Chapter 87 – ​87

Whether ​he ​hated ​eating ​alone ​or ​was mindful of ​others’ ​gazes, ​Melione ​obediently ​followed Euro’s lead and ​chose ​to eat on ​the first floor.

‘That ​wasn’t ​a ​very ​good ​choice.’

Euro ​thought as he ​sat ​across ​from Melione at ​a small table. Everyone ​knew that ​the two ​had been ​engaged in ​a ​massive ​argument for several ​days, and ​eating while surrounded by ​people who knew this ​was an ordeal in ​itself.

Above all, ​Euro ​felt sorry because he seemed to ​have made the meal ​uncomfortable ​for ​the ​others ​who had accompanied ​them on ​the ​journey to the ​capital.

However, ​he couldn’t leave the table ​now. Perhaps ​because ​he hadn’t eaten ​properly ​for ​several ​days, ​he was ​incredibly ​hungry.

Whether it ​was due to stress or prolonged fasting, ​he felt a ​slight heartburn, so ​Euro had no choice ​but to ​tear off some ​bread ​and dip it ​into the stew.

Compared ​to the ​meals ​at the ​Dukedom, ​which were ​always ​served in ​such ​abundance ​that Read on Read BL Novelsthe [stolen content]table ​legs ​might unauthorized copybreak, ​the ​current ​meal—consisting ​only of a single stew and toasted bread—was utterly modest.

However, whether the cook was skilled or had put in special effort, the meat in the stew was cut into large chunks, and the freshly baked bread was fluffy and savory.

Since it was warm food, he felt his stomach settle as he ate, and as a moderate heat rose through his body, his highly strung nerves began to relax.

Pleased by the return of his appetite for the first time in a while, Euro focused solely on satisfying his hunger, not even caring whether Melione ate or not.

Just as he had finished about half the stew, someone approached Euro and Melione to greet them.

“Your Grace, Duchess. Is the meal to your liking?”

It was Emma, Elon’s daughter, and her fiancé, Linden.

“Ah, yes. It’s delicious.”

Emma’s face brightened at Euro’s answer, unable to hide her joy. Euro smiled along with her. On stolen contentthe other [stolen content]hand, Melione, [unauthorized copy]sitting opposite Euro, said nothing.

Whether he had no appetite or wasn’t hungry, he had barely touched his food. At this, Linden cautiously asked Melione.

“Your Grace, is the meal perhaps not to your taste?”

“It is fine.”

Melione answered dismissively, avoiding Linden and Emma’s gaze. As a brief silence fell over them, Euro quickly spoke to Emma.

“When do you plan to hold the wedding?”

“Since we are currently focusing on running the inn… we’re thinking roughly three or four months from now.”

“That’s great. Congratulations.”

Euro offered his sincere congratulations. Then, Emma cautiously handed Euro a small case.

“What is this?”

“If it wouldn’t be an imposition, could I ask the Duchess for a blessing?”

“A blessing?”

Emma nodded, but Euro, not understanding what she meant, simply stared at the case in his hand. It looked like a ring box, and he couldn’t understand why she was giving it to him.

Then, Melione, who had been silent, spoke up.

“Is it a wedding ring?”

At Melione’s words, Euro carefully opened the case and saw a pair of rings inside. They were identical in design, differing only in size, and they sparkled brilliantly.

“…It is a superstition. In Silon, there is [stolen content]a folk belief that if a married couple leaves the wedding rings of those stolen contentabout to be wed by their bedside for a night and visit our sitethen returns them, the couple will be happy.”

“Is that what you call a blessing?”

At Euro’s question, Melione nodded and stared blankly at the rings in the case.

“Usually, the parents do it.”

“Is it okay for us to do it?”

Euro asked without much thought, but Melione remained silent, saying nothing.

“During the spring festival, I saw the two of you dancing together. You looked so happy and beautiful. That is why I am venturing to ask this favor, despite the imposition.”

Emma recalled the scene of that day as if possessed. The sight of them laughing continuously, with their eyes fixed only on each other, was like a painting.

It wasn’t simply because the two were exceptionally beautiful. It was a moment stolen contentwhere love seemed [Read on Read BL Novels]visible to the eye. It was so enviable that she wanted to emulate it, and [visit our site]at the same time, a hint of jealousy had stirred.

Perhaps it was because everyone knew their tragedy before their happiness. How difficult it was to unreservedly enjoy the happiness given in that moment.

The two had looked so happy that no misfortune or tragedy could invade. That was why Emma desperately wanted a blessing from the Duke and Duchess.

“It isn’t a difficult task, but are you sure it’s alright?”

Euro hesitated and closed the case. He felt that if she knew how that dance had ended, she probably wouldn’t have made such a request.

Their relationship was not one bound by love, nor was it a situation where such love continued. It was closer to a curse than a blessing, and they were facing death; no matter how much of a superstition it was, he felt it shouldn’t be done.

“It’s a bit awkward for me to say this… but you know, Emma.”

Euro spoke indirectly. In essence, he was asking what the point was in receiving a blessing from someone destined to die because of a curse.

However, Emma showed no sign of being flustered or reluctant.

“Meeting the Duchess was a blessing for us. Even regardless of what happened at the spring festival.”

“….”

“If my father’s matter hadn’t been resolved, I probably wouldn’t have been able to marry. So, if the Duchess is okay with it, I would like to ask for your help.”

At Emma’s earnest plea, Euro gripped the case tightly and nodded.

“I will pray. That the two of you will surely be happy.”

If he could return them with that wish, wouldn’t that be enough? Euro thought as he tucked the case away. Just then, Linden, who was standing next to Emma, suddenly placed a bottle of wine on the table.

“This is a gift from me. It may not be a wine fine enough to meet your standards, but I prepared it with all my sincerity.”

While it wasn’t an incredibly expensive wine, it was a price that would have been quite stolen contenta burden for a commoner like Linden. He could have obtained a better wine if [stolen content]he had asked Elon, but Linden had hurriedly prepared the wine using only his own money.

Since Elon’s debts had been resolved and he had reached the point of marrying Emma, it wasn’t such an exorbitant price when viewed that way.

“Thank you, but… I want to drink something else right now. May I ask a favor?”

“Pardon?”

Euro spoke as he lightly pushed the wine bottle toward Melione. He didn’t really know the taste of wine anyway.

“I want to drink that.”

Euro pointed with his hand to the glasses on another table. The knights and servants, exhausted from the long journey, each had a glass made of wood in front of them.

“…Are you referring to the beer?”

Euro nodded at Linden’s question. Seeing that [Read on Read BL Novels][unauthorized copy]they [unauthorized copy]hadn’t offered any to Melione or himself, it seemed that nobles did not often drink beer here.

But that was their concern. Euro wanted a cold beer more than the high-end wine right in front of him. A taste one already knows is always the most tempting.

“I’ll bring some right away, just a moment.”

Emma lightly pushed Linden, who was staring blankly at Euro, and hurried toward the kitchen.

ꕥ ꕥ ꕥ

Entering the bedroom with damp hair, Melione let out a short breath as he saw the duvet risen in a round mound. Euro, with only his hair poking out, was curled up in a ball, fast asleep and completely drunk.

Having refilled and drunk from a large glass several times, Euro’s face had turned as red as his hair, and he had been carried up to the second floor in Melione’s arms.

Unable to even steady his own body, Euro had fallen asleep in Melione’s embrace. Melione had washed him, changed his clothes, and laid him in bed first.

He could have let the servants who followed do it, but Read on Read BL Novelshe couldn’t. After a glass or two, Euro had [Read on Read BL Novels]become quite spirited and visit our sitehad started a drinking party with the servants.

It was an absurd sight. Not only Elon’s family, but even Raymond and Dent joined in, drinking their fill. Such a thing had never happened when Melione lived alone in the mansion.

They would burst out laughing at trivial stories, and one knight laughed so hard that his chair tipped backward, sending him sprawling onto the floor.

Euro had fit right in among them, laughing and chatting without any sense of displacement. He didn’t even glance at Melione, as if he had forgotten him entirely.

Melione had simply sat and watched them. He could have left and returned to his room first, but he didn’t.

It was a strange whim. Perhaps it was because the sight of them sharing boisterous conversations and silly jokes—to the point of being grating—was fascinating.

Melione stared at the sleeping Euro from a distance, then slowly approached and carefully lifted the duvet. Then, Euro’s face, with his eyes quietly closed, was revealed.

Melione, who had been holding the edge of the duvet, didn’t stop there and pulled the entire blanket covering Euro’s body away. It was because he remembered the image of Euro from his dream.

That absurd dream where Euro, with a flushed face, had [unauthorized copy]been moaning in pain while staring at him. Naturally, since such a thing could not happen in [visit our site]reality, Euro did not wake up, nor did he call his name while looking at him.

However, as if possessed, Melione reached out toward Euro’s face. He brushed back the messy bangs and touched the neat eyebrows with his fingertips.

As if drawing a picture, his fingertips traced the eyelashes and the bridge of the nose. Then, he stopped for a moment below the tip of the nose to confirm Euro’s breath.

Euro’s regularly repeating breath was incredibly hot. As a strange sense of relief washed over his entire body, Melione bowed his head and placed his hand over Euro’s lips.