I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 97

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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 97

“So this is what his sleeping face looks like.”

Neat eyes, a straight nose bridge, full lips, and a jawline that seemed carefully carved by a sculptor.

His body was tall and well-built like a man’s, but looking closely at his features, he had a surprisingly neat and pretty face.

Sleeping so defenseless, he even looked gentle and innocent like a young master who knew nothing of the world.

“It would be nice if he were always like this…”

Edwin was always kind to me and his manners were impeccable.

But sometimes I felt a certain distance from him.

It seemed like he would give me everything, but then suddenly draw a line? As if he was afraid of getting too close beyond a certain point.

But now, somehow, without any barriers, he was so relaxed that it felt strange.

“I wonder if he won’t wake up?”

He was sleeping too soundly to wake him.

But when I tried to untangle our clasped hands alone, they were really tightly intertwined, so it wasn’t for any other reason but just that my hand wouldn’t come free…

I squirmed around looking for a comfortable position and lay back down.

I really intended to stay like that for just a moment, but the blankets were so warm and I could hear his steady breathing beside me, so my eyelids quickly grew heavy again.

I’ll just close my eyes, I thought an impossible thought.

And a little while later—

Edwin, who for once opened his eyes comfortably without nightmares, discovered Elisia sleeping soundly while leaning against his chest.

It was confusing enough that this was the first time he had slept until the sun was high in the sky, but it was even more surprising that he hadn’t noticed Elisia snuggling into his arms, no matter how light she was.

Just how relaxed had he become.

Unable to do this or that, Edwin just fidgeted with the tips of Elisia’s fingers before finally lying down limply like a deflated person.

Let’s keep it a secret that his face turned red like a ripe tomato.

* * *

The Imperial Court’s clock flows busily.

I was currently at the Imperial Palace chapel.

It wasn’t for the devout reason that prayers couldn’t be skipped even during festival periods, but because today was an important feast day commemorating the birth of the Holy Mother.

So the Empress had summoned the Noble Ladies to the chapel.

It was to oversee an event offering flowers, silk, pearls and such to the statue of the Holy Mother to commemorate the feast day and pray for the Empire’s peace.

I heard the conversation of two Noble Ladies passing by.

“It seems Her Majesty the Empress has put quite a lot of effort into this dedication ceremony?”

“Well, there’s no better opportunity than a dedication ceremony to solidify one’s position.”

I thought about the Empress’s background.

She was Vittorio IV’s stepmother empress, a foreign-born princess with weak support within the Empire.

Moreover, since the first Empress’s two children were already grown, the possibility of the crown passing to the late-born prince she bore was slim.

At least through events like this she could establish influence in noble society, so it was natural for her to put effort into it.

I looked at the windows and lifted the corners of my mouth before approaching the head table.

“Your Majesty the Empress, it’s been a long time.”

“Elisia?”

The Empress Mariana, who discovered me, opened her eyes wide in surprise.

She was the youngest sister of King Marsen of Southern Marsen, making her my little aunt.

“For you to attend such an occasion, the sun will rise from the west tomorrow.”

“Since I’m a married woman, I can’t continue living like a thoughtless child.”

“You thought well. It’s good that you’ve pulled yourself together. From now on, don’t miss these and show your face often.”

Mariana’s attitude toward me wasn’t particularly intimate, but her suggestion to show my face often didn’t seem to be empty words at all.

Seeing her welcome even someone like me who was no help to her reputation at all, I could guess how lonely her position was within the Imperial Palace.

Indeed, many Noble Ladies were gathered around Rosalind rather than the Empress.

She was second in line for the throne and the full sibling of Nigel, who was likely to be the next emperor, so thinking of the future, siding with her was politically the wise decision.

Perhaps having the same thought, Mariana’s expression became bitter.

I turned my gaze to the child in her arms.

“Joseph has grown a lot too. Is he six now? When he’s fully grown, he’ll become quite a fine man.”

“But he’s so spoiled that I worry. It would be good if he grew up to be a brave and excellent knight like Duke Lombard.”

“He will. What ordinary bloodline do we come from?”

“You’re right.”

The Empress, who had strong pride in her homeland, nodded.

Joseph, who had been in his mother’s arms, also shyly waved his hand at me.

I lightly patted the boy, then seeing other Noble Ladies approaching the Empress, I stepped aside.

‘Since I’ve shown my face to the host, I suppose I’ve done my duty.’

Now I was about to tour the chapel with peace of mind when several people came to greet me.

They were Noble Ladies with territories in the Northern Region.

“Duchess!”

“We should have visited you in Lombard… Were we too late with our greetings?”

Lombard was nominally a duchy but was practically no different from an imperial territory.

So when staying in the north, I was called duchess consort, meaning the wife of a sovereign, and in the Imperial Capital the title changed to duchess, meaning the wife of a vassal.

‘It doesn’t matter what they call me,’

Since they were all beneath me anyway.

As expected, the ladies began competing to pour out flattery. Their skill at rubbing together like fly feet made Count Baron pale in comparison.

Their gazes, which had been praising everything about me from head to toe, turned to my necklace.

“My goodness, I’ve never seen such a large and beautiful sapphire in my life!”

“As expected of the Duchess. I wouldn’t dare wear such precious gems!”

“I wouldn’t dare wear them either. But they suit Lady Elisia so well!”

“…”

My briefly pleased mood from hearing their flattery quickly turned sour.

‘Are they mocking me right now?’

Considering the solemn atmosphere of the dedication ceremony, I had worn the necklace Edwin gave me.

He had said that for a great noble, this level was no burden at all, no different from stones lying at one’s feet.

It all looked the same to me, but nobles had cultivated an eye for gems since childhood, so they would have already recognized the necklace’s value.

Hmm, the more I think about it, the more it seems like they’re mocking me.

“Precious? Well, it’s just suitable for casual wear, isn’t it.”

I was going to lie about it being an expensive gem, but decided to just be honest since getting caught would be embarrassing.

Instead, I tried to bluff as much as possible like a sparrow puffing up its feathers to look bigger.

“Y-you wear such gems… casually?”

“It’s nothing special, so there’s no reason to just keep it stored away. Necklaces like this are so common in my jewelry box that they’re lying around everywhere, you know? My husband also told me to wear it comfortably.”

Sorry, Edwin. But to me, it’s still the most beautiful necklace in the world.

I apologized in my heart while simultaneously lifting my chin.

Only then seeming to realize their mistake, the flustered Noble Ladies suddenly began enthusiastically agreeing.

“Oh my, of course Lombard is the wealthiest family in the Northern Region!”

“Lady Elisia is also the wealthiest member of the imperial family except for His Majesty the Emperor. So of course such gems are nothing!”

“I’m so envious. My husband doesn’t have even a speck of the thoughtfulness that Duke Lombard has!”

I did well to handle those mocking me in an adult manner(?).

This must be the art of conversation in noble society, right?

Having acquired a new ability, I answered with a proud heart.

“He always takes care of various little gifts like this. He’s such a thoughtful person.”

“As expected, hoho!”

After talking about Edwin like that, we naturally moved on to other topics.

Which family had arranged an engagement with whom, what the latest fashion trends were, how a famous playwright had put on a new work and the theater was sold out every night.

Since it was a topic I wasn’t interested in, I was just half-listening and nodding along when I heard giggling sounds coming from a corner of the chapel.

Thinking it might be something fun to laugh along with, I secretly perked up my ears.

“Oh my, this is the first time I’ve seen such a worn-out dress.”

“Could this possibly be the latest fashion from Pavia?”

“Even so, there should be limits… It would be troublesome if we caught moths from it, so everyone should stay away.”

Unexpectedly, I heard some very regrettable content.

Pavia was a small island nation that had been fighting a civil war for several years, and I had heard that its princess had fled to the Empire as a refugee.

‘Princess Caterina?’

How miserable must it be to lose one’s country and wander from place to place.

While I felt humanly sorry for her situation, knowing the future made it difficult to just overlook their rudeness.

Because Caterina would later reclaim her country and ascend to the throne.

Moreover, since Pavia was a key hub for maritime logistics between continents, making an enemy of its ruler would bring no benefit to the Empire.

“Lady Elisia?”

I heard someone calling me from behind, but I ignored it and approached Caterina.

Before those who spotted me could even offer their greetings, I twisted my lips into a smirk.

“Look at all these idiots acting superior in front of a chrysalis.”

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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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