I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 86

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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 86

To Emperor Vittorio IV, Elisia had always been a thorn in his side.

She stood ahead of Vittorio in legitimacy as the sole heir of the former Crown Prince.

Nevertheless, he had been able to claim the throne because Elisia was too young at the time and didn’t even have a queen mother to serve as regent.

Even after ascending to the throne, he couldn’t rest easy for a while. He constantly worried that the nobles might bring up Elisia’s succession rights again.

However, fortunately, Elisia’s violent nature caused most of the nobles who had followed her to gradually turn their backs.

In the end, he had successfully banished her to the Northern Region, which was no different from a remote frontier, after cutting off all her limbs, and had finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It should have been settled—

“All the contacts I planted have lost communication, and the rumors I hear are nothing but strange. My headaches never seem to end.”

“That’s precisely why I’ve prepared something to ease Your Majesty’s worries.”

The one who answered was the Emperor’s eldest son, Nigel.

He too felt something strange about Elisia’s sudden change.

According to the rumors, her temperament was still as foul as ever.

Cursing and violence were the norm, and when things didn’t go her way, she would kick with her feet. She had even personally struck Count Dorva’s neck with an axe in Western Bellamare.

She even displayed that head on a pole…

Though her violence seemed to have worsened after being banished to the north, the people’s support for Elisia still reached the heavens.

It was thanks to her powerful reform policies.

Even the citizens of other regions who heard the rumors were stirring.

“The Elisia I know isn’t clever enough for that. She’s stupid and doesn’t know how to think.”

“Your Majesty speaks truly. However, when I sent people to investigate, all the rumors appeared to be true.”

“Are you saying that woman is really reforming the north?”

“It appears so on the surface, but the reality is hard to determine. Isn’t it possible that someone is moving behind the scenes using her name?”

Nigel and Elisia had completely opposite personalities.

He despised stupid humans the most, and since Elisia fit this description perfectly, Nigel didn’t even treat her as human.

‘It’s impossible for her to handle so many administrative orders directly.’

He calculated that there must be someone behind the scenes using Elisia’s name.

Nevertheless, the Emperor couldn’t suppress his irritation and ground his teeth.

“Whoever is moving, the conclusion is the same. In the end, that woman’s name is only growing bigger, isn’t it?!”

At the Emperor’s neurotic outburst, his close retainers bowed their heads deeply.

Nigel inwardly let out a weary sigh while following the others in bowing his head respectfully.

“Then how about inviting Duke and Duchess Lombard to the Imperial Capital?”

“Why would we bother calling back a woman we went through the trouble of banishing?”

“The social season is just beginning. With many nobles from home and abroad gathering in the Imperial Capital, I think it would be a good opportunity to expose Elisia’s foolishness to the world.”

“Ho, that sounds reasonable.”

The Emperor nodded and stroked his chin.

In fact, the Emperor had one secret he hadn’t told even Nigel.

‘That woman is a heretic. I saw with my own eyes the terrible dark magic surrounding her!’

‘The Princess is a heretic… Can you take responsibility for those words?’

‘How dare I lie before you? If we could just show that woman to the high-ranking priests of the Holy Capital, I could prove my words more certainly.’

The Emperor had secretly diverted and secured a few favorites away from the Holy Capital’s eyes.

The original purpose was to find a way to control the north’s dark magic without the Lombard family, but an unexpected report came from those dispatched to the north.

It stated that Elisia had become a heretic.

If he could prove this as fact, the Emperor could make his thorn in the side disappear forever.

“Send someone to Lombard. Tell them I want to invite them to this spring’s banquet and they ‘must’ attend.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And send an invitation to the Holy Capital as well.”

The Emperor continued while fingering his signet ring as if confirming something.

“The Pope won’t come personally, but if it’s my handwritten invitation, the Holy Capital will send high-ranking officials, which will be perfect for proving Elisia’s nature.”

“I receive your command.”

Nigel, who had been prostrating, rose from his position and withdrew.

‘What scheme is he plotting this time?’

He hoped it wouldn’t be something that required too much cleanup.

In truth, he somewhat understood his father’s thoughts. The Emperor was also among the types Nigel despised.

Stupid and only greedy.

“Hmm, I’ll see my dear sister’s face after a long time.”

Nigel’s lips twisted into a smile as he crossed the palace corridor.

* * *

It was a morning like any other.

Since I had a lot of work to handle, I woke up around ten in the early dawn and was reviewing the documents I needed to process today while being attended by my servants.

“Mmm, are you bored, Nero?”

“Meow, meow meow… Haa!”

Today as well, Nero was enthusiastically rubbing against me.

Perhaps because we had been apart for a while, I felt both happy and somewhat sorry to see Nero clinging to me so much.

But what was going on? Nero, who had been staring at me intently, suddenly started beating up an innocent cushion.

Rubbing then beating the cushion, cuddling then beating the cushion, rolling then beating the cushion.

Finally, he even made panting sounds and flipped over.

“Berry, did you feed Nero something wrong?”

“No, his meals were the same as usual… Maybe it’s because we played a bit intensely this morning?”

No wonder Berry’s battle-ready compressed muscles looked particularly reliable today.

Thinking it was just a cat’s common whim, I was about to turn my eyes back to the documents when urgent footsteps came from the corridor.

“Elisia, it’s me. May I come in?”

“Edwin?”

Since I was only wearing a negligee, I hurriedly put on a robe and gestured for the door to be opened.

But Edwin’s expression wasn’t good.

Guessing that something had happened, I sent the servants out and let him in.

“What’s the sudden matter?”

“An invitation has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”

“…?”

I couldn’t easily understand what I had just heard.

Through many conversations with Edwin, I had learned that ‘Elisia’ was essentially banished to what amounted to exile.

The Southern and Northern regions were geographically far apart, so whatever Elisia did in Lombard, it would be difficult to influence the Imperial Capital.

The Emperor had targeted exactly that point when he married Elisia off to Lombard.

By isolating her in the north, he aimed to block any attempt to interfere with imperial power, even by the slightest chance.

Thanks to that, I had been relieved. I thought I could at least avoid troublesome matters.

“I must have misheard something, right?”

“It’s a handwritten invitation from the Emperor.”

Moreover, hearing that the person who brought it was a battalion commander from the Imperial Guard, I felt dizzy.

Although I had no connection to noble society, I knew how politically powerful the Emperor’s handwriting was.

Moreover, sending an Imperial Guard battalion commander directly meant—

“By any means necessary, they’re going to drag us to the Imperial Capital, right?”

Edwin, receiving my gaze, slowly nodded.

“We can refuse for now, but eventually they’ll create a justification.”

“I suppose so…”

It would be better to accept the invitation while they were still asking nicely.

According to my memories from my previous life, fortunately there were no particular problems at the Northern Wall during this period.

Moreover, thanks to my relentless day-and-night efforts to whip the corrupt and lazy bureaucrats into shape, the entire administrative system had become fast and efficient.

Now I even had high-ranking officials who shared my vision, so being away for one season should be fine.

‘No, but still…’

Let’s say I could somehow learn the complex protocols of the Imperial Palace.

But I have no memories of Elisia at all, so when I go to the Imperial Capital, everyone I meet will be a complete stranger to me. If someone tries to act familiar with me, how am I supposed to handle that?

If I acted suspiciously and fumbled around, this time I might truly come face to face with the Inquisitors stationed in the Imperial Capital.

My body was already trembling with fear.

‘I don’t want to go. I really don’t want to go.’

Staying snugly at home was the greatest happiness in the world.

I’d have to leave behind my soft bed, interesting books, and my beloved companion gold coins that made my heart flutter just by looking at them.

And most of all—

“My baby, let’s give mommy a kiss.”

“Meow!”

From the moment Edwin brought up the invitation, I pulled Nero into my arms as he became even more affectionate and enthusiastically cuddled with me.

Even though he was a creature that didn’t understand human speech, did he instinctively sense that separation was approaching?

I showered the particularly agitated little one with kisses as I answered.

“Ed.”

“Have you made your decision?”

“Let’s go. To the Imperial Capital.”

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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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