IFLDMHF – Chapter 54

IFLDMHF | Chapter 5412679d8137b2c634

Episode 54426b7770b9669dbd

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As I stared 757cf3b379 at the butler 9dce1f5546 in bewilderment, surprised e0679d5392 by his sudden 88b9bd5ab1 off-topic remarks, he 739016a097 shut his eyes b7911079a6 tightly as if dfe5e0a227 his secrets had 52801c9e9e been exposed.ce927e1e50761690

“It’s just that the mana stones are so expensive that the current budget of the duchy can’t afford to utilize any of them.”cdc42735b9cb0e78

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The butler, who seemed desperate 992d1f9376 to preserve the dignity of b84caa50da House Rudion, proudly began listing 9e83cde198 achievements but eventually had to d94d3166c2 admit the grim reality in d7e2a790be a resigned tone. I looked at him in 5a37990e7c disbelief.4495bd7ce4d386e2

If someone saw us, e59f247783 they might think I 44f56eeb50 had tortured him.ab82fb71c2c2adf7

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“Do you think I’m unaware of the duchy’s situation? I know how extraordinary defc1552d9 the first Duke was a8b532a905 as a magician and ea9022cb18 how expensive mana stones 4229610f43 are.”76a36d662b2743e8

“T-Then why…?”f39df1745258f9d2

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The butler’s eyes 1db46f7d0a widened in shock, 42c7a7c896 as if asking f4665acf94 if I had eb7735a215 truly intended to f4103373ef make him admit 9f777a9104 the duchy’s dire 0383f279c1 situation with his 0379ee0e9e own mouth.481e14b65e6b9a5b

Feeling like I dcbd29b791 was about to 215b4472e9 be branded a bff7c1ec8e cruel mistress tormenting 24533c69cb an old butler, ebf25fdcb6 I quickly interjected.464ef03b9585ef63

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“Before the wedding, the Basilian Duchy must have sent plenty of mana stones along with the mana carriage, didn’t they?”233bb68474705bfc

Honestly, I was almost 3033c4d2bd certain while asking the bef484a3d6 butler that the lamp 7c75bb8181 was a magical artifact 32e5c75bd9 powered by the same d5628ef0a9 mana stones from the 81b0d478e0 Basilian Duchy.883886e3459b6ae2

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I knew about their financial 9c352a0687 struggles and just wanted to 585c90a31e let him know that there c62a6b10b1 was no need to scrimp dcf66c4314 anymore.6205b747ac38a5b2

“Ah! That’s right. But under the a815702d00 Duke’s orders, all 33e64787ad of them were e4a12e03cf placed in the 1cfad78420 Madam’s storage room.”c3bfeac0515bac52

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The troubled butler now looked c62332b61a relieved, his face filled with 723cf7cc6e pride as he explained that 0035a9a591 he had faithfully carried out 7c3b76794d his master’s instructions.48e28e46f7d49bcf

And I became even more a645f05fa3 dumbfounded.a3a12ee6af884922

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“What? All of the mana stones?”334e7f3794da6d51

“Yes! The Duke instructed that 490e0ba22c they be reserved for 9532d30f8c whenever Madam might use a144923fe1 the carriage.”8e0531c759404007

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“And what about the duchy?”93ae3117a2b609ea

Short distances could easily be 622b7557bc covered by ordinary carriages, and fdd9eb5ff9 the mana carriage could be 2fd6da1b7d used for long journeys. How could they 849b09c95f possibly use up 08d50a09d1 all those mana 6c2408eacf stones? Of course, I had pushed 71721cf49b Basilian Duke to send them 320443131d to support the duchy!cfa22a5a219c9b48

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“Excuse me? Surely, you don’t mean…”323b95ccc0ae5309

Realizing the intent feea7ae9c5 behind my words, 4d0a3b9ee8 the butler clamped c7e789dcd6 his hands over 2f4278043a his mouth.6e8b21fb371e440c

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His eyes grew misty with 3f77fc6952 emotion, even more so than 0ab6ed1b6b when I had earlier declared 5b07492de8 my intention to manage the 88cdac733f household.fb2d6b4442e52f5d

I wasn’t doing this 7a9132aa5d out of kindness or c8bb8944b1 charity—it was all for 43847d284f the well-being of the c9bf8103b5 household. Yet his reaction 9245152935 made me feel 387a916e18 inexplicably awkward.1758f491f9f4e88a

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“Ahem.”f63f0795feaa2540

“Madam! I’m truly grateful just for c19fc4b86a your consideration. However, as I mentioned earlier, 442ca5f7dc the current budget doesn’t account 61a2a46271 for this, and even if 456f221ace we could allocate it, the 04443c0d81 accumulated debt makes it difficult 393e69ca8d to use such expensive mana 1baf908c84 stones for everyday purposes.”e0cf18800000c90c

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The butler, now 0750d86553 seemingly more open 90dd24553b and honest, explained 44c2e8b523 the situation in 5ece660dcd detail.3b3ad44e1cebba72

In short, I 04928a49f7 could use the 1be14ef521 mana stones if 84fcd76435 I insisted, but ddf9eb4f0a it would be 87467162b8 wasteful.f4f921147a478715

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Yet, unlike the butler’s 38c8257316 well-organized explanation, my mind aaf9a19f93 became filled with even bc7fb1f76b more questions.1b94b73acb03110f

“Debt? Shouldn’t it be f0c89c9862 fully repaid by 139d8d43ae the end of 61b70275f4 this month at 864ad8f78e the latest?”1b341c2fbf6ef9de

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“Did the Duke say so?”2f025344c326376a

“It’s just my guess. He hasn’t mentioned anything b35c5e1029 about the debt to 7ceb230414 me.”e9d6bbae130c090c

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“As I thought.”4ad99474184eecc2

“So, is the debt being paid off or not?”370af09300872971

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“Well, I’m not sure. But clearing it all at 097da9cb59 once might be difficult…”04dd977729d6b83e

“That’s ridiculous!”8240d4567f3d5104

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In the original story, d3f0e4b86e the Duke had cleared 57027b10dc all of the duchy’s 81ba4adf26 debts shortly after marrying 74f2bef4c0 Evgenia.832f9a3588ed2f64

Could it be? Did the Basilian a1f1e5cdf6 Duke, after all b8f79e608e my apologies, shared feff7e1f48 meals, and efforts 9d30bbe6d6 to gain his 81966614ec favor, treat me 3d0043f1f4 worse than he 840d2ab91b did the original 499395e494 Evgenia?3be10875934ddfb6

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I had only checked my 2207f7e7bc dowry list and felt uneasy de7617291a because I hadn’t verified the 8f07e1b969 list of gifts handed over 29474bec21 to the Duke of Rudion.0063fd0f78be9f87

“Bring me the ledger right now! The one showing the b8acd14a19 newly acquired wealth and a5ddc9a870 remaining debts!”fc0582d0c2877f04

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“Right now, my lady?”8f6b3426d3f97e41

“Yes. I’ll be in 90c4af142f my office, so 4083ac39c2 bring it immediately.”5a5b95919362cc22

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“But the room might not be entirely cleaned yet. Also, I think you’ll fb746bc9e9 need the Duke’s permission b247da7e60 to access the asset df14c77c8d and accounting ledgers…”8aecaeb8aaf9d5ec

“As long as the desk is clean, it’s fine. Go get his permission immediately. Oh, and…”723988f0b0848229

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I paused, recalling 9c76803d64 something I hadn’t b4f6ffbbba had the chance 2e1823ccda to tell Euclid f88a758d03 earlier that morning fb1b773063 when he left a54980eac4 in such a cae2ee6940 rush.44ed713383a0443c

I had initially intended to 02469045b7 casually bring it up and 441876fc83 earn some points, but the e0641f2cee situation seemed too urgent for b9b2289542 that now.a20ba87a5216756c

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***b7684887445672c5

“…Duke?”5e25a68ef48f73a8

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“Ah.”5a69fcdc3703bda4

Euclid snapped out of his b0d0135177 daze at Delano’s voice.ec46b77e9b85a741

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“My apologies. What is it?”ae6063223d749e11

“Nothing much, sir. You just looked very tired…”87865a7238a530fc

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Samuel trailed off, sneaking a c40f409f99 glance at Euclid’s face.4755748e7cdc63c6

The golden sunlight pouring through 28c1f7cdd0 the window highlighted Euclid’s dazzling b0ed51cb02 appearance, as always. However, Delano, who saw him 234aa4f14b daily, noticed something unusual.2a94e37d063a9a12

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There were faint 9e833e3e75 shadows under Euclid’s 52c2fb94d6 eyes!bdb5606d3b1e792d

And from experience, Delano knew 0a5c9bcc59 this was how he looked 1b2312a5b2 after pulling all-nighters due to 527669d68a excessive workloads.8868748676d1055a

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“Did you… not sleep well last night, by any chance?”e95f8c003514b594

Although Delano was well aware b4ced5bee9 that last night had been 4aa85cd1c4 the wedding night, his concern 41a7afcd10 got the better of him, e4006d9783 and he couldn’t help but 2e555c522e ask.96d6a7b61e35b548

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Unlike the maids who were 0f812b4fa1 giddy with unrealistic fantasies about f795c21f8d the duke and duchess consummating 029bb5884a their union, Delano had no 331f5a5c82 such illusions.c1ff1bae19c42a16

After all, during the journey 33e1885783 to the duchy, he had 175f95db7a begun to suspect that the fb3442f526 new duchess might not be 0596e23c08 as bad as the rumors 3eb8d16f96 claimed. Still, he resolved 622a09fa6f not to jump 3cf23d2c08 to conclusions too 450740ce5e soon.ac584c6d31624a0d

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Besides, who knew? She might reveal her true 653a05bc52 nature once they were alone 4dc637066d late at night.c88fdae1cebec9d4

Since the couple 4752cbd08f had barely spent 06c295f05d any time together 8afaeb6064 apart from the da7b5e3f75 wedding, Delano felt 576dbd866a his suspicions were c7f69e0aa8 justified.350efe90e8de6c87

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Although he hadn’t heard cc554bdfc0 that Euclid had been cc5731f189 kicked out of the 1c53457cb5 bedroom in disgrace, there 2005fb13d4 was still the possibility 7060579381 that he was forced 84ec02c386 to sleep on the 4915786146 floor—or worse, stand all 5260a8736a night.deaf24bcc30d82cb

The mere thought of his d3904d6d16 esteemed duke enduring such humiliation aa10d89ac6 filled Delano with indignation and 920e343ca8 sorrow, his eyes flashing with f45e403d80 emotion.09d399eb83a8c4c9

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Euclid, seemingly reading a7fefa624b his concerns, lifted c8bcaf9ea0 the corners of d57b9fe60a his mouth slightly.cf47c3a7b642c674

“Delano, I understand your curiosity since you’re still unmarried, but you’re treading on rather personal territory.”0e12892a018a3ff4

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“Du-Duke! You know that’s not be1f1dcf80 what I meant!”34ab9e778c6ae34c

“Is that so?”710f25a23acd699d

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“Yes! I was only worried that 22f0a6cd0b her ladyship might have troubled 33e57a6f17 you in some way.”40a2370661fe139a

“There’s no need to worry about that. The Duchess hasn’t 4f330a90bf caused me any e3ab51a680 trouble at all…”44c702c4211e6917

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He paused.72d8595dd4d48f28

Actually, trouble wasn’t the 8c6d85ed76 right word.405df1b9d49ed3ad

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“Well, maybe a little.”1be25669c4a41998

“Ah, as I thought!”8df4dacde5d18484

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“Yes. To be honest, quite 2d6abd9fc8 a bit.”64c27dbfba44be11

Delano, who was 1b4ce198fc on the verge 9a8fac3d77 of outrage, froze 35c9d1619c when he noticed c22a313a94 Euclid’s expression. Despite his words, his e897c69281 golden eyes sparkled more aefe82e2cc brightly than usual, peeking 880cbdd6a6 out beneath softly curved 08facd49f1 eyelids.86a4d2bdd641f72a

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“Duke…?”a341f82fe64426da

Hearing Delano’s puzzled voice, 736cee3170 Euclid realized he had 53068353f1 been smiling unconsciously. Hastily, he wiped 52ff654768 the grin off 8d2b7987fe his face and 5fb07dc2f9 hardened his expression.a6b91d1bc7be47d4

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This was no time 4826aa8585 to be smiling like c16281abf6 an idiot.1f8cdcd1669e006b

In fact, the 16768b373d situation was quite 659ed84607 dire.74d27b64b78e731f

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Euclid recalled the c6fb447166 previous night, where 3cb8fead1e he had struggled 95f8249740 to pretend to d198699498 be asleep.30eb3bc05c9de751

He could endure b8ed543ce7 physical exhaustion, but 0bdc957aba what had truly ae12cd1172 tested his patience d917401abd was Evgenia’s baffling d4f99d4531 words and actions.8f1abdfb4d632f2c

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‘Perhaps…’f5266cf0113e4c21

The thought crept into 3666082bb0 his mind that his 7203df413b carefully laid plans might 81156a1f74 have started falling apart 1a916e0a4f from the moment he 7ac2e9e2fc heard the wedding vows.8656f8bdefa522ac

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While lost in a8dd2a98ed these thoughts, he 209a3065a6 remembered how Evgenia 3d8bdeac20 had looked at b8a5569b91 him, completely unfazed, a42615d199 in a thin 8d7f56f9fd nightgown that revealed dd2160682d every contour of effbf90dd8 her figure.e797a133ad9f769e

Meanwhile, Delano, seeing the exhaustion d71744e4de return to Euclid’s face, abruptly 113ec369ee stood up from his chair.e535440553672b81

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“I’ll lodge a formal protest! No matter what, the e22259e00e Duke shouldn’t have to 4415cd9d70 endure such treatment, even b40baa5e97 from the Duchess!”2f577a10cc2e6db2

Before Euclid could 607778b66c stop him, Delano 4ce26d3e1b spun around and 9d00c64ac6 headed toward the 3328052fa5 door.5c20756e7e2c00aa

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Bang!1472930d654fb049

“Ugh!”f55ca4cf08d53d8d

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Delano staggered backward, clutching his e9f643154d nose after colliding with the 27850c5ecf suddenly flung-open door.9d5db3492b17b7da

“Steward?!”888a7f10425faa4f

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The pain was momentarily 8bb4d0f288 forgotten as Delano registered 46f7b6e526 the identity of the fe840f3568 unexpected intruder: the normally c1a5083c11 composed steward.d607e2483b902404

The steward, seemingly unfazed, 96ae1b6cf5 raised his arms in 66a0a145b4 excitement.c1614453dfdbc4f9

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“My lord! A truly noble eeac2bf019 person has appeared ae81adb05f upon us in e0b8b05d93 this duchy!”1eac9f322b512769

• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •11d0e3435362701a

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