I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 5

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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 5

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After visiting the Castle Keep, I holed up in my bedroom and lazily enjoyed myself without a care.

Boringly peaceful days continued.

I ate the delicious meals that servants brought at regular times, and spent my time reading books piled up like mountains, using my adorable companion gold coins as cushions.

These were the heavenly days I had dreamed of, but even so, a corner of my heart felt strangely empty.

“I wonder if those little ones are doing well?”

My childhood self—and still now—suffered from severe distrust of humans.

Instead, I often spent time with animals living on the streets, and the warmth of puppies and kittens burrowing into my embrace became a great comfort to my young and lonely self.

And now, in a situation where I couldn’t even freely visit my parents’ graves, my desire to check if those little ones were doing well grew stronger each day.

‘But I need a justification for that.’

Simply checking wouldn’t be a problem.

The important thing was to meet them naturally in a way that wouldn’t involve the Inquisitor.

‘Elisia absolutely hates animals…’

She was notorious for her wickedness, but among her deeds, the story involving a canary was particularly famous.

A few years ago, Elisia received a small bird as a gift from her cousin, the First Princess.

But for some reason it displeased her, so Elisia broke the bird’s neck and tore off its wings before sending it back to the princess.

The princess who saw the returned canary was so horrified that she fainted.

And this happened at the Founding Day Memorial Banquet, no less.

‘Why does Elisia have to hate animals of all things?’

If she hated people, Method Acting would have been possible.

But since I was always clever then and now, I was able to quickly think of a justification to check on those little ones and even care for them regularly.

I hid the books scattered on my bed throughout the bedroom and nonchalantly pulled the bell cord.

“Did you call for me, my lady?”

“I’m getting bored lying around every day. I need to go out.”

“I shall escort you.”

“No, never mind that. Bring someone from the Castle Keep. Tell them if they don’t come immediately and dawdle around, I’ll pluck out all their whiskers.”

* * *

“My lady, are you really sure about this?”

I turned my gaze away from the rapidly passing scenery outside the window.

Whether it was for the safety of his whiskers or because he had decided to completely switch sides, Count Baron, who had rushed over with his mustache fluttering as soon as my summons came, cautiously spoke up.

“How about changing our destination to the inner castle walls even now?”

“No, it’s fine.”

After passing through the gate and heading to the outer castle walls, the carriage’s shaking became even more severe.

No matter how luxurious the carriage was, it was impossible to absorb the impact of unpaved roads.

The baron, who was gripping the carriage handle like a lifeline, continued speaking.

“But the people living in the outer castle walls are low-class and vulgar beyond description. They’re not worthy of someone as noble as you dealing with them directly.”

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of getting directly involved with humans either.”

“Humans… Oh, yes! That’s right! Of course, my lady!”

I looked at the baron who quickly agreed with me and twisted my lips in satisfaction.

‘They say even dog dung has its use if you look hard enough.’

It was a refreshing feeling.

Count Baron was moderately corrupt, had moderate authority, was openly a bully to the weak and submissive to the strong, and among the stubborn northern people, he possessed useful flexibility and quick-wittedness.

I never dreamed there would come a day when I would find such abilities of his useful.

I rested my chin on my hand, thinking of words that were synonymous with ‘use and discard.’

“I hear the voices of territory residents cursing me pierce the heavens?”

“Th-that is…”

“I’m not trying to scold you. In a way, it’s only natural.”

I turned my gaze away with a bitter expression.

In reality, I was thinking about wanting to bury my nose in a cat’s head, but I barely held back by recalling the Inquisitor’s cold, stony gaze.

“So today I thought I’d stop by the monastery to show them the image of a compassionate mistress. Since I’m married here now, I’d like to try living well in this place.”

“Then what about the animal feed you specifically ordered us to bring…”

“A mistress who loves animals—wouldn’t that be perfect for winning the favor of the territory residents?”

Even from my few short words, Count Baron quickly grasped my intention.

The plan to build a compassionate image by touring charitable institutions in the outer castle walls, and incidentally show my love for animals to increase favorability toward me!

‘Well, that’s just the justification—in reality, I just want to play with my little furry ones.’

The monks cared for not only people but also animals with compassionate hearts, so there were many little ones coming and going around the monastery.

That’s why I chose the monastery.

It was the place with the highest probability of encountering the stray animals wandering around Lombard.

But Count Baron, unaware of my true intentions, suddenly began praising me.

“As expected, as expected, my lady is truly wise!”

“Right? So cooperate properly. If the results are good, I won’t be stingy with the compensation.”

“Compensation?! That’s absurd! Serving my lady is my only reward and joy!”

Instead of the baron who lied without batting an eye, I thought of adorable furry creatures.

‘At first, I only planned to feed them…’

Seeing how I worried about them until my last moment, it seemed I had given those little ones more affection than I thought.

My lips twisted bitterly.

I recalled the sound of their footsteps as they would run toward me excitedly whenever we met at the village entrance.

* * *

The carriage stopped at the monastery in the outer castle walls.

Compared to the monastery in the inner castle walls, it was utterly shabby and desolate, but from the moment I stepped down here, I was caught up in a certain sentiment.

This was because the monks and nuns here had been so fond of me when I lost my parents at a young age.

I remembered their deep affection as if it were yesterday.

“We greet Your Highness, Princess of the Great Empire Valdin.”

“Just ‘my lady’ is fine. I’m a person of Lombard now too.”

The monks who hadn’t received advance notice bowed their heads with bewildered faces.

The one who stepped forward representing everyone was the elderly Monastery Head.

“I am Filio, responsible for this monastery. I am grateful for my lady’s gracious visit.”

How much experience could a monk from a rural village have in receiving a noble lady?

Filio’s action of kissing the back of my hand was awkward beyond measure.

Of course, it seemed his reason for being intimidated by me wasn’t just because of my noble bloodline.

‘Even I couldn’t possibly act wickedly in front of Filio.’

He was like a grandfather to me.

Perhaps surprised that I was just blinking my eyes docilely, contrary to the rumors, Filio continued with a secretly relieved expression.

“But what brings my lady to such a humble place?”

“As the mistress of Lombard, I came to observe the lowest places and serve. I want to fulfill the noble duty of a mistress. Yes, purely for that reason.”

My remaining bit of conscience cried out, but I decided to just ignore it.

“Ah, service…”

Someone in the back muttered reluctantly.

Usually, monasteries in the outer castle walls also served as hospitals treating the sick.

So that reluctant voice contained doubt about whether I could really care for patients.

I smiled brightly.

“Don’t worry and give me any task.”

“Thank you. My lady, please come inside.”

Everyone knew, including myself, that the Duchess couldn’t be given any harsh tasks anyway.

I planned to kill some time appropriately, then slip away to search for the fur balls, and followed Filio inside.

The crowd of people around us split in half to clear a path.

‘…This is no joke.’

If the air had form, it would have clawed and torn my skin all over.

Though no one spoke, I could clearly feel from the countless glares directed at me just how much they were cursing me internally.

‘She’s busy as hell but just loitering around getting in the way.’

‘Who does she think she’s fooling with that fake act of kindness.’

‘She was already disgusting to look at, so let’s really give her hell. How about accidentally throwing some pus-stained bandages at her?’

‘Wonder if she’ll scream and wail. She’ll be too scared to ever show her face here again, haha!’

They were surely whispering things like this.

The obvious hostility directed at me made both Lord Filio and Count Baron, who had been fawning and constantly rubbing his palms together beside me, stiffen awkwardly.

But I didn’t care.

Though I had become Elisia, in times like this I separated the personalities of ‘me’ and ‘Elisia.’

What they were cursing wasn’t me, but Elisia. Thinking of it that way, I didn’t particularly feel angry.

If anything, I wanted to butt in and curse along with them.

“This way.”

“Right.”

Upon entering, I first rolled up my sleeves and washed my hands thoroughly.

As I scrubbed between my fingernails with soap and rinsed them clean, Filio’s pupils began to waver awkwardly as he watched.

“Uh, my lady?”

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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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