I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 57

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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 57

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Divine Power and Dark Magic clash in the atmosphere.

As expected, it seemed Morcatus had recognized those Inquisitor bastards as intruders and stepped forward.

Having been unable to properly obtain ‘prey’ all this time, he must have been starving, so there was probably also an intention to find a trouble-free meal while he was at it.

The thought that Elisia, who was nothing more than an ordinary civilian, might have gotten caught up in their fight made my head feel like it was burning up.

‘Over there.’

As the sun began to tilt westward.

Something caught Edwin’s eye as he rapidly descended the treacherous mountain path.

In a place where cliff shadows fell thickly, the Inquisitors and Morcatus were facing off, just before skinning a small beast.

And a little distance away…

“Meow?”

“Nero, Nero? Are you there?”

There was Elisia, desperately reaching her hand toward it.

Morcatus, flustered upon hearing the voice, and the Inquisitors, who paid no heed and activated their weapons.

There was no more time to hesitate.

He couldn’t tolerate either Elisia getting hurt from learning Nero’s true identity, whom she loved like her own life, or her getting injured by being caught up in the fight.

Edwin immediately drew up his Sword Aura.

Even if she would come to fear him, even if she would discover the Berserker form he had never wanted to show her in the past.

“Who dares interfere with my execution?!”

“You’re the one who doesn’t seem to know whose land this is.”

“Some Northern backwater…!”

Weapons clashed head-on with sparks flying.

The shockwave that exploded outward split rocks and made the ground shake violently.

Even so, Edwin didn’t retreat a single step. Behind him was she, Elisia.

‘Now she’ll truly come to fear me.’

The enemy’s spear tip sharply pierced his collar.

Edwin, who barely twisted his body away, took a deep breath.

“I won’t let you return alive.”

Dark energy rippled along his great sword. Edwin, having drawn up his power, delivered the final strike.

* * *

It was like sitting on a bed of thorns.

“Shh, no Nero.”

“Meow meow meow meow! Meow meow, meow meow meow!”

“Now now, stay still. Shh, no.”

It was such a bed of thorns that I could barely breathe properly.

The Duke, Brother Vincent, and I were sitting facing each other in the reception room of a nearby administrative residence.

Despite the arrival of an honored guest dispatched from the Holy Capital, we couldn’t go straight to the castle because of the two Inquisitors who had been beaten to a pulp.

While Holy Power could heal to some extent, broken bones were outside their domain, so they said the patients needed to see a physician while minimizing movement.

Since Gilbert, my personal physician, was an expert at setting broken bones, we had summoned him here.

In other words, it meant we had to sit on this bed of thorns until he arrived.

“Meow meow meow meow!”

“Shh, I told you to behave. No, even if you make your eyes sparkle prettily, it’s still no!”

From the moment Vincent sat across from us, Nero kept twisting his body this way and that, acting threatening.

It pained my heart to scold Nero, my only family, but I had to teach him clearly what wasn’t allowed.

Our Nero wouldn’t want mommy to be dragged away by the Inquisition either.

“My lady, when the personal physician arrives, it would be better to have your hand looked at first.”

“The Inquis… I mean, the priests are lying there in such condition. We should see to our guests first.”

“You need not worry about them at all.”

The Duke answered with a cheerful expression, but I was rather irritated.

Of course he wouldn’t be concerned at all since he was strong enough to crush the Inquisitors in an instant, but from my small and precious position, I couldn’t be so carefree.

From my position where I’d be executed as a demon if my identity were discovered!

“…I apologize.”

“Your Grace?”

Just then, the Duke’s gaze turned to my left hand.

Blood had already seeped through the bandages I had hastily wrapped before coming down from the mountain, and my wrist was swollen, probably from being twisted wrong in all the commotion.

Even Nero, who had been struggling wildly, paused for a moment and carefully licked the bandage on the back of my hand.

His amber eyes glanced up at me as if gauging my reaction.

I answered as brightly as I could manage.

“Your Grace has nothing to apologize for. It’s all my fault.”

“What do you mean…?”

“I brought Nero here but failed to take proper care of him.”

In the past, it was hard to find a household in Caldric Village that didn’t keep animals.

Everyone let their animals roam freely, cared for other families’ animals like their own, and when evening came, the children and animals would return to their respective homes on their own.

But the atmosphere within the inner castle walls of this big city was completely different.

While no one would dare harm Nero in the lady’s chamber where I, the Duke’s consort, resided, if I let him outside the castle, I couldn’t guarantee his safety.

I could no longer raise him as freely as before.

Even so, Berry and I had made various efforts so Nero could live happily, but perhaps that wasn’t enough.

Enough for him to somehow break through the tightly locked windows and run away.

“Hmm, but really, how did he get out?”

The question suddenly occurred to me, but I decided to set this matter aside for now and continue wallowing in self-blame.

But why was it that Nero’s paw pads had become strangely damp? He was even avoiding my gaze.

Had he gotten hurt somewhere in all that earlier commotion?

Just as I was about to examine him more closely out of concern, the Duke continued speaking.

“Nero’s running away probably wasn’t your fault.”

“How can you be so certain?”

“I’ve never seen a cat with fur this soft and smooth. It’s proof of how lovingly you’ve cared for him.”

“Meow, meow…”

I petted Nero as he snuggled against me pitifully, as if agreeing with the Duke’s words.

At the same time, I fell into confusion.

Brother Vincent across from us was resting his chin on his hand and staring at us intently.

Quite openly, as if watching something fascinating.

Of course, I was a suspicious existence, and the Duke had also done suspicious things beyond the Northern Wall, but the most suspicious-looking person in this room was Brother Vincent himself.

Perhaps sensing my furtive glances, the priest shifted his posture and smiled brightly.

“Shall I fix it for you?”

“Pardon?”

“Your hand, I mean. Well, Holy Power isn’t as amazing as the rumors make it out to be—it just helps wounds heal a bit faster.”

I had heard similar rumors.

They said that since the Holy City Arzenbach was land blessed by God, children with mysterious powers were occasionally born there.

These children were said to be favored by God, so they severed ties with the secular world and were raised as priests in the Great Cathedral.

“Can you also use Holy Power, Brother?”

“Even with the virtue of modesty, it’s among the most powerful Divine Power in the Holy City Arzenbach.”

Vincent’s expression was confident.

Well, since he was called the Inquisition Director, he must possess even stronger power than the Inquisitors who had fought like monsters, bringing down mountains.

But I didn’t think long and answered quickly.

“I’m fine.”

“Why is that? Aren’t your injuries uncomfortable?”

“I don’t want you to use such a precious ability just for me alone. It would be better to save Brother’s ability for someone who truly needs it.”

“….”

“Besides, I heard that divine power is a force that draws upon a priest’s life force. The price is too steep to exchange for just one insignificant wound.”

Good, that sounded natural.

The real reason I refused Vincent’s offer was because I was afraid something might go wrong if I came into contact with holy power.

My soul might get ejected from Elisia’s body, or perhaps because I’m an impure existence like a demon, I might be annihilated the moment I touch holy power.

I couldn’t take such risks just to heal one wound.

‘I’m going to live leisurely with Nero and gold coins for the rest of my life.’

I smiled contentedly to myself while soothing Nero, who had been particularly restless since earlier.

And so I failed to notice what expression Vincent was making until the very end.

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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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