I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 43

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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 43

If I had simply approached them saying I wanted to buy the frontier land, Alnor would have been very wary.

Not knowing what my ulterior motives were, they likely wouldn’t have sold it even if their territory’s finances had dried up.

But now there was a plausible justification of “in lieu of compensation.”

I was in a position where I had to somehow settle things to avoid a lawsuit, so it became believable that I would purchase worthless frontier land for such an absurd sum.

“Um, so when would you like to proceed with the contract?”

“Strike while the iron is hot… Haha, how about we proceed right away today?”

“Well, it would take several days just to review the contract terms.”

“Oh my, this is a contract with the Duchess, the mistress of Lombard – how dare we speak of review? We’re not such untrustworthy people. Let’s just look at the draft and contract immediately.”

As expected, the Alnor side was anxiously trying to rush the land transfer process, fearing I might change my mind.

The sight was so amusing that I considered teasing them more, but seeing the Count was about to collapse from anxiety, I had Ramon prepare a contract draft.

“Madam, please review this.”

The capable Administrative Director immediately prepared a draft.

I deliberately turned the pages leisurely and at ease, while all eyes around me focused on my fingertips.

“There’s one thing I’d like to add.”

“Yes, yes, please tell us!”

“After the contract, Alnor cannot claim any rights to this land under any circumstances. Also, they can no longer interfere in the affairs of their cousin, Clayton Viscount. How about it?”

“Of course. We will naturally do so!”

Count Alnor, who had abandoned his blood relative for money, gladly signed the contract.

Then he hugged the chest filled with 40,000 gold coins and grinned from ear to ear.

‘Yes, laugh while you can.’

This man, who was merely a minor frontier lord, would never again have a chance to be active in central politics.

Instead, he would witness the massive gold pouring out from the land he had sold for a pittance.

How could such a greedy man forget the gold mine he had foolishly let slip away?

Every time he remembered the lost opportunity, living would feel meaningless.

He would burn inside with anger and resentment, but with nothing he could do, he would ultimately repeat meaningless self-reproach that would consume him.

Count Alnor’s life would become a living hell.

This was the punishment that the criminal who had contributed to driving countless Lombard citizens to death through the bridge collapse would receive.

* * *

Administrative Chief Ramon couldn’t hide his frustrated feelings even while following the Duchess.

The bureaucrats’ evaluations of this contract were varied.

First, most of the high-ranking officials were furious that they had missed an excellent opportunity to bring down the Duchess.

This was a natural reaction since they had been grinding their teeth at the Duchess’s usual dictatorship.

On the other hand, the lower ranks were even more sharply divided in their assessments.

Half thought it was fortunate that the lawsuit was quietly concluded, while the other half clicked their tongues at the Duchess’s stupidity or mocked that her vast fortune would soon be ruined at this rate.

But Ramon knew that the Duchess wasn’t the foolish woman people gossiped about.

Madam understood administration, and furthermore, politics.

She was definitely not someone who deserved such treatment, so Ramon felt his chest tighten with frustration.

“I dare to ask, Madam. Why did you go to such expense to purchase such useless barren land?”

“I thought I might build a summer villa there?”

“Pardon?”

“After all, I’m bound to Lombard for life. If the Duke oppresses me, I’ll run away from the castle and live comfortably at the villa.”

The Duchess’s answer sounded truly nonchalant.

It was the kind of statement that would make a third party mock her, saying ‘Does she still think she’s the Imperial Palace’s precious jewel?’

But the only people around were Ramon and the servant Berry.

Stroking his chest in relief, he continued speaking.

“While overseeing the temple construction, I saw Madam’s true nature. You’re not someone who would carelessly donate such a fortune to others, even if you’d rather swallow all the gold coins whole.”

“Do you realize how impious your current statement is?”

Meanwhile, I stopped walking and glared fiercely at Ramon.

In the past, he would have definitely been intimidated, but now he just tilted his head nonchalantly as if asking what the problem was.

That guy really had an uncanny ability to find comfortable positions.

I sighed inwardly.

‘I can’t tell him about the gold mine right now.’

An ordinary human predicting the future?

Anyone would think that’s demonic.

With the Inquisitor’s visit drawing near, I couldn’t take such a risk.

Instead, I offered a plausible excuse.

“The land I purchased this time has high military utility.”

“Suddenly?”

“Being highland, it’s advantageous for securing visibility, and if we dig deep moats, it can be fully utilized as a defensive stronghold. Considering its value, I think 40,000 gold coins isn’t a waste.”

“Madam, surely for Lombard’s future…”

I had been walking briskly, but I stopped again at this nonsense I couldn’t just let pass.

My foolish past of sacrificing myself for Lombard was already tormenting me like a dark history!

“Don’t be mistaken. If it means screwing over the Duke, I can easily spend 40,000 gold coins or so.”

“But you just said it was a military strategic point?”

“Exactly that. If I build a luxurious summer villa at a military strategic point, how twisted would the Duke and knights feel? I’ll chase out everyone except my people so they can’t even set foot there. Just imagining it is delightful.”

When I laughed merrily, Ramon pulled his neck back as if looking at a strange person.

Regardless, I continued speaking.

Actually, this was the main point.

“Anyway, I feel great responsibility for this incident. How serious it was that Lombard, the hegemon of the north, almost got involved in a lawsuit.”

“Madam, if you’re concerned about the bureaucrats’ gossip, just…”

“So I should practice self-restraint for a while.”

“Hmm, self-restraint? What kind of self-restraint all of a sudden?”

The Administrative Director, who had been looking at me with pitying eyes, hesitated.

After rolling his eyes for a moment, he seemed to reach some conclusion and jumped up.

“Wait! You’re planning to rest using self-restraint as an excuse, aren’t you? Right? You’re going to dump all the work on me and Sir Bertol, aren’t you? Did you think I wouldn’t know?!”

“Your intuition is really sharp…”

“What?!”

Even though I quickened my pace, Ramon stuck to me like glue and pestered me relentlessly.

He poured out nagging about how much work was piled up now, and how I should work harder in the future instead of abandoning everything to rest.

It seemed like just recently he had been wary of my involvement in domestic affairs.

It was a moment that made me realize anew that nothing beats overtime work.

“Berry?”

“Yes, Madam!”

Berry, who had been following a few steps behind, immediately came closer.

Even Ramon, whose courage had grown beyond measure, stepped back in surprise at the huge shadow cast over his head.

It was a moment when the reason Count Baron hadn’t been seen recently became a bit clearer.

“Sir Ramon seems tired. Please safely escort him to the administrative residence.”

“Leave it to me!”

“No, no, Madam, isn’t physical force cheating?! Wait, just…”

Berry easily lifted Ramon and placed him on her shoulder.

The poor Administrative Director flailed desperately, saying he hadn’t finished talking, but Berry boasted unwavering stability as she leaped down the corridor railing in one bound.

For reference, this was the third floor.

‘Well, he’ll probably be fine.’

Left alone, I stroked my chin with satisfaction.

Not only had I smoothly resolved the governance council problem, but a large-scale gold mine worth dozens of tons had also fallen into my grasp.

I was already wealthy, but had become even wealthier. The more money, the better.

Of course, there was something else that made me happiest.

“Sweet vacation… no, confinement is just around the corner.”

If I could just hold out until Count Alnor returned in two days, I would be free until the Inquisitor arrived.

And according to noble society customs, it was proper for the Count to be entertained by the Duke, who was of the same gender.

By now, the two of them would be in the reception room, opening port wine and having a pleasant chat.

“What should I wear to the dinner banquet? It’s such a hassle to change clothes.”

Despite my trivial concerns, for some reason Count Alnor’s party didn’t stay for the full two days as planned and departed that very afternoon.

And I only learned of this fact when I found myself sitting alone at the table with the Duke.

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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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