Chapter 116
Eugenie herself was slower to notice than Carter, which was a serious blow to his pride. Either way, that disgusting guy’s childish hope deserved to be crushed.
But Napier soon sneered at Carter.
“Oh? This time you’re trying to keep me in check, you sly fox.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Napier.”
“Don’t you think Norton doesn’t know you fend off guys trying to confess to her?”
Carter just smiled slyly and shrugged.
Oh, so that’s been exposed. Eugenie didn’t know, though. But listening to those lame confessions is a waste of time.
What difference does it make if the person doesn’t know? If it was really love, it wouldn’t be ‘fended off’ anyway.
However, even confident Carter faltered at Napier’s next words.
“You’re so insecure you have to pull those ridiculous tricks behind her back.”
“…Insecure?”
“Yeah, you hypocrite. You follow her like a stray dog, but does Norton really need you?”
Of course not. Carter scoffed at such nonsense.
He could accept hypocrisy—after all, his personality was designed in consultation with Richard.
Calm, faithful as the heir to the priesthood, able to smile kindly—that was Carter Livingston.
But that Eugenie didn’t need him…
He thought about her daily, knew better than anyone what she liked and disliked. How could he be rejected by someone like that?
Napier, clearly annoyed by Carter’s calm smile, finally taunted him with a bitter voice.
“Then why don’t you confess once?”
“…”
“I’m curious how Norton really feels about you.”
Ignore the loser’s nonsense.
Why did Carter take those words seriously? He knew confessing would only lead to loss.
But curiosity stirred.
If they had been together so long, maybe Eugenie had imagined a different future too. Maybe they were the most special to each other, dreaming of a bond so exclusive that no annoying rivals could interfere.
“Not bad…”
At least thinking that way made him inexplicably excited.
He even imagined placing the veil his mother had received on Eugenie and going through the usual ceremony.
So Carter agreed to it.
Though he knew it would fail, he confessed, secretly hoping for an unexpected reaction from Eugenie.
What he hadn’t expected was how coldly she rejected him. She was harsher than he ever imagined.
Afterward, Eugenie avoided him whenever they met.
She refused to eat meals with him, and the trivial conversations while walking the halls ended completely.
It felt like half his heart had been ripped away.
And at the end of that year, the temple finally uncovered Theodora Norton’s true identity. Along with the kinds of magic she was practicing.
“Marriage contract magic?”
“Yes, Carter.”
When Richard told him the full story, Carter was dumbfounded.
The temple’s confirmation came because of Duke Troys. The head of a clan dying off on the frontier suddenly made contact with Theodora Norton.
Then on Eugenie’s debutante day, Percival Troys and Teodora Norton were seen having a brief conversation.
“Haha. Hahaha…!”
After hearing the full report, Carter burst out laughing. Richard watched with a troubled expression, but Carter didn’t care.
Why? Why wasn’t he chosen?
Carter wasn’t unfamiliar with Theodora Norton. Why had that worthless guy and others been given the opportunity instead of him, Eugenie’s childhood friend?
Why hadn’t he been chosen as Eugenie’s only match?
“…Richard.”
“Yes, Carter.”
“First, let’s stir up trouble in Honegold and Ravenic.”
They needed more time to thoroughly investigate Theodora Norton’s magic. They also had to keep Wilberforce and Troys as far from Eugenie as possible.
Of course, it would be even better if both naturally died off.
And…
“I’ll push Peter Lamburg to confess to Eugenie. Put someone to watch him.”
No one was to approach Eugenie until Carter finished preparations. The “contract husbands” should be unable to get close.
Thus, Eugenie and Peter Lamburg’s engagement was Carter’s doing.
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