Hiding My Identity From My Husband - Chapter 34

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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 34

—Look into Adrian’s background for me.

That was the order I gave Pinky.
Of course, I didn’t expect him to uncover everything about Adrian.
It wasn’t that I underestimated his abilities—Adrian was simply too skilled at concealing himself.
‘At least I’d like to know what drives him.’
I murmured that to myself and approached Pinky, who was waving at me from a distance.
“Charle! I’m here!”
I could’ve figured that out without the announcement.
I smiled faintly and opened the door to the warehouse.
This was an Abandoned Warehouse.
Originally, I’d planned to sneak him into the Estate and speak privately in a room, but now that I couldn’t predict Rue’s movements, I couldn’t afford to take that risk.
So I’d moved our meeting here, to a nearby Abandoned Warehouse.
“How have you been? You seem even more radiant than before!”
“Flattery like that for a greeting tells me you didn’t find much, does it?”
“Ha, haha. What makes you think that!”
Pinky laughed awkwardly, his eyes darting away.
When I fixed him with a steady gaze, Pinky sagged his shoulders in resignation and answered.
“You’re right.”
I thought as much.
My brow furrowed slightly.
“But it’s not like I found nothing at all!”
Pinky patted his chest earnestly, as if pleading for me to trust him a little longer.
Then he pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket.
“First, look at this.”
Pinky handed me the paper as he spoke.
“Besides the four incidents you were involved in, I’ve written down the suspicious incidents that suddenly occurred among the Noble Houses.”
I examined the paper.

[Montalt Duke House: Stepdaughter of the duke vanishes during a recital
Howard Baron House: Carriage exploded—no deaths, but the baron severely injured
Belmore Marquis House: Mass food poisoning symptoms]

……
“And all of this happened under the Kataclysm’s plans.”
I’d suspected it might be the case, but it really was Kataclysm’s doing.
“Why?”
“I couldn’t find that out.”
Right. After Henry was purged, Pinky had become adrift—information of that magnitude would be difficult for him to obtain.
If that’s how it stands, I’ll have to step in myself.
“But!”
Worried that my mood might sour, Pinky hurriedly continued.
“I did discover that Adrian is doing something else separately.”
“Something else?”
“Yes.”
Then, with a rather darkened expression, he spoke.
“He’s been distributing Modified Aura.”
“……Adrian’s been doing that?”
“Yes.”
I knew that Modified Aura was being distributed, but I hadn’t known Adrian was behind it.
“It’s incredibly popular among the young aristocrats right now. They say they won’t even host late-night parties without it.”
This is strange.
Kataclysm is an organization that moves for the sake of the Empire’s security, so why would they harm the nobility and addict them to drugs?
“By the way, that’s why they killed Themis.”
Pinky’s face had grown even darker as he said it.
“Themis was opposed to it, you see.”
“…….”
I steadied my breath, which kept threatening to falter.
“Adrian said the commander ordered him to kill Themis.”
And I murmured slowly.
“But that could be a lie. Adrian’s been distributing Modified Aura, after all…….”
I tried to organize my thoughts again.
The attempt to throw a Noble House into chaos,
and the addiction of noble heirs using Modified Aura.
When I thought about the ‘why’ behind these two things… an answer surfaced.
‘Surely not.’
I didn’t want to believe it, but no other explanation came to mind.
My hands clenched into fists without my realizing it.
If it really was that reason—if he’d destroyed a Noble House and distributed the drug for that…….
‘I need to go to Headquarters.’
I had to meet Bailer there.
But I couldn’t move right now.
Tonight’s venture ended here.
‘Soon though.’
I had to go before anything worse happened.
After organizing my thoughts, I pulled the Gold Coin Pouch from my pocket.
“Take this.”
“Much obliged!”
Pinky bowed deeply and accepted the pouch.
I watched for a moment as he grinned, opened the pouch, and began counting the coins, then spoke.
“Let’s meet again on the night of the new moon.”
Pinky tucked the Gold Coin Pouch into his pocket.
“Is there anything else I should look into by then?”
“Keep feeding me news from inside Kataclysm like you have been. Dig deeper into Adrian if you can.”
“Understood.”
Pinky saluted in acknowledgment, then paused, fumbling with his hair.
“Oh, and.”
He removed the pin that held back his bangs and handed it to me.
“Henry gave this to me. It’s a magnetic pin. I thought it’d be better if you kept it, just in case.”
I looked down at the pin he offered.
“Magnetic?”
“Yes. Apparently it’s for opening secret safes and such… but I’ve never used it since I don’t know where any safe is.”
I’d probably be in the same boat, but it was better to have it anyway. I nodded.
“Thanks.”
“Not at all.”
He laughed lightly and tilted his head back.
The night sky embroidered with stars was clear, unlike the turbulence in my mind.
“Take care of yourself.”
I ruffled Pinky’s hair as I spoke.
“Things are getting genuinely dangerous now.”

* * *

On the way home.
Walking through the darkness, I fell into thought.

[Montalte Ducal House: Adopted daughter goes missing during a concert
Howard Baronial House: Carriage explosion—no deaths, but the Baron severely injured
Belmore Marquessate: Outbreak of mass food poisoning]

The Montalte Ducal House is an ancient family that patronizes the Imperial Court’s orchestras and artists.
The Howard Baron works in the Finance Ministry.
And lastly, the Belmore Marquessate manages the distribution network of luxury foodstuffs supplied to the Imperial Court.
‘All of these are connected to the Imperial Court.’
The nobles involved in the four incidents I’d encountered were each linked to the Imperial Court as well.
In other words…….
‘Something’s happening between Kataclysm and the Imperial Court.’
Ugh.
I ran my fingers through my hair.
‘Was it a mistake to come back to the Empire?’
The moment I set foot in the Empire, I felt swept up in one catastrophe after another.
And now I know things I absolutely never wanted to know.
‘But it’s not as though I had a choice about coming back.’
No matter how I look at it, there’s no option but to deal with what’s been thrown at me.
‘Until I have a clear picture, I shouldn’t act recklessly.’
With that thought, I retraced my steps, scaled the wall, climbed the tree, and made my way to my room’s window.
The window was still open, which suggested no one had entered while I was gone.
So without suspicion, I gripped the windowsill and pulled myself up, stepping inside.
And then.
“……What?”
My instincts kicked in. I stumbled backward, pressing myself against the window frame.
There was someone in the pitch-black darkness of my room.
“W-who……?”
At that very moment.
The moon, hidden behind clouds, slowly revealed itself. A clear, luminous shaft of light streamed through the window, flooding the room.
“Charle.”
No, it couldn’t be…….
“It’s late in the evening. Where have you been?”
The figure bathed completely in moonlight was,
Themis.
Oh, for heaven’s sake.

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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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