I Woke Up from Hibernation and Found a Husband - Chapter 41

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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 41
“Go on your way.”
Ludwig granted their journey with surprising ease, dispelling any concerns they might have harbored.
“Are you certain? Wouldn’t it be better to send the Knights instead?”
The family’s sole heir and his betrothed were venturing beyond the Estate into the Dangerous Zone. Emilia, the advisor, voiced her worry with a furrowed brow, but Ludwig shook his head.
“If we move officially, we’ll only expose that Angela to unnecessary danger. Besides, how could I possibly stop them from rescuing their own family?”
Ludwig wasn’t without concern for the two young people. Yet he couldn’t keep them sheltered in his arms forever.
“Theodore, Claire. You’re confident you’ll return safely?”
“Of course.”
“Yes.”
Their unhesitating responses brought a smile to Ludwig’s lips.
“Then go. But Claire—your abilities must never be exposed to outsiders.”
After offering several more pieces of advice, he gestured toward Emilia.
“There’s someone trustworthy who can help you in times like this. Emilia, summon him.”
“Him?”
Theodore and Claire exchanged glances before turning back to Ludwig. His expression seemed oddly pleased.
* * *
The following morning, they finally glimpsed their helper’s face on the day of departure.
“You’re Ebon?”
Or rather, a mask would be more accurate. A crude wooden mask, roughly carved with only eye holes, and beneath those holes lay nothing but darkness instead of pupils.
“Ah, allow me to introduce him. He’s primarily operated near the Border, and he’s Count Voltier’s… well, in any case, he’s our helper, Ebon!”
Emilia, who was seeing them off, explained while perspiration beaded on her forehead.
‘That explanation was rather vague.’
I gazed up at the towering man. His desaturated golden hair hung long, reaching his nape. Clad in a high-collared garment with gloves covering his hands, the only visible skin was his ears—a decidedly suspicious figure.
He remained motionless throughout Emilia’s introduction, his demeanor distinctly indifferent.
“Won’t he stand out too much dressed like that?”
At Theodore’s concern, Emilia’s face brightened as she assured him there was no need to worry about that.
“Ah, that’s precisely why we brought Ebon! Go ahead, Ebon. Please proceed.”
At her cheerful words, Ebon finally removed one glove from his right hand. Long, pale fingers that seemed incongruous with his crude mask extended toward us.
“Hmm?”
He paused as if pointing at someone. Emilia continued her explanation.
“Please touch your index fingers together. Ebon possesses an ability to alter appearances.”
“Alter appearances?”
Theodore extended his finger first. About three seconds after contact, his appearance began to shift gradually.
“Remarkable—he’s completely transformed.”
At my exclamation, he touched his own face. The sensation at his eye level and fingertips was distinctly different.
“Now it’s your turn, Claire.”
My finger soon made contact with Ebon’s.
‘I must be careful not to let my power flow through.’
I withdrew my hand cautiously, ensuring no energy transferred. Once Ebon had finished contact with both of us, he promptly pulled his glove back on.
“Claire….”
Theodore’s face twisted as he witnessed Claire’s transformation.
“Hmm? Is something wrong?”
As she patted her face curiously and asked, the answer tumbled from Emilia instead.
“No! You look so handsome—no, absolutely perfect!”
Emilia, her cheeks flushed for some reason, hastily pulled a mirror from the bag she was holding and thrust it toward them. In the white-framed mirror, the reflections of two people appeared.
“This is what I look like?”
Claire’s eyes widened. In the mirror stood two complete strangers. Theodore gazed with curiosity at his own reflection—a modest young man with burgundy hair and dark eyes—before turning a conflicted gaze toward Claire.
“Wow, this is truly a masterpiece!”
Emilia barely restrained herself from clapping.
Where Claire had stood now stood a strikingly handsome man with fiery crimson hair and golden eyes. Though possessing a youthful charm, his gaze held a melancholic depth that captivated attention.
‘A beauty that rivals Young Master Theodore! I must feast my eyes on this!’
Unaware of Emilia’s thoughts, Theodore spoke to Ebon with a dissatisfied expression.
“Can’t you transform into a different appearance? If we go out like this, we’ll draw too much attention.”
“Ah! That’s impossible.”
Emilia wiped away her drool and hurried to explain further.
“The transformation works randomly. Once I give someone a new appearance, it lasts for two weeks. To change your body again, you’d have to wait another two weeks.”
With the situation demanding urgency to confirm Angela’s safety, Theodore could no longer insist.
“And everyone, please check your left index finger.”
At her words, Claire examined her left hand and found a crescent moon-shaped black mark drawn beneath her fingernail.
“While that mark exists, the transformation power is active! When the mark is black, you’re in your transformed state; when it’s white, you’re in your original form.”
One of Claire’s eyebrows rose.
‘This is actually quite convenient.’
“And as the crescent gradually fills to become a full moon, the duration of the ability’s effect ends.”
As she turned to regard Ebon with admiring eyes, she found he had already activated his ability, now appearing as a stubborn-looking middle-aged man.
“Well, Ebon doesn’t say much, but he has excellent stamina and possesses an exceptional ability for moving discreetly, so please understand.”
An eccentric demeanor that showed no deference even before House Voltier’s heir. Theodore regarded him with suspicion before nodding shortly.
Certainly, Claire’s current appearance was striking in its own way, but no one would be able to deduce her true identity.
“Then go safely and return safely!”
Emilia called out energetically to their departing figures.
* * *
“This is Claire?!”
Kenneth’s jaw dropped when they met at the entrance to the mountain path.
“I need time to adapt!”
Using Ebon’s ability, he had become an ordinary-looking man with shaggy hair.
“What’s there to adapt to?”
“Even my voice has changed!”
Kenneth couldn’t recover from the shock of such a thorough transformation.
‘Certainly, no one would think of Veronica now. I understand that, but!’
For the first time, Theodore found himself sympathizing with Kenneth. He exhaled a long sigh and pulled out a map.
“Stop your grumbling and let’s depart at once.”
Our destination lay in the northern Laten Plain. To complete the journey in the shortest time possible, the fastest route was to first cross the Western Mountains of Voltier, then utilize the waterways from the next territory. A river passage would save us considerable time.
Kenneth nodded as he studied the map.
“Once we reach the waterway, I can procure a boat. I have quite a few acquaintances in that region. But before we go, there’s one thing.”
Kenneth paused mid-sentence, examining the three of us before breaking into a subtle smile.
“Wouldn’t it be better if we aligned our manner of speech before we depart?”
“Our manner of speech?”
Kenneth nodded, absently running his fingers through his disheveled hair.
“Theodore and I appear as perfectly ordinary young men in our mid-to-late twenties, and this gentleman Ebon, while I’m uncertain of his true appearance, certainly looks like a respectable middle-aged man. But!”
Kenneth turned back to regard the aristocrat who gazed at him with an expressionless face. Those slightly upturned eyes. That sculpted nose, sharp as a painting. A strikingly handsome young man in his early twenties with an air of nobility. No matter how one looked at it, he could never pass for a commoner.
“With this group as it stands, anyone would immediately recognize us as a young nobleman from the aristocracy on an outing!”
A reckless, hot-blooded young master and three servants in his entourage. The silence that fell between us was an acknowledgment we couldn’t deny.
“So, from now on, you must treat us as if we were your servants, Young Master. Do you understand, Young Master Claire?”
Kenneth’s lips curved upward as he spoke with a playful tone.

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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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