I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 100

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#Episode 100

 

While the women around me began agreeing one by one, I slowly backed away.

 

I had to get back to Isabella’s side.

 

Right now, only that thought filled my mind.

 

‘How hard was it to get this opportunity? I can’t let it slip away like this.’

 

If possible, I wanted to firmly imprint my existence on her.

 

In a positive way, naturally.

 

So that when we met in passing, we’d greet each other by name, and when good new publications came out, we’d briefly share our thoughts, and ideally develop into the kind of relationship where we’d exchange letters asking after each other’s well-being every year.

 

Hah hah, just thinking about it makes me so happy I could go crazy!

 

Just as I was trying to slip away naturally, the Empress’s lady-in-waiting quietly called me over.

 

“Her Majesty is looking for the Duchess.”

 

“…”

 

At this point, it felt like the entire world was preventing me from getting close to Isabella.

 

I wailed inwardly as I moved to a quiet corner.

 

Mariana, who had been conversing with the Bishop, sensed someone approaching and turned her head.

 

“You were looking for me, Your Majesty?”

 

“Elisia.”

 

The Empress’s expression remained composed as always, but somehow she seemed tired.

 

In fact, even I was surprised by today’s events, so that said it all.

 

No matter how narrow Mariana’s position within the Imperial Palace was, I never expected them to try to overturn even an important day like the Feast of the Holy Mother with such strange accusations.

 

It was too extreme to be just about humiliating a wife they didn’t get along with.

 

“I owe you a great debt today. If you hadn’t pointed out the flaws in that official document, my dignity would have been greatly damaged.”

 

“I merely pointed out what was wrong. How could I stand by and watch such improper behavior?”

 

“Even after marriage, your temperament hasn’t gone anywhere.”

 

Though she said that, her tone wasn’t particularly reproachful.

 

The Empress let out a quiet sigh and continued speaking.

 

“By the way, how did you catch the flaws in that official document? You never knew about such things before.”

 

“If I were to tell you how much I suffered after marrying into Lombard, three days and nights wouldn’t be enough. After becoming the mistress of a grand territory, there was a mountain of things to learn.”

 

“Ah…”

 

The Empress, who was from the Southern Region, nodded with sympathetic eyes.

 

Compared to the warm and livable Southern Region, the cold Northern Region with its food shortages had to be that much stricter about rules and procedures.

 

But Lombard’s procedures were beyond strict—they were fortress-level, so even from my position as the duchess, there were countless frustrating incidents.

 

Without realizing it, I poured out my complaints—and as I spoke, my anger gradually built up in layers, so I think I might have mixed in some curses too—and the Empress burst into hearty laughter and relaxed her shoulders.

 

“You really haven’t changed at all. I thought you’d become more mature, but inside you’re exactly the same.”

 

“A-ahem…”

 

“That’s exactly like your sister from childhood. She was merciful and virtuous in public settings, but spirited and full of courage in front of family.”

 

The Empress’s eyes, which had been gazing at me intently, suddenly reddened.

 

Margarita, Elisia’s mother, had twelve siblings in total, and she was especially close to Mariana, the youngest.

 

If she has longing for her sister who passed away early, she would inevitably feel some affection for the only niece her sister left behind.

 

I also thought while watching such Mariana.

 

‘What a truly pitiful story. But my current situation is more urgent.’

 

Even if she condemned me as heartless and ruthless, it couldn’t be helped.

 

But today was particularly troublesome. Seriously, genuinely, all my attention was focused on just one thing—the empty seat next to Isabella.

 

Whenever someone tried to sit there, Caterina politely asked for their understanding, saying it was an occupied seat.

 

But the empty seats in the chapel were gradually decreasing. We couldn’t refuse forever.

 

I patted Mariana’s hand to appropriately wrap up the conversation.

 

“Anyway, helping each other as blood family is only natural. Your Majesty the Empress, please don’t think of it as a debt and feel free to forget about it.”

 

“Still, you haven’t forgotten family affection.”

 

“It’s only natural. Your Majesty the Empress, then I shall take my leave—”

 

I nodded heartily and was about to turn around when Mariana continued speaking.

 

“From now on, feel free to call me aunt.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“If I had thought of your sister, I should have done this long ago. My position in the Imperial Court isn’t great, but I’ll help you as much as I can.”

 

“No, no?!”

 

I had simply wanted to make a good impression on Isabella.

 

But it seemed my confrontation with the Protocol Minister had unexpectedly affected Mariana’s feelings.

 

When I firmly declined, Mariana looked even more sorrowful.

 

“I’m sorry, Elisia.”

 

“…”

 

“I know you must have resented me. But please let me fulfill my responsibilities as your aunt, even now.”

 

Mariana carefully took my hand and continued speaking.

 

She should have stopped me when I went astray, but at the time she had just married into the family and had to tread carefully for years until she gave birth to Joseph, so she couldn’t dare to intervene.

 

But seeing how the Emperor treated her so coldly today, she was truly ashamed of her past self who had abandoned family affection to gain his favor.

 

I listened to Mariana’s confession and thought to myself.

 

‘No, the real Elisia wasn’t at a level where she would have listened even if you tried to stop her.’

 

Considering all the countless misdeeds and corruption she committed in Lombard…

 

Sorry for breaking the touching atmosphere, but I was naturally a thinking type, so I didn’t get along well with feeling types.

 

Fortunately, at that moment, a priest approached and whispered something in the ladies-in-waiting’s ears.

 

The ladies-in-waiting, who were all feeling types apparently, quietly dabbed their eyes with handkerchiefs before finally calling the Empress.

 

“Your Majesty, you must begin the ceremony now.”

 

“Has the time already come?”

 

Mariana nodded and rose from her seat.

 

In the blink of an eye, she erased her tired and weary expression and once again wore the flawlessly perfect face of an Empress.

 

Indeed, being a member of the Imperial Family isn’t something just anyone can do.

 

Anyway, I was internally cheering that I was finally free, when the Empress continued speaking.

 

“Elisia, today you should also sit at the head table.”

 

“What?! No, I don’t have the qualifications for that…”

 

“Though from a branch family, you carry the blood of the Imperial House. You’re also my niece, so you’re more than qualified.”

 

Then without even listening to my answer, she went up to the head table first!

 

Of course, unable to give up on becoming a successful follower, I naturally tried to slip away and escape to the seat next to Isabella.

 

But the Empress’s ladies-in-waiting suddenly acted friendly and linked arms with me.

 

Then they made me sit right next to Mariana!

 

Since the Empress had the highest status in the chapel, it was natural for her to sit on the right. So who sat on my left—

 

“Oh my, I get to see you here, sister?”

 

“It’s annoying, so don’t make me talk.”

 

It was Princess Rosalind.

 

She chattered away with words that could be praise or sarcasm, wearing a bright smile like a flower.

 

“You were quite impressive earlier, weren’t you? To humiliate Father’s retainer like that in front of everyone.”

 

“…”

 

“Should I say that courage without thinking of consequences is just like you, sister? Anyway, it was amazing.”

 

“The ceremony will begin soon, so be quiet, Rosalind.”

 

The Empress intervened to stop Rosalind’s sarcasm.

 

Of course, there was no way she would obediently listen.

 

In a situation where Nigel, the legitimate eldest son, inheriting the throne was a foregone conclusion—he just hadn’t been formally invested as Crown Prince yet—it was obvious how Rosalind would view Mariana.

 

Probably as an old fox who would soon have to retreat to the back rooms with her late-born son?

 

‘Ah, I’m doomed.’

 

In many ways, that was true.

 

First, the empty seat that Caterina had been guarding was eventually taken by someone else, and I lost my way back.

 

In such a situation, I was stuck immobile between the Empress and Rosalind, having to endure the nerve war between them with my whole body.

 

‘Sob sob sob sob.’

 

Where in the world is there such ingratitude?

 

Whatever the reason, I helped her, so how could she repay me like this?!

 

I worship Isabella, I want to get even a little closer to her, but the entire universe was actively interfering with my attempts to join the clique.

 

As expected, followers can’t join cliques!

 

Once again, I cried in my heart.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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