I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 117

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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 117

 

The Imperial Army seemed flustered by Edwin and the knights’ momentum.

 

I too couldn’t help but be taken aback by their attitude, as if they were truly prepared for war.

 

The Lombard Army was the Empire’s strongest knight order and Edwin was a warrior who stood at the pinnacle, but even so, war wasn’t something to decide impulsively.

 

It meant Edwin had already been considering even this kind of situation.

 

‘He’s been prepared for this from the moment I got involved in this matter…’

 

I could feel how much he respected and cherished me.

 

That made me feel even more sorry.

 

“Then we have no choice but to report today’s events to His Majesty. I hope you won’t regret this later.”

 

“Don’t talk nonsense about regret.”

 

“Aren’t you the ones actually yapping like dogs with ten tails? If you want, why don’t you take off your rank insignia and face us one-on-one right now?”

 

Staff Secretary Stefan drew his sword.

 

The Imperial Army flinched momentarily at his momentum, but soon bristled and gripped their swords. They seemed to think that while Edwin might be impossible, a mere knight would be manageable.

 

Just when the atmosphere turned ominously tense as if bloodshed would break out at any moment.

 

With rough, gasping breaths, the cardinal party finally arrived.

 

“Stop! Everyone stop!”

 

“Why are those people here…”

 

The crimson cassocks and birettas worn by the three men immediately proved their status.

 

The Imperial Army, who seemed not to have heard the news of the cardinals entering the palace, looked at each other with surprised faces.

 

Then, Cardinal Nonna stepped forward.

 

“What on earth are you doing right now!”

 

Gone was his good-natured smile, replaced by fierce eyes like a tiger glaring at the chaotic barracks area.

 

“Look at who lies fallen beneath your feet. They are innocent sick people. Remove those feet that trample them immediately!!”

 

“…”

 

Even though there had been the Emperor’s orders, the Empire was an Orthodox nation.

 

The Imperial Army, being devout Orthodox believers, could not dare defy God’s representatives.

 

A power from an entirely different dimension than worldly status or position was protecting them.

 

Cardinal Vincent, who stepped forward next, crossed through the frozen crowd.

 

“If you don’t wish for friction with the Holy See, please withdraw.”

 

He made the Imperial Army withdraw first, then had Edwin and the Lombard knights, who were still in confrontation, withdraw as well.

 

Stefan, receiving Edwin’s signal, sheathed his sword.

 

The citizens who recognized the cardinals began kneeling in unison and weeping, even though they could barely support their bodies from being beaten and dragged around.

 

Cardinal Vincent, who had been looking at them sadly, approached me.

 

“It’s alright now. Please raise your head.”

 

“Cardinal, the child…”

 

I couldn’t continue speaking and instead carefully held out the child in my arms.

 

The child’s life was slipping away like sand between fingers.

 

Their condition had been poor since dawn, but now they looked so precarious that even telling them to be strong felt cruel.

 

Cardinal Vincent placed his hand on the child’s forehead and prayed quietly.

 

“Oh Leto, take away this child’s suffering and guide them purely with your light. Grant them fearless rest and peace.”

 

“Ugh, urgh….”

 

Was this their last burst of strength? The child who had been breathing intermittently opened their eyes with difficulty.

 

Vincent looked into the child’s eyes and whispered kindly.

 

“Do not be afraid. The merciful Father is waiting for you.”

 

“Will it not… hurt there?”

 

“Of course not. I can see it with my eyes. Leto’s messenger who has come to take you.”

 

At those words, the child lifted their gaze with difficulty. And as if encountering something they had never seen before, their eyes widened greatly.

 

“Ah, I can see it too. A dazzling… angel….”

 

The small hand finally fell powerlessly to the ground.

 

In the heavy silence, tears filled Vincent’s eyes as he stroked the still-warm forehead.

 

Cardinal Nonna and the priests also hung their heads, unable to continue speaking at the tragic sight.

 

While everyone prayed silently for the deceased, the young woman endlessly wiped the child’s hands stained with blood and dirt.

 

But since her hands were also covered in blood and dirt, no matter how much she wiped like a mad person, the child’s hands would not become clean.

 

Biting my lips, I finally grasped the woman’s hands.

 

“I’ll send them off looking as clean and beautiful as any noble child. Leave the funeral to me.”

 

“Thank you. Truly, thank you….”

 

“Don’t do that. I don’t deserve your thanks.”

 

“No, thanks to Madam stepping forward, my child has gone to God’s side. They won’t hurt anymore now. They won’t cry from pain anymore.”

 

“….”

 

“That alone is enough for me. I’m truly relieved….”

 

The woman who had been trying to speak calmly finally collapsed helplessly.

 

Clinging to my hand like a lifeline, she began to wail until her throat was raw.

 

I felt indescribably devastated.

 

I couldn’t protect the child or stop the Imperial Army, so what right did I have to receive words of gratitude?

 

People who had barely pulled themselves together began gathering around one by one.

 

Those who had been trapped here and had grown close like family comforted the young couple and carefully stroked the child who had departed on a distant journey while praying.

 

“Oh God, save this pitiful lamb.”

 

“Let them rest peacefully in your embrace.”

 

I placed the limp child into their mother’s arms.

 

Then I refused the support of those around me and struggled to stand up, staggering as I made my way through the crowd.

 

‘Damn it, I….’

 

I was suffocating from self-loathing.

 

If I can’t even protect one small child, what use is my position as a duchess and what meaning does my status as a princess have?

 

I was still utterly powerless.

 

The fading breath in my arms, the voice that had struggled to ask if mom and dad were safe, still echoed clearly in my ears.

 

Ah, I wish everything would just crumble away.

 

“Elisia, Elisia?!”

 

“Madam!”

 

“Madam, please regain consciousness…!”

 

All sounds echo dully as if submerged in deep water.

 

I knew Edwin was desperately calling out to me as I collapsed, but right now I just wanted to sleep.

 

* * *

 

Every situation was tightening around the Emperor’s throat moment by moment.

 

The rumors had already grown beyond control.

 

Everyone had clearly seen the three cardinals from the Holy Capital break through the ironclad Royal Guards and enter the Imperial Palace.

 

The same went for the sight of Holy Knights lined up outside the Imperial Palace.

 

People began to wonder why they had entered the palace in such haste.

 

Those who suspected something had happened within the Imperial Court multiplied in an instant.

 

‘Your Majesty, this incident has gone beyond our control. From the moment the Ministers intervened, it became impossible to handle quietly. So for now, you must keep those involved in this matter confined to the Imperial Court. If we cannot stop the rumors, we must at least make the flow work in our favor.’

 

Even Nigel couldn’t provide his usual decisive answers.

 

He only repeated that they needed to buy time first, so they should tie down those people’s feet to prevent the rumors from going in strange directions.

 

But Vittorio IV thought differently.

 

The fact that Baldin’s Emperor was being swayed by mere Ministers from the Holy Capital wounded his pride.

 

Despite his direct and indirect warnings to the Ministers not to act rashly, hadn’t they stubbornly followed Elisia in and escalated the situation?

 

The very fact that those who had disrespected him were staying in the Imperial Court as honored guests felt like an insult to him.

 

Moreover, the Ministers were protecting Elisia and demanding the liberation of those lowly sewer rats.

 

They even added that this news had already reached the Pope’s ears.

 

With all kinds of reports pouring in day after day, the Emperor’s patience was rapidly wearing thin.

 

Nothing was going his way.

 

“Damn it, damn it, damn it!!”

 

He violently struck the table where he was dining and finally shouted in frustration.

 

“With the situation this dire, where the hell is Nigel and what is he doing?!”

 

“I heard he’s contacting religious figures to manage public opinion.”

 

“Good thing there are no annoying nagging voices around. At this point, it would be easier to just kill them all.”

 

Lady Perez, who was dining beside him, widened her eyes at the Emperor’s muttering.

 

The Chief Chamberlain who was responding to him turned pale with shock and knelt down.

 

“Pl-please withdraw your anger! If Duke Lombard’s wife meets with misfortune in the Imperial Court, we will immediately face all-out war with the Lombard Army stationed outside the Imperial Capital.”

 

“…”

 

“Furthermore, if even the Ministers from the Holy Capital are harmed, then it will be difficult to restore the hearts of the nobles and citizens. Please consider this deeply!”

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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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