11 - My Husband is My Favorite, But I Think I'm Going to Get Divorced
11
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It had already been a week since my meeting with the Duke.
My confinement order was lifted that very day, but my movements were still not free.
'Seriously, it was just a bad cold, so why are they treating me like I have a serious illness!'
It was just bad luck that I fainted because of the combination of high fever and tension. I was perfectly fine.
The day I collapsed, I just hadn't slept well the night before, so I woke up refreshed after a good night's sleep, but I was so surprised by the sight before me.
Evgenia!
Are you awake?
Hey, you! Geez, so weak! You should have said you were sick!
......What are you all doing in my room?
As I calmed my pounding heart and barely managed to frown, the Duke, Lionel, and Alexis, who were around the bed, coughed awkwardly.
I belatedly remembered that I had collapsed in the office, but that didn't mean they had to be here.
But.
Evgenia, I'm sorry. I had to leave the house because of an urgent matter.
......Pardon?
I didn't think about how you would feel when you woke up. It must be so sad to not have family by your side when you're sick.
The Duke suddenly apologized. And with such an absurd reason!
Meanwhile, Lionel was uncharacteristically lowering his eyes like a sinner, and Alexis, why did he have such a triumphant expression on his face?
I blinked in bewilderment, realizing the situation a beat late.
Even someone without a clue couldn't have missed Alexis blabbing his mouth.
I had a bad feeling when he excused himself for not knowing I was sick because he was away for training, but to make such a ridiculous misunderstanding!
Of course, I felt a little sad at Alexis for a brief moment.
'But that's because I'm not feeling well!'
I even thought it was fortunate that the Duke wasn't in the capital.
So I shouted urgently.
- I wasn't sad at all! I wasn't upset either!
But my words made the atmosphere even stranger.
Not only the three sons of House Basilian, but even Ann, who was standing at the door, looked at me with pitying eyes.
- Yes, yes. Evgenia, you are stronger than anyone else. Actually, I was upset and sorry.
The Duke, with his ice-cold face, used an uncharacteristic coaxing tone, which made me speechless.
I felt like a child who was stubborn and wouldn't admit it because of pride.
I quickly came to my senses and tried to clear up the misunderstanding again, but the situation only worsened.
'No, I actually got angry at Alexis. I didn't show any signs of being upset. What's wrong with everyone?'
I felt frustrated, but I couldn't clear up the misunderstanding that day.
Moreover, the members of House Basilian came to visit me whenever they had a chance for the past week, so I was starting to think it was better to be confined without knowing anything.
In addition, every morning, lunch, and dinner.
"My lady, it's time for your Herbal medicine."
Herbal medicine was served three times a day like this!
'Anyone would think I was terminally ill and spitting up blood.'
I wouldn't feel so wronged if that were the case.
"My lady, quickly."
I clicked my tongue at the excessive fuss, and Ann offered the medicine again. And she stared at me without blinking an eye.
"......Ann, you don't have to watch me like that."
I said firmly, but I was a little embarrassed.
That's because I was caught secretly throwing away the medicine a few days ago.
"I know you hate Herbal medicine, my lady, but you must take it. And be sure to eat your meals."
I was worried that my un-Evgenia-like behavior had been discovered, but fortunately, the original Evgenia also seemed to hate medicine like me.
'She also skipped meals often, just like me.'
Thanks to that, I was able to comfortably avoid medicine without hiding it.
"You did well, here's a candy."
"Cough, cough. Thank you."
I felt a little strange to be receiving so much attention from my family, which I had never had before, and to be receiving such attentive care from the maid, who seemed to be less afraid of me.
I was embarrassed but not entirely unpleasant, so I was fiddling with my ears, which were flushed with heat, when Ann was clearing away the medicine bowl.
Knock, knock, someone knocked on the door from outside.
I reflexively looked at the clock and could easily guess who the visitor was.
And as I expected.
"Um, Sister! Can I come in......?"
A delicate voice was heard from outside the door.
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Bright honey-colored hair that looked like gold at first glance, and sprout-like green eyes. Flawless innocent appearance and an innocent and lovely atmosphere emanating from her whole body.
Before me sat a princess-like girl who seemed to have popped out of a fairy tale book.
It was Melissa, Evgenia's cousin and the heroine of the original story.
'Isn't she just too pretty?'
It felt like my eyes were being pampered as Melissa and the flowers blooming in the garden of the Ducal House blended together.
Until now, Evgenia was considered the most beautiful woman in the Empire despite her reputation and personality, but that might change when Melissa appeared in society.
Of course, even if I say this, Evgenia was also a model of a bewitching ice beauty. It's just that I like this soft beauty.
I felt even more rare to see such a beauty after seeing only the sharp-looking three sons of House Basilian lately.
'As expected, it's hard to get a face that doesn't come from the blood of House Basilian.'
The Duke's sister, who was also Melissa's mother, was said to have run away with a commoner to escape a political marriage, and the other party must have been a handsome man with such a soft impression.
Just as I was thinking that we might have similar tastes, Melissa, who was fiddling with her teacup, said shyly.
"Sister, thank you for having tea with me today."
Melissa, who was glancing at me with her cheeks flushed, was so pretty that my heart melted.
"You're welcome, I'm getting some fresh air and it's nice thanks to you."
A rather soft voice flowed from my mouth as well.
It wasn't a lie.
It was none other than Melissa who rescued me, who had been confined to my room because the Duke didn't believe the doctor's words that my cold was completely gone.
However, what was unfortunate was.
- I'm sorry, Sister. I didn't know if I could visit you, so I couldn't come. I didn't think you would be upset.......
The reason Melissa came to see me was because that shameful rumor had spread throughout the Ducal House.
I was so neurotic about the misunderstanding that couldn't be resolved no matter how much I explained, that I couldn't help but get annoyed.
Stop! I really wasn't upset at all!
Th, that's right. There's no way you would say that I didn't come.......
Currently, Melissa was in the midst of adapting to the fact that she was suddenly a member of the Ducal House.
But suddenly, the Imperial Family sent her a marriage proposal, and her cousin collapsed after causing a commotion, so she had no choice but to be quiet and watch.
Nevertheless, she mustered up the courage to come, but she could clearly see that she was shrinking back because of the cold reaction.
I was embarrassed to have unintentionally played the role of a villain and said.
Still, I'm very happy that you came to see me?
Re, really? Then can I come to see you every day?
If you want to.
Actually...... I wanted to take a walk in the garden with you, Sister.
You can go when your cold is gone. Actually, I think it's almost gone now.
W, wow!
Was it because she was having a hard time living with the cold three sons of House Basilian in an unfamiliar environment?
When you think about it, Evgenia was the scariest in terms of appearance, but Melissa was excited like a puppy who had met its owner.
And unlike her appearance, the Duke, who seemed to have a bit of a daughter-foolish tendency, was also weak to his niece, who his sister had left behind in the world.
He couldn't refuse Melissa's earnest request to stroll through the garden with her cousin.
'Thanks to that, I'm enjoying tea time while getting some fresh air like this.'
I was sipping tea while enjoying the beauty of the heroine and the garden, which was decorated lavishly as if money had been poured into it.
I suddenly noticed something strange.
