Previously
Euclid reflects on his meeting with Evgenia, misinterpreting her tearful eyes and pale makeup as signs of grief over her love for the Crown Prince. Meanwhile, Evgenia realizes her disastrous styling failed to impress and enlists Anne's help to redo her look and calm her nerves with medicine.
( ‘Could this be the perfect moment to brag about my bias?’ )
Since I had never shared or even talked about my favorite character with anyone before, I felt a sudden surge of excitement.
Just as expected of the heroine, I thought to myself, touched by how deeply she cared about other people, and opened my mouth to speak.
To tell the truth, I wanted to praise his straight posture, his calm stride, and his deep, trustworthy voice, but that felt too far out of character for Evgenia, so I held back.
Had I gone too far even with those measured compliments, though? For some reason, Melissa looked uncommonly bewildered.
Still, what did it matter? Bragging about your bias and singing his praises was both the sacred duty and the joy of any fan.
Of course, that didn’t mean I wanted Melissa to develop any real affection for Euclid.
( ‘Not that it would ever happen anyway.’ )
Just as I was looking at Melissa with a hint of pity, knowing she was likely nursing the heartache of her forbidden first love, the door swung open.
‘Ah, he’s already here.’
Right on cue, Duke Basilian, Euclid, and Sionel walked into the dining hall together, having apparently finished their private chat before dinner.
As I started to rise from my seat, I froze.
“…?!“
Huh?
My gaze naturally gravitated toward Euclid, but his clothes had changed since earlier.
‘Well, of course he’d change into something more fitting for a banquet rather than travel clothes.’
Even so, I couldn’t stop my expression from turning thoroughly conflicted when I saw his light-colored suit.
Earlier, he had been wearing a dark gray suit, which was why I had picked a dress in the exact same palette, subtly matching his details.
I had tried to curate a couple look all on my own, but it seemed I’d completely struck out…
( ‘Is it just my imagination, or does Euclid look totally stunned, too?’ )
His new outfit bore an uncanny resemblance to the color of the dress I had worn earlier, making me tilt my head in confusion.
Still, such thoughts were fleeting.
( ‘Ah… a golden boy bathed in sunlight.’ )
While dark tones suited his brilliant blonde hair handsomely, the lighter colors made him look even more elegant.
Staring at Euclid like that made my heart race and heat rush to my cheeks.
Even after taking a sedative, my excitement hadn’t waned in the slightest; I could only imagine how utterly mortifying I must have looked during our first meeting.
Completely swept up in the moment, I let my gaze roam freely, drinking in every single detail of Euclid from head to toe with renewed intensity.
All of a sudden, a faint blush crept across Euclid’s cheeks.
Startled by the unexpected reaction, my eyes went wide as he abruptly turned his head away and took his seat.
‘As if avoiding my eyes will do you any good when you’re sitting right there.’
Thinking like an unapologetically possessive fan, I settled back into my chair. Just then, the table filled with an array of dishes.
I watched intently, curious to see which plate Euclid would reach for first and what he would eat the most of.
Contrary to the delicate, ethereal image I had held in my mind, he seemed to have quite a hearty appetite for meat.
( ‘Should I cook something for him myself one day?’ )
Oh, wait. I had never cooked in my life.
Being a noble, I had never once needed to prepare food, yet the conflicting urge to serve him something made by my own hands was surprisingly strong.
As countless thoughts about Euclid swirled through my head, an unexpected sound cut in.
Cough, cough.
Euclid, who had been dining with such composure, suddenly slowed, then began to choke on his water.
Perhaps he felt embarrassed over failing to maintain proper table etiquette, especially as a duke drilled in highborn manners from the moment he could walk.
Euclid’s face flushed a deep crimson, much like a ripe tomato, as he hastily apologized.
Against all expectations, Duke Basilian—who would normally have reprimanded such a slip—merely waved his hand, his expression reflecting concern rather than displeasure.
I had been ready to step in on Euclid’s behalf if he were scowled at, but fortunately, there was no need. Wait…
( ‘Why does the Duke keep looking at me?’ )
Blinking in confusion, I watched as Duke Basilian asked awkwardly, “Evgenia, are you not hungry? Your plate is entirely untouched.”
Though his tone carried paternal concern, I caught the underlying reproach. I bit my lip.
I had been so engrossed in watching Euclid that I hadn’t even picked up my utensils, inadvertently creating an uncomfortable atmosphere for him.
With my naturally sharp resting expression, I had probably been glaring holes right through him.
The sedative’s dulling effect had left me entirely unprepared for such an unintended consequence.
Seeming mindful of the stiff mood, the Duke forced out a light chuckle and continued.
( ‘Something I want to ask him…’ )
Hearing those words so suddenly made my mind go blank. There was so much I wanted to ask.
‘If I had to choose, I’d want to know everything about Euclid.’
Yet I didn’t have the nerve to voice such a thought right in front of him, so my lips merely trembled without a single word coming out.
An awkward silence settled over the table.
Perhaps mistaking my silence for a lack of interest in Euclid, the Duke cleared his throat, wore an odd expression, and went out of his way to speak up for me.
…Well, that wasn’t entirely wrong either.
As I lowered my head sheepishly, Sionel, who had been observing the whole exchange, seemed to try to shift the mood by asking,
At that instant, a flicker of discomfort passed across Euclid’s face.
As Duke Basilian chimed in with curiosity, Euclid gave a nod. “That is correct.”
His expression softened gently, as though that momentary flash of unease had never existed.
It was such a subtle shift that no one would have caught it except me, paying such razor-sharp attention to him. I even blinked, wondering if I had imagined it.
The Duke spoke again.
Beneath his words lay genuine sympathy for children who had lost their parents so young, leaving only Euclid as their family.
Euclid seemed to sense that sentiment as well, offering a bittersweet smile.
That matter had already been settled when they exchanged the proposal letters.
I frowned at the Duke, irritated that he was questioning the single condition Euclid had insisted upon during the marriage negotiations.
The Duke looked at me with an almost pleading gaze, asking if I had truly packed everything already.
Avoiding his eyes, I replied,
Even that portion was something the Basilian family was meant to handle.
While I had agreed to this arrangement partly out of respect for Euclid’s terms, I was also eager to leave the capital the moment the ceremony concluded. My sheer resolve was palpable, causing the Duke’s expression to darken slightly.