver lining is that she finally decided to let go of her long-unrequited love. To put an end to cf7c68982e it, she resolved to marry eddef6b965 of her own volition.”fbc210aabf27a8a7

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Euclid’s eyes wavered at 9bc0b08272 the unexpected revelation.70d28b7993fb57d0

He had assumed this 10eed4defb marriage was purely the e44269b7c6 duke’s doing and that f16e46bf60 the young lady was d9d3b17d72 being forced into it.56975eb45443e1d2

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Only now did he fully c70aacd051 grasp the emotions Evgenia must 1d8ab33cb8 have been suppressing when she 3a02697602 seemed on the verge of 5a556d3478 tears in the lobby.16cc8adbd80b805e

His chest ached. If this marriage truly was 0aaa166552 her way of closing a fd3cf177c4 chapter, he wondered if going 37de501768 through with it would be 000015f8fe an irreversible mistake.88357167aa0bd70a

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‘Then, should we… call off the marriage?’78b04ca70ebfd0f1

Euclid muttered to himself, 4bdc50420f catching the words too 4a3ef6fbbc late. Shaking his head 74f3c18f18 vehemently, he clenched 214dc0e07e his jaw.a026228154e49c76

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It was too ecc3004693 late to cancel 79258594d5 the arrangements. Doing so would mean losing f87859fa31 the Basilian family’s trust and 68ff1ce7e1 potentially making them an enemy. Moreover, his family’s 98b2e43c83 debts, his young b0bfffdd65 nephews, the servants 2450442908 at the manor, 28a6f16a74 and the people c3b90a7798 of his territory 648884743f were all depending e74696852d on him.26363474d889b85e

‘Really?’7d9c900b32c5c750

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The question echoed beff593c3a faintly in his b89c7fd1db mind, but he 49f0ee0cfe shoved it aside.9473b595ca499535

At that moment, 60e61de4f3 a question about fc0711f3e6 himself arose in 514a60d630 Euclid’s mind.2dbdacdae8f8918b

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Although Euclid had boldly listed 16d18ad14c reasons why the marriage proposal fe230df1cf couldn’t proceed, he hesitated to 07d17a19cd answer the persistent questions demanding 32ef2f6d22 the truth.b260849241a3a447

When he himself couldn’t figure 176125d56c out the reason and was 8bbda972ce growing confused—535b8a6f7ffca85b

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“Wait!”f08ef3b77d44d89d

Euclid, fortunately, managed 2e7d4348ca to avoid the 0cef600b99 scolding, piercing voice 4fa7262c3b of his inner 93522bccc4 thoughts.709d8a4c41098ff4

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Instead—6accc64da425942e

“Stop and state your identity. This is the 8e3fa0428b Rudion Ducal Mansion.”b3ec0d40970f6994

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A voice, laden with annoyance, 08a6cc437e rang out, as if it d63437bc64 was certain that no guest 4f7369acce would ever visit a place 4b9c33008c even its owner had long 93542872d9 abandoned.ad88946a9e647692

The irritated tone, as 1d91a36203 though ready to expel bdee2a00fe the visitor at any 019ebec65b moment, assuming they had 06a1edcfc4 merely lost their way 6212007ab7 on this late evening, b42d233a62 caused Euclid’s face to 08fed58f86 harden.027b3f3f2eb534b1

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No, his expression had already 59d9dd9d82 turned cold the moment he 47d14a056c stepped into the Rudion mansion.611abe8bc080b916

The man who had b1e269a082 acted like a rookie e02f251a0e under the mere gaze f9ad40d6ed of another was no 5c323cdff9 longer present in this 6239c83992 place.a9774c0d2061c38a

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Taking over for 1566e5d364 Delano, who remained 8500b6590c unconscious despite the 7d22211f8a commotion between the 8e0a7851eb guards and the 4b23259410 coachman at the b5072cd63d mansion’s entrance, Euclid 54646d4c93 opened the carriage d26c63fb09 door himself.90c0fcd1d65bdd54

“That’s ridiculous… Huh? Your Grace, the Duke?”28b71bde47bdd5d9

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The guard, unable to 499599e9e8 believe the coachman’s words, 5d36de279e made a foolish exclamation 9628cb5b7d upon seeing Euclid’s face.5d049402915ec713

“Is it truly you, Duke Rudion?”2530ad0263b2e7be

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Euclid, as if 825136b046 his face had a0643c4205 never hardened, offered 35df85e2ce a soft smile ec5841a694 and gave a 6240d1930a slight nod. Then he moved to 2bc0dc36fe close the carriage door.cd95636997fde502

The guard, flustered, hurriedly asked b3e7bde6c6 again.729d7e4de7839ab8

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“What brings you to the capital all of a sudden, Your Grace?”6fa28c8439e861a3

Had Delano not been 4e93e607dd drunk, he might have 7f1c4b30ce snapped, questioning why the 0d50e0a976 owner of the mansion 2a5e1e5073 needed to explain their 02e4ef41e8 visit to their own 6d88a3d7b1 home.455d4565d9dbb004

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Even the guard, who 3acfe2c9cf had casually asked, seemed 7fad3c7bac to realize his mistake fde7dbb6df belatedly and hesitated, though d51c7f29ac he did not lower e7b1087a8e his head in apology d3095ccb12 or withdraw his question.3eb531c17e271b11

For him, uncovering the reason b41a2541cd behind the Duke’s sudden appearance f79737e038 in the capital was a 9ca63eba8b more pressing duty than the 7c9269bb5e risk of being reprimanded for fed6e14b5c his mistake.d34f728ba2d2d0b8

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Of course, that b7736b5be9 didn’t mean Euclid f6a51ff38f was obligated to bb202be5f5 satisfy his curiosity.acc6c629557744f9

“I’m rather tired. I’d like to rest, 19cb14f636 so could you open 1a4d188263 the gate?”f832cd20b211adcb

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It was a polite yet 07d53640bd unmistakable command.cd6eac127a2e8891

The guard, pausing 2d421b9842 briefly, instinctively felt 2f80f84fc9 that he shouldn’t 0f560858d1 cross the line 57b4d08be6 further and retreated, e027d38678 signaling for the 76d02ea0ef gate to be 650dee6e7c opened.6a552b5fbf0cab0b

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Only then did 5a557ecd38 Euclid close the 9713424ad6 carriage door and 8abe67fd84 lean deeply against b4547afc02 the seat. A cold sigh escaped his bb6d48be4f lips.761a1dc149752023

Even from within the enclosed 5ca35b3efb carriage, he could sense the 7095571b24 entire mansion in disarray, scrambling 760d108544 to respond to the sudden 19175fa09d arrival of its master, who dc52846c9b had appeared without any prior 4d4e4df41b notice or communication.c32c982cac38ae43

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And, as the 26c40f5fa0 nominal master of 4b51d926a8 the house, Euclid 2f311e2a7d himself was no 669a607261 exception to this 7ed3a6b146 unease. It felt as though he 042c91b6c7 were in someone else’s home.7148c3cedce0618a

‘No, to be honest, that’s exactly what it is.’301df933dd373aac

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This was why 0f1e4d4e88 the he hadn’t a7fa22399e been the least 72aa60fe0b bit offended when 940b327c63 the Basilian duke 5a4cb1c2db had completely forgotten d658b4bdb8 that Rudion even 59936c3eb0 had a mansion b2c89df79e in the capital.e80ebd727997c02c

This place was a 80f6c78e8f mere namesake—Rudion Ducal Mansion 0f78a0e534 in title only. For over 500 years 3c482c7356 since it was granted 930397de26 by the first emperor, a6bd93c18d it had remained virtually 24c8455d60 uninhabited.819590ff64edccc4

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• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •a7b736597ad75814

If you want to support 4c8dafcd11 the translation and the translator, d88dee5349 you can buy a coffee~5a1e3f8631714db1

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