Chapter 12
At that, Charles gave a deep-eyed smile that seemed genuinely delighted.
“Well, you’ll come to enjoy dancing to my tune.”
“……”
“Good night, Eve. May the blessings of the night accompany your dreams.”
With those courteous words, Charles turned away without a trace of regret. Even that gesture was so elegant and refined that Eve had to firmly suppress the fluttering emotions rising within her.
Even regular nobles act like that. There’s no way the Emperor would possess my husband’s body. Besides, if Arsen had entered the Emperor’s body, the world would’ve already been in chaos…
‘Right. The world is quiet right now, isn’t it?’
“Obviously, because I’ve got everything tightly under control.”
The next morning at breakfast, when Eve asked confidently, Charles replied nonchalantly.
Eve, who had been happily slicing her pancakes, looked at Charles with a frosty expression.
“Under control? Don’t tell me you…”
“Eve. Could you please think beyond that? Try using your imagination outside the realm of the lower half of the body.”
Charles, who had reverted back to formal speech, made Eve blush furiously.
“Th-that’s not what I meant, I mean… Arsen was always kind of…”
“I know what you mean. But I’m telling you—I’ve got him completely tied down. He can’t do a thing as the Emperor.”
“How?”
“Obviously, I used my subordinates. But… I don’t know how long it’ll hold.”
As Eve’s hand slowed while cutting the pancake, lost in thought, Charles tilted his head and looked into her face.
“Still don’t believe me?”
“…Yes. The Emperor I know…”
Wasn’t someone who frustrated people this much. Her expression said it all.
“You’ve never actually met me, have you?”
At those words, Eve unconsciously recalled the Emperor she had seen during the coronation ceremony.
‘All rise.’
That noble and overwhelming presence. And then—
‘You must have a hard time.’
—those casually spoken words of comfort, delivered with indifferent grace.
“I did… I mean, who would I have met, really?”
Eve started to say something but quickly changed her words. Thinking she had nearly fallen for Charles’s tricks, she glared at him.
“I am the Emperor, you know.”
“…Shameless.”
Watching this unfold beside them, Thiago was desperate to interject. That’s just how His Majesty is! He’s always infuriating like this! he screamed internally.
“What would make you believe me?”
As Charles asked, Eve resumed slicing her pancakes and began to speak.
“If you really are His Majesty…”
“If I am?”
With a clean cut, she put a piece in her mouth, chewed, and swallowed before continuing.
“You wouldn’t be here chatting with me like this. You have way too many responsibilities. And above all, you’re known for your wisdom. You would’ve found a way to reverse the body switch immediately.”
“Hm.”
“His Majesty once said that peace would come to this nation only when every citizen and noble fulfills their role in their rightful place. There’s no way someone like that would just sit around here, doing nothing.”
At that, Charles chuckled.
“That was from the first Foundation Day celebration.”
Eve responded sharply, clearly unwilling to be deceived again.
“The Foundation Day celebration is a national event. Anyone could’ve heard that.”
“Well, you’re not wrong.”
At this rate, they were just talking past each other.
Well, time will solve this. Charles thought lightly. Once the Chancellor bows his head and addresses me as ‘Your Majesty,’ she’ll have no choice but to believe.
“More importantly, I heard your cousin is coming. Shouldn’t you prepare?”
“…What?”
Eve’s eyes widened. Her cousin? Who? Surely not—Noah?
Startled, Eve quickly sought out Emma. Emma, who had deliberately kept her distance, now explained the situation.
“A letter arrived. The Duke of the Berati Borderlands will be stopping by the capital. There’s a major royal banquet coming up soon.”
“Ah.”
So that’s now…
She had been so caught up questioning the fake Arsen that morning, she’d missed the report.
‘Noah.’
Murmuring the name she missed dearly, Eve briefly fell into recollection.
Her maternal cousin Noah had been like a real brother to her. After his mother passed away, his father—then Duke of the Berati Borderlands—entrusted him to House Laurent.
Eve and Noah had grown up together and become as close as real siblings. Though he eventually had to return to the borderlands after his father’s early death, Eve always held deep affection for him.
In her past life, she had lied and said she was ill to avoid seeing him. Because Noah would’ve been furious to see her pretending to be the devoted wife to a cheating husband.
Thankfully, being stationed far from the capital meant he probably hadn’t heard of the humiliating rumors about her.
But now that he’s visiting, he’ll cause an uproar for sure.
Despite his appearance, Noah had inherited their maternal grandfather’s fiery temper. Which was probably why he was well suited for managing the turbulent borderlands.
Still, it’s been such a long time since I’ve seen him…
She hadn’t seen him at all since the wedding. Combined with the time from her previous life, it had been over five years since she saw her cousin’s face. Just like her parents, Eve missed her sweet younger brother terribly.
“We should at least give him a modest welcome since he’s visiting his cousin’s home. I don’t know him well, so if you lead the preparations, I’ll help.”
“…Are you sure? Do you even know what Noah is like?”
“The Duke of Berati? He’s a loyal and trustworthy man. I’d be glad to meet him.”
Surely he hasn’t forgotten what happened at the wedding? That was public knowledge—unless you were the Emperor abroad on diplomatic affairs.
Well, if he says he’s fine with it…
With a mix of anxiety and anticipation, Eve nodded.
A few days later—
“The Duke of Berati has arrived!”
With the servant’s announcement, the doors opened. A handsome silver-haired man, bearing a stronger resemblance to Eve, walked in.
“Noah…”
But he entered with eyes blazing, staring straight ahead with a deadly gaze. Then, he marched directly toward one person—Charles.
“Ah, Duke of Berati. Or should I say brother-in-la—”
BAM!
Just as Charles greeted him warmly, Noah’s fist smashed into his face, sending Charles flying to the floor. Eve immediately regretted her decision.
“Noah!”
“Duke!”
“Y-Your Grace!”
Thiago and the servants, clearly expecting this, rushed in to support Charles and restrain Noah. Eve quickly wrapped her arms around Noah’s waist and shouted,
“Please, calm down!”
But Noah thrashed like a wild beast, roaring,
“Brother-in-law? Brother-in-law, you say? How dare you call yourself that after what you did to my sister—!”
“Noah! Please!”
Chaos erupted in one corner of the room, while Charles, dazed and being helped up, rubbed his sore cheek.
“Thiago… I think this body is weaker than I thought.”
“…Congratulations, Your Grace.”
Had it been the real Charles, that punch would never have landed.
If Lord Bonaparte hears about this, he’ll probably faint again, Thiago sighed internally.
“Sister, let me go! I came here today to kill this bastard!”
“Noah! Watch your words! He’s my husband—the Duke!”
“That’s exactly what’s unforgivable! That a man like this is your husband! I heard everything! How he bought cheap necklaces for other women again! That you were humiliated at the tea party!”
“That’s been exaggerated… Anyway! If you keep this up, I won’t see you again!”
“……”
At her words, Noah froze. He looked at Eve with tearful eyes, on the verge of sobbing.
“Would you really never see your foolish little brother again?”
“……”
Eve wondered how she had lived while turning away from this brother. Her past self suddenly felt unbearably foolish.
He probably sent money too—not just her parents—to help pay her hospital bills. But at the time, Arsen hated Noah for throwing a fit at the wedding, and Eve didn’t want to upset him. Nor did she want to see Noah’s pitying eyes.
Ultimately, the fool had been herself.
Resolving not to repeat that mistake, Eve smiled gently.
“I’m sorry, Noah. Of course I wouldn’t.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
Though just a year younger, Noah had been weak and gentle as a child. Eve often clung to him protectively.
Naturally, their bond grew special. And even now, when he faced violent foreign raiders without fear, the only person who could make Noah falter was Eve.
Eve, too, had a special place in her heart for the cousin she had helped raise. Though Noah’s reputation as someone who settled things with fists before words was widely known, Eve found even that part of him endearing.
Feeling guilty for neglecting him while he suffered at the border, Eve held his hand tightly.
“Let’s go eat. I prepared all your favorite dishes.”
“…All right.”
Noah glared daggers at Charles, still being helped up by servants, but replied stiffly.
Though the two siblings walked off coldly, Charles cheerfully followed behind them.
“Haah… Y-Your Grace… please wait…” Thiago muttered pitifully.
“Noah, eat this too. Ah! And this one.”
Eve placed food after food on Noah’s plate like a mother bird. Noah obediently ate like a baby bird—except when his eyes met Charles’s, in which case he glared with burning red eyes.
Wow, he really hates me, huh?
And naturally, Charles couldn’t resist teasing.
He scooped up a piece of meat pie and offered it to Eve.
“Eve, you should eat too.”
“……”
Eve hesitated, but opened her mouth to take the bite, thinking it might improve her image in front of her brother. Besides, this man wasn’t Arsen.
“It’s good, right?”
“…Yes, I suppose.”
Unable to contain his fury, Noah slammed the table.
“Sister! I want some meat pie too!”
“…Sure.”
Despite Noah sitting much closer, Eve willingly served him some. Watching this awkward scene, Charles chuckled to himself.
How childish.
The Duke of Berati he had met before had seemed far more mature. But it had been a long time.
Mischievous though he was, Charles wasn’t entirely oblivious. He soon rose from his seat.
