I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 70
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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 70
“Then may I call you Eli?”
I had expected something like Elisia, but I was inwardly surprised when it suddenly developed into something like a pet name.
I don’t know what pet name she actually used to go by…
Well, anything was a hundred times better than ‘Madam,’ so I decided to accept it.
As I nodded obediently, the Duke continued speaking.
“Then I hope you’ll call me comfortably as well.”
“That’s true, it would be strange if only I called you Your Excellency. Then would it be alright if I called you Edwin-nim?”
“Just… Edwin would be good, I think.”
I blinked my eyes blankly.
Was my eyesight off, or had my hearing developed problems?
Even as he said “Ed,” his voice gradually getting smaller as if embarrassed felt somewhat cute.
The cold voice I’d heard in front of the cave seemed like a dream, and his awkward appearance, unable to even make eye contact, was also amusing.
In the end, I burst out laughing.
“What’s this? What’s so difficult about calling someone by their name!”
“Don’t laugh…”
“I don’t want to? It’s too funny! Everyone should see what expression Your Excellency, no wait. What expression Ed just made. It’s too precious to keep to myself!”
I laughed heartily and nearly died when I bumped the bruise on my wrist.
Edwin turned pale in an instant and rushed out saying he’d call the personal physician, and I struggled for a while to catch my breath watching him.
But suddenly this thought occurred to me.
Life as Elisia might become more enjoyable than I thought.
* * *
Edwin wanted to move my residence for my recovery.
He first suggested a villa owned by the Lombard family, but I firmly refused since I didn’t want to be eight hours away from a bed.
I was very serious.
Looking somewhat disappointed for some reason, his next suggestion was the Governor’s Residence an hour away.
Actually, now that my identity as the Duchess had been revealed, considering security issues, it was difficult to continue staying at the inn.
But what moved my heart was something else.
Edwin’s eyes seemed sincere when he said he wanted me to recover in a safer and more comfortable environment, and being weak to such things, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse this time.
“We’ve arrived, Eli.”
“My goodness, this is really the Governor’s Residence…”
Over Edwin’s shoulder as he got out of the carriage first, I saw a splendid building that I couldn’t tell whether it was a residence or a palace.
It was clearly made of expensive Mediterranean marble inlaid with lapis lazuli, and the pillars were plastered with gold.
Having poured so much money into it, it should at least be beautiful, but whether the Governor had serious problems with his aesthetic sense, it only looked like some meaningless sculptural object at a tourist site.
It was quite tragic.
Edwin, noticing my gaze, smiled brightly.
“Since the Governor’s Residence has no owner, from now on this building can be Eli’s property.”
“Pardon?”
“Originally we should have held a wedding mass and exchanged gifts, but we didn’t have the chance to do so. How about using this as a substitute? Of course, I won’t end it with just this.”
“Oh my…”
The Duke’s following words didn’t even register in my ears.
The residence that had seemed so crude suddenly began to feel dazzlingly beautiful.
I didn’t think even Sir Giovanni, said to be the Holy Capital’s greatest sculptor, could create such a masterpiece.
While I fell in love at first sight with the eye-rollingly expensive residence, Edwin and Gareth were having some conversation outside the carriage.
“My Lord, I shall carry the Duchess myself.”
“What are you doing right now.”
“Pardon?”
“Eli is precious. I cannot carelessly entrust her to just anyone’s hands, so it would be proper for me to move her myself.”
To call Gareth “just anyone’s hands” was unfair, as he too was from a distinguished noble family.
Moreover, it wasn’t proper behavior for a Duke to carry someone like a servant, but he seemed to care nothing about such facts.
Edwin, having chased away Gareth with pointed looks, lightly knocked on the carriage wall.
Of course, I had no interest whatsoever in what conversation was happening outside, and was counting the beautiful gold-painted pillars one by one.
“Eli, may I have a moment?”
“What is it?”
“Because of your ankle, for a moment…”
“Ah, that’s right, I can’t walk. It’s fine if Sir Gareth carries me.”
So that’s what they were whispering about so earnestly – discussing how to move me.
I didn’t mind at all whether it was Sir Gareth or someone else.
They say those of royal birth dislike others touching their bodies, but as for me—
“No, that won’t do.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s not something to entrust to just anyone. Then excuse me.”
With that firm answer, Edwin lifted me up.
Despite the rich velvet dress, heavy fur coat, and even the lime bandages securing my ankle adding considerable weight, his face was as calm as if he were lifting a feather.
But what was more shocking was something else.
For a Duke to serve someone in front of everyone was completely improper, something unimaginable. Even if the other party were the Emperor.
“Y-Your Excellency!”
“Didn’t we promise to call each other by name?”
“Ah… E-Ed.”
Though I had only called his name, I felt embarrassed somehow.
A tingling sensation in my fingertips and toes, and my heart fluttering.
The moment I bit my lips tightly and turned my head to avoid Ed’s gaze, I unfortunately came face to face with a certain monstrosity.
In the front garden before the entrance stood a statue that was truly hideous and seemed harmful to one’s eyesight.
I recognized that face.
Of course, it was considerably beautified compared to the original, so I had to stare for a while.
It was the former Governor, Count Dorva, whom I had encountered once or twice in my previous life.
But it was really shamelessly beautified. It showed him grinning with his teeth showing, and whatever treatment they’d done, his teeth were sparkling and gleaming.
The subtle atmosphere from before vanished completely as anger suddenly surged up.
Edwin, following my gaze, murmured.
“Gareth.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“Cut off that thing’s head.”
“Wait! Bronze is expensive, so don’t just cut off the head and throw it away – keep it safe!”
I quickly added. That thing would all be money if melted down!
Gareth nodded and found an axe nearby, and before long, with a loud crash, the giant statue’s head was torn in two.
It was unbelievable strength even seeing it.
Anyway, Gareth carefully collected the fallen Count’s head as I had ordered, and roughly placed it on top of a nearby large, sturdy torch stand.
‘I mustn’t forget to sell it before leaving.’
The more money, the better.
Much more satisfied, I leaned my head comfortably against Edwin’s shoulder and entered the large, beautiful residence that would soon be under my name.
* * *
Meanwhile, Gibson and the citizens of Bellamare were looking for an opportunity to meet the nouveau riche merchant leader… no, the Duchess.
They had committed a truly tremendous rudeness to her, the most noble woman in the Northern Region.
When they had just emerged from the cave, there was no time to think about this, but once the situation stabilized, their sense of reality began to awaken about what they had done.
They fed the duchess something like pig slop and made her take care of children, saying those who don’t work shouldn’t eat.
She even wiped up the drool the children spilled and other… things.
‘Not knowing the truth isn’t an excuse.’
The notorious reputation of the wicked Duchess Elisia had already spread widely to Bellamare in the northwest.
The tremendous atrocities she had committed during her time in the Imperial Capital.
He had to meet the duchess and apologize.
If he could save others with his life, he would do so again and again, Gibson thought.
Just as he nodded his head resolutely, someone in the group cautiously asked.
“Hey, but don’t we not need to worry? The knight said not to be concerned.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about!”
Those noble bastards were fickle and inconsistent, so you couldn’t trust them at face value.
They didn’t take responsibility for their words. It was common for promises made today to change like flipping a palm the next day.
And this was ‘that’ duchess, no less!
“Get your head straight. The duchess isn’t our only problem.”
“Ah, that’s true…”
Gibson had another worry.
When Governor Count Dorva was caught while fleeing, the people of Bellamare executed him.
Originally, they should have left his punishment to the duke or duchess and just given him a moderate beating, but they lost their reason to anger and ended up killing the governor brutally.
Moreover, the governor was the duke’s uncle and the only elder of the noble house.
Having killed him carelessly, the people couldn’t help but worry belatedly.
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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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