I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 22

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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 22

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Fortunately, the morning bird didn’t have any serious injuries.

I treated it well and fed it until it was full before releasing it into the garden—I pretended to eat it deliciously so Nero wouldn’t feel left out—and ignored Lady Olden who was trying to pry into what I had discussed with the Duke last night.

Only after safely entrusting Nero to Bertol did I finally begin my weary and worn-out day.

“How did what I ordered yesterday turn out?”

“We’ve sent back all the workers from Alnor and are recruiting new personnel from Lombard.”

“Good, hurry so the construction doesn’t get delayed.”

As the site supervisor said, many territory residents had gathered outside the Inner Wall Gate.

They wrote down their names and ages and were assigned work suitable for their roles before moving out.

The faces of the people who had gained a stable source of income during the harsh off-season were bright.

“I’m going to buy meat at the market today. The kids will be happy for once, won’t they?”

“I need to fix the roof of my house first. There’s only so long you can patch things up without money, and it’s been torture staying up all night cleaning whenever it rains or snows.”

“I don’t know how such good fortune came about, but thanks to this, I’ll get through this winter with peace of mind, haha!”

I gazed at them intently through the carriage window.

Seeing the bright faces of the territory residents, I really felt—

‘Proud.’

…I thought, then was startled and quickly closed the window.

This damn way of thinking!

The current me is different from the old me. I will no longer destroy and sacrifice myself by resisting the cartel for some greater cause.

Such lonely sacrifices that no one acknowledges.

As long as I’m comfortable and happy, that’s enough—what do I care about the lives of territory residents?

The carriage that received the departure order began running again.

“Damn this road!”

The Baron sitting across from me hit his head again because of the violently bumping carriage today as well.

I laughed at him honestly without holding back.

Naturally, the Baron couldn’t make a peep at me for laughing at him. Status really was everything.

The carriage that had raced down the rough road finally arrived at the monastery.

“Madam, you’ve come?!”

Thomson the carpenter, who happened to be outside, spotted my carriage and ran over happily.

I stopped him from announcing my arrival to others and instead had him quietly call only Gilbert.

Meeting lots of people would only drain my energy—it was best to finish only the necessary business and return quietly.

“How is the treatment center construction going?”

“It’s proceeding smoothly. The building was so old that some areas had to be almost completely rebuilt. It should be finished within a few days.”

“Good work.”

I patted Thomson’s shoulder.

Construction workers, patients, and volunteers who spotted me in passing rushed over with happy faces and tried to kneel, but I waved my hand as if telling them to mind their own business.

I felt cold toward myself, but it couldn’t be helped.

I was already worn out and exhausted from the morning bird incident.

Gilbert, who had been summoned, came out just then. His face looked haggard, as if he had been tending to patients all night.

“You’ve been working hard.”

“It reminded me of my trainee days. Well, still, my heart feels more at ease now than when I was sitting around idly in a clinic with only flies buzzing about.”

“A bonus is waiting for you, so keep up the good work.”

“Those are welcome words to hear. It’s comforting.”

I looked around the barracks where patients had been temporarily moved.

Several physicians were caring for patients under Gilbert’s direction.

Their faces were also extremely haggard, but somehow their expressions were a little different from before.

I could sense something like pride, achievement, and a sense of calling in the physicians’ eyes.

“But why are there so few physicians?”

“The situation at this treatment center has been roughly sorted out, so we kept only the necessary few and sent the others to different treatment centers.”

“Did they go willingly?”

“They requested it first. They asked to be sent where they were needed.”

My mood became a little strange.

Even though they had been blinded by money and power, it seemed they still retained at least some sense of mission as physicians who had completed their Academy training.

‘Or it could be because I, the Duke’s wife, was standing there glaring at them.’

Either way, it would help the poor people of the outer castle walls.

After finishing my inspection of the treatment center, I quietly moved to a secluded corner.

It was time to reveal the real reason I had dragged my worn and exhausted body all the way to the distant outer castle walls.

“There’s something I’d like to ask of you two.”

“What is it?”

“Just say anything.”

Sensing the secretive atmosphere, Gilbert and Thomson immediately responded.

Indeed, there was no one more trustworthy to me right now than these two. Still, you never know with people, so I changed the reason slightly as I began to speak.

“You both know that I haven’t been in Lombard long since marrying here, so I’m unfamiliar with local affairs.”

“Have you perhaps heard some unpleasant rumors?”

“Do I look like someone who would care about such things?”

Both men immediately shook their heads.

As if they didn’t know.

“I think it would be good to bring in someone familiar with local affairs as a servant, but it’s not easy to find a suitable person. Do you have anyone you could recommend?”

“Oh my, if Madam takes an interest in Lombard affairs, that would be very much appreciated from our perspective.”

“Actually, the matter of Madam’s servants has come up several times in conversations among the territory residents.”

“What kind of talk?”

At my question, Gilbert scratched his chin with an awkward expression.

“Bertol had prepared several servants for Madam, but you rejected them all, saying you didn’t want lowly Lombard natives near you…”

“Hmm.”

Considering the former Elisia, it was a plausible story.

She had filled her surroundings with maids and servants from the Imperial Capital and prevented anyone from Lombard from even approaching.

I had heard several times how even people who initially had no particular grudge against her eventually criticized her, saying “She occupies the inner quarters of the castle as the Duke’s wife but still acts like Princess Baldin.”

But since I had no conscience, I continued speaking as if hearing this for the first time.

“There are many false rumors in the world. If you worry about every single one, you can’t survive.”

“I’m ashamed…”

Thomson, who had a history of believing those so-called ‘false rumors’ and causing trouble, muttered in a pained voice, but regardless, I got to the point.

“Anyway, that’s why I need a trustworthy servant from Lombard. Can you find one?”

“There happens to be a perfect candidate.”

Gilbert, who had been thinking for a moment, continued.

“Thomson has several daughters, and they’re all skilled with their hands and quick-witted. They did well with the errands I gave them too.”

“Really? But Thomson, why are you staying quiet?”

“Well, it’s just… it’s quite embarrassing to praise my own daughters with my own mouth.”

Thomson hesitated for a moment but soon his face lit up with pride.

“Actually, I got quite a scolding from my daughters. They gave me a big lecture, saying it was shameless of me to accept payment when I should have been grateful just for Madam forgiving my rudeness.”

“It wasn’t my money, was it? It was money from our donation angels.”

“Yes, and when I said that, they immediately quieted down. They even urged me to receive more, you know? Really, just like Madam… ah, no.”

I liked them even more for having such sharp economic sense.

“How old?”

“My eldest daughter turned twenty-two this year.”

“Perfect. I’ll write an entry pass for her, so send her to the Castle Keep when construction is finished. I’ll pay her a decent salary.”

“To think that someone from our family would become Madam’s servant—I will never forget this kindness for the rest of my life, Madam!!”

The close retainers of noble ladies of high status weren’t servants—even if they were maids, they wouldn’t choose anyone of commoner origin.

Much less the poor territory residents from the outer castle walls.

But to become a personal maid to the Duke’s wife no less—this meant the girl’s future was as good as wide open, so Thomson repeatedly bowed his head in gratitude.

‘No, I’m the one who’s more grateful.’

Right now, all my close retainers were Lady Olden’s people.

It meant that my every move was as good as reaching her ears.

So I needed some breathing room, and Thomson’s daughter seemed to have a sharp personality, so I was confident she’d fulfill the role I wanted well.

Gilbert added as if he had just remembered.

“Since you’re already here, how about meeting with Filio before you leave? He’s been wanting to express his gratitude to Madam for this matter, and I think he’d be quite disappointed if you left like this.”

“Hmm, I can’t ignore the Monastery Head’s sincerity, so let’s do that.”

Just as we were leaving the treatment center area and about to enter the monastery entrance.

I happened to bump into someone who was coming out from inside.

“Ugh!”

“S-sorry! Are you alright?”

I thought I had bumped into some wall.

When I looked up, there was a man as tall as the Duke with broad shoulders.

He had a physique that could be mistaken for a knight, but the priest robes he wore were those of a lower priest.

His thick glasses that covered half his face and red hair that reached down to his back were striking.

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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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