For My Birthday, I Was Gifted Five Husbands - Chapter 121

A breeze brushed against Eugenie’s nape and collarbone.

Though the calendar still said summer, the sting of the wind felt like the depths of winter.

“Wow. To be this cold at this time of year.”

As the northernmost part of Hermeland, she expected the weather to differ from the capital…!

‘This is the true majesty of the ‘Beast Clan’ territory!’

At that moment, a soft fur scarf was draped around her from behind. The feel was as smooth and tender as melting cotton candy—surely made of the finest white fox fur. A similar black scarf wrapped the neck of the man who gave it to her.

Anyone could tell they were a perfectly matched couple…

“Madam, you’ll catch a cold if you leave your neck exposed like that.”

“Ah… thank you, Percival.”

“You’re welcome.”

Percival nodded like a loyal black dog, while the other ‘husbands’ stood nearby with displeased expressions.

Eugenie Norton, the Empire’s first officially recognized wife of multiple husbands, still a doctoral student (age 24).

Accompanied by five husbands, where had she come?

To Percival’s hometown—the estate of Duke Troys.

Before the semester began, she had declared to her advisor, “I will finish my thesis before classes start.” Why had she come to this land?

Because when she had just shaken off her weariness, Alfred said,

“It’s better to hide your body away from the capital right now.”

Even if the accusations related to the Tristan incident were avoided, when he woke up, who knew what ridiculous testimony he might give? Moreover, a wizard allied with the Schroder family targeted Eugenie even at the academy.

It was definitely time to escape the capital, where the Schroder family’s power was strongest.

Among the candidate locations, the choice was clear…

“…It would be most helpful to go to my domain.”

“But Percival, wouldn’t that threaten the Troys territory?”

“With the Ravenic kingdom possibly causing trouble at any moment, no one would dare threaten the border adjacent to it.”

“Ah.”

Quite a reasonable logic. The Ravenic kingdom and Hermeland had been antagonistic neighbors for ages. Though Duke Troys led its defense, it was only a ‘truce.’

‘If trouble broke out there, the empire Tristan would inherit would also be at risk.’

And was there a more reliable place than the domain of someone who had led 1,875 expeditions?

At that moment, a sulky husband approached.

“Norton, was there really a reason you had to come here?”

“Napier.”

Eugenie raised her brows at the one who dared speak to her so freely.

Since their complicated moments during the hunting ceremony, things had been awkward.

She thought he might keep his distance since he said he’d lost all respect for her—but after doing that alongside the others, he no longer kept that subtle distance.

But Eugenie nearly looked away, thinking,

‘Wow, this is awkward.’

Especially since she had tasted what Magnus Napier was like in bed… Who would have guessed he’d taste so different from his appearance?

“Norton, did you think the Empress would let this place go unchallenged because of Ravenic?”

“Hmm, yes.”

“If that’s your reason, you could’ve gone to Wilberforce in the south. That’s a strategic spot because of Honegold.”

“Hmm, actually… there were things I needed to check out on this side.”

Eugenie recalled the book she had seen the first time she slept with Napier in the honeymoon house. She learned the lesson that even finished books need to be reread when a new edition is published.

‘The Schroder family’s wealth was definitely partly due to the power of that perverted tree guy.’

And the source of that wealth was, in the end, magic stones.

But directly investigating the places owned by the Schroder family was dangerous, so she had to settle for inspecting abandoned mines to uncover something.

Wasn’t there a conveniently accessible one nearby?

‘There was an abandoned mine near the Troys territory, right?’

While avoiding danger, she might as well explore, which was efficient.

“Speaking of which, Napier.”

“Hm?”

“There are abandoned mines near your estate too—”

Wasn’t there mention of abandoned mines in the Napier territory in the new edition? She was about to ask if anything strange was there, but Percival suddenly took her hand.

“Let’s move on. The sun will set soon here.”

“Ah, alright.”

They were still on a hill overlooking the Duke’s castle. As they arrived late, it was already midday.