I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 65

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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 65

Only when Gibson tapped my shoulder did I realize what kind of expression I had been wearing.

I was feeling guilt toward these people.

‘Damn it.’

How long was I going to remain bound by past events.

As I roughly rubbed my dry face, Gibson continued speaking.

“Yesterday, just for one day, I disguised myself as a street vendor to gather information, but I happened to run into you and things turned out this way. Sorry for being suspicious. That’s why I’m telling you.”

“You’re not telling me because you have no intention of letting me leave?”

Of course, I was planning to leave even if they tried to stop me.

But Gibson said something completely different from what I expected.

“It’s broad daylight now so it would be conspicuous, but when dawn breaks and there are no people around, I’ll let you out of the hideout. When you leave, forget what happened here. Never come to this cursed land again.”

“Mister…”

“The money you gave us was also really helpful, though I’m shameless to say it. There was a patient who needed medicine. Thanks to you, he lived.”

It was just a few coins.

Not even gold coins, but ten silver coins and a few copper coins in change.

Just as I was about to say something, Gareth, who had been mobilized for hideout repair work to earn his meal, approached and whispered.

“Merchant Leader, it would be best if you escaped outside now.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

Then a rough shout erupted from the direction of the hideout entrance.

“Everyone run! It’s the Governor’s surprise attack. Everyone quickly run…!”

But his cry couldn’t finish.

The swords of soldiers who had rushed inside pierced through his body.

Kicking aside the young man who had collapsed coughing up blood, the one who appeared to be the commander spat.

“Well now, what stupid fools.”

“H-how did you find this place?!”

“Did you think the harbor security would be that lax? We deliberately dangled bait for you to bite. Just make a small hole in a grain sack and you rats will guide us to your burrow yourselves!”

“…!”

The inside of the hideout instantly became a scene of chaos.

With soldiers blocking the way, escaping outside was impossible.

Young men clutching farming tools rushed out frantically and blocked the entrance, while the elderly and weak who couldn’t fight hurriedly hid deeper inside.

In the midst of the chaos, Gareth pulled me into his arms.

“I have Duke’s seal with me. If I present the seal and reveal Madam’s identity, you should be able to escape from here and receive safe protection.”

“When on earth did you get such a thing?”

“My Lord prepared it in case of an emergency. Please hurry.”

“W-wait a minute! But then…”

I hastily grabbed Gareth who was about to shout something to the soldiers.

If I just revealed my identity, I could escape from this damp and dirty cave and receive comfortable and luxurious protection at the Governor’s residence.

I wanted to do that countless times in my head, but I couldn’t readily agree to it.

‘If they find out that I, a duchess, made contact with the people here…’

The soldiers would immediately run to the Governor and report this, and the Governor would dispose of any materials unfavorable to him without a trace.

After that, he would completely erase the hideout that could serve as evidence from Bellamare’s map.

The people here as well.

‘It might be different in an ordinary city, but here the Governor’s position is absolute.’

Moreover, Count Dorva was one of only two children of the Former Former Duke Lombard, the only brother of the Former Duke, and had become the one remaining elder of the family to the current Duke.

This case was different from before.

To bring down a Governor with clear authority and legitimacy, I needed clear and decisive evidence that he had disobeyed Duke Lombard’s orders and committed tyranny.

‘For that, I need to strike before the Governor notices. I need to secretly escape from here…’

Join up with Ramon, call in reinforcements, and conduct a search and seizure before the Governor can do anything.

Based on the secured documents and the testimonies of the people here, bring down Count Dorva.

I finished all calculations in an instant.

“Sir, can you disguise yourself as an ordinary citizen and fight the soldiers?”

“I’m sorry, but the order His Grace gave me was to protect Madam. Your escort is my top priority under any circumstances.”

“Really? Do you want to be returned to His Grace?”

I knew that Gareth was my escort but also served as surveillance.

The reason I accepted him was because I knew that even the lowest-ranking squire among the Duke’s aides had outstanding skills.

The Duke’s desire to monitor me even in distant lands and my need for an excellent guard had aligned perfectly.

As expected, when I expressed my intention to return him, Gareth immediately corrected his posture.

“I explored the interior while pretending to repair the cave. If you walk inside for about half a day, there’s another exit. Please escape there with the people, Madam. I’ll buy time at the entrance.”

“Now you’re finally making sense.”

The people were blocking the narrow cave entrance with their bodies and holding their ground.

But I could see them being gradually pushed inward by the soldiers’ force.

“Please take this. I hope you won’t have to use it, but just in case.”

“…Alright.”

There wasn’t much time.

Did Gareth know this too? He selected the lightest dagger from his chest, pressed it into my hand, then ran toward the cave entrance where fierce fighting was taking place.

I also joined the people who were frantically gathering up children frozen with fear.

“I don’t want to! I won’t go!”

“Daddy… where’s daddy?!”

Sharp metallic sounds and desperate shouts echoed thunderously off the cave walls.

Frightened by this, the children kept shaking off the adults and hiding in narrow crevices beyond reach.

Children who were only about four or five years old couldn’t understand their parents’ desperate feelings.

Still, I had to make them understand.

“I know it’s scary. But staying here is more dangerous right now. Hold sister’s hand.”

“Wahhh, that’s scary!!”

“Then let sister hold you and keep your eyes tightly closed. If you endure just a little, it’ll all be over.”

When I spread both arms, the hesitating child came into my embrace, crying pitifully.

Following that, children came out one by one and desperately clutched my clothes with their small fern-like hands.

Like a lifeline.

“That’s right, well done.”

“Sniff…”

I roughly tousled the children’s heads.

Those around who had been stamping their feet in anxiety let out sighs of relief and took the children one by one. The older children held hands and the younger ones were carried.

And as if a signal had been given, they all began running at once.

Without time to look back, just desperately.

* * *

Edwin had covered the distance from the Western Manor that would normally take six days via detours in just three days.

Throughout his rush to Bellamare, he barely suppressed his seething anger with a thread of reason.

If Gareth’s hawk hadn’t arrived along the way, by now neither people nor anything else would have remained unharmed.

“Your Grace!”

“How is the situation.”

Ramon, who had already heard the news, was waiting for Edwin at the Bellamare outskirts.

Edwin didn’t slow his running pace, and the capable Administrative Director quickly mounted his horse and spurred forward while reporting the situation.

“Madam’s foresight in staying at the inn was the right choice.”

“They haven’t caught on, have they.”

“Yes, the family villa is under the Governor’s control, but the inn is not, so they don’t seem to have noticed the situation yet.”

This was followed by an explanation that they had put forward Elisia’s double to tour Bellamare’s tourist attractions with Count Baron.

Edwin gritted his teeth as he listened to the report.

‘She’s safe. This time… she’s safe.’

Ramon, and the message delivered by Gareth’s hawk all pointed to the same fact.

Elisia was safe.

She was alive.

Yet the ominous premonition never subsided. His heart pounded violently in rhythm with the breathless galloping of horse hooves.

“You raid the Governor’s Residence. Secure the Governor’s person and all past records without missing a single item.”

“Yes, sir!”

Failure meant death.

Sensing this instinctively, Ramon and the elite soldiers turned their horses with resolute expressions.

Separated from his subordinates, Edwin spurred his horse’s flanks even harder. Even though he would soon be able to see her, the ominous premonition still would not subside.

‘Please, let nothing have happened…’

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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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