I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 54

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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 54

I roughly skimmed through the documents I had snatched.

Surprisingly, the content was systematic and reasonable. The budget was clearly calculated for where and how much to spend.

It was a bit excessive, but considering the Knight Order’s morale, there was no reason not to spend this much.

After finishing my review, I reached out my hand again.

It meant to hand over the pen.

“Madam, well…”

Stefan, who had been excitedly sparkling his eyes, suddenly froze.

Just like the official yesterday who had hit rock bottom in preparedness, he hadn’t brought a pen and ink.

To come ambush me for a signature and forget the most important thing?!

Just as I was about to explode in extreme rage, a quill pen was gently placed on my palm.

With just the right amount of ink I liked at the tip.

“…”

Count Baron, who met my eyes, showed a subtle smile.

It was a sight severely harmful to my vision, but when the tactfully prepared pen and the scratching sound like a fly rubbing its feet combined, my boiling anger subsided.

Indeed, it seemed I needed at least one quick-witted close retainer.

“Where have you been slacking off to come only now? From now on, stick close and be tactful, understood?”

“Does that mean… Madam, are you accepting someone like me again?”

“Huh?”

“Sob, I swear to God! From now on, no matter what unexpected troubles arise, I’ll become a faithful doormat loyal only to Madam!!”

Though I hadn’t scolded him that harshly, the Baron who had been tearing up alone suddenly clung to my leg.

As if he had applied glue, he wouldn’t fall off no matter how hard I kicked.

And the Duke’s lips, who had been intently watching this scene, twisted ominously.

“Indeed, my wife’s taste is…”

It’s not like that!

* * *

Elisia changed her schedule to stay one more day at the Military Camp and handle the backlog of official duties.

Count Baron faithfully stayed by the Duchess’s side this time.

When she frowned, he hurriedly threw sweet desserts into her mouth, and when she yawned, he rushed over with large cushions for comfortable rest.

And when the document contents seemed unsatisfactory, he scolded the knight who brought them on her behalf.

Normally, knights wouldn’t just quietly listen to a lower noble’s reprimands, but with the Duchess’s authority behind him, it was truly…

“No, that’s not it.”

The Baron, who had been smiling contentedly, suddenly shook his head.

Of course, he was happy to regain his position on the winning side, but his feelings were completely different from before.

Now Madam wasn’t simply a ‘winning side.’

She was a magnanimous person unmatched in Northern Lombard and truly respectable, who had casually accepted him back after he had fled without loyalty during the lawsuit incident.

Ah, it was different from before.

Count Baron now truly served Elisia with loyalty and wished for her happiness.

‘Hehe.’

The Baron stroked his well-groomed beard and looked around.

The Military Camp’s main gate was bustling with knights seeing off the Duke and Duchess.

Since the Duke, who usually disliked commotion, preferred to move quietly with a small entourage, this crowd was clearly for the Duchess.

Even those barbaric knights are gradually falling for Madam’s charm.

…Count Baron, who was thinking this, suddenly had a question.

‘No matter how I look at it, Madam is a good person. Her mouth is a little… no, quite harsh, but she’s absolutely not the heartless person the rumors say.’

The knights seemed to be having similar thoughts.

Not just the secretaries like Sir Stefan who clung to Madam’s dress hem asking her to visit often, but other knights also looked quite confused.

Is this really right, are all those terrible rumors true? From what I see, not at all.

The same expression.

“Madam, when will you visit us again? Tomorrow? The day after? Or should I just come to where you are?”

“I won’t come! And don’t come either! Damn it, grinding people through official duties all night like a threshing machine, let’s see if I come to this endless hell again!”

“Haha! Madam, I love you!”

The clerk-level knights who had tasted efficient administration for the first time in their lives lost their minds.

The truly menacing thing here was Duke himself, who had pinpointed with gleaming eyes the knight who shouted his love to Madam.

‘The relationship between the two doesn’t seem as bad as the rumors either.’

Today, for some reason, the married couple got into the same carriage together.

Therefore, Count Baron was naturally pushed to the seat next to the coachman, but his mood was rather good.

Old habits die hard.

Despite pledging firm loyalty unswayed by interests, the Baron found his gaze unconsciously drawn to the promising opportunity.

* * *

At the same time, Nero was sitting on Elisia’s bed, diligently grooming.

“Meow.”

[Making a fuss.]

“Meow meow!”

The servants had told him that mama would return to the castle soon.

Nero, who wanted to look as cute and pretty as possible for mama whom he’d meet after several days, carefully licked even the corners he usually lazily skipped.

His black fur gleamed with a silky luster.

Just as Elisia loved Nero dearly, the servants also cherished Nero with utmost devotion.

It was a luxury hard to imagine during his past of wandering the streets hungry, but his current state of one body housing two souls was equally hard to imagine.

“Meow.”

[Grooming is hard? Well, that’s because you’ve gained belly fat from eating enthusiastically.]

“Meow!!”

[Shut up! While you were excitedly enjoying all kinds of delicacies, I was starving. That damn Lombard bastard, whenever I try to fill my stomach, he interferes with everything…!]

No matter what Morcatus grumbled about, Nero only focused on grooming.

Only the fact that mama would return soon mattered.

Of course, he was quite hurt and inwardly sulking about being left alone in the castle, but right now he just missed mama’s touch.

He thought it would be nice if she petted him a lot.

[…Wait.]

Then, Morcatus’s pupils narrowed.

His vivid purple eyes read the wavelengths in the air and shone sharply.

[An intruder.]

Nero, who was about to lick his tail without a care, froze.

Morcatus continued.

[They dare throw down a challenge in my territory.]

“Meow?”

[Yes, the tearful reunion will have to be postponed for a moment.]

By accepting the soul of the great demon Morcatus into his body, Nero came to share not only his mind but also his senses.

A dangerous intruder had appeared on the land where he and mama lived.

Though he couldn’t sense it as clearly as Morcatus, this was definitely dangerous.

[Let’s go.]

Nero, who had risen, lightly jumped down from the bed.

The cat’s shadow that had been pattering across the luxurious bedroom disappeared without a trace at some point.

* * *

I had finally returned to my beloved home.

I strode up the castle stairs without giving the servants time to greet me, brushing my chest in relief.

“Phew, I thought I’d die from the awkwardness.”

The Duke, who usually looked at me like I was some strange creature, had for some reason said he also needed to return to the castle and suggested we travel together in the carriage.

Up to that point, well… it was a carriage owned by House Lombard, so I went along with it.

I had considered getting a carriage in my own name, but then thought about the cost and gave up on that idea.

‘Elisia, are you alright?!’

Anyway, on the way back to the castle, the carriage wheel hit a large stone.

Just as my body was about to bounce up and hit the ceiling from the impact, the Duke sitting across from me caught and pulled me into his arms, firmly protecting my head with his palm.

It all happened in the blink of an eye.

‘Th-thank you. You saved my life.’

‘Are you hurt anywhere? It looked like you just braced yourself with your wrist.’

‘I’m fine. Rather, Your Grace…’

‘Master! Madam! Are you safe?!’

Thanks to him, I avoided getting hurt.

But the coachman, who had hurriedly climbed down to apologize, caught us in that close embrace.

I even saw Count Baron, who had been peeking from behind, with his lips curling up in a smirk!

‘Thank goodness something came up for the Duke.’

When we were almost at the castle, the Duke suddenly said he remembered something he’d left at the military camp and got off the carriage.

I don’t know if it was true or if he too felt embarrassed and made it up, but either way, he got off the carriage, mounted his escort’s horse, and disappeared.

I thought I’d die from the awkwardness and my burning cheeks during the entire ride, so it was a huge relief.

‘Get it together.’

I still have nightmares about the past.

I would wake up screaming, and in my confusion, I’d hold Nero who had also woken up and shed silent tears.

The current Duke felt like a completely different person from Edwin of the past, so sometimes my hatred toward him would fade, but still…

“Madam, Madam!”

As I walked in a daze, I looked up at the thundering footsteps coming from the opposite direction.

I was momentarily startled by Berry charging toward me like a bear, but what truly shocked me was the cry that burst out behind her.

“It’s terrible, Madam! Nero, Nero has disappeared!!”

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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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