Hiding My Identity From My Husband - Chapter 12

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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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Episode 12

“I wanted to see you.”
Adrian embraced me the moment he caught sight of me, as he always did.
The clear, pleasant scent that emanated from his chest where it pressed against my cheek was vivid enough to erase every trace of the blood-smell hanging in the air.
No. Wait.
I pushed him away quickly, forcing my scattered thoughts to cohere.
“This isn’t the moment to celebrate a reunion. What were you thinking? Why did you kill Themis just now?”
At my question, Adrian’s eyes blinked several times.
As he tilted his head at an angle, silver hair spilled down his pale cheek like a curtain.
Looking at those strands gleaming like starlight, I felt a strange peace settle over part of my heart.
Yet his eyes—dark as if they’d absorbed the night itself—stirred something unsettling in me.
Light and darkness.
Adrian embodied this contradiction perfectly, holding both at once.
“So Charel didn’t want to see me. You’re jumping straight to business, I see.”
My brow furrowed involuntarily.
Adrian was like a person with something fundamentally broken inside.
So there he stood over a corpse, debating whether I wanted to see him or not—I pressed my palm to my forehead and exhaled.
“If we’d met at a café, I would’ve greeted you. But you just killed someone right in front of me. Doesn’t that deserve an explanation first?”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“You know I’ve always been like this. Haven’t you adjusted yet, or have you gotten soft staying in the Holy Kingdom?”
“…Never mind. Let’s not do this.”
Every time I tried to continue a conversation with Adrian, I ended up feeling like the unreasonable one.
As if Adrian had done nothing wrong, and it was I who was mistaken to point it out.
Fearing I’d be swept up in that absurd logic, I spoke up quickly.
“Why did you kill him?”
“Hmm?”
“He might’ve had information about the Holy Artifact. Why did you kill him?”
“Guardian said that? That Themis had information about the Holy Artifact?”
Adrian covered his mouth with his hand and chuckled softly.
“Good thing Guardian believes that. That’s exactly what I wanted.”
He then nudged the sprawled body of Themis with the tip of his boot.
Themis’s lifeless form rolled helplessly across the ground.
I’d seen corpses many times during my work, but I never got used to it. I grimaced and turned my head away.
“He knew nothing. Not about the Holy Artifact or anything else.”
Fortunately, Adrian didn’t notice my physical revulsion and continued.
“I only set a trap to see who was secretly digging up the Holy Artifact behind Father’s back. I leaked different information to each unit commander, and if Themis received this version…”
Adrian’s black eyes suddenly deepened, sinking into themselves.
“It has to be Henry.”
……
“What? You already knew?”
It was true that I’d already suspected Captain Henry of disobeying orders.
But there was no need to admit that outright.
If I did, he’d press me on why I hadn’t reported it, and that would only become troublesome.
“I’ve been back in the Empire for less than a week. How would I have known?”
“Hmm. I suppose not.”
Adrian’s expression flickered with doubt for a moment, but then he shrugged, apparently satisfied.
I kept my gaze fixed on Adrian, trying not to look at Themis.
“Fine. I understand. The trap worked. Themis didn’t know anything about the Holy Artifact—he was just a pawn.”
I lifted my eyes slightly as I spoke.
“But that means there was no reason to kill him.”
I hate death.
I hate my own death, and I hate the death of others. I wish no one had to die by anyone else’s hand.
It’s an odd wish for an elite operative of Cataclysm, who commits all manner of atrocities—but still, I wish people would live.
That’s why, throughout my work as an Infiltration Operative, I’ve never once been exposed.
If my identity were discovered, I’d have to die or kill the other person, so I’ve made concealing myself the absolute priority.
But…
But that resolve is mine and mine alone.
Cataclysm, like all factions that move for profit, will commit murder without hesitation.
“There was a reason he had to die.”
Just like now.
I exhaled and replied to Adrian’s casual demeanor.
“There’s no one in this world who deserves to die.”
“Perhaps. But.”
Adrian stepped closer and cradled my cheek in his palm.
“Father ordered it.”
……
“You’re not going to defy Father, are you?”
My throat tightened.
Baeillor, Adrian’s father and the commander of Cataclysm, was the only person who had ever saved me, and the only one who acknowledged me as I am.
And I had killed his daughter.
“I…….”
After that incident, I no longer moved by reverence and loyalty toward Baeillor. Or rather, I couldn’t.
The only feeling I harbored for him was guilt.
And so I must obey Baeillor’s orders.
I, who had taken from him something precious, cannot bring myself to defy him.
“……If the commander orders it, there’s nothing to be done. I understand.”
“Our Charel, such a good girl.”
Adrian smiled wickedly and stroked my hair.
“And I’m only telling you this.”
He held my gaze steady as he continued.
“Don’t interfere with what we’re doing.”
I tilted my head. There was no reason I, of all people, would interfere with Cataclysm’s work.
“What do you mean…….”
“The wasp.”
But the moment I heard the answer, my eyes widened.
He must be referring to the giant hornet that had invaded Florya County.
I’d found it strange that such a creature would suddenly appear in an unsuitable habitat, but it was Cataclysm’s doing all along.
Without warning, my eyelid twitched.
“Cataclysm sent that thing?”
“To be precise, I did.”
“No, wait. Why? Why would you do that?”
Adrian grinned.
“I can’t tell you that.”
He tilted his face toward mine and whispered.
“Things like this will happen often from now on. So Charel, you mustn’t get involved.”
His breath against my ear was cold and sharp, as always.
“Pretend you don’t know.”
What in the world was he——Before I could ask more, I felt presences approaching. One, two… no, several people.
“Ah. The gunshot was too loud, wasn’t it.”
Probably soldiers from the Duchy, along with Rou, who’d heard the noise and rushed over.
I looked back and forth between Adrian and the fallen Themis.
Soon Adrian smiled and drew his Dagger.
“You understand?”
He pointed the blade’s tip toward me, and I gazed downward in resignation.
“See you soon. I love you.”
Adrian pressed his lips to my forehead as he spoke.
The dagger’s edge still aimed at me.

* * *

“Intruders!”
“They must be captured alive!”
Rou bolted into the forest with the Duchy’s soldiers in chaos.
Until the moment Charel had first led Themis into the woods, he’d harbored no concerns.
The Charel he knew would protect Themis well enough while keeping herself concealed.
But.
Bang!
Not long after, a gunshot cracked through the air again. And the smell of blood spread across the clearing.
Had something happened to Charel?
The moment that thought crossed his mind, his palms grew slick. Sweat poured so freely he could barely grip the gun.
In all his years, he had never been this tense.
So when the Duchy’s soldiers arrived, he didn’t hesitate—he bolted straight into the forest without looking back.
To find Charel.
To see her alive, whatever it took.
That was when it happened.
“Ah…….”
A faint moan reached his ears.
By pure instinct, he pivoted toward the sound and ran.
There—crumpled on the ground—was Charel.
“Charel!”

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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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