I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 71

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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 71

And so Gibson’s group came to lurk around the administrative residence where the Duke and Duchess were staying from a distance—since being too close would make them look suspicious and get them arrested.

“If we wait, will we really be able to meet them?”

“Even if it’s difficult, we have to try.”

At the very least, it was better than when they stayed at the inn.

Back then, elite knights had densely surrounded the building on all sides. Even the inn owner and staff had to go through rigorous inspections to enter.

No matter how friendly Gibson was with the owner couple, there was no way for him to get in.

But the Governor’s Residence was as vast as a palace, with countless servants coming and going.

While Gibson and his colleagues were pondering how to meet the Duchess, the person they had sent to survey the residence situation came running back urgently.

“Everyone! This is big, something big has happened!”

“Why are you suddenly making such a fuss?”

The Duke had rooted out and expelled from the residence all servants who had connections with the former Governor or his retainers, but those without such ties were allowed to remain and work.

Most were people of humble status, so some were acquainted with Gibson.

The scout said no words were needed and dragged the group to a spot where they could see the residence’s front courtyard directly.

“No way…!”

They couldn’t believe their eyes.

The statue of Governor Count Dorva—symbol of tyranny and dictatorship who had made countless Bellamare citizens shed tears of blood—had been beheaded.

The severed head hung high at the end of a bronze pole.

As if displaying a criminal’s head as a warning.

“Is this what I think it is?”

“No matter how I look at it, it seems right.”

“But the Governor is the Duke’s only uncle, so how could…”

The statue in front of the residence was a symbol of the Governor’s absolute power and a symbol of terror for the citizens.

But to see it in such a miserable state.

‘No, I can’t feel relieved yet.’

Gibson pressed for details.

“What on earth happened?”

“My friend who works as a gardener at the residence saw and heard it directly.”

The Duchess, whose health had been greatly damaged by this incident, arrived at the residence receiving the Duke’s utmost care.

It was so meticulous and devoted that it was almost embarrassing to put into words.

Anyway, while touring their quarters, the Duchess saw the statue in the front courtyard and fell silent.

Even without speaking, her expression clearly showed her antipathy toward the Governor.

The Duke, worried that the already weak Duchess’s condition might worsen, ordered the statue to be removed, and a knight among his close retainers beheaded it with an axe from the garden.

And according to the Duchess’s command, they displayed it as a warning.

“Then, then the problem with the Duke’s side is resolved, isn’t it?”

“But the Governor is the Duke’s only relative…”

“He directly ordered the head to be cut off. What more explanation do we need?!”

People looked once again at the Governor’s head hanging from the pole.

In the hearts of the citizens who had lived under the Governor’s harsh rule, an unfamiliar but overwhelming emotion began to rise.

They had met the Duchess directly.

Not just a brief encounter, but they had spent several days together and could observe her closely.

‘Could that have been possible through acting?’

She comforted the elderly, soothed children, and mingled freely with even humble citizens.

Though she was particularly picky about food, even that seemed more like the common trait of inland people unfamiliar with seafood rather than the typical fussiness of nobles.

They could hardly believe that the notorious villainess ‘Elisia’ the world spoke of and the ‘Elze’ they knew were the same person.

And Gibson trusted his ability to judge people.

“I need to meet the Duchess.”

“How could we meet such a noble person? And what would we do after meeting her?”

“Somehow we need to try. Before she returns to Lombard Castle, somehow…”

He looked once more at the former Governor’s head hanging from the pole.

There, Gibson saw Bellamare’s spring that had not yet come.

More precisely, the savior who would bring the future.

* * *

I realized it. I finally understood.

Why those higher-ups keep holding meetings, going on inspections, and grilling their subordinates day and night!

“Are you calling this a report?”

“Yes, yes?”

“I never asked you to write a diary. No figures, no evidence, just repetitive ‘it seems’ – what exactly am I supposed to do with this?”

The Governor’s Residence… no, it’s my villa now.

Anyway, this place was very close to the Bellamare Government Office. Ten minutes by carriage, less than thirty minutes even on foot.

For the first few days, I had planned to focus only on recovery and spend time leisurely.

No matter how capable I was, handling official duties when my body was completely battered would be too much.

I definitely thought that way—

‘As the old saying goes, a sparrow can’t pass by a mill and a bear can’t leave a beehive alone.’

So this is how it turned out.

“Or do I look like an idiot who can’t even read numbers? Do I look ridiculous to you?”

“What?! Who is it, who dares to insult our heaven-like Madam by calling her an idiot?!”

“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant…!”

Count Baron, who had been grilling the bureaucrats from behind the partition, suddenly stuck his head out.

The Baron, eyes wide open, scanned the office thoroughly as if hunting for a criminal.

The bureaucrat who had just been doing his usual work but was now about to be branded as a criminal who insulted the Duchess broke into a cold sweat and rolled his eyes.

I wanted to control my temper but absolutely couldn’t.

The bureaucrats at Lombard Castle were either corrupt or lazy, but at least they pretended to work when I gave orders, while Bellamare’s bureaucrats were on a different level.

If they’re both corrupt and incompetent, what use are they supposed to be?

I threw down the documents and shouted.

“Everyone out, ugh! Get out!!”

“Madam says everyone get lost! What are you doing, hurry up and get lost!”

Count Baron amplified and reproduced my command like a loudspeaker.

Normally they wouldn’t have even pretended to listen to a lower noble’s shouting, but the situation was completely different now.

By the Duke’s decision, the Governor and higher-ups who had boasted absolute power were completely swept away, and the office atmosphere was like walking on thin ice.

Those who remained were only watching for signs, worried their own heads might fly off.

In the midst of this, the Duchess, backed by the Duke’s absolute trust, began interfering with the office.

Count Baron was such a Duchess’s closest aide and trusted retainer, so the Bellamare bureaucrats had no choice but to collectively lose their spirit and follow whatever he said.

As I was just sighing deeply, the Baron approached me like a fly rubbing its feet together.

“Madam, if you’re tired, shall I, Count Baron, massage your shoulders?”

“Try it.”

“I’m quite famous for giving our Madam amazing shoulder massages—”

That was the moment.

Through the door left wide open by the fleeing bureaucrats, I felt someone’s clearly disappointed gaze.

I instinctively sensed that my eyes were being insulted again.

“If you keep glaring like that, you’ll bore a hole through Count Baron’s forehead.”

“But Eli…”

“It’s cold. Come in. Oh, and close the door.”

It was something the old me could never have imagined.

To dare treat the continent’s strongest warrior, the absolute ruler of Northern Lombard, like a servant.

But after the Duke’s excessive—no, not excessive—attention over the past few days, I was literally sick of it.

He took it upon himself to do what only a servant would do, carrying me wherever I needed to go, turning pale with worry whenever I said I was in pain, and carefully attending to everything from my meals to the coat I wore.

And he did it all with a face that seemed to genuinely enjoy it.

In fact, it wasn’t just me who was fed up—everyone in Bellamare seemed to be as well.

I’d already heard several times people whispering about where on earth that ridiculous rumor that the Lord hated Madam had come from.

“Baron, you should go now. Keep the bureaucrats in line.”

“But they’ve already left.”

Ah, how perceptive of them.

They must have fled after brilliantly reading Duke Lombard’s sharp glare.

Edwin entered and closed the door, then carefully examined my condition.

“You’re not in pain, are you? You’ve been taking your painkillers properly?”

“Didn’t you carry me here yourself just a few hours ago?”

“Let’s say it’s already been several hours.”

Without caring about his dignity as a ruler, he knelt on one knee to lower himself to my eye level.

He checked whether the bandages around my sprained wrist and fractured ankle were properly wrapped, and examined whether the torn wounds and bruises were healing properly.

Every time I flinched, his expression hardened along with mine.

‘What should I say about this.’

It was strange. Definitely strange, yet oddly, I didn’t feel bad about it.

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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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