For My Birthday, I Was Gifted Five Husbands - Chapter 94

Alfred pointed his finger back and forth at Magnus and Carter.

“One just shuts up and turns away, while the other is too busy blaming others.”

“…”

“At the very least, before Eugenie wakes up, we should’ve figured out how to handle the situation. Storming off isn’t the way.”

To the two men who had fallen silent, Alfred hammered his final point home.

“You’re both living off someone else’s life, and you survived. How about cooperating properly before that daughter realizes what’s going on?”

“Ha…”

Magnus let out a dry, incredulous laugh. However, as is often the case with bitter laughter, it was an attempt to hide his unease.

Did she really not realize?

Theodora Norton hadn’t died from illness but from the sudden arrival of death after spending her lifespan on the ‘contract.’

She was a curious woman, after all. So, even if she hadn’t realized it at first, she would have figured it out after thinking about it a little deeper.

‘Maybe… she already vaguely knows but pretends not to.’

Perhaps, after living with others for a while, she was simply ignoring the potential threat that could disrupt her newfound peace.

If that was the case, this time, he couldn’t blame Eugenie for ‘running away.’

With that thought, he turned his back on Carter and walked toward his own quarters.

In truth, Magnus had wanted to step in when Eugenie returned to their honeymoon home and seemed drained.

Norton, how long are you going to stay like that, lost in thought?

If you’re going to keep sulking, at least move to a cooler place and do it.

But even in jest, he couldn’t say it that way.

If he had been the last ‘contract’ partner for Mrs. Norton…

Then it would have been his fault that Eugenie Norton was left alone on graduation day.

* * *

For a while, the husbands took turns caring for the bedridden Eugenie. This time, Carter was the one to care for her. He gently brushed the hair from her face.

The intense fever gradually subsided, and the red feverish flush faded away. Even though she was sweating less than before, she still hadn’t regained consciousness.

‘If she doesn’t regain consciousness soon…’

The ‘husbands’ began discussing whether they should move her to another location under the pretense of recuperation.

But Carter, while wiping Eugenie’s face, lowered his long eyelashes.

‘If only I could use ‘divine power’ to heal like in the old days.’

If that was possible, he could have woken Eugenie up right away. But his power only had an effect on attacks. It was enough for Richard to call him “the Empire’s savior,” but still…

As he arranged her hair, Carter murmured,

“…Congratulations on awakening, Eugenie.”

Her powers awakening was something to celebrate. Of course, it was more for Carter’s sake.

‘Now, I’m one step closer to my plan.’

It wasn’t just the awakening of her power. He had confirmed how formidable her magic could be and understood the circumstances under which it could be used.

She could certainly use her power when another ‘husband’ was in danger.

“Heh.”

At that moment, an absurd anger bubbled up, and a cynical smile appeared on his face.

‘You’re going to use your power for someone else?’

When no one loves her. Surrounded by people, yet not seen as the one and only by any of them.

Someone who cast aside even Carter, who had stood by her side for so long as a childhood friend.

‘Now, after all this time, you’re able to love someone? That’s cheating, Eugenie Norton.’

Carter crossed his arms and stared down at Eugenie with an emotionless face. The heat had finally subsided, and her breathing was more even than before.

But his face, as he watched over her, showed no sign of relief or concern.

He couldn’t understand his own feelings. What Alfred Wilberforce had said felt like the ramblings of a tired old man, but there was some truth to it.

“At the very least, before Eugenie wakes up, we should’ve figured out how to handle the situation. Storming off isn’t the way.”

Normally, he would have stayed behind during the discussions among the men, actively helping to find the next step. And when it was time to steer things in his favor, he should have worked for that outcome.

Now that Tristan had finally fallen, wasn’t this his chance to come to the surface?