I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 36
I raised my head, momentarily dazed.
The Emperor looked at my expression as if amused and smiled, and with that, I quickly lowered my head as my senses returned.
But my mind was in utter chaos.
In the original story, the Emperor was strictly neutral regarding the crown prince’s appointment. I knew he tried to choose the next emperor who would truly benefit the empire’s development with an objective eye.
But isn’t this current statement too similar to the First Prince’s words? Could it be that the Emperor is already supporting the First Prince?
“There’s no need for such surprise. I’m merely expressing my approval of you as a potential daughter-in-law.”
“I… I don’t understand what you mean…”
“Your surprised face is truly like a rabbit’s. If you were my daughter-in-law, I could have seen you often without relying on such coincidences as today.”
The Emperor finally started laughing out loud. Then, with a slightly warmer gaze, he spoke.
“Beautiful, intelligent, and even bold, you truly lack nothing to become the mother of the empire. And you even make me laugh like this, don’t you?”
“….”
Do I look like a clown to you? I barely managed to hold back from becoming overly familiar, beyond just being bold.
“I could push a widow to be the Crown Prince’s match, but I can’t pair him with a married woman, can I? It’s truly a shame.”
“You flatter me too much, Your Majesty.”
“In fact, you don’t really think so, do you?”
The Emperor grinned. That’s right. It’s not that I’m lacking, it’s just that I’m too lazy and don’t want to do it, but I didn’t think I was inadequate to become the next Empress of the empire or the Crown Prince’s match.
Hearing the affirmation in my silence, the Emperor burst into laughter once again. I guess I really do look like a clown to him.
“Well. Since you’re a lady who might have become my daughter-in-law if I had been lucky, let me ask you one question.”
“Though inadequate, I will answer sincerely.”
“If you were a widow, which of my two sons would you have preferred?”
In other words, he’s asking who I think is more suitable for the throne. I smiled my usual harmless smile at this question, unsure if it was a trap or an opportunity.
“I prefer kind people.”
And at that moment, I heard a commotion from beyond the corner I had passed. The voice trying to stop someone was unfamiliar, but the other voice was one I knew well.
“Your Grace, please! You mustn’t enter! Only His Majesty is in the garden!”
“What nonsense! The coachman you sent said he saw her go this way! Get out of my… Asilia!”
It seems the guard who was too sleepy to notice me passing through had woken up just as Cassion arrived. The guard’s face, turning pale blue upon seeing me, was in stark contrast to Cassion’s face, which brightened with relief.
I waved lightly at Cassion and then turned to the Emperor.
“Isn’t he truly a kind person?”
***
“From now on, know that you absolutely cannot go out alone. When the maid came running alone saying you had gotten into the First Prince’s carriage, do you know how shocked I was? And then when I actually came, you were with the Emperor. What on earth did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything. What can I do if there are members of the imperial family wherever I go?”
“Is that even possible?”
“Just because it doesn’t make sense doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. The First Prince happened to come to the shop I went to, and the guard happened to be dozing off when I entered the garden.”
“Hah… Nothing happened, right?”
“Meeting members of the imperial family one after another is itself an event, I guess.”
“Don’t joke around, Asilia. You know what I mean.”
Thinking I was deflecting because I had something to hide, Cassion looked around here and there at my joke.
When Cassion arrived, the Emperor stopped probing me and provided a carriage to return to the Duke’s mansion. And with a smile, he fired the guard. Really, who dozes off while on duty?
“The First Prince told me not to act up and to wait for my downfall.”
“What?”
“But His Majesty the Emperor said he wanted to welcome me as his daughter-in-law.”
“What?!”
Cassion, forgetting we were in a carriage, tried to half-rise but sat back down panting when the narrow space shook. It was quite dynamic for such a short time.
“It seems both of them are displeased that I married you. They said I should have remained as the Marquis’s widow.”
“Ha! This is absurd. Has the Emperor started to lose his mind now?”
“Hey, this is a carriage provided by the imperial family. I don’t want to be arrested together, so could you please watch your mouth?”
“I thought he was a rational monarch, as cold as he is, but it seems that’s not the case.”
“I think he is objective and rational. He seemed to like me very much.”
I recalled the Emperor’s gaze for a moment. Though not as friendly and jovial as the Second Prince, there was a faint hint of favor and mischief in his eyes.
“If I had wanted power, I could have aimed to become the Crown Prince’s wife after divorcing you.”
“What? You haven’t even met the Second Prince more than a few times.”
“Well, many nobles marry without even seeing each other’s faces. It’s the position next to the Crown Prince, who could become the future Emperor. Besides, His Highness the Second Prince himself isn’t a bad catch as a husband.”
Cassion’s mouth opens in shock. Of course, it’s just a hypothetical, and I have no intention of entering the imperial family with all its troublesome affairs, but seeing his surprised face made me want to tease him more.
“He’s handsome and kind. That’s enough, isn’t it?”
“No, Asil, Asilia.”
He’s even stuttering now. I barely managed to hold back my laughter and succeeded in maintaining a serious face.
“When our contract ends later, could you put in a good word for me? His father seems to like me enough, so I think I just need to win over the Prince himself.”
“…Are you serious?”
“If he becomes the Crown Prince, our contribution won’t be small, so I guess he’ll have some favorable feelings towards us at least? And as for looks, well, I’m confident.”
Now beyond shock and into a daze, Cassion’s pupils shake as if imagining something.
“Shurdin and you, Asilia…”
“If that happens, you’ll be a friend and ex-husband, so I’ll push hard for you. Promise.”
“….”
“Oh my, we’re already here.”
While Cassion was in shock, opening and closing his mouth, the carriage arrived at the Duke’s mansion. He reflexively opened the door and escorted me as I got out, but because his gaze was wandering in the air, he stumbled, reaching out his hand in a strange direction.
Ah, I really can’t hold it anymore.
“Ahaha!”
This is the limit. Seeing this war hero, who would have stood firm even when pushed to the limit on the battlefield, wobble stupidly at my words, I couldn’t hold back my laughter.
The stress that had built up in a short time due to the Prince and Emperor completely vanished.
“It’s a joke, a joke! Ah… pfft. Aren’t you overreacting?”
I patted Cassion’s shoulder while pulling his hand which was heading in a completely wrong direction.
“Do you dislike the idea of your ex-wife marrying your friend that much? You’re completely losing your mind. I absolutely hate troublesome things, so I have no intention of entering the imperial family.”
“But… you said Shurdin is handsome and kind…”
“It’s not like I’m going to live off his face, why would I just marry someone because they’re handsome? Marriage is reality. Of course, looks are important, but if I were really going to marry, I’d consider many aspects, and His Highness the Second Prince isn’t really my type.”
“…Then was the Emperor’s talk about wanting you as a daughter-in-law also a joke?”
“No, that part was true.”
Cassion’s eyes, which seemed to have regained their soul, shook again. But before he could spread his wings of imagination again, I patted his shoulder once more.
“What can I do if I’m overflowing with charm? The Emperor probably isn’t the only one who covets me as a daughter-in-law.”
“Hah…”
“Stop being surprised and let’s go in for some tea. No jokes this time, I really have something to talk about.”
Cassion, who was glaring at me while repeatedly rubbing his face, tensed up.
“Can’t you just tell me now?”
“This is a serious conversation, so let’s talk in the room.”
“…I’m already starting to feel afraid. Every word that comes out of your mouth is unpredictable.”
Ah, really. This time I was really going to have a serious conversation, but Cassion’s aversion made me burst out laughing again. He seems too scared, so maybe I should give him a hint.
“It’s about the First Prince. He doesn’t seem to know much about his own birth.”
As I suddenly drew close, Cassion, who had been even more tense, changed his expression in an instant.
Yes, I’ve had my fill of jokes for today, so let’s discuss our future plans now.
