Instead of My Beloved Sister, I Married a Monster - Chapter 55

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 55

“Now it’s time to pay the price.”

Ram whispered quietly, lightly pushing the baron with his cane and pointing the head of it at his heart.

At the same time, a wind of unknown origin swept in, mercilessly shaking the lights that had just been lit.

The chandelier creaking as if it would fall to the floor at any moment, the tablecloths fluttering violently, and wine glasses rolling across the table before shattering completely.

Screams erupted from all directions amid the chaos that swept through the hall.

Schwaiger Baron’s final cry begging for his life was drowned out by the noise and reached no one.

The baron’s body, which had been changing form moment by moment with the precariously flickering lights, soon transformed completely and permanently into something else entirely.

Countess Janet, who made eye contact with the pig struggling inside her brother’s clothes, let out a blood-curdling scream.

“Kyaaaah!”

Startled by the sound, the pig hurriedly ran down the stairs.

The pig that reached the first floor briefly rampaged among the couples standing on the floor, then quickly charged toward a glass window that seemed closest to an exit.

Schwaiger Baron, or rather what had been Schwaiger Baron, thus left the party hall in an instant and returned to nature.

Among those who witnessed this scene, no one thought to catch the baron and move him to safety.

They only realized one thing: that they too could get outside through that opening.

“Aaaah!”

A man near the window suddenly screamed and ran toward the hole the pig had smashed.

Starting from this point, everyone in the party hall began rushing outside without exception.

Those who happened to be on the same second floor and had to watch the monster couple’s reactions were relatively slow to act, but they followed suit without fail. Even Countess Janet, who had just lost her brother before her eyes.

The incomprehensible power that turned a person into a pig had neutralized even the desire for revenge that should naturally be felt toward a family’s enemy.

Evnia and Ram maintained their composure until the end, standing and looking down at the floor with solemn eyes until the party hall was completely empty.

After confirming that everyone had gone outside, Evnia glanced at Ram’s face and asked.

“When you asked which animal I hated most, wasn’t that so you could transform him into that?”

When Ram had asked which animal she hated most among rats, frogs, and pigs, Evnia had answered rats.

She had thought he was investigating which animal would make people feel most horrified when Schwaiger Baron transformed, but perhaps that wasn’t actually the case.

What Ram ultimately chose was the pig, which Evnia considered the cutest among them.

When Evnia sent him a puzzled look, Ram relaxed his stern expression and answered in a nonchalant tone.

“Why would I show you something you dislike? I was trying to choose while excluding animals that would scare you.”

“I thought you were asking which would be most shocking. Everyone dislikes rats, after all.”

“It would be troublesome if you disliked it too. It would be ridiculous if the monster bride got startled and collapsed just from seeing a rat.”

Since she had been mentally prepared, she probably wouldn’t have collapsed to the floor, but managing her expression certainly wouldn’t have been easy.

She didn’t know what the baron thought, but Evnia was truly grateful that he had become a pig rather than a rat, at least for now.

Because Ram had chosen an answer that wouldn’t frighten her.

“Let’s go to a nearby restaurant for dinner before heading back. Ah, but let’s skip the pork dishes.”

“Do you dislike pork?”

“No, I’m worried they might catch Schwaiger Baron and serve him.”

Ram said this while summoning some nearby champagne to himself.

Considering he was like livestock raised by human hands his entire life, Schwaiger Baron probably wouldn’t survive long in the wild.

Most likely, he would soon be hunted by nearby residents or hunters.

Evnia shuddered as she tried to push away the cruel imaginings floating in her mind.

“…Still, it’s fortunate we’ve overcome a major obstacle. I’m not sure if you’ll be able to clear your name completely since it’s such an old case, but now that the baron who was applying external pressure is gone, there should be a fair trial, right?”

Ram looked down at her with an amused expression, as if finding Evnia’s innocent question endearing.

He handed Evnia a half-filled champagne glass and asked.

“Why would there be a fair trial?”

“Pardon?”

“Evnia, when a corrupt lord leaves, what comes next?”

“…A good lord?”

“No, swarms of flies drawn to the smell of rotten meat come rushing in. The heir died three years ago, the baron himself has departed for nature, and now anyone with even a drop of blood relation can become lord. Since the existing lord stepped down in such a state, preferably someone who had a bad relationship with him would be even better.”

Having said this, Ram lightly clinked his glass against Evnia’s.

As a clear chime rang out, a deep smile spread across Ram’s lips.

Ram raised his glass in a triumphant toast and said.

“We happen to have the perfect candidate for that, don’t we?”

* * *

Weekday lunchtime, inside a casual eatery near the Lord’s Manor.

Worn and tired office workers were sipping coffee as black as their own complexions with grim faces.

Among them, the man with the darkest circles under his eyes, tax collector Tom, was biting into a sandwich with his dry mouth.

His friend, who always had lunch with him, hurriedly opened the store door and entered.

Tom, who had been waiting for his friend to approach the table, asked in a weary voice.

“Why are you so late?”

“Don’t even ask, I barely managed to get out when I almost couldn’t eat lunch. By the way, how’s your department doing? You don’t look… safe.”

The friend, who had been about to ask about work first, quickly corrected himself after checking Tom’s complexion.

The Tax Collection Department, which had been Schwaiger Baron’s biggest source of funds and a hotbed of embezzlement, couldn’t possibly be safe after receiving justice’s hammer blow.

Sure enough, Tom let out a deep sigh as soon as work was mentioned.

“At least half of our people will be cut. The Finance Officer was the number one sycophant who would even pretend to die if Schwaiger Baron said so. When he heard what happened to the baron, he immediately left early, and today he didn’t show up at all without a word.”

“Ha, that arrogant bastard is hiding at home like a cowardly rat… Wait, did he actually become a rat?”

“I’d prefer that. If he can’t talk, he won’t be able to sell out innocent subordinates.”

Thinking it was a dangerous topic to discuss outside, the friend kept glancing around while listening to Tom’s story.

Then he lowered his voice and whispered as if afraid someone might hear.

“Seeing how all the guys who were living it up under Schwaiger Baron can’t hold their heads high, is it really that kind of atmosphere? Will that person become the new lord?”

“Who?”

“Ah, you know, that opportunist who appeared at dawn as soon as the baron met his fate. The baron’s cousin who was driven out 15 years ago, Jens Schwaiger!”

Despite Tom and his friend’s efforts to prevent their voices from leaking out, their conversation was already flowing steadily to the ears of a certain man and woman seated on the terrace.

The man elegantly raised his hand to call the waitress and offered her the menu, saying.

“I’ll have a cup of black coffee, hot enough to burn my lips.”

“…I’ll have herbal tea, please. At a moderate temperature.”

“Toast as well, please. Not for me, just for the lady here.”

“Yes, please wait a moment.”

Evnia wanted to say that a drink would be enough for her too, but at that moment the conversation they had been eavesdropping on resumed, causing her to miss the timing.

She immediately closed her mouth and began concentrating on the public opinion survey again.

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