I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 132

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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 132

 

“The Emperor is heading to Parliament?!”

 

People jumped up in surprise.

 

I was the same.

 

‘What was bound to come has finally arrived.’

 

The Emperor regarded Parliament as both a thorn in his side and a troublesome shackle.

 

Not only did he spare no means or methods to reduce Parliament’s authority, but since his ascension to the throne, he rarely set foot there.

 

From the fact that such an Emperor had suddenly convened Parliament, his intentions could be easily surmised.

 

‘He’s trying to change the state religion.’

 

This was different from ordinary political matters.

 

It wasn’t simply a matter of faith.

 

It was an issue that would shake the entire nation, including laws and institutions, as well as taxation and administration.

 

Therefore, no matter how much of an Emperor he was, he couldn’t meddle with religion without Parliament’s approval.

 

‘But I never thought he’d rush to push through conversion like this.’

 

The Emperor’s recent movements had been difficult to predict.

 

Since he wouldn’t listen to advice from those around him and moved impulsively as he pleased, even Edwin’s specialty of intelligence warfare was difficult to employ in such cases.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

Among the murmuring citizens, voices mixed with concern began to burst out one by one.

 

“Could it be… is the Emperor really trying to convert?”

 

“If not that, what other reason would there be for suddenly going to Parliament?”

 

At first the atmosphere was one of half-belief and half-doubt, but suspicion soon hardened into conviction.

 

“No doubt about it. The Emperor is trying to pressure Parliament to force through conversion!”

 

“If we leave this be, bloody persecution will break out. Everyone saw what happened in Pavia!”

 

“Now that the Emperor has come out of the palace is our chance. Everyone rise up and chase after the Emperor’s carriage!!”

 

Their anxiety eventually turned into anger.

 

The fear that had been gradually building since the marriage alliance with Pavia had finally exploded.

 

The people who rose from their seats began running toward the direction where the Emperor’s carriage had been spotted, as if by prior arrangement.

 

As the incident grew beyond control, Gareth and the guards protecting me cautiously asked.

 

“Madam, what would you like to do?”

 

“…”

 

It was such a sudden development.

 

However, the situation had already passed the critical point.

 

‘By now, this information must have reached Edwin’s ears too.’

 

If so, there was no more reason to hesitate.

 

I should head to the scene as well.

 

* * *

 

Emperor Vittorio IV’s patience had hit rock bottom.

 

Thanks to his daughter, whom he had foolishly raised with indulgence, thinking she just needed to be married off well, public sentiment had completely turned away from the imperial family.

 

At the same time, popular support for Elisia grew day by day.

 

It had reached the point where people were saying she, not Vittorio, should have become Emperor.

 

The more he thought about it, the more his drink lost its taste, so the Emperor threw down his cup.

 

“Tch, if they were going to poison her, they should have done it properly!”

 

Someone who had been coughing up blood and dying had resumed official duties in less than twenty days.

 

The Emperor believed this was not unrelated to the visit from the Minister of Doctrinal Affairs.

 

This was because he had directly confirmed the reality of divine power through the sacred relics secretly smuggled from the Holy Capital.

 

Divine power was not mere rumor or legend.

 

It was a force that could revive even those who were dying.

 

But the citizens, unaware of this, accepted Elisia’s recovery as a ‘miracle.’ They said God had bestowed grace upon her, who had endured harsh trials all her life.

 

Support and praise that Vittorio had never received in his lifetime, even while sitting on the throne, was pouring out for her.

 

Grinding his teeth, he immediately summoned the National Minister.

 

“How is the matter of persuading Parliament going?!”

 

National Minister Duke Kansio was in charge of either persuading or pressuring Parliament behind the scenes to agree to conversion.

 

The Duke, hastily summoned, bowed his head.

 

“I apologize. We’ve obtained agreement from the pro-imperial faction, but the rest…”

 

“Oh, really?”

 

Vittorio’s eyebrow rose subtly.

 

“Let’s see if they can remain so stubbornly defiant in front of me as well.”

 

“Pardon?!”

 

“Convene Parliament immediately!”

 

The Emperor was confident.

 

He had never failed to obtain what he wanted in his lifetime. The throne, his wife, and everything else had fallen into his grasp with just a flick of his finger.

 

When he brought elite soldiers to Parliament and declared conversion, how could those insignificant beings possibly stop him?

 

‘I was getting sick of constantly reading the room anyway, so this works out well. I’ll sweep them all away this time.’

 

The Emperor had left the palace with such thoughts, but his carriage stopped in the middle of the street.

 

The captain of the Royal Guards, whom he had sent ahead to Parliament, had somehow returned.

 

“Your Majesty, the situation is not normal. It would be best to return to the palace today.”

 

“Return to the palace? I clearly ordered you to go to Parliament, are you daring to disobey my command?!”

 

“It’s not that, but the citizens…”

 

Before the captain could finish speaking, the shouts of thousands of people came rushing toward his carriage.

 

“The Emperor has abandoned his people!”

 

“Execute the heretic who tries to maintain his throne by selling God’s name!”

 

“Everyone look over there! That’s the carriage Vittorio is in!!”

 

The Emperor, startled by the citizens’ momentum, shouted to return to the palace immediately, but it was already too late.

 

In the blink of an eye, the crowd that filled the streets rushed toward his carriage.

 

The lower-ranking soldiers had already fled, and while the Royal Guards tried to protect the carriage, they were surrounded by the crowd in the confusion.

 

The carriage rattled and shook violently.

 

“You butcher! Don’t hide like a coward and come out!”

 

“Come on, speak directly in front of us instead of Parliament!”

 

The knights barely managed to surround and hold the carriage.

 

But even they were ultimately being pushed around along with the carriage.

 

The angry citizens brought up not only conversion but also the Emperor’s past suspicions one by one.

 

“What happened to the poorhouse corruption investigation! You’re planning to cover it up like this, aren’t you?!”

 

“My father almost died in the tournament accident! Do you know that your atrocities in trying to cover up the incident are already known to the world?!”

 

“Was the poisoning incident on the grand festival really something the Princess did on her own?! Didn’t you orchestrate it from behind and then cut off the tail?!”

 

“Is it true that you handed over the Port of Sige in exchange for settling Pavia’s complaints?!”

 

All kinds of shouts erupted from all directions.

 

Surrounded by angry rioters with no chance to escape, the carriage was swaying precariously with creaking sounds.

 

At this rate, something terrible would surely happen.

 

For the Emperor, it was the first time in his life he felt the fear of death.

 

“Everyone drag that tyrant out of the carriage! Drag him out and make him kneel!!”

 

Led by someone’s cry, people’s actions changed.

 

People struggled desperately to smash the carriage windows or push past the knights to tear off the locked doors.

 

Panic and terror made his vision go completely white.

 

It was when Vittorio squeezed his eyes shut.

 

“Your Majesty, reinforcements have arrived! Hold on just a little longer! All troops, suppress the rioters!!”

 

Through the rough curses and shouts, a familiar voice could be heard from far away.

 

It was Count Germano, Lady Perez’s younger brother and one of the pillars of the Royal Guards.

 

The people surrounding the carriage also spotted him and cried out desperately.

 

“It’s the army! The Emperor has called the army!”

 

“Whether we die this way or that way, it’s all the same in the end. Then I’d rather kill that damn tyrant and become a martyr!!”

 

The carriage’s hinges and joints finally reached their limit.

 

At the same time, knights with drawn swords and spears were charging at full speed toward the citizens from behind.

 

At the moment when massacre was imminent, a noble lady on a snow-white horse intervened between them.

 

“Everyone stop!!”

 

* * *

 

My guards and I rode our horses across the plaza and galloped into the city district.

 

More and more crowds gathered in the streets as people who heard the news came rushing out. However, those who saw my face were startled and immediately cleared the way.

 

“Duchess, over there!!”

 

Those who were directing people using building rooftops as watchtowers pointed in one direction.

 

All around was filled with harsh curses and shouts.

 

Even I felt chills down my spine listening to it, so I wondered what the Emperor, who was receiving all that massive hostility with his entire body, could possibly be thinking.

 

‘An incident must not happen.’

 

This city district wasn’t very far from the Imperial Palace.

 

The moment news of the civil unrest reached them, the Imperial Court would send out the military, and if they clashed with the citizens, a major disaster might unfold.

 

Sure enough—

 

“Your Majesty, the general has arrived! All troops, suppress the rioters!!”

 

Count Germano, who had emerged as a young power in the military, drew his weapon toward the citizens.

 

He had been nothing but a wastrel, but riding on the back of his sister Lady Perez, he had risen to an important military position and was said to be obsessed with achieving merit.

 

Meanwhile, the people were already prepared for martyrdom and ready to face the armed forces with their bare bodies.

 

At this rate, bloodshed would truly be unavoidable.

 

“Sir Gareth, can you follow me?”

 

“I’ll go anywhere.”

 

The knights, unaware of the ordeal—reckless riding—that would soon befall them, nodded their heads.

 

After exchanging glances with them, I roughly yanked Snowflake’s reins.

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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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