I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 159

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

#Chapter 159
“How can I… what right do I have to apologize to Elisia?”
“If I may say so, I don’t believe it’s for Your Highness to decide that.”
Gareth swept away the vacant look from earlier, his expression settling back into its usual calm composure.
He seemed to have concluded that what he’d taken for a difficult matter was simpler than he’d first believed.
“There’s no need to panic and flee before you’ve even tried.”
“I told you this isn’t something to take lightly.”
“I don’t see why it’s so difficult, Your Highness. There’s no law in this world that lets the guilty render their own judgment. If you’ve erred, surely the right to forgive or condemn that error belongs to your lady, not to you?”
“She could be hurt in the course of this conversation.”
“Your lady is not someone who fails to see another’s sincerity.”
“So I should rely on Elisia’s kindness, is that it?”
Gareth shook his head.
Through years of serving the Duchess at his lord’s side, he’d come to know her character well.
“Your lady is a strong person. Or at least, she would be, if not for the rather… hopeless matter of her physical constitution.”
Gareth continued, couching his words carefully.
“But her inner strength is another matter entirely. She’s not merely soft-hearted. She can look at your failings with objectivity, unswayed by mere emotion.”
……
Edwin fell silent for a moment.
He knew her character better than anyone else ever could.
She seemed warm yet remained rational, appeared gentle yet possessed an iron will when the moment demanded it.
She was a strong person—someone Edwin sometimes wished he could be like.
‘Is that so….’
Edwin lowered his gaze.
Both he and Elisia were mired in the nightmares of their past.
And yet she had faced the reality before her eyes. She saw the Edwin of this life clearly, unburdened by the weight of old memories.
She’d loved him freely—him, who bore the name and face of her enemy.
But he had been casting the shadows of the past upon her instead.
He’d run from her like a coward, unable to see who she was now.
“Can I be forgiven?”
“How could I know what lies in your lady’s heart? Only that it depends on how sincerely you confess to her and beg her forgiveness.”
……So it is.
Edwin let out a quiet laugh.
Sometimes the simplest answer is the truest one.
From far off came the cries of his subordinates, and from the depths of the Black Continent across the way came the roars of monsters stirring as they sensed his mana.
He shook off his thoughts.
First, he had to protect this land—the foundation of all their lives.
And when autumn came, he would confess everything beneath the aurora, he decided.
‘There’s one more thing I need to do….’
Edwin gazed upon the Black Continent, where a desolate chill hung in the air.
There, at its heart, lay the gateway to another world that he had opened.
His wish had never changed—to grow old with Elisia in peaceful normalcy, to hope that this life might be his last.
‘I’ll have to close that door soon.’
Edwin slowly turned his gaze away.
* * *
Twenty days had passed since Edwin departed on his inspection of the Northern Wall.
Beneath my radiant cruel hand, the Castle Administration family once more united in perfect accord, all pressing toward a single goal: wealth and strong arms, an age of peace.
“Mm, satisfactory.”
I stood upon the castle wall, gazing down at the vast expanse of Lombard Territory rippling with verdant green.
The rye and oats were thriving.
We had aggressively adopted advanced farming methods from other regions, maintained our irrigation channels and waterways, and—most importantly—prevented a handful of nobles from monopolizing superior seed stock, carefully ensuring inferior seed never reached the common folk.
If this continued, we would have a bumper harvest this year.
“Your lady, the letters have arrived. Shall I review them now?”
Just then, Chief Chamberlain Bertol called to me from behind.
I’d taken a moment to breathe in the wind atop the castle wall, but had instructed him to report without delay should anything requiring my approval arise.
“Bring them here.”
Bertol presented a tray laden with envelopes.
I picked up the letter bearing Gibson’s name first.
Since I’d taken an interest in Bellamare’s internal affairs, the citizens’ fortunes had visibly improved, and with the harbor development in full swing, the entire village was alight with anticipation.
‘How fortunate that everyone is pleased.’
The next letter was from Bolik, who was actively developing the gold mine on Barg Mountain.
The miners were greatly satisfied with their improved treatment, and especially because safety was made the top priority, accident rates had noticeably declined, allowing everyone to work with peace of mind and dedicate themselves fully to the extraction.
Reading through the attached report, the gold output was already very high.
The miners had rolled up their sleeves and worked as though it were their own livelihood.
‘This is also going smoothly.’
Just then, I saw the inspector who had gone to the outer castle walls for a public livelihood survey returning.
I immediately summoned him up to the castle wall and listened to his report.
“All of Lombard Territory is at great peace. Thanks to your preparations against the floods, we’ve passed this year without major damage, and with thorough disinfection, plague has not spread.”
“Good.”
“And with an increasing number of visitors from abroad, the market district is experiencing unprecedented vitality.”
“Where people gather, disorder follows. See that you give special attention to maintaining public order.”
“I hear and obey.”
My work in the Imperial Capital had brought an unexpected reward.
Namely, that countless people were visiting Lombard—some to admire the magnificent natural scenery of the north, others to escape the brutal heat of the south.
Not only renowned painters and great literary masters, but distinguished nobles as well.
Some even expressed their intention to seek exile here.
They were primarily Orthodox Church intellectuals and nobles persecuted in Protestant nations, and among them were promising talents from the Academy.
I formed a plan to overhaul the old Castle Administration and put these people to use.
‘Edgar would be pleased to hear that, wouldn’t he?’
My thoughts naturally drifted elsewhere.
It wasn’t just that I liked what Edwin liked—the truth was I wanted to see him, wanted to see him soon.
I understood well the importance of inspecting the Northern Wall, but still, newlywed or not, being apart for a whole month felt lonely.
As I was absently fidgeting with my fingers, a dust cloud caught my eye.
Beyond the horizon, a troop of war horses was galloping toward us in formation.
At their head flew a banner emblazoned with the Lombard Crest, billowing proudly.
“Could this be a hallucination?”
“It appears our lord is returning earlier than expected.”
Fortunately, it wasn’t a hallucination—Bertol replied with a slightly surprised expression.
It was an earlier return than anticipated.
I tucked the letters into my bosom and hurried down the stairs as Edwin drew near the inner castle walls.
He too must have spotted me standing on the castle wall, for he pulled back on the reins and slowed his pace.
“Edwin!”
“Elisia, have you come to see me off?”
The moment he dismounted, I rushed to him and clung to his neck.
Then, as if he’d been waiting for this, strong arms embraced my waist in return.
The knights who had followed behind wore hazy eyes at the sweetness dripping from the scene, but paying them no mind, I tenderly caressed Edwin’s cheek.
The awkwardness that had lingered around our wedding night had melted away like snow before this long-awaited reunion.
We returned to the castle together.
I dismissed Bertol and all the servants who tried to attend to him, and offered to tend to Edwin myself. It was a special service, rare and welcome.
“Give me your armor. I’ll organize it for you.”
“It will be heavy—are you sure?”
“You wear all that on your body. Surely I can manage just one piece of―”
Edwin gave a low laugh and handed me what looked like the lightest piece—an arm guard.
But the moment I took it, I gasped and my eyes flew wide open. It was so heavy my wrist felt as if it might dislocate entirely.
“Ugh!”
“Was I not right?”
At my cry, Edwin caught the armor with practiced ease.
After boasting so boldly, I felt embarrassed.
“How on earth do you manage to wear all this across your entire body?”
“Because there is someone I must protect. Someone precious enough that even this weight feels like nothing.”
The sudden confession sent heat flooding to my cheeks.
But when I saw Edwin’s ears reddening in turn, I felt oddly flustered and cleared my throat awkwardly.
“I—I’ll call for the servants…”
The moment I turned to summon the servants, Edwin caught my hand.
“For now, I wish to be alone with you, Elisia.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————