Marriage With A Suspiciously Demure Husband - Chapter 47

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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 47

“No. Who in the world is this?”
Ugh.
I looked at the people standing before me and thought it over.
This world’s god really does despise me. Or else he’s a sadist!
“It is an honor to meet the Empire’s radiant sun, the Crown Prince, and the Lady Deiwos—”
“We don’t need such stiff formalities between us. We’re old friends, practically.”
“That’s right. What need have we for such ceremony?”
“I… understand, Your Highness, my lady.”
Of all the timing! Of all the cursed timing!
Dylan had said he’d be a little late, so I’d exchanged quick greetings with the knights and was making my escape from the Imperial Palace when the Crown Prince returned from his outing.
And who should he be with but Lili Deiwos.
What rotten luck to run into them now.
The moment they began acting familiar with each other, every eye in the corridor locked onto us.
I stood there with the corners of my mouth pulled high, thinking inwardly.
Please, just don’t act so close to each other….

Sigh.
I’d been about to leave immediately, but instead I found myself being dragged toward the Crown Prince’s Palace with both my hands gripped firmly by Lili.
Even when I offered to pay my respects formally another time, she’d just pulled me along, insisting there was no need for such superficialities between us.
I hadn’t realized it, but in the year since I’d last seen her, Lili had apparently built up considerable strength—very considerable strength indeed.
Her grip was monstrously strong. Really.
“If you’d arrived any later, I might have missed you, Love. Thank goodness you came right away.”
“Indeed. I confess I found myself wanting to hear from you.”
Good grief.
Before an enormous spread of refreshments that had materialized in mere moments, I forced an awkward smile.
By the sheer volume of it all, we could easily enjoy tea time for at least three hours.
I’d been threatening Dylan to help me avoid this very thing, and yet here I was at the Crown Prince’s Palace anyway.
“I heard from another lady that you’ve been back in the Capital for several days now.”
“Y-yes.”
“But I didn’t know a thing! How could you not tell me? Don’t you want to see me, Love?”
Lili showed me her disappointment.
“O-of course I wanted to see you.”
I tried to slip my hand free from her grasp, but she caught it again, firmly.
Her face was gentle and pitiful, yet her grip was inhumanly strong.
“Really, you didn’t contact me at all! You promised you’d reach out as soon as you were settled!”
“Ah, haha… You see, settling in has been rather… difficult….”
I tried to ease my hand away again, but this time she clamped down even harder.
“Is friendship nothing to you? If you’d just sent word, I could have helped with anything! And you didn’t even leave a way for me to reach you. I’m truly hurt!”
Tears of genuine disappointment began to well up in Lili’s eyes.
I panicked and rushed to console her.
I couldn’t let myself become the villain who makes the heroine cry in front of the male lead.
Look—already he’s starting to frown at me with those intense eyes!
“No, my lady! I will, I’ll do it now, contact you! I’ve been wanting to prepare a proper gift for you and spend time together like this for so long!”
At that, Lili’s eyes widened round while tears still glistened in them.
“…Really?”
“Of… of course! The truth is, you were the first person I thought of!”
Time to handle this. Handle this social situation well.
Do well. Do well at navigating society!
Only then did Lili smile, quickly blinking away the tears as if nothing had happened.
The heroine must possess some technique for controlling her tears on demand.
In any case, I’d narrowly escaped death, and I quietly wiped away the cold sweat beading on my brow.
“I’ll trust you on that, Love. You’ve been well, I take it?”
“Of course. I’ve been terribly busy managing a new venture. But tell me—you’ve both been well? I must say, the two of you look as lovely as ever together.”
It wasn’t empty flattery. It was genuine.
Untroubled by complications, unbothered by obstacles, the two of them were lovelier and more radiant in their unhindered affection.
Lili Deiwos in particular seemed to shimmer and glow—whether it was some kind of protagonist blessing or simply the effect of the occasion, I couldn’t say.
She was wearing the large Pink Diamond Necklace and matching earrings that I’d seen in the original story.
In the original timeline, she was supposed to be kidnapped on the very day she received that gift.
It was also an incident that would have deepened the rift between Crown Prince Jed and Duke Kailrus considerably.
Since that would no longer happen, I could appreciate the sight of her with considerably less dread.
Ugh—I really shouldn’t have been seduced by that dirty money.
The regret I’d been suppressing came flooding back.
Lili’s expression softened noticeably as she heard my words.
“Does it show? Love must have had plenty of good fortune these past year or so. She’s become absolutely radiant. Don’t you agree, Your Highness?”
“Hmm? I only have eyes for you.”
…….
In that moment, I had to clench my teeth with all my might to keep my face from contorting.
I had to hold on, no matter what.
Hnnngh—! Hnnngh—!
These two are blind with love, every inch the protagonists.
Hnnngh—! Hnnngh—!
The happy ending depends on them staying intact.
Hnngh—. Hnnngh…….
Meanwhile, Lili’s eyes narrowed with pleasure.
And the way her cheeks flushed at the same time was absolutely insufferable.
Good grief, I can’t bear to look.
I need to get out of here, fast.
“Ha! You two really are wonderful to see together.”
“Do we look that way?”
The Crown Prince smiled broadly, clearly delighted.
“Of course you do. Absolutely.”
I felt a strange urge to touch my aching cheeks.
But my hands remained occupied as I continued exchanging pleasantries with them, again and again.
Though in truth, they shouldn’t have had time for this kind of cheerful atmosphere.
I supposed it was natural given they’d only just reunited, but both the Crown Prince and Lili had been fighting a Magical Beast that had breached the Western City Wall before returning to the Imperial Palace, and I wasn’t sure this leisurely scene was quite appropriate.
Especially since the two of them had just gone to inspect the West Gate themselves.
Perhaps because the immediate threat had been dealt with, it didn’t matter?
Then my eyes met with Jed’s.
With the corners of his eyes suddenly hardened and only the corners of his mouth lifted in a smile, the entire atmosphere shifted and grew tense in an instant.
Whether it was a protagonist buff or not, the way he controlled the mood with just a change of expression reminded me uncannily of my husband.
“I heard on the way in that you accomplished quite the feat today. I’d rather not dwell on work matters, but your contribution deserves acknowledgment.”
Goodness, anyone listening would think I’d handled everything myself.
I immediately waved my hand in protest.
Of all people, the last thing I needed was praise from the Crown Prince himself.
If I wasn’t careful and got caught, it would be my loss alone.
“I just happened to be in the right place at the right time, that’s all. I didn’t do anything really—I was just loitering around in the back.”
“That can’t be true. Dylan mentioned that you even secured a new Illusion Sorcerer for us. You really are indispensable to this place.”
I ground my teeth silently.
‘Dylan… I’ll remember this.’
He actually went and reported it.
That was definitely tattling!
If I was going to help, he should have kept it secret no matter what!
Or at least claimed he’d done it himself!
“That’s not it at all! Dylan just exaggerated—I was flopping around so much I had no idea what was happening. A year away and my body’s gone soft, soft, soft! Ha-ha! Turns out I really don’t have the constitution of a knight after all.”
“Nonsense. You’re simply too modest for someone of your abilities.”
“True. Love does tend to underestimate herself.”
“Such a waste of talent. You’re someone who should be serving the nation more than anyone. I’ve been meaning to ask—now that you’re here, how about rejoining the knight order…….”
I slapped both my thighs sharply to change the subject.
I hit hard enough that the sound was like a thunderclap, and the sting was immediate. Ow.
“Right, that’s right! Your Highness, by the way—I heard you visited the West Gate. How was it?”
“Ah yes, that.”
I’d successfully changed the topic, but Jed and Lili’s expressions had grown noticeably darker.
“For now, all the wounded are receiving treatment. Repairing the collapsed wall will take some time, but…….”
“I see. Were you able to track the Magical Beast?”
I still hadn’t heard whether it had penetrated further into the Capital or simply retreated the way it came.
According to Dylan, the appearance of the Magical Beast that destroyed the Western City Wall was entirely different from the one that attacked the Imperial Palace. If his account was accurate, then within a single day in the Capital, two Magical Beasts claiming allegiance to this force had emerged.
“Fortunately, it didn’t breach the inner walls. When the gate collapsed, the Temporary Protective Barrier we’d installed functioned properly. It couldn’t prevent the physical damage, but we were able to drive the beast away.”
“Ah, that truly is a relief.”
“The appearances of Magical Beasts continue to increase steadily, and after what happened today, I find myself wondering if such sudden incidents might occur again.”
Lili’s voice had grown subdued.
“For now we’ve extinguished the immediate crisis, but we’re planning a comprehensive inspection of the Imperial Palace and the surrounding areas of the Capital.”
I nodded, and Lili quietly offered me tea.
Truly, as the female lead, she was beyond reproach.
Even though she’s the heroine, she still addresses me with formal courtesy and attends to my needs with care.
“There are also rumors that the Evil Worshipping Cult has appeared, so we’re planning to investigate that as well. Apparently there are those who gather in secret.”
“Is that so? The Evil Worshipping Cult?”

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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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