I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 42

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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 42

‘What?’

I tensed up as well, but fortunately nothing particular happened.

The Duke stared intently at Ramon, then smiled at me before turning his gaze back toward the Count.

‘His hearing is quite sharp too…’

It was clearly a smile meant as a warning that he could hear everything.

Anyway, I was getting restless waiting for the Duke to resolve the matter.

The Count needed to say something for the negotiations to make progress, but he kept his mouth firmly shut, so at this rate there would definitely be no conclusion reached today.

‘How frustrating.’

I wanted to just jump in and resolve it simply.

But if it looked like I was the one solving the problem, there was a high possibility it would disrupt my plan to withdraw from internal affairs under the pretext of self-restraint.

‘Be patient, I can endure… Ah, damn it!’

But why was this happening.

The Count and his retainers had been looking at me with pleading, glistening eyes since earlier.

Having to keep watching that spectacle from across the table made me feel like the dinner I’d eaten earlier might see the light of day again.

If I ended up retching at this moment, given the timing, some ominous rumor might spread—that the Duchess was having morning sickness.

Covering my queasy lips with a handkerchief, I muttered absentmindedly.

“Since there’s no progress at all in your negotiations, I’d like to propose a new compromise.”

It was a thoughtless remark.

But not only Count Alnor’s party, but even the retainers assisting the Duke all turned their gazes toward me at once.

‘No way.’

I’m the Duchess after all, so if I’m frustrated I can say a word or two…

Suddenly receiving everyone’s attention in the blink of an eye was quite burdensome.

Even the Lombard retainers’ glares were quite sharp. Though they didn’t open their mouths, I could clearly see them cursing inwardly.

Since I myself was from a bureaucratic background, I understood the meaning of those looks better than anyone.

‘Don’t needlessly complicate things and just shut up and stay put.’

But I didn’t care.

“I dislike long-winded talk, so I’ll speak directly to the point.”

I continued with a bright smile.

“First, Count, my basic position is the same as Duke’s. The fundamental cause of the contract breach lies with Alnor.”

“B-but a contract is a contract! Duchess, a contract isn’t something that ends just by tearing up a piece of paper. The damages we’ve suffered this time amount to—”

“I haven’t finished speaking yet.”

When I didn’t hide my displeasure, the Count’s advisor who had interrupted fell silent.

But he still showed signs of wanting to argue back at any moment.

“Nevertheless, I’m someone who knows mercy, so I find it difficult to simply overlook Alnor’s difficulties.”

“…?”

Administrative Chief Ramon tilted his head at the word ‘mercy’, but I pretended not to notice and continued speaking.

“From what I know, I’ve heard that Alnor’s financial situation isn’t very favorable. So you’re demanding compensation all the more, but what if I were to help in a different way out of goodwill?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“If you transfer some of the Alnor border territory adjacent to Lombard, I’ll pay generously for it.”

I wrote an amount on the corner of the parchment in front of me and held it out.

Everyone’s eyes focused on it at once.

As Count Alnor and his advisor’s eyes widened as if they might burst, tremendous opposition poured out from among the Lombard retainers.

“This is absurd!”

“Isn’t this more than five times the compensation amount Alnor is demanding?! Absolutely impossible!”

“We cannot purchase the border hills at such a ridiculous price! No matter how much authority Duchess has over internal affairs, this is clearly overstepping your bounds!!”

“We cannot waste Lombard’s finances on such matters. As Finance Minister, I absolutely cannot agree to this!”

The reactions from both sides were starkly different.

Count Alnor’s side had faces mixed with expectation and suspicion.

From their perspective, they seemed unable to realistically believe the proposal to purchase barren land where hardly anyone lived, let alone farmland, for such a huge sum.

The Lombard side was obvious. They looked ready to devour me entirely.

‘But the Duke…’

I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

While everyone was stirring, only he was looking at me with a calm expression.

As if it was fine for me to cause any kind of trouble.

‘Do as you wish.’

‘But Edwin…’

‘I chose you as the person responsible for this matter. So you can do anything. Leave the aftermath to me.’

It was a past that now felt as distant as a dream.

In my second year after entering the castle keep, I was put in charge of road tax collection for the first time.

It was a position that involved collecting tolls at each of Lombard’s major gates and handling related records and accounting.

Though it didn’t seem like much on the surface, the castle keep unanimously opposed Edwin’s decision.

In most cases, the official who oversaw road tax duties would typically move up to the customs office afterward to manage imports and exports at Lombard’s borders.

Simply put, it was a position to gain field experience before moving to a bigger stage.

It wasn’t a position someone of common birth like me should dare covet.

Nevertheless, I was somewhat fed up with always being assigned only menial tasks.

I was arrogant enough to believe that with fair evaluation, my abilities could easily overcome social status.

So I boldly overhauled the road tax collection system. I eliminated the toll exemptions that nobles and retainers had enjoyed as if it were natural.

I believed this would solve the chronic deficit problem at the gates.

Of course I expected criticism, but I wasn’t afraid.

I was confident that the absolute majority of territory residents who would benefit from this decision would support me.

Sadly, reality was different.

‘I’m sorry, Edwin. I failed. You trusted me and gave me this difficult task…’

‘My choice wasn’t wrong.’

‘No, this time you were wrong.’

They attacked me from all sides.

They dug up my miserable childhood to point fingers, brought up my parents’ past who died in an accident, and even mentioned the faults of relatives who had completely turned against me.

The reason I didn’t collapse then was thanks to Edwin.

‘Remember? You said you wanted to help me change Lombard from its roots.’

‘…’

‘You said you wanted to see the people of this land smile happily. I’m certain. The new legislation you threw your whole body into creating will surely become the foundation that brings transformation to our Lombard.’

Only he told me I was right.

Even while everyone rushed at me like a pack of dogs to tear me apart, he silently protected my back.

He sent me far away under Count Baron, shielding me from people’s criticism.

‘Why are you looking at me with the same eyes as back then.’

My heart sank at the Duke’s gaze.

A certain emotion I had forgotten about for a while, that I never thought I’d feel again, once more tightened around my throat.

Flustered, I averted my gaze as if fleeing from the Duke.

Even in that brief moment, the Lombard officials were protesting vehemently.

“We absolutely cannot accept such a unilateral decision!”

“Moving finances cannot be decided privately by Duchess alone, no matter who you are! Duchess’s decision is clearly disrespecting the castle keep!”

“Withdraw it immediately!!”

Yes, now it finally feels real.

With my mood turning cold, I kept my mouth shut and stared intently at the bureaucrats. Until they felt something was off and closed their mouths.

“Are you done saying everything you wanted to say?”

“….”

Honestly, I had a lot I wanted to say.

This whole affair started when Clayton Viscount privately misappropriated Lombard’s finances.

He handed over a contract worth a whopping 20,000 gold coins to his cousin Count Alnor without any verification.

You kept your mouths shut then, but now you speak up?

I twisted my lips with a sneer.

“Don’t worry about the financial issue. I have no intention of using Lombard’s funds for such pocket change.”

“Duchess, then….”

The Alnor advisors, thoroughly intimidated, asked cautiously.

Instead of explaining, I rang the bell placed on the table.

The conference room door burst open and Berry entered carrying a large chest.

It clearly contained heavy gold ingots, yet she looked as cheerful as if she were carrying a light box of cookies.

Thanks to that, people couldn’t guess at all what was inside.

Eventually, I explained first.

“What’s inside is 40,000 gold coins.”

“Gold coins? Not four cotton balls?”

Everyone was confused—actually, so was I a bit—but regardless, I got to the main point.

“The land at the Alnor border will become land under my name. Because I’m going to buy it.”

“….”

“So there’s no reason I need to get permission from you all. Isn’t that right?”

“Th-that is―”

The officials who had not hesitated to voice blatant criticism just moments before now hesitated, unable to find grounds for rebuttal.

At their ridiculous appearance of being caught off guard, I couldn’t help but sneer again.

‘How did Count Alnor receive the new castle and position of Marquis Taobalt.’

It was because he offered half the mining rights of the gold mine discovered in his territory to the Emperor.

And it was a highly profitable, massive gold mine at that.

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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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