Marriage With A Suspiciously Demure Husband - Chapter 84

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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 84

So what you’ve just told me isn’t the main point?
Whether thanks to Kailas or because of him, the work had been resolving smoothly, but the fatigue born of burden hadn’t lifted.
As the tension drained away, it felt as though exhaustion had wedged itself into the vacant space.
“What is it you wished to discuss?”
I spoke, my voice trembling with apprehension.
This was hardly the bearing of a duchess—I was still just Hazel Love, nothing more.
“What do you mean? It’s about you, Hazel Love—the way you neatly resolved matters two months ago and vanished without a trace.”
“Vanished? But I said goodbye several times before I left.”
“You didn’t even wait to hear how it turned out.”
I assumed the Crown Prince would handle it competently, so there was no need for concern on my part.”
Jed’s mouth twitched upward—he couldn’t suppress a smile.
In truth, I had been curious.
What had become of Fay Martin.
Suddenly Jed shook his head and burst out laughing.
“What’s come over you all of a sudden?”
“Oh, it just reminded me of something about that affair.”
“It must have been quite amusing.”
Jed, as if finding the whole thing utterly preposterous, continued with a smile playing at his lips.
“Amusing? That’s one word for it. Nearly sparked a civil war because of you.”
What had I just heard?
“Civil war? I’m sorry—what did you say?”
I jumped to my feet, wondering if I’d somehow blundered. I’d meant to serve the Empire, not precipitate internal conflict!
Jed kept insisting I’d done something remarkable, though his words made no sense to me.
“What do you mean? Did I do something wrong?”
“The problem is you did too well. Let me be clear—I kept my secret agreement with you. You were so insistent about preventing news from leaking out that I imposed strict silence on those around me. I even asked His Majesty to do the same.”
“So… what happened?”
Why did this feel so ominous?
“Apparently it came up recently when His Majesty was meeting with Duke Hardid. It seems they wanted to deepen their newfound rapport, so His Majesty described the whole matter—how you rescued an Imperial Knight who nearly fell prey to a Demonic Beast, and how you prevented further collapse of the Imperial Palace. He praised the duchess as truly remarkable.”
“S-so…?”
I found myself remembering the hotel, when Kailas had examined my wounds.
At the time, I’d only known that I was scraped and bruised, not exactly how badly I’d been hurt.
“The accord we’d so carefully brokered nearly fell apart. The Duke thought his wife had been used as bait.”
“Ah…”
Good heavens.
“Fortunately it didn’t escalate to civil war. Everything worked out, and I’m sure you understand. Even I didn’t expect His Majesty to act that way—truly. I made certain to keep my subordinates quiet about it.”
No, that wasn’t the important part anymore.
Even with Kailas Hardid’s name, I’d have expected His Majesty to lose his temper over something like that.
The thought of what could have gone wrong made my body tremble with fear.
“Then… what did His Majesty…?”
“Well, it seemed there was some sort of understanding between His Majesty and the Duke, though I didn’t hear the particulars.”

“I only meant to lighten his mood, but he took offense and felt affronted. Still, His Majesty has no appetite for unnecessary conflict anymore. Perhaps he’s grown old and prefers to settle things peacefully. In any case, that’s what made me laugh just now.”
Oh… oh… my goodness.
I couldn’t very well reproach the Emperor for loose lips.
Or perhaps it didn’t matter anymore anyway.
What difference did it make whether I worried or not?
But why did this mysterious understanding feel suspiciously like a Divorce Prohibition Decree…
How unsettling!
“I wanted to tell you it was a closed matter, but the situation is still ongoing.”
“It… is?”
“According to the records on file, a Demonic Beast and Beast Cultists appeared again on that same date. Fortunately, because we had forces standing by, there was no damage. But apparently, those waiting to hear the news saw an opportunity.”
“You mean cultists like the Martin Family?”
“More or less. They’re gathering followers by delivering divine revelations and performing miracles, but they’re proving harder to apprehend than expected.”
“It was uncovered that the Kamadra Family became entangled alongside the Martin Family, and an investigation is underway. They’ve hidden their tracks much more thoroughly than the others.”
Lilia added this remark.
“The Kamadra Family?”
“They’re a baronial house. Would it help if I mentioned that Marquis Beifil is the grand-uncle of the Kamadra Family head?”
“Ah, I understand. The previous Marquis Beifil held the position of Chief Justice for quite some time, didn’t he?”
Because of that, the Beifil Marquis Family had become a model household among the nobility, so the involvement of a cadet branch was bound to make things considerably worse.
“The Marquis Beifil is suffering quite the headache because of it.”
Jed spoke as if reading my expression.
“Are all the members of the Kamadra household involved?”
“The second son of the Count and the Countess have been exposed as cultists. But the head of the Kamadra Family himself has drawn a line, which is actually making things harder for us. He’s thinking of divorcing to appear innocent, but…….”
“Divorce?”
Without meaning to, my ears perked up.
“As you know, His Majesty has issued a Divorce Prohibition Decree, so he’s just stuck in place.”
“Ah…….”
Damn it. I’d gotten my hopes up thinking the Divorce Prohibition Decree would be lifted.
Should I ask? He’s the Crown Prince, after all—wouldn’t he know something of the Emperor’s intentions?
“Well, there’s no need to be so disappointed. The investigation is still ongoing, so I’ll have good news for you soon. Of course, from the perspective of the Hardid Duchy.”
“…Please stop teasing me now.”
Jed was making sport of me like a man who’d caught hold of a scandal.
“But it feels like the cultists keep increasing. Will merely blocking them like this be enough? Though it’s still too early to make it public…….”
I understood Lili’s concern as well.
If we announced it carelessly, there would surely be those swept away by that very power.
Because they would whisper in the cultists’ ears that the Imperial Household was growing so frightened of their strength that they had to suppress them, or that this force was becoming dangerously powerful.
So in the end, there was no avoiding becoming entangled in this myself.
Thinking about it now only seemed more absurd.
“I understand that the Regular Subjugations have also been delayed—is it because the Capital’s situation hasn’t been resolved?”
“That’s part of it, but you could also say it’s become meaningless. Those subjugations were meant to prepare for Demonic Beasts coming down to the villages in winter, but now there’s no need.”
“I asked something rather obvious, didn’t I?”
Beyond that, Jed added that there was also a condition between the Emperor and Duke Hardid that he would never request my support, and he spoke with some reluctance about that matter as well.
“To be honest, to you… no, that’s not right either. I shouldn’t speak that way. My apologies.”
“Please, be at ease. Just because I’ve married doesn’t mean your concerns have changed.”
“Since we’re in private, I thought I could speak freely, but this seems beyond that. Let me speak to you candidly for a moment.”
“Yes.”
“Meeting with Duke Hardid itself was unpleasant.”
“…….”
I was startled by Jed’s frankness.
Truth be told, his relationship with Duke Hardid was worse than his relationship with His Majesty the Emperor.
By the Emperor’s command, whenever there was something to entangle with Duke Hardid, he spoke openly only to be completely dismissed.
Even though my existence hadn’t driven matters to a breaking point, the fact that relations between them had soured due to past issues was a public matter.
It was one of the reasons I’d kept it hidden.
“That’s why I know it was harder for you to speak. Honestly, I saw plenty of troubling things back during my Knight Order days.”
“Ha, well… um…….”
“But now there’s no one else quite so valuable. No one who could be of such help to the Imperial Household. Honestly, if Duke Hardid were to join hands with us, it would be like gaining ten thousand allies. I’m almost troubled by how useful it is, by how much it seems we’re using you. It’s precisely because it’s you that I’m laying this bare. You’ll understand what I’m saying.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Jed straightened his posture further and spoke with a grave expression.
“We trust you, not Duke Hardid. So this time I must ask you for a favor.”
“Yes?”
“Duke Hardid has agreed to take full responsibility for the Northern Region this winter. Keep him from changing his mind—help me with that. Even if others wouldn’t listen, it seems he’s quick to move when it comes from you.”
“…….”
“I will absolutely ensure that this crisis doesn’t expand any further this winter. Help me solidify what will be my final achievement as Crown Prince before I ascend the throne.”
Ah, I see.
The Crown Prince’s ascension to Emperor was around the end of next year, wasn’t it?
In the original story too, he’d fought a major battle in the Northern Region around winter and inherited the Emperor’s throne the following year.
And alongside the happy ending, he’d fathered twins.
I wondered if that’s why I’d accepted it so compliantly.
Now I was becoming entangled even politically…….
My head was throbbing.
It felt like some divine message saying that since I’d survived, I should suffer for it. Damn god. As if I even know whether he exists.
Just as with Jed, the Emperor’s meaning in entrusting the Northern Region to Kailas was of course not something so simple as protecting the territory and its people.
Unlike other regions, the Northern Sergal, aside from the Hardid Duchy, was not territory belonging to any noble house.
It was desolate and unable to withstand any ordinary defense, so it all remained Imperial property.
There was some land belonging to the Temple as well, but that was purely for the sake of constructing the Temple itself.
Had the Duchy not flourished as it had, Sergal would have surely become desolate and worthless land.
Which meant that originally, Kailas had no reason to bear full responsibility for the Northern Region.
The Emperor and Crown Prince are asking for this favor.
By this winter, the contract period will have elapsed, so in any case, I’ll be bound as Duchess for a stretch longer.
Even if Jed hadn’t asked, I’d need to defend the Northern Region like my life depends on it if I want to survive.
Kailas will probably guard it anyway, but I might as well take some credit for it.
Well, let him see how hard I work.
“I’m not sure how much it will help, but….”
Jed’s eyes gleamed.
“The Northern Region will be safe this winter.”
“Thank you. I’ll repay you doubly when the time comes.”
What Jed meant was that once he ascended to the throne next year, he would give me considerable support.
“Duchess.”
As I finished speaking with them and was leaving, I heard Lilly’s voice from behind.
There was no one around save the sentries, my maid, and my guards, but it seemed she’d changed her form of address because we were outside.
I stopped and turned to see Lilly approaching with a rather hurried stride.
Then she took both my hands firmly in hers.
“Duchess?”
“Truth is, I was a bit hurt.”
“…”
“But we’re friends, so whenever you’re in trouble, come find me.”
“Duchess…”
“Lots of invitations will come from all over in the future, and Miss Love—or rather, Hazel—she doesn’t hate it, so. You know what I mean, right?”
I nodded gratefully.
Sigh—the heroine title isn’t going anywhere.
“Thank you, Duchess.”
Lilly winked and left with a careful goodbye.
The way she scurried off was unmistakably that of a protagonist.
“Hah.”
So that’s one thing settled, I suppose.
Now there’s one more to deal with.
I can’t exactly go straight to the Training Ground in this elaborate dress.
But it’s also awkward to arrange a separate meeting.
What to do…
Lost in thought, I stepped fully out of the Crown Prince Palace.
There was a short distance to cover from the Crown Prince Palace exit to where the carriage awaited.
In particular, I had to pass through an outer corridor that cut between the gardens—a section I detested, as nobles who stayed in or visited the Palace could spend their leisure time there on either side.
Even on the way here to the Crown Prince Palace, the stares had clung to me so persistently.
I truly couldn’t shake the feeling of being an animal in a zoo these days.
Sure enough, as I began to pass, I felt gazes converging on me.
I tried to ignore them and move on, but one gaze in particular caught my attention.
Finally, I stopped and turned my head. But then…
Huh?

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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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