I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 27

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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 27

Infertility.

Upon hearing those words, I fell silent.

For nobles, an heir was essential.

Passing down immense wealth and power to eternally honor the family name was their greatest mission.

‘But if I, the Duchess, become infertile.’

Nobles were forbidden from divorce according to doctrine, and illegitimate children could not be recognized as official heirs either.

For Lombard, this was nothing short of a crisis threatening the family’s fate.

And my position as Duchess would inevitably crumble to an incomparable degree.

“No threat to life, but infertility…”

I naturally reached one conclusion.

The culprit who poisoned the cup wanted ‘Elisia’s downfall.’

For nobles who valued honor and authority like life itself, downfall meant eternal separation from the world, a terrible stigma, and punishment worse than death.

‘Such malice that targeting my life would seem preferable.’

Gilbert, thinking the same, suggested moving up the date for bringing in Thomson’s Daughter as a servant.

But I shook my head.

I couldn’t waste her, who would become a useful pawn, on something like this.

“Sorry, but I’ll need you to work a bit harder for now.”

“It’s no trouble at all. Being able to work for Madam is my greatest pride and honor.”

Gilbert spoke calmly while carefully examining my condition and conducting several more medical examinations.

His expression relaxed slightly from before, as if the results weren’t as bad as expected.

“What was in Madam’s drink was a medicine called Hemocaran, used to prevent excessive bleeding after childbirth. The culprit mixed several poisonous herbs with it to maximize the toxic effect leading to infertility.”

“But my menstruation hasn’t stopped.”

“That’s exactly it. Hemocaran is a fast-acting medicine, yet despite Madam’s prolonged consumption, you show no particular symptoms. Even I find it hard to believe.”

Gilbert didn’t hide his amazement as he checked the medical chart again.

He seemed to be searching for the cause in his own way.

“I’ve heard that nobles consume various drugs from childhood to build resistance to poison. Did Madam perhaps do the same?”

“Hah…”

I smiled ambiguously.

How would I know if Elisia gargled with poison or bathed in it during her childhood?

Interpreting my smile as confirmation, Gilbert nodded knowingly and continued.

“Though Madam has resistance to poison, we mustn’t be complacent. I’ll obtain an antidote as quickly as possible. Then there should be no major problems.”

My racing heart finally calmed at the words ‘no problems.’

However, now my head began throbbing from the aftermath of tension, so I pressed my temples and let out a deep sigh.

Gilbert continued speaking.

“I’ll inform Duke myself.”

“No, keep this incident from leaking out. Including Duke.”

“Then you plan to keep the poisoning secret? Forgive me, but that doesn’t seem like a good idea. We were lucky this time, but whether the same luck will follow next time…”

At first, living as royalty felt like a dream.

Everyone bowed before me, my study overflowed with expensive books, and my wealth grew just from breathing, making it impossible to spend in a lifetime.

But now I thought that living as royalty wasn’t entirely blissful.

Of course, it was a hundred, a thousand times better than when I had no money or connections, but back then no one hated me enough to secretly poison me.

Back then, I didn’t have to doubt anyone’s goodwill.

I had nothing, but I was free anywhere, anytime.

“I suspect Lady Olden as the culprit.”

“What?! But Lady Olden is the closest among Madam’s close retainers…”

“Right, and if I inform Duke about the poisoning when everyone knows that, what would happen? The possibility of being suspected of staging it myself increases. You know Duke distrusts me.”

This time Gilbert couldn’t argue back either.

He looked taken aback.

Everyone in Lombard knew Duke had tried to prevent this marriage by any means. That’s why Thomson had committed such rudeness too.

I had already decided to remove Lady Olden. But not in this way.

First, I needed to separate those from the Imperial Capital from myself.

But Gilbert, misunderstanding my thoughts, cautiously added.

“But I can’t accept forgiving Lady Olden like this.”

“Forgive? Who said anything about forgiving?”

“Wasn’t that the case?”

“I have an excellent memory. Once received, both kindness and grudges are carved into my soul, never to be forgotten. And sometimes waiting becomes a greater weapon.”

Even at my smile, Gilbert showed a face of complete confusion.

Regardless, I extended my palm.

“I just remembered, please treat my palm.”

I suddenly extended the hand I’d kept hidden under the blanket.

Seeing my palm swollen beyond recognition and turned bluish-black, Gilbert gasped and jumped up.

He scolded me endlessly while applying cold compresses to the swollen hand, slathering on thick ointment, and carefully wrapping it with bandages.

“I don’t know how you got injured like this, but please be careful. Isn’t your body precious?”

“Still, you’re the only one who truly cares about me.”

“That might not necessarily be true.”

“Ah, I forgot Thomson. I’ll add one more person.”

“…”

Gilbert moved his lips as if wanting to say something, then let out a deep sigh.

He only said some cryptic words about experiencing it myself later.

How bland.

I added a word to Gilbert’s back as he finished treatment and organized his medical bag.

“On your way out, whatever Lady Olden says to you, let it go in one ear and out the other.”

“I already heard it.”

Gilbert, who had closed his bag, turned his head.

Thinking of Lady Olden, Gilbert’s expression twisted with displeasure.

“It seems it wasn’t a very pleasant conversation. I apologize on her behalf.”

“What could a lowly Lombard peasant do? Lady Olden is a precious person from the Imperial Capital.”

I could guess what conversation had taken place without seeing it.

Before leaving the bedroom, Gilbert added one last thing.

“If I hadn’t known Madam, I would have surely misunderstood you. A servant is the face of their master. For Madam’s own sake, please clean house quickly.”

“I’ll take it to heart.”

For words from a mere commoner physician to a Duchess, they were excessively informal and blunt, yet I didn’t feel uncomfortable.

People who grovel before power are rather difficult to trust.

Above all, I knew it was advice for my sake.

I nodded obediently.

* * *

Time passed quickly.

Thanks to the hard work inside and out, the temple construction had now reached its final stages.

“We greet Duchess.”

“It’s been a while, Archbishop.”

The Archbishop and assistant priests who spotted my carriage bowed respectfully.

Finally, it was the completion ceremony day.

Today’s event would be held at Lombard Diocese Cathedral, representing all temples in Lombard.

Also, to commemorate the completion, the cathedral was opened to all territory residents for today only.

Not only the nobles from the inner castle walls but even the citizens from the outer castle walls were freely walking around inside the building, dressed in their finest attire.

I suddenly stopped walking.

A little child was looking up at the pillars supporting the corridor with curiosity.

‘I feel a bit eerie.’

‘Are you cold perhaps?’

‘It’s not that I’m cold, so please put your cloak back on. How should I put it, it’s just… the atmosphere doesn’t feel like it belongs to this world. I must be strange, right?’

‘No, you’re right. The reason temple ceilings are high is to get even a little closer to where God resides. So it was designed with that intention from the beginning. Like falling into another world.’

An old memory suddenly came to mind.

The high, round ceiling that seemed endless, and the sacred painting drawn in gold above it gave an eerily surreal feeling.

No, it wasn’t just the ceiling.

The sculptures at the roof’s edge, the angels on the ceiling, even the saints depicted in the stained glass windows—everything felt like it was watching me.

Awe and fear.

Those were the emotions I felt that day when I first entered the main hall with Edwin.

Awakening from my reverie, I continued speaking.

“This is Lady Olden. She has been by my side since childhood, and now I rely on her like family bound by blood.”

“Lady Olden! I’ve heard rumors that the Duchess holds you in special favor. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“You flatter me. Archbishop, it’s an honor to meet you.”

The lady bent her knee and kissed the back of the Archbishop’s hand.

As I stepped inside, I delivered one piece of regrettable news.

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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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