I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 60

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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 60

* * *

Ramon was a capable bureaucrat.

He hurriedly rented a luxury inn with a clear view of the harbor.

Originally, he had tried to secure the entire building, but even the oblivious Ramon seemed to notice that my gaze was growing colder the longer his argument with the owner dragged on.

Thus, they reached an agreement to rent the entire top floor of the inn.

Anyway, our party consisted only of myself, Count Baron, and Sir Gareth, an aide whom the Duke had sent along because he was worried about leaving the Baron alone with me—once again, my reputation was insulted.

Berry remained at the administrative residence to care for Nero, who had difficulty with long journeys.

“Hah, I really thought I was going to die.”

I threw off my clothes as if shedding skin and collapsed face-first onto the bed.

If I had stood for even one more minute, my spine, already overworked to its limit, would have surely snapped.

‘Let’s just pretend to supervise the road construction and think of this as a vacation until the Inquisitors leave.’

The sound of lapping waves and seagulls crying echoed gently.

Comfortable and pleasant.

First, I’ll sleep well, then when I wake up, I’ll stroll along the seaside and browse the shopping district while buying snacks.

I’ll also buy plenty of pretty fountain pens, ink, and books I’ve wanted to read.

Even in my previous life, I had never been to Bellamare. As a major hub for foreign trade, it must be full of wonderful sights.

It felt like it would be a very leisurely vacation.

* * *

I was currently standing in the middle of desolate ruins.

I had clearly ordered Ramon “let’s go to the market,” but the message must have been misdelivered.

Having become much more generous after sufficient sleep, I asked.

“I said let’s go to the market, so why are we in an open field? Don’t my words sound like words to you?”

“Th-this is the largest market in Bellamare…”

Am I still not fully awake?

Scratching my chin at Ramon’s response, I looked ahead again.

Empty shops and stalls, roads with no one coming or going, and a gloomy atmosphere devoid of any vitality.

Reading my expression, the Bellamare officials hesitantly made excuses.

“I-it’s winter right now, so it’s like this! When the weather warms up, the atmosphere will be completely different, yes yes.”

“There’s too much of nothing for that to be the case. It doesn’t seem like it’s just been one season like this.”

“Landslide, that’s right! There was a landslide that blocked the roads, wasn’t there? The aftermath seems to be lasting a long time.”

“Seems to be? This is your jurisdiction! Without even properly understanding the situation…!”

I suddenly stopped my retort.

The reason I came to Bellamare was, after all, for vacation.

Of course, nominally there was the reason of road reconstruction, but I had absolutely no intention of being ground down by official duties here.

‘Ugh, I almost fell into that damn habit again.’

I’m not meddling in other people’s business. Let’s stop thinking about it.

Forcibly suppressing the uneasiness that kept creeping up in a corner of my heart, I looked around.

I was hungry, and conveniently there was a stall selling food.

The merchant approached me with a smooth manner.

“Tomorrow the sun will rise in the west. A noble lady of high status coming to Bellamare?”

“Is there high and low in business?”

“What comes and goes through this harbor is mostly minerals and food. Noble ladies usually visit Southern Florence. Haven’t you come to the wrong place by mistake?”

“I’m grateful you think so highly of me, but even a commoner like me can pretend to be nobility if I have this.”

When I said “this,” I made a circle with my thumb and index finger.

The universal gesture that needs no explanation, and more importantly, when the word “commoner” came up, the merchant’s awkward attitude changed completely.

“Oh my, you must have made quite a fortune. I was momentarily fooled by your dazzling beauty, madam, haha!”

“I hear that often.”

I was right to conceal my status.

Excessive protocol felt bothersome, and if I, as a duchess, got involved in any unsavory incidents, it could damage the prestige of House Lombard.

Thus, I was disguised as a merchant guild leader of commoner origin, and my attendants as guild employees.

“Now then, let me see your skills.”

“Just leave everything to me!”

I scanned the stall’s menu with my eyes.

On the far left were golden-grilled herring skewers, next to them thick-cut cod skewers, next to those oil-glistening salmon skewers, next to those sardine skewers…

It was all fish.

“Don’t you have meat or anything else?”

“Oh my, madam! When fish is everywhere around us, what else are you looking for?”

“The trading ports I’ve passed through had diverse food.”

“You must not know well since you’re from outside, but food is precious here in the north. Even if ingredients come in, they’re hard to store, and more importantly, people can’t afford to buy them.”

This was a bit troublesome.

In the past, having grown up in the inland mountains, I had almost no opportunity to encounter fish.

After becoming a bureaucrat, I occasionally encountered it at work dinners or castle banquets, but the fishy smell was so strong that it didn’t really suit my taste.

‘Well, since my body has changed this time, it should be fine.’

I casually bit into the sardine skewer the owner recommended.

And then I caused the great disaster of spreading this morning’s menu across the market floor.

* * *

The attendants following me went into emergency mode.

This was because as soon as I ate the sardine skewer, I repeatedly retched and collapsed.

At first, they suspected food poisoning and tried to apprehend the stall owner.

But since I vehemently stopped them even while introducing my morning menu, Sir Gareth, the Duke’s aide, ended up personally tasting the skewer I had been eating.

“Ah, it’s terribly fishy.”

With his single comment, the suspicion was settled.

Leaving a bitter wound in the heart of the stall owner who had taken some pride in his skills—along with a generous consolation payment.

* * *

A messenger hawk that Gareth periodically sent arrived.

Edwin untied the leather strap bound to its ankle and threw a piece of meat to the flapping hawk.

“Master, is there some problem?”

Chief Chamberlain Bertol, who had been pouring tea, keenly noticed his master’s stern expression.

Edwin’s gaze remained fixed on the letter as if nailed to it.

“It says Madam has collapsed.”

“What?! Why did Madam suddenly…”

Instead of answering, he placed the letter on the desk.

Along with the local physician’s opinion that she had fainted after eating bad food while her body was greatly weakened from the harsh journey, it listed the medications Elisia had been prescribed.

“Call the personal physician. I need to confirm whether this prescription is safe for Madam.”

“Yes, Master.”

Bertol moved calmly yet swiftly, befitting the chief chamberlain of a great noble house.

Soon Elisia’s personal physician Gilbert arrived.

He looked visibly tired from recently being put in charge of treating the Inquisitors.

“Madam has collapsed?”

“I’d like you to check the prescription.”

“Damn it, I should have followed her to the Western Region, but because of those Inquisitor bastards…”

While grumbling with his mouth, Gilbert’s eyes were quickly scanning the symptoms and prescription written in the letter.

The Duke asked.

“What’s the possibility of poisoning?”

“You can rest assured about that. If it were a deadly poison that would cause someone to collapse immediately after consumption, even Sir Gareth wouldn’t have been safe.”

“That’s a relief.”

“The prescription won’t harm Madam either. It’s composed of common medicinal herbs that strengthen vitality. However, it would be better if we add a few things.”

“Write it down and I’ll have it delivered.”

Gilbert dipped the quill pen on the desk in ink and wrote a new prescription.

Originally, using a lord’s belongings without permission was greatly against etiquette, but Gilbert, being of commoner origin, had no awareness of this.

Moreover, Edwin tended to be somewhat lenient toward his wife and those she favored.

Bertol, who had been about to point out Gilbert’s mistake, ultimately stepped back.

“How about you going to Bellamare right now?”

“I’m eager to do so as well, but Madam’s orders take priority for me. She asked me to take care of the Inquisitors until the end, so I can’t dare move on my own.”

The prescription was completed.

After Edwin glanced over it, he handed it to Bertol, and the elderly chamberlain quietly left to deliver the letter.

“So, how is the condition of the Inquisitors?”

“…”

Despite receiving the Duke’s inquiry, Gilbert couldn’t answer immediately.

It was clear he was troubled about how to respond.

“To be honest… I wonder if they’re even human. They’re recovering at an unbelievable speed.”

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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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