Previously
After Kayden leaves, Evgenia collapses in relief but worries he might be a masochist due to his strange reaction to her slap. Melissa visits to check on her, and Evgenia confesses she accidentally gave Melissa's handkerchief to the Crown Prince to clean a bug off his face.
I hesitated at the unexpected suggestion. The butler, who had been observing the scene, stepped in quickly and politely.
A man who had worked all day and came home hungry naturally wanted to eat first.
Besides, he was far older than me and had suggested we dine together. I had no reason to refuse.
( ‘Well, I came all the way here to get this conversation over with anyway.’ )
Though it felt like I had strayed further from my initial resolve to keep my distance from Evgenia’s family, I reassured myself that it was fine since I wasn’t married yet, and answered.
I sincerely hoped that what the Duke had to say was the news I had been desperately waiting for.
Ever since I woke up in Evgenia’s body, I had always eaten in my room. At first, it was because I was ordered to reflect on my actions, and later, because I was treated like an invalid—or so I thought.
Apparently not.
I thought it fortunate that Alexis wasn’t home, likely out training, but he burst straight into the dining room after work and yelled in sheer disbelief.
Alexis faltered at her sudden drag into the conversation, his lips trembling without words.
Just then, Sionel, who had just stepped in, backed me up, addressing Alexis.
Did he pick this up from watching the Duke earlier? Why was he suddenly taking my side?
I peered at Sionel with curiosity, unable to discern his intentions.
Just then, the Duke entered the room, putting an end to my musings.
The moment the Duke took his seat, the servants began bringing out the dishes as if on cue.
Given the family’s immense wealth, I had dreaded a multi-course banquet dragging on for hours, but fortunately, the servants quickly filed out of the dining hall.
Just as he said, only those bearing the name Basilian were present in the hall.
For some reason, the realization made my chest tighten, and my appetite vanished. Still, I forced down my discomfort and began to eat.
I couldn’t even taste the food, merely shoveling it in, when the Duke, who had seemed focused on his plate, suddenly spoke.
I finally understood why the Duke had looked so grim in the hallway earlier.
I had wondered if the butler had delivered some grave report, but it turned out to be this.
‘Ah, so that’s why he suggested eating together…’
The Duke was likely worried that I—having rushed out to meet the Crown Prince the moment he arrived, an uncharacteristic move on my part—might walk back the words I had firmly spoken a week ago.
Evgenia was infamous for her pride, so he had probably calculated that broaching the subject before the gathered family would make it harder for me to retract my stance, hence the invitation to dine.
In that brief moment Sionel had spoken with him, the butler must have informed the Duke, who then devised this scheme.
( ‘No wonder they call Duke Basilian a born politician and merchant—it seems to be true.’ )
After all, it was said that the first Duke of the Basilian family, originally a merchant, was the first to recognize the founding emperor’s talents and invest in him.
Thanks to that, the first emperor was able to slay the dragon, then called the wicked tyrant, and the Basilian house became one of the founding noble bloodlines…
Lost in recalling the novel’s backstory, I was startled back to reality when the Duke called my name.
“You’re always nagging me, Brother!”
As Sionel and Alexis suddenly began bickering, I belatedly noticed the napkin clenched tightly in my fist.
Flustered, I quickly loosened my grip and looked at the Duke.
Seeing his worried expression, I recalled his earlier question.
( ‘I was planning to bring this up at the end of the meal…’ )
Since the Duke had initiated the topic, I had no reason to hesitate.
Understanding the bewilderment in his expression, I gave a casual nod as I spoke. The Duke’s brow furrowed slightly.
His gaze was thick with concern, worried that I might have been hurt by the Crown Prince’s words or attitude. I shook my head to reassure him.
As I spoke, I let my shoulders droop as if humiliated, and the Duke’s expression shifted drastically.
Seeing him tremble with fury, I softly murmured, “Alexis did,” in a delicate voice. Instantly, every pair of eyes in the dining hall turned toward Alexis.
Caught completely off guard, Alexis tried to stammer out an excuse, but I gave him no opening.
The Duke’s eyes widened at my words, visibly relieved that I was not reconsidering my rejection.
In truth, I hadn’t paid full attention to what the Crown Prince was saying because I had been focused on the bug at the time. I merely spun a plausible tale and feigned distress. The atmosphere in the dining room instantly froze solid.
Sensing the mounting tension, I tried to downplay the situation.
Sionel raised an eyebrow sharply.
A formal protest? Challenging the Crown Prince—renowned as a Sword Master and war hero—to a duel? His tone was calm, but I couldn’t help thinking Sionel might be the most unhinged person here.
While I appreciated his sentiment, I began to worry that I had laid it on too thick. Panicked, I waved my hands to stop him.
I confessed in a sheepish voice, recounting the event. Naturally, the truth was different, but I doubted anyone would believe me if I said I slapped the Crown Prince while trying to swat a bug.
‘Even the Crown Prince himself didn’t believe it.’
Claiming I slapped him out of sheer rage aligned far better with Evgenia’s typical temperament anyway.
Alexis shot up out of his seat, his face plastered with pure shock.
Was this his reaction as a member of the Royal Knights, enraged by an insult to the Crown Prince?
…Wait, aren’t you a Royal Knight? Shouldn’t you be worrying about the Crown Prince here?