Chapter 10 – 10
Although they had already discussed it the previous night, he hammered the point home once more. He stated that he didn’t care what intentions Euro had in proposing, and since he had no intention of producing an heir anyway, he was simply following the Emperor’s orders.
“To be precise, if it is merely an unromantic married life, then I suppose that is a relief. Even after we marry, I will not have cause to seek Your Highness out. We will simply exist in the same space, but we will rarely face one another.”
“…….”
“My current condition cannot be fully explained by simply saying I am ill. As you may know, the curse passed down through the Dukedom drives a person mad.”
He continued his explanation in a calm voice. Euro already knew the story, but hearing it directly from his own lips felt different.
“I will gradually cease to be human. It would be a mistake to think that I am merely bedridden and wasting away day by day. I will slowly abandon my humanity and turn into a beast, and in the end, I may end up hurting someone.”
Euro listened to Melione’s words in silence. He had read about this man’s life countless times. In novels, in scripts, and even in the stolen contentfragmented character settings left behind by the author.
And yet, Euro felt a tightness in his chest as he listened to Melione calmly announce the future bestowed upon him. In the novel, he was a thoroughly miserable human being.
Unable to overcome his fate on his own, he floundered in agony and eventually gave up on everything, choosing to become the villain. No, perhaps even that wasn’t by his own will.
It was because he was merely a character who had to live exactly as the author had decreed.
“And the moment we marry, this will no longer be something that happens only to me.”
“……I have a vague idea.”
Euro answered ambiguously on purpose, but Melione let out a small smirk.
“It is already common knowledge that the end for those who marry into the Dukedom is never good, so there is no need to beat around the bush.”
“…….”
“Though I am curious as to what Your Highness’s true intention is, coming all this way despite knowing everything.”
Melione lifted his glass of wine and took a slow sip. Euro, feeling his mouth go dry for some reason, followed suit by drinking some water. In the silence, only the sound of them drinking could be heard.
“I shall stop wondering, as there is no time to get to know you slowly. It seems you have no intention of telling me anyway.”
As expected, Melione did not trust him. Since he had anticipated this, Euro wore an awkward smile. He could have jumped up and shouted, ‘I told you I came because I love you!’, but he didn’t.
Melione would not die. He could guarantee that. If he couldn’t break Melione’s curse, his own life would be in danger after the marriage.
He had come this far specifically to save him, and since his own life was now on the line, he had no intention of standing idly by. Having already devised a concrete method, he would absolutely save him with his own hands.
Therefore, there was no need for excuses like ‘don’t worry’ or ‘this is true love.’ Melione said there was no time to get to know each other slowly, but soon enough, he would realize.
That his destiny had begun to change, bit by bit.
ꕥ ꕥ ꕥ
‘It will be a modest ceremony at the cathedral, but it is not as if there is nothing to prepare. I shall begin preparations immediately, but if you change your mind, please do not hesitate to tell me at any time.’
‘…….’
‘However, the deadline is three days.’
Melione gave Euro a grace period to reverse this decision. While doing so, he emphasized the fact that the moment they married, Euro would also become a target of the curse.
From that point on, even if he fled far away, he would not be able to shake off the curse that clung tenaciously to him. Clutching the catalog tightly, Euro muttered to himself.
‘As if I have anywhere to run to.’
The curse hadn’t only fallen upon the Duke. At a turning point in his life, Euro himself [stolen content]had suffered an [Read on Read BL Novels]unwanted death and had the misfortune of being possessed into a novel devoid of dreams or hope.
If this wasn’t a curse, then what was? Both he and the Duke were destined to die. It was a lifelong regret that he could not speak this truth aloud, as it was not a story easily believed.
“Your Highness, perhaps there is no design you like?”
At the cautious voice of Madam Diena, Euro quickly snapped back to his senses.
“No. I like them all so much that I can’t choose. Haha.”
Euro answered with the brightest smile possible, and Diena’s face, which had been watching him with a nervous expression, visibly brightened.
“What a relief. I was worried sick that there might be no design to your liking. Since you are a prince of Norden, you must have had a dedicated designer there.”
“Ah…….”
“That is why I feared my designs would not meet your standards.”
At her words, the corners of Euro’s smiling mouth twitched. Dedicated designer, my foot; he had never heard of or met such a person.
If such a person existed, they would have been for his brothers and sisters, not for him. Having only recently been possessed, Euro had been getting by by rotating the few clothes he had, but the original Euro Leches likely hadn’t been any different.
Judging by how he had been treated, it was easy to guess. He probably only got to wear decent designs for official events he was forced to attend.
Thinking of the princes above Euro Leches, it was obvious they would have allowed him only enough clothing to barely maintain a semblance of dignity.
There was no way they would tolerate a bastard wearing the same clothes as the legitimate princes.
No matter how far the distance between Silon and Norden, they surely knew Euro was a bastard. Did she really think he had lived and been treated well there? Or was this a highly sophisticated insult that he was failing to catch?
Euro placed the catalog down on the table and gazed at Madam Diena. Even if this was said with the intent to mock, he had no intention of picking a fight.
He had neither the time nor the energy [Read on Read BL Novels]to respond to every such remark. Right now, the only thing occupying Euro’s mind was how to approach that highly guarded Duke.
“As you know, Norden is very cold and Silon is warm, so the attire is different. I’m not quite sure which clothes to choose. I only need a couple of essential outfits for now, so I would be grateful if you could choose appropriately for me.”
“The clothes you need immediately can be handled by altering the ones Madam Diena brought. The clothes you choose now are for long-term wear.”
Raymond, who had been standing silently, added a remark to Euro. At this, Euro let out an awkward laugh and muttered softly.
“But I don’t know how long I’ll be staying, and of course, I intend to marry, but…….”
Wondering if it was alright to say this so openly in front of others, Euro glanced at Madam Diena.
Anyone living in Silon would know that Melione was terminally ill. That meant they also knew the fate of Euro, who was to marry him.
Still, it bothered him to bring up such a topic in front of an outsider. Of course, Euro didn’t mean, ‘I’m going to die soon, so why do I need many clothes?’
He had said it because he intended to leave the Dukedom as soon as Melione was saved, but the butler seemed to [Read on Read BL Novels]interpret it differently, remaining silent with a subtle expression, while [stolen content]Madam Diena pretended not to hear and focused on her tea.
While Euro was quietly admiring the social grace of those who do business with nobles, Raymond spoke firmly.
“The only thing Your Highness needs to consider right now is whether the item is worth its price. If you choose a design you desire, it serves its purpose in and of itself.”
“…….”
“If you find the finished garment unsatisfactory, you can simply order a new one, so you need not worry too much about the rest.”
Euro nodded at Raymond’s words. No matter how much he bought, it wouldn’t even leave a scratch on the Dukedom’s fortune; it was a needless worry.
If he didn’t wear them, he could just leave them behind, and if he needed to, he could pack them all up and sell them anywhere.
Unaware of Euro’s inner thoughts, Raymond stared blankly at Euro, who was nodding with a much more relaxed expression, and then spoke to Diena.
“Please produce and send one of every garment in the visit our sitecatalog. Can the clothes you brought be altered and sent by today?”
“No, wait…….”
Euro tried to stop Raymond in surprise, but Diena beamed at the massive order and answered that it was, of course, possible.
“Raymond, I don’t need that many clothes.”
“Madam Diena’s clothes are worth more than their price. His Excellency’s clothes were also all produced at Madam Diena’s atelier.”
“I know the clothes are pretty, but.”
“Then that is enough.”
Euro fell silent, having nothing left to say, and Diena immediately pulled out another catalog she had brought and pushed it toward Euro.
“Now then, shall we choose some shoes?”
Her eyes sparkled like gold coins, and Euro could only even out the smile awkwardly as he took the catalog.
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