Hiding My Identity From My Husband - Chapter 22

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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 22

The carriage interior was quiet, dimness its only light source.
The clip of hoofbeats and faint murmur of the distant street filtered through the gaps where night air seeped in, breaking the silence without quite disturbing it.
‘Sigh.’
Leaning back against the carriage seat, I gazed out into the darkness beyond the window and exhaled softly.
I’d done nothing to deserve it, yet here the day of Count Rockwood’s party had already arrived.
I’d wanted to learn more about House of Rockwood beforehand, but there’d been no opportunity.
Not only had I failed to meet with Pinky, whom I’d hired as an informant, but I’d been stuck with Lu the entire time and simply couldn’t move independently.

—Charles, are you awake?

For reasons I couldn’t fathom, Lu had wanted to be with me from morning until evening every single day.

—Shall we dine together and take a walk?

Of course, I understood why we had to be attached at every hour and display such affection—people needed to believe we were lovers.
‘Does she have nothing else to do?’
She was clinging to my side excessively.
‘Could she suspect me and be trying to keep me from going anywhere?’
Indeed. It wasn’t an impossible theory.
‘She simply can’t let her guard down.’
I sighed again and rubbed my chest.
And I made a vow.
No matter what happened, I must never let my identity be discovered.
If that moment came when I was exposed…

—If your identity is revealed, you die.

Those were the Commander’s orders, and I would follow them.
I couldn’t allow the existence of The Empire’s Secret Organization in Seongguk to become known.
I’d been aware of this from the moment I first infiltrated Seongguk as a spy.
So I thought nothing of it.
Death upon exposure was obvious, inevitable.
‘…But my heart doesn’t feel right.’
Lu and Mardi’s faces flickered through my mind.
I couldn’t understand why Lu’s face appeared at moments like this, but thinking of them both left a heaviness in one corner of my chest.
‘Don’t grow weak.’
If my identity was revealed, I would die.
That was my final mission.
‘Get a grip.’
I slapped my cheeks a couple of times and steadied my breathing. It was at that very moment.
Click—the carriage door opened, and a rush of cool night air swept in.
“I apologize. I’m not too late, am I?”
Lu entered the carriage, a distinct silhouette even in the darkness.
Her neat gold-blonde hair caught the soft light and gleamed with a subtle radiance.
Handsome every time I saw her, I murmured to myself.
The sharp bridge of her nose, the smooth jawline, the sharp cheekbones—all carved with striking clarity even in the dim light.
But what truly caught the eye was her gaze.
Eyes like cool seawater.
Those eyes, holding a cold and rational brilliance, seemed to possess a depth from which one’s gaze could not easily escape once caught.
‘Those eyes are making me tremble.’
Unaware of my thoughts, Lu adjusted her coat collar slightly and closed the door.
The long black overcoat draped over her frame made her tall figure even more striking.
I stared up at her dumbly for a moment, then forced myself to regain focus and looked away.
For some reason my throat had gone dry, so I reached for the water bottle and drank.
“Next time I’ll arrive earlier. I had something to discuss with the butler this evening.”
Hm?
I tilted my head.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, shouldn’t Charles and I combine our rooms soon, don’t you think?”
“Pffft!”
I sprayed water across the table before I could stop myself. Wait. No. What?
“Why, why, why? Why would we combine rooms already?”
“We’re engaged, after all. It does seem a bit odd to live under the same roof and keep separate rooms.”
My eyes went wide.
When I thought about it rationally, I supposed there was some logic to that.
A couple who’d spent years as lovers, who’d just announced their engagement and were about to marry, living in the same house yet sleeping in separate rooms…?
‘It could look strange.’
But.
But no!
I’m already anxious enough that someone might discover who I really am—if I shared a room with him, I’d be so nervous my heart might literally explode!
I deliberately avoided Roux’s gaze and stammered out a reply.
“But we’re not married yet… so isn’t it reasonable to keep separate rooms?”
“I did say that to them, but you and I have been quite affectionate lately, haven’t we? So everyone seems to be paying attention to it.”
The way Roux had been acting intimate with me recently…
Could it have been a calculated strategy to hurry the wedding along?
No, no, no.
I wrapped my arms around my stomach and curled inward.
“Charles? What’s wrong?”
“My stomach hurts…”
“Is the thought of sharing a room with me really so unpleasant? It’s hurting my feelings.”
“I’m already hurt. My stomach aches and my heart aches too.”
Roux let out a soft laugh. Damn it. I say I’m in pain and he laughs.
“Well, Charles does have a point. Some conservative people don’t even hold hands before marriage.”
“Exactly. That’s what I’m saying.”
“So we should hold the wedding ceremony sooner.”
Why does every conversation end up going in that direction!
My stomach went from aching to stabbing with sharp, precise pangs.
“Listen, Roux.”
I carefully lifted my head and spoke.
“Do we really need to have a wedding ceremony?”
“What?”
“I mean… ever since the noble ladies learned of my existence, they’ve stopped approaching you anyway. Isn’t that enough to accomplish what we set out to do?”
Then Roux smiled knowingly.
“You’re unaware of the letters that reach me in secret? Shall I tell you how desperately the noble ladies are searching for me?”
“…I don’t want to hear it.”
Damn.
There’s nowhere left to escape.
Faced with this bleak reality, the world seemed to darken before my eyes.
“Once this party is over, let’s plan the wedding ceremony together. It’ll be fun.”
“It’s a fake wedding. Why bother planning? Just keep it simple.”
I shook my head as I answered.
I figured there were professionals who handled these things, so we could just leave it all to them.
But Roux’s expression was mysterious.
“Still, it’s a wedding ceremony, isn’t it? Shouldn’t there be the romance of preparing it ourselves?”
I laughed hollowly at the absurdity of it all.
“If it were a real wedding, I’d indulge the romance. But this is fake, so there’s no need to go to the trouble.”
“Hmm.”
Roux folded his arms and blinked slowly.
His gaze fixed on me was equally mysterious and unreadable.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Just because. You’re adorable, Charles.”
“…?!”
What did I even do?
I’ve said nothing but complaints this whole time!
Sensing he was up to something, I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back defensively.
Luo burst into laughter again.
“If you hate the fake wedding, just find the Sacred Object quickly. Then we can both return to Seongguk.”
Actually, this was sound logic.
If I found the Sacred Object before the ceremony, there would be no need for the consummation or anything else—I could leave The Empire at once.
Of course, that was assuming I was truly a Guardian agent.
‘I have to make sure the Sacred Object stays hidden.’
But if I did that, then the marriage… ah, my head ached.
I bowed my head low.
“By the way, Charles.”
Just then, Luo spoke carefully.
“Have you never had such a thought?”
“What thought?”
“About the Sacred Object.”
Talking about the Sacred Object wasn’t particularly pleasant, but it was far better than discussing consummation or marriage.
“Yeah? What about it?”
“Given how much we’ve searched with not a trace to show for it.”
Luo drew up one corner of her mouth as she spoke.
“Have you never wondered if the Sacred Object simply doesn’t exist at all?”

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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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