I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 136

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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 136

 

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We discussed what to do going forward.

 

Since we had decided what to do after escaping the Imperial Capital, now we needed to find the most important thing—a way to escape from the Imperial Capital.

 

However, we hadn’t come up with any clear solutions yet, so we decided to think about it more.

 

Since we had met after a long time, we shared a meal and caught up until the sun had set.

 

Isabella saw me off as I left the mansion.

 

“Oh, right. Sermont is writing the second volume of his poetry collection.”

 

“Tell him I really liked the title. I never imagined I’d be the protagonist, but I’ve decided to enjoy it. When else in life would I get to be a great writer’s muse?”

 

“He was confident that Elze would be pleased with it.”

 

“How embarrassing.”

 

Despite saying that, I had actually sent a hundred copies to Lombard to keep as heirlooms for generations.

 

But since I was in front of Isabella, I pretended to be modest for now.

 

“But now that the incident is resolved, is a second volume really necessary? The first volume seemed complete enough.”

 

“That’s because Elze doesn’t know Sermont’s specialty.”

 

“Specialty?”

 

At my question, Isabella just smiled silently, telling me to wait and see.

 

I wonder what kind of shocking title he’s planning to come up with this time.

 

Anyway, after our tearful farewell—I wanted to live with Isabella forever—I got in the carriage and headed toward the Lombard mansion.

 

The distance was far and we still had a long way to go when the carriage suddenly stopped.

 

“What’s suddenly…”

 

Before I could finish speaking, the knights immediately drew their swords.

 

Something was happening.

 

I hurriedly stuck my head out the window, and Gareth stepped forward with a fierce expression.

 

“What business do you have blocking the Duchess’s carriage?”

 

“Ho, are you drawing swords against the Emperor’s army? Lombard truly doesn’t fear war, it seems.”

 

A man’s face was revealed among the torches held by the enemy forces.

 

It was the Imperial Knight Captain I had encountered at the court barracks.

 

“Heresy charges have been brought against Elisia La Lombard. If you don’t step aside quietly, this won’t end as nicely as last time.”

 

“Nonsense. As long as we’re alive, you can’t touch a single hair on Madam’s head.”

 

“Ha, loyalty prepared for death.”

 

The man arrogantly lifted his chin and continued.

 

“How tearfully touching.”

 

“…”

 

There was a reason he could act so leisurely. The difference in numbers between our side and theirs was too great.

 

The Emperor’s face, stained with humiliation and shame from the day of the civil uprising, suddenly came to mind.

 

This seemed to be the final act of defiance from Vittorio IV, who had been cornered.

 

‘Still, I didn’t think he’d make such a foolish choice.’

 

The Emperor, who had tried to force conversion to the new religion and large-scale persecution, was receiving countless suspicious glances.

 

In such a situation, if I—the focal point and symbol of the Orthodox faith—were harmed?

 

The citizens would interpret it as the Emperor not giving up his intention to convert and would rise up explosively.

 

Even now he was barely maintaining power, but then the Emperor would truly be finished.

 

‘Can’t his advisors even make such basic calculations?’

 

As an Emperor, he couldn’t be without advisors, and most importantly, Nigel was by his side, yet the Emperor had been making only the worst moves at some point.

 

As if he didn’t understand the rules of the game at all.

 

‘Is the Emperor going on a rampage alone, or has Nigel let go of the Emperor’s hand?’

 

I didn’t know which it was, but…

 

First, I needed to solve the problem in front of me.

 

Despite the protests of Gareth and the guards, I got out of the carriage.

 

Seeing this, the Imperial army commander spoke with feigned politeness.

 

“Former Duchess, heresy charges have been brought against you. If you comply with the arrest quietly, we promise to treat you with courtesy.”

 

“Heresy? Whose judgment is that? I need to know who dared to define me as a heretic.”

 

“His Majesty the Emperor made the judgment through proper procedures.”

 

Of course.

 

I chuckled and continued.

 

“Is this the Holy Capital? In Baldin, imperial power and religious authority are separated, and His Majesty has no qualification to identify heretics. This is clearly an illegal arrest.”

 

The first thing I did after entering this body was to confirm the proper procedures for heresy trials.

 

Unless it was the Pope or a priest from the Heresy Inquisition of the Holy Capital, neither judgment nor punishment was possible.

 

In other words, leading religious trials in civilian areas was clearly illegal regardless of one’s status.

 

It had become established practice through power over a long time, so now almost no one knew the truth.

 

“It’s specified in Article 42, Section 1 of the Arzenbach Orthodox Church Law, so check it yourself.”

 

“Th-that is…!”

 

The captain couldn’t properly refute and mumbled his words.

 

It was an instantaneous reaction, but it was enough to know the answer.

 

“What? Why can’t you answer properly? You’re not pretending not to know when you actually do, are you? Those who distort the law to suit secular tastes are the real heretics, sir.”

 

“…”

 

The commander’s silence was obviously strange to anyone watching.

 

If he refuted that no such law existed, he would become a sinner before God, but if he agreed, he couldn’t bear the Emperor’s retaliation.

 

Murmurs began to leak out from among the Imperial soldiers standing behind.

 

“Could that really be true?”

 

“Then what happens to us? If we don’t follow His Majesty’s orders…”

 

They seemed to be thinking the same thing.

 

They feared incurring God’s wrath, but they equally feared the Emperor who could shake their lives immediately.

 

I didn’t miss their hesitation.

 

“I warn you again. What you’re trying to do now is illegal detention under the guise of heresy trial. If you still arrest me, His Majesty will have violated religious authority.”

 

There was a reason I spoke loudly and clearly.

 

Though it was late at night when everyone was asleep, people who sensed something strange began coming outside one by one.

 

Some recognized my face and were surprised, asking what was happening.

 

The Imperial army commander bit his lip, seemingly anxious about this situation.

 

“Don’t think you can escape with petty tricks. If you refuse arrest, we’ll have no choice but to use force.”

 

Then he drew his sword.

 

Having made up their minds following their commander, all the Imperial soldiers likewise drew their swords.

 

Naturally, our knights didn’t just stand still either.

 

“Good, you dared to point swords at Madam, so from now on it’s war.”

 

“If you want to try it, go ahead!”

 

“Stop!!”

 

I intervened before it was too late.

 

It wasn’t because I didn’t trust the skills of the Lombard Knights. It was more problematic because I trusted them.

 

If there were large-scale casualties among the Imperial forces, then it would be war.

 

Edwin said he wasn’t afraid of war and that was very likely sincere, but not for me.

 

Most importantly, war could be a good justification for the Emperor to push aside Parliament and the bureaucrats and regain his lost power.

 

This had to be prevented.

 

‘I knew from the beginning that words wouldn’t work.’

 

Instead, I could make the negotiation more favorable.

 

“If I alone can prevent war, I’ll comply with the arrest. But I have conditions.”

 

“Madam!!”

 

The knights behind me protested in unison, but I ignored them and continued.

 

“Let Sir Gareth and Sir Stefan accompany me as guards. If you don’t accept my conditions, I won’t cooperate with this illegal detention.”

 

Gareth and Stefan, who had been making the most noise, fell quiet.

 

Instead, the remaining knights began clamoring about why they were being left out.

 

No, is that really what’s important right now?

 

‘Sorry, but there’s no choice.’

 

According to what I heard from Edwin, those two were among the most outstanding talents in the Lombard Knights.

 

One with monstrous military force, the other with meticulous strategy.

 

Though they each had shortcomings in intelligence and patience respectively, anyway—

 

“What’s going on? Why is the Former Duchess being taken away?”

 

“They say the Emperor has accused the Former Duchess of heresy.”

 

“Shouldn’t we step in?”

 

The crowd of onlookers, which had started with barely ten people, was steadily growing. Dragging out time like this was clearly disadvantageous for the Imperial Army.

 

The commander, who had been gauging the situation, finally agreed to negotiate.

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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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