Marriage With A Suspiciously Demure Husband - Chapter 10

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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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Episode 10

The moment the feeling struck me, I pulled out pen and paper the same way I always did at home.

To Dylan Banker.
Thank you for the letter—received it safely.
I’m relieved to hear you’re doing well.
Even if you’re busy, please take care of your health.
Oh, and just in case—I need to ask you something.
I have no intention whatsoever of returning to the Knight Order, so if the Crown Prince brings it up, I’m asking you to shut it down on your end. I won’t forget the favor.
That said, I’m willing to convene the Guild Union in case of emergency.
Then take care.
H. LV

Here I was, unable to even use the Communication Tool I’d invested good money in at the office.
But Kailas—what kind of person is he? A schemer of the highest order!
He might investigate every last detail to track me down, so there was nothing for it but to bear the inconvenience.
Only when the blue light had completely faded did I look away.
Right. I need to head off every troublesome situation before it takes root.
I’m busy enough running—I can’t afford to get my feet tangled up anywhere else.
I’d cried in front of Dylan Banker about quitting the Knight Order and begged for his help, so it was obvious he’d help me even with just this much written. My apologies, but it can’t be helped.
Knock, knock.
“Representative. It’s Nizela.”
As I was airing out the room, I heard Nizela’s voice from beyond the door.
“Oh, yes, yes. Come in.”
I waved my hand about to disperse the lingering smell of smoke, then sat down hurriedly and rustled papers busily as I called Nizela in.
I glanced up briefly as if just confirming something, then looked back down. Nizela entered without closing the door behind her and spoke.
“A new employee candidate has arrived for an interview.”
“Ah, they’re here already? Are they waiting right outside?”
“Yes, Representative.”
Noah had told me this morning that he’d found someone to help with my work and that I should take a look. It seemed they’d arrived already.
I knew full well that Nizela, along with all the other staff, were Noah’s people.
But so far, every single one of those employees had been elite-level, quick and competent, so I’d decided to employ them for now.
I had no desire to invite suspicion, after all.
I’d had employees before I ever met Noah.
Even after meeting Noah, I’d hired people of my own choosing.
But without exception, none of them had sat right with me, and one had even emptied the Safe while I was away—I’d given him quite the thrashing for that.
He’d approached me with designs on the Safe from the start.
“Can’t I read people?”
“Pardon? Representative, I’m sorry. I must have misheard you.”
I still had my eyes on the documents as I waved my hand at Nizela.
“No, it was just me talking to myself. Tell them to come in.”
At that, I heard Nizela’s voice, and soon came the sound of someone entering.
“Welcome. You want to work here, then?”
I asked while rustling through the papers briskly.
I didn’t particularly want to be warm about it.
This person wasn’t really here because they wanted the work—they’d come on orders. So be it.
I figured I’d give perfunctory approval and assign them some basic tasks, nodding without even looking at them properly.
“Hello. My name is Ginger Perrian.”
The woman who introduced herself as Ginger Perrian began a formal self-introduction, speaking about her strengths and weaknesses.
The name sounded remarkably familiar. What was it?
Perrian… Perrian….
“Perrian?”
“I look forward to working with y— Yes?”
The woman, who had been bowing repeatedly at ninety-degree angles while speaking, stopped awkwardly at my question.
I lifted my head sharply.

Before me stood a woman with white hair pulled back in a single neat braid, not a stray strand out of place.
Whether it was her heavy double eyelids or the deeply vivid jade-green eyes themselves, she looked vibrant even at rest.
Captivated by the mysterious color combination and her appearance, I watched as she brought her hands together and offered a polite bow.
“Yes, I’m Ginger Perrian. I look forward to working with you!”
……
I rose from my seat.
Wanting a closer look, I stepped away from my desk and approached Ginger Perrian.
Was this really Ginger Perrian?
What was she doing here?
Wasn’t she supposed to work at the Capital Gladiator Arena and later become part of Lily Dayworth’s household?
As I drew near, Ginger Perrian blinked her green eyes.
So she really was tall as they said.
She appeared to be nearly 175 centimeters tall.
Ginger Perrian.
Unlike Hazel Love, who exits early due to death from overwork, she emerged mid-story.
Because her role was more significant than Hazel Love’s, her appearance and background were more detailed and distinctive, though the tragic point was that she was a character who ultimately died in the final confrontation with the mastermind.
Ginger had stuck in my memory because she was personally taken in by the heroine Lily Dayworth, refused no task no matter how grueling, always saw things through to completion, and had an obsession with money.
In short, Ginger was completely money-obsessed.
If it meant money, she’d do anything.
She was already the type to chase money, but there was an incident that made her even more fixated on it.
Ginger fell in love with a male slave gladiator she met while working in the arena to earn money.
She wanted to free him from danger and be with him.
But because that slave gladiator had considerable skill, he had substantial sums wagered on him, and freeing her lover would require an astronomical sum of money.
That’s why she worked with desperate determination to catch Kailas’s eye, eventually going so far as to kidnap Lily Dayworth.
But who was Lily Dayworth!
She was the female protagonist, no less.
Lily succeeded easily in persuading Ginger Perrian with her heroine’s advantage.
Hearing the circumstances, Lily Dayworth instead made a generous declaration that she would help Ginger.
The male protagonist Jade, hearing Lily’s words, helped free Ginger’s lover.
After that, Ginger was reborn as Lily’s helper.
Though she became a target for betrayal from Kailas’s subordinates and faced danger, she managed to survive with sheer determination.
Ultimately her ending was death, but that was the kind of character she was.
So why had Ginger, who should be in the Capital right now, come here?
This should be the point when she was infatuated with her slave gladiator lover.
Was this happening because Kailas was leaving the Capital, his main stage in the early-to-mid story?
From what I’d seen in the original work, she’d do whatever she was told.
Ginger could handle everything now, from menial tasks to wielding a sword, and I knew she’d learned herbalism to some degree.
To be honest, I was tempted.
If the heroine could do it, why couldn’t I?
After all, she was one of the people who would eventually betray Kailas.
And since I knew how Ginger Perrian died, I could even teach her how to avoid that death if she helped me with my tasks safely.
As I stared intently, Ginger Perrian’s pale face flushed red.
Ah, had I been staring too hard?
“Oh, I’m sorry. You said you could start work right away?”
“Yes, boss! Just tell me what to do!”
“Good. For now, Nizela will teach you the work. There’s really nothing difficult about it, so don’t worry. Let’s do well going forward.”
I smiled warmly and extended my hand to Ginger Perrian.
Ginger Perrian hesitantly offered her hand in return.
She looked quite shy and nervous.
I knew she was actually quite foul-mouthed and had a pretty rough personality.
It seemed she was acting to conceal her true self.
Well, it didn’t matter to me as long as she did her work well.
I’d coax her true nature out soon enough.
I smiled again and shook hands with Ginger Perrian.

* * *

“Is there a lot of work?”
I’d brought a few documents from the office and was reviewing them briefly in the bedroom.
Noah approached the bed and sat beside me, then gently worked his hands over my neck and shoulders.
Warmth spread across my skin, and the tension that had knotted my neck began to dissolve into a pleasant drowsiness.
The moment I realized this kindness was all performance, I found myself thinking something rather shameless—why not take advantage of it myself?
And strangely, my mind began to ease.
“There’s just something I need to check on. It won’t take long. Now that the new staff member has arrived, these tasks should decrease once training is finished.”
“I do like the sound of that.”
Noah smiled softly and shifted to the middle of the bed.
I was reviewing the settlement ledger that Nizela had prepared one last time when Noah pulled back the blanket.
“Hazel, your feet.”
“Hm?”
Before I could even react, my feet were caught in Noah’s hands.
“Oh, that’s—it’s fine.”
Feeling a bit self-conscious, I tried to pull my feet away, but noticing this, Noah laughed and held them more gently.
“I’m your husband—there’s nothing to be shy about.”
Noah cradled both my feet in his warm hands, and my toes curled instinctively.
His hands moved with deliberate weight yet surprising softness from my toes all the way up to the back of my knees.
Did Kailas truly abandon all principle and propriety whenever his goal was at stake?
It made no sense to me.
I decided I needed to keep him occupied, distracted.
When one is busy enough, small things slip through the cracks, after all.
……
I was watching his massage intently when a soft laugh escaped Noah’s lips.
“Hazel, your gaze is far too intense.”
His hands, massaging my feet, grew correspondingly more deliberate.
I averted my eyes.
“No, no—I was just looking casually.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not!”
“I’m pleased that Hazel wants me.”
Even as he said this, Noah’s hands continued their diligent work.
“…Noah, you know.”
“Yes, tell me.”
“I’ve been thinking about something lately.”
“What is it? Tell me, my wife.”
Noah asked softly.
His face was utterly innocent—as though he had no idea what I might say.
“I’m thinking of expanding the business a bit.”
“Expanding?”
“Yes, things are going well as they are, but Ferarium seems to have limits in the commissions we can take on. I think it would be good to open a branch in another region. Now that we’ve hired new staff, the timing feels perfect.”
“Another region, you say.”
Noah fell silent, apparently caught off-guard by the proposal.
I’m sorry. I was caught off-guard myself.
I’d only just made it up.
“So I was hoping you’d help. Will you?”
After all the things he’s done for me, how could he refuse?
Hadn’t he promised at our wedding to do anything I desired?
With his goal so close at hand, he’d agree to anything.
“If Hazel wishes it, then anything. But won’t it be taxing? You’re already stretched thin without a moment’s rest.”
“It’s fine. I have you by my side, after all. I want to work hard and become a wonderful wife worthy of you!”
For a moment, Noah’s lips stiffened, then they soon softened into a smile.
“If my wife desires it, then I shall look into it.”
Noah leaned down and gently kissed my knee.
“Thank you, Noah!”
Keep yourself busy, then. I need to prepare my escape.
I almost let out a quiet laugh at the thought of turning the tables on him, of leaving him bewildered instead.
At first, I’d felt only betrayal and despair.
But now—heh heh heh.
“Then I shall look into it eagerly for you, Hazel.”
“…Yes?”
“Are you saying Hazel’s precious time is being given to me?”
A massive hand caught her at the waist, and in an instant she found herself flat on her back.
He grinned, as if he’d been waiting for exactly this moment.
Damn it. I dropped my guard.

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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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