I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 26

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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 26

* * *

It was a perfectly wonderful morning.

Even low-ranking officials get one day off after working six days, so it made no sense for me, a duchess, to be rolling around like a dog across all of Lombard for seven days straight.

No matter how close the Inquisitor had come, that would be too terrible.

So today I had scheduled absolutely nothing.

I had strongly declared in all directions that anyone who disturbed my precious day off would be executed.

For reference, this wasn’t a joke—I was 105 percent serious.

“Ahh, this is nice…”

I drowsily woke up and slowly blinked my eyes.

The dim and peaceful atmosphere of the bedroom that entered my vision made my mood even warmer.

Nero was curled up between my arms, sleeping soundly. The heavy warmth of the little one made my heart flutter.

As I unconsciously tried to pet Nero, I paused at the stinging pain in my palm.

“Ow!”

I quickly pulled my hand away and groaned after checking its condition.

Last night it had just been red, so I thought it would heal after sleeping, but the condition had worsened overnight—my entire palm was now swollen and had turned a dark bluish color.

Even the slightest brush against the sheets was painful and stinging.

“Meow?”

“Mm, it’s nothing. Sleep more.”

Nero blinked drowsily, perhaps sensing something was wrong with me.

I tried to put him back to sleep by gently stroking his forehead with the back of my hand, but the more I did so, the brighter Nero’s amber eyes became.

Soon Nero stretched long and began rubbing his forehead and cheeks against various parts of my body.

When our eyes occasionally met, he would slowly blink.

It was an eye kiss full of affection.

“Oh my baby! My most beautiful cat in the world! Kiss kiss… Ack!”

Unable to contain his cuteness, I tried to hug Nero but ended up dropping him due to the terrible pain in my palm.

Nero seemed to take this as play and began rolling around showing his belly.

Fortunately, it was on the soft bed.

However, having heard my scream, I could sense movement outside the door.

“Madam, I apologize for disturbing your rest, but are you alright?”

“I’m not alright, so come in.”

Though I desperately wanted to continue lying down, I had to do something about my palm’s condition.

The servant carefully entered and knelt down.

“I need to call the personal physician.”

“Where are you feeling unwell? If so, I shall bring Sir Roter.”

The person the servant mentioned was a personal physician from the Imperial Capital.

After I first caught a cold and received treatment from House Lombard’s physician, Lady Olden said she couldn’t trust anyone from Lombard and brought a new personal physician from the Imperial Capital.

It seemed she fervently worshipped everything from the Imperial Capital.

Of course, Lombard was probably behind the Imperial Capital in various ways.

Still, as a former Lombard resident, such blatant disregard hurt my feelings a little.

“No, not Sir Roter.”

“Then who should I…”

“Didn’t I tell you before? I appointed Gilbert, the physician from the inner castle walls, as my personal physician. Bring him.”

The servant who received the order rolled her eyes with a troubled expression.

When I tilted my head, the servant carefully answered.

“I, I will ask Lady Olden.”

“Hah, go ahead then.”

It was my precious day off, and I was too lazy to argue about every little thing.

I waved my hand to dismiss the servant.

* * *

Before long, Lady Olden appeared.

Actually, I was accustomed to reading others’ negative emotions. It was because I had grown up in an environment where I had to be sensitive to such things.

There was a sharp edge in Lady Olden’s eyes as she glared at me.

But soon she returned to her usual elegant, lily-like face.

“I heard you were looking for a personal physician.”

“I injured my palm.”

“I see.”

Lady Olden, who usually obsessed over my every move, strangely didn’t pry further today.

I was just thinking that perhaps she had given up.

“Sir Gilbert… no, I believe he’s a lowly commoner? I sent someone for Gilbert.”

“You didn’t need to add ‘lowly’ to that.”

“I was curious about what great skills he must have to capture Madam’s heart, so this works out well. I’ll be able to meet this rumored physician in person.”

Right, there’s no way she would have given up.

As if she couldn’t hear my snort at all, Lady Olden held out the tray she was carrying.

“Please drink this. It’s an aperitif to warm your stomach.”

As always, there was wine warmed with honey-soaked nuts and spices.

At first, it felt a bit awkward to start drinking on an empty stomach right after waking up, but I had adapted to this pointless noble pastime after doing it daily.

It was the moment I picked up the wine glass under Lady Olden’s persistent gaze.

“Oh!”

Nero hissed sharply and struck the glass with his front paw.

Since I was holding it loosely with my fingertips due to the pain in my palm, despite dodging quickly, I helplessly dropped the glass.

The expensive carpet below the bed was stained red like blood.

“Nero? Why are you suddenly acting like this?”

“…”

Nero, who usually meowed cutely and communicated well, was now wide-eyed with his fur standing on end.

‘Did he not like the wine’s spices?’

They say cats have sensitive noses.

I felt a bit awkward that an accident happened in front of Lady Olden, who disliked Nero, but I calmly gave orders without showing it outwardly.

“Clean up the floor.”

“Yes, I’ll bring another aperitif as well.”

Contrary to my anxious feelings, Lady Olden left the bedroom without saying much.

Then, not long after, she returned with another aperitif.

I gripped the steaming glass a bit more firmly despite the pain, when Nero, who had been sniffing beside me, bristled his fur and jumped up again.

Fortunately, this time I quickly raised my hand and avoided his little paws.

And I defiantly drank the alcohol, preemptively blocking Lady Olden’s nagging.

“I dodged it, so don’t scold him.”

“But Madam!”

“Nero seems to dislike the smell of spices. It’ll be tiresome if this happens every day, so there’s no need to bring aperitifs anymore.”

“No, you absolutely must drink it. This isn’t ordinary alcohol—it’s medicinal wine for Madam’s health!”

No wonder it tasted so terribly—it was medicinal wine.

It was a moment when the aperitif, which I had considered a luxurious and pointless hobby of nobles, became somewhat understandable.

Still, since my close retainer was looking after me in her own way, it was awkward to reject it just because it tasted bad.

I was just deciding to give in this time.

“I’ll overlook the personal physician matter. But I cannot allow you a new servant.”

“…What?”

“A servant is the face and dignity of their master, Madam. It would be troublesome if you were to decide such an important matter on your own.”

My intention to let things slide peacefully wavered a little.

Even seeing my crumpled expression, Lady Olden continued speaking without backing down an inch.

“I am the head maid of Her Imperial Highness the Princess. I have a duty to guide Your Highness down the right path. How can you not know that every single word and action of yours is directly connected to the honor of the Imperial Family?!”

“Enough!”

I raised my voice to cut off the lady’s words.

“Do you see this place as the Imperial Palace? I am now the Duchess of Lombard, so address me properly.”

“However, Lady Elisia!”

“I don’t want to hear any more, so leave. When you return, I hope you’ll be the Duchess’s maid, not the Princess Palace’s head maid.”

When I issued the order to leave, the lady couldn’t hold out any longer and finally left the bedroom.

Servants came in to clean up the soiled carpet and brought a new carpet. I looked down at them while still stroking Nero, who was still panting heavily.

The appearance of those working showed strong characteristics typical of the Southern Empire.

‘They could use people from Lombard for menial work that can’t even come near me.’

Something was definitely strange.

* * *

“It’s poison.”

Gilbert, who had set down the aperitif glass, spoke as calmly as possible.

However, his expression was rigidly hardened, unlike his voice. It was a natural reaction since poison had been detected in the glass his master drank every morning.

He checked the reagent that had turned pitch black again as if he couldn’t believe it, then continued speaking.

“Who on earth would do such a thing to Madam?”

“I have someone in mind, but…”

I let out a deep sigh and leaned back against the cushion.

Normally, the servants would have collected the glass along with the dishes when the meal was finished.

But today I deliberately threw a tantrum, making them flee without even having time to collect the glass.

After that, I secretly hid the glass until Gilbert arrived.

‘It really was poison.’

Even though I had somewhat expected it, seeing the reagent that had turned black made it hard for me to hide my shock as well.

Lady Olden—I couldn’t even guess why she would try to harm me, which made it all the more disturbing.

I asked about the most important thing first.

“What kind of ingredient is it? Don’t tell me it’s a poison fatal to life?”

“It’s not that kind, but…”

Gilbert, who had hesitated for a moment, continued.

“It contains ingredients that cause infertility. If a young woman like Madam takes it, menstruation will stop within a month or two, and if taken for a longer period, it will lead to permanent infertility.”

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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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