Instead of My Beloved Sister, I Married a Monster - Chapter 81
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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 81
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The chronic manpower shortage at Litberg Castle created tremendous difficulties even in locating guests.
Since there was no one specifically in charge of hospitality, whenever she asked those she encountered about Klause’s whereabouts, she only received vague responses like “He should be… somewhere around there?” or “I think I remember seeing him… over there…”
Thanks to this, Evnia was able to fully escape the lingering emotions from their last meeting before finally facing her guest.
The place where Evnia found Klause was quite unexpected.
He was standing on the tower rampart that even the castle’s residents rarely visited, looking down at the Litberg lands.
There was no need to deliberately make noise to draw his attention.
Though her footsteps weren’t loud, perhaps due to his naturally sensitive disposition, he turned to look at her almost simultaneously as she emerged from the stairs.
However, his greeting was puzzlingly delayed.
Only after a long moment did he speak, as if exhaling a breath he had been holding for ages.
“…Miss Evnia.”
“Please call me Madam. As you know, I recently married.”
Evnia calmly pretended to be an elegant noblewoman.
Even she thought the title sounded awkward, but it seemed like the appropriate first step to begin this conversation.
Did he easily notice what fact Evnia was trying to subtly reveal?
He immediately apologized for the mistake he had just made.
“I apologize. It seems the memories from before your marriage remain more vivid.”
Nevertheless, he never corrected himself to use the proper title again.
Watching his stubborn behavior, Evnia felt somewhat puzzled.
Why did this man chase me all the way here?
She knew he once had feelings for her, but she had never attributed much significance to that fact.
That was natural, since it had remained only within his heart.
Even if he brought it up before her now, she would only feel flustered.
After a moment’s consideration, Evnia spoke again.
“I’m not sure why you’ve come to find me… but I imagine it’s because you heard about my circumstances and felt concerned. I’m well aware of the bad rumors about Litberg Castle myself.”
“…”
“But as you can see, I’m doing perfectly well here. So please don’t worry and feel free to return home.”
If there was one thing that concerned her, it was that news of her might reach the people of the Hessen family.
No, since she hadn’t been living quietly all this time, perhaps stories about the monster and his bride had already spread to the west.
Had this man also heard those rumors and remembered her existence?
Evnia was curious about only such circumstances, but once again the man didn’t give her the answer she expected.
Of course, he didn’t offer any farewell greetings either.
After a brief silence, he brought up a rather unexpected topic.
“I heard you were ill.”
“…Yesterday’s outing just ran long and I had a slight fever. I’m fine now.”
“The wind is cold. The sun will set soon, so let’s go inside and continue our conversation.”
“No, here is sufficient.”
Evnia firmly refused Klause’s request.
While Evnia hoped their conversation wouldn’t reach other ears, she also didn’t want to meet him in an enclosed space with no one around.
That was also why she hadn’t asked to have him called down when Levi told her he had seen him here.
In a place blocked from outside view, any words could emerge without seeming strange.
However, upon hearing Evnia’s words, the man seemed to strengthen his resolve instead.
His previously indifferent expression suddenly contorted as he spoke.
“The words I’ve tried so hard not to speak aloud until now, this time you’re the one who refuses to hear them.”
“Sir.”
“I regretted it countless times while coming here. I begged God to please give me a chance, saying I would do anything if only I could take back my foolish choice. Therefore, though I know this is shameless and disgraceful behavior, I must speak now.”
“No, please don’t.”
“I love you. I came here to take you back with me.”
Had he been organizing what to say to her during the journey here, or throughout his stay?
Klause confessed without the slightest hesitation.
That he loved her.
Just because one expects a situation doesn’t necessarily mean they can accept it without being shaken.
Unable to overcome her confusion, Evnia unconsciously stepped back.
Did he think she might misstep on the stairs?
Klause approached with an alarmed expression and hastily extended his arm to support her back.
Since her step wasn’t as large as he had worried, they didn’t actually touch, but feeling as if trapped in his embrace, Evnia felt mild nausea.
Evnia averted her gaze from him and said.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. Those aren’t words you should say to a woman with a husband.”
“I don’t think there’s been enough time yet to build a proper marital bond.”
“Sir!”
Evnia looked back up at Klause with a shocked expression.
Evnia hadn’t known before that he was someone who could reveal his inner thoughts so boldly.
His eyes toward her were seething with the passion he had suppressed until now.
“Do you love your husband?”
“That’s not for you to interfere with.”
“Wasn’t it a marriage you never wanted in the first place?”
That might have been true in the past, but not anymore.
If there was someone between herself and Ram who wanted to maintain this marriage, it was herself. Not Ram.
Ironically, her feelings for Ram couldn’t even serve as grounds for staying by his side.
Remembering Ram’s attempts to make her give up on him, a pained expression crossed Evnia’s face.
Her counterpart seemed to interpret that reaction somewhat differently though.
Klause spoke in an angry voice.
“If you’re forced to be here because of promises between families, you don’t have to be. That was never your responsibility to bear.”
“What do you mean…”
“You were deceived. By the sister you missed so dearly, by your family, even by the maids who worked under you! You were deceived by all of them and came here!”
Evnia momentarily thought she shouldn’t have come to meet Klause.
As Ram had said, it would have been better to leave the task of sending him away to someone else.
However, Evnia couldn’t be certain that Klause would have left the castle in silence, and then she thought it might have been better to follow his suggestion and move locations.
To ensure that whatever words came next wouldn’t leak outside.
Evnia tried to calm her anxiously beating heart.
Though this space was practically outdoors, only Klause and herself were present.
Whatever they discussed, someone might be able to watch from afar, but they wouldn’t be able to eavesdrop on the content.
After even confirming that Levi wasn’t flying around nearby, Evnia calmly lowered her voice to respond.
“I know.”
“…What did you say?”
“I said I already know everything.”
Klause looked at her with an uncomprehending expression.
Only after a moment did he finally collect himself and urgently pour out questions.
“Your family thought you were dead. They sent you here to kill you.”
“They did.”
“The people you believed were family sacrificed you in place of their real daughter… You knew that and still came here? Without any resistance?”
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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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