Newlywed Life Begins with a Mistake - Chapter 5
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 5
Mary, who was carrying a basin, avoided Evelyn’s gaze and moved like a rusty machine.
“What? That can’t be! I must have hand tremors!”
Rose, catching the unnatural movement, snatched the basin from Mary’s hands and muttered as if humming.
“Hmm~ Madam really only knows His Grace~”
Though it was a playful tone, Rose’s voice trembled like a goat’s.
Evelyn suddenly felt uneasy at the maids’ unusual behavior.
Wait. I only know Casian?
Don’t tell me this means.
‘Does this mean Casian is having an affair?’
But Casian doesn’t seem like that type?
Just a few days ago, he personally fed me soup with his own hands!
A husband who’s desperate to feed me only good things would meet another woman behind my back?
Does that make sense? Especially when we’re still newlyweds?
Countless speculations alternated, but my head only became more complicated like tangled thread.
‘Ah, my head hurts. I’ll stop thinking about it.’
If I can’t figure it out no matter how much I ponder, there’s nothing I can do. I’ll have to ask directly.
“You two. Is there something you’re hiding from me?”
Crash!
“What? That can’t be!”
Mary, who was bringing perfume, was startled and dropped the glass bottle.
As the bottle shattered, the perfume separated from the lid and rolled across the floor.
Rose water spilled onto the white carpet, and pale stains spread like waves.
Mary hid her flustered face while picking up the broken bottle pieces.
How did she find out? As expected, a villainess’s intuition is different.
Though she wanted to run away immediately, the head maid Sophia’s voice came through the artifact disguised as a brooch.
-Rose! You ran your mouth. For now, both of you deny everything!
To prevent mishaps, Sophia had given Rose and Mary each an artifact disguised as a brooch.
Fortunately, the artifact was enchanted so only the wearer could hear the voice, so Evelyn wouldn’t be able to hear it.
-Mary, Rose. Be careful! If you endure for just two months, you’ll be promoted to official maids.
Mary urgently pulled herself together at the head maid’s voice.
‘Right. I won’t find a job this good anywhere else! Stay calm. I just need to endure for two months, right?’
If I just hold on a little longer, I’ll finally be an official maid!
But for that, Evelyn in front of her was too frightening.
[They say Princess Seldian slaps you on the spot if tangled hair comes out while brushing!]
[If another lady steals a dress she was going to wear to a banquet, she gathers the maids and beats them until her anger subsides!]
[She carries a rod around and frequently beats any maid she doesn’t like!]
When she heard other maids’ stories, she had scoffed. But seeing her now, those rumors don’t seem to be false.
Look at those sharp eyes.
“Tell me honestly.”
“Oh my! Madam! Please don’t say such hurtful things!”
“That’s right~ What secrets could we possibly have from Madam~”
Even the usually brazen Rose avoided eye contact while shaking the basin.
Wash water splashed everywhere, but there was no time to point it out.
“For people with nothing to hide, you’re both trembling too much.”
Sharp pressure poured down.
Even when they showed signs of distress, Princess Seldian didn’t stop her interrogation.
When she first went to serve Evelyn, she was so scared to enter the room that she begged the head maid to please assign her somewhere else.
“Oh my, you’re my personal maids?”
When she actually met Evelyn, she seemed to have a halo.
She thought the earth goddess who creates all things was before her eyes.
When she smiled sweetly with innocent eyes, she thought a real angel had descended, but now she sees she’s a demon!
What should I do?
It’ll be terrible if I get caught!
“Mary… I think we should…”
“…confess?”
The two exchanged glances, then suddenly grabbed Evelyn’s skirt hem and spilled everything.
“Huuuk! The thing is!”
“Actually, Madam!”
-No!!!
The head maid’s scream came through the artifact, but it couldn’t be helped.
Surviving right now was the priority.
‘Your Grace, we’re sorry. We had no choice!’
* * *
“Your Grace, I think you should hurry to the study.”
Head maid Sophia urgently sought out Casian.
At Sophia’s sudden urgency, doubt flickered in Casian’s eyes.
“What’s the matter?”
“I apologize, Your Grace. The maids have been gossiping.”
The maids have been gossiping…
Has the Princess noticed something?
After sending Sophia away, Casian checked the news sent by his spies, gathered the information, and organized it.
Then he tied a note to the messenger bird’s leg and sent it flying toward the Imperial Palace.
After confirming the bird had left the Duke’s mansion, Casian finally left the hunting grounds attached to the main building and moved on.
“Darling.”
Upon entering the study, he found Evelyn sitting on the sofa with her arms crossed.
“Evelyn?”
“Evelyn? Where did you leave the proper address?”
As soon as he spoke, a sharp glare flew his way.
A snake-like piercing gaze bound Casian.
“That can’t be. I called your name because I wanted to say it.”
“Hmm, I see.”
When Casian curved the corners of his eyes gracefully, Evelyn made an expression that said she was suspicious but would let it pass, and sipped the tea placed in front of the table.
This is clearly my space, so why am I the one being cautious?
For some unknown reason, Evelyn had occupied the study with maids in tow.
“Sit down, darling.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Anyone watching would think she’s the master here.
Casian equipped a smile on his lips and took a seat across from Evelyn.
“For what reason have you come?”
“Did it look like I wouldn’t come?”
Thud!
As soon as the question ended, Evelyn roughly slammed down her teacup.
Some of the tea in the cup spilled out and soaked the decorative cloth.
Though the embroidered cloth was stained with foreign matter, both people gazed at each other as if they didn’t care.
Only after an uncomfortable silence filled the study did Evelyn slowly ask, as if suppressing her anger.
“Why did you hide it all this time?”
Oh no, has she already found out?
And I told them to be so careful.
From the abbreviated question and the reproachful gaze, Casian was certain.
That Evelyn’s memory had returned.
‘Perhaps this is fortunate? I can quickly end this ridiculous farce.’
Now that she knows the truth, there’s no choice.
Since the play is over, I have no choice but to reveal my true nature.
“Well…”
Just as Casian was about to reveal the truth, shocking words burst from Evelyn’s mouth.
“They say the Ducal House is poor!”
“Poor?”
Casian felt like he’d been hit in the head.
The House of Count Heteus, which is achieving its greatest prosperity ever, is poor?
House Heteus, which doesn’t bow to even the Imperial Court when it comes to money?
“Rose, Mary.”
To understand what was going on, Casian called the maids.
At his somewhat intimidating tone, both of them hiccupped simultaneously.
“Hic!”
“Don’t say anything to the maids.”
He sent a gaze demanding explanation, but was blocked by Evelyn.
It seemed she hadn’t regained her memory, so he could continue the act, but he had suddenly become an incompetent fool.
‘Does this woman see me as an idiot who can’t even take care of his household?’
He was so dumbfounded that words wouldn’t come out.
He was wondering where to start correcting things.
“Sigh. I should have noticed sooner.”
Evelyn muttered to herself with a serious face.
At the same time, Evelyn fell into a brief recollection.
[His Grace has no time to stay at the Duke’s mansion because he’s busy making money!]
[Huuuugh! That’s right, my lady! Due to impoverished living, the Ducal House is currently suffering hardships.]
Only after hearing the truth from the maids did Evelyn realize like a flash of lightning the source of the occasional strangeness.
‘Right, something felt off.’
No matter how much she was a wife lying in a sickbed, they were still nominally a married couple.
So there was a reason why Casian’s visits were infrequent despite being newlyweds.
Fortunately, after the maids finished speaking, along with a sudden headache, information about the South entered her mind.
Several incidents came to mind as vividly as if she had experienced them directly: the granary region that became a sea of fire years ago, the import business that was suddenly halted, trade routes that seemed deliberately sabotaged by someone.
It was strange that I had only acquired specific information, but I had gained an unexpected harvest.
‘Either way, the fact that Casian is personally going around earning money means the Ducal House’s finances are in serious trouble.’
“Evel, no, my lady.”
“Have you eaten?”
“Not yet.”
“I knew it! Even when things are tough, you must eat your meals regularly. Mary, Rose. Go to the kitchen quickly and tell them to prepare a meal.”
“Yes, my lady!”
To think he couldn’t eat properly because he was only concerned about my meals.
How hard must it have been for him to worry about his sick wife in front, while personally going around earning money behind the scenes.
There would be plenty of ways to make money through other people.
‘My husband is a pushover, no, he’s too kind for his own good!’
Sigh, what can I do. I, with my strong will, must protect him.
“Honey, don’t worry. From now on, I’ll be with you!”
Evelyn’s attitude, which had been showing sharp reactions, changed instantly like flipping a palm.
Evelyn grabbed Casian’s hand and smiled brightly while blinking her eyelashes.
Evelyn’s eyes contained blind affection.
Looking into those eyes, Casian felt somehow uncomfortable.
Swish, Casian carefully withdrew his hand and awkwardly averted his gaze.
“Thank you for the sentiment, at least.”
“Not at all, we’re husband and wife. We should overcome crises together!”
Overcoming things together…
To think there was someone saying such things to him, who was used to getting through everything alone.
Though he knew she was the enemy’s lover, it was somehow a comforting statement.
Just as Casian’s wariness had loosened more than before.
“But, honey. Where are the account books?”
Evelyn tilted her head and delivered the main point.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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