Marriage With A Suspiciously Demure Husband - Chapter 59

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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 59

“What? Dylan too?”
I asked in surprise, and Fay nodded in confirmation.
Fay shifted her weight from foot to foot, saying the food preparations were all finished.
Because of that, we couldn’t delay dinner any further.
“Yes, really, what should we do? I prepared so much, thinking everyone would come…….”
Fay’s shoulders drooped. She quickly resigned herself, as if she’d expected this all along.
“Not a single person is coming?”
“No, it seems no one can make it.”
“Ah, I see…….”
“I wonder if they found it burdensome? You came, though.”
“Hmm, that’s strange. I naturally assumed they’d come. They didn’t say anything to me about it.”
“I must have caused everyone so much trouble over this time… That might be why. If you hadn’t been there, I probably would have had to leave the Knight Order by now.”
“Don’t say such things.”
“It just seems odd to me that they’re all not coming…….”
Her eyes were already glistening, threatening to spill over with tears, so I had no choice but to comfort her deliberately.
“Something must have come up. You know how the Imperial Palace was thrown into chaos when those beasts attacked not long ago. You’re still a newcomer, and I’m not technically a knight anyway. The others are deputy commanders—they all have responsibilities they have to shoulder.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Of course! Which means I get to eat more food, don’t I? Honestly, I’ve been starving since earlier.”
At that, Fay’s face brightened instantly.
“Our household chef is really skilled at cooking. Truly, truly delicious! You’ll really love it. I’m certain of that!”
Fay clenched her fists and her eyes sparkled.

* * *

In the end, truly no one came, just as Fay had said.
Since we couldn’t wait indefinitely, Fay and I made our way to the dining room.
Already there were Fay’s parents and the man she had introduced as her brother.
I greeted them lightly and sat down beside Fay.
“If you have any favorite dishes, please say so—the chef’s skill is quite remarkable.”
“I should have worn something more loose-fitting.”
A nearby attendant poured Apple Wine into the empty glass before me.
“Ha, I do hope you’ll enjoy yourself this evening.”
The atmosphere of the dinner was even more lively than I’d expected.
“This is really delicious.”
I moved my knife and fork with diligence.
All four of them seemed to fix their gaze upon me unusually often. Each time our eyes met, they would smile with crescents for eyes, and I found myself smiling back in return several times.
“I’ve heard that Hazel Love was quite famous at the academy.”
“Ah, I’m no longer a knight, so please feel free to call me by my name.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course. I was ordinary at the academy. It’s just that skilled Illusion Art practitioners are rare.”
“How humble. Let me have that filled for you again.”
Ello gestured to an attendant and regarded me with warm eyes.
The meal continued on.

One plate, two plates… ten plates.
Hazel Love accepted every dish Fay’s family offered her and ate with relish.
With the Apple Wine accompanying each course, the atmosphere grew increasingly comfortable, and more than ten plates had been emptied.
The attendants bustled about, replenishing the dishes, while Hazel’s face flushed with emotion, her cheeks rosy with delight.
“I’ve never eaten anything so delicious before. I didn’t know you could feel such emotion from eating.”
“You flatter us. Still, I’m glad we could give you proper hospitality.”
“The truth is, Fay has been happily going to the Knight Order lately without reluctance, so we feel we’ve received a great kindness from you.”
“Oh, really, you don’t need to say that. It’s thanks to Fay for following along so well—I haven’t done anything special. But, um, is it alright if I eat more of this?”
“Of course. Come now, bring more.”
“I wish I could eat something like this every day.”
“Your candor lifts my spirits as well.”
Ello and Digress spoke to Hazel without pause.
As the atmosphere brightened, Fay’s expression grew more radiant.
She was amazed—and delighted—to see Hazel eat every morsel of what had been prepared, leaving nothing behind.
At this rate, all the food would be gone before long.
“This Apple Wine is quite wonderful as well.”
“It’s from Leboarsan. Only a hundred bottles are produced each year. I’ll have you take some as a gift when you depart.”
“May I really?”
“Of course.”
Ello instructed a servant to prepare it in advance, but as Hazel sipped the Apple Wine with a rosy smile, her body suddenly tilted to one side.
She began swaying slowly like a pendulum, grinning foolishly.
“Oh, why is everything spinning?”
“My, did the wine go to your head?”
“No, it’s fine! Just a moment of dizziness, I—ugh…”
And moments later.
Thud!
With a dull sound that startled them all, Hazel collapsed onto the table.
“…….”
“…….”
Everyone at the Martin House fell silent.
The attendants around them froze in place.
“Hazel?”
“…….”
“Dame Hazel Love.”
“…….”
They took turns calling her name and had servants shake her, but Hazel had already lost consciousness.
They tapped her pale cheeks with the back of their hands, even striking her forehead.
Already unconscious, Hazel swayed limply with every movement they made, like a lifeless doll.
Her carefully arranged hair scattered inelegantly across the table.
“…….”
“…….”
Once they confirmed the situation, the people of the Martin House exchanged glances as if on cue and set down their knives and forks.
“See? I told you it would be easy.”
Fay began to speak, and the others erupted into chatter.
“A legendary Illusion Art master, or so they claimed.”
“Apparently she was from some rural backwater. Once we looked into her, we found she hadn’t adapted well at all—just worked herself to the bone. She was nothing but raw talent with no finesse. The way she abandoned her husband to come here shows she’s worthless.”
Digress spoke, and Fay answered eagerly.
“Still, you’ve brought back treasure.”
“When the Followers attacked the Imperial Palace, Hazel’s arrival was perfectly timed—divine providence, really. The acting was nerve-wracking with the timing so tight. I worried it might not work out, but now we can present this woman to the Followers’ leader. I nearly died for it, but this is definitely what we were looking for.”
“Indeed. Those with such Dark Magic Power are rare.”
“Even if she isn’t the one, her Mana alone should be worth a hundred sacrifices. If others had come, it would have been troublesome, but fortunately things went smoothly.”
Kane, the quietest of them, added his voice.
“That’s right. When we heard the news, I was overjoyed. It was as if they were helping us themselves—fools, the lot of them.”
“It won’t be long now. The day our Master arrives.”
“The Dark King.”
“Our King!”
“About that—let’s hold off on recruiting knights for a while. We’re busy with Subjugation preparations, but we need to be careful.”
“Has the Subjugation map come through?”
“Soon. You did say there’d be another attack seven days from now, yes?”
“Right. We let it slip that the Capital North Gate will be in danger seven days hence. If the prophecy comes true, those who follow him will multiply. Everything unfolds according to his will—until the true master of this place arrives.”
They were faithful servants of the Dark King and his descent, diligently spreading his doctrine.
In the process, they carefully selected only those they deemed worthy to stand beside them before leaking information, which had allowed them to deceive the Imperial court this far.
Though they hid in the shadows now, they had absolute faith that the future they dreamed of would soon arrive.
To restore the true master of this world.
If the world they desired came to pass, any hardship was bearable.
“According to his will.”
“According to his will.”
The people of the Martin House spoke endlessly as they gazed at Hazel, slumped forward and unconscious.
“Shall we lock her in the Prison? Or take her straight to the Altar?”
“For now, let’s keep her in the Prison until tomorrow. We’ll decide what to do once we see how things develop.”
“She consumed quite a lot of the Enchanted Pill, so she won’t be waking anytime soon.”
“Did she drink the tea as well?”
“Of course. She drank it without any hesitation, saying how pleasant the aroma was. I was worried she might have built up a tolerance and could resist it.”
Fay even reached over and tapped Hazel’s head several times.
“You really are as foolish as they come.”
Kane let out a scornful laugh at the sight.
“You too. Would you at least acknowledge that I look the way I do? You’ve always given in whenever I’ve asked for anything, even a little.”
“That’s enough idle chatter. Let’s move her.”
At Digress’s words, everyone nodded and began to rise to their feet.
“Oh. Hey. Hey.”
Hazel, who had appeared completely unconscious, suddenly lifted herself up as if nothing had happened. With her forehead faintly flushed, she began to playact in an exaggerated theatrical tone.
The attendants who had been about to carry Hazel away, along with Digress, Ello, Kane, and Fay, all fixed their piercing gazes upon her.
Hazel’s eyes, which should have been clouded by the Enchanted Pill, sparkled with brilliant clarity.
Hazel straightened her disheveled hair and released an irritated sigh.
“No, how is this possible?”
“You……!”
“She clearly consumed all of that food!”
“I didn’t.”
“What?”
“My palate is rather particular, you see. For some damnable reason, only the food my husband prepares suits my taste. Dear me, I really ought to fix that habit one of these days.”
Hazel replied with displeasure.
The moment she spoke, the plate that had been completely empty suddenly overflowed with food.
As though she had never touched a single bite from the start.
“Regardless.”
Hazel brushed dust from her clothes and rose from her chair.
The attendants flinched and stepped back slightly.
“I heard everything.”
…….
Fay’s eyes grew sharp.
She had realized they had all fallen victim to Hazel’s Illusion Art.
Hazel let out a low chuckle.
“You lapdogs of the Followers.”

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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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