I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 84

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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 84

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I headed to Edwin’s bedroom carrying a bottle of good wine.

I knew it was rude to visit at such a late hour, but during the day there was simply no time due to official duties.

And I didn’t want to keep dragging out time while leaving this apologetic feeling lingering like a thorn in my side.

Bertol, who spotted me, widened his eyes in surprise.

“I pay my respects to Madam.”

“It’s been a while, Bertol.”

“What brings you here at this hour?”

“I happened to get some good liquor, you see. I have something to say to Ed, is he inside?”

“The master has stepped out for a moment. Since the night is still cold, please go inside and I’ll hurriedly send someone to fetch the master.”

Before I could even respond, Bertol pushed me into the bedroom and disappeared across the corridor at the speed of light.

I didn’t even have a chance to stop him and say it was fine.

‘Since when has Bertol’s walking been so fast…’

His temperament seems to have become quite hasty compared to the past. The old Bertol had a leisurely and dignified personality befitting a chief chamberlain of a great noble house.

Well, that can happen.

Scratching my chin awkwardly, I looked around the bedroom to kill some time.

I had only entered this place once before in my previous life, and even then it was dark so I couldn’t see properly.

‘Was it this desolate back then too?’

I could see a bed and nightstand, a sofa and table that seemed to be used for simple official work, and a display case for storing weapons and armor.

Compared to my bedroom, you could say there was almost nothing here.

“There’s nothing to kill time with either…”

I plopped down on the sofa.

Even this seemed to be fitted to Edwin’s build, as my feet didn’t even touch the ground.

As I sat there blankly passing time aimlessly, my eyes slowly began to close. Drowsiness was washing over me since I had come straight here after being tormented by official duties all day.

‘I’m just closing my eyes.’

I’m not sleeping.

I’m just letting my eyes, which had become stiff from being overworked all day, rest for a moment.

That’s what I thought as I dozed off, when I heard urgent footsteps from the corridor.

I quickly lifted my head and wiped the corner of my mouth, pretending I hadn’t been sleeping.

“Elisia?! I was surprised to hear you were waiting.”

“…”

“Is there some kind of problem?”

My mind was foggy from being suddenly awakened from a deep sleep.

Perhaps finding me strange, Edwin set down the greatsword he was carrying at the entrance and approached me.

‘I need to apologize to Ed about that, that night.’

Even with my foggy mind, I couldn’t easily open my mouth.

I had come here wanting to apologize somehow, but still.

‘How do I bring up saying “I found out there’s an unseemly problem with you”?!’

It was problematic from the start.

According to what I’d read in books, men are very sensitive about their pride in such matters.

From my perspective, even if it was a sincere apology, I hadn’t properly considered that stating the facts might hurt Edwin’s feelings.

To think of this only now when facing Edwin!

“Elisia?”

As I hesitated uncharacteristically, Edwin’s gaze hardened slightly.

It seemed he misunderstood that something really serious had happened.

Before his misunderstanding could deepen, I blurted out whatever came to mind.

“I’m sorry! Money, no, the budget is insufficient!”

“…Excuse me?”

“Don’t misunderstand! This time it’s absolutely not because I wasted anything. Ah, I’m talking about Bellamare.”

I had thrown it out without any preamble, but anyway this was also something I needed to discuss with Edwin.

I continued the explanation while crying inwardly.

“So, what happened was…”

To transform Bellamare into a commercial hub, we needed to completely reorganize the harbor and infrastructure and even overhaul the inland distribution network, which cost quite a lot.

Even the wealthy Lombard would have difficulty handling it alone, so we tried to receive bond investments using future profits as collateral.

While staying in Bellamare, I had sent investment proposals to nearby territories in advance.

But the replies I received after returning to the castle were all rejections.

Some places did accept, but considering their relationship with Lombard, they only invested small amounts as a courtesy.

After hearing my explanation, Edwin let out a small sigh.

“As expected.”

“What do you mean by that? Ed, are you saying you anticipated this situation? You also reviewed the investment proposal in advance and said there were no shortcomings.”

“Yes, Elisia’s documents were perfect. However…”

Edwin told me the problem he had thought of.

If Lombard completely seized control of northern trade, it could become a threat to the surrounding territories.

But Ramon and I had anticipated this much.

Even so, the profits investors would earn long-term far exceeded such risks. It was a business well worth investing in.

If I had received such a proposal, I would have invested without hesitation.

Hearing my rebuttal, Edwin made a somewhat troubled face.

“Actually, there’s one more problem.”

“What is it? If there was such a thing, you should have told me earlier.”

“Um, well…”

Edwin hesitated for a moment, then avoided my gaze with an even more troubled look than before.

Around this point, some kind of ominous premonition crept up my spine.

“Don’t tell me I’m the problem?”

“It’s not like that! From the Imperial Capital…”

“From the Imperial Capital what? Are you going to keep making the listener frustrated like this?!”

I glared at him, and Edwin immediately gave a proper answer.

“They’re pressuring the surrounding lords.”

“Does that make sense? It’s a bit awkward for me to say this myself, but wasn’t the friction with the Imperial Capital resolved when I married here?”

This was exactly why Edwin had accepted the marriage proposal with ‘Elisia’.

The Imperial Capital, that is, the Imperial Palace, had been applying political and economic pressure to the northern and central territories to keep Lombard in check.

Since it was difficult to directly touch Lombard, this was their alternative.

The situation would be completely different now, but at the time the marriage proposal came, he hadn’t fully gained the trust of those around him due to the previous generation’s sudden death and premature succession.

To prevent chaos in the territory and unrest among the citizens, Edwin had no choice but to succumb to the Emperor’s pressure, who had targeted Lombard’s unsettled time.

“According to reports from spies planted in the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Family is watching Elisia’s movements quite closely.”

“Wait, when did you plant those…”

“Since Elisia is gaining the support of the citizens, they can’t help but be displeased. You are the legitimate heir of the former Crown Prince, and the current Emperor is merely a usurper who took his young niece’s place.”

I had expected ordinary administrative reasons, but a story from the depths that a lowly commoner like me couldn’t even imagine suddenly popped out.

Moreover, what’s this about a usurper?

Hadn’t His Majesty cherished his niece Elisia more than his own children?

I wanted to ask for time to stop and think, but perhaps because of my complaint about being frustrated, Edwin continued speaking without pause.

“They thought they could relax after marrying Elisia off to the distant north, but unexpectedly she’s showing political ability, so the Imperial Capital has no choice but to be tense.”

“…”

“Of course, I know Elisia has no interest in power and such. But their thoughts would be different.”

It was fortunate that Edwin had a kind personality and liked to explain things.

I nodded as if I knew the story, engraving his every word in my mind.

“Well, I won’t let the Imperial Capital manipulate the north as they please either.”

I nodded earnestly to avoid looking suspicious despite hearing this shocking truth for the first time in my life, when Edwin suddenly changed the subject.

“So, what if Lombard develops the harbor independently instead?”

“Pardon? How could we possibly handle such a huge amount on our own?”

“It would be a bit of a stretch, but it’s not impossible. Actually, Lombard has quite a large amount of hidden assets beyond what’s shown in the ledgers. Probably more than Elisia thinks…”

“No.”

I shook my head firmly.

It wasn’t that I hadn’t considered this when initially planning the budget.

But no matter how I thought about it, depleting the territory’s funds all at once was dangerous. This was especially true for Lombard, which was positioned at the frontline bordering the Black Continent beyond the Northern Wall.

Since we had to maintain a constant state of near-wartime readiness, finances were more important than anything.

“We should find another way. Bellamare’s revival is important, but we can’t stake the safety of all of Lombard on it.”

“If that’s what Elisia thinks, then I’ll follow your judgment.”

“…Thank you.”

Lombard was Edwin’s territory.

He was the sole owner of this place, and I was merely someone who had been delegated some of his authority.

Even so, I was grateful that he always respected and prioritized my opinions.

‘Edwin is such a kind person.’

I really can’t bring up ‘that’ topic.

I didn’t want to hurt Edwin’s pride twice by apologizing just to ease my own conscience. It was right for me to bear this guilt alone and end it there.

Just as I was about to return home with a light heart since our business was finished, Edwin grabbed my hand.

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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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