Marriage With A Suspiciously Demure Husband - Chapter 41

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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 41

The day after meeting with Egmen and returning, I headed to the Imperial Palace once again.
I’d given him clear instructions yesterday, so he should be following my directions faithfully.
Fortunately, on the way out I only encountered three staff members, so I was able to leave without any major incident.
Though that heavy door stayed firmly shut the entire time we talked, and it took considerable effort to open it.
And the moment I returned to the hotel, I collapsed into sleep as if I’d been knocked unconscious.
Truth be told, seeing him face-to-face put my mind at ease—Egmen was far more worried about Jinjer than I’d anticipated.
At first, I’d assumed our conversation would go nowhere, since I knew he’d initially approached her for his own advantage.
People always show their true colors once the person they’re deceiving is gone.
Even if they end up killing each other in the future, right now Jinjer cares for him far more than he does for her.
But I was wrong.
Egmen’s mind seemed entirely consumed with worry for Jinjer. More so, even, than hers was.
It appears everyone in this world but me is capable of genuine love.
Unless God himself has made it his personal mission to torment me, this shouldn’t be possible.
Curse this wretched world!
If I ever fall in love again, may I be damned.
Feeling suddenly morose, I vented my frustration at the empty air.
‘At least being alone is comfortable.’
In the carriage heading to the Imperial Palace, I reclined at ease and gazed out the window.
Nizela, who yesterday had followed me dutifully all the way to the palace gates, must have decided there was no immediate danger, because she accepted my insistence on going alone today without protest.
Though not before making a considerable fuss about eating breakfast.
Every time I had a close conversation with Dylan, she’d suddenly interject herself in the middle—I was startled more than once.
It was the first time I’d seen that fierce glint in Nizela’s eyes.
For someone from Kailrus, she’d always struck such a gentle, docile impression.
Regardless, Fay Martin only needed a little more instruction before she could train herself, so I’d resolved to finish the training today if possible.
I was grateful it hadn’t taken as long as Dylan and the knights had feared.
Most mages know about Dark Magic, after all, but few understand Illusion Magic, so they probably saw it as uncharted territory.
There were signs that Fay Martin had suffered abuse—emotional or otherwise—which weighed on my mind, but it didn’t seem like my place to interfere.
There were some inconsistencies in her story that didn’t quite add up, but……
‘If I’m still worried about it, I’ll drop a hint to Dylan before I go.’
As the urgent work began winding down, a different kind of tension took its place.
Now came the real test.
How long it would take for word of my silence to reach Noah’s ears, and whether he’d move to act himself.
Depending on that, I’d need to solidify my escape plan even further.
I wasn’t even actually running away yet, just stepping out of his embrace, and my palms were already slick with cold sweat.
I wasn’t concerned about how many of his subordinates might come after me.
“Failure is not an option.”
I had to prepare only for success, without compromise.
To prevent him from finding me again, what more would I need besides what Annie and I were already preparing?
My mind remained consumed with that question the entire way to the Imperial Palace, unable to think of anything else.

* * *

When I arrived at the Imperial Palace, Dylan was waiting to receive me.
“Where’s Fay?”
I asked as I took his escort and stepped down from the carriage.
“She’s been practicing since dawn. Working up a sweat trying to show you what she can do.”
“Really?”
So that explained Dylan’s excited demeanor. He’d seemed particularly animated the moment we met.
“It’s truly incredible. Before, if I even asked her to try once, she’d scream and huddle in a corner crying for over an hour. Sometimes three hours straight.”
“I see.”
So she was a special case after all.
A normal knight would have been sent home to pack by now.
The fact that she’d shown such a response and still been admitted to the 1st Knight Order suggested the Martin House wielded more influence than I’d thought.
Though in the original, she was practically nonexistent, which was puzzling.
Or had the treatment of Illusion Mages simply improved more than I’d realized?
“So the knights have been giving up more and more, but I never thought things would change like this. Honestly, if you just helped us out from the rear during the next subjugation, that would be more than enough. Anyway, you’re my benefactor—my true benefactor. I’ll really do whatever you ask!”
“Well… we’ll see when the time comes. Besides, don’t you realize that talking like that all the time makes me lose face as vice-captain?”
“You’re not just anyone—it’s me. What does a little lost dignity matter?”
“You’re something else.”
I didn’t know at first because no one told me, but Dylan had become vice-captain while I was away.
I only found out after hearing it from Lux.
Since he was wearing the same training clothes, there was no way to tell.
Either way, this one was definitely eccentric.
Gradually, the interior of the Training Ground came into view.
“Kyaaaagh!”
The scream, now familiar, made me let out a hollow laugh.
“…You said you were working hard?”
Dylan squeezed his eyes shut as he walked.
“I meant they weren’t giving up or crying. If only that screaming would stop, it’d be so much better…….”
“I can’t do anything about that either.”
I shrugged and headed toward where Fay was.
“You didn’t tell the Crown Prince what time I come here today, right?”
“I’m really trying my best not to run into him? I deliberately call you during his busiest hours. There won’t be any meetings today. He’ll just have back-to-back meetings and work piling up in his office.”
“Either way, absolutely not! We can’t run into each other. We have to avoid it at all costs. Especially check carefully on days when the Princess visits. The moment you meet, you’re…….”
Done for.
I cut myself off and drew my hand across my throat in a single slash, my expression as menacing as I could make it.

* * *

Training resumed.
Knights still kept coming to watch whenever Fay and I trained, so the area was crowded again today.
Even though I’d chased them out yesterday saying I couldn’t concentrate, they showed up as if that had never happened.
Someone had even brought some strange staff-like object and was waving it around like a cheerleader.
‘Like I’m a monkey in a zoo.’
I had no time to waste on distraction today either, so I gave up and focused on training Fay.
“Fay, use Illusion Magic on me. If you want, you can even attack.”
I faced Fay and gave the signal.
Fay’s face went pale.
“I, I can’t cast Illusion Magic on you, such a great senior! I absolutely can’t do it. What if you get hurt……!”
“Get… hurt?”
I turned to Dylan with a puzzled look.
Dylan was off today and watching from beside us in casual clothes.
His expression was incredulous.
“Hey, do you know what that means?”
“Pardon?”
“It’s the same as bragging about your pathetic little salary in front of the Emperor. Stop talking nonsense and do what Hazel tells you.”
At Dylan’s words, Fay hung her head deeply.
Her ears turned bright red between the lemon-yellow hair tied on both sides.
“Yes…….”
I nodded, and Fay soon seemed to make up her mind, her expression turning resolute.
“Th, then I’ll do it. If, if you feel any pain or fear, p, please raise your right hand!”
“…All right.”
I answered with the same reluctance as before.
“Senior, please do this for me! You can’t hold back!”
“I know, I know. Just start already.”
Time’s passing.
“A, are you really sure?”
“If you say one more thing, that’ll be three times.”
Fay’s face turned even redder.
I stared directly into Fay’s eyes to make the illusion easier to cast.
My vision had begun to shimmer—confirming she’d truly made her resolve.
That was when it happened.
“Vice-Captain! Vice-Captain! Something terrible has happened!”
From far off, the sound of hurried footsteps grew louder, and a knight came sprinting toward them in a panic, disheveled and breathless.

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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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