Chapter 10

Euphrasia nodded firmly, having made up her mind.  

“I’ll do it. Where is the elixir? If you wish, I can drink it right now.”  

It wasn’t a particularly difficult demand. Louis was undoubtedly the Duke’s child, and Euphrasia had never so much as brushed against another man.  

“Good. Let’s go. Stand up.”  

Eric turned his head toward the reception room door and snapped his fingers.  

Caught off guard, Euphrasia stood up alongside him, her face filled with confusion.  

“Where are we going…”  

At that moment, as if waiting right outside, the elderly head maid of the Duke’s household entered the reception room.  

She was accompanied by two other maids.  

“It must be fitting for the dignity of the Herrington ducal household. Elegant yet eye-catching. Graceful yet splendid. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”  

Though the instructions were baffling, the stern-faced head maid seemed to understand perfectly, bowing her head in acknowledgment.  

“We will assist you.”  

“How flawless your skin is. Please leave everything to us.”  

Simultaneously, the two maids stood on either side of Euphrasia and gently took her arms.  

“You will be the most beautiful flower at tonight’s banquet.”  

Pride shone unmistakably in the head maid’s eyes.  

She had been responsible for dressing noble ladies ever since she first started working for various aristocratic households.  

Since moving to the Herrington ducal household, she hadn’t had the opportunity to showcase her true skills, much to her regret.  

Thus, she saw this as her chance to return to her craft and display her talents to the fullest.  

Moreover, Lady Olden was a rare beauty.  

The head maid felt a fiery determination she hadn’t experienced in years.  

“Banquet…?”  

“Tonight, you will attend the victory banquet at the Imperial Palace as the Duke’s partner.”  

“I was worried you might refuse, but you’ve accepted so readily. Were you secretly looking forward to the victory banquet, Lady Olden?”  

Euphrasia, startled by the unexpected announcement, raised her voice at Eric.  

“When did I ever agree to follow you to the Imperial Palace banquet?”  

“You said you’d drink the Elixir of Truth, didn’t you? It’s such a rare item that only a small amount will be presented at the Imperial Palace tonight. So, you’ll have to go and get it yourself.”  

In other words—  

Why do I have to go myself? And even if I go, will I even be able to obtain it?  

There were countless words swirling in her mind.  

However, Euphrasia soon found herself being gently but firmly led out of the reception room by the maids.  

She tried to plant her feet firmly on the ground in resistance, but at that moment, Eric’s voice came from behind her.  

“While you’re attending the banquet, I’ll have to vacate my quarters temporarily. During that time, Louis will be left with his nanny. Don’t worry about the child. Once you drink the Elixir of Truth and prove he’s my son, I’ll return him to you immediately.”  

“…Can I trust that promise?”  

“You’re quite suspicious. It’s not a good habit.”  

“Anyone who’s been treated the way you’ve treated me would doubt your every word and action, Duke.”  

“Anyone listening would think I’ve done something truly terrible to you.”  

How shameless.  

Who was the one making me endure all this at the ducal estate?  

She wanted to retort angrily, but Eric cut her off first.  

“And… after you drink the elixir, you can do whatever you want. If you wish to leave this place, I’ll allow it. As for the child support you initially demanded? I’ll give you more than enough.”  

“To persuade me, you’ll need to stake the honor of the Herrington ducal household.”  

“Fine. I’ll stake the honor of the Herrington ducal household.”  

Only then was Euphrasia able to calm her startled emotions somewhat.  

In a sense, the honor of a noble family was more important than life itself.  

He wouldn’t have mentioned the honor of the Herrington ducal household lightly.  

‘If it’s just for a short while…’  

Though still uneasy, she tried her best not to let it show on her face.  

If she could endure just a little longer, everything would be resolved, and she could finally live a modest but peaceful life with Louis.  

The hope of saying goodbye to the Herrington ducal household forever filled her with newfound determination.  

Eric, left alone in the reception room, watched Euphrasia’s retreating figure as she walked away briskly.  

For days leading up to the banquet at the Imperial Palace, he had been losing sleep every night—a rare occurrence for him.  

The words of the Mad Princess lingered in his mind, circling endlessly and tormenting him.  

“You’re serious about that lady and her child, aren’t you? You like them, and you already think of them as yours, don’t you?”  

“If that’s not the case, why are you so angry? Look at yourself right now. You’re acting like someone terrified I might ruin what you consider to be your possession.”  

At first, he thought her remarks weren’t worth responding to.  

But deep down, Eric knew.  

The person who understood him best in the world—though he hated to admit it—was the Mad Princess, who had grown up alongside him and shared a similar upbringing.  

After several sleepless nights, Eric finally allowed himself to listen to his true feelings.  

And he admitted it at last.  

Euphrasia Olden.  

The audacious illegitimate daughter of the Count.  

The feelings he had for her were a chaotic mix of astonishment, anger, curiosity, and intrigue, all stirred together.  

But above all, the strongest emotion was the betrayal he felt.  

For one night, briefly but for the first time in his life, he had shown genuine goodwill toward someone—and she had exploited it.  

‘If you have no expectations, you won’t experience disappointment.’  

It was strange.  

What had he expected from her to feel such a profound sense of betrayal?  

So, he decided to confirm it.  

He wanted to recreate the circumstances of that night and relive those emotions.  

‘While I’m at it, I might as well leave a warning for Bianca.’  

Bianca was truly dangerous.  

She held uncontrollable madness and the power to act on it.  

Once she fixated on something, she became blind to everything else—a trait that made the Mad Princess’s attention unsettling.  

‘This isn’t the time for that.’  

Eric walked briskly out of the reception room.  

He, too, needed to prepare for the victory banquet.  

***  

The first destination, led by the maids, was an extravagant bathroom.  

As the door opened, a wave of steam poured out, revealing a massive bathtub filled with bright red rose petals.  

The water was so infused with fragrant oils that the scent was almost dizzying.  

“This seems excessive.”  

Euphrasia, overwhelmed before even stepping in, voiced her concern.  

The head maid responded in her sharp voice.  

“Excessive? Tonight’s protagonist is you, Lady Olden. Don’t worry about anything—just follow my instructions.”  

At her words, the two maids rolled up their sleeves and gently pulled Euphrasia toward the bathtub.  

Though they appeared tense, worried about upsetting her, their eyes sparkled with determination.  

In the end, Euphrasia reluctantly stepped into the bathtub.  

While one maid scrubbed her body thoroughly, the other combed her waist-length hair incessantly.  

The head maid periodically replenished the rose petals in the bathtub.  

“Among all the noble ladies attending tonight’s victory banquet, none will outshine you, Lady. Olden”  

“Sara! Don’t say the obvious!”  

“You said it yourself earlier, Elena. You said Lady Euphrasia is the most beautiful lady you’ve ever seen.”  

The sight of the two young maids, who appeared a few years younger than Euphrasia, bickering brought a smile to her face.  

“Ah… Smiling makes you even more beautiful…”  

“Sara.”  

The maid combing her hair gazed at Euphrasia in awe before snapping back to attention at the head maid’s stern voice.  

“All done! Now we’ll help you choose a dress and finish your preparations!”  

Elena cheerfully grabbed Euphrasia’s hand and helped her up.  

Thinking back, Euphrasia realized she had seen their faces before.  

During that chaotic moment when she had wielded a dagger and guarded herself against the servants.  

The two maids had been trembling nervously, exchanging anxious glances.  

She suddenly felt a pang of guilt.  

“Thank you.”  

At Euphrasia’s simple words, Elena’s face turned bright red.  

***  

Knock, knock.  

A polite knock preceded the opening of Eric’s door.  

Upon seeing who had entered, Eric adjusted his attire one last time and stepped outside.  

“Let’s go.”  

Demian watched Eric with a satisfied expression before bowing his head and speaking.  

“Madam—no, Lady Olden—is perfectly prepared as well.”  

The old butler briefly recalled Euphrasia’s appearance from earlier.  

‘She looked truly stunning.’  

Caught amidst the overly enthusiastic maids, she had appeared slightly troubled but had cooperated earnestly.  

Demian’s expression transformed into that of a mischievous boy, despite his age of over sixty.  

Surprisingly, the look suited the elderly butler quite well.