I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 147

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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 147

 

‘I knew this would happen.’

 

It was the moment when Mariana’s anxiety became reality.

 

The imperial physicians might have been reading Nigel’s mood, or perhaps they felt no need to show sincerity to Joseph, who had become completely powerless.

 

Either way, the conclusion was that he was now treated like leftovers.

 

Letting out a deep sigh inwardly, I found something to do immediately.

 

I was about to change the towel of the child who had fallen asleep from exhaustion, when Joseph opened his eyes, perhaps sensing my presence.

 

“Oh, Mother?”

 

“It’s me. Sorry I’m not the person you were hoping for.”

 

“Sister Elisia… Are you, are you alright?”

 

“Is this the time to worry about me? Our little child needs to get better quickly. We promised to play hide and seek, didn’t we?”

 

When I replaced the lukewarm towel and touched his forehead, it was burning with fever.

 

Since the medicine wasn’t working, I needed to cool his body down by other means.

 

I took off Joseph’s shirt and carefully wiped his sweat-soaked body with a wet towel.

 

‘Where are the clean clothes?’

 

The imperial physicians who should have been keeping watch had disappeared somewhere, and there was no one around to send on errands.

 

I was about to get up to search through the wardrobe when Joseph grabbed my collar with his tiny hand.

 

“…Are you leaving already?”

 

“Hm?”

 

“Could you, could you stay with me just a little longer? Sob, being alone… scares me.”

 

Even though I hadn’t told him it was measles, he seemed anxious seeing the red spots appearing on his body.

 

I deliberately smiled at the boy who was clearly frightened.

 

“A gentleman can’t keep staying completely undressed, can he? I’m just looking for a clean shirt. I’ll stay with you until you get better, so don’t worry.”

 

“…”

 

“Don’t you trust your sister?”

 

He usually seemed mature for his age, but seeing him like this, he was unmistakably a little child.

 

After struggling to find a shirt and change him into it, I then drew back the curtains and opened the windows.

 

The Imperial Capital Bellenua was geographically located in the south, and with the season entering early summer, the air was warm.

 

Still, direct wind wouldn’t be good for him, so I decided to open only the window farthest from the bed halfway. This should provide enough ventilation.

 

Sigh—

 

‘The effort was worth it.’

 

After confirming that the environment had changed and the child was sleeping soundly, I immediately rushed out of the bedroom and searched the silent Prince’s Palace thoroughly.

 

I found the imperial physicians who were slacking off, scolded them harshly, and made them change the sweat-soaked sheets.

 

“Do it properly, properly. Do you understand?”

 

“Yes, yes…!”

 

The imperial physicians who had initially only pretended to care suddenly began showing sincere dedication the moment I picked up a red-hot poker from the fireplace.

 

‘Tsk, they should have done this from the start.’

 

Thanks to all the effort, Joseph’s complexion looked much more comfortable than before.

 

However, the most problematic fever wouldn’t come down.

 

* * *

 

Night had fallen.

 

Sitting by Joseph’s bedside, I told him old tales from the Northern Region.

 

Unlike the peaceful tales of the Southern Region, the Northern Region’s folklore was filled with adventure and crisis, trials and twists, making the child’s eyes sparkle as he listened.

 

“After ending the long battle, Humburt returned to his hometown carrying the demon’s heart. When he left home, he was merely a knight, but now he had become a hero praised by all.”

 

“So what happened? Did Humburt finally meet his mother when he returned home?”

 

“No.”

 

I lowered my voice heavily.

 

“When Humburt opened the front door of his house, the home that had been full of warmth and the scent of human life… was already cold and empty.”

 

“Why, why?!”

 

“Because Humburt’s elderly mother was already dead. She had been so shocked by the fact that her only child had left for the Northern Wall that she fell gravely ill.”

 

“…”

 

“From the moment he ran away from home saying he would become a hero, there was no way to reverse his fate.”

 

Joseph gulped at this tragic story he was hearing for the first time.

 

Perhaps because of the harsh natural environment that humans find difficult to overcome.

 

Northern folklore tended to have many stories about individuals becoming powerless before great fate.

 

Then, Joseph, who had been thinking deeply, asked in a small voice.

 

“Do you think Humburt regretted it?”

 

“Well, but if Humburt had chosen his mother, he wouldn’t have been able to achieve his dream of becoming a hero.”

 

“…”

 

“Which was more important, his dream or his mother? People can’t have everything they want. So perhaps only Humburt himself knows the answer?”

 

After hearing my words, Joseph pondered for a long time before continuing.

 

“If I were Humburt, I think I would have regretted it.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because the world Humburt wanted to protect must have included his mother too.”

 

It was an unexpectedly surprising answer.

 

I had told the story of the hero Humburt to children many times before, but this was the first time I received such a response.

 

“But Humburt has to leave his hometown. He needs to protect the citizens suffering because of demons. So if I became Humburt, I would take my mother on the adventure with me.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Then I could protect both the citizens and my mother.”

 

“Oh, that makes sense.”

 

I played along as if it was really a good idea.

 

The conclusion ended with childlike innocence, but wasn’t that what made it even more endearing?

 

And the more we talked, the more I thought that Joseph was naturally a thoughtful and kind child.

 

If only the circumstances around him had been a little better… or at least if he had been Nigel’s full brother, wouldn’t he have been able to live pursuing his ideals?

 

‘But reality is what it is.’

 

Keeping my thoughts to myself, I ruffled the boy’s hair roughly.

 

“That was fun, wasn’t it? Now go to sleep.”

 

“Sister.”

 

“Hm?”

 

Joseph whispered in my ear as if sharing a secret, even while breathing heavily from his fever.

 

“I… I thought Mother didn’t love me.”

 

“What?! Goodness, why did you think such nonsense?”

 

“The mothers in residential areas were gentle and caring to their children, but Mother was always strict with me.”

 

“…”

 

I closed my mouth.

 

Mariana was indeed excessively strict with Joseph.

 

In addition to the pressure of being Empress, there were Lady Perez and other mistresses who constantly challenged her authority, plus the political gazes targeting the weaknesses of the mother and son.

 

Even breathing had to be done carefully.

 

As I was wondering how to explain this, Joseph whispered the rest.

 

“But I was wrong.”

 

“Hm?”

 

“At the chapel. I had never seen Mother like that before. Mother, who was always elegant, forgot her dignity for my sake and collapsed screaming.”

 

He seemed to be talking about what happened on the Feast of the Holy Mother.

 

When Joseph collapsed from suffocation, Mariana lost her reason and wailed.

 

Even the noble ladies seasoned in social circles said it was the first time they had seen the Empress like that.

 

“I want to apologize for misunderstanding Mother’s heart.”

 

“Let’s tell her directly when you get better. She’ll surely be delighted.”

 

“Will I… be able to get better?”

 

“Of course.”

 

I gripped Joseph’s hand even tighter.

 

In the imperial court tangled with interests and schemes, people who could understand others’ hearts like this were truly rare.

 

His unusually early maturity for his age was probably due to his kind nature of not wanting to worry others.

 

That made it even more heartbreaking.

 

This child’s fate of having to live his entire life in silence under Nigel’s shadow.

 

“Come on, let’s sleep now. You need to get healthy quickly so you can do the things you want to do.”

 

“I want to hear more stories though…”

 

“Sister’s throat hurts. I’ll tell you the rest tomorrow.”

 

Getting up from my seat, I dimmed the light by the bedside and lowered the bed’s canopy.

 

As I was carefully tucking in the blanket he was covered with, Joseph murmured.

 

“Sister, there’s something…”

 

“There’s nothing. Go to sleep now.”

 

“Well, it’s just…”

 

His fever-flushed eyes kept wavering. His face showed anxiety about being left alone while sleeping.

 

How could I leave this young and weak child alone?

 

I didn’t hesitate long before gesturing.

 

“Move over. More. I’m broader in the shoulders than I look.”

 

Though Joseph was still a child, his bed was adult-sized, so it wasn’t cramped at all even with me lying down together.

 

Even so, he clung close to me like a baby monkey clinging to its mother’s neck.

 

“Do you feel more at ease now? Tomorrow, let’s work hard to bring down your fever. Promise.”

 

“Hehe…”

 

Only then did Joseph close his eyes with a peaceful expression.

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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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