Marriage With A Suspiciously Demure Husband - Chapter 24

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 24

“I… my lord. I’ll revise the documents and bring them to you again. My sincere apologies.”
“Don’t make a fuss. Hand them over.”
At the sound of that darkly pitched voice, Sid clamped his eyes shut, seized the papers with both hands, and stepped forward.
The documents finally passed into Kailrus’s grasp.
Sid retreated a step and prayed to gods he didn’t even believe in—prayed and prayed that everything would go smoothly.
One minute stretched into an hour.
Strangely, whenever Kailrus’s mood soured, Sid found himself caught in a peculiar illusion: darkness seemed to pool around them like rising water.
The space would darken unnaturally, or the acrid smell of something burning would suddenly waft through the air.
When he came to his senses again, the room would be perfectly normal, as though he’d been dreaming.
This time, too, Sid shook his head in an effort to clear his mind as those strange sensations washed over him.
In that moment, a cold laugh slipped from Kailrus’s lips.
Sid’s body went rigid, and he swallowed hard.
“Why do these spineless wretches keep crawling back, no matter how many I crush?”
“…….”
“And why haven’t these been dealt with yet?”
“Sir?”
Kailrus swept the documents aside as though they were trash and rose to his feet.
Sid instinctively took a step back.
That was when it happened.
The Communication Device, silent as death until that moment, suddenly blazed with light.
Both Kailrus and Sid froze as though turned to ice.
“…….”
“…….”
As if by agreement, Sid held his breath, and Kailrus instantly extinguished the Killing Intent that had been radiating from him.
Kailrus exhaled a long breath, as though releasing air he’d been holding, then sat back down and touched the Communication Device.
-Kailrus?
A voice crystalline and clear resonated through the heavy silence of the office.
It was Hazel.
“Hazel.”
-Husband!
Her cheerful voice answered his greeting, and Sid felt a flood of relief wash over him like a waterfall. He lived. The gods were near. Beings he’d thought inconsequential now seemed as precious as divinity itself.
Seizing the moment, Sid frantically gathered the scattered documents and hid them behind his back.
“Have you only just woken?”
The darkness that had shadowed his voice an instant ago melted away, replaced by something warm and soft, like cream dissolving on his tongue.
Her voice came back slightly hoarse—she couldn’t have been awake long herself.
-Just now! You were awake too! Did you sleep well? I was so exhausted yesterday that I fell asleep right away. Were you waiting for me?
By now, Kailrus had settled back languidly into his chair, his legs crossed, and gestured absently for Sid to leave without so much as glancing at him.
“Your lady wife broke our promise, and I didn’t even notice when dawn came.”
-Ah…….
A regretful sigh drifted from the Communication Device, followed by Hazel’s voice again.
-How did that happen? Were you waiting long? You need your rest. What am I going to do?
The corners of Kailrus’s mouth twitched upward.
Sid felt goosebumps prickling across his skin at his lord’s sudden change in tone, but recognizing the moment for what it was, he bowed deeply and rushed out of the room.
As he left, he didn’t forget to offer a silent prayer of gratitude toward the unseen Hazel.
The door closed with a soft click, and Kailrus spoke quietly.
“If your lady wife expressed that she wished to see me, it might ease things somewhat.”
A small laugh came through the Communication Device.
Kailrus’s mood, in turn, steadily brightened.
-I do miss you, Kailrus.
“…….”
He’d heard the words he wanted to hear, yet Kailrus fell silent.
The Communication Device was met with no reply, and a faint murmur drifted back through it.
She sounded as though she were teasing him, asking why he wasn’t answering.
After a long pause, Kailrus’s soft laughter finally came through, and Hazel’s voice returned.
-I missed my beloved husband so much.

“I see.”
At that, Hazel broke into a bright laugh.
Kailrus unconsciously drew the communication device a little closer to himself.
“Are you keeping up with things well?”
-Of course. I visited the Guild Association yesterday, and I ran into an old colleague there. So I’m thinking of stopping by the Royal Palace tomorrow.
“The Royal Palace?”
-They say a new Summoning Magic practitioner has arrived. They wanted to meet them, so I thought I’d just look into what it’s about.
“If there’s anything you need to ask for…”
-It shouldn’t come to that. They said it would only take a moment. More importantly, you haven’t really gone without sleep at all, have you?
“Mm.”
-…Really?
When Kailrus hesitated, Hazel asked again.
“I slept while thinking of my wife. It was a little lonely, but I didn’t want you to worry.”
-A moment ago I thought you hadn’t slept at all. You really must get proper rest.
“I understand. I’ll do as you say. So my wife will be attending the gathering this evening.”
Kailrus lifted his hand and stroked the communication device gently, as if caressing her head.
-Yes, it starts in the evening, so I’m planning to take my time preparing.
“But don’t make yourself too beautiful.”
-Hmm, should I wrap myself in a sheet instead?
“I suppose I’ll need to wear tinted glasses as well.”
-What about a mask?
“That might work too.”
-Hmm, you sound serious about this.
“Does it show, even when you can’t see my face?”
At that, Hazel laughed once more. At the same moment, the sound of a bell rang out.
-Oh, wait a moment. Someone’s come to the door. Has Nizela woken up?
Then, with rustling sounds, Hazel’s voice grew distant.
She was speaking to someone, and soon a sound of surprise came through the communication device.
Then, amid bustling sounds, Hazel’s breathing grew hurried.
-Kailrus!
Kailrus chuckled softly.
“It’s arrived, then.”
-When did you arrange this? It’s perfect!
“I chose what I thought you’d like.”
-Kailrus… thank you so much. I’ll finish up here quickly and come back. Make sure you eat and take care of yourself, all right?
“As long as my wife doesn’t forget me, I shall be well, whenever that may be.”
-I won’t forget you today, I promise.
Kailrus continued to tease her a few more times, but seeing how readily Hazel indulged him, his mood grew lighter.
-All right, I’ll call you again later. Have a good day.
With Hazel’s farewell, the light of the communication device soon went dark.

* * *

After finishing her call on the communication device, Hazel exhaled softly.
In truth, Hazel had not slept deeply the night before.
She had dozed fitfully through exhaustion, then woken, and from then on had tossed and turned several times through the predawn hours.
When she finally fell asleep, she woke earlier than usual, and the moment the last traces of drowsiness left her, she reached for the communication device.
“Habits really are frightening, aren’t they.”
What was more frightening was that she had discerned from his voice alone that Kailrus had not slept at all.
She knew her husband’s state as intimately as he knew her own vigilance.
Yet it was remarkable that she had not recognized Kailrus and Kailrus as one and the same.
What had arrived while she was speaking with Kailrus was nothing other than a dress and accessories.
She had only glanced at them hurriedly as they arrived, but there was not only a dress but also formal wear suitable for comfortable everyday wear.
Perhaps he had been worried that she had packed light, saying she would only be gone a short while—and so he had sent the dress and accessories all the way here.
She had said that only Nizela was necessary, yet two handmaidens had come along as well.
And they were the very maids who, after Kailrus, most often took care of her appearance at home.
There had been no word about it until she left Ferarium, and she had planned only to purchase a ready-made dress here, so she was taken aback.
It felt as though her discomfort from yesterday had been seen through, and she felt a little embarrassed by it.
Part of her unease, though, came from not knowing whether this was surveillance or simply something he’d thought she needed.
Perhaps this doubt would remain with her until the day she left him.
Hazel shook her head, dismissing the thought, and rose from her seat.
She had directed Nizela to her room in haste, but now she meant to go back and check on her.
After draping a light cloak over her shoulders, I went straight to Nizela.
“Nizela.”
The moment I stepped into the hallway and knocked, the door swung open as though she’d been waiting—Nizela’s voice preceded it.
“Director!”
“Your luggage has grown, hasn’t it?”
“Not at all. They mentioned the porters have arrived downstairs, so things will actually be easier. But I’m always struck by how much care your husband takes of you.”
“Ha… yes, that’s true.”
“Are you preparing to leave right away? You mentioned you’d be free except for your afternoon schedule, so if there’s anything you need, I can arrange it at once.”
I shook my head immediately.
“Nothing to prepare. Since I’m up early, I want to visit the places I didn’t get to yesterday.”
“The Capital City does have much to see, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, the Night Market here is really worth visiting. I’d like to see it too, though I’m not sure time will permit. I’ll bathe and dress simply for now—I’ll need to prepare properly again this evening.”
“Understood. I’ll ensure everything is ready for your comfort.”
“Thank you, Nizela.”
As our conversation wound down, a servant nearby asked if she might prepare the bath in my room.
I readily handed over my room key, and the moment she left, I walked deeper into the chamber.
A different servant inside was already bustling about, hanging clothes on the rack with great focus.
“Madam, all your clothing is ready! I’ll have the Accessories laid out for you to view while you bathe!”
……
As I drew near, one of the servants—the one wiping sweat from her brow—looked up at me with a bright smile. Her pale green hair, braided on both sides, looked refreshingly neat.
Like the servant who’d just left, this one had always attended to me at the residence.
Now that I thought about it, I knew nothing of either of them beyond their names, temperaments, and appearances.
The realization that I had been so lost in love I saw nothing around me struck me with unexpected force.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————