I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 38

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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 38

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The Duke, who had escorted the Duchess from the monastery to the castle, headed straight to his office.

While he had acted nonchalant in front of his wife as if nothing was wrong, the moment she disappeared from sight, the Duke no longer hid his discomfort.

The short corridor to his office felt unusually long today.

Adjutant Gareth inwardly sighed.

“Have you arrived, my lord?”

“The documents?”

At the Duke’s slight gesture, Chief Chamberlain Bertol immediately presented the documents.

It was a petition that Count Alnor had submitted to the Northern Roxcron Governance Council.

However, the council was merely a nominal name; in reality, it was a judicial body with the authority of a feudal court.

Since the petition had been filed, the Duchess of Lombard was required in principle to appear before the council within three months and submit a formal response.

The Duke’s lips twisted as he skimmed through the documents.

“Even after I warned him, he still went ahead and caused trouble.”

In truth, he had long been aware of the suspicious movements in Count Alnor’s territory.

Lombard was the hegemon of the Northern Region. It would have been strange not to know what was happening within his own domain.

However, since the Duke wanted to handle this matter quietly, he had taken an indirect approach to warning.

He had continuously pressured that if they really caused problems, Alnor’s future would not be very bright.

At the time, he thought the Count had understood the message.

The Chief Chamberlain calmly continued.

“This seems to be aimed at saving Clayton Viscount, who is currently under investigation.”

“That would be it.”

“Remarkable family loyalty.”

Gareth was inwardly impressed.

Wasn’t this meaning that he wouldn’t hesitate to oppose Lombard in order to save his cousin?

Considering that even blood relatives often draw swords against each other in the face of power, he thought that despite any corruption, their family loyalty was at least admirable.

“You’re wrong.”

Then Edwin snorted.

“It’s not family loyalty or anything like that. Clayton knows too many of Alnor’s secrets.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Do you think their embezzlement was really just this once? If Clayton starts talking, Alnor instinctively knows he won’t be able to escape our retaliation.”

It wasn’t to save family, but to silence a tool.

If it was destruction either way, the Count had bet on the side that offered even a slight possibility of survival rather than sitting still.

‘Regardless of how this ends, Clayton won’t live long.’

The most certain way to silence someone was to make them unable to speak forever.

“But to sue Madam instead of the Lombard family. The Count used his head a bit.”

“Rumors that I regard Elisia as a thorn in my side are widespread in the Northern Region. So he probably thought I would turn a blind eye if he only targeted the Duchess while leaving Lombard alone.”

“How will you handle this?”

At Bertol’s cautious question, Edwin’s eyes narrowed.

His gaze was sharp as he glanced at the map of the Northern Region.

“I’d like to take an army and crush them.”

“Unfortunately, all of Lombard’s budget execution authority currently lies with Madam. So you would need Madam’s approval to deploy the army.”

“Ha, how troublesome. My wife extremely dislikes budget leaks to unnecessary places.”

“If you obtain Madam’s permission, I won’t stop you anymore.”

It was a statement he could make knowing the Duchess would never allow it.

Bertol’s words might have sounded insolent at first glance, but the Duke’s eyes, which had been glaring at Alnor territory marked on the Northern Region map, actually softened a bit.

Lately, when talking about his wife, he occasionally made such expressions.

But Gareth couldn’t understand their conversation.

‘Isn’t the Duchess the embodiment of extravagance?’

Even when living in the Imperial Palace, she had accumulated massive debts, and there were even rumors that the Imperial Palace had directly issued government bonds to cover them.

Of course, as the Duke’s closest retainer, Gareth had many opportunities to access important information, and he was well aware that the temple construction had proceeded successfully under the Duchess’s command.

‘But that’s all.’

With the noisy burden of a lawsuit attached, it could no longer be called ‘successful.’

Yet why did his lord and Lord Bertol trust the Duchess so much?

“If this leaks to the outside, regardless of fault, the repercussions will be significant. First, pressure the media to prevent rumors from spreading.”

“Yes.”

“Use other methods if necessary.”

Lobbying or cabinet opening.

Either way, it was as simple as eating cold soup for Lombard. Lombard’s wealth and information network were incomparable to any other family in the Northern Region.

Methods to appease the Governance Council while simultaneously attacking Alnor were fiercely discussed.

Since his lord had decided to personally intervene, the Count would lose the case.

The Alnor family would no longer be able to maintain their foothold in the Northern Region.

‘How unfortunate.’

He had no interest in intellectual work.

Having lost interest, Gareth turned his attention away from the complex discussions that continued for a long time.

* * *

“Madam, aren’t you tired? Shall I give you a massage?”

“Ah, no?! I’m not tired at all!”

I was about to lie down on the bed when I jumped up in surprise.

Despite this being Berry’s first day on the job, she was full of enthusiasm, her determined eyes overflowing with the will to do something.

However, from my perspective, I wanted to avoid having my shoulders destroyed at all costs.

No matter how excellent Gilbert’s medical arts were, there would be no way to revive bones ground to powder.

“By the way, I heard that guests frequently visit Madam’s inner chamber, but now that I’m here, it’s quite desolate… ah, no, it has a quiet and comfortable atmosphere!”

Berry looked around with eyes dripping with regret.

But unfortunately, there was no one to receive her massage.

Had rumors that I was being sued already spread secretly? Those who used to line up daily wanting to meet me had vanished without a trace.

It was a natural reaction since they didn’t know what sparks might fly from getting close to a duchess with legal risks.

‘Count Baron’s reaction is the most telling.’

Normally, he would have been eager to follow me all the way to the front of my inner chamber, rubbing his hands together, but today we parted very easily at the castle gate.

At this level, he could be called a water quality indicator organism.

Of course, seeing how the Baron kept glancing at Berry, there might be other reasons, but let’s set that aside for now.

“Madam, is there anywhere uncomfortable?”

“Oh, really.”

“Shall I help you change into comfortable indoor clothes?”

“Oh, really.”

“Shall I massage your arms and legs?”

“Oh, really… ah, no! I’m really grateful, but I’ll just accept the thought. Berry, you don’t need to try so hard to do well from the start. I trust you.”

Huff huff, I almost really died!

Lost in thought, I quickly returned to reality at Berry’s terrifying suggestion.

Berry seemed very disappointed by the failed assassination(?), rolling her eyes as she began staring at me.

Feeling anxious, I could only feel relieved after sending Berry away, telling her she must be tired on her first day and should go rest early.

“Haaa…”

Exhausted, I peeled off my coat and dress one by one like a caterpillar shedding its skin and crawled straight into bed.

Leaning my back against the headboard, I sipped warm herbal tea while looking down at the side table.

Documents that Administrative Chief Ramon had specially prepared for me were placed there.

“So Alnor finally went ahead and filed charges against me.”

Though I say so myself, my bloodline was among the most noble that could be counted on one hand in the Empire.

So I had some justification for making bold claims, but—

“The problem is that I’m actually like a kite with its string cut.”

When the current Emperor ascended to the throne, my ties to central power were essentially severed. All I had left was my position as a niece who received the Emperor’s favor.

The faction that had followed Father, the Former Crown Prince, had long since cut ties with me, unable to tolerate Elisia’s disgraceful behavior.

So it was impossible to politically influence the Administrative Council either.

My status as an Imperial Princess was merely a facade—in reality, I was no different from someone who had all their limbs cut off.

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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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