28 - My Husband is My Favorite, But I Think I'm Going to Get Divorced
28
Even if you were to add up all the days the Ludion Ducal Family had stayed here, it wouldn't amount to a year. How could it be called their home?
They had even requested the Imperial Family to return the residence at one point, citing the family's declining fortunes and the difficulty of maintaining the mansion in the capital. However, the Imperial Family refused, taking full responsibility for all expenses related to the residence. Therefore, it was more accurate to consider it the Imperial Family's property.
While Euclid was lost in thought, reflecting on the long history between the Imperial Family and the Ludion Ducal House, the carriage finally came to a stop after passing through the main gate.
As he detached his back from the seat, Euclid simultaneously erased all traces of fatigue and complex emotions from his face and opened the door.
"Duke, it has been a while."
The butler of the residence, having received news of his arrival at the main building, came out to greet him.
"Indeed. Your name was... Phillip, wasn't it?"
"Yes, that is correct!"
Phillip's eyes widened for a moment.
"I am truly honored that you remember me."
It was understandable that he would be moved, as Euclid had remembered his name from five years ago when he had visited the capital to collect the remains of his father and brother and to inherit the title of Duke Ludion.
However, despite Phillip's words, Euclid's gaze remained colder than usual.
"How could I forget?"
"Pardon?"
"It is nothing. I am tired and wish to rest immediately. Oh, and my aide is asleep inside the carriage, so please guide him to a room."
"Ah... Understood, Duke."
Phillip's face briefly showed a hint of embarrassment as he hadn't managed to naturally inquire about the purpose of today's visit. However, he was different from the guards.
Phillip, with a good-natured face and affable smile, naturally followed behind Euclid and asked,
"If you came directly from the Duchy Territory, it would have taken three days... no, since you were in a Magic Carriage, it would have taken two days, correct? Even so, you must be tired."
"......"
"Have you had your meal yet? Shall I prepare it immediately?"
Euclid briefly paused and looked at Phillip, who had recognized that the carriage was a Magic Carriage rather than an ordinary one in that short time and was naturally trying to ascertain his movements with his questions.
Just as Phillip's expression, which had been nonchalantly playful, was about to subtly stiffen, Euclid gave a gentle smile.
"I am not very hungry. I would like to wash up and go to sleep immediately, so could you please make the preparations?"
"...Yes, I will."
Phillip nodded, feeling a momentary chill run down his spine.
He regretted not being able to extract any information and having to let him go, but he had no means to stop the Duke, who was the owner of this residence.
The thought of reporting with such meager information already made him feel a chill, but Phillip skillfully hid his expression.
It was because the Duke had not yet taken his eyes off him.
The gaze that seemed to penetrate his inner thoughts was quite uncomfortable, but he already knew that the Duke, who was wearing a faint smile, would not do anything.
Euclid Rudion, the current Duke Ludion, was originally the second son and had not received heir training. He was not particularly talented, and his kind and gentle nature, never getting angry at anyone, was the only thing that stood out.
Above all, Phillip had once secretly witnessed Euclid, when he had a slightly younger face, completely collapsing to the point of vomiting blood.
Since the Ludion Ducal House never revealed any weaknesses or let even a small rumor slip out, discovering that the new Duke was sickly was a great achievement.
In fact, it was thanks to that that he had been working as a butler here without doing much of anything.
Phillip, feeling a bit more generous towards someone who had benefited him and would continue to do so, gave a soft smile and took a step back.
"......"
Euclid quietly watched Phillip call one of the servants standing far away, give instructions, and then quickly move somewhere.
"D-Duke, shall we go then?"
At that moment, a boy who looked to be about fourteen years old spoke to him, his face tense as if the owner of the residence was unfamiliar and difficult.
However, he could not lower his guard just because he was young.
The butler of the residence would not have assigned just anyone to his side.
Perhaps they had deliberately chosen such an innocent and naive-looking boy.
Euclid, who was usually very fond of his territory's residents and servants, would have naturally asked the name of the boy who was to attend to him, but unfortunately, this was not Rudion Castle.
As he moved his feet, pretending not to notice, the boy began to chatter in a friendly and affectionate voice, as if his initial awkwardness had disappeared.
Thanks to that, Euclid learned that the boy's name was Rick, that he had lost his parents at a young age and lived in an orphanage, and that he had been lucky enough to get a job at the Ducal Estate after receiving a recommendation from the orphanage director for his exemplary behavior.
Even if he spoke so passionately, there was nothing he could do since he had no real authority in this residence.
Euclid gave a smile, filled with a slight sense of guilt and burden.
"I see. I hope you will continue to work diligently in the future."
Then, the boy's eyes widened as if he had not expected an answer in the first place.
"O-Of course! I will work really hard!"
Watching the boy reaffirm his commitment, Euclid suddenly wondered what he was saying and what he was encouraging, and he let out an involuntary hollow laugh.
Meanwhile, Rick, with eyes that were somehow excessively sparkling, said with a shy face.
"Duke, you are really kind."
"Pardon?"
"Ah, th-that is... the butler and the other servants in the residence said so too. They said that you are a good person who speaks politely to the servants and takes care of them meticulously."
"......"
The butler and the servants of the residence said that?
Euclid's smile paused for a moment, but Rick, seemingly unaware, was muttering in an emotional tone, "Such a good person is our..."
Euclid looked at Rick with darkened eyes.
Yes, there was no need to care about where the truth ended and the lies began.
In the end, most of it would be lies, and even if it were the truth, he just had to not believe it.
After arriving at the bedroom, Euclid roused himself from the sofa where he had been deeply buried while Rick went to fill the tub with water.
And he quickly examined under the table, next to the bookshelf, and the small ornaments.
He found three or four recording Magic tools without much difficulty, but he left them untouched in their places, without touching or breaking them.
If he had intended to be swayed by such things or to destroy them, he would have already done so five years ago.
Euclid, Father... has passed away.
...Brother?
I'm sorry. Actually... I don't think I can last much longer either.
What are you talking about right now? Where are you? I'll go there right away...
I've left behind evidence. I don't know if it will be helpful or just a burden to you... I'm really sorry. Please take care of Marianne and Dior.
Yes. It was when he frantically searched this residence after hearing his brother's last words before he died.
He couldn't find what he desperately wanted to find, but instead, he only confirmed how many surveillance Magic tools were installed in the residence.
He had vaguely felt that this residence was dangerous, but it was the day he realized that it was completely serving as the eyes and ears of the Imperial Family.
As his heart crumbled, his body, which had barely been holding on, finally collapsed.
He didn't even have the mental capacity to hide his physical condition, which had been kept a complete secret from the servants of the Ducal Estate, except for his father and brother.
No, in fact, he knew that someone had noticed, but he just left it alone.
Even in that hopeless state, as if his foundation was collapsing, the determination to protect his nephews seemed to be alive.
He had considered whether it would be better to cover it up or just leave it alone and let his condition leak out.
The decision was quick. He was now the only guardian left for the children who had just lost their family.
Moving rashly would entail too many risks.
So, it was better to show a weakness and let his vulnerabilities leak out, making them lower their guard.
