Hiding My Identity From My Husband - Chapter 29

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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 29

“She must have pestered you into taking an outing. How thoughtful of her — you must be exhausted.”
Even after getting caught once before, she was at it again.
I had to admire her resolve.
Well, that or Teo would have fled in fear with his tail between his legs.
‘In some ways, it’s almost admirable.’
But I won’t respect her for it.
Not when she’s belittling me.
“If you’re looking for a place to sit, why not join us? Everywhere else either has no shade or reeks of the Crocodile Farm.”
Teo looked at me.
Instead of answering, I lifted my shoulders in a shrug.
It meant: you decide.
“Mm.”
After a moment of hesitation, Teo spoke slowly.
“Joining you is acceptable, but—”
He smiled gently.
“If you speak disrespectfully to my fiancée one more time, I’ll leave, and you and Cecil won’t see each other again.”
Oh.
“After that, she and I will have no further reason to see you.”
Oh my.
“Do you understand?”
That’s Teo for you.
He tidies things up cleanly.
I gave him a thumbs up where only he could see. Teo let out a small laugh.
“I, I didn’t mean to be so… how could I possibly have been that rude…?”
Cecil’s face flushed crimson as she stammered, then she sniffled and shot me a glare.
“Fine! From now on I won’t say a single word to Charel! That settles it, doesn’t it?”
Teo looked back at me.
He was asking how I felt about it.
Hmm.
After a moment’s thought, I nodded.
“Watching Cecil is entertaining enough.”
I meant it.
Seeing her poke at me and then get scolded by Teo was quite enjoyable and satisfying.
“E-entertaining?!”
At that, Cecil’s face burned even redder as she breathed heavily.
Oh. What would she say now?
“N-no, I mean, I won’t say anything to Charel anymore! Hmph!”
But fortunately, our Cecil still had her wits about her.
She’d realized that another argument with me would earn her another rebuke from Teo.
A shame, really.
“Come on, let’s go, Teo. Everyone’s waiting.”
Cecil reached out her hand to Teo, but he gently dodged it. Instead, he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and smiled softly.
“Shall we go, Charel?”
Every time this happened—whenever Teo smiled only at me and showed that he cared only for me—my mood lifted.
Because this person everyone wanted was looking only at me.
Of course, this gaze was contrived. Everything about it was fabricated from the start. And yet…
‘I’d never known love, even if it was false.’
The thought left a bitter taste, but I didn’t let it show.
Instead, I smiled brightly. So brightly that Teo looked surprised, his eyes widening at my broad, radiant grin as I spoke.
“I’m hungry.”
And I really was.

* * *

Under the Nettle Tree, three noblewomen sat huddled together, Cecil among them.
They introduced themselves as Tella and Aerin, and lacking family names, they appeared to be commoners.
“Tella and Aerin are my nephew Teo’s nannies.”
Ah, of course.
I nodded lightly and offered them a greeting.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Charel Cotney, and this is my fiancé, Lou Vansen.”
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
The moment Tella and Aerin saw us, their faces flushed crimson and they bowed their heads deeply.
Though they did manage a quiet greeting.
It might have seemed somewhat rude, but seeing their cheeks burning, I gathered they were simply embarrassed about it.
Well, Lou is rather handsome, after all.
I shrugged and took my seat.
“But I notice your nephew isn’t here,” Lou observed.
He asked the question while settling into his chair, and Cecil’s eyes brightened as she answered.
“Oh, Teo? Actually, the reason we came here was because Teo wanted to see the Crocodile Farm. We were planning to go together after our meal, but the boy decided to take a walk on his own. Isn’t he growing up?”
Cecil spoke with a peaceful and contented expression, as if I hadn’t recently come at her with an axe to grind.
“By the way, our Teo is six years old.”
Mm. The perfect age to be adorable.
“What a precious age that is.”
“Quite so—cough!”
She’d almost answered me before catching herself; Cecil cleared her throat delicately and turned her attention back to Lou.
“Well, our Teo is an adorable, dashing, and beautiful child. He’s obedient, and quite clever too!”
A nephew doting fool.
I mumbled this while taking a bite of the Sandwich that Mardi had prepared.
I don’t have a family, so I’m not entirely sure what that feeling is like…….
‘Though there are plenty of Guardian Agents who feel that way.’
Spending time with family is so precious that they count down the days until their next break, or so I’ve heard.
I once found that emotion quite fascinating and admirable.
But since I won’t marry and my future is uncertain, it’s hardly relevant to me anyway, so I soon lost interest.
‘Still…….’
I’ve learned that I have no talent for making trouble, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t at least try.
And right now, with only Cecil among us being nobility.
Wouldn’t this be far easier to pull off than usual?
‘I could just slip away without a word.’
That would make me someone rude, leaving without even saying goodbye.
Then Cecil would seize the opportunity to curse me, spreading the word everywhere, and my reputation would plummet.
‘That’s fine, though.’
I grinned wickedly and shoved the rest of the Sandwich into my mouth in one go.
Then I brushed off my hands and rose to my feet.
“I need to step away for a moment.”
Lou looked at me as if to ask where I was going, but I didn’t answer.
I assumed he’d figure it out on his own—when a lady excuses herself, it’s usually to visit the powder room.
“Of course, please take your time.”
As I’d expected, Lou didn’t question me further.
So I was able to leave quite leisurely, even putting on my coat.
“Speaking of which, Lou, something amusing happened not long ago…….”
The moment I stood, I caught sight of Cecil stepping close—nearly a handspan away—from Lou, but I paid it no mind.
After all, Lou wouldn’t like her anyway.
‘……Hmm?’
No.
That wasn’t the point, was it?
The point was that Lou and I are pretending to be a couple.
Whether Lou likes Cecil or not is none of my concern.
So why did I just think that?
‘I don’t know. What’s wrong with me lately?’
The Grape Juice I had earlier must have disagreed with me.
There’s no other reason I’d keep having such strange thoughts.
‘I’ll take digestive medicine when we get back.’
I should have listened to the physician.
Smacking my lips, I quickened my pace.
I wanted to escape the Lakeside before Lou could catch on.
It was in that very moment, as I quickened my pace.
“Hm?”
A familiar scent pricked the tip of my nose.
Acrid, thick, and fetid…….
“Blood?”
I spun sharply toward the source of the smell and bolted.
It was instinct.
The instinct to save someone if they were hurt.
What finally caught my eye was
“Help! Please, somebody help me!”
a small child surrounded by a pack of crocodiles.

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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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