Hiding My Identity From My Husband - Chapter 13

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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 13

He lifted Charel to her feet and quickly examined her body.
“What happened? Are you all right?”
But there was no need to ask—Charel was clearly not all right.
Her palms were soaked in blood, as though she’d gripped a sharp blade bare-handed, and blood was still streaming down her thigh.
His heart seemed to drop.
Surely Charel wasn’t going to—
“Ow, it really hurts.”
But her whimper, bursting out a moment later, was enough to dispel his anxiety.
He exhaled in relief and shook his head.
“Of course it hurts. You’re bleeding heavily.”
“Must you put it that way?”
“Yes. So stay quiet. Moving will only make it worse.”
“That’s harsh.”
Ignoring Charel’s pouting, he hastily tore the hem of his shirt and began applying hemostasis firmly to her thigh.
“Isn’t that shirt expensive?”
“What does that matter now!”
He flared up, but quickly remembering that she was the patient, he fell silent.
Fortunately, he’d avoided the artery. Though the wound was deep, at this depth there should be no danger to her life.
Phew.
He tilted his head back, releasing a breath of relief.
His racing heart was finally beginning to find its rhythm again.
“Tell me.”
“Hmm?”
“What happened? Why did Temis die, and why are you wounded?”

* * *

Charel’s eyes darted sideways.
The reason Adrian had given her a blade before leaving was simple.
“I was attacked.”
To make it appear as though she’d been assaulted by a masked stranger.
“I don’t know who. They wore a mask, then suddenly killed Temis and came after me.”
If Charel hadn’t been injured in this scenario, suspicion would have been inevitable.
That’s why Adrian had naturally suggested she wound herself.
And she had naturally complied.
“I should have fought them off. I’m sorry.”
He stared at Charel intently.
Blood was dripping steadily from her unhealed wound.
Her pallid complexion looked as though she might collapse at any moment.
And the first thing she said was an apology? Without even thinking to care for herself?
Irritation flared up unexpectedly.
It was an old feeling—frustration and dread he could no longer suppress, manifesting as anger.
“Why are you like this?”
He brushed his bangs back roughly, glaring at her.
“Like what?”
Charel’s expression was one of genuine confusion, and it only made her more infuriating to him.
He furrowed his brow again.
“Why don’t you ever put yourself first?”
Charel blinked several times, then glanced down at her own body.
The pain was real enough, but these wounds were nothing she couldn’t endure.
She’d faced worse, so there was no reason to whimper over something like this.
“Because it’s nothing serious…?”
At that, his face went ashen.
“Nothing serious? You’re bleeding heavily right now!”
Well, of course—she’d made sure to cut deep enough to bleed.
But Charel couldn’t speak that far, so she pressed her lips shut.
Temis resumed his words.
“It’s not just this time. Do you remember when you infiltrated as a maidservant to the Grand Duke of the Duchy? When one of the recruits caused a commotion and was exposed, you stepped forward claiming you’d save them, and took the blade instead?”
“If I hadn’t, that recruit would have died.”
“What about when you were tracking the heretic? You deliberately drank the poison even though you knew it was a trap.”
“Otherwise we couldn’t find the hideout.”
“That’s exactly the problem!”
Temis finally abandoned any pretense of calm, his voice rising.
“Why won’t you look after yourself? What if you die like this?”
“Temis.”
Charel fixed her gaze steadily on him and spoke.
“I’m not afraid of death.”
Her voice carried not a trace of hesitation.
“If it’s for the Mission I have to complete, I can die.”
“Is the Mission truly that important?”
“More important than me, certainly.”
Temis’s eyes trembled faintly.
He held her image in his gaze a moment longer, then turned sharply away and rose to his feet.
“I’ve done hemostasis adequately, so stay still. I’ll bring soldiers from the Baron’s Estate.”
“I could get up and go myself, you know.”
“But the Mission is important, you said?”
Temis spoke with a sharply sarcastic edge.
“You’ll need to play the part of a helpless woman suddenly attacked by a mysterious intruder within the Baron’s Estate.”
He nudged at the Dagger scattered across the floor with the tip of his boot as he spoke.
“That way, you can put the Baron in your debt, can’t you?”
……
Charel blinked, looking up at him.
Temis wasn’t wrong.
That way would serve the Guardian’s Mission better, and keep Katakul’s intrusion from being exposed.
After all, they both sacrificed for the Mission—what difference did it make?
But why was Temis getting so irritated?
As if he couldn’t master his own emotions.
“He’s usually someone whose feelings are impossible to read.”
Why?
As Charel watched the empty space where Temis had departed, she frowned belatedly and murmured to herself.
“He’s being unusually fussy, that’s all.”
What could she do.
She was the kind one—she’d have to play along.
So Charel lay sprawled in the Grass Field, feigning great pain.

* * *

“Good heavens! Charel!”
Baron Byden came rushing from behind, his voice sharp with alarm.
“How on earth did this happen?”
Leaning on Temis for support as I stumbled out of the forest, I deliberately let my head droop and coughed weakly.
“I suddenly heard gunshots… so I went to look, and there was someone who’d been shot. So we ran together… but that person…”
The Baron’s face went pale in an instant. I put on an even more guilt-stricken expression and gave a choked sob.
“I tried to stop the intruder however I could… I’m truly sorry…”
I bowed deeply, deliberately stumbling a little.
“Charel!”
Temis then swept me up in his arms with exaggerated urgency. I rested my cheek against his solid chest and breathed raggedly.
“No, no! Charel, you have nothing to apologize for! It’s our failure to guard properly! Damn it all, unleash the soldiers at once! Catch that intruder, whoever he is!”
My performance was so flawless that the Baron, thoroughly taken in, began raging and shouting.
“I’ll make sure to haul that rotten bastard before you on his knees!”
Breathing heavily, the Baron stepped closer to me.
With the bearing of a military man, he cut an imposing figure, so I naturally looked up to meet his gaze.
“Charel.”
He bent his knee slightly and spoke, looking into my eyes.
“If it weren’t for you, that intruder might well have breached all the way into the banquet hall.”
……That shouldn’t have happened at all.
Adrian’s target was Temis and Temis alone.
“Thanks to you, everyone was able to return home safely. I’m truly grateful.”
But when someone speaks so earnestly, you can’t very well deny it. So I smiled faintly and nodded.
“I won’t overlook Miss Charel’s accomplishment today.”
But the words that followed sounded a bit odd.
“I shall make certain that everyone learns of Miss Charel’s sacrifice!”
Why would he announce that?
I hastily waved my hand in protest.
“Oh, no. There’s no need to go that far…….”
“I’m deeply grateful for your generous words, sir.”
But Lugh was faster than I was.
“To think she managed to hold that ruffian at bay with such a frail and delicate frame—it breaks my heart. And yet I’m also relieved that no greater harm befell us thanks to her courage.”
He continued, his expression grown melancholy, his shoulders sagging.
“I suppose I’m a rather worthless fiancé.”
“Don’t say such things!”
The Baron shook his head at Lugh, his face luminous with admiration.
“You’re both hopelessly virtuous people. True exemplars of righteousness in this age!”
Who’s righteous?
If you asked me to name someone who least deserved the word “righteous,” it would be Lugh without question…….
I sniffed sharply, barely suppressing a smile.
“Miss Charel, I thank you again, and apologize once more. I know not how to repay such a debt, but I shall find a fitting reward soon enough.”
The Baron spoke, offering a respectful bow.
Lugh had stepped forward deliberately to use the Baron, and I knew full well that all of this stemmed from Katakul—yet there was only one answer I could give.
“It’s enough for me that everyone returned home safely.”
Playing the part of a saint.
“I’m truly content.”
Cough, cough!
Of course, I didn’t forget to produce a deliberately theatrical cough as well.

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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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