Marriage With A Suspiciously Demure Husband - Chapter 49

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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 49

I stopped mid-stride at the sound of footsteps and turned around.
“Ah, Fay.”
Dylan and Fay were walking toward me side by side.
Unlike the shocked, nearly-fainting expression from earlier when that near-disaster had almost happened, her face had found considerable calm.
She even wore an easy smile.
“Um, well……”
“Dylan, on a day like today you should’ve sent her home early. What were you thinking?”
“Hmm? I was going to, but she said she’d wait for you.”
Dylan shrugged.
“Yes! That’s right! I told the vice-captain that I’d wait for you… Are you leaving now, by any chance?”
“Yeah, I was about to say goodbye to Dylan and head out. Lucky timing we ran into each other.”
“Oh……”
Fay hesitated, blocking my path.
“You have something to say? Questions about the Welcoming Magic? I’ll be back tomorrow anyway.”
At that, Fay broke into a bright smile.
“It’s not that. Since you’ve taken time to help me, I really want to repay you somehow……”
“Hmm? I’m not looking for repayment, so don’t worry about it. And if you were to repay anyone, it should be Dylan, not me. Why did you bring that up?”
“I’m just so grateful. And you saved me today, after all. I’m… If it won’t be too much of a burden, I’d really like to treat you to a nice meal at our house. Would that be possible?”
“What? No, that’s really not necessary……”
As I spoke, I felt something odd settle over me.
Wasn’t her relationship with her family troubled?
And if my memory served me right, she’d mentioned being a bastard child and suffering abuse at her own family’s hands.
In that case, wouldn’t it be difficult for her to invite me?
To be honest, inviting someone when you’re an abused bastard child of a family with an uncertain standing seemed more than a little hard to pull off.
I certainly couldn’t imagine doing it myself.
Before any invitation, I’d have walked away from the family entirely.
Of course, people had different natures, and it was possible.
But knowing all that, visiting would feel like nothing but putting on a false face.
Maybe I was overthinking it.
“It won’t be a burden, right? A meal is perfectly reasonable. Surely it wouldn’t be impossible?”
Fay casually reached out and grasped my hand.
I looked down at the caught hand for a moment, then smiled lightly and withdrew it.
“I appreciate the thought, but I’m afraid I have something to do today. But I’ll definitely remember your kindness.”
I couldn’t accept an invitation from someone I wasn’t close to when the situation felt this off.
“Still……”
“Tell you what—once you can properly use the Welcoming Magic, then I’ll let you treat me. How’s that?”
“Once I can properly use the Welcoming Magic?”
“Right. Not just creating illusions, but making fire hot enough that it would actually burn you, or water cold enough to freeze you, or thornvines sharp enough to wound me—only when you can do at least that much can you call yourself an Imperial Palace Knight. Sound fair?”
“Oh……”
Fay’s face went pale. She seemed to be rapidly turning something over in her mind.
Had I said too much? She’s barely taken her first steps, after all.
To me it was the bare minimum, but I realized it might look different through her eyes.
“Well, or even just one of those things. That way I’d feel like I’d done right by Dylan. We can talk more about it then, alright?”
“Yes, yes! Then I’ll… I’ll work really hard and make sure to treat you to a nice meal and repay you before you leave the Capital!”
“Good, let’s do that. Dylan, thanks for the hard work today. I’m heading out.”
“You worked hard too. Go rest.”
“Yeah, see you tomorrow, Fay.”
I gave Fay’s shoulder a light pat as she stood there, then turned to leave and hail a carriage to the Hotel.
I could feel her gaze fixed on my back.
Why was she staring so intently?
That gaze continued until I turned the corner.

* * *

That evening.
Cid glanced sideways at Kailrus.
‘Something feels off.’
His lord had been remarkably composed since yesterday.
As if he’d returned to the time before Hazel Love existed.
Not exactly downhearted.
And yet not cheerful either.
It was Kailrus as he’d been back then—the Kailrus of perfect emotional control.
Like a quiet sea on a moonless night.
Lately his moods shifted dozens of times a day, making him difficult to read.
This was strange.
By now he should be glancing nervously at the Communication Device, radiating dread.
Had something happened last night?
He’d brought a flawless report today, worried his lord might take out his frustration on him.
He’d even strictly instructed that Popo wasn’t to come near—absolutely not.
He’d taken care to ensure nothing irritating would occur, then taken care once more.
Today had been perfectly prepared.
But when Kailrus didn’t behave as expected, the tension Cid had wound tight loosened entirely.
Meanwhile, Kailrus was anything but calm, contrary to what Cid imagined.
Since Hazel had departed for the Capital, he’d barely slept; the only times his mood lifted were when he contacted her through the Communication Device.
Then Kailrus began to reflect on the confusion he felt.
How had he lost control of his emotions like this?
That was it.
Right now, Kailrus was being swayed by his own wife—a captive he’d seized with his own hands.
That fact disturbed him profoundly and left him deeply displeased.
Originally, it should have been the other way around.
He should be the one without want or need, yet the opposite had come to pass.
She was merely a captive.
Someone who moved at his command, who ought to pay for her sins.
Had delaying the reckoning been a mistake?
Should he have simply eliminated her instead?
No, that didn’t sit right either.
Could this all be deliberate—some witch’s spell to enchant him?
But how could someone so endearing and beautiful be a witch?
No matter. That woman was the problem.
And the warring thoughts—that he should eliminate her, that it would be madness—tormented him thousands of times over.
What was so special about that woman?
What was it about that small, delicate creature?
It was shameful, truly.
If he’d simply disposed of her from the start, none of this would matter.
Somehow he must have become intoxicated without realizing it—lost in the performance of being a tender husband.
So Kailrus decided now to cut off all interest directed toward Hazel Love.
Once he did, he would return to his former self.
Then this troublesome business would vanish as well.
For now, nothing appealed to him; when she returned, perhaps he really would eliminate her.
“That might be for the best.”
How simple it would be to just dispose of the problem entirely.
“I’ll conclude the report and take my leave… Pardon? My lord? I apologize; I didn’t quite hear that.”
“Never mind. If the report’s done, go.”
“I’ll deliver the afternoon briefing as soon as information arrives!”
“Cid.”
“Yes?”
“Going forward, unless she’s fled, don’t report her status to me.”
Cid’s eyes widened.
“But… that’s about Hazel Love’s whereabouts…”
“I said, don’t.”
When did he order me to report it, then?
Cid glanced up questioningly, then quickly cast his eyes downward before their gazes could meet.
“Should I stop until you return?”
“Yes.”
It made no sense whatsoever, but if his lord said not to… well, so be it.
Cid bowed deeply.
“Yes, I shall do exactly that. If you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to tell me.”
“Don’t answer even if I ask you something.”
“…You’re serious?”
“Have you ever heard me speak idly?”
“No? Not at all, sir. Then I shall absolutely, positively—not even if the heavens split asunder—report anything about Hazel Love to anyone.”
Cid bowed once more and withdrew.
Even as Cid closed the door behind him, Kailrus’s expression remained unchanged.
“…That’s strange, really.”
Cid shook his head and hurried down the corridor.

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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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