I Woke Up from Hibernation and Found a Husband - Chapter 74

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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 74
The second ball, adorned to celebrate the final day of the lengthy summer Hunting Festival, had begun.
The scale of two days prior paled in comparison—the lavishly decorated hall was suffused with the fragrance of fresh flowers.
“Sigh.”
Claire wore her hair swept elegantly upward today, dressed in a gown of pale blue that exposed her graceful neck, lending her an air of refined allure.
“Claire, are you alright?”
Theodore, dressed in a deep navy tailcoat embroidered with silver thread, regarded her with concern. Ever since learning that the Market’s products contained the blood of beastkin, Claire’s spirits had remained troubled.
‘That scent from the medicine bottle… it resembled that paper at the Voltier Mansion.’
The crimson papers that had filled the space beneath Theodore’s bed frame. If her suspicion was correct, she couldn’t even fathom how many beastkin had been sacrificed.
“I’m fine.”
She took a deep breath. First, she needed to see the Hunting Festival through to its conclusion safely.
“Since Emilia is on her way to the Convent, once today’s event concludes without incident, I can devote myself entirely to the investigation.”
As the orchestra began to play, Theodore and Claire completed a brief dance.
“You’ve become quite skilled, having practiced once.”
Theodore departed at someone’s call, and when Melissa approached and spoke, Claire managed a smile. Even she found it remarkable how naturally proficiency had come after a single real performance.
“I had a good teacher.”
“My! Now you’re even capable of such natural responses!”
Melissa’s exaggerated reaction, as if wiping away tears, allowed some of Claire’s tension to ease.
“Shall we step out and rest for now? Since the closing remarks and fireworks are the main events, if you’re tired, you can rest until then.”
Melissa’s eyes held concern—she must have heard something from Theodore. Claire slowly shook her head.
“There’s someone I still need to meet.”
“Someone you need to meet?”
To be precise, someone she needed to observe. Marquis Temper and Hector Lloyd. Melissa’s expression grew puzzled, but someone was approaching from behind her.
“Claire.”
Today, Kenneth wore his coarse black hair down naturally and a tailcoat of pale gray—a striking figure.
“Oh my.”
When Kenneth smiled, the mole at the corner of his eye curved gracefully. Melissa, having caught sight of this unexpected beauty, glanced between the two of them.
“An acquaintance of yours, perhaps?”
“Well, he’s Theodore’s friend.”
It was an instinctive excuse—mentioning that this dazzling beauty was her friend would only invite tedious questions after they parted ways.
“That’s unfair.”
As Kenneth took her hand and led her toward the Dance Hall, he grumbled softly. Claire merely shrugged, offering no reply.
“Did you see him?”
Though she hadn’t specified a target, she meant whether he’d seen Marquis Temper, the suspected “keeper” of the Market. Understanding her intent, Kenneth began to move in time with the music.
“Doesn’t look like he’s here today.”
Marquis Temper had cited his advanced age as reason to skip tonight’s gathering. Claire clicked her tongue briefly, and as she spun, Kenneth extended his hand to match her movement.
“You dance quite smoothly.”
“Thanks to you.”
Claire realized Kenneth was moving with her in mind—ensuring her feet wouldn’t tangle on unfamiliar tempos, never letting her miss a beat. His movements were infused with genuine consideration.
‘It’s remarkable how naturally he dances the social waltz.’
Claire gazed up at Kenneth with unwavering attention. He smiled consistently, as though dancing with her brought him genuine joy.
Just as something felt oddly amiss about that pure emotion, a figure appeared behind Kenneth.
‘Rozina?’
Away from the lights, Rozina stood quietly in the shadowed corner of the wall, her gaze fixed downward. Even after she disappeared from view as I turned with the music, I couldn’t suppress my growing concern.
‘Her complexion looks particularly poor today.’
From what I’d observed, Rozina was the type who rarely showed her struggles, always maintaining a facade of strength. For her to appear so utterly deflated meant something had certainly happened.
‘I want to see her.’
‘I want to see her, it seems.’
Kenneth quickly sensed that Claire’s attention had shifted elsewhere. He felt no regret—only the recurring thought that Claire truly resembled Veronica at moments like these.
The music ended, and the two exchanged a respectful bow.
“Kenneth.”
“Go to her.”
“What?”
“You’re worried about her.”
As he gently pushed her shoulder, Claire hesitated only briefly before nodding and turning to leave.
* * *
‘I’m exhausted.’
Rozina’s eyes held no focus as she stared at the floor. All day she’d endured Hector’s reproaches, purified guests, endured reproaches, purified guests—an endless cycle.
‘I want to rest.’
Ever since meeting Claire, Hector had grown anxious about something, and rather than contain it, he’d been pouring his hysteria entirely upon her.
‘If I just stand here, I’ll go back and be scolded again.’
My mind understood this, but my overworked head felt submerged, dull and heavy. And it wasn’t just my head—my entire body felt weighted down, as though anchored.
I found myself wishing I could simply collapse and never wake.
“Are you alright?”
Standing before me was Claire—not her usual expressionless face, but one clearly etched with concern.
‘Why must it always be you?’
Whenever I reached my most wretched, Claire seemed to know precisely and appear before me.
“I’m fine, so please just go.”
I gave a dismissive reply and tried to ignore her, but Claire didn’t leave. Instead, her expression grew more serious as she grasped my wrist.
“What!”
Before Rozina could protest, Claire led her into a nearby empty lounge and locked the door.
“What are you doing!”
As my foggy mind suddenly cleared, I cried out—and Claire immediately knelt down.
“Wh-what!”
“Forgive me.”
Before I could react, Claire lifted my dress up to below my knees.
‘Of course. I thought I smelled blood earlier.’
Claire’s brow furrowed. My calves were covered in straight, crimson welts—the marks of a brutal whipping with something thin like a riding crop.
I’d tried to hide them by wearing stockings, but the wounds were too fresh; blood seeped through the fabric.
‘No wonder she couldn’t dance.’
“Let go of me! Have you lost your mind?!”
Rozina’s face flushed with shame at having her weakness exposed, and she shoved Claire away roughly. Claire, having confirmed the wound, obediently stepped back and rose to her feet.
“Do you need assistance?”
At Claire’s question, Rozina let out a hollow laugh.
“What?”
“You don’t appear to be well.”
“Ha! How much of a fool do you take me for!”
Her vision wavered. She had to exert every ounce of strength to hold back the tears that had begun to well up.
“I don’t think you’re foolish. I’m concerned about you.”
“Why? Does my loyalty to Hector seem stupid to you in this state?! Is that why you feel pity for me!”
Rozina couldn’t understand why Claire kept seeking her out and pouring salt into her wounds when she was already suffocating under the weight of it all.
“You wouldn’t understand—not with Theodore Voltier backing you! This is how I maintain my position. Who are you to keep appearing and shattering my peace like this!”
A daily life of compromise. A happiness born of resignation.
And yet it kept cracking. Because of Claire standing before her.
“Your position? Is that truly the right place for you?”
“What…?”
“You seemed far more beautiful and happy when you were buying knitting supplies at the Market and freely browsing the Marketplace.”
“What…?”
When had Claire ever met her to speak like that?
In that moment, Rozina’s memory reached a certain day. A girl named Hannah—plain but pure. A brief memory with that child. Claire’s familiar manner of speaking.
“It was you. Hannah was you.”
Everything became hollow, and then a powerful anger surged forth. The feeling of being mocked, of being made a fool, and within it all, a strange sense of relief. And sorrow.
All these incomprehensible emotions tangled together and burst out like a scream.
“Claire, you—!”
Just as Rozina was about to force out the words trapped inside her.
“Get down!”
The ground trembled. The moment Claire felt it, she wrapped Rozina in her arms and threw them both to the floor.
Immediately after, a massive explosion shook the Imperial Palace.

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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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