I Became the Wife of the Hero Who Killed Me - Chapter 98

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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 98

It’s fortunate that Elisia’s reputation and character are completely ruined.

Thinking this for the first time, I tapped the women’s dresses with the tip of my fan.

“If your head is empty, you should fill your wallet, and if your wallet is empty, you should at least fill your head. But you all—oh my, both are empty?”

While doing so, I quickly scanned the family crests attached to their clothing.

‘If I compare them with the crests from the invitations I memorized…’

They’re all unmarried ladies. Their families aren’t particularly wealthy either, and their family status is far below mine.

Though it wouldn’t have been easy to be higher than mine in the first place.

“Then you should at least keep your mouths shut. You’ve been giggling so loudly it hurts my ears—are you using the chapel alone?”

“Lady Elisia!”

“Isn’t this too much? How can you publicly insult us, your friends, like this!”

The ladies’ expressions twisted viciously.

Actually, there’s one peculiar thing about them—they were the bad crowd that used to hang around with the old Elisia.

No matter how she made friends, she only chose to associate with people like these.

“Insult? So what you all were publicly giggling about just now wasn’t an insult but praise?”

“…”

“I’m here, Rosalind is here, and most importantly, Her Majesty the Empress is in this chapel, hmm? Stop showing off moderately and stay quiet. You’re getting on my nerves.”

Many gazes were already focused on us.

They even whispered that the Duchess of Lombard’s temper sometimes has its uses.

The ladies who had been thoroughly humiliated glared at me while grinding their teeth.

‘What are they going to do by glaring like that.’

I don’t know what the old Elisia was like, but I was someone who didn’t need friends.

Some people get intimidated when they’re alone, but I was the type who could go to restaurants, parks, and even crowded theaters by myself.

Life is originally about coming alone and leaving alone.

Did they realize that I would no longer be dragged around by them? The ladies who had been engaged in a battle of wills eventually backed down first.

“…We’re sorry, Duchess.

“We were thoughtless.”

“Good that you know.”

I leisurely waved my fan without hiding my sneer.

Understanding the meaning to get lost, the ladies with reddened faces hurriedly left.

Only then did Caterina, left alone in the corner, come into view.

“Are you alright?”

At my question, she raised her head.

Even to me, who was completely ignorant about dresses and jewelry, the things she wore were hard to call of good quality.

But contrary to her shabby appearance, her eyes held a clear intelligence.

I could immediately tell she was no ordinary person.

“Duchess, why did you help me?”

She was testing me instead.

But I didn’t think deeply about it. I had decided to stop pretending to be nice after yesterday’s ball incident.

I shrugged and answered honestly.

“I didn’t particularly sympathize with you, Lady Caterina.”

“…”

“I was impressed by your heroic tale. Even in the whirlwind of rebellion, far from running away, you led the army and fought at the front.”

The current internal situation of the Pavia Kingdom was not very good.

It was the Protestant forces who had seized the throne there.

The former king, Caterina’s father, grew sick of being constantly interfered with by parliament and converted the state religion as justification for purging them and strengthening royal authority.

Fierce opposition continued regardless of social status, but the king’s will was firm.

He believed that if he executed just a few leaders of parliament, everyone would submit to his commands.

But things didn’t go as planned.

Not only parliament but even ordinary citizens weren’t afraid to stand on the pyre to protect their faith.

The plaza never lacked the smell of burning, and martyrs’ corpses filled the outskirts of the capital to overflowing.

Then, the king suddenly died of a heart attack.

The first in line for succession was Caterina, his legitimate eldest daughter.

Having firmly maintained her faith even in the flames of persecution, she was like a guardian deity to the Catholic forces, so the people rejoiced with one heart.

‘But the real problem started after that…’

The Protestant forces, who had been wielding power thanks to the former king, feared they would be persecuted in return if Caterina ascended the throne.

So they attached themselves to Caterina’s half-brother and plotted a coup.

Caterina fought to protect the royal family and the people, but eventually ended up in exile as she is now.

Awakening from my recollection, I continued calmly.

“Of course, there’s another reason. If I just stood by watching royalty being insulted, wouldn’t it be my turn next as imperial family?”

“…”

“Prevention is simpler than treatment. It’s too late after the rot sets in.”

Whether my answer sounded reasonable, Caterina nodded.

Now it was my turn to ask questions.

“By the way, why is Lady Caterina, who was called Pavia’s strongest knight, so intimidated now? Unable to say a word in response to rude remarks.”

“Because this is not my battlefield.”

“…”

“When I think of the suffering my homeland’s people will endure, I don’t feel it’s worth responding to insults that are merely a few words.”

Honestly, it was unexpected.

I knew she had an upright character, but I didn’t know her heart for the people was to this extent.

Her situation of wandering foreign countries and having to beg for asylum should be miserable, yet even in this situation, she worries about her homeland’s people first.

“Lady Caterina.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“We’re both in the position of being ostracized, so won’t you attend the dedication ceremony with me?”

Caterina was silent for a moment, as if gauging the true intention of my proposal.

Then she nodded surprisingly readily.

“Being with the Duchess, I think I can at least avoid disputes like earlier. Then I’ll gratefully accept your kindness.”

“There could be many other nice-sounding reasons, but you’re really straightforward.”

“I hear that often.”

“I’m not criticizing. I’m like that too. Since this is also fate, let’s comfortably call each other by name from now on.”

“Then please call me comfortably too.”

Originally few people approached me—except for northern nobles where Lombard’s power was strong—but this would make our surroundings even more quiet.

I was thinking it would be more comfortable when Caterina continued speaking.

“However, today I have one companion I promised to meet first. They don’t seem to have arrived yet, but would it be alright if they join us?”

“Of course.”

What kind of eccentric in noble society that only chases power made a prior appointment with the fallen Caterina?

I was a bit curious, but since it would probably be someone insignificant anyway, I agreed with a light heart.

Just then, as if she spotted her companion, Caterina rose from her seat.

“It’s been a long time, Marchioness.”

“I’m sorry. I’m too late, aren’t I? There was a small accident on the way.”

“…!”

I also rose from my seat.

I had no choice. Even without memorizing the invitations, that crest was vivid in my memory.

‘An open book and palm branch!’

This is the symbol of the Marquis Perang family.

Then the elderly lady before my eyes was Isabella La Perang, the greatest intellect of the Imperial Capital and someone I had long respected and admired.

‘My God, oh God! This is really crazy, crazy, oh God!!’

Am I now a successful follower?

The follower can’t ride the stairs, but I’m properly riding those stairs right now, right? This is right, isn’t it?!

Do I look proper right now? Pretty? There’s nothing disheveled anywhere, right?

Abandoning the identity of Elisia, the greatest fool of all time, I was unconsciously adjusting my appearance when I suddenly stopped moving.

Isabella La Perang’s voice sounded somehow familiar to my ears.

Even so, preparing for the possibility, I very carefully began to speak.

“Marquise, this is truly rude of me at our first meeting, but perhaps…”

“Oh my!”

But it seemed Marquise Perang felt the same way.

The Madam was staring intently down at my hands.

I find wearing gloves stuffy, so I had left them in my pocket to put on when the dedication ceremony began.

But I was certain that her surprised look at my hands wasn’t just because I wasn’t following proper etiquette.

“Lizzy…”

“Elze? Good heavens, dear God.”

I couldn’t believe it.

The lady I had met at Bookworm’s Paradise was Marquise Perang.

She even remembered and recognized me!

Now I could die without regrets… no, honestly, it’s not like I have none at all.

Anyway, I was stuttering like a fool, not knowing how to express the overwhelming emotions welling up inside me.

Just then, I could hear the Empress and the Protocol Minister raising their voices in an argument.

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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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