I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 37
“The fact that the First Prince doesn’t know about his own birth means that the impact we’ll cause will be extremely strong, but it also means that until we initiate that event, the only one who will try to interfere will be the Empress.”
Exhausted from the short but intense conversation, I wanted to rest after we finished talking. So I led Cassion to the small tea table in my room, and now, as if out of habit, I hugged Lili to my chest and continued speaking while waving the doll’s soft hands.
“…It seems you’ve taken a liking to that doll.”
“Are you listening to me?”
“I’m listening. I could have concentrated better if it weren’t for that rabbit’s flashy movements.”
For a moment, I thought about putting the doll away, but I couldn’t give up the soft texture that brought comfort to my heart. Instead of waving Lili around like a spokesperson, I hugged her tightly to my chest and continued speaking.
“The new hunting season is coming up soon, isn’t it?”
Before the full-scale imperial hunting competition in autumn, nobles often engage in bird hunting as a light amusement. In reality, hunting is just an excuse, and it’s more like a large-scale outing near the forest to strengthen friendships.
“Let’s skip that and say we’re going on a honeymoon.”
“Asilia.”
“What?”
“If your words were swords, you’d be a genius swordsman. You don’t give a moment to let one’s guard down.”
But even Cassion seemed to be getting used to my way of speaking and getting straight to the point, as he didn’t seem too surprised. Instead, he put down the cup he was holding and leaned forward as if to listen intently.
“I think it’s time we start seriously looking for Lorant’s… I mean, the First Prince’s real father.”
“Is that guy’s name Lorant? What about his surname?”
“I don’t think he has a surname, but I’m not sure.”
In the original story, only the name Lorant was mentioned. I can’t help it since I didn’t investigate it myself.
“So the honeymoon is just an excuse, and you want us to go around looking for him ourselves.”
“That’s right. Of course, we’ll need to narrow down the candidates somewhat by having your knights investigate beforehand, but I think it’s better if we go ourselves if we want to secretly bring him to our side.”
“Is there anything else you know about this Lorant?”
“He has curly blonde hair and blue eyes, and I believe he’s younger than the Empress. He has a mole under his right eye, and they say he’s extremely handsome.”
As I described Lorant, recalling the original story, Cassion snorted as if he didn’t like it.
“Since First Prince Klaus is twenty-five this year, it would be best to start investigating his activities in the capital from about 26 to 27 years ago. He might have changed his appearance and name by now.”
“Alright. I’ll look into those things, so you don’t need to get involved anymore.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t plan on making any moves for a while.”
To be honest, I never went out to find out anything in the first place. Feeling a bit guilty about getting a free ride, I hugged Lili tightly and looked at Cassion. For some reason, he flinched slightly and quietly averted his eyes.
“Ah, but before we go on the honeymoon, I’d like you to arrange a meeting with His Highness the Second Prince. I want to discuss our plans and…”
“I can do that too. You don’t need to meet Shurdin.”
“No, but I’m the source of the information. And I have things I want to say to him…”
“Things you want to say? What, are there things you can’t tell me?”
What’s this, why is he suddenly so prickly again?
It’s not that I have anything to say to the Prince alone, but since the plan to put the Empress on trial and cut off the First Prince’s line was my idea, I wanted to convey it sincerely.
But Cassion’s unnecessarily sharp attitude and subtle glares left me bewildered. Then suddenly, I remembered the joke I made in the carriage on the way back.
“You don’t…”
“…”
“You don’t actually think I might really date His Highness the Second Prince, do you?”
“…You never know.”
“No, wait. Cassion. I told you it was a joke.”
It was fun until just now, but if I had known he would believe it this deeply, I would have been more careful.
“Don’t think weird things and just arrange a meeting for me.”
“….”
“Cassion.”
“….”
“Huh.”
I was dumbfounded by Cassion, who was looking elsewhere and pretending not to hear. He also feels the need to meet with the Second Prince and refine the plan before executing it. But he probably doesn’t like it.
“Sister, sister. Sister Asil.”
“…?”
I started a puppet show with the doll, matching the level of this childish sulker. I picked up Lili, who I had been hugging, waved her cute and soft arms, and spoke in a high-pitched voice. Only then did Cassion turn to look at me.
“Sister, do you want to become the Empress? The sister I know likes to eat snacks and lie around in bed. Weren’t you supposed to play with Lili forever?”
“Hah… What are you doing, Asilia?”
“Well, Lili. Sister’s dream is to play and eat in a quiet place. If she becomes the Crown Princess, she’ll have too many things to do and won’t be able to play with Lili. Sulky Cassion is just misunderstanding.”
“Asilia. Stop fooling around and if you have something to say, say it directly.”
Even as he said that the corners of Cassion’s mouth twitched as if he enjoyed my one-person, two-role puppet show. If it’s funny, just laugh. It looks weirder when you try to hold it in.
Knock knock-
“Excuse me. Your Grace, Madam.”
“Come… Ahem, hem.”
“….”
“Come in.”
Damn it. I was so immersed in the role-play that I answered in Lili’s high-pitched voice that I had been using.
In the end, Cassion couldn’t hold back his laughter and turned his body away, covering his mouth and going into vibration mode. As I glared at him slightly and answered again, Butler Bert opened the door. And behind him, I could see three or four knights lined up.
Of all people, it wasn’t just the butler who heard my foolishness.
“What’s the matter?”
But embarrassment aside, seeing the unusual sight of knights visiting the room, Cassion’s eyes immediately flashed.
At Bert’s signal, one knight came forward as a representative, scratching his head as he reported.
“We’ve caught someone trying to trespass into the Duke’s mansion. The gardener first spotted him trying to climb over the wall at the back of the estate’s garden.”
“Put him in the underground prison. I’ll go down soon. Don’t worry about it, dear.”
An intruder out of nowhere? As I opened my eyes wide, Cassion stood up and waved his large hand in front of me, cutting off my line of sight. Still, someone strange had intruded into the place where I’m living now, so I could be curious.
“Well… We did put him in the underground prison, but the fellow keeps claiming that he’s the Duke’s wife’s blood relative.”
“What?”
This time, I jumped up. If he’s my blood relative…
“Did the intruder by any chance identify himself as Parmenion Cornel? With dark blonde hair and a sleek face?”
“Ah, yes! That’s right. But as for his appearance… He’s in such a mess that it’s hard to…”
“I’ll go down and check for myself.”
What in the world is this? My half-brother, who had been missing since the rainy season, voluntarily broke in. Did he want to take revenge and threaten my life?
“No, Asilia.”
“Don’t stop me, it’s my brother. I need to check if it’s really him, and if it is, I need to hear why he came.”
“I understand how you feel. But please calm down a bit, and I’d like you to follow me and the knights.”
Cassion quickly caught me as I was about to rush out. When I waved my hand as if asking him to let go, he pulled me with just enough force that it didn’t hurt but I couldn’t shake him off.
“We have to go on our honeymoon too. What if something happens?”
At Cassion’s words, the knights and the butler opened their eyes wide and then pretended to look elsewhere. Come on, people, it’s not that kind of honeymoon.
“I wasn’t planning to see him alone. Let go of me.”
I’m not stupid enough to meet my brother alone without knowing what intentions he might have for breaking in. But since he’s already locked up in the Duke’s mansion’s underground prison and is said to be in a mess, I didn’t think I needed to hide behind Cassion and the knights.
I didn’t want to show any sign of weakness to Parmenion.
“….”
“I said let go. I’m not excited.”
“…I’m worried about sister.”
I kept waving my arm, trying to shake him off. Then he picked up Lili, whom I had thrown onto the table earlier when I was surprised by the news of the intrusion, and attempted ventriloquism with his other hand.
He strained to raise his cavernously low voice.
“Du, Duke… Duke.”
The jaws of the knights and the butler dropped open as if they had witnessed something horrific. Of course, I was no different. I was so shocked by his attempt at puppetry with that unsuitable voice that I froze like a statue, not even realizing that my arm was now free.
“I think it would be good to go with your reliable husband…”
“Stop it. Please. I get it, so stop.”
I covered my face with my hands, feeling dizzy as if I was under a mental attack.
Cassion, who seemed to have no sense of shame, grinned as he achieved what he wanted, but it took a while for everyone in the room to recover from their stunned state before we could set off for the underground prison.
It was a voice of Lili that I feared might appear in my dreams.
