I Choose The Villain Duke

Euphemia woke up feeling very refreshed. She opened her eyes to the sight of Lucien's face. His eyes were closed, his breathing soft and peaceful.

Euphemia leaned in close to his face. He had such long lashes. He had a nice scent. She couldn't describe it but his scent relaxed her.

Lucien's eyes fluttered. Euphemia smiled.

"Good morning," Euphemia said.

Lucien rubbed his eyes then looked at her with a sleepy grin. "Good morning, Euphee."

It was a strange feeling. They were really just engaged because of a mutually agreed contract but they were like friends, or maybe, more than friends. She liked his presence beside her.

"I think the servants will talk if we keep sleeping together like this, Lucien," Euphemia said with a chuckle.

Lucien tucked a stray hair behind Euphemia's ear. "Let them. We are engaged after all."

"Just for a year though. They don't know that," Euphemia said.

Lucien stayed silent. Did she offend him? Euphemia chewed on her lip. Perhaps he forgot about their agreement.

Lucien sighed. "Let's eat breakfast?"

Euphemia nodded. She looked at Lucien worriedly. His face remained impassive but she felt that she had hurt him when she said that.

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While preparing for the play, Euphemia was also busy creating other jobs for the people from the poor part of the kingdom. She taught a lot of people about food stalls and some of the recipes she knew from her original world. The food stalls would be placed around the theater stage. It would be like a festival.

She also healed several people. There was the man who lost his leg from a carriage accident. There was the woman who could no longer walk from being caned by the nobleman she was serving. There was the man who lost his arm from a fight with drunk soldiers. There were a lot of them. Scarred skins, broken bones, and beaten down spirits. She experienced all of their pain. It made her scream and cry but the happiness she felt after healing them was worth it. Their broken parts had been healed and they were filled with new hope.

Her reputation as the Saintess grew tremendously. She did not intend to be famous but she could not help it. Every time she saw someone hurting, it reminded her of the hurt that she had experienced. If she could make the physical pain go away, perhaps the hurt deep inside their souls would disappear too.

Lucien was filled with worry and fear every time Euphemia healed someone but he did not stop her. He wanted her to be like a free bird flying to where she wants to go and discovering herself along the way. He decided that he would just do everything he could for her. He held her when she healed someone. Her body would be filled with pain and sickness and he would catch her. He would hug her tight and bring her home in his arms. He would always wait for her to wake up, waiting for her body to recover from the pain and sickness it experienced in a flash. Her eyes would open and she would see him watching over her. She would smile at him and he would feel his chest swell with relief and happiness. Her smile told him that she was all right and there was nothing for him to worry about.

*

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The day of the play finally came. It was the first day. It was decided that the play would be shown for three days. After that, the play would take a break to prepare for the next play with a different story. It would be the start of a new entertainment business in Aderlan.

The town square was bustling with people. It was hard to distinguish commoners and nobles from all of the people who had flocked together to see the play and the stalls. The air was filled with the sweet and savory smell of food. There were also merchandise stalls where the craftsmen sold the things they had artfully made based on the play. There were matching sun and moon rings, brooches, and even clothes. A lot of people walked around the town square with food they had bought from the stalls and merchandise worn around their bodies.

There were not enough seats for the audience but several people still chose to stay and watch even though they were standing.

The play began. The audience were quiet, hooked at the scene playing in front of them, then they gasped at the part where the Moonlight Princess went missing. The audience's reactions alternated between silent intent watching and gasping in surprise at the play's scenes.

Euphemia immensely enjoyed the play and the audience's reactions. Lucien enjoyed himself too. He liked the play and he felt proud that it was all because of Euphemia's passion that made it possible. Most of all, he liked seeing Euphemia smile.

*

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Meanwhile, Rubiella was with Hansel. Hansel was reluctant at first but Rubiella told him that no one would notice them anyway because there were so much people. Rubiella also told him not to be in butler clothes so they could blend in with the crowd.

Hansel met her with his hair down and he was wearing a nobleman's suit. Rubiella wanted to squeal at the sight of him. Her heart was doing a jumping jack in her chest but she controlled herself, or so she tried. She grabbed Hansel's hand and dragged him with her to go see the stalls.

Rubiella was fascinated with the stalls that Euphemia had come up with but her focus was really on Hansel. She wanted to remove his eyeglasses that made his eyes look gray but there must be some reason why he was hiding his mesmerizing green eyes so she didn't remove the eyeglasses.

"My lady, I suppose I am already taking you out today," Hansel said while they were walking.

Rubiella glared at him. "This does not count! You still have to take me out after the three-day play! You're just ACCOMPANYING me today."

"Pfft." Hansel tried to hide his laughter.

Rubiella tried to show him her most infuriated expression but she was failing. Seeing Hansel laugh made her heart flutter.

"Where do you wish to go, my lady?" Hansel asked with an amused smile.

"Hmph! That's your problem to think about," Rubiella said and crossed her arms.

Hansel grinned. "Strange. I thought that only your hair is red but your face is red too."

Rubiella pinched his cheek.

"Ouch!"

"Now you're red too!"

*

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The play went on with great success for three days. When it was finished, several people thanked Euphemia and Lucien. The two received a lot of merchandise and food from the people they had helped.

Euphemia fell asleep on Lucien's shoulder in the carriage. She didn't notice that she was exhausted. She enjoyed herself a lot but when it was finished, it was like all her energy was sapped out of her.

Lucien noticed that there were soldiers standing in front of his mansion. He did not want to wake up Euphemia but he had a bad feeling about it.

"Euphee, we're here," Lucien said gently.

Euphemia slowly opened her eyes then noticed the soldiers outside the carriage, standing in front of the mansion.

"What are they doing here?" Euphemia asked.

Lucien frowned. "I do not know yet."

He opened the carriage door and a soldier who looked to be high-ranking approached their carriage.

"Lady Euphemia, you are under arrest by the Crown in the charge of treason."