Previously
Evgenia rejects the rocket carriage and swaps it for the Tower Master's standard magic carriage to avoid embarrassment and provide space for her travel party. As the group departs for the Duchy of Rodion, Euclid uses the inclusive term 'we,' which deeply affects Evgenia.
Swapping carriages and confidently claiming I would never go back on my word meant that I couldn't very well ask to undo my decision now.
It was an absurd situation that nearly made me burst out laughing, yet the Duke simply muttered as though he was already accustomed to such things.
Catching those words, the Tower Master whipped his head around, his face the very picture of despair.
The Duke cleared his throat awkwardly and exchanged a knowing glance with his eldest son, the two of them sharing a quiet chuckle.
( ‘Huh? Oh, the sofa is a bit…’ )
Was it just me, or did it feel like the seat was digging right into me?
Shaking my head, I placed an awkward hand against the carriage wall.
I had hastily seized the Tower Master's carriage in my eagerness to leave the capital as soon as possible. In hindsight, perhaps I should have taken Duke Basilian’s carriage and ordered a new one from the Tower instead.
It was downright ridiculous that the Magic Tower, famous for its magic stones and enchanted carriages, would have such a humble conveyance for its own master.
‘Well, it doesn't matter,’ I thought.
Even if it had been a rocket carriage, I wouldn't have been willing to delay my escape from the capital any longer.
( ‘Finally, escape.’ )
Ever since I woke up in this world, I had longed to leave both the capital and Duke Basilian's estate behind.
The thought that I had finally done it brought tears to my eyes.
( ‘Especially with the Crown Prince nowhere in sight.’ )
Perhaps it was an unfounded dread, but our last encounter had been disturbingly oppressive. I never wanted to cross paths with him again. He felt like someone who would thwart me at every turn—a harbinger of misfortune.
Ironically, I was probably that very sort of presence to him, too.
‘Still, I can’t help but wonder.’
He had dismissed my words as lies and mockery. What kind of face would he make if he learned that I actually got married?
Not that I had any desire to see it for myself.
Between Melissa and the rest of high society, I knew I would run into the Crown Prince eventually. In fact, I had an ominous feeling that it would happen far more often than I cared for.
‘At least I won’t have to demean myself like last time.’
Back then, I had no choice but to endure being treated like a stalker by him. But now, as a married woman, I wouldn't need to bend over backward trying to explain myself or prove that I had changed.
( ‘Wow, a married woman…’ )
A shiver ran down my spine, heat rushing to my cheeks at the thought.
I bit my lip.
‘Ah, I really went and married my favorite…’
It was an achievement I wanted to scream from the rooftops, yet couldn't. Something I would cherish for the rest of my days.
Of course, meeting Euclid yesterday had been unforgettable, but today was truly ground-breaking.
What unfolded in the wedding waiting room still left me in shock.
( ‘Turns out my favorite has a dramatic streak…’ )
In our very first private moment together, Euclid had said the most baffling things.
The misunderstanding was so absurd it was almost comical.
Hearing such nonsense from the flawless Euclid left me completely at a loss for words.
I had never imagined his self-esteem could be so low.
And yet… even though his words choked me like a tight collar, they were strangely endearing.
He truly was the complete package—charming, sweet, and irresistibly lovable.
Getting to know this side of him made me swell with pride and gratitude.
I remembered how I used to email the author who created this world, constantly pestering them with questions about Euclid. I was curious about every single detail: his favorite color, foods he disliked, his sleeping habits, even his first love.
I had practically begged them to write more side stories featuring him.
Who would have ever thought I’d end up living inside that very story?
‘From now on, I’ll be by Euclid’s side every day, learning everything about him better than anyone else.’
I would patch up the holes in his self-confidence, show him how I truly felt, and leave my mortifying past behind for good.
Yet I didn't realize back then just how much time I would actually get to spend with him.
Nor how many opportunities I would truly have to clear up that misunderstanding and share my feelings.
Nor just how foolishly overconfident I had been.
Two days after the daughter of Duke Basilian became the Duchess of Rodion.
Delano, Euclid’s assistant, noticed something odd.
The peculiar sensation had taken root during the wedding ceremony itself.
The High Priest, despite his stately presence, had turned out to be unexpectedly eccentric, which was strange enough.
Yet what truly baffled Delano was the series of unusual incidents that began the moment they set out from the capital toward the North.
Having spent his entire life in the barren, secluded North, Delano was wholly unaccustomed to luxury.
So when they stopped for the night in Moil, a sprawling city situated halfway to the North, and stayed at a hotel owned by the Basilian family, he was left utterly astounded.
The hotel’s grandeur rivaled that of the ducal estate, though in an entirely different manner.
At first, he had grumbled inwardly over the delay, believing they ought to have pushed straight through to the North. But upon stepping inside the hotel, he felt ashamed of his complaints.
The general manager greeted them in person with the utmost deference, and Delano was stunned to find that, just like Euclid and Evgenia, he too had been assigned one of the most lavish suites.
It was a room he couldn't have afforded on his salary even in his wildest dreams.
At first, he chalked it up to the Duke’s immense influence. But then, an odd incident took place.
The man she addressed, standing near the reception desk, blinked in confusion before catching sight of the object on the floor. His face drained of color as he scooped it up.
The item didn't look particularly valuable, yet the man was practically overflowing with gratitude.
Yet the man insisted, pulling a pocket watch from his coat and offering it to her.
Delano was certain the Duchess would decline. After all, a watch—no matter how encrusted with jewels—paled in comparison to the vast wealth of the Basilian family.