I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 92

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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 92

The moment the name Lombard rang out, the gazes of all the distinguished guests filling the banquet hall turned toward us in unison.

‘Go ahead and look if you want to.’

I held my head even higher with dignity and descended the stairs.

The murmuring sounds of people grew louder.

Some were moved to see the respected Duke Lombard in person, while others muttered that the couple’s relationship seemed better than expected.

However, most gazes were focused on the long-absent troublemaker of high society… namely, me.

“Is that person really Lady Elisia?”

“Was she always such an elegant style?”

“She seems to have become much calmer after marrying Duke Lombard. This is why one must marry well.”

It seemed like praise but also like an insult.

Just walking side by side with Edwin without doing anything else prompted such comments, making me a bit curious about how serious things originally were.

If I had watched from a third person’s perspective, it would have been quite an entertaining scene—

‘Unfortunately, I’m the person in question.’

Soft music was flowing through the banquet hall.

Since the Emperor was about to make his entrance, the nobles were cautiously exchanging greetings with each other, and thanks to this, more and more gazes turned toward us.

We were even guided to seats closest to the head table where direct imperial family members sat.

Several nobles sitting nearby approached us with welcoming voices.

“Well, if it isn’t Duke Lombard, the hero of the Empire! It’s an honor to see someone I’ve long admired so closely.”

“Please visit the Imperial Capital frequently and share your wisdom with us.”

“That’s right. Since you’ve married into the imperial family…”

The nobles who had been looking up at Edwin with reverent gazes glanced toward me.

Having grown up reading people’s expressions since childhood, I was sensitive to this kind of atmosphere.

No, actually, I didn’t need to be sensitive.

They were clearly showing their displeasure with my presence. To be more precise, they were treating me as an unwelcome guest at the gathering.

‘But honestly, I’m the one who feels burdened.’

Even the assigned seat was right next to the head table.

It was even elevated on a platform, making it much more visible even among the bustling crowd.

‘Why did they arrange it this way?’

Even though she had been pushed to a branch family, Elisia was still a member of the imperial family, and my causing trouble would be no different from damaging the imperial family’s dignity.

This would be unpleasant for the imperial family as well.

Yet arranging the seats this way clearly showed the intention to let everyone see me cause trouble.

Or perhaps they hoped to see an ugly quarrel with Edwin, who was furious about the forced marriage.

‘Then the answer is simple.’

I just need to endure quietly whatever humiliation I receive.

I’ve been openly cursed at and beaten for being an orphan bastard, so would I bat an eye at this kind of treatment?

I don’t know what the original Elisia was like, but I was someone without pride.

Besides, if necessary, I could just separate ‘me’ from ‘Elisia.’

“Elisia, are you alright?”

Just as I was beginning to miss the fluffy bed I’d left at home, Edwin carefully wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

I could read his intention to protect me in his worried gaze.

“Yes, it’s just… I barely slept last night, so I’m tired.”

“I’m worried you’re pushing yourself too hard.”

I shook my head slightly.

I had gotten all the books I’d wanted to read so desperately in the past at once—there was no way I could resist that.

I really did intend to read just a little at first. But I absolutely couldn’t stop in the middle.

I should have managed my condition thinking about the banquet, but being weak to temptation, I kept telling myself “just a little more, just ten more minutes” until I fell asleep like fainting with the breaking dawn.

Thanks to that, my body was tired but my soul was happy, so it was fine.

“Still, I’m not okay with this. You should sit and rest, even if just for a moment.”

“Alright.”

Edwin’s hand slowly slid from my shoulder to my waist.

He spoke curtly to the nobles still standing around us in a cold voice.

“My wife is not feeling well, so we’ll excuse ourselves first.”

“…Y-yes, yes!”

Edwin seated me and called an attendant to bring something to drink.

Though it was the complete opposite of the intention of whoever arranged the seating, everyone in the banquet hall could now see Edwin caring for me.

This would completely dispel the tiresome rumors of discord.

I gently tugged at Edwin’s collar. As he leaned down toward me, I whispered softly in his ear.

“Thank you.”

“…”

Instead of answering, Edwin’s eyes curved gently.

Just as he was about to say something, the string melody echoing through the hall suddenly stopped.

The gazes of the guests, sensing something, turned toward one place in unison. The Imperial Guard lined up at the entrance and the Chief Chamberlain shouted in a booming voice.

“His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress of the glorious Baldin Empire are entering!”

All movement in the room stopped.

The Emperor and Empress ascended the platform, receiving the nobles’ reverence in heavy silence.

During this time, I kept my head bowed while running through various scenarios.

Bloody succession struggles between uncle and nephew from old classics, poisonings, and endless vile conspiracies flashed through my mind.

But surprisingly, the Emperor passed in front of me as if nothing had happened.

Even until the banquet officially began with a toast announcing the opening of the social season, he didn’t send a single glance this way.

‘What, I was nervous for nothing.’

The nobles were busy laughing and chatting merrily with each other, seemingly not caring about someone like me quietly tucked away in a corner.

I hoped the banquet would end smoothly like this.

Without knowing what the future held.

* * *

The banquet flowed smoothly as usual.

The Emperor greeted foreign envoys and exchanged pleasantries, while Rosalind stood right beside him, seamlessly assisting her father and playing the role of an affectionate daughter.

The Empress, who should have been in Rosalind’s place, had stepped back and was holding the young prince in her arms.

‘To think she feels competitive even toward a much younger sibling.’

Nigel sneered inwardly.

It was a ridiculous sight, but he had no intention of stopping it.

The current Empress, though a stepmother, was a legitimate wife recognized by the Pope. Therefore, her son Joseph also had the same succession rights as them.

Moreover, behind Cecil stood the Marsen Kingdom.

Unlike themselves, whose mother was merely an ordinary southern noble…

If Rosalind would keep her in check, Nigel had absolutely no reason to refuse.

Rather, what bothered him was something else.

‘Why is Elisia being so quiet?’

According to Nigel’s plan, there should have been several uproars by now.

The nobles had repeatedly ignored her and deliberately provoked her from the moment she entered.

All of it was orchestrated by Nigel behind the scenes.

‘In the past, she would have already entertained the eyes and ears of gossip enthusiasts.’

Today’s Elisia was different.

Instead of a bright red, tacky dress, she wore a dress so elegant and refined that one might wonder if she was the same person.

With every movement, a subtle light flowed like waves, enough to capture everyone’s attention.

Moreover, the sapphire around her neck was the ‘Eye of Blessing.’

It was an artifact from an ancient kingdom that even Nigel had coveted.

Even when he heard that Duke Lombard had won the bid, he never dreamed it was for Elisia…

‘Those two seem to get along quite well.’

What method had she used?

He could have married Elisia off to a humble family, but since the Duke openly disliked her, he had deliberately sent her to Lombard.

Yet from Nigel’s distant observation, their physical intimacy appeared close and natural.

It wasn’t something that could be forced.

‘At this rate, all the groundwork I laid will be for nothing.’

Just then, an envoy from Marsen was exchanging greetings with the Emperor.

At Nigel’s gesture, an attendant hurried over with quick steps.

“A distinguished guest has come from my sister’s maternal homeland, and it wouldn’t be proper to ignore them. Please escort my sister here so they can exchange greetings.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Elisia couldn’t speak Marsen at all.

Though Marsen was her mother’s homeland, Lady Olden, who had been the head maid of the Princess Palace, had thoroughly prevented her from learning Marsen.

It was part of a plan to create distance between Elisia and Marsen.

Of course, even if they had taught her, there was no way that stupid head could have learned a foreign language.

Nigel’s lips twisted with satisfaction.

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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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