Marriage With A Suspiciously Demure Husband - Chapter 107

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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 107

“I think I need to discuss this with Kailas.”
The Northern Region was in constant chaos these days, locked in daily combat with monsters.
There was a real possibility that both Kailas and I would miss the Foundation Day Festival.
Even a few days away meant more land would be tainted by monsters.
Had conditions improved elsewhere? No, that wasn’t likely.
I’d spoken with the Guild leaders just recently, and there was no news of improvement.
The last contact I’d had was two days ago with Ted and Rena, a couple stationed in Pyronte.
And I’d heard with my own ears their concerns about the situation there—nothing was normal.
Today, fortunately, Kailas was expected back from a brief daytime inspection, so I’d be able to speak with him soon.

* * *

Magic Tools of unknown purpose lay in haphazard piles like mountains, while bookshelves along three walls were crammed with volumes no wider than a finger.
A deep-crimson sofa with cushioning that felt different from any other, a jet-black table, and a glass teapot that bubbled endlessly despite there being no flame beneath it.
Even the chaotic patterned carpet stretched across the floor.
The room was packed with objects and furniture, yet not a single piece harmonized with another.
The two men within it each carried their own distinct atmosphere, radiating opposing impressions.
One was monochrome; the other was a rainbow.
“Have you experienced any complications since that day?”
“None at all. Though the nightmares seem to have grown worse.”
“Nightmares, you say?”
Kailas was at the Magic Tower.
Ever since Hazel had collapsed not long ago, Kailas had been forced to seek the Imperial Palace’s assistance, and now he made frequent trips to the Magic Tower.
“I’ve had nightmares from time to time for years. Lately, I’m finding them harder to wake from. Is there a connection?”
What Hazel had consumed was not ordinary water. The Imperial Palace hadn’t detected it, but the Magic Tower had uncovered the truth.
The water had contained a small amount of blood from a cult-follower monster.
This caused Hazel to lose control of her Dark Magic Power, slip into unconsciousness, and have her power spiral into a runaway state.
Someone had tampered with it during that brief moment when Kailas had stepped away.
Suspiciously, it had been only in the cup that Hazel had held.
The culprit still had not been caught.
While Hazel slept, every servant in the Duke’s household had been questioned, and all attendees of that banquet were tracked.
Despite finding no leads, anyone who appeared remotely connected remained under surveillance.
“No, that’s not quite it. I believe the nightmares stem from a different problem entirely.”
“I see.”
Kailas’s concern deepened further.
“I would recommend having a separate examination done to check whether something has touched the deeper layers of her psyche.”
The man sitting across from Kailas had played a crucial role in stabilizing Hazel’s rapidly spiraling Dark Magic Power.
His name was Rendil, one of the three senior administrators of the Magic Tower.
The Magic Tower was managed and operated by Germain Beilson, the Tower’s master and the Empire’s eldest living member, along with Rendil Panimann, a promising young disciple, and the senior administrators Sioka Ebel and Peri Bowman.
Among them, Rendil was a leading candidate to become the next Tower Master.
With bright crimson hair swept back without a stray strand, blue eyes, and an array of rainbow-hued ornaments adorning him, he left the buttons of his robe unfastened, letting his chest show freely.
Yet his manner of speech toward Kailas was nothing but courteous.
“I’ll do that.”
Rendil tapped the table with his hands clasped together.
“In all likelihood this won’t happen again, but should a similar incident occur, bringing her directly to the Magic Tower would be best. If that’s not possible, administer a Stabilizer immediately.”
“Understood.”
“It’s only fortunate that you were at the Duchess’s side—had it been anyone else, she would have perished. You’ve consumed all of the Stabilizer I provided?”
“All of it.”
“Since you’ve finished it completely, her recovery should be thorough, and there should be no complications even if she exerts herself again. I’ll prepare additional Stabilizers for emergencies.”
The air between Kailas and Rendil grew heavy and weighted.
Kailas was troubled by worry for Hazel; Rendil, by the sheer strangeness of the situation.
Hazel’s first runaway episode.
Mana runaway typically devours the body and causes an unprecedented explosion.
Dark Magic Power is no different.
It consumes the body the same way, or—dominated by the Dark Magic Power itself—one releases their Mana with the resolve to annihilate everything around them, including themselves.
But Hazel hadn’t shown any warning signs before she collapsed, and only then did Kailas grasp how serious the situation was.
Hazel had been suppressing the runaway surge of power from within. Because of that, it was quiet—and far more dangerous.
Even in her unconscious state, as Hazel strained to contain her power, she writhed in agony and began to harm herself.
Realizing this, Kailas offered his own body as a barrier so she wouldn’t injure herself further.
Better to wound him instead.
It happened on the day when a sorcerer at the Duke’s Castle administered emergency treatment, and Hazel was rushed directly to the Imperial Palace, where senior mages awaited.
The moment they arrived at the Imperial Palace, with the aid of high-ranking mages, they managed to suppress Hazel’s rampaging Dark Magic, and summoned a mage from the Magic Tower.
After that, Hazel was able to return to normal.
Upon seeing Hazel’s condition, Rendil asked whether she had shown any warning symptoms of runaway before.
When Kailas said that, as far as he knew, she hadn’t, Rendil looked puzzled—as if Hazel were someone who had experienced warning symptoms of runaway more than once.
Rendil unfastened his interlaced fingers and spent a long moment turning the Ring on his right index finger, worrying it absently.
“Your Grace.”
“Speak.”
“This is an open provocation.”
Kailas’s eyes darkened.
“For now, it appears the Duchess was the target, but even that is uncertain. Whether the target was the Duchess or Your Grace yourself. Or if there’s an even more ultimate objective.”
……
“What’s certain is that this wasn’t simple revenge born of fury at being hunted. There’s something more. Find the principal Followers. They must be carrying something that will serve as evidence.”

* * *

I ended up heading to the Imperial Palace with Kailas the next day.
As it happened, the timing aligned perfectly—we were able to see both His Majesty the Emperor and the Crown Prince simultaneously, but obtaining the answer we sought proved difficult.
“You seem startled by the news. I had a feeling the Duke would arrive soon anyway, so I’ve cleared my schedule.”
“You’ve already made your decision, then.”
At Kailas’s words, the Emperor released a long sigh.
“It’s unavoidable. The situation in the Capital is deteriorating.”
……
“According to the reports I hear every morning, we’re arresting over a hundred Followers in a single week. That number’s been exceeded for some time now. Two days ago alone, twenty were apprehended in a single day.”
“…Is the number truly that high?”
In the Northern Region, we’re preoccupied with dealing with Monsters, and we exchange information with the Guild, but the Imperial Palace has its own concerns.
Thanks to Kailas’s frequent contact, I’d at least been able to hear news from the Palace, but with things so hectic lately, I hadn’t checked in, and the situation had only worsened.
I’d thought that continually arresting Followers would reduce their numbers, but instead they kept growing.
“The roots run deeper than we anticipated. The empire’s citizens grow more anxious by the day, and frankly, suppressing that anxiety through measures like this is all we have. If we don’t hold it, they’ll feel in their bones how dire things have become. This time, I’m hoping both of you will cooperate.”
Even that doesn’t seem to be unearthing the deep roots.
Faced with such a plea, I lost the will to argue point by point against holding the Foundation Day Festival.
If we can’t hold the Foundation Day Festival—the grandest and most crucial celebration—it’s as good as openly advertising that we’re in a state of panic.
I understood well enough why he was concerned: the Foundation Day Festival is held even when the Emperor is ill.
“Make every preparation necessary. I know full well the desperate struggle you’ve been waging in the Northern Region, so I’ll hold no one responsible if you cannot attend.”
……
I glanced back and forth between Kailas and His Majesty.
The Emperor gestured, and an aide brought forth an enormous Scroll.
When it was unfurled, it was a map—darkened in numerous places.
“This is the Contaminated Land we receive reports on daily. Currently, priests and mages go out once a week to verify conditions firsthand. I’m well aware that the Northern Region’s Contamination is spreading more slowly than elsewhere. That is all thanks to your efforts.”
His words were diplomatic, but a considerable portion of the Northern Region was also covered in dark staining.
Places that had been erased and then filled in again were visible.
Followers and Monsters were multiplying rapidly.
The number of missing persons had decreased, but that was actually more dangerous.
It meant families were now volunteering themselves as Sacrifices rather than individuals—and when that happens, there’s no one to report them missing.
If we delay any longer, this will become far more troublesome.
I deliberated quickly, then turned to Jade.
“Your Highness, would it be possible for me to meet with the Princess? As soon as possible?”

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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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