Marriage With A Suspiciously Demure Husband - Chapter 37

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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 37

Nizella’s trembling hands pressed together left me no choice but to join her for breakfast.
When she fretted that I might skip lunch as well, I had to go along with her.
Part of it was deliberate too—a way to show her I wasn’t hiding anything, to forestall suspicion.
Truth be told, I didn’t know how much Nizella reported back to him.
Even when I was in Ferarium, there were things Noah didn’t know unless I told him.
Or was he just pretending not to know? Either way.
There were times my leaving matched up with his commute home, so it seemed she didn’t report every little move I made.
My lower back had begun to ache from standing longer than usual.
I rubbed it absently as I headed toward the lift.
Times like this, Noah used to give me a massage when I got home.
The thought kept creeping up on me at the strangest moments.
“If you’re in much pain, shall I call a physician? I should be able to find one within the hour.”
Nizella spoke with concern etched across her face.
“No, it’s fine. A warm bath and rest will do. There’s nothing urgent at the guild, is there?”
“No, ma’am. And the representative said everything is ready so the guild can relocate the moment you return. Should I have notices posted around town once your return date is confirmed?”
“Hmm, no. I’d like to sort through some things myself first.”
“Understood, ma’am.”
Light flashed from the Mana Stone affixed to the wall, and with a soft chime, the lift doors slid open.
Still, I ought to contact him tonight.
Two days without a message felt excessive, even by my reckoning.
“Heizel~”
The cheerful, lilting call made me freeze mid-step into the lift, spinning around in surprise.
It was Annie.
“Annie!”
I stepped back out and hurried toward her.
“I came hoping to have dinner with you, and look—perfect timing! What’s with the outfit? Were you out on an adventure?”
Annie laughed brightly at my traveling clothes, letting out a short whistle of amusement.
I’d chosen something practical yet elegant—halfway between formal wear and riding attire—though apparently to Annie’s eye, it looked like the outfit of an adventurer.
The fact that Annie had come meant something had been taken care of, and my heart quickened with anticipation.
“Don’t even mention it. Ever since I came back to the Capital, I’ve been swamped. If I wore dresses the whole time, I wouldn’t get half of it done in a day.”
I laid it on a bit thick, I suppose.
“Oh, well then. In that case, I’d say we deserve a rather nicer wine for tonight.”
“That wouldn’t be so bad.”
I’d have to contact Noah a bit later in the evening, I decided.
“Nizella, Annie and I are going to have dinner and then head up. Have your meal with the other staff, and get some proper rest tonight. There’s nowhere I need to go outside the hotel, so don’t worry.”
“But wouldn’t it be better if I were nearby? You’ve been spending more time alone lately, and I’m concerned about any inconvenience…”
Annie looped an arm around my shoulders then, draping herself against me playfully.
“Your friend is here, so everything’s fine. You need a break too, don’t you, Heizel?”
“Right! So you can head up without worry. This hotel has security everywhere, after all. We’ll just be in the restaurant, have dinner, and come straight back up.”
I didn’t really need to explain so much, but once I’d reassured her, Nizella gave a reluctant nod.
“Very well. Please call if you need anything. I’ll come down at once.”
“Thanks for today. Get some good rest!”
I practically pushed Nizella into the lift, watching until it rose before turning back around.
Annie dropped her arm from my shoulder with a smirk.
“Well, that secretary gave up pretty easily.”
“Actually, I didn’t even keep a maid before marriage, let alone anything formal. I did that kind of knight’s work in the Capital too, after all.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
“Not even a secretary—Nizella only took on that role after I married. So I suppose she’s not that surprised by me going around alone.”
“Still, that’s unexpected… I thought with all the surveillance, you’d have to put up with constant monitoring.”
“If that were the case, I probably would have suspected things much earlier.”
“Right, good point. I suppose that’s a relief.”
I leaned toward Annie and whispered softly.
“To be honest, I still get plenty of nagging. Kailrus—I mean, not Noah, but Kailrus has been surprisingly critical.”
Annie giggled at my half-complaining murmur.
“It’s strange, but when you say Kailrus’s name, he doesn’t seem scary at all.”
I walked toward the hotel restaurant, offering a slight, bittersweet smile.
“…Is that so?”
“I sometimes think the Duke should have been an actor instead. I don’t believe him, so how could anyone else? Ah, well. I can say this much, right?”
Annie’s question wasn’t merely asking permission to speak ill of him—it was confirming whether I’d truly finished settling my feelings toward him.
Instead of laying bare my true thoughts, I simply smiled gently and nodded.
“It’s fine.”
“Still, it frightens me…….”
Annie shook her head slowly.
The moment we were seated at the restaurant, Annie began ordering the most expensive items on the menu.
Watching her look so at ease and excited, I found myself growing hungry in turn.
As we waited for the food and picked at the salad appetizer and aperitif that had come out, Annie—who’d already gulped hers down—opened her mouth again.
“Your assumed identity should be completed soon. Probably tomorrow.”
“Already? I thought it would take a bit longer.”
“What sort of name do you think you’d like? Muffin? Cherry? Cream Puff? Or maybe Chipmunk?”
“…Pardon?”
My brow furrowed despite myself.
“I’m joking. If you have any words you’d like, just tell me. We can adjust that part right up until the end anyway. Even if it’s just an assumed identity, if it’s a name you’ll use for years and years, wouldn’t you grow attached to it if you chose words you actually like?”
I nodded in agreement.
The funds I possessed were being transferred slowly and steadily, without raising suspicion.
The Hone Guild had succeeded, and I’d barely spent my own money throughout the marriage, so properly organizing everything had revealed quite a substantial sum.
What was spent on building a villa was barely noticeable.
“Have you given any thought to where you’ll go?”
“I’m still deliberating. I’ve narrowed down a few regions… The one thing I’m certain about is leaving here, but honestly, I’m not confident yet.”
I showed a bit of honesty, and Annie let out a long sigh.
“I understand. Don’t worry so much! Even if he’s the Duke, he doesn’t control and manipulate the entire Empire, does he?”
“…That’s true!”
“Let’s just hope his power doesn’t expand before your work is finished. What I really wish for is a string of business failures for him, or maybe one of his mines suddenly collapses. Let’s pray! I don’t believe in God, but if we pray, maybe someday it’ll come true!”
“All right. Starting today, I’ll set out water and pray.”
I pressed my palms together and made a show of closing my eyes.
“…Heh.”
“Why are you laughing?”
I felt my face flush for no reason. Annie broke into outright giggles.
“Your expression was incredibly serious just then. Anyway, let’s eat for now! We have to work hard again tomorrow.”
Annie held out her glass to me.
We clinked our glasses together with a clink, just like at our first dinner.

* * *

The moment I parted ways with Annie, I went upstairs and picked up the Communication Crystal.
There was only one place connected to my portable Communication Crystal.
Only Noah’s.
“Ah, ah. Ah, eh, ee, oh, oo. Ah, ah. Good.”
I opened my mouth wide and smiled naturally, then pressed the Communication Crystal.
Since it wasn’t a video Communication Crystal, he wouldn’t see my face, but Noah was sharp enough.
“…….”
The light flickered once, and then immediately its color changed. It was connected.
The speed was like lightning. But the person on the other end said nothing.
“Noah?”
Sensing something odd, I called out to him first.
Then came a low sigh, and Noah’s sweet voice followed.
-…I thought you had forgotten me, my lady.
His voice dripped with melancholy.
“Forget Noah? How could I? That’s, that’s impossible.”
I quickly scrambled to recover.
-…….
Again, silence from the other end.
“Are you angry?”
-No.
“Then, then what is it?”
I swallowed hard.
The thought that Noah must have worried terribly mingled with my anxiety about what would happen if Kailrus showed up out of irritation.
I’d promised to contact him first, worried that a sudden call might expose me, but I hadn’t kept that promise either.
Though the person playing Noah was clearly Kailrus, something felt strange—as if I had two husbands.
-I wanted to see you.
The confession—or something close to it—spilled from the Communication Crystal that had been silent until now.
“I miss you too. I miss Noah so much.”
I spoke with natural ease, the words flowing like water.
After all, even if I said this, he wouldn’t insist on visiting as he normally might.
In Ferarium they might not recognize him, but here in the Capital, there were plenty of nobles who knew the face of Duke Hadid.
Unless he was a fool, he wouldn’t reveal himself without accomplishing his purpose! Hehe.
It was the moment my heart finally eased.
-Heizel, then…….
“Yes? What is it?”
-Shall I come see your wife now? If I leave, I think I could see you by tomorrow.

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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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