Newlywed Life Begins with a Mistake - Chapter 67

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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 67

“What? Princess Sibaven asked for a Noctis priest to be summoned?”

After hearing what Casian told me, I was so bewildered that I asked again.

“What is she thinking, wanting to receive a temple trial?”

I couldn’t understand why she specifically chose a temple with no connections for a matter where her fate was at stake.

If things went wrong, she’d spend her entire life in a monastery. Why would she deliberately choose such a thorny path?

“I don’t know. She’s showing a cross necklace and insisting we bring a cardinal.”

“I have no idea what she’s thinking by doing that.”

The princess’s unpredictable behavior gave me a headache.

While it was true that Silvia was involved in a major crime, she was still a princess of a nation.

As long as the Sibaven Kingdom didn’t abandon her, we couldn’t recklessly touch Silvia.

That’s why Silvia was receiving luxurious treatment compared to other prisoners.

‘Am I missing something?’

While I was lost in thought with a furrowed brow, Casian spoke up.

“The Pope can’t leave his sickbed, so if anyone comes, it’ll probably be a cardinal.”

As Casian said, the current Pope was bedridden with a strange illness.

One of the cardinals should have succeeded him, but I heard they all refused the papal position.

“I don’t know how the temple will respond, but… going to the monastery seems certain.”

The Temple of Noctis, which emphasized integrity and honesty, called those who survived temple trials to monasteries.

As a way to repay the faith given by God.

Those summoned had to prove their devotion through years of service.

The environment was so harsh it was called silent training, so unless people committed major wrongs, they didn’t stay in monasteries.

It was known to be that difficult a place.

‘Did she commit something unforgivable even considering her background?’

Questions led to more questions, but I couldn’t see any answers.

“We should probably send someone.”

“Right. I don’t know how the Temple of Noctis will respond, but they’ll make a fair judgment. By the way… oh, it’s already 3 o’clock. See you later, honey.”

I was about to bring up Matthew, but it was time for the meeting to start.

When I hurried into the meeting room, all the retainers and ducal house servants stood up and showed their respects.

I nodded briefly, told them to sit, then received their reports.

“The invitations have been sent out.”

“The fountain repairs are complete.”

“They said the landscape paintings and sculptures for the corridor will be delivered within the deadline.”

After the dress fittings, Christina and Casian helped with banquet preparations and supplemented the necessary personnel.

While I focused on food supplies, everything proceeded smoothly, allowing me to catch my breath, and the retainers gradually found their pace and accelerated the banquet preparations.

“Good work, everyone.”

After finishing the meeting, I gave the customary praise and left the meeting room.

“Mary, do you have any remaining schedule today?”

“There’s no officially scheduled business. Why, my lady?”

“I think I need to visit the prison.”

Every time I requested an audience, Casian subtly interfered with my meetings with Matthew. So I decided it would be better to go down and see for myself.

“No! The prison is dangerous, my lady!”

“That’s right! It’s a place full of danger!”

“If you have business, we’ll go in your place!”

The Valhalla Knights who had been silently guarding from behind followed Mary’s lead and shouted with pale faces.

Everyone tried to dissuade me, but I covered my ears and quickened my pace.

“You cannot. There are prisoners with serious crimes there.”

“If you’re going to visit, please come with His Grace.”

Even the guards watching the prison waved their hands in refusal, leaving me troubled.

‘What should I do? At this rate, a direct meeting with Matthew is impossible.’

I was wondering how to get rid of these interfering obstacles when.

“Oh? My lady! The door is open! Please come in quickly!”

Rose was holding a lock and smiling brightly.

“No, that can’t be!”

“The door was locked just moments ago!”

When Rose shook the lock, the guards and knights examined it with panicked faces.

Taking advantage of the gap, I told Rose she did well and went down the dark stairs.

“My lady, I’m coming with you! And you need to be ca-careful of your footing!”

Mary, who had turned pale, followed closely behind me with a torch, steadying her trembling voice.

A musty smell stung my nose.

The rotten stench rising from below made me frown, but I placed my hand on the wall damp with moisture and descended the spiral staircase.

When the stairs ended, a fork in the path appeared.

“Wait here for a moment.”

“But, my lady!”

“That’s an order.”

At the firm statement, Mary hesitated.

Mary, with a dejected expression, glanced at me for a moment before holding out the torch.

“You need to hurry.”

“Yes.”

Taking the torch, I chose the left path.

Fortunately, it seemed I had found the right way.

“Why have you come?”

Through the iron bars, Matthew, wrapped in bandages, looked up at me with hollow eyes.

He looked terrible, as if he had endured severe torture.

Seeing his faded wheat-colored hair, I bit my lips and got straight to the point.

“I have something to ask you. Why did you do it?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

When Matthew feigned ignorance, I sighed and said.

“There was no need for this. Why would someone under the protection of House Heteus get involved in such unsavory affairs?”

“Is it wrong to get involved?”

At my words, Matthew let out a hollow laugh before asking seriously.

Focus had returned to his previously empty eyes.

“Have you ever lived a life where you constantly had to prove yourself?”

Matthew, who had posed the question, continued with serious eyes.

“I always have. Just for being born from the womb of a mother who was a maid, I was branded as a subversive element and lived a hard life.”

“Not everyone saw you that way.”

“Who knows. You can know ten fathoms deep water, but you can never know a person’s heart.”

Once labeled as a bastard, the prejudice that follows is inevitable. That was what he meant.

“Thanks to the Dowager and Casian, I got a good job, but that’s all. No matter how hard I struggled, I couldn’t shake off the inferiority complex.”

“Even if there were those who disparaged you, there were also good people by your side.”

“That’s right. So I made my own efforts too. But the more I tried, the more people reacted as if it was natural. Since I had a decent job with the support of House Heteus, it was a natural result.”

Matthew finished his candid confession with a bitter expression.

“That’s why I did it.”

Unable to shake off his inferiority complex, he suffered from alienation and got involved in crime.

That meaning reached me clearly.

“Even so, that can’t be a reason.”

At my cold reply, Matthew’s lips formed a straight line.

“You’re right. I know too. How much effort Casian has put in. I envied those born well, but watching from the side, noble society was truly brutal. But you were different.”

Matthew, gritting his teeth, turned his arrow of anger toward me.

“Living comfortably within the strongest fence of all! It was so ridiculous to see you wandering as if you were being persecuted.”

“You see my troubles as nothing more than complaints.”

“Because you, who receive comfort from people just for having good bloodline, are different from us who are pointed at for having lowly blood!”

Matthew, gripping the iron bars and exploding with anger, looked into the void and cried out emptily.

“If there’s anyone who understands someone like me, it would only be that person.”

“That person?”

While I narrowed my brows at the meaningful statement, Matthew let go of the bars and turned his back to me.

“Go back. By the way, I’m serious about finding your memories. Becoming the Duchess of Heteus is ridiculous enough, but as long as you have that, your life is in danger.”

“What do you mean by that?”

I called out to Matthew to get an answer, but at that moment, Rose burst out from the darkness.

“My lady! You need to leave now! There’s no time!”

“Wait, just a moment!”

“If we don’t go back quickly, His Grace might find out!”

Ah, right.

I came here without Casian knowing.

‘Right. I’ll ask again tomorrow.’

Though an indescribable anxiety crept up, I forced myself to shake off the thoughts and followed Rose out of the prison.

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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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