ANGSD 08

Episode 08

“Hillias… I didn’t expect his taste to lean toward such a peculiar personality.”

Eileen, what’s your true nature?

Even though it had been a short time, the Eileen he had known before was completely different from the one he saw now, and so it wasn’t easy for Floan to let down his guard.

Floan quietly gazed at the sleeping Eileen for a long while.

Then, he gently smoothed out her hair, which had become tangled from her tossing and turning, pulled the blanket over her, and gave a faint smile.

“Let’s get along from now on, Eileen.”

Gasp.

When she opened her eyes, she was on a bed.

Not her own bed, but the guestroom bed in the Southern Duke’s mansion.

Eileen abruptly tried to sit up, her face pale, but immediately collapsed back down, clutching her head from the wine hangover she had earned the night before.

“…What the hell did I do…?”

She had met the Southern Duke’s aide under the moonlight last night and had a conversation with him.

If only her memory had ended there, at least her mind would be at ease.

“Oh crap. Damn it. I remember everything…! I said all kinds of nonsense while I was drunk…!”

Ugh. She was screwed. Completely doomed.

No doubt about it—this marriage was a failure.

That aide probably ran straight to the Southern Duke and tattled every little detail.

Unless the Duke was some lunatic obsessed with women, surely he’d trust his aide over some noble lady he’d just met once?

No, wait, maybe not? But still—there’s probably no other lady volunteering to marry him, so would he really cut her off just like that…?

She tried to convince herself, but honestly, if they were being blunt, the one who was more desperate about this marriage… was Eileen herself.

If she returned to the capital without a clear answer, that crazy Northern Duke would definitely come looking for her again and drive her insane day and night.

Taking this chance, her whole family would no doubt try to send her off to the North—so in a way, Eileen had put herself in the weaker position.

As she groaned in bed, a maid came rushing in and handed her some honey water for the hangover.

She drank several cups, but the hangover was so bad she couldn’t make it to the morning meal, instead drifting in and out of sleep.

Eventually, when her mind was somewhat clearer, a maid politely informed her:

“His Grace had some urgent business in the territory and left right after the morning meal.”

“…So, you’re saying His Grace left the house to go inspect the territory?”

“Yes. It seems it’s quite far, so he’s expected to be away for a few days. He actually came by a bit earlier, but you had just fallen asleep, and he said not to wake you…”

“Ah…”

“He also said he’s prepared a carriage for your return, but you should rest until you feel better. We will take good care of you until then.”

Seeing Eileen’s increasingly stiff expression, the maid nervously opened her mouth again.

Did he run away because of the embarrassing scene I made last night?

Eileen wanted to ask so badly, but she held herself back.

What good would confirmation do anyway?

Her expression darkened even more.

Clinging to a thread of hope, she grabbed the maid’s arm just as she was about to leave.

“Wait—did His Grace leave any kind of letter? Or a message to pass on? Or… even a word—any hint—about the marriage?”

“I’m sorry, my lady. We haven’t heard anything on that matter.”

And so, without receiving a single clear answer, Eileen returned to the capital.

Maybe it was because she immediately set off on the rough journey back, ignoring the servants’ pleas to stay and rest longer.

By the time she got home, she was completely worn out.

When she stepped down from the carriage, her face looked as though she had downed a shot of wheatgrass juice—greenish and yellowish at the same time.

Her body staggered, and there were dark circles under her eyes.

Most people just assumed she had suffered terribly in the infamous Southern territory.

“Serves you right, Eileen Edgar, you idiot… Spending the day passed out drunk at a man’s house you’re not even married to… Real classy. You really made a fine impression on that conservative Southern Duke…”

Eileen flopped onto her bed, kicked at the blankets, and pulled at her hair.

Since that day, she anxiously checked every day to see if there was a letter from the Southern Duke.

Even after a week passed with no word, she wondered if she should contact him first—only to sink into despair at the thought that she even had to consider such a thing.

After two weeks of self-imposed confinement, Eileen had completely lost hope.

Yes. That handsome bastard. It was all his fault.

Everything had gone downhill because of that absurdly good-looking man she met drunk under the moonlight.

See? Getting involved with a pretty face always ruins everything!

While Eileen was busy blaming others…

“My lady! A letter just arrived from the South! It’s a marriage proposal! A formal one!”

“What?! Really? For real? I’m getting married?! Yahoo!!”

Miraculously, a message came from the Southern Duke, asking to set a wedding date.

[Eileen Edgar, the Marquis’s Daughter, Becomes the Southern Duchess!
The daughter of Marquis Edgar returned from the South in a terrible state.

Everyone assumed she had given up on proposing to the Southern Duke.

But to everyone’s surprise, the marriage has been finalized!

As expected of a lady famed in high society—she really knows how to keep everyone on their toes.

What on earth about the Southern Duke made Lady Edgar fall for him?

…(truncated)… Apparently, as soon as she heard the news, she began preparing to head south again. What’s driving her to act so urgently?

The Northern Duke? Or… the Southern Duke, mysterious and full of charm?

Whatever the reason, the empire’s worst groom candidate is now getting the best bride!**]

Just as the gossip column said, Eileen headed straight for the South again.

Sure, part of it was to avoid the Northern Duke who would surely throw a tantrum upon hearing the wedding news—

“This marriage can’t happen! It must not!”

—Her mother’s wailing cries—

“Our precious Eileen, raised with such care, clearly doesn’t understand how frightening ugliness can be.”

“Have your eyes fallen to your heels and been buried in the basement, Eileen?! Think again!”

“Of all people, why him?! What are you lacking?!”

—And her three older brothers’ constant nagging lectures every time they saw her.

At any rate, Eileen sent a positive reply to the Southern Duke’s letter suggesting they hold the wedding on the morning he returned from his estate inspection.

And so time passed, and the day came: the day Floan Hellios would return to the estate, and the day of Eileen’s wedding.

Eileen, dressed up radiantly and beautifully, looked up at the clear sky.

“What a lovely day…”

Once this wedding was over, she could finally enjoy her new life in the South.

That would mean no more involvement with the Northern Duke, and her long-awaited peaceful happy ending would finally come true.

With excitement bubbling in her chest, Eileen was escorted outside by the maids.

The wedding was held outdoors, under the bright sky, with the warm sunlight serving as officiant.

As she walked down the red carpet, eyes demurely cast to the floor, something about the atmosphere in the venue felt… off.

‘Huh…? Is this really worth whispering so much about?’

She had expected some murmuring, sure—but this seemed different.

Something felt… wrong.

A sudden gut feeling of anxiety made Eileen lift her head.

“…!”

Her clear green eyes widened in shock.

And then, they started to tremble.

Far ahead, standing where the groom should be, was not the small, chubby, kind-looking Southern Duke she had expected.

“W-Why is he…?!”

It was him.

That outrageously handsome man—
The one she had vowed to kick out the moment she became Duchess—
Was standing there.

Smiling at her brightly.

And in that moment, Eileen knew.

This was a scam wedding.