I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 109 - Side Story 5

“Asilia, it seems I’m not the only one who thinks you and Airis are amazing.”

“Our plan is ruined. Let’s just focus on keeping watch.”

Cassion escorted me into the banquet hall celebrating the young prince’s 8th birthday, his face a mix of despair and admiration.

Though I was used to the stares that came with every banquet, I had deliberately worn somewhat excessive and flashy clothes to hide Asilia’s cuteness.

“Oh my, how……”

Hearing the whispers, I knew it was hopeless. The first problem was that even excessive and flashy clothes suited Cassion and me perfectly, and people’s gazes, captured by our overwhelmingly beautiful presence, naturally drifted down to Airis…….

“What can we do? I’m just this pretty.”

Contrary to our plan to hide Airis’s presence with our glamour, once people’s gazes lowered, they couldn’t tear themselves away from Airis, who remained unimpressed by the glittering palace despite her adorable appearance.

Normally, I would have bragged, ‘Look how pretty our child is! She takes after me!’ but today was the ‘Prince’s’ birthday celebration, and drawing attention would be troublesome.

“Airis. Asilia. I’ve spotted a terrace, so as soon as we enter, head there and stay together. Fortunately, it’s not cold today.”

“You’ll be lonely by yourself, Cassion. I’ll stay inside.”

“But I want to pluck out every eye that looks at you.”

“Hey, hey, daughter still present here.”

As Cassion was sending me tender glances after glaring seriously at our surroundings, Airis hopped up and down, waving her hands to block his view, but couldn’t even reach his shoulder.

“Airis, you shouldn’t do such cute actions.”

As I wiggled my finger while lowering Airis’s hand, my own hand was caught by Cassion. Don’t tell me.

“Look who’s talking.”

“Oh my, you really.”

What can we do about being this perfect? Even I want to hide Cassion’s extremely handsome appearance with his deeply furrowed brows.

“You two really haven’t changed at all.”

But then, a familiar voice tinged with exasperation rang out, and Cassion and I simultaneously turned around while moving Airis behind us.

“……Am I going to eat the child? You’re being too much with an old friend.”

“Your Majesty.”

“I’ve been thinking, has your expression become more honest since getting married and having a child?”

Yes. If you’ve seen Cassion’s face saying ‘please leave quickly,’ would you go away? While holding tightly to Airis’s hand, who cleverly understood our intentions and remained motionless behind my dress skirt, I greeted Shurdin, who had now become Emperor.

“It seems the Former Emperor didn’t attend the banquet.”

“Well, isn’t he the one who stepped down from the throne to wander around as he pleases? Still, he did wish Roberg a happy birthday this morning before leaving.”

There’s no need for excuses, really.

But Shurdin’s words lengthened, perhaps concerned about the Former Emperor not attending the birthday banquet of his grandson who would inherit the throne.

I had thought that by changing the fate of an early poisoning, the Former Emperor might live for thousands of years, preventing Shurdin from dying as Crown Prince, but surprisingly, the Former Emperor stepped down from his position while still in his prime.

It seems more fitting for the Former Emperor to pass on troublesome matters to Shurdin while doing as he pleases.

Anyway, as his natural excuse on behalf of the Former Emperor turned into a complaint about the burdens of the throne, I tried to gently push Airis towards the terrace Cassion had spotted, but the child pretended not to notice and clung to my dress.

“Hm? Is something wrong, my lady?”

“It’s nothing. I thought the child might have a slight fever due to the crowd.”

“Ah, I see.”

I thought he would press further, but the Emperor easily agreed and started chattering with Cassion and me again.

My husband isn’t an emotional garbage can, you know.

“Oh, by the way, I was wondering if you could persuade Miss Jenin to join the Imperial household? I think it would be good for her to teach horseback riding to the trainee knights.”

“The individual’s wishes are important, aren’t they?”

“It’s because that individual shows no intention of leaving the Duke’s household that I’m asking.”

“If she refused, we have nothing more to say on the matter, Your Majesty.”

“That’s a shame. These days, knight candidates and trainees in this peaceful era take horse riding lightly. Some even fall off their horses.”

Of course, she wouldn’t want to, right? Even setting aside my friendship with Jenin. Jenin is a 10-time consecutive competition winner, so she could live comfortably without working for the rest of her life.

But if she were to enter as a riding instructor for the Imperial household, how much trouble would she face? It was obvious without seeing it how much the arrogant Imperial knight trainees would look down on her and challenge her.

For someone who just wanted to live quietly and take care of horses, it must have been an utterly undesirable proposal.

“How about another one of our patrons? Like Lorang?”

“……That person is a bit…”

“I heard he’s painting abstract art these days, and it’s not bad.”

“Haha……”

It seems the sincere message to stop chattering and leave finally got through. As I was about to see off the Emperor, who was trying to end the conversation while avoiding eye contact, suddenly there was a loud crashing sound from behind.

That’s when I realized with a chill down my spine that I could no longer feel the small hand that had been holding my dress.

“Airis!”

“Robertus!”

What?! Ro-who?

It was my mistake that Airis, who had been holding my dress and refusing to go, had somehow suddenly gone to the terrace she didn’t want to visit earlier. No matter how engaged in conversation I was, how could I not notice the child disappearing!

We weren’t the only ones who rushed in startled by the commotion. Even the Emperor, who was about to leave to talk with other nobles, turned back and ran in, sending chills down my spine.

No way. No way……!

“Ari! Come here!”

“What happened, Robertus!”

The Emperor approached, calling out to a boy in obviously luxurious attire who was clearly the prince. As we got closer, we could see a black-haired child with a somewhat familiar face sitting near the dangerous area by the terrace railing.

Ah, though it’s spring and not cold, why do I keep getting goosebumps? Airis between two boys.

I instinctively looked back at the murmuring nobles, searching for the Baron couple. But their daughter isn’t old enough to attend banquets yet.

“Dad, just a moment.”

No, not that, Airis. Don’t raise those flags!

“I didn’t hit that hard. Stop exaggerating and get up.”

“……”

“I said get up.”

Looking closely, the black-haired child seemed to be clutching their stomach. The gloomy-looking child’s expression suddenly brightened upon seeing Airis extending her hand and slowly reached out to grasp it with their small hand.

And the eight-year-old prince was watching this scene with gritted teeth and a sulky expression.

“You’re worse than a girl. Falling over from just that much.”

“Robertus! What kind of language is that!”

The Emperor, seemingly unable to fathom the prince’s feelings as he sneered at the two children holding hands, scolded him.

While the Emperor’s nagging about causing trouble despite being given everything he wanted for his birthday fell on deaf ears, Cassion and I slowly met each other’s eyes.

Cassion’s trembling pupils silently pleaded with me, but I shook my head in response. This is hopeless. Whether our surveillance was inadequate or the ‘main characters’ had too strong a presence from the start, I’m not sure.

“Mom, Dad. I’m sorry.”

Airis approached us with a bright smile after shaking off the boy who didn’t want to let go of her hand even after standing up. For the first time, our always lovable child’s smile looked frightening.

“I think we’re doomed. That boy’s father is Lorang.”

……The prince is right there too, you know. Oh, my daughter. How could you raise two flags at once?

“If only we had endured once and dressed her in plain clothes……”

Cassion said with a trembling voice, burying his face in his hands. The Emperor, who had been scolding his son, glanced at us, noticing our excessively despairing appearance, but it was none of our concern. Especially since that son’s gaze was now fixed on our daughter.

“Oh, Dad. Do you think my beauty can be hidden by wearing ordinary clothes?”

It was the beginning of yet another destruction of the original story.