Chapter 6
‘…As if that could be true.’
Eve, who had been momentarily flustered, quickly came to a conclusion. This man simply found her uncomfortable and unpleasant.
‘So all his behavior up until now was fake.’
Still, to make it this obvious? That wasn’t like him at all.
‘Has he gotten dumber since then?’
Having unknowingly turned Charles into a fool in her mind, she figured this was enough and subtly pulled away. Fortunately, her tears had stopped.
Suddenly, Charles let out a self-deprecating laugh. He was baffled by how flustered he’d been over Eve’s tears and even more so by how he’d hugged her to console her—something he had never done for anyone.
But the most ridiculous part was that he felt deeply relieved when Eve had stopped crying.
“…Eve, you’re truly strange.”
“…?”
Hearing Charles murmur in his natural tone, Eve muttered to herself that he was the strange one. From initiating a hug to awkwardly trying to comfort her—none of it felt like him.
Just then, the drawing room door opened.
“Oh my! I’m so sorry!”
A maid, seeing the duke and duchess still standing close—though no longer embracing—immediately stepped back in shock. It was only then that the two realized how close they still were and quickly parted.
Eve, however, cast a suspicious look at Charles, who had stepped back as if she were contagious.
‘This man isn’t like this… So what the hell is going on?’
Whether he knew what she was thinking or not, Charles merely smiled in a carefree manner.
***
“That… might not be possible, don’t you think?”
Emma, who was dressing Eve, cautiously spoke. Eve, who had just been thinking this dress is no good, looked up.
“Not possible? What do you mean?”
“Um… the Duke, Your Grace.”
At the mention of the duke, Eve’s face lit up with curiosity.
“Do you have an idea? Why he’s avoiding women?”
Just moments ago, Eve had been complaining to Emma about Arsen avoiding women—even those who were exactly his type—and behaving awkwardly with her. It was all just too bizarre.
Emma had been with Eve since childhood, practically a sister. Eve leaned on her a lot, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she’d survived her painful past life thanks to Emma’s presence. Naturally, she listened to her.
Emma hesitated, then spoke again.
“Well… It’s really rude to say, but… could it be that he’s, uh, physically weak as a man…?”
“Kahak!”
Eve choked on her own saliva. Alarmed, Emma rushed to bring her some water.
Eve turned bright red from coughing, and Emma blushed in embarrassment. The two women stared at each other, both looking like flushed radishes.
“Emma. Do you seriously think that?”
“If we think of it like an illness… his recent behavior kind of makes sense.”
“True. A man who was obsessed with women suddenly turning his back on them… If it’s not a medical issue, it doesn’t make sense.”
“O-of course, it’s just my groundless guess, My Lady!”
“Hmm… No. It sounds plausible.”
Eve nodded. It made far more sense that Arsen was avoiding women due to a personal issue. And if it was a problem like that? A prideful man like him would definitely try to hide it.
“If that’s the case, I should call a doctor right away—no, wait. If he finds out I know, it could get messy. Emma, let’s call a doctor under the pretense that I am sick.”
“But will you be okay? You have the tea party coming up.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m definitely going. I have to.”
In her previous life, Eve had been utterly humiliated at the tea party that would take place in ten days. It was hosted by the Chancellor and required couples to attend—but Arsen never showed up.
People who already whispered behind her back about being a fool married to a playboy mocked her openly when she showed up alone.
Especially Countess Dubois—who used to have a crush on Arsen—and the daughter of Marquess Alain, who had a rivalry with Eve’s family, took the lead in ridiculing her.
But this Eve was different. She knew exactly what would happen that day.
Even if it wasn’t grand revenge, she needed to at least see the looks on their faces crumble.
“I’ll need a different dress. Hmm, should we go to Veronique’s Boutique, Emma?”
“Yes, My Lady! I’d love that!”
Tossing aside the ill-fitting dress, Eve smiled brightly, looking forward to what lay ahead.
***
“Hmmm…”
“Try it, Arsen.”
Charles looked awkwardly at the dish before him. He wasn’t a picky eater, and he didn’t mind silver cod—but this? This was hard to stomach.
As Charles hesitated, Eve passionately explained.
“I told you it’s good for you! It’s a rich extract boiled for half a day. Especially the tail—you must eat the tail. That’s where all the strength is.”
“I do enjoy eel dishes, but… what exactly is this preparation method?”
“It’s made especially for your… um, health. Trust me. You’ll be better in no time.”
The eel had been boiled down so much that it was murky and slimy, and its smell was… pungent. It didn’t look appetizing at all. But in the end, Charles couldn’t resist Eve’s pleading eyes and took a small bite.
Fishy.
Even if he claimed to eat anything, he was still the emperor. His palate was refined. And this eel dish was something he never wanted to eat again. But then…
“My lady spent the entire day preparing this. She stirred the pot by hand for hours,” Emma added.
Charles fell silent. Then he noticed the small cuts on Eve’s hands.
“You hurt yourself?”
“Oh… I’m not good at cooking.”
Eve shyly hid her hands. Charles stared at her for a moment, then brought the dish to his lips again.
“It’s delicious.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. Especially since you made it just for me.”
The sweet words sounded just like Arsen. But to lie and say this dish tasted good… maybe it wasn’t. Eve felt conflicted.
Either way, she was satisfied. Let him eat lots and recover his virility.
Internally cheering him on, Eve suddenly said something shocking.
“Then let’s have this for all three meals from now on.”
“…Excuse me?”
Even Charles couldn’t keep his poker face at that. For a moment, he wondered if this woman was trying to poison her philandering husband.
He calmly tried to handle his “poisoning” situation.
“That would be too much work for you. Let’s just have it once a day.”
“Hmm…”
“No matter how much you like me, you shouldn’t spend all day cooking for me. People will call me a terrible husband.”
Eve, thinking you already are, gave a sweet smile and nodded obediently.
“Alright. I’ll do as you say.”
“Thank you, Eve.”
Charles smiled warmly. Eve scoffed internally, then changed the subject.
“About the upcoming tea party—the one hosted by the Chancellor.”
“Oh right, that man is doing that.”
“Pardon?”
That man? When had he ever met the Chancellor? Eve looked puzzled, but Charles just leaned on his chin and smiled, having quietly set down his fork and knife.
Eve glanced at his plate and decided she’d take the win: at least he ate the tail. Even she had to admit it wasn’t a great dish.
“You know it’s a couples event, right?”
“Yes. Just an excuse to show off their spouses.”
“…Really?”
“Really.”
This man was seriously weird. Why did he act like he knew so much about imperial society?
“A-anyway, we have to go together. You can come, right?”
“I should be the one asking. Would you accompany me, dear wife?”
At Charles’ calm reply, Eve frowned. He wouldn’t show up anyway.
Back then, Arsen had said he wasn’t feeling well and canceled on the day of the tea party—just when she was about to head out.
She’d waited and waited like a fool, only to return home heartbroken. Even though she knew he stood her up to meet his mistress.
Stupid Eve.
Foolish, pitiful Eve. That Eve had died after being poisoned.
This time, she wouldn’t wait for someone who wouldn’t come, nor would she close her eyes to lies.
“Then I’ll take that as a yes. I’ll go ahead first.”
With those cold words, Eve stood up. Charles watched until she disappeared completely, then picked up his utensils again.
A truly new dish. I should make Tiago eat it too someday.
He thought playfully—and finished the plate clean.
***
“My lady, you look absolutely stunning!”
Emma gasped as she admired Eve, who wore a deep red dress. Eve smiled and thanked her.
“Thanks, Emma. As expected, Veronique’s designs are different.”
“It’s not just the boutique. It’s because you’re naturally beautiful, My Lady.”
Eve’s shimmering silver hair was elegantly tied up like a galaxy, and her blue topaz necklace and earrings perfectly matched her ocean-like eyes, adding a touch of splendor.
The jewelry and dress were all expensive. Last time, she wore cheap items to “save the duke’s money” and ended up being mocked even more. People had whispered that women unloved by their husbands couldn’t help it.
This time, she spared no expense—from the custom dress to rare jewels. Still, it was nothing compared to what she had earned through her own work, or what Arsen had frivolously spent.
She couldn’t believe how Arsen could waste money without lifting a finger while she stressed over spending even this much. He could at least go grow grapes or something.
“Let’s head out now.”
“Pardon? It’s still early. The Duke isn’t ready yet…”
“His ‘getting ready’ never ends. Let’s go.”
“Ah—My Lady!”
