Marriage With A Suspiciously Demure Husband - Chapter 9

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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 9

“That’s enough. You’ll figure it out when you see her.”
In those large golden eyes was a portrait of something round and small—like some timid herbivore.
Her face was pale white too, bringing to mind a rabbit bounding through a snowy field, or perhaps a startled deer.
“That doesn’t seem to be the case at all. Though, if we’re speaking purely about appearances, she wouldn’t have approached with the intention of bilking me. And… she does have a handsome face.”
Kailus ran his fingers across his lips again.
‘Surely she didn’t draw near simply because she’d taken a fancy to my face.’
“I’d prefer someone who cooks well, and someone who can spare time for at least a small date once a week. Ah, I’m being demanding.”
The subordinate who’d been listening all this while finally couldn’t take any more and flicked his ear in protest.
“Does such a man even exist in this world?”
“Well, yes.”
“Yes? Where?”
“Right here.”
“So where exactly—”
Sid’s nostrils flared slightly, and his face took on the expression of someone who’d been doused with brine.
Yet when he thought about it more carefully, the statement wasn’t entirely wrong, so he found no grounds to object.
He was even a bit afraid that the statement might actually be correct.
“Your Excellency…”
“What.”
“Your temperament… wouldn’t that be a problem?”
Sid gathered a bit of courage and managed to add one more thing.
“Why would it be? Putting on a show of affection—what’s so difficult about that?”
Yes, of course. Sid nodded eagerly.
“Yes, well. If it’s just pretense, that should be fine. But have you ever actually tried cooking? You’ve never even laid a hand on—”
“There’s nothing I can’t do. It’s just a trifle—do it once or twice and I’ll have it mastered.”
Yes, yes. Of course.
Sid broke into a wide smile, wringing his hands as though they were a nervous fly.
“Yes, exactly! Though you are quite busy, are you not?”
“If I don’t think of it as work, there’s nothing I can’t manage.”
“Yes, well, if you say so. But will you really handle it personally? Wouldn’t it be better to simply send some subordinates to dispose of her quietly?”
“And that’s why everyone I’ve sent has fallen prey to Illusion Magic and failed?”
“…”
Sid swallowed his breath with a hiccup and sealed his lips shut.
So there was no choice but to act directly.
He needed to discover exactly how this fearless and cunning woman had obtained his information and what she’d spirited away, and precisely how much she knew.
It was exactly one week later that Kailus set out for Ferarium.

* * *

A year had already passed.
Kailus tucked the documents away again.
The Hazel he’d come to know over that time was nothing like the person he’d anticipated, though she proved far more resourceful than he’d expected.
The route by which she’d discovered his information and funds remained an unsolved mystery.
Yet he had succeeded in bringing Hazel into his grasp.
Moreover, she’d fallen so completely for him that she couldn’t extricate herself, so there was no need for concern.
Because of her pale complexion, he sometimes found himself under the illusion that a white rabbit with a crimson hairpin was hopping about before his very eyes.
But that was rather charming, really.
“Charming? Ha.”
He let out a hollow laugh at his own thoughts.
Yes, she was somewhat cute, but that was all.
It was that woman who was head over heels in love and floundering—not him.
The fact that she was an eyesore who needed to be disposed of remained unchanged.
There was no reason to have dragged things out for a full year like this—yet he’d done precisely that.
He must have found some amusement in it; otherwise he wouldn’t have lingered so long.
Now it was time to finally put her affairs in order.
He glanced up briefly at the clock.
“Ah, Pumpkin Pie.”
She’d mentioned wanting it again.
And for good reason—the moment I’d brought it out last time, she’d polished off two slices in quick succession, savoring every bite.
Hazel enjoyed eating well enough, but she wasn’t one to devour large quantities.
Her eyes would follow my hand the moment I cleared her plate, desire warring with fullness, her brows drawing down in that endearing little frown that never failed to amuse me.
Watching her gaze track the dish as I whisked it away—that was one of the small pleasures I’d come to treasure.
But if she’d consumed both slices in one sitting, it meant the pie had truly captured her palate.
Making it now and letting it cool overnight would bring it to the perfect state by tomorrow morning.
Since she preferred the crust crisp, I’d need to prepare that first.
Hazel loved it piled high with fresh Vanilla Ice Cream, but I couldn’t very well give her something cold at breakfast and risk an upset stomach.
“Perhaps I should ready the cream in advance.”
Of course, all of this was merely part of the larger plan.
Kailus rose from his desk with considerably more purpose than he’d shown moments before, setting aside his earlier leisure.

* * *

My eyes snapped open.
Noah had vanished in the brief moment I’d dozed.
He’d clearly gone off on business again.
There was no way I could let this opportunity slip.
I scrambled up, hastily cinching my sleeping robe, and slipped into the corridor.
Then I moved with the speed of lightning toward my study.
I had a friend—someone who lived by the glorious maxim that trust, loyalty, and love all spring from money.
Not exactly a friend in the traditional sense, but someone who would never betray you if coin was involved, which made them reliably trustworthy.
And I had money!
Getting in touch with them required going through Dylan Banker, but there was no help for it.
I pulled out pen and paper and wrote with hurried strokes.

「Hi, Dylan Banker.
It’s been a while. How have you been?
It’s me, Hazel.
I actually need Ani’s help.
Can you do me this favor?
And give me your regards too.
I’m counting on you!
H. LV」

I signed it the same way I used to on official reports, then folded the letter quickly.
While no one would dare impersonate me, I’d still marked it with something Dylan Banker would surely recognize, just to be safe.
Then I slipped a Gold Coin into the envelope with the letter.
Ani always moved for money, and the amount you sent upfront signaled the difficulty of the request.
A Copper Coin meant something relatively simple.
A Silver Coin meant something slightly more challenging.
A Gold Coin meant something difficult or tedious.
Since I’d worked with Ani before, I didn’t strictly need to send a Gold Coin, but it also served as an unspoken message of urgency.
I opened the window and peered out to check if any servants were nearby.
The Communication Channel allowed both calls and letters, but any exchange left a record, which meant traces would always remain.
If anyone found out I’d contacted Dylan, the mere thought made my stomach turn.
So I’d decided to use the old-fashioned method instead.
I blew gently into the empty air, and a small bird wreathed in blue light materialized, its feathers glimmering proudly.
It was a Personal Messenger Bird, drawn from my Mana.
While it couldn’t deliver messages instantly like the Communication Channel, there was no risk of discovery in transit, and no one but me would ever know—nor would any trace remain.
As I held out the letter, the translucent bird chirped—*Chirp!*—and took it in its beak.
“Go quickly.”
The moment the words left my lips, the bird darted swiftly through the air.
Since it emerged from my own mind, it would never lose its way.
Not unless Dylan Banker had left the Capital for somewhere far distant, or had abandoned the Knight Order entirely.
For now, there was nothing to do but wait.
Only after the blue light faded entirely did I close the window.
Then, as if nothing had happened, I shuffled out of my study with drowsy eyes and headed for the bedroom.

A few days later.
Word arrived from Dylan Banker.
He’d sent a letter directly, using the same method I had.
I’d been worried I might have to track him down if he couldn’t reach me, but thankfully that wasn’t necessary.

Hazel,
It’s been a while, hasn’t it?
You rotten bastard. Reaching out only when you need something—that’s not fair at all.
I’ll send Ani over soon.
I’d like to go myself, but your older brother is swamped right now.
Demon Beasts are causing havoc all the way to the Capital’s outskirts.
I’ll come see you once before autumn arrives.
Stay healthy until then.
To an insufferable friend.
—Dylan Banker

A short laugh escaped me.
Truth be told, the time I’d spent with Dylan Banker wasn’t that long.
He’d originally been Hazel’s colleague, not my friend.
And the moment I came to my senses, I quit the Knight Order.
Before I left, we’d worked together for a brief stretch and clashed enough to realize we got along quite well in that short span.
Since then, that connection had held.
Besides, Dylan Banker was friendly with everyone around him—not the type who was hard to befriend.
He became an older brother figure to everyone, a dependable friend who was always ready to help.
He was the one who’d supported me when Zed refused to process my resignation.
Of course, Dylan had also grabbed my pant leg and tried to stop me until I told him I was truly exhausted and needed to rest.
“I really owe him one next time.”
The moment I burned the letter, I opened the safe and set aside some Gold Ingots and Gold Coins separately.
“Ah……”
He’d mentioned Demon Beasts were causing trouble all the way to the Capital’s outskirts, hadn’t he?
That’s what Dylan Banker had written in the letter I’d just burned.
Demon Beasts had appeared here, and they were already beginning to stir at the Capital’s outskirts.
Soon they’d be spreading nationwide.
To keep track of Industry Trends, I regularly checked the number and types of requests from Mercenary Guilds in other regions.
And certainly, requests to deal with Demon Beasts were multiplying simultaneously across the board.
There were no such requests here yet, but the appearance of even one beast meant there was no guarantee more wouldn’t follow.
From a purely business standpoint, it was good news, but knowing the source material as I did, it wasn’t something I could celebrate.
I’d settled in Ferarium specifically to avoid all of that, so I’d hoped this place would remain safe.
No Followers had appeared yet, but they seemed to be moving faster and more frequently than expected.
It was almost as if they were desperately searching for something.
Defeating the Final Villain is the protagonists’ job.
That’s probably why Dylan Banker has gotten so busy too.
“……”
I folded my hands against my forehead.
Even if the Final Villain appears, the protagonists will take care of it and find happiness—so why does this feel oddly unsettling?
Whenever I get this kind of premonition, something troublesome always happens.

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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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