For My Birthday, I Was Gifted Five Husbands - Chapter 63
Eugenie’s last and only younger husband. The owner of ‘La Noir’ who had recently been experiencing rapid growth but had some suspicious traits.
When his turn came, Cassius Lysander eagerly suggested, “I’d love to introduce you! Let me take you to my store!”
Honestly, Eugenie had no interest in shopping, even as she shuttled between the academy graduate school and her apartment in the capital. But, wanting to be sociable, she decided to indulge him with a bit of enthusiasm.
“Wow, so this is the La Noir store…?”
“Yes! Is this your first time here, Lady?”
“Hm…! It really feels like a place that suits you, Cassius.”
La Noir did handle jewelry at several locations, but the flagship store was by far the largest and most impressive.
The white limestone building, with its doors and windows painted a soft periwinkle color, radiated a subtle, charming vibe. The ivy creeping up the walls added an elegant touch, giving the impression that the store had been here for ages.
‘Ah… This place would attract a lot of bugs, I bet.’
For a moment, Eugenie let an unromantic thought cross her mind but quickly held back any comments that might spoil the mood. Before entering the main door, however, Cassius theatrically extended his arm toward her.
“The ‘real door’ is not that one, Lady.”
“Hmm? So is that door a trap?”
“That’s just for regular customers. The place I really want to show you is downstairs.”
Downstairs… Could this be Eugenie Norton’s great first step into the dark underworld?
Cassius led her to the back of the building. Walking down a path surrounded by wisteria swaying in the breeze, Eugenie sized up this unfamiliar man.
The previous four men had all been acquaintances, some by their own doing, others by her knowledge. Because of this, discussing sensitive topics has always been a bit tricky.
She wasn’t sure if her usual direct approach would be too aggressive.
‘But maybe it’s fine with someone I’ve never met before.’
Cassius Lysander appeared like a delicate porcelain doll, but who knew what he was really like on the inside? If he was as soft and harmless as he looked, he wouldn’t be involved in the underground world.
“Cassius. Let’s talk before we go in.”
“Aha, is there something you’re curious about?”
“Yes. First of all, how did you get rid of Peter Lamberg?”
“…”
Cassius, who had been smiling up until that point, now lifted the corners of his mouth even higher. Eugenie wasn’t sentimental about her former fiance—she didn’t still have lingering feelings for him.
It was just that the mystery of his whereabouts bothered her.
“I’m grateful for your help in resolving the issue, but if it’s connected to a crime, I think I should at least know about it.”
“Why? Don’t like handling dirty work?”
“What? At least if my husbands are arrested, I should know what crime they’re being charged with, right? Consulting with Mr. Banker and the family lawyers will become my job.”
At those words, the smile that had started to turn into a sneer softened again.
“How kind of you. Don’t worry, Lady. I made sure there would be no trace…”
“Hmm.”
“As you know, the other four pests and I gathered solely for your happiness.”
Yet Eugenie still had a suspicious expression.
She had thought about it when they first met this morning, but it seemed like sometimes this man gave off a faint smell of blood. Occasionally, it wasn’t just a simple chill, but a coldness that could almost come from a dissection room.
However, the question Eugenie truly wanted to ask began now.
“Cassius, can you answer a question about my mother?”
“Only if it’s not a question bound by restrictions. Even then, I might not be able to provide a detailed answer just yet.”
“Fine. Then answer with yes or no. You received significant help from my mother to agree to this contract, right? Help in a situation where your life is in danger?”
“……”
Cassius simply smiled, still calm.
But unless the answer was a firm ‘no,’ every other response would be interpreted as a ‘yes.’ It was a bit of a loophole, but there was no choice if she wanted to dig deeper into the truth.
“And if you, and the others, have se—no, when you sleep with me?”
“Why change the wording? It’s the same thing, after all.”
“Quiet. When you sleep with me, I want to know why you still can’t clarify the situation. How you met my mother, what kind of help you received, everything.”
“Well… yes. Ah, I can now speak about that.”
After working hard with the four men, it seemed like she’d unlocked that particular ‘condition.’
Though a bit self-deprecating, Eugenie continued with her questions.
“…And is there something to gain from this marriage for you? When you think about it, this seems like a really one-sided deal for the groom.”
“……”
“No matter how much help you receive, you’re going to marry a woman who can take both your life and wealth, right? And share her with other men? And even after a year, it seems like I could unilaterally annul the relationship.”
“……”
“If it were me, I’d expect a reward, even after the contract was signed.”
Cassius tilted his head slightly in response to her question.
