I Woke Up from Hibernation and Found a Husband - Chapter 17

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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 17
Theodore was the first to regain his composure.
“W-what are those ears?”
Claire rubbed her ears with an expression of disbelief, as though she couldn’t hear what he was saying.
“Why did these appear?”
She pressed them down urgently with both hands, but the ears refused to disappear.
‘I haven’t been unable to retract my ears like this since I was a child.’
My demi-human bloodline had been exposed.
She covered her ears and glanced at Theodore nervously. Deceiving someone about one’s race was clearly employment fraud. She deserved to be cast out immediately.
However, though Theodore appeared somewhat startled at first, he quickly composed himself and asked calmly.
“You’re a demi-human?”
Claire scratched her cheek awkwardly. The exposed ears made it impossible to deny.
“Yes. A quarter-blood, though.”
“A quarter-blood?”
“Yes.”
At that, he paused thoughtfully before nodding as though he understood something.
“So that’s how you managed to subdue me even when I was raging.”
It was an unexpectedly straightforward observation. Claire’s eyes widened, having expected Theodore to resent being deceived.
“You’re not surprised?”
“I was surprised. But I never thought you were an ordinary person. I suspected you had some secret.”
At those words, Claire’s ears twitched.
“Why?”
“Hmm?”
“Didn’t I seem sufficiently ordinary?”
“What?”
Claire looked at Theodore with a bewildered expression. All those months of effort to appear as an ordinary maid.
‘Wasn’t this level ordinary enough?’
She hadn’t struck anyone or fought beasts. By her standards, those days had been quite restrained.
Theodore spoke carefully to the deflated Claire.
“An ordinary maid couldn’t effortlessly deflect incoming fists, nor could she single-handedly capture and restrain a raging person.”
At those words, Claire recognized her mistake.
‘The problem was setting my standard by Mother and Angela.’
The only women around her had been highly skilled mercenaries. She lowered her head with a sense of deflation. Her round ears drooped with her mood, drawing attention.
‘They suit her rather well, actually.’
Knowing Claire was a demi-human, Theodore felt no aversion whatsoever. He had suspected it to some degree anyway, and besides, it was far stranger that someone who could casually handle a madman unable to control his strength was supposedly ordinary.
‘But I’m curious which animal species she is. A weasel? A marten? No, Claire is strong, so she could be a fierce beast like a lion.’
While Theodore pondered, Claire decided to take comfort in the fact that she wouldn’t be dismissed.
“Thank you for your understanding.”
“Don’t thank me. I’ve received much from you. But those ears—it might be better to hide them. Is that possible?”
“Well…”
I was just about to confess to Theodore that things weren’t going well with Claire.
“Theodore? Are you alright?”
A knock sounded at the door, followed by Gregory’s voice.
“I heard you skipped both lunch and dinner. Are you feeling well?”
The two of us exchanged startled glances. Claire, who had been fetching meals like clockwork every hour, hadn’t shown up at the Dining Hall, and it had raised suspicion.
“I’m fine! I’m just preoccupied at the moment, so I’ll come pay my respects later.”
Theodore hurried to make excuses, but Gregory’s voice remained tinged with concern.
“If you’re well, open the door. I’ve brought some medicine that’s said to be good for calming the nerves.”
His gentle tone felt like a noose tightening around my neck. Claire tried to focus on tucking her ears back in, but it was futile. Finally, cornered, Claire leaned close to Theodore’s ear and whispered urgently.
“I’ll jump out the window. Just open the door.”
“This is the third floor!”
“It’s only the third floor.”
With my beastkin nature already exposed, there was nothing left to hide. I decided to leave boldly. Theodore drew a sharp breath, hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
“Then be careful….”
“Yes.”
Watching Theodore approach the door, I moved toward the window. Just before the doorknob turned, I slipped my body out through the window.
‘At least after sleeping and waking, I feel like I’ll survive.’
I landed stably on the ground and assessed my condition. Aside from the beastkin transformation not wearing off, my physical state wasn’t bad.
‘First, I should return to my lodging, and once my ears disappear, I’ll need to go back to the Young Master.’
Just as I was about to move forward with a languid stretch, it happened.
“You! You!”
A sharp, piercing cry pierced my ears. When I turned my head, I saw Bender’s face twisted in shock.
“A filthy beastkin!”
‘I suppose that’s the normal reaction?’
Watching his response, so different from Theodore’s, I clicked my tongue.
* * *
House Voltier Estate was thrown into chaos.
A maid who had hidden her beastkin nature. The servants all added their own words, condemning Claire.
“I knew it! Her eyes looked wrong from the start!”
“How did a beastkin sneak into this place? Was she after Gregory’s life?”
“She should be cast out immediately! Or rather, she insulted a noble, so she can’t just leave!”
Their voices flowed in unfiltered through my heightened hearing, a side effect of the beastkin transformation.
‘How noisy.’
Ignoring the unpleasant buzzing like a mosquito’s wings, I entered the Underground Dungeon without resistance. Despite hearing the ominous words exchanged outside, my expression remained perfectly serene.
‘These shackles and iron bars. I could definitely break through them and escape.’
The shackles made of sturdy metal felt like toys in my hands. I looked up at the small window positioned high on the dungeon wall. The Underground Dungeon seemed to be located at a semi-basement level, as I could see part of the Garden floor through the window.
‘If I smash the area next to the bars, I can definitely get out.’
Just as I was habitually mapping out an escape route and nearly completing my plan, a small hand suddenly appeared through the window.
“Claire!”
“Miss Bella?”
Bella’s face flushed crimson as she pressed herself against the iron bars, fat tears streaming down her cheeks in steady rivulets.
“Claire, are you all right?”
Claire’s impassive expression crumbled. The whimpering child looked so pitiful that she rose from her seat in agitation and moved to comfort Bella.
“Please don’t cry. I’m perfectly fine.”
“But those shackles are so heavy….”
Isabella’s eyes fixed on the thick metal manacles binding Claire’s wrists. Seeing the child tremble as though the heavens themselves were collapsing, Claire exerted her strength and snapped the chain connecting the cuffs.
“See? It’s just like a bracelet.”
The severed manacles now adorned both her wrists like jewelry. Claire even swung her arms in casual circles to demonstrate how weightless they were.
“Oh….”
Isabella’s expression shifted from confusion to relief as she stopped crying, sniffling and wiping her nose.
“But how did you come all this way alone?”
“People inside were shouting that Claire is a beast-human, that she must be driven out. When I heard them talking, I knew Claire was here. Oh! I don’t think you’re strange!”
Isabella pressed her face desperately between the bars and cried out.
“I don’t think you’re strange, Claire. Even if you’re a beast-human, it’s all right.”
Her cheeks flushed red where they scraped against the rough iron. Claire nodded quickly and answered.
“I know. I know, Miss. So please don’t apologize. I’m here, aren’t I?”
At those words, Isabella’s body went limp. The child’s voice trembled as she spoke, her throat tight.
“Claire…. If they find out you’re a beast-human, do you really have to leave?”
Isabella was terrified. Everyone in the Mansion was demanding Claire’s punishment, and Gregory and Theodore had locked themselves in their room, refusing to emerge.
‘If I just wait quietly in my room, Claire might really be cast out.’
It was late, the sun already set. Venturing outside the building alone frightened her. But the thought of Claire leaving was far more terrible.
‘Claire must be scared being alone in the Prison. I was so frightened in the Annex.’
Now only Claire remained to hold Isabella. She summoned her courage to cling to the last warmth left to her.
“Miss….”
Claire gazed gently into the child’s trembling eyes. Yet she could not answer carelessly. With no knowledge of how events would unfold, she could promise nothing.
“I….”
Claire moved clumsily toward the window to comfort Isabella. But before her solace could reach the child, Isabella’s body was yanked away roughly.
“Aaah!”
Isabella shrieked in alarm. The Head Maid, her face twisted in fury, snapped irritably.
“Miss! What on earth are you doing?!”

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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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