Marriage With A Suspiciously Demure Husband - Chapter 108

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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 108

“My lady.”
“The Duchess seeking me out first—what a day that is. How are you feeling? The Duke was so worried about you after that incident.”
Fortunately, thanks to the Crown Prince, meeting with Lily Dayworth proved simple enough.
Lily appeared with her silver hair combed neatly back, fastened with an elegant ribbon, dressed in a somber navy gown and coat that spoke of quiet refinement.
At the news that I had sought her out first, Lily made no attempt to hide her pleasure. Her tone was certainly more formal than before, yet just as warm underneath.
“Today I’m here as your friend, not as a duchess.”
I had not expected to say such a thing myself. I hoped they understood how much I meant it.
Lily’s eyes widened briefly before her expression softened into something almost moved.
“You’re always welcome. So, Hazel—what did you want to tell me? Is there something I can do for you? Anything within my power, I’ll help. Just say the word. And if it involves persuading His Highness, I’m even more confident.”
These two had once caused me no small amount of trouble, yet hearing them offer help so readily stirred only gratitude in my chest.
After all, Lily Dayworth held the largest key to quieting this chaos.
She was the heroine of the story itself—one blessed with formidable Holy Power.
“My lady, I hope this isn’t presumptuous of me, but…”
“You said friend, Hazel. Call me Lily.”
I brought my hand to my mouth with a small start.
“Ah, I’m so used to the old way. I’ll adjust slowly. I might slip and call you ‘my lady’ without thinking.”
Lily laughed softly at that.
“It’s alright. Speak freely today, Hazel.”
“Could you show me the current extent of your Holy Power?”
The request clearly caught her off-guard—her eyes widened.
“My Holy Power? …It’s not difficult, but you of all people wielding Dark Magic—if you get hurt, what then?”
“I won’t be hurt. There’s something I need to discuss with you about this.”
For me to take serious injury from Lily’s Holy Power, or better yet, to fully purify the Battleground that serves as the Demon Lord’s Descent Site, I would need to wield considerably greater strength.
Lily must currently possess Holy Power strong enough to be revered as a saint.
I prayed that was the case.
Lily hesitated, but when I extended my hand, she reluctantly took it.
“If it becomes painful, tell me anytime. I’ll keep it gentle, and you can let go whenever you need.”
“Yes, don’t worry.”
“Do we really have to? I truly don’t want to hurt you…”
“Trust me. Please, quickly.”
At last, Lily closed her eyes slightly and drew a deep breath, gathering her Holy Power.
In a non-urgent, stable situation, drawing it up slowly and steadily would make it far easier to gauge.
As Lily channeled Holy Power into her fingertips, I began to shield myself with Dark Magic, as though raising a barrier against it.
The pressure felt like a formless wall pressing against my body.
When I pushed back to block it, Lily’s lips tensed. Then I had to adjust my Mana once more.
After a long contest of opposing forces, Lily suddenly released a sharp surge of Holy Power.
Before I could block it, she let go of my hand.
“I think I’m about to hurt you…!”
Eyes open, Lily spoke in a frightened tone.
“What?”
But I had told her to use her full strength without holding back…
“That force I just released—it was the maximum I could draw. If I continued, I’d definitely hurt you.”
Ah… So the heroine’s protective buff activates here.
Though somewhat disappointing, Lily refused to continue.
My body tingled from her Holy Power, but it was far from enough.
To speak plainly… unfortunately, Lily’s current Holy Power fell well short of saint-level strength.
Having confirmed it myself, my anxiety deepened, and I bit my lip.
I had thought that continuing to suppress monsters alongside Jade and participating in Purifications would have made her stronger. It hadn’t.
There was no time to wait for her to grow gradually.
It meant Jade and Lily—not just myself—could be in real danger.
That meant the Happy Ending I had seen might not come to pass.
Realizing this, my mouth went dry.
‘The protagonists will achieve their Happy Ending.’
I had held fast to that single truth and dreamed of a joyful future. Now it seemed to be crumbling.
Why? Was there no ordeal meant to strengthen her?
Lily should be kidnapped, should endure hardship—but she wasn’t?
Was she merely growing closer to the male lead through idle flirtation?
Everything felt suspect, riddled with doubt.
When I’d resolved to protect the people I cherished, I should have paid closer attention to this.
One month until the Foundation Festival.
The future was already twisted beyond recognition, and if fortune turned against us, chaos could arrive swiftly.
Either way, they would have to march to the Battleground before spring ended.
This couldn’t go on as it was.
I couldn’t afford to give up here.
Should I hypnotize Lily?
Then she wouldn’t remember me saying anything. Later, when she awakened as a saint and the hypnosis lifted, she’d forgive me. Because it was Lily.
I dismissed the thought almost immediately.
This time, I decided to play it straight.
If she truly believed me her friend, as she’d said, she would listen seriously.
“Lily.”
I called her name with deliberate emphasis and took both her hands in mine.
Sensing another unreasonable request coming, Lily tensed visibly.
“It’s okay. You can tell me.”
“I believe in your strength. You can wield so much more than you do now—far more. But to do that, you must believe in your own power even more deeply than before.”
“What do you—”
There was only one way to make this work: use a shortcut.
In the original story as I knew it, Lily had awakened her strength without this method, entirely on her own.
But this time, I had no choice but to help her.
I certainly couldn’t ask Kailas to kidnap her now.
Though something told me that if I did ask, he’d do it without hesitation.
I took a deep breath and resolved to help Lily directly myself.
There was no way around it.
“Don’t think it strange—just listen carefully, please.”
“Of course. But what are you going to tell me?”
“From now on, I’d like only the two of us to know what I’m about to say. It won’t harm you—I promise that absolutely.”
Holding her hands firmly and speaking with clear sincerity, I watched Lily nod in agreement.
“…Yes, I understand. I’ll trust you, Hazel. I swear it on the House Dayworth name. What is it?”
I swallowed hard and opened my mouth.
“Do you know of the Underground Scripture Library beneath the great conference hall on the first floor of the Central Temple?”
“The Underground… Scripture Library?”
“Yes. I believe you have access to that library, don’t you?”
“How… how did you know that?”
Just as I thought.
My mind eased, and still holding Lily’s hands, I continued.
“Have you ever been there?”
Lily, somewhat apprehensive, nodded.
“I went once before. But I didn’t stay long or go very deep. I had other things to attend to, so I couldn’t explore it properly.”
Good enough. That meant she at least knew the way there.
“Then before the Foundation Festival begins, find time to visit that Underground Scripture Library.”
“The Temple’s Scripture Library?”
I nodded and pressed on.
“Look for a thick scripture with seven golden lines drawn on both the front and back covers. There will be an enormous number of books in there—I haven’t been myself, but I’ve heard accounts of it.”
“Seven golden lines…?”
“Yes, it’s likely to be very thick. You must find that book and read it thoroughly. It will be of great help to you—particularly in strengthening your abilities.”
The content of the book itself wouldn’t be what helped her; rather, the dormant power within it needed to awaken. But I couldn’t tell her that directly. The strength would only manifest properly if she discovered it herself.
Lily had already succeeded in an awakening before, so she would certainly manage this.
Since I’d shown her the shortcut, I could only hope she’d have the wisdom to understand and awaken as a saint quickly enough.
If she did, the great calamity would not come to pass.
The fate of this world rested, in essence, entirely in Lily Dayworth’s hands.
After chewing over my words for a long moment, Lily asked me with an innocent expression.
“But… how do you know all this, Hazel?”
Ah, how could I explain this in a way that would seem plausible?
While I was hesitating, someone knocked on the door from outside.
“Just a moment. Someone’s here.”
Lily rose and opened the door, revealing Jade.
“Oh? Your Highness.”
“Are you finished talking?”
“Not yet. I told you it would take a while, didn’t I? You couldn’t even wait that long.”
“Well, I really wanted to, but…….”
It was clear Jade had come looking for Lily Dayworth because he couldn’t bear to wait any longer.
Not even thirty minutes had passed since they’d last spoken.
Revolting. Absolutely revolting. Fine, you two can have all the love you want.
Still, it was a relief that the conversation had been cut short. The Crown Prince could be useful after all.
Just as that thought crossed my mind, someone else arrived behind him.

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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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