I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 112
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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 112
Sensing Edwin’s disappointment, I hurriedly changed my words.
“Of course, there wasn’t a single gift from Ed that didn’t make me happy.”
“….”
“Actually, I loved them all, really! And Pijuki too… No, Ed’s horse was truly the most joyful gift. It’s so white and beautiful, just like looking at pure white snowflakes, you know?”
Looking at Ed’s expression, it seemed my words hadn’t had any effect yet.
I wracked my brain even harder.
“I’ve never seen such a beautiful horse in my life. While I’m at it, I’m thinking of naming it Snowflake. What do you think?”
“I think you just called it Pijuki a moment ago…”
“Hmm? Hmmm? You must have misheard.”
As I tried my best to play innocent, a sudden question flashed through my mind.
My expression changed so dramatically that even Edwin hesitated.
“Elisia?”
“Wait, then what about Snowflake? Where is my Snowflake that Rosalind switched out?!”
A Heidelberg Horse more precious and valuable than gold!
My precious baby whose price alone equals that of an entire castle!!
Perhaps sensing my earnestness and desperation in finding the missing Snowflake—though for slightly different reasons—Edwin’s disappointed gaze returned to normal.
“I’ve already assigned my subordinates to investigate. We’ve found out both where Snowflake is hidden and who hid it.”
“This quickly? How did you manage that?”
Edwin smiled brightly at my question.
“Those who are swayed by money crumble even more easily when faced with larger sums.”
Though the content was rather ominous for something said with such a cheerful smile, Edwin was on my side anyway, so it was fine.
I was relieved that my precious gift hadn’t been harmed.
“Elisia, are you alright?”
“I’m not sure. Thinking about how I saved someone who screwed me over honestly makes me feel even worse. I’d make the same choice if I could turn back time, but I think my methods would be a bit different.”
Something like chasing the runaway horse far away from the arena and ending it there.
As long as the citizens were safe, I couldn’t care less whether Rosalind fell off her horse somewhere alone.
As I was quietly shrugging my shoulders to myself, Caterina and Isabella spotted us and came running over.
After briefly greeting Edwin, they both embraced me tightly.
“Elze, I’m so relieved you’re safe! Watching from the spectator stands, I thought my heart was going to fall out.”
“It was truly fortunate that Lady Elisia’s personal physician was at the construction site. Your husband’s concern for Lady Elisia saved many lives.”
“Ah, haha…”
Now these two had reached the point of accurately understanding why Gilbert was at the arena.
Caterina poked my side with her characteristic knowing look.
At the same time, Isabella carefully took my hand. I decided right then not to wash my hands for a while.
The two said they had been helping Gilbert manage the construction site.
“You must have been so frightened. You’ve been through so much, please go inside and rest.”
“The Marchioness is right. Lady Elisia, you don’t look well.”
I shook my head.
Leaving such chaos behind to rest comfortably alone would only make me feel more uneasy.
I thought it would be better to move around – even if my body got tired, my mind would feel more at ease, so I decided to join the two of them at the site.
“I have experience handling mine accidents in Lombard. The injured people’s conditions are similar to back then, so I think I can be of some help.”
“We were just at a loss about what to do. It feels like the Palace is strangely uncooperative…”
“Go ahead first. I’ll follow shortly.”
Isabella and Caterina left first, and I turned to look at Edwin.
Meeting my gaze, he readily nodded.
“Do what you want to do, Elisia. Supporting that is my role as your husband.”
“Thank you, Ed.”
With the most reliable ally in the world by my side, I had nothing to fear.
* * *
Mariana was heading to the Imperial Palace, holding Joseph’s hand.
It was because she had received a request from her niece Elisia.
Since it was impossible to move the critically injured patients far away, they had to be treated within the Imperial Court for now, but the Imperial Palace wasn’t cooperating at all, so she had asked for help.
“Mother, my legs hurt.”
“It’s alright. Mother will carry you.”
Despite the ladies-in-waiting’s protests, Mariana reached out to Joseph.
The solid warmth of her young son nestling in her arms awakened her spirit.
When Mariana heard the news of Rosalind’s accident, her heart sank.
Naturally, it wasn’t because she was worried about her. She was just afraid of the consequences that would follow.
If something happened to Rosalind, Joseph would become second in line for the throne.
At a time when Nigel’s influence was still strong, the much younger Joseph would be forcibly pushed up to the center of power.
Even full siblings who grew up together tend to turn their backs on each other when faced with power.
Since they didn’t even share the same mother, it was clear that her young son would spend his life walking on thin ice under Nigel’s suspicion and surveillance.
Just imagining that scene made Mariana’s heart break.
This would have happened if Elisia hadn’t saved Rosalind.
‘I can’t ignore our niece’s request.’
Though she knew she would have to face the detestable Lady Perez, Mariana still set foot in the Imperial Palace for the first time in a very long while.
She brought Joseph along because the Emperor at least showed some affection for his youngest son.
Even if that gaze was like looking at a pet.
“Your Majesty the Empress, what brings you here?”
The Chief Chamberlain guarding the entrance was the first to recognize her.
Lady Perez’s ladies-in-waiting were also standing nearby.
But there wasn’t a single person in sight who should be reporting the situation and directing the scene. It was just the usual appearance.
‘No wonder it seemed strange. How many Imperial Physicians are there in this vast Imperial Court, yet there’s no cooperation at all.’
It didn’t take long for her to conclude that the Emperor was trying to cover up the situation.
According to the report Mariana received, the casualties from the accident Rosalind caused numbered close to thirty people.
Most of the injured were severely wounded with little hope of recovery.
‘His Majesty had no intention of acknowledging this incident from the beginning.’
There were too many casualties.
In that case, it would be much cheaper to make it as if nothing happened from the start rather than acknowledge Rosalind’s responsibility and escalate the situation.
Instead of treating the injured and sending them away, they would quietly let them die and dispose of the bodies to erase all traces.
It was a method that only those who had ruled over others’ heads their entire lives would think of.
Mariana, having organized her thoughts, finally answered.
“I came to see His Majesty with Joseph.”
“Lady Perez and her children are currently staying inside.”
“Is that a problem?”
Vittorio IV had two children with his mistress Lady Perez, but under Imperial Law, illegitimate children could not have succession rights.
Unlike Joseph, who as the Emperor’s legitimate son would receive the title of Grand Duke upon reaching adulthood, those children could at best only obtain noble titles in the frontier.
When Joseph wished to have an audience with his Imperial Father, how could a mistress and illegitimate children dare to block him.
“Why are you dawdling? I told you to announce us inside.”
“The thing is…”
The Chief Chamberlain looked somewhat troubled as she came out firmly when normally she would have quietly returned.
“I apologize. His Majesty does not wish to have his private time disturbed.”
“Private time.”
Mariana felt as if she had become an intruder barging into a harmonious family’s time.
Even though she was the Emperor’s wife, and Joseph was his legitimate son.
The moment her pride, which she thought she had long abandoned, was shattered to pieces, she heard someone approaching from inside.
The door opened and Lady Perez appeared.
“Oh my, isn’t this Her Majesty the Empress? What brings you here?”
“It’s been a while. I came to see His Majesty.”
“I’m truly sorry. As Your Majesty the Empress would know, Lord Vittorio is in a very bad mood right now. An audience is impossible today, so you should return.”
Lady Perez’s smile was as beautiful as a rose in full bloom.
But in her eyes, Mariana read an unmistakable sense of superiority.
“…”
For a moment, hot emotion surged up from the depths of her heart.
But Mariana forcibly suppressed it.
She didn’t want to appear as if she was competing for her husband’s affection with his favorite concubine. It was the last pride she had left.
“Then I’ll speak from here.”
“Pardon?”
“Your Majesty, the accident caused by Rosalind resulted in no less than thirty casualties. Yet I hear the court is not even providing them with treatment, let alone a single blanket.”
Lady Perez’s eyes darted around as if flustered.
She could sense movement from inside. The Emperor was certainly listening.
“The Imperial Family must take responsibility for them. Your Majesty, please consider my words carefully.”
Mariana’s reason for deciding to step forward in this matter was not particularly grand.
It was because of her longing for her sister Margarita who had passed away early, and her gratitude toward her niece Elisia who cherished Joseph.
Even if she was a powerless figurehead, she thought she could at least fulfill this much as Empress.
But all that came back was the Emperor’s displeased coughing sound.
Upon hearing this, Lady Perez’s eyes curved beautifully like a crescent moon.
“I can see why Vittorio finds the Empress uncomfortable. Men don’t like women who nag them.”
“….”
“Take care. I won’t go far.”
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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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