For My Birthday, I Was Gifted Five Husbands - Chapter 81

The hand that rested on her shoulder was none other than Alfred’s. Only after feeling the warm, reassuring touch did Eugenie realize.

‘Ah, was I shaking?’

But it wasn’t fear that made her tremble. There was a bit of a chilling effect, but mostly it was the rage that built up just from watching.

‘He shot her because she was pretty.’

That guilt-free, innocent statement filled her mind.

It almost made her throw a punch, just like with Apollin earlier, but thanks to Alfred’s hand on her shoulder, her sense of reason returned. Alfred smiled warmly and gently pulled Eugenie closer.

“Your Highness, I think you’ve been monopolizing our wife for too long.”

“Wilberforce.”

The light vanished from Tristan’s strange green eyes.

When he tried to look bright and charming, he almost seemed human, but now, with the light gone from his eyes and his mouth still twisted upward, his menacing aura was impossible to hide.

“You’ve been staying in the capital for quite a while. I thought you’d leave for the south soon, now that the decoration ceremony is over.”

“Haha. Well, I just wanted to stay a little closer to my wife.”

Alfred gently wrapped his arm around Eugenie’s shoulder, smiling. But the same eyes that had wiped out pirates in the southern strait this year were now glowing with the warning glare of a predator.

“You’ll be seeing me often from now on, Your Highness.”

“Oh? Well, it’s a good thing your luck is long, Wilberforce.”

Tristan’s smile curled slightly. He scanned the men standing behind Eugenie and Alfred, his cold, dead eyes skimming over them.

“Duke Troys, Livingston, and Napier…”

His admiration was a mix of genuine appreciation, about a quarter, and the rest was some form of contempt and disturbing desire. However, not liking the excessive attention his son was giving, Empress Silvea cut off his praise.

“Tristan. I know you’re fascinated, but if we continue like this, the next person to greet us will have to wait too long.”

“…Yes, Mother.”

There was something almost staccato in the way he said ‘Mother.’ But, despite the strange tone, Eugenie was genuinely pleased with the Empress’s interruption.

* * *

“Thank you, Brother Alfred. If you hadn’t stopped me, it would’ve been bad.”

“Yeah, I saw you making a fist.”

“…”

“I could see the veins popping on your knuckles.”

Ahem. Eugenie cleared her throat to cover up her embarrassment. However, she had learned something rather unexpected from this audience.

‘I didn’t think even Brother Alfred would look at that Tristan bastard with such contempt.’

If it were someone like herself or a peer who knew about the May Chester incident, it might be understandable. But even Alfred of the loyal Wilberforce family, who had always been dedicated to the imperial family, was never expected to show such a menacing expression toward the Crown Prince.

However, as if nothing had happened, Alfred quickly returned to his usual cheerful smile.

“Well then, shall we go show off our dancing skills?”

“Hmm. Everyone ready to dance?”

Eugenie looked at her husbands with genuine regret. The men, signaling not to worry, lightly tapped their bulletproof shoes on the floor.

For reference, the order in which their feet would be sacrificed was determined in the most democratic way possible in a monarchy.

“Carter, I’m so… so sorry. Why did it have to be you first—”

“Don’t worry. Being your first dance partner is more of an honor than a pain.”

“I’m sorry…! I’m really sorry!”

Who would’ve guessed Carter would be so good at rock-paper-scissors, and who would’ve thought Eugenie’s dancing skills were still at rock bottom? She barely managed to avoid looking like she was being dragged across the floor, thanks to her husband leading well, but beneath the dress, a fierce battle was underway.

The second partner, Alfred, and the third, Percival, were so kind that it made Eugenie even more embarrassed.

“It’s good to see you unchanged, Eugenie.”

“It’s fine, Madam. There were worse things on the frontier. This doesn’t hurt at all.”

Meanwhile, the fourth partner, Cassius, smiled nostalgically after the dance was over.

“Lady, if you awaken, shall we start by learning how to dance automatically?”

“Shut up.”

It would be better to just openly say he felt like he was losing his mind from the pain. But at least in front of the others, she didn’t feel as embarrassed.

“…Norton.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Do you understand the cost of only focusing on the things you like?”

As for the last partner, Magnus Napier, she honestly wanted to run away instead of dancing with him. Magnus looked down at her with a look of disgust hidden behind his usual indifference.

“I’m amazed you didn’t get held back and actually graduated.”

“I got perfect scores in physical education theory. Ah, sorry!”

“Sigh, save the apologies.”

Just as the heel of Eugenie’s shoe was about to come down like a guillotine, Magnus smoothly changed his step. He figured out why she was messing up so much.

Magnus whispered in her ear.

“Relax your body, Norton. Like you did in the mansion.”

At those words, Eugenie’s waist instinctively tensed.

It reminded her of the time she spent her first night with him, nearly undressed.