Chapter 52 – 52
“Just sit down for now. Nothing you’re worried about will ever happen. Raymond told me that Kisha has never bitten a person once.”
“…….”
“If it looks like something might happen, I’ll stop her. If worst comes to worst, I’ll even sing her a song….”
“Hearing you say that makes me even more terrified.”
Just imagining being bitten by those fangs sent a chill down his spine, and the thought of Euro clinging to him and singing while he was being mauled made him feel as though he’d suffer from a severe trauma even if he survived.
A Duchess singing while holding onto a blood-covered servant—it was the perfect opening for a horror novel. He might not die if he heard that song, but still….
Dent let out a deep sigh and slowly approached, sitting on the sofa opposite Euro. Kisha showed no interest in Dent, which allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief.
“So, what is this matter regarding the festival?”
“Ah, it is nothing grand. Lady Molton mentioned she received the gift well and asked if you would be interested in coming to observe the preparations for the festival.”
“The preparations?”
“Yes. Originally, in addition to the budget, every step of the preparation process must be confirmed by the Madam.”
Euro nodded at Dent’s words. It seemed the Duchess’s role involved supervising the on-site preparation process as well as the simple paperwork.
“Well… it’s not that visiting is difficult, but I wouldn’t know what to confirm without any knowledge of it.”
“Since you are unfamiliar with the festival process and the nature of the festival itself, it would be best to think of this visit simply as a way to familiarize yourself with things.”
“……I don’t think I really need to know.”
“Pardon?”
“Can’t you just explain it roughly to me here?”
He was the one who had called for the vassals, and he was the one who had asked Raymond for help in managing the estate’s affairs. However, frankly, Euro did not want to involve himself any further in the affairs of the Dukedom.
It wasn’t because he was lazy. He didn’t actually do much here; as long as he smiled and chatted appropriately, he could move freely in and out of the mansion, so Lady Molton’s invitation was actually welcome.
But Euro didn’t even want to make such excuses anymore. Come to think of it, Melione didn’t seem to care whether he went out or not, and he felt a sense of skepticism about why he was struggling so hard to create reasons.
It was certainly an action taken for his own survival. But look at the meal they [visit our site]just had. He could let it slide since the panic only set in the moment he unauthorized copysuffered hematemesis, but today was different.
He wasn’t asking for his hardships to be recognized, nor was he asking for concern over every little thing. He just felt that, at the very least, the man could have asked once if he was alright.
Why should he worry and personally verify the overall event for a man who wouldn’t even perform such basic human courtesy?
No matter how hard he tried not to dwell on it, he couldn’t. Just thinking about it made his blood boil and his feelings hurt.
“Did something happen, perhaps?”
Dent asked cautiously, noticing Euro’s clouded expression and silence.
“Nothing happened.”
“I heard you didn’t eat your meal properly. The chef was so shocked when he saw your plate that he ran out into the hall still clutching his knife.”
“……Eh?”
“I hesitate to say this, but he has a rather eccentric personality and cannot stand it when the food he makes is left untouched.”
“…….”
“Imagine how painful it must have been for such a person to work here.”
Melione was a man who left more behind than he ate. Since he was so ill, people accepted it, but that was only for a while.
Seeing untouched food return to the kitchen every time gave the chef a constant headache. Though, thanks to that, those high-end dishes all became the property of the mansion’s servants.
In the midst of that, Euro’s appearance was truly a delight for the chef. He wasn’t picky and ate whatever was given to him. Since he scraped the plates clean without leaving anything, it actually made cooking worthwhile.
For such a Euro to leave lunch today without even touching the food—the chef’s mental shock was indescribable.
“He was so worried, asking if you had started falling ill. Honestly, that’s the first time I’ve ever seen that man worry about anyone.”
“I’m sorry about that….”
Euro scratched his cheek with an awkward expression. But if he was that stressed, wouldn’t it be better to just work somewhere else? As Euro looked at Dent with that thought, Dent spoke as if reading his mind.
“He is paid very well, so he likely has no intention of changing jobs.”
“I’m sorry about that too.”
“Anyway… is there something you are concerned about? I am also worried since I heard you couldn’t eat properly.”
“Concerned about what… [stolen content]I just don’t have an appetite. People [unauthorized copy]have days like that in life.”
“…….”
“I won’t be here for long anyway. It’s also true that my health is deteriorating. I think I’ll have to leave this place sooner than I originally planned. So, I don’t want to leave more traces of myself behind.”
Thinking about it now, calling the members of the vassal families when he was going to leave the Dukedom anyway had been a hasty decision.
If he left a lasting impression of his existence, the real Duchess who comes after him would have no choice but to keep encountering the traces of ‘Euro,’ whether she wanted to or not.
That wouldn’t be good for him, nor for the next Duchess.
“I thought wrong. I should have stayed as quiet as a mouse and thought of a way to slip away secretly.”
“…….”
“Honestly, even if I had just gone about my business, His Grace probably wouldn’t have paid me any particular attention. I overdid things due to unnecessary anxiety.”
Even if it was just a single matter like the festival. He should have made sure the vassals didn’t even know his face; Euro let out a long sigh, blaming his own short-sightedness.
“Must you really do that?”
“Do what.”
“Must you leave only after all the work is finished?”
At Dent’s question, Euro nodded as if it were obvious.
“Then what would I do here? You want me to actually act the part of the Duchess?”
“You are the real Duchess, Madam.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Speak sense.”
“…….”
“Does someone like me even stand a chance with Duke Spioren, who is free of the curse?”
“…….”
“If it weren’t for the curse, he’s a man who would have no reason to marry a bastard from Norden. In the first place, if it weren’t for a position where people were dying off, there would be no reason for him not to have married by his age.”
To exaggerate slightly, if you lined up the people who wanted to marry Melione, the line would easily reach the capital.
He was the only Duke of the Faltreon Empire, and his appearance was truly perfect. Aside from Crown Prince Gail, [unauthorized copy]there was no better husband candidate in the empire.
“If that were the case, I would have been kicked out long ago. Even if he had proudly demanded my sister instead of me, no one would have dared to object. I wouldn’t have even dared to dream of coming this far.”
“Madam.”
“And setting all that aside, I can’t stay here.”
“…….”
“I have things I want to do too.”
Once Melione’s curse was gone and he himself became a free man, that was when he wanted to live a life for himself, not for anyone else.
“I must live that way.”
Euro closed his eyes tight. Even if no one else did, he had to live that way. Even if he had nothing he wanted to do, he would create something and ensure he lived a life for himself.
“I have spoken out of turn.”
“…….”
“But you are indeed the real Duchess.”
“…….”
“Who would dare say otherwise….”
Dent spoke while gauging Euro’s reaction. Euro didn’t feel like reprimanding him further. This was all just a vent of frustration.
“No. Right, you’re correct.”
Now that they were married, who could call Euro a fake? That was merely the thought of Euro, who was only thinking of stepping down at any moment.
“Anyway, tell Lady Molton that I cannot visit because I am not feeling well. I also have to meet the Captain… and there are some things I need to look into.”
“Yes, I will convey that.”
Dent answered obediently without further urging. Since he had actually witnessed Euro’s hematemesis, the claim of being unwell was not a lie. Indeed, the pale-faced Euro looked in need of rest.
“Then, what shall we do about the meeting with the Captain?”
“We have to do that. Tell him I’ll go tomorrow.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“And what happened with the capital matter?”
Previously, when Euro had asked Dent if there was any reason to go to the capital, Dent had replied that he would look into it. When asked again, Dent spoke cautiously.
“I had forgotten, but there is a reason to go.”
“Really? What is it?”
At the unexpected answer, Euro pressed Dent.
“Immediately after the spring festival, it is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s birthday. A banquet will be held at the Imperial Palace in the capital, so an invitation will certainly arrive.”
“…….”
“The problem is, by now, His Imperial Majesty has likely heard the news of your marriage to His Grace. Probably….”
“He’s furious.”
“That is correct. In that state, I wonder if it is truly right for His Grace and the Madam to attend that banquet together.”
“If an invitation comes, we can’t exactly not go.”
“You may not go. Everyone knows that His Grace is in poor health.”
“I don’t know, the Emperor might tell me to come alone.”
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