Hiding My Identity From My Husband - Chapter 1

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Prologue

A peaceful holiday, and the sound of sacred bells rang out across the cathedral.
The guests at the wedding feast could not help but marvel at the sight of the bride and groom.
“My goodness, Lu looks absolutely stunning today.”
“Stunning doesn’t quite cover it—beautiful is the word. I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful in my entire life.”
Lu Banssen, a newly risen nobleman who had appeared in the Empire not long ago, possessed a beauty so arresting that it had kept half the women of the Imperial Capital awake at night.
And so countless women had pursued him—but that would all end today.
Because Lu’s betrothed had arrived, and the wedding was taking place right now!
“Her name is Charel Courtney, isn’t it? I hate to say this, but… she and Lu do make a striking pair.”
“Of course, our Lu is even more magnificent and beautiful!”
The women crumpled their handkerchiefs in their fists, their eyes fixed on the bride—Charel.
But Charel paid no attention to their gazes.
Or rather, she had no time to.
Why not?
“Do you pledge to serve and love one another faithfully before this sacred sun for the rest of your lives?”
“I do so pledge.”
Why, indeed.
Charel was not the betrothed of Lu Banssen—that false name for Lubantesu—but rather his fellow spy, his colleague from the agency.
And worse, they were rivals, always at each other’s throats.
“Bride. Your answer.”
How had it come to this?
Charel looked up at Lu, resplendent in his tailcoat.
He gazed down at her with a face of such angelic gentleness that anyone watching would have sworn his eyes overflowed with devotion—but Charel saw through it.
She already knew.
Just how much of a devil this man was.
No matter that this was all for the mission; she still had to marry him.
“Bride. Will you not answer?”
But there was no turning back now.
Charel gripped her bouquet tightly, bowing her head.
“Yes… I do pledge.”
Clap, clap, clap!
The sound of applause erupted from everyone in the hall.
Don’t clap! Don’t you dare! I’m about to lose my mind—
“Then, the kiss of union.”
Charel forced down the urge to bolt from the altar right then and there.
She turned toward Lu and spoke in a voice only he could hear.
“Just pretend. If you actually do it, I’ll kill you.”
She was certain they would mime it for the onlookers and move on—after all, a real kiss was out of the question.
We were fakes, married only because the mission demanded it.
Or so she thought.
“Oh!”
“Ohhh…”
Charel felt something soft against her lips and went blank, her mind scattering like leaves.
…What?

Episode 1

01. Bang!

Today was proving to be exceptionally lucky.
For the first time this quarter, I had finally beaten Lubantesu in performance rankings.
Among the Guardian agents in Seongguk, there was quiet competition, as rankings were determined by mission success scores.
I was the top-ranked agent in title, yet my actual results always placed me second—permanently behind Lubantesu.

—Charel, you’re second again.
Second place again, it seems.
Again?

Every time Lu Banssen saw my name beneath his on the ranking, he said the same thing.
How it stung each time!
So now, having claimed first place, I wanted to dance right then and there.
‘Well, it helps that Lu Banssen is away, at least.’
He’d left Seongguk on assignment.
‘I wish he’d fail the mission so badly he never comes back.’
Every time I thought of facing him again, my stomach twisted with dread.
My wariness of Lu Banssen wasn’t only because we competed for first and second place.
There was something about him that made me think he knew my secret.
Whenever we crossed paths, he watched me with an odd gleam in his eye, studying my every move, remembering every careless word I let slip — probing me deliberately, as if trying to unearth something I wanted buried.
‘Unsettling.’
Best to keep my distance from someone like that.
I’d intended to spend the day savoring my first-place ranking without worry.
That was before Deputy Commander Ormund called me in.
“Well, well! If it isn’t Charel, Guardian’s senior agent and this quarter’s top performer!”
What is this?
The moment I stepped into his office, praise came flooding down, and I frowned slightly.
“Don’t just stand there — come here. I’ve procured an excellent wine just for you. As you know, agents are forbidden to drink, but on a day like this, we ought to toast!”
Ormund poured the wine generously into a glass, his voice booming.
I approached him slowly, trying to make sense of what was happening.
Why had he suddenly summoned me?
Why was he making pleasantries he never usually bothered with?
The answer was obvious.
“Deputy Commander, if you have work for me, just tell me plainly.”
He had work for me.
“Don’t waste time circling around it.”
And it was so difficult and demanding that he felt the need to make all this fuss about it.
“Ha, haha. Agent Charel, do you think I only encourage you when I have something to ask?”
“Yes.”
“Well, you’re right. Sit.”
His attempt at persuasion having failed, Ormund gestured to the seat across from him, and I lowered myself into it with a stiff posture, looking up at him.
“It’s true I have work for you, but my respect for your abilities is sincere. I’m not the sort of man to lie about such things.”
I said nothing.
“That’s why I have no choice but to entrust this to you. I can’t think of another agent capable of pulling it off the way you can.”
I knew it was honeyed flattery, but the more I heard it, the better it felt.
I fought the smile tugging at my lips and deliberately answered in a flat tone.
“Understood, sir. So what exactly are you asking me to do?”
“Agent Charel.”
Ormund assumed a grave expression and interlaced his hands on the desk before him.
“You’re aware, I imagine, that Agent Lu Banssen has left his post.”
I wasn’t sure why he’d suddenly brought up Lu Banssen’s name, but I nodded.
“I was told it’s a long-term assignment.”
Guardian agents don’t know each other’s assignments — everything proceeds in secrecy.
So I had no idea where he’d gone or how long the mission would take.
But then—
“Lu Banssen is in The Empire.”
Why was he telling me this?
“He’s working hard in the heart of the Imperial Capital to locate the Holy Relic.”
The Holy Relic of Seongguk.
A divine artifact that the Ancient God supposedly gifted to the Ancient Pope in the beginning of days.
It was plundered during the war with The Empire thirty years ago and has never been recovered since.
I understood well enough why Lu Banssen had been sent to The Empire to search for it.
But why was he telling me all this?
An uneasy feeling crept through me. A bad premonition crawled across my skin.
“A small problem has arisen, however.”
I nodded, waiting.
“As you know, Agent Lu Banssen is quite… striking in appearance.”
“Well… I suppose someone could see it that way. And your point is?”
Truth be told, he was objectively handsome. I was just refusing to admit it.
“Apparently he’s been receiving so many marriage proposals because of it that it’s interfering with his work.”
“…….”
“So he had no choice but to claim he’s already betrothed.”
……what?
“But since he won’t show anyone his betrothed’s face, rumors have spread that he’s lying. So he’s even gone so far as to say the wedding will happen soon.”
And?
“Agent Charel. It seems you’ll need to go to the Empire and marry Agent Lu Banssen.”
“…….”
I went through the director’s words one by one, carefully.
Lu Banssen had been sent to the Empire to find the Holy Relic of Seongguk that had been plundered there.
But he’d become so popular that it was interfering with his mission, so he’d lied about being betrothed. And now they needed to create an actual betrothed…….
But why in the world does it have to be me?
“Director, sir. There are other agents besides me. I don’t understand why I have to be the one to go.”
“Agent Charel. Everyone knows you and Agent Lu Banssen are close. For this mission, having close companions stick together would make it far less likely to be discovered…….”
“We’re not close at all!”
My voice shot up without thinking.
“I am not remotely friendly with that man. Please don’t misunderstand.”
“Strange. Lu Banssen said he was closest to you.”
“That’s because he……!”
The words spilled up to my tongue—because he suspects me—but I barely managed to swallow them.
The director seized on my hesitation and spoke again.
“In any case, since I’ve recommended you, I have no choice but to send you. Go and prepare at once.”
“No, Director!”
I slammed my palm on the desk and shot to my feet.
He wanted me to work a mission alongside someone I despised?
Well, it’s not impossible. I could do it.
But I absolutely cannot accept this mission.
Why?
“I cannot do this.”
Because I was a spy the Empire had sent to Seongguk!
“Absolutely not!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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