I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 47

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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 47

“Your Grace, yesterday I encountered the Mountain Guard on Barg Mountain.”

“Is that so?”

The Duke answered indifferently and resumed the meal he had paused.

Before the conversation could break off again, I quickly got to the point.

“How is the search for Brother Vincent going? I heard you entrusted it to the Mountain Guard.”

“….”

“Don’t tell me they still haven’t found him?”

The Duke’s indifferent eyes wavered slightly.

His expression as he looked at me carried a subtle light that was difficult to gauge, but didn’t seem to have a particularly good meaning.

“I heard he hadn’t returned to the parish even as of yesterday. If something really happened to Brother, the Holy Capital will formally protest.”

“Hmm.”

“If relations with the Holy Capital sour, it certainly won’t be a good situation for Lombard.”

The Imperial Court is wary of Lombard, which holds tremendous military power.

Therefore, it would be beneficial for Lombard to join hands with the Holy Capital for the balance of power. Taking the death of the former Duke as a painful lesson.

‘Ah, this wasn’t something I should have said.’

The former Crown Prince, that is, Elisia’s father, was involved in the death of the former Duke.

Belatedly recalling this fact, I bit my lips and quietly rolled my eyes.

Watching me like that and wondering what I was thinking, the Duke sighed lowly and continued speaking.

“Do you trust me?”

“No.”

“As I mentioned before, I think there’s no need to worry much about Brother Vincent. Whatever sweet words he whispered to you, my lady….”

The Duke naturally ignored my answer.

“The Brother I saw is not someone who would fall to mere mountain beasts.”

“Yes, Brother does look tall and has a sturdy build like a knight. I’ll acknowledge that part. But how timid he is. He’s the person who hid behind me saying he was scared just from Lady Olden’s gaze.”

“I’ll ask again. Do you trust me?”

“No.”

“The Holy Capital dispatches priests externally for more diverse reasons than you might think. Of course, most cases are truly ordinary dispatches, but there are quite a few cases involving confidential missions.”

The Duke naturally skipped over my answer this time as well.

“Do you think Brother is such a case? That he quietly returned after completing a confidential mission?”

“Honestly, yes.”

At the Duke’s assertion, I retraced my past memories once more.

‘I’m sorry! I’m truly sorry. I couldn’t see well ahead and…. I need to get new glasses quickly but I don’t have time….’

What was Vincent like when I first encountered him?

He seemed like just an ordinary priest who was frightened and flustered after bumping into a noble lady of high status.

‘Haven’t you looked in a mirror? It may be presumptuous to say to a priest, but you’re handsome, Brother.’

‘I, I’m handsome?’

‘Why do you have that expression?’

‘It’s the first time I’ve heard that. Being called handsome….’

And what was he like when I complimented his appearance half-jokingly, half-seriously?

Vincent was genuinely flustered, his face as well as his ears turning bright red.

‘Could this really be possible through acting?’

If he were an agent sent on a confidential mission as the Duke said, it wouldn’t be entirely impossible.

But I had been watching Vincent closely for the past few months.

And above all, my conclusion was that he couldn’t have fabricated even that shy behavior.

No matter what, my eye for people wasn’t at such a disastrous level.

‘Of course, my eyes were a bit off in the past.’

But not now.

After being betrayed by Edwin once and dying, would I fall for the same trick twice?

Anyway, not now. It won’t be. Probably… right?

“I understand Your Grace’s meaning well.”

“Well. I don’t think so.”

“But considering relations with the Holy Capital, please continue the search without stopping. If necessary, I’ll bear the expenses.”

I had already asked Berry’s mother, who was said to be a skilled hunter familiar with mountain paths in winter.

Still, if the Mountain Guard searched together, it would put my mind much more at ease.

Although I had no particular affection for Brother, I still wanted to use every available method until the end.

“Since you say so, my lady, we’ll continue the search for now. There’s no need to give the Holy Capital side unnecessary justification.”

“Thank you.”

The food had grown cold during our conversation.

But since I had already roughly filled my stomach, I was about to put down my utensils and get up first when the Duke spoke.

“How about taking on Lombard’s domestic affairs in earnest?”

“…What?”

I was trying to respond elegantly but was so dumbfounded that my voice cracked.

‘What did I just hear?’

Surely not.

I thought about how much the Duke disliked me.

The daughter of the enemy who drove the former Duke Lombard to his death.

Unable to forget that bitter resentment, he was someone who didn’t want even a hair’s breadth of contact with ‘Elisia,’ whether in the past or now.

So much so that he didn’t even perform the wedding night duty of a great noble. It had already been several months since I married into the family.

It meant he had no intention of having an heir with me.

‘But he’s asking me to handle Lombard’s domestic affairs? This huge household? If I mess up, everything could be ruined?’

What happens when an irresponsible and incompetent duchess handles domestic affairs could be seen from the example of the previous duchess who died early.

In summer, villages were submerged by great floods, in winter there were mass starvations due to food shortages, and in spring and fall, pests and epidemics ran rampant.

Northern Lombard was originally unable to be self-sufficient in food.

Thorough preparation in advance was essential, but the former duchess, who had grown up pampered in the southern granary region, was ignorant of domestic affairs and indulged in luxury while ignoring officials’ petitions.

The result was tragic.

‘Edwin, who knows this better than anyone, wouldn’t entrust domestic affairs to me.’

Because Elisia was similar to the former duchess.

Of course, there was a big difference in that the former duchess was foolish but kind-hearted, while this one was stupid and had a nasty personality too.

Anyway, so the conclusion was that my ears were playing tricks on me….

“I think it would be good if you took charge of Lombard’s domestic affairs, my lady.”

“No.”

Unfortunately, my hearing seemed to still be intact.

I refused immediately without even pretending to consider it. Since it was an answer that didn’t go through my brain, it was probably faster than light.

But the Duke, whether he didn’t hear or was pretending not to hear, calmly continued speaking.

“I’m often away because of the Northern Wall, and Lombard needs a wise and decisive mistress. I think you are the right person for that role, my lady.”

What would my past self have been like if she had heard these words?

My past self, who suffered from a terrible thirst for recognition, would have grasped the Duke’s proposal despite any danger, knowing it was beyond her station.

If only she could see Lombard as wealthy and prosperous as the south, if only she could see the citizens’ smiling faces….

‘But not now.’

The me who considered Lombard and Edwin as everything in life was already dead.

Now I was the most precious thing to myself in the world. No, only I was precious.

So I would no longer take responsibility for anything.

“I’m busy just with preparing to receive guests. I think Bertol will continue to handle domestic affairs well as he has been.”

“That’s unfortunate. If you change your mind, please let me know anytime.”

“That will never happen, even if I die.”

Despite the mercilessly rude rejection, the Duke’s expression remained calm.

What could he be thinking right now?

His eyes were difficult to read.

“But why did you do that?”

The words burst out impulsively. It really was an impulse.

I wanted to tear off that hateful mask from the Duke who remained so nonchalant despite stirring me up like this.

“The knights I encountered yesterday told me. They said Your Grace ordered them to prepare the Barg Mountain area in advance.”

“….”

“As far as I know, the Mountain Guard’s jurisdiction is the rough terrain adjacent to the Northern Wall. Barg Mountain is quite far from there. Why did you suddenly move them to Eastern Lombard?”

I wasn’t particularly expecting an answer.

He was uneasy about letting someone from the Imperial Capital like me roam freely, or perhaps if I were harmed by wild beasts, relations with the Imperial Court would sour.

There were mountains of reasonable excuses.

But—

The moment our eyes met, cracks appeared in the Duke’s solid mask.

He wasn’t the same person who was always indifferent and unreadable.

“If I were to speak honestly, would you trust me?”

“I, well.”

“…No.”

I froze at his unexpected reaction. Then the Duke, who had been moving his lips, turned his gaze away.

“I spoke unnecessarily.”

Once again, he was the original person I knew.

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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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