Marriage With A Suspiciously Demure Husband - Chapter 113

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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 113

“Ah, yes. Angela. I need a favor.”
“Of course, madam.”
I watched Angela’s retreating figure with her light steps, then turned back to rifle through the papers on my desk, searching for anything else that needed reviewing.

Chapter 16. Deepening Darkness, Founding Festival

The Imperial Palace remained busy with preparations for the Founding Festival.
Kailas and I still hadn’t decided whether to attend.
We’d resolved to make the decision based on how the situation in the Northern Region developed.
If Lily awakened her power before the festival started and gained strong Holy Power, my worries would ease somewhat.
But if she hadn’t awakened by then, the Imperial Court would truly need to be ready for that day.
I had no power to stop the festival.
If I wished it, Kailas would push things forward by any means necessary, but I didn’t want to burden him with that responsibility.
Uncertain as things were, the Emperor himself had declared he would hold the festival, so if problems arose, he would bear the consequences.
I decided to consider myself as having done my best by showing Lily the fastest path to awakening.
Warmth settled against my back as an arm wrapped around my waist.
Lips brushed my neck, hot against my skin.
Since we’d made peace, Kailas sought physical closeness whenever the opportunity arose, just as he had before.
Though he was more cautious about it now than he’d been then.
In this moment of uncertainty unlike any other, I couldn’t deny that Kailas was my anchor.
“Starting tomorrow, we’ll go out together again.”
I gently stroked his hair.
Kailas kept his head down, burying his face in my neck and breathing slowly.
“…….”
“Did you hear me?”
“Yes, though I wish you’d rest for another day.”
A small laugh escaped me at that.
“What difference does it make? In any case, until the festival, I want to focus on this place as much as possible. The knights need Purification Stones distributed throughout the territory, not just to them.”
Thanks to my advance warning, Kailas had stockpiled a considerable amount in the Northern Region, so we hadn’t yet needed to use what was stored here.
But we were approaching the point where supplies would run critically low, and I had to prepare for the worst scenario—even contaminated water sources—so I remained constantly on edge.
Now that I’d decided to stay here.
“For now, it’s sufficient. I’ll tell you if any problems arise.”
“You don’t need to report when using what’s in the storage.”
I’d put Hizan in charge of inventory management not for any other reason, but to prevent someone from quietly taking supplies without permission.
“That won’t do. You’re the master of this place.”
Kailas had been repeating that line constantly since the day we made peace.
He kept insisting this place was mine, that there was no changing his mind now—and I realized his stubbornness could be rather childish.
But that aside…….
“How long are you going to keep this up?”
“Forever?”
“Say something sensible. Oh, I should contact Dylan tomorrow. Has the Imperial Palace sent word about successfully finding the den?”
“Not yet. They’re taking their time.”
“Strange. I thought they’d search right away. You don’t think the den might be more than one location…? No, surely not.”
“The Imperial Court will handle that. You’ve already delivered it to their doorstep.”
“Once this threat passes, things will be easier for us. Please, let me go now. I need to stop by the study.”
“Again?”
“Just one document. I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll get it.”
“No. I need to go—I’m the only one who knows which paper to bring. I’ll be quick.”
At that, Kailas finally released his grip around my waist.
I pressed a brief kiss to his cheek and left the bedroom.
The corridor was unusually quiet today; I didn’t see a single attendant on my way to the study.
Well, there were bound to be days like this.
I quickened my pace, intending to grab the documents and return at once.
“…Hmm?”
I felt a presence behind me and turned, but no one was there.
I tilted my head in confusion and continued toward the study.
Even after arriving at the study, I sensed that presence again.
I looked back down the corridor, but it remained empty and still.
Was I being overly sensitive?
I certainly had become more on edge lately.
Since my collapse, the nightmares had grown worse, and sometimes I couldn’t tell if a scene had come from a dream or from something I’d actually lived through.
So while I was naturally more heightened than usual, today I had the distinct feeling someone was watching me.
As I turned to reach for the door handle, I nearly cried out.
Angela was standing right across from me.
“…Angela! You startled me.”
She definitely hadn’t been there when I arrived.
“I’m so sorry. Did I frighten you? I’d just finished my work and was heading to my room when I spotted you, so I came to greet you… I’m truly sorry.”
Angela, equally startled, stepped back and bent at the waist repeatedly, apologizing profusely.
I placed a hand over my racing heart to steady it.
“No, don’t be silly. It’s not your fault. I was lost in thought and didn’t notice you approaching. You’ve finished your work for the day?”
“Yes! Today was preserved food preparation day. The sausages need a long time to smoke…”
Indeed, Angela carried the smell of sausages roasted over wood smoke.
As monster suppression missions had increased, we’d begun preparing preserved foods in winter as well as autumn.
On preserved food days, the head cook worked from before dawn until night, naturally with the entire kitchen staff alongside.
“You must be exhausted. Go and rest now.”
“Yes, madam. I hope you have a good night!”
Angela gave a respectful bow and hurried past me.
“My heart nearly stopped.”
I went directly into the study, gathered the documents, and locked the door behind me.
The corridor was as quiet as before.
Eager not to be startled again, I made my way to the bedroom almost at a run.

* * *

“…Angela! You startled me.”

Fay returned to Angela’s room, recalling the way Hazel had jumped just moments ago, and stifled a laugh.
She’d approached multiple times seeking the perfect opportunity, but clearly Hazel still hadn’t recognized her.
Using the same method again would expose her identity outright, so she’d changed tactics, and it was working remarkably well.
The fact that Hazel didn’t recognize who she was, even standing right in front of her, spoke volumes.
The first time, she’d dismissed Fay as an ignorant Illusion Magic user unfamiliar with the world.
That had clearly been her own mistake.
Fortunately, thanks to her foolish family, she’d managed to escape the underground prison.
“Hmph. The power she obtained…”
The power that He had sacrificed his very soul to endure and gain.
The Dark Magic that mere humans wielded was nothing but an imitation of His power.
No matter how skilled Hazel was with Dark Magic, she was merely human after all.
Fay had already confirmed this once before the Duke Hardid.
Besides, that man didn’t even know what her face looked like, so as long as she remained hidden from Hazel, success was assured.
And since this place had once been home to those who followed Him, it felt strangely comfortable—like coming home.
It had taken considerable time to gather such information, given that she’d been with the group for only a relatively short while.
This time, she would succeed.
She would bring Hazel back and bring Him joy.
As Fay Martin opened her hand, black smoke swirled upward, and a small vial materialized on her palm.
Watching the dark-red liquid slosh within the bottle, Fay’s smile deepened.
Success was now within reach.

The next day, and the day after that, Fay watched carefully for moments when Hazel was alone.
It seemed Hazel spent most of her time in the Study, unless she was going out for Monster Suppression.
She appeared to be struggling to face off against monsters, but to Fay’s eyes, she looked merely pitiful and pathetic.
She noticed Tene, the head maid here, entering the Kitchen.
“The lady would like some refreshments. Will you prepare them?”
“Oh, I’ll prepare them and bring them! The lady enjoyed the juice I brought her last time!”
“Good, Angela. Go ahead and prepare it, then bring it to the Study.”
“Yes, head maid.”
The Study was where she was usually alone, so this was the opportunity.
Fay quickly prepared juice and cookies as before and hurried toward the Study.
She intended to trigger Hazel’s rampage while Duke Hardid was away.
She had already succeeded once.
On the day a banquet was held at the Duke Hardid Residence, she had managed to hypnotize a servant and have them bring water to Hazel.
The hypnosis was simple enough to break the moment the command was fulfilled, so there was no risk of being discovered.
She had expected the rampage that day.
But it ended too quietly—she never found out if someone else had drunk it instead—and she’d had to sneak in here herself.
Ordinary people wouldn’t react to this liquid, so she’d thought it safe, and her mistake was in only watching from outside without confirming anything properly.
‘But not this time.’
If Hazel couldn’t control her strength, she wouldn’t be able to stay here.
It was the same power, but since she was such a difficult woman, it would be best to take her away while she was unconscious.
“My lady, it’s Angela.”
“Come in.”
Fay smiled wickedly, full of anticipation. She opened the door and stepped inside.
“I’ve prepared the juice you enjoyed last time. The cookies are still warm, so they’re perfectly crispy.”
“Thank you. You’ve been working hard because of me lately.”
“Serving you is my happiness. Please, try it now. This is the perfect time.”
Fay deliberately pushed the tray closer toward Hazel.
“Ginger.”
At Hazel’s voice, Fay tilted her head in confusion.
Ginger?
Damn! Wasn’t she alone?
The moment Hazel called, a woman with white hair emerged from behind the bookshelf, where she’d been standing like a wall.
She hadn’t sensed her at all!
And then Ginger grabbed the juice glass Fay had brought.
“Wait, wait!”
Fay tried to stop her, but Ginger drank the entire glass in one desperate gulp, like someone who’d found an oasis in a desert.
The empty glass was set cleanly back on the tray.
“Mm! Delicious. Did you make this?”

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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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