The next day, the breakfast with Charlie and Monica had a chaotic atmosphere with no warmth at all.
Charlie didnât talk much because she was suffering from a hangover headache, and Monica maintained a confronting attitude toward my husband.
Surprisingly, Regen ate food without being conscious of Monica.
Still, he was concerned, so before dessert came out, he asked if Monica had any discomfort while she was here.
Regen didnât really care whether Monica liked him or not.
Aedis was the partyâ¦â¦
Aedis was just busy lecturing me and her about how healthy onions were, even though Monica courageously glared at him from time to time.
He probably didnât even notice Monica was staring at him.
In any case, Aedisâs onion lecture was so blunt that I had no choice but to nod my head, but I didnât eat the onion.
She had been a picky eater since morning, so I asked why Monica hated Aedis, and I gave her a tour of Cyclamen Castle.
Charlie said she would vomit if she walked any more, and she promised tomorrow.
Hearing that the northern alcohol was stronger than expected, the butler, who put all his heart and soul into bringing the best alcohol, wiped away his tears, saying that he had been disrespectful to Her Graceâs friend.
But Iâm sure Charlie, the most drunk of us, will seek the butler another time.
There is no need to be overly formal, as all he had to do is attend my birthday party with a sober mind.
âTo be fairâ¦â¦ It is a castle with a beautiful view.â
Monica murmured softly as she looked from the balcony to the finished central garden.
If Aedis had not changed the appearance, which was called an ink stone, the opposite sentiment would have come out.
âHow is the capital city these days?â
âIt has never been quiet. Recently, Morganaâs collusion has been rampant.â
Suddenly, Monica smiled in dismay.
âIf I tell you this, you wonât come back.â
âWell, Iâm going to go hang out with Aedis for a few days.â
Monicaâs brow furrowed as my husbandâs name came out of my mouth.
Monica finished her appreciation and slid her gaze toward me.
Monicaâs face was full of complex emotions as she stared at the necklace as a gift.
Despite the fact that I wore it on purpose, she had a gloomy face.
âThank you for giving it a look.â
âMonica, do you know what I meant by dismissing the maids?â
âI know. But nowâ¦â¦ â
ââ¦..â
âGive me a little time.â
Monica didnât want to face me.
And I had no obligation to force her.
Aedis was my husband, but also the owner of this castle.
I couldnât resolve anything without telling him why only a guest was so rude.
âI will arrange a meeting for you in the evening, so tell me then. I donât think you came all the way here with Charlie just to fight my husband.â
Monicaâs face flushed red.
âYes, of course it is! I also intended to offend him from the beginningâ¦â¦ â
At least I didnât know what her actions would look like.
I narrowed my eyes, and she smiled.
âThen see you in the evening.â
In the afternoon, I sat Paimon on my lap and checked the gifts and replies.
Even if they were afraid of Aedis, none of the nobles refused to attend my birthday party.
I left the butler to handle the overflowing gifts, and as I had promised Monica, I set a meeting for dinner.
It was a small party with only three participants.
However, no one understood my intention to have a conversation.
The hangover didnât go away completely, and Charlie picked up the bottle again, even though her eyes were puffy.
âEve, I didnât know about it until now, but it must have been a lot of stress while traveling. Why is alcohol so delicious?â
So was Monica.
âI want to drink too.â
â¦â¦ what. Iâm not throwing a drinking party.
I purposely brought sweet and sour tropical fruits that I couldnât find in the north, but Monica and Charle didnât pay any attention to the fruit drinks.
I was contemplating whether I should put the rest of the bottle under the table, but Monica emptied the glass at once and called me.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âMaevia.â
âYes, Monica.â
âWhatâs Maeviaâs name?â
Is she drunk or not?
ââ¦Itâs Maevia Kallakis.â
âIs that right? But why does everyone call you Eve?â
ââ¦â¦â
âI canât call you that.â
She had a face that looked like she was about to cry if touched lightly.
âMonica, did you want to call me by my nickname? But when we first met, I said that you could call me whatever you like.â
ââ¦â¦ Because I didnât like you back then.â
ââ¦.â
âNow isâ¦â¦ Maevia would hate it.â
ââ¦..â
I had a lot to say, but looking at me as one she cared so much for, Monica asked abruptly.
âYou know, how would you feel if the Grand Duke took on a new wife after you were old or dead?â
It was a question that came out of the blue.
â¦â¦ Letâs pretend we didnât see the alcohol in Charlieâs mouth.
As Monica drank alcohol one glass after another, she spoke over and over again with eyes not at all intoxicated.
âEven in the capital, Grand Duke Kallakis has been the head of the family for a very long time, and in fact, rumors are spreading that he has tremendous abilities. Before I even entered the castle, I knew the rumors were no exaggeration.â
ââ¦.â
âCan you handle it when Maevia is very old, but the Grand Duke will still look young?â
ââ¦..â
Monica raised her voice as if she had become Maevia Kallakis.
âNo. It looks like you already started giving your heart, but it canât be. Soâ¦â¦ Canât you go back to the capital with me before you give more here?â
In the end, Charlie could not bear to witness it and stopped Monica.
âMonica, Iâll take you to your room.â
Charlie lifted Monica with strength and apologized to me.
âIâm so sorry, Eve! When you left the capital, she promised not to do thisâ¦â¦Iâll get going anyway!â
I watched Charlie take Monica out.
When I asked Monica why she hated Aedis, she was worried about me.
âUmm â¦.â
I felt a little strange.
Because the things Monica said she was worried about me are things that I also have to take seriously.
Aedis has lived for over 500 years, and I donât know how many more years he will live.
On the other hand, since I was an ordinary person, my life span was fixed.
Well, since this is a world with magic, you can extend your lifespan by several tens of years by spending an astronomical amount of money.
âShould I have told my parents that I didnât want to die soonâ¦â¦ â
Thereâs no way my parents wouldnât have worried about what Monica was worried about too.
Itâs a problem because they didnât show it much
I poured into my glass what Charlie had especially drunk and took a few sips.
âWow.â
Immediately my face lit up. No, I canât get drunk either!
Scared of a hangover that even Charlie couldnât handle, I went outside.
I was thinking about going back to the bedroom after getting some air to wake up, but there was someone on the balcony where Monica had admired the view during the day.
It was Regen with fluffy, woolly hair.
âLord?â
ââ¦..â
âMy~Lo~rd?â
âHah.â
Regen looked back at me.
âYour Grace?â
I tilted my head.
Regenâs eyes were glazed and hazy as if he had just woken up.
âWhat were you thinking?â
âThat, just.â
Regen stuttered, stroking his little hand.
It was a behavior that showed when he was in trouble.
âJust?â
âThat isâ¦â¦â
âYou want to keep it a secret?â
Iâd like to let go of this, but Iâm a little worried.
Regen contemplated for a few seconds then immediately clenched his fists and looked at me.
âYour Grace.â
âYes.â
âAre you really happy living here?â
Huh?
âOf course.â
Was he still thinking about what Monica asked about my marriage yesterday?
Itâs okay that Monica hated Aedis, and I thought Regen was putting his concern in the wrong place.
The corners of his eyes drooped.
âBut not many good things happened. You are also illâ¦â¦â
Tears quickly flowed from Regenâs eyes.
Aww, my face seemed to heat up.
I pushed away the rushing drunkenness and comforted Regen.
âOf course, there were times when I got sick, but the lord and Aedis were by my side every time that happened. I am always happy, thanks to you two.â
ââ¦â¦ really?â
âDid you see me lying?â
Regen paused.
And considering my feelings, he shook his head to and fro.
It was a slightly suspicious face.
â¦â¦ Iâm afraid of how far my reputation has fallen.
When I put on a shocked expression, Regen hurriedly comforted me.
âI trust you! I have no doubts whatsoever about what Your Grace said!â
Then Regen whispered as he lifted his foot, as if to make me feel better.
âYou know, I speak only to my most trusted person in the world, Your Grace, so sometimes I feel like someone is calling me in a voice that only I can hear.â
âUh? Like Paimon?â
Suddenly Regen trembled.
âNo, no way, are you with Paimon right now?â
Oh no. Iâll have to catch Paimon and make him apologize.
Regenâs chattering trauma showed no sign of improving.
âNow that I am alone, I can rest assured.â
Regen sighed in relief.
âThen can I ask you one favor?â
âIf itâs the Lord, anything.â
Regen pushed his head out of the balcony to make sure there was no one in the hallway, then he groaned, whispering as if he wasnât relieved.
âIf only, really if.â
âYes, if.â
âIf I suddenly disappear, I donât want Your Grace to search for me.â
ââ¦..â
âPromise me. Your Grace is not going to look for me.â