I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 76

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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 76

“May I ask… why you went to such lengths?”

I couldn’t believe that someone of Duke status had personally done menial work like carpentry.

Of course, it wasn’t that Edwin was someone who would lie, but it was hard to easily understand why he had even made a carriage for me.

Especially knowing that for nobles, simply ordering something to be made was already sufficient sincerity.

“Because I want Elisia to feel at ease and enjoy herself here.”

“Why?”

“Because protecting my wife is my duty as her husband.”

Edwin’s eyes looking at me were more sincere than ever before.

I could instinctively feel that he truly wanted to protect me, that he felt excessive guilt about my broken ankle.

He’s different from Edwin in my previous life.

The conviction that the man before me now was completely different from the past him, the thought that it was wrong to overlap them simply because they shared the same name and face.

‘Honestly, I feel relieved.’

Because I no longer had to feel guilty about the emotions I felt toward him.

When Edwin, who had raced across the mountain range day and night, saved me, when he stayed by my side all night, this strange emotion that had begun to sprout little by little from that moment.

“Um, Ed…”

“Please speak.”

I only wanted to say thank you for everything he had done for me, but I didn’t know why my face was burning so much.

I gripped the sofa armrest so tightly that my fingertips tingled.

It was the moment Edwin leaned his head closer to better hear my mumbling.

Thud, there was a sound of something dropping.

“S-sorry!”

“We just, we were told that if we went to the ga-ga-garden, Madam would be there…”

“We didn’t know you were having a good time and were so th-thoughtless… Should we come back tomorrow?”

Gibson and the Merchant Guild Executives, who had dropped their bag, were rolling their eyes frantically at the garden entrance.

Even the knight who had been guiding them was trembling his pupils in the same way.

I was wondering why they were acting like that, when I belatedly realized that mine and Edwin’s posture was quite, very strange.

From the angle of the entrance, we who were overlapping looked like we were, we were—

“M-move away! Move away quickly!”

“Elisia?!”

“Aaaaah!”

I wanted to jump down from the carriage like I was tumbling, but then my already ruined ankle would obviously cross a river of no return.

Therefore, I tore at my hair and cried in my heart.

* * *

I headed to the Government Office with Gibson’s group.

When Edwin naturally tried to follow along, I was startled and recommended that he rest quietly(?) at the mansion.

Right now, I didn’t have the confidence to look at his face properly.

My face kept turning red, so Gibson worriedly spoke to me.

“Madam, are you alright?”

“You don’t need to worry about me, worry about yourselves.”

He tilted his head in confusion, not understanding what I meant.

Since they would find out soon anyway, I decided to skip the explanation.

We entered boldly through the main gate of the Government Office.

The Officials who had welcomed me warmly hardened their expressions when they saw Gibson’s group following behind.

When they loudly declared that outsiders couldn’t enter because this place managed confidential Documents, I threw a tantrum, kicking walls and doors with my one good leg.

A duchess doesn’t hold back.

Limping my way in like that, I went up to the Governor’s Office, which was now practically mine.

“Madam, are you really sure this is alright?”

“In Lombard, I am the law.”

“Still, for us to dare enter the Government Office…”

“If there were real secrets here, I wouldn’t have brought you in like this. You’ll understand the details when you see for yourself.”

I pushed the Documents that had been roughly stacked on the desk toward Gibson’s group.

It was the Bellamare Current Issues Report made by the Officials.

When they hesitated, I nodded again to permit their reading, and Gibson and the Merchant Guild Executives opened the cover with trembling expressions.

Immediately after, they came to understand the true meaning of ‘worry about yourselves.’

* * *

“Are you insane?!”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“What kind of bastard submitted this crap as a Report?! Even a novel would be more realistic than this!”

Seeing is believing, they say.

Gibson and the executives, who had read the disastrous Report from beginning to end, asked several times whether this was really a real document, as if they couldn’t believe it.

Each time, I kindly answered yes.

The faces of the group, who realized how miserably they had been governed by such wretched people, turned bright red.

If even I, who had come to Bellamare for the first time, could catch errors in the Documents, it was obvious what the situation was like for the locals.

“I understand your feelings, but don’t tear it. I have to organize all of that and send it to the Roxcron Judicial Council.”

“Ah.”

The Governor was dead, but there was still a long way to go to clean up the trash he left behind.

As soon as they learned it was material to be used as trial evidence, Gibson’s group straightened the paper and laid it down neatly.

With just one document—more precisely, while cursing the Officials who showed no answers—I felt our psychological distance had grown quite close.

They had realized that I intended to revive Bellamare.

Otherwise, there would have been no reason to drag them to the Government Office and show them the Documents.

“Now we can finally communicate properly. I need a capable Strategist who knows Bellamare well and can advise on policies.”

“If Madam would use us usefully, it would be an honor for our family.”

“But we don’t know if we can do well. We’re just mere Merchants…”

“Then I have no choice but to entrust it to the Officials—”

“We may be mere, but we can guarantee that our love for Bellamare is superior to anyone’s!!”

They should have come out like this from the start.

From now on was important. I had Gareth guard the entrance and confided to them the future of Bellamare I had envisioned.

“I’ll be honest. I want to test my dream here in Bellamare.”

“What is Madam’s dream?”

“A prosperous Lombard. Strong power that isn’t swayed by foreign forces. Based on this, a Lord who provides good governance, and Citizens who truly respect and follow such a Lord.”

I intended to make Bellamare here a hub for intercontinental trade.

We needed to break away from the simple structure of exporting raw Materials and importing food.

I wanted to flow imported goods from other Continents brought to Bellamare throughout the Empire via the Third Bridge, a key point of Inland trade.

If possible, even to other surrounding countries.

When Lombard becomes a trade hub and people from various regions come and go, culture naturally flourishes. We can raise the level of culture we enjoy.

Gibson’s group widened their eyes in amazement upon hearing my plan.

“We didn’t know Madam thought this much for us.”

“As expected, changing to the duchess’s Direct Territory would be…”

“Why are you veering off in a strange direction when things were going well?”

My plan didn’t end here.

Now, breaking away from only exporting raw Materials, I wanted to directly handle mineral processing and distribution to maximize profits.

At the same time, I had to find a way to solve Lombard’s chronic food problem.

By bringing in seeds from various regions and improving varieties, even Lombard with its long winters and barren soil might find a way.

We couldn’t be held by the collar of insufficient food supplies forever.

Even though Lombard was prosperous, always being held back by food issues when negotiating with neighboring territories was my greatest regret.

“So now do you understand what needs to be done?”

The bureaucrats had neither the ability nor the motivation to execute the Duchess’s dream.

Gibson instinctively knew this was practically the only opportunity to save Bellamare, which had suffered under the Governor’s tyranny, to save his beloved hometown.

“I need the most detailed data possible. Seasonal cargo volumes, maximum harbor capacity, distribution routes by item category, and all other necessary materials.”

“That’s exactly our specialty, as we have a firm grip on the market!”

I quickly wrote down the necessary items.

“And if there are sites that need to be visited, let me know. I’ll go out with you too.”

“Are you planning to conduct inspections personally, Madam?”

“There are things you can only understand by seeing them firsthand.”

“I will serve you with my best efforts—no, I will stake my life on it!”

Gibson’s eyes held unwavering conviction and reverence.

The faces of the Merchant Guild members responding energetically were shining brighter than ever before.

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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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