I Woke Up from Hibernation and Found a Husband - 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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Chapter 102
The funeral of Marquis Temper was held. As the day to receive mourners approached, dozens of carriages lined up in an endless procession before the Marquis Residence.
“Regardless of his conduct in life, he certainly attracts a considerable number of mourners.”
Claire pulled back the carriage curtain slightly to peer outside, her tongue clicking in disapproval. It was clear she resented that a man who had so cruelly persecuted the Beastman was receiving such widespread condolences.
“Still, very few of them are here with genuine sympathy.”
Regardless of Marquis Temper’s private affairs, it was undeniable that he had been a major figure deeply involved in political and financial circles. Thus, this long procession was no different from a swarm of ants gathering to pick at the scraps left behind by a fallen giant.
‘My chest feels heavy.’
Theodore struggled to suppress the sighs that kept threatening to escape. The black mourning clothes he and Claire wore, the line of carriages, the somber atmosphere.
Memories of his parents’ funeral kept surfacing unbidden, and his mood sank without his realizing it.
‘Isn’t he the son of that reckless fool?’
‘Does he even possess the House Voltier ability…?’
‘How could someone like that serve under Ludwig?’
Pity, suspicion, ridicule. Instead of sorrow, the funeral had been filled only with negative words—a trauma that had scarred his young heart.
“Theodore?”
Noticing his complexion darkening, Claire called his name carefully.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. I’m fine.”
At that moment, Claire’s eyes narrowed.
‘Fine? What’s fine about this?’
This raccoon always put on airs when something was amiss. He seemed to think she wouldn’t notice his pallid face and the restless way his eyes darted about.
‘It must be some kind of trauma.’
Knowing his childhood, I quickly discerned his condition.
‘In times like these.’
I suddenly extended my right hand toward the gloomy Theodore.
“I’ll lend you my hand.”
“Huh?”
“Holding it should ease your tension somewhat.”
Theodore flinched, his eyes widening in surprise. Meanwhile, my expression remained calm.
‘Just as with Bella, human contact really is effective for calming oneself.’
I made this suggestion recalling Isabella, who clung to me desperately whenever she was troubled. Theodore seemed to hesitate for a moment before making up his mind, shyly extending his hand. Our clasped hands shared their warmth with each other.
‘It’s warm.’
As warmth returned to fingertips that had grown cold with anxiety, my turbulent heart gradually settled.
“Much better, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. Thank you.”
Seeing Theodore’s color return, I tried to withdraw my hand, but our clasped hands held on with a weak, almost childlike insistence, keeping me from pulling away.
The pressure was light enough that I could have easily freed myself with minimal effort, but for some reason, I didn’t want to, so I simply abandoned the attempt to withdraw.
“Do you think Elliott will be alright?”
Still holding his hand, I spoke.
Two days ago, through a spatial ability user sent by Sio, we had returned swiftly to the Convent alongside Kenneth, only to hear unexpected news.
‘Elliott has gone missing?’
‘Yes, I learned about it through Iris’s request for help. The Imperial Family hasn’t announced it yet, so I need to be careful with my words.’
Elliott’s disappearance.
The Empire’s second prince, Elliott Berus, born with the Imperial Family’s unique ability, had vanished.
Following the tragedy at the ball and the sudden death of Marquis Temper, one of the Empire’s four pillars, came this fresh calamity.
Fearing the collapse of imperial authority and widespread social chaos, the Imperial Family concealed Elliott’s disappearance and quietly assembled an investigation team.
But judging by how the drug investigation had stalled, it seemed Iris believed the Imperial Family’s efforts alone would be futile.
‘Could it be the Empress’s doing?’
‘That’s the most likely possibility. And given recent events, there’s a strong chance Umbra is involved in this as well.’
A prince with dark gray hair and a gentle demeanor, and Iris with a similar appearance.
‘Thanks to you, Your Highness, I was able to find the artifact containing Father’s ability.’
Claire, who had met them directly at the Hunting Festival, felt even more uneasy about Elliott’s abduction.
“Let’s believe that Umbra said they can’t directly harm him, so we should be fine for a while.”
Just as Claire nodded with an uncomfortable expression, the carriage jolted and came to a halt.
“We’ve arrived, it seems.”
At the House of Marquis Temper where the funeral was being held, Theodore reluctantly released the hand he’d been holding and finally let go.
* * *
The more powerful one’s position at the center of authority, the more their funeral becomes a festival for others. The emotions hidden beneath black clothing in people’s gazes were not mourning, but unmistakable curiosity.
“Thank you so much for coming all this way from House Voltier to pay your respects. Our house is deeply grateful.”
“Not at all. It is only proper courtesy when such a great star of the Empire has dimmed.”
Standing as chief mourner in place of Empress Bianca was her cousin Tyler, who was considered the most likely candidate to become the next Marquis Temper.
The crowd’s gaze moved busily between Tyler and Theodore, trying to predict the future relationship structure between the House of Marquis Temper and House Voltier.
‘How predictable.’
After Theodore finished his greeting without leaving any room for further conversation and turned away cleanly, the interest quickly faded.
‘Are there any unusual points at the funeral? I should stay a reasonable amount of time and then leave.’
It was while observing his surroundings with such thoughts.
“Claire!”
An artificially cheerful voice. None other than Hector.
“What a coincidence to meet here.”
“…Hello.”
Contrary to his words, Claire was far from well. The moment she saw Hector, she barely managed to suppress her face from twisting in displeasure.
He paid no mind to the attention gathering around them and turned his gaze toward Theodore instead.
“Oh, hello there. You must be Theodore of House Voltier, yes? I’m sure you’ve already heard, but I am Claire’s…”
“Today we’ve come to bid farewell to the deceased, so I’d prefer we remain quiet and you take your leave. We can converse another time.”
A firm response cut him off before he could finish. His tone carried a somewhat high-handed attitude, as if he would not entertain any other opinions.
Seeing Theodore in a way she’d never witnessed before, Claire’s eyes sparkled with intrigue.
“Ah, yes. I understand. I was thoughtless. Then Claire, do come visit Rozina again next time.”
Hector barely managed to compose his expression crumbling under humiliation, forced out a strained smile, and withdrew as if nothing had happened. Seeing the expressions of several nearby people who had overheard their exchange stiffen awkwardly as if suppressing laughter, his face burned with shame.
‘The audacity of this wet-behind-the-ears brat!’
Hector, who had already been hearing whispers that he was a kite with its string cut after Marquis Temper’s sudden death, disappeared into the crowd with a bitter expression.
As Claire watched his retreating figure, she whispered to Theodore.
“You seem to have a talent for bickering as well.”
Theodore’s response came in a noticeably softer tone than the one he’d used with Hector, directed entirely at her.
“Does it make me look more dependable?”
Unable to laugh openly at someone else’s funeral, Claire answered instead with a slight shrug of her shoulders.
“Let’s go through the bare minimum and leave immediately.”
She’d attended hoping to glean some information, but having found nothing of value, there was no reason to linger.
Yet before the two of them could slip away with their perfunctory condolences, someone intercepted their path.
“The Crown Prince Aaron has arrived.”
Veins rose and fell across Theodore’s clenched fist.
‘Damn it. I should have hurried.’
In that moment, Aaron entered, dressed in black formal attire. His beautiful face and well-trained physique were accentuated by the dark fabric clinging to him.
Claire’s eyes narrowed.
‘Was the atmosphere always like this?’
She recalled the Aaron she’d met at the Hunting Festival.
‘Haha. I never knew I had a talent for hunting. This is quite delightful.’
‘It was enjoyable. Let’s meet again next time.’
Unlike that version of him—which had been oddly candid despite its unsettling undertones—the Aaron before her now resembled a tempest.
At first glance, his face remained composed, but the darkened shadows beneath his eyes and the bizarre gleam of madness flickering in his gaze betrayed something far more sinister.
‘He’s practically become a madman.’
The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Having stared at him too long while analyzing this strange sensation, she noticed when Aaron turned his head toward her.
“Ah.”
Claire.
Upon seeing the face he’d been longing for, Aaron’s lips curved upward.

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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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