Hiding My Identity From My Husband - Chapter 18

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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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Chapter 18

Adrian’s final words echoed in my mind.

“Don’t interfere with our business.”
“Pretend you don’t know anything.”

Under normal circumstances, I would have dismissed it as another of his peculiar schemes.
But now that I knew of Themis’s death and the chaos roiling inside Katakl, I couldn’t simply ignore it.
So I resolved to dig deeper.
If I could uncover his intentions, I might finally understand why Themis had died—and what direction Katakl would take from here.
“Can you find out what he’s planning? What he’s going to do?”
Pinky sprang to his feet. Then, with a flourish that would have done a gentleman proud, he placed one hand over his heart and bowed deeply.
“I shall return to you when the New Moon rises.”
That was his way of saying he could do it.
I gave a light nod.
“Yes. Go on.”
“Sir!”
With that, Pinky took his leave, and I ordered another coffee before settling into my thoughts.
‘The Empress’s hand in this.’
As someone who merely followed the Commander’s orders, the intricacies of Court Politics were largely beyond me. But there was one thing I knew for certain.
The Empress was a woman of boundless ambition.
She wanted nothing more than to see her son, the Crown Prince, ascend to the throne as quickly as possible. And yet the Emperor stood firm, refusing to yield.
Given his age, it would have been reasonable to pass the crown long ago. But he never would.
There was only one reason.
‘The Crown Prince is an absolute fool.’
But the Empress refused to acknowledge this truth.
So she kept meddling behind the Crown Prince, trying to wield power as regent and entangle herself deeper in Court Politics.
‘No wonder the Commander hates it.’
Katakl, after all, was essentially the Emperor’s personal instrument.
Given how things stood, Katakl’s interior must be in turmoil.
The Commander himself was likely under considerable strain.
‘For now, I’ll wait for Pinky’s information.’
With that thought, I took a sip of the freshly arrived coffee.
That’s when it happened.
“Oh my!”
A sharp, piercing voice rang out.
I turned to see a couple of noblewomen from House Floria whom I’d encountered before, along with several I’d never met.
I half-rose from my seat, wondering if I should greet them.
“Isn’t that the famous Charles Cortney?”
“Indeed. The ‘hero’ who rescued House Bayden is right here?”
Wait.
Why the mockery in their tone?
Should I not acknowledge them…?
I blinked as I looked at them.
“Who…?”
Just then, someone pushed through the cluster of noblewomen and poked her head out.
“You’re Charles?”
It was none other than Everlyn Floria.

“Just you wait and see!”

Those were the parting words she’d left before disappearing—Everlyn Floria’s declaration of challenge.
When she caught sight of me, her eyes widened. I inclined my head lightly toward her.
“It’s been a while, Everlyn. How are you feeling?”
I asked because I remembered how she’d been startled by the wasp that day.
Seeing how thin she already was, I wondered if the incident had taken a toll on her health.
So I did try to be thoughtful about it.
“Well, I don’t have anything to worry about, do I?”
Everlyn Floria snorted dismissively and turned her head away.
These people really do all have difficult temperaments.
“You should be taking care of your own body! You said you weren’t feeling well—why did you come out? You should be resting at home!”
…Hmm?
“What is this! Your face is half ruined, isn’t it? When the only thing worth looking at is your cute face, how could you neglect it like this?”
Hmm…?
“I’ll have my lady’s maid send you some cosmetics. You can use those! Though it won’t do anything except make you even cuter, I suppose!”
Was that concern or an insult? I honestly couldn’t tell.
Not knowing what to say, I was just blinking when Everlyn took a few steps closer to me.
“By the way, what were you doing here? Don’t tell me you have no friends and were just spending time alone like this?”
“It’s true that I don’t have friends…?”
Pinky had been with me until just moments ago, but I couldn’t really call that creature a friend, so I answered honestly.
At that, Everlyn’s expression twisted with apparent satisfaction.
“Well, it makes sense that you wouldn’t have friends! Of course you’re cute and lovely, but you’re still far too inexperienced for High Society!”
My goodness. She’s actually complimenting me.
Am I really that cute? Ha.
“Well…”
Everlyn continued.
“If you’re feeling bored, you could always come along with us.”
When I lifted my head, I could see Everlyn’s eyes sparkling with unmistakable eagerness—contrary to her casual tone—to have me join them.
“Where are you going?”
Then Agatha Lockwood, who stood beside Everlyn—the same girl I’d seen at the party—smiled warmly and answered.
“We’re going clay shooting. Come with us. You’ll definitely enjoy it, Charles.”
“I could even teach you if you’d like!”
I blinked several times as I looked over the young noblewomen.
Besides Agatha, who was linked arm-in-arm with Everlyn, there were three other young ladies I didn’t recognize.
But I could tell with certainty that those three didn’t like me.
The moment Everlyn extended the invitation to me, they’d shot me withering glares.
Hmm.
What should I do?
Normally in a situation like this, I’d refuse the invitation to avoid causing trouble.
But…
‘My job is to cause chaos in High Society, isn’t it?’
That way, fewer noble families would invite Adrian and me to parties, and Adrian would have less information to gather.
So then.
“I’d love to! Thank you for inviting me!”
Once we got to the shooting range and I fired off a few warning shots, they’d grow to hate me.
With that thought, I jumped up and linked my arm with Everlyn’s.
“Oh my! Don’t you know you need permission before taking someone’s arm? Well… since it’s so cute, I’ll allow it this once! But if you do this next time, I’ll still let you!”
Hmm.
She really does seem to like me.

* * *

The Clay Shooting Range wasn’t far away.
After riding in a carriage for about thirty minutes, an open field came into view, and I could hear the soft pop-pop of gunfire in the distance.
“Be careful as you step down!”
Everlyn’s brusque concern followed me as I descended from the carriage.
I looked around at my surroundings.
Beneath a clear blue sky, several stands were lined up in a spacious shooting area set to one side of the range.
And beyond them stretched a golden field.
Occasionally an orange Clay Disc would burst into the air, cutting across the sky, and again a bang! would echo through the grounds.
“Now that I think about it, your dress must be uncomfortable?”
Then Everlyn spoke.
“If you’re uncomfortable, I could lend you some of my clothes. Though they’d probably be too big for someone as small and cute as you, and look dreadful!”
The more I see of her, the cuter she is.
I smiled faintly and shook my head.
“I’ll just shoot in what I’m wearing. Thank you for being so considerate.”
I’ve handled every kind of firearm there is.
I’ve spent more than half my life with a gun in hand—there’s no reason I couldn’t manage it simply because of what I’m wearing.
So I simply answered that I’d stay as I was.
“You won’t even be able to grip the gun properly in that dress anyway. Why bother changing?”
The three young ladies who had been so sharp with me moments before shot me a pointed look as they spoke.
“Someone from that backwater called the Cortney Region wouldn’t know anything about refined hobbies like this. We wouldn’t be surprised if you burst into tears at the sound of gunfire.”
Oh?
They’re provoking me.

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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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