26 - My Husband is My Favorite, But I Think I'm Going to Get Divorced
26
I pretended not to hear the Duke's muttering and took a sip from my glass.
Then, as if to replace the Duke, who had become sullen and silent, Lionel made a suggestion to Euclid.
"Still, unless you have urgent business, why don't you stay a few more days?"
"Yes, and since you're in the capital, how about visiting the Imperial Palace? If you submit the marriage registration to the Imperial Family anyway, His Majesty will hear about it, so it might not be bad to have an audience and report it directly."
Seriously, these people?
They must have realized they couldn't persuade me, so they were targeting Euclid, who seemed relatively easier to handle.
Indeed, I could feel Euclid panicking and not knowing what to do as the Duke and Lionel persuaded him.
"Isn't the Emperor not really a family elder? Is it really necessary to report to him directly?"
I interjected, watching the scene unfold.
Of course, as it was a marriage between the Empire's only two Ducal Houses, it wouldn't be bad form to pay respects to the Emperor.
Especially since the Ludion Ducal Family rarely participated in central politics or even visited the capital, their relationship with the Imperial Family was not very close. Duke Basilian might have made this suggestion for the sake of the Ludion Ducal Family.
But perhaps it was because Euclid seemed troubled.
Strangely, the idea of entering the Imperial Palace bothered me, and I impulsively stepped forward.
The Duke sighed at my sharp reaction.
"Evgenia, His Majesty has cherished you since you were young... Ah."
Then, he stopped himself, realizing what he had been about to say.
He probably belatedly remembered that the Imperial Family had long considered Evgenia as a potential Crown Princess and had encouraged her friendship with His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince.
To reveal such nuances in front of his prospective son-in-law, of all people, must have greatly embarrassed even the mighty Duke Basilian.
However, Euclid, whom the Duke glanced at cautiously, wore only a gentle smile, as if he hadn't understood the story at all, or didn't care much about it.
Euclid instead apologized to the Duke.
"I'm sorry. As I mentioned, my nephews are young, so it will be difficult to stay in the capital any longer."
With Euclid saying this, no one from House Basilian could insist any further.
Especially since the Duke, realizing his slip of the tongue, could only nod awkwardly without saying anything, Lionel once again changed the subject.
"By the way, I heard from the servant that you haven't unpacked your luggage in your room yet. Is there anything uncomfortable?"
"It's not that. I appreciate you preparing the room in advance, but I plan to stay at the Ludion Ducal Residence in the capital tonight."
The Duke and Lionel wore blank expressions at Euclid's calm reply.
And after a moment, they said.
"Ah, now that you mention it, there was a Ludion Ducal Residence in the capital!"
Watching the Duke nod as if recalling a long-forgotten memory, I slightly pouted my lips.
'Are you looking down on us because we're poor?'
Even so, to think that one of the Empire's only two Ducal Houses wouldn't have a mansion in the capital.
But the kind Euclid didn't seem offended at all and simply smiled.
The Duke continued.
"It's been a while since you've visited, so wouldn't it be uncomfortable? When the owner is away for a long time, the servants tend to become lax."
"It should be fine. They are all affiliated with the Imperial Family."
Huh? I was clearly talking about the Ludion Ducal Residence, but why did the Imperial Family suddenly come up?
I tilted my head, but the Duke and Euclid had already finished their conversation on that topic.
The Duke offered Euclid wine made from the first grapes harvested in the Duchy Territory this year.
Euclid drank the wine like a refined and elegant nobleman, without making even the slightest noise.
I was staring at him in a daze when Melissa muttered quietly.
"I thought you would stay here when you came to the capital, Sister..."
At those words, Lionel, who was next to her, flinched.
"Melissa. Does that mean it's not obvious?"
"Well, that's..."
I frowned slightly as I watched Lionel and Melissa seriously discussing where I would stay when I came to the capital after the wedding.
'Seriously, who said I was coming back to the capital in the first place?'
It was absurd that they were talking among themselves when the person who would make the decision hadn't even considered it.
Of course, it wasn't impossible that I would never come to the capital again...
But I had no intention of leaving the Ludion Duchy in the north if I could help it.
I didn't want to run into His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince again, and my plan to gradually distance myself from House Basilian hadn't changed either.
However, seeing Melissa and Lionel assuming that I would visit the capital frequently and having a conversation about it, I couldn't easily speak up.
Moreover, the Duke, as if sensing something ominous from my silence, cautiously asked.
"Evgenia, my dear. You're not planning to cut off ties with the capital altogether, are you?"
His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince is away on campaigns for most of the year anyway.
He was so hesitant when talking about the Emperor a moment ago.
The Duke was still watching Euclid's reaction, but he deliberately added the story about His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince.
I couldn't fail to understand his intentions. I had directly told him that I wanted to forget His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, so I was rushing to get married and leave the capital.
Lionel, also remembering that, looked a little anxious and said as if it couldn't be true.
"Evgenia has lived in the capital her whole life. How could she live in that distant land, where it's unfamiliar and stifling? Isn't that right?"
"That's my home now, so I have to adapt and live there."
I replied without thinking, but I stopped, feeling the hot gazes that followed.
The Duke, Lionel, and even Melissa looked at me with betrayed eyes, as if the sky had fallen.
No, but even if the others are disappointed... Euclid, why do you look surprised at my words?
Could it be that he was surprised that I referred to the Ludion Duchy as my home?
For some reason, I felt a little sad and bitter, but I couldn't blame my favorite.
Euclid wasn't stupid, so there was no way he wouldn't know about my past reputation.
'He probably only knows me as a vicious woman obsessed with His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince.'
He must think that this marriage is forced, of course.
It's okay. I can slowly show him that I've changed.
Perhaps because I was taking it easy, the sadness disappeared.
Rather, looking at Euclid, who had his eyes wide open, I somehow laughed, thinking that he, who had always been calm, could make such an expression.
'You! Are! So! Cute!'
While I was internally clutching my heart as a fan and being cheesy, Euclid flinched and turned his head.
Tch. I smacked my lips in disappointment, feeling the hot gazes of my family.
With no other choice, I sighed softly and looked around at my family.
"Well, there will be times when I come to the capital."
Although I don't really intend to unless it's a special occasion.
"Then at the Vasillian Duke's Residence..."
"There's the Ludion Ducal Residence right there, so even if it's my parents' home, it doesn't seem right to stay here."
As I cut off the possibility, the faces of the Basilian Ducal Family briefly went from heaven to hell.
And once again, Euclid sent me a strange look...
But I liked his gaze on me.
I pretended not to notice, knowing that he would look away if I acknowledged it, and started eating.
\ \ *
"Then I'll be going now."
"Yes, yes. Be careful on your way and see you at the temple tomorrow, son-in-law!"
"...Yes."
Euclid awkwardly nodded at the Duke Basilian's words, who was drunk from the one glass of wine he had during the meal, as he patted him on the shoulder in a friendly manner.
I had been wondering when I heard that the owner of the most famous wine-producing region in the Empire didn't actually enjoy drinking...
It turned out that he was refraining from drinking because he had a low tolerance.
"Whose son-in-law is so handsome! Isn't that right, Evgenia?"
The gazes of the Duke's children at his disheveled appearance were, of course, not good.
"Haa... Yes."
Euclid's face flushed as he saw the Princess suppressing a sigh and twisting her lips unpleasantly as she forced herself to answer.
