I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 23
I let the curses go in one ear and out the other, flashing bright smiles at the people I had become acquainted with at the reception. Everyone who made eye contact with me responded with a smiling face.
“Doesn’t it bother you?”
“Well… The First Prince’s faction won’t like anything I do anyway.”
“…Cheaply relying on your face…”
Cassion, who had been shocked by his own perfume scent until just before entering, was now worrying about me.
Who is he to talk when I can hear curses mixed in for him too? Feeling that he was surprisingly caring despite his appearance, I was about to answer when, unfortunately, a curse rang out during the quiet moment between our entrance and the next person’s. It was a noblewoman from the First Prince’s faction.
When she suddenly received everyone’s attention due to this playful timing, she turned bright red and hid behind a man who seemed to be her husband.
“At least they acknowledge my face. Well, if they have eyes, they can’t deny this.”
I almost let out a dismissive laugh at her pathetic behavior. When I made eye contact with her as she peeked out from behind her husband to look at me, and I gave her a harmless smile, she turned bright red once again.
Really, if you’re going to crumble at just one of my smiles, why start trouble in the first place?
A smile is enough for both recruiting allies and attacking enemies. While Cassion maintained a stiff, unfriendly expression, I spread harmless and beautiful smiles throughout the banquet hall, simultaneously defending and attacking. Just then, the main characters of the banquet appeared.
“His Highness the First Prince, His Highness the Second Prince, Her Majesty the Empress, and His Majesty the Emperor have arrived.”
Since the entrance was done in order of lower status and power, it was just moments after we had entered the banquet hall.
I erased my smile as I watched them slowly descend the stairs at the upper part of the hall and stand on the platform where the imperial throne was located. This is my first time seeing the First Prince and the Empress.
“I thank all of you who have come to this suddenly arranged banquet.”
The noisy banquet hall fell silent in an instant.
“Many citizens have endured difficult days in the face of war for the unification of the empire, and I too, relying on your trust and confidence, have achieved this. Now, better days will come for the empire.”
While there was an ongoing underground struggle over the succession rights of the two princes, the Emperor’s charisma was still strong. Although he didn’t directly participate in the war, as a monarch who had issued decisive orders several times, no one could deny his influence.
Unless incidents like this attempted poisoning occur, the current Emperor’s reign will likely continue for quite some time. This is a clear difference from the original story.
Choosing a Crown Prince under the firm rule of the current Emperor would be very different from a hasty appointment of a Crown Prince with an Emperor on his deathbed.
“There may still be big and small challenges to endure, but for the peaceful progress of the empire in the future, not only I but also the efforts of the two princes will be there, so do not worry.”
Although he didn’t mention it directly, everyone present would have understood. The Emperor’s words implied that he would formally compare the abilities of the two princes based on how they handled their future responsibilities.
“For the prosperity of the empire and the next Emperor.”
The Emperor raised his glass and slowly sat down.
After his short but charismatic speech, the silence that filled the vast hall was instantly replaced with applause and cheers. The nobles supporting each prince were all gleaming with their own thoughts. My eyes probably looked no different from theirs.
As the momentary excitement subsided, music began to play at the Emperor’s next gesture, signaling the start of the main banquet.
I unconsciously unclenched my fist and linked arms with Cassion as we moved into the hall.
“It’s my first time seeing the Empress, and she’s a bit different from what I imagined.”
“Hmm?”
To be honest, the Emperor’s speech was not much different from what I expected. Just a reconfirmation of his charisma? But the Empress standing behind the Emperor was, how should I put it…
“To be frank, I imagined a sharper image. To be more direct, I imagined an Empress who was a bit more vicious. But that was just my prejudice.”
I whispered as we naturally started dancing after walking to the center of the hall. Given the sensitive nature of the topic, I spoke more closely than usual, and Cassion’s perfume became overwhelmingly strong.
“Since we can’t know what she’s thinking, we should be even more careful.”
“She’s like a wax doll. I’m still amazed when I think about the information you gave me.”
Well, she was a noble among nobles, marked from birth to be the wife of the Crown Prince, now Emperor.
That’s why she has the full support of the First Prince’s faction. It’s hard to believe that such a doll-like person would have a child with a man other than the Emperor and pass it off as the Emperor’s bloodline.
I found myself looking at Cassion anew, who had believed my words without hesitation. Now that I’ve confirmed the Empress’s impression, it sounds even more absurd. He’s not even the type to be easily swayed. Yet he seemed to have no doubt about what I had said.
“I’d understand if you didn’t believe it.”
I observe him quietly as we twirl in our dance. Actually, I know he believes me. I’m not sure why, but people have intuitions, don’t they? The feeling that this person clearly believes me. But even so, the desire to test him is also human nature.
“Still, you’ll benefit from me someday.”
“I believe you.”
“Yes, yes~ I’m satisfied with just that level of expression.”
I awkwardly broke the atmosphere. The strong scent of perfume, his body brushing against mine, the candlelight and lighting much brighter than at the reception, all combined to make me feel dizzy. Only Cassion, holding my hand and believing in me, remained clear.
“I believe you, but it seems you don’t believe me.”
At that moment, I almost stepped on his foot. That’s right. I… find it hard to believe that Cassion believes my words. But isn’t that inevitable? After all, I’ve realized my past life.
“No… It’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s just, you know. We haven’t known each other that long.”
“We’re married, Asilia.”
“A fake marriage. We’ve known each other for less than a quarter of a year.”
Am I cautioning him because I’m worried he might be this trusting elsewhere? For some reason, I keep finding myself refuting his words.
“I know you’re a better person than the rumors say. I also feel that I’ve made a good choice in my contract partner.”
“….”
“But trust isn’t something that just pops up in such a short time, is it?”
Yes. We’ve become close and friendly incredibly fast for a relationship based on a contract. But to maintain a good relationship without getting backstabbed, you need to keep a proper distance.
“That’s why we signed a contract. Let’s trust our contract.”
It’s better to trust the stamp and writing on paper than relationships with people. Just as I had initially decided when proposing this contract marriage.
I smiled brightly and slightly distanced myself from him by spreading my arms. The conversation and the music were both coming to an end. Despite my dizzy mind, apart from one small misstep, it seemed we had danced quite well.
“Could you bring me a drink? I’ll wait here.”
Even though we had only danced one song, for some reason my heart was racing. When I made the request, he, who had been silently watching me, turned around.
Not only was he checking everything I ate and drank since the attempted poisoning, but I also felt the need to clear the air between us that had somehow become suffocating. However, just as he was about to leave to get the drink, he suddenly turned back towards me.
“…Cassion?”
“This way.”
Without making eye contact, he took my hand and led me not to the center of the hall, but towards the wall. No, at this point, it was more like he was cornering me.
“I’ll be right back, don’t go anywhere else and wait.”
After pushing me almost into the wall, he looked around sharply, seemingly still unsatisfied, and cautioned me.
I ended up letting out a small laugh. How could I put up a wall with someone like this? It seemed that the rapid closeness of our relationship wasn’t entirely my fault.
“Alright. Come back quickly, honey.”
