I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 161

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#Chapter 161
“The Dowager Empress continues to refuse all visitors save for a select few, as is her custom. However, she sent a letter to Lombard today.”
“What did it say?”
“Simply an inquiry about the Duchess’s health. Nothing remarkable.”
Contrary to Mariana’s assumptions, her castle was surrounded by iron-tight surveillance.
Apart from a handful of exceptions, every servant within those walls answered to Nigel.
What Mariana failed to grasp was that Nigel had no intention of leaving Joseph—a potential rival in the days ahead—unwatched, regardless of what she did.
Weeds were best crushed in their infancy.
“Did you bring the letter?”
“Yes, though the accompanying item was damaged when the seal was opened.”
Nigel let out a thin sneer at what his subordinate presented alongside the letter.
A single maple leaf, stained crimson, lay in tatters.
“Must I spell out every detail? Throw it away.”
“My apologies.”
Nigel crumpled the leaf to dust and skimmed the letter with his eyes. It contained only bland pleasantries—assurances that all was well.
He ordered it sent on, and his subordinate gathered up the letter to deliver it.
“What news from Lombard’s side?”
“It appears there are informants embedded within the Imperial Court. They’re showing heightened vigilance even to minor military movements.”
“Hmm. As expected.”
Lombard remained a thorn in Nigel’s side.
Despite their distance in the remote north, public support for Elisia showed no sign of waning.
The pro-Lombard nobles and Parliament, bolstered by such formidable sentiment, challenged Nigel’s authority at every turn and sought to sway public opinion to their advantage.
It was Lombard’s faction that had brought the return of Marquis Andre into the public sphere—something Nigel had intended to handle quietly.
Though Andre was the principal culprit in the Almshouse corruption scandal, his skill in managing shadow funds was unmatched; he was now Nigel’s most indispensable asset.
Yet silencing the opposition proved far from simple.
Even crushing a newspaper that dared print irreverent editorials about the Emperor and sealing their mouths had been to no avail.
Whether by Elisia’s intention or otherwise, the common people yearned desperately for her return to the Imperial Capital.
“Everything is an eyesore these days……”
Perhaps this too was a matter best resolved at the root before it could spread.
Nigel gazed down at the chessboard resting on the table.
If things continued as they were, the time to move his pawns might arrive sooner than anticipated.
* * *
Autumn had crept into Lombard before long.
She had hoped that the harvest season might bring some respite, but the winter preparations she now oversaw for the first time as Duchess proved far more demanding than expected.
The northern winter was long and merciless.
Supplies had to be stockpiled within the castle alongside the harvest; the conditions of outlying villages and vulnerable populations required advance investigation; contingency measures needed to be set in place—the work was endless.
Moreover, if heavy snowfall blocked the roads, inspection would become difficult, so she had to make careful rounds beyond the outer castle walls beforehand to hear the concerns of her subjects.
“Might I not accompany you?”
“We cannot afford to have both lord and lady away from the castle during the busiest season.”
I stepped out from the castle entrance wearing a cloak and gloves fashioned from silver fox fur that Edwin had hunted himself.
The primary purpose of this outing was to inspect the gold mine on Barg Mountain.
While I was at it, I had allotted ample time to visit a few nearby villages as well.
Such an undertaking required substantial supplies, so Berry followed behind me, carrying four massive chests in her hands with ease.
“My lady, I’ve loaded everything!”
“Thank you for the trouble.”
I carefully pried open one of the chest lids to peek inside.
Given that Berry had moved chests large enough to fit two grown adults with such apparent ease, I’d briefly wondered if they might be empty—but they were indeed packed full.
When I gave one a test push with my hand, it was as heavy as a stone and wouldn’t budge.
‘Hmph.’
Count Baron, who had been assisting me as a close retainer, and Gareth both alternated glances between the laden chests and Berry, their brows furrowed in bewilderment.
As for Edwin, his expression had grown nothing short of assured—though his concern about our separation was plain to see.
He looked reluctant to see me venture so far from his side.
“Please take care on your travels. Always keep your guard detail close, and do not venture out after nightfall.”
“Don’t worry so. Surely traveling now is far better than hiking through winter blizzards later, don’t you think?”
“In that case, perhaps I should……”
“Stay here.”
The time to depart had truly arrived.
The knights who would escort me mounted their horses, and Berry and Count Baron climbed into the carriage first, calling for me to join them.
As I moved to follow them into the carriage, Edwin caught my arm gently from behind.
“Elisia.”
“Pardon?”
……
Edwin hesitated for a moment before drawing me into his embrace.
“Just… please return safely.”
There it was—his overprotective nature stirring again, despite the journey lasting barely ten days at most.
I looked up at him with a deliberately bright smile, as if to chase away his worries.
“Once I return from this trip, I won’t be leaving for a while. After the harvest is done, we can watch the Aurora together. And when winter comes, we’ll spend entire days sprawled in front of the fireplace.”
I pictured us lying at ease before the hearth.
Sipping warm wine and eating sweet fruit, with Nero curling up beside us—his soft belly warm beneath my fingertips. Reading books until drowsiness takes hold, then leaning against each other for a brief nap.
Edwin’s lips relaxed slightly, as though he were imagining the same scene.
Seeing the opening, I didn’t hesitate. I leaned up and kissed his cheek quickly.
Then, before he could pull me back, I darted away and climbed into the carriage.
“Wait—Elisia……!”
“I’ll give you the rest when I come back. I’ll be gone no more than ten days!”
“Safe travels, my lady.”
Behind Edwin—his cheeks flushed crimson—Bertol and Ramon, along with the Castle Administration staff, bowed in unison.
A good journey lay ahead, I could feel it.
* * *
Duchess Barbara, the Grand Duke Heidelberg’s eldest daughter and the Nobles’ Parliament representative, entered the Emperor’s office in the Solar Palace.
Behind her stood the Commoner Parliament representative.
“Your Majesty, I beseech you to reconsider the reinstatement of Marquis Andre.”
……
“He is the one most deeply implicated in that shameful corruption. To reemploy him would be most unwise. Furthermore, I ask that you withdraw the reinstatement orders for Count Oster and Count Lindel as well.”
Nigel raised his eyes.
In times past, no matter how prestigious Duchess Barbara might be, she would never have dared to speak so openly as Parliament’s representative before the Emperor.
Yet the Duchess was of collateral Imperial blood—his great-aunt, no less.
He spoke with measured calm.
“The authority to appoint officials rests with me.”
“But the opposition from the common people is truly severe. As Parliament’s Commoner representative, I cannot possibly accept the pardoning and reinstatement of these criminals.”
……
The Emperor’s expression, hitherto unruffled, twisted ever so slightly.
That a mere commoner—little better than gutter rats—should stand in open opposition to him was infuriating, whatever Duchess Barbara’s standing might be.
He had granted them the title of Parliament representative, but that hardly meant they could truly voice opinions before their Emperor.
It was only a nominal privilege meant to placate public sentiment. And yet this man dared to exercise it as if it were real authority.
At Nigel’s silence, the Commoner representative grew bolder.
“Does Your Majesty truly not know why Marquis Andre has been imprisoned?”
“I shall render a just sentence upon him.”
Though Nigel’s voice was low and restrained, the Commoner representative’s momentum did not falter.
“Your Majesty, it is curious that the newspapers have suffered a series of unfortunate incidents of late. Thus far, the common people remain ignorant of what you have undertaken since your ascension, but how long can such secrecy be maintained?”
“Now, see here!”
Even Duchess Barbara gasped, attempting to silence him.
Yet the Commoner representative did not cease speaking, his gaze fixed squarely upon Nigel.
“Remember the rage your predecessor kindled in the hearts of the people.”
“How audacious. Do you believe I cannot punish you?”
“I do not fear death. The Imperial Capital overflows with countless common folk who will succeed me should I fall. What I fear is that justice be trampled beneath the boot of power.”
……
In Nigel’s gaze as he stared at the Commoner representative burned a murderous intent so fierce it seemed he might throttle the man where he stood.
Such a thing would have been unthinkable before.
Scarcely a season had passed since Nigel ascended the throne, yet the Emperor’s authority lay in ruins and the people’s hearts remained turned from the Imperial Family.
He understood the source of it all.
Because there existed one who could replace him—because a hero to the gutter rats yet lived, however far away in the distant North—
even a mere commoner could stand before him with such brazen confidence.
‘The seedling must be trampled while it is still young.’
Nigel dismissed the Parliament representatives and sank into contemplation.
If he allowed the plague to spread unchecked, the damage would become irreversible.
Yet if he committed to action, it must be devastating. He must ensure they could never rise again—must erase their very existence.
‘Otherwise, next time will be my turn.’
The moment for decision had arrived.
Nigel resolved at last to set his hidden hand in motion.

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