I Thought It Was the Monster Duke's Fake Sedative - Chapter 102

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 102
Edward’s hand traced lightly up Luciana’s back as he posed the question.
“What about you?”
“Me?”
“You’re afraid of monsters.”
Luciana shrugged matter-of-factly.
“These ones are corpses, though.”
……
“I feel like I’ve made real progress, honestly.”
Luciana meant it, in her own way.
The encounter with that enormous monster last time had hardened her somewhat—immunized her, perhaps.
Now when she heard monsters shriek, her body didn’t lock up quite so completely.
Of course, she still had no intention of standing against them herself, and her contribution amounted to hiding so as not to become a hindrance while Edward fought.
And yet another thought pressed upon her.
‘Things really are becoming serious.’
In the original story too, the continent’s condition deteriorated as time went on, and Edward…
Luciana’s eyes drifted sideways to study him.
‘He’s working himself to exhaustion.’
For days now, as their carriage traveled, Edward had been striking down monsters wherever they appeared—scarcely sleeping or eating in the process.
Edward had insisted this posed no real problem, and indeed he didn’t seem particularly fatigued, yet Luciana found the entire situation deeply troubling.
“You should take care of yourself while you’re fighting.”
“That’s why I’m careful not to damage my face.”
“That’s not what I mean! You need to eat properly and sleep!”
She understood perfectly well that he still had to hunt monsters, had to save people.
But they were already on their way to confront the Emperor and the Pope.
Helping others was admirable, but wouldn’t it be better if he went to face them well-nourished and properly rested?
Yet Edward merely clicked his tongue and looked at her.
“You’re the one who needs proper rest.”
“Me?”
Luciana, who had been living in luxurious comfort throughout the journey in what was essentially a first-class carriage, gestured to herself with wide eyes.
“I’m resting perfectly well.”
Sophie and the other maids—Clara especially—bustled about her with tireless devotion, ensuring she lacked for nothing.
“Oh dear, madam. You haven’t a footrest cushion. I was certain I’d packed one—I must have forgotten it. Whatever shall I do!”
“Hmm? People forget things. It’s fine…”
“Would you like me to serve as one instead?”
……
At times, such devotion bordered on oppressive.
Moreover, Edward had taken to hand-feeding her at mealtimes, and when night came, he would cradle her in his arms to sleep—thanks to which she slept soundly and sweetly.
“For me it’s barely different from taking a pleasure trip to the Capital…”
“The Temple you were confined in is in the Capital.”
……
“So it’s hardly a pleasure trip.”
Edward spoke slowly, looking down at her, and Luciana found herself momentarily at a loss for words.
He understood that returning to that dreadful place would be difficult for her, and he was showing consideration for that very reason.
‘Truly, how does he manage this every time.’
How could someone who’d never known hardship possess such depth of compassion.
As if he truly understood what she had endured.
Luciana swallowed, feeling her chest tighten with emotion.
“It’s fine, really. We’re not going underground anyway, and I’ve never seen the Capital’s outer districts before.”
……
“Honestly, I’ve been curious. I’m planning to treat this as a chance to sightsee.”
At her spirited reply, spoken with genuine warmth, Edward finally offered a faint smile.
Then, as if moved by her courage, he reached out and stroked her hair gently.
“Such bravery in something so small.”
“More brave than you, perhaps?”
Embarrassed by her own words, Luciana began wiping the blood from his armor as she spoke, deliberately petulant.
“I’ve said it before—you should be more careful yourself.”
“Careful about what?”
At his challenge, Luciana’s cheeks puffed out slightly.
“No matter how sturdy and strong and beautiful a body might be, you’re someone with a beautiful face but not always a beautiful heart, which is why you have so many enemies.”
“You’re not wrong.”
Edward looked thoroughly pleased as flattery spilled from Luciana’s lips for the first time in ages.
Watching him enjoy being scolded, Luciana felt a small surge of satisfaction.
‘I should push this further.’
Pleased with herself, Luciana opened her mouth again.
“You see, outwardly you shine so brilliantly and are so perfect, but… skipping meals and sleep like this, the fatigue must be piling up. With Tepe and Gorgo both away, I thought if an assassin were to strike now….”
Luciana was laying it on deliberately thick when—
“…Edward of Teseron!”
“Take my blade!”
Crash.
Masked figures burst from the undergrowth.
“…….”
“…….”
Luciana’s eyes went wide, her teasing forgotten in a rush of alarm.
‘I didn’t mean that there would actually be an attack.’
She hadn’t genuinely expected assassins to come, not really.
And certainly not in this many groups, all wearing masks of different colors.
“Huh?”
“What?”
“…….”
The strange thing was that the assassins themselves looked equally panicked.
And in fact, they were.
‘Who are these people? Where did they come from?’
‘The Imperial Court? No… could it be the Temple?’
The Temple, in truth, had held back and sent no one….
But the dozens of masked figures that had rushed out were divided into different camps by color.
Edward had always had many enemies.
Even the Emperor harbored quiet contempt for him, and the many nobles who had suffered all manner of trials at his hands yet could say nothing—because he was a Divine Incarnation—felt the same.
And when Edward declared his seclusion, those enemies had harbored a secret hope.
When monsters attacked Teseron not long after, and Edward came to the Capital….
‘This is our chance!’
That was what they thought.
‘With monsters appearing in Teseron, won’t there be questions about whether he can even handle them properly from now on?’
Injuring such a Divine Incarnation might not bring the same condemnation as before.
Then there were those who aimed at Luciana.
‘A Divine Incarnation with a weakness is easy prey!’
They knew well that harming a True Mate would break the Divine Incarnation’s composure.
Those who thought this way had dispatched assassins who had watched Edward’s party all along, waiting for their moment.
And believing that moment was now, they had burst forth.
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
While the masked figures exchanged glances and felt each other out, Edward alone, having grasped the situation, let out a low chuckle.
“I wasn’t entirely unprepared for something like this.”
“…….”
“But I didn’t expect you to show your hand quite so boldly before we’d even reached the Capital.”
Then he added with a mocking edge:
“Arriving with such secretive footsteps and all.”
“…….”
“I thought you’d wait until we were right at the Capital’s gates before testing my blade.”
Beneath their masks, the cowardly assassins’ cheeks burned scarlet.
After all, it was true—they had been watching and waiting in the shadows until the monster attack gave them their opening.
The assassins, their shame kindling into rage, cried out:
“…Die!”
“The ones who always charge in shouting like that tend to be the first to fall.”
Watching the assassins attack without regard for their separate camps, Edward tilted his head with utter indifference.
Then he pulled Luciana close, spread his wings, and leaped skyward.
Only then did the assassins remember that Edward could fly, and they gasped in shock.
“You coward, you scoundrel…!”
“Come down and cross blades!”
Of course, Edward didn’t even listen with half an ear.
“You claim to be fair and just, yet dozens of you came rushing in at once?”
“That’s nonsense! There are only five of us!”
“Same with us! The rest aren’t even on our side… No, come down here, Duke of Teseron!”
It was then that the distance between Edward and his attackers had begun to widen steadily.
“…Tsk!”
A crossbow bolt fired by one of the masked figures shot toward Luciana, who was peeking her head out just above Edward’s shoulder.
It was a crossbow that had been modified with magic to travel great distances.
“Oh!”
Luciana quickly ducked her head, but….
…Whoosh.
Something far faster had already happened.
“……!”
One of Edward’s wings, shimmering like a mirage and compressed into powder, swept in front of Luciana to shield her.
And it began to solidify, revealing its true form.
Those who saw it involuntarily lowered their weapons and gasped in shock.
“A, a dragon….”
A dragon’s wing.
What had been passed down only as legend was materializing before their very eyes into reality.
Before the half-formed dragon wing could be completed, the crossbow bolt pierced straight through it.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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