Marriage With A Suspiciously Demure Husband - Chapter 104

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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 104

Pound-pound-pound!
The heart of the Capital at night.
Darkness pressed in from all sides.
My body felt impossibly heavy throughout the flight.
Hot steam rose from my lips as ragged breaths tore free, and dizziness threatened to steal my consciousness away entirely.
That familiar terror—death itself—chased at my heels.
Faceless shadows. People hungry for power.
The more I looked back, the deeper the darkness grew, sweat beading down my spine.
‘Please, don’t come. Don’t follow me.’
Hazel ran like someone possessed, legs pumping without end.
Maybe today was the day I’d die.
What was I supposed to do?
I wanted to live.
Hazel ran forward with tunnel vision, all else forgotten.
Then a shadow loomed in her path—a figure, large and solid.
It’s him. It has to be.
“…!”
Without thinking, Hazel’s lips moved soundlessly, and she seized the figure’s clothes, dragging with all her strength.

“Ugh……!”
At the same moment, Hazel’s body convulsed as though surfacing from water, her eyes snapping open.
A warm hand pressed against her cheek.
“Hazel.”
“…Noah?”
Through her blurred vision, Hazel recognized his face and relief flooded through her—she reached out and burrowed into his embrace.
Large hands stroked her hair, patted her back in steady rhythm.
Her throat was parched as though she’d been running flat-out, and swallowing hurt.
“Noah, Noah…….”
“Yes, Hazel.”
I clung to his shirt like a lifeline, pressing my forehead against his chest, searching for solid ground.
His soothing touch—reassuring me it was all right, just a nightmare—gradually stilled my wildly beating heart.
Only then did my mind surface to full awareness.
“Ah…….”
I let go of what I’d been gripping. What was I…
“Are you all right?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Why was the dream so—”
Why had it felt so vivid? Why couldn’t I shake the fog from my head?
Only then did I realize how foolish I’d been. Heat crept up my neck.
I wasn’t a child. What was this?
It wasn’t as if I’d never had nightmares before—but since I’d sought the aid of Count Gardiel and his wife, the dreams had grown gentler, less tormenting.
Drained of energy, I sat dazed for a moment before a glass of water was pressed into my vision.
“Drink. Take your time.”
Exhausted as I was, I nodded obediently and accepted the water he offered, sipping carefully.
As the liquid touched my lips, my mind cleared further.
“It’s not from the Subjugations. It’s just… I’ve been talking to Guild informants about the same topic constantly these days, and I suppose it caught up with me.”
I fumbled out the excuse, anxious that all my persuasion would come to nothing.
Kailas let out a low, clipped sigh.
“…Why are you reading my mood? I should be reading yours. My job is to protect you—that’s all that matters. I’ll be more careful. Are you better now?”
“…Yes. I’m all right.”
Once I’d regained some equilibrium, I studied Kailas carefully.
I’d expected another barrage of nagging, but this was strange.
It wasn’t as though he’d suddenly had a change of heart when death drew near—surely not.
As I watched with suspicion, a soft laugh escaped his lips.
“Why, why are you laughing?”
“Your thoughts carry that far, I suppose. I’ll fetch you a nightshirt and a cold cloth.”
He rose from the bed.
She’d tried to stop him, insisting she was fine, but throughout their conversation he’d wiped the sweat from her brow, and her nightclothes were damp, so she remained seated quietly on the mattress.
“Sigh…….”
Once Kailas left, she rubbed her arms, feeling a strange tingling sensation across her skin.
It was the first time a dream had felt so vivid, yet the dream itself seemed familiar.
The face was still invisible, but she was certain she’d had similar dreams before…….
It felt as though she’d grasped the person appearing before her eyes and thought to herself, ‘I’m saved,’ convinced they would rescue her.
Who could it have been? That person.
Someone she knew? If so, even in those always-murky dreams, the face should have been visible.
It wasn’t as though she was exhausted from being fussed over and overprotected by everyone since she’d collapsed.
It had truly been a strange night.

By morning, when she woke again, her body felt light as though nothing had happened.
As she stretched, Kailas seemed about to say something, then closed his mouth.
Perhaps he actually had nothing to say, and she’d simply jumped to conclusions on her own.
She accepted the clothes from Hisan, dressed, and turned. Then Hisan spoke softly.
“My lady, word about the Purification Stones.”
Whether Annie had sent word overnight, Hisan informed her while attending to her duties that the Purification Stones would depart this afternoon and arrive within five days if all went well.
“Five days?”
“Yes, that’s the estimate, assuming no complications arise en route.”
“Ah, of course. I’ve heard that lately when Monsters appear, the Gates close, so we should probably expect to wait a full week to be safe.”
These days, it wasn’t just Purification Stones—the goods of merchants traveling between the Northern Region, essential supplies, and foodstuffs were frequently delayed.
Though the Duchy Territory hadn’t faced serious shortages yet, Free Village would struggle far more in the future without adequate stores laid by.
Dealing with the Monsters was consuming considerable manpower, leaving little attention for anything else.
“Yes, that would seem best.”
“Then we can afford to examine the storage at our leisure. Everything’s prepared in any case.”
“Yes, my lady.”

* * *

Exactly five days later.
Just as Annie had said, the Purification Stones arrived at the Duchy Territory.
“…It seems to have been quite the journey.”
She spoke while observing the box, which bore unmistakable marks of having tumbled about.
The delivery man’s face had grown pale, the strain of his labor evident.
He hurriedly wiped the box with his hands, then bowed deeply.
“My sincerest apologies, Duchess! I brought guards to protect the goods as much as possible, but Monsters attacked the village we stopped at last night, of all places. Still, the contents inside are completely undamaged. You’re welcome to verify the count!”
Along with the delivery manifest, he set the box of Purification Stones down on the floor.
“A hundred stones per box, then.”
“Yes, I packed them this way to make counting easier. It’s also safer during transport.”
“If there’s nothing wrong with the goods, that’s fine. Would you bring this inside for me? Take it to the Underground Storage, and I’ll verify it myself later.”
She then held out the delivery fee she’d prepared in advance to the delivery man.
“It must have been difficult. Thank you for your hard work.”
The delivery man startled and stepped back.
“Oh, no, that’s not necessary. The delivery fee’s already been settled.”
“Has it?”
“Yes, absolutely. You’ve already paid generously, so there’s no need.”
“Then do be careful on your way back.”
“Thank you for your patronage!”
The delivery man bowed again and departed the Duchy Castle.
Afterward, Tene informed her that a lace artisan had come to the castle, so she attended to that, then word came of winter stores arriving, and before she knew it, the endless tasks had carried her to midday.
“Hazel.”
“Oh, you’re back early?”
“Finished ahead of schedule. How was your day?”
She was just thinking she needed to go see the Purification Stones when Kailas appeared.
He’d said he’d slip out briefly today instead of the Subjugation work and return, but he’d come back sooner than expected.
“The Purification Stones have arrived. I was just about to go see them anyway—want to come along?”
Since I’d already mentioned the five hundred Purification Stones to Kailas, it seemed reasonable enough to head down together while I had the chance.
“…….”
He appeared to have something on his mind, scratching his brow briefly before extending his hand toward me.
“Where are we going?”
I asked while taking his hand, but instead of answering, he simply rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb, standing there for a long moment.
His face bore the expression of someone wrestling with uncertainty, unable to reach a decision.
He who normally made his choices with crisp decisiveness rarely wore such a look.
After a long pause, he finally spoke.
“…I’m not sure if this is right.”
“I’m sorry? What do you mean?”
“You have a visitor.”
“A visitor? But I’m not expecting anyone. Is it the princess?”
“No. They’re waiting in the Reception Room.”
“I don’t have any appointments… Who is it?”
No matter how hard I thought, I couldn’t imagine who it might be.
If it were someone from the Knight Order or the palace, they would have sent word first.
When I recalled the earlier message, I wondered if it could be Annie, but the thought that she’d come here without losing her mind seemed absurd—she was far too terrified of Kailas.
I asked who it was, but Kailas only led me forward by the hand without answering.
Who on earth could it be?
Eventually, guided by him and utterly unable to guess who the visitor might be, I reached the door to the Reception Room.
Worry was written across his hand as it gripped the doorknob.
It was as though he were about to receive an unwelcome guest.
“Who could it be that you’re reacting like this? Is it someone you dislike?”
He gave a strained smile, barely managing to pull the corners of his mouth upward before turning the knob.
I stepped forward still bewildered, understanding nothing.
As Kailas opened the door, an unexpected figure came into view to greet me.
“It’s been a long time.”
“It really has. I hope you’ve been well.”
I nearly gasped upon seeing the two of them exchange pleasantries.
What on earth were you doing here…?!

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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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