Newlywed Life Begins with a Mistake - Chapter 68

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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 68

“What about Matthew?”

“He’s refusing to eat.”

News that Evelyn had met with Matthew reached Casian’s ears.

Upon receiving this news, Casian immediately sent surveillance to the prison and ordered them to monitor Matthew’s movements.

“Fortunately, there seems to be nothing particularly unusual so far.”

“That may be true, but… at this rate, there’s a high probability he’ll starve to death.”

Though their relationship had soured, he had once been a comrade.

That’s why Hans couldn’t hide his complicated feelings.

From the unloading yard until now, Matthew hadn’t eaten anything. He only drank water in small amounts.

“He’s doing it to survive.”

Casian, who noticed Hans’s feelings, answered calmly.

He too was troubled, but he couldn’t allow Evelyn and Matthew to meet any longer.

If Matthew were to reveal secret orders or deliberately mention facts that shouldn’t be known…

“Leave work early.”

Casian, who had been lost in thought, quickly stood up.

After leaving the study, he walked without hesitation but suddenly stopped.

After a brief internal conflict, Casian turned his steps toward the wine cellar.

“Your Grace? What brings you here…”

“Bring out the noble rot wine produced in the Sottern region.”

“You mean Château d’Yquem? If I may ask, who will you be drinking it with? There’s been no noble rot for a while, so wine production has been disrupted… I understand. Please wait a moment!”

Under the sharp glare, the servant quickly brought out a basket containing wine and glasses.

Taking the basket, Casian moved again.

Passing the guards and descending the spiral staircase, he saw the iron bars shrouded in a desolate chill.

“Why did you come here? Did you come to mock me?”

Matthew, who had been lying on the damp floor, raised himself and spat out his anger in a voice rough as iron.

But lacking strength, Matthew coughed repeatedly after finishing those words.

Casian, who had been quietly watching the scene, spoke calmly.

“I wanted to see your face.”

They had once been close friends, but now they were enemies.

How should he deal with this?

To make a decision, Casian had deliberately sought out Matthew.

As Casian composed his expression and was lost in thought.

“You can’t get anything out of me. Even if you ask why, I have no intention of telling you.”

Matthew spoke firmly and turned his back to him.

At this, Casian pondered for a moment, then instead of answering, took out a bottle and glass from the basket.

“It’s Château d’Yquem. Famous for being a noble rot wine.”

As Casian opened the cork and poured the glass, the musty smell floating in the cell became much fainter.

The scent of tropical fruits mixed with alcohol spread subtly as if proving its existence.

“It’s wine made from grapes that have molded and withered. It suits you perfectly right now.”

When Casian opened the prison door and pushed the white wine inside, cracks appeared on Matthew’s face.

“Are you openly telling me to die?”

“Either way, you’ll starve to death or die of hunger. Isn’t facing death the same?”

He had managed to hold on until now, but it was either death by Casian or death by Bentley. One of the two.

Casian, who conveyed this meaning, locked the door and added an explanation about the wine.

“It looks unsightly and rotten on the outside, but excellent flavor is hidden within. Like you used to be.”

“…”

Complex emotions flashed through Matthew’s eyes as he looked at the wine sitting alone on the floor.

It was because memories of his pure past, unlike his current fallen state, came to mind.

“Persuasion is useless. I can’t say anything.”

Matthew, realizing he had crossed a river of no return, muttered bitterly.

“I know. There must be a prohibition on matters regarding those behind this.”

“!”

As shock settled on Matthew’s face, Casian took out a small bottle from his coat.

“If you ever considered me a friend, even briefly, don’t say anything.”

Casian, who threw the small bottle into the cell, stood up after finishing those words.

Left alone, Matthew stared at Casian’s retreating figure with a hollow expression, then soon mixed the liquid from the bottle into the wine and slowly drank it down.

* * *

The next day.

“Be careful, my lady.”

“Decomposition has already begun.”

Though she visited the prison as soon as day broke, Matthew had already become a cold corpse.

Evelyn, who stared blankly at the body covered with white cloth, couldn’t hide her sense of futility and muttered quietly.

“…He’s dead.”

I should have asked in advance if I knew this would happen.

I thought I had gotten one step closer to the truth…

Evelyn walked weakly down the corridor after leaving the prison.

At that moment, the room Matthew had been secretly using suddenly flashed through her mind.

“That’s right! There might be evidence there.”

Finding a faint hope, Evelyn hurried toward the room Matthew had been using in secret.

When she pulled the door handle, a familiar scene came into view.

Evelyn carefully closed the door and quickly scanned the interior.

The bedding and desk were still there, but the scattered parchments and her medical records were nowhere to be seen. As if they had never existed in the first place.

Facing a dead end, Evelyn finally lost strength in her legs and collapsed to the floor.

“What am I going to do now.”

* * *

At the same time. In the East.

“Cardinal, a messenger has come from Count Heteus’s estate.”

Ripples echoed through the quiet space.

A priest in modest attire bowed his head and handed a letter to the 7th Cardinal, bringing news that had arrived early in the morning.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

The 7th Cardinal patted the priest’s shoulder and leisurely walked down the corridor with the letter.

“Have you arrived, Lord Arhes?”

“Yes, Lord Herubim. It seems Count Heteus’s estate has sent a letter.”

When he showed the sealed envelope with the seal, 2nd Cardinal Herubim let out a groan and made the sign of the cross.

“I pray it’s nothing serious.”

“We can only hope so.”

Arhes opened the letter and examined its contents.

“Someone has appeared who wishes to receive a temple trial.”

“Who is the subject?”

“It says Princess Sibaven Silvia.”

“If it’s Princess Sibaven, I believe the 1st Cardinal gave her a Noctis necklace as a gift during the active trade period a few years ago.”

Herubim, barely pulling up the vague memory, muttered as if amazed.

“When we gave her the token, she looked like she wanted to throw it away… but she managed not to discard the necklace.”

Did she develop an interest in religion belatedly?

Such a question arose, but Arhes shook his head and answered as if it were absurd.

“Not everyone is devout. Haven’t there been cases recently where it was abused for impure purposes?”

Have you forgotten the incident where Editor Bellis held up a cross necklace engraved with the Noctis seal and appealed his innocence?

At the indirect question, Herubim let out a long sigh and nodded.

“That’s right. It seems Noctis’s reputation has fallen compared to before. To think someone would appear who seeks personal gain in the name of God.”

Although they had no official saint and their power had weakened due to the Pope maintaining his position, the Temple of Noctis still stood strong.

Rather than seeking personal gain, they took charge of blind spots and personally stepped forward to care for the unfortunate.

As they sincerely devoted themselves to relief work more than anyone else, the Empire’s citizens also showed unwavering support.

Thanks to this, even the Imperial Court could not easily interfere with temple affairs.

Because of this, there were many who tried to exploit it, so the Noctis priests had no choice but to put particular effort into managing believers.

“At times like this, we should have an official saint…”

“Shouldn’t we just focus on our own work? After all, the world flows according to the law of cause and effect.”

Arhes comforted Herubim, who had expressed regret, and examined the letter in his hand once more.

“We’ll need to convene a meeting.”

Although he had already reached a conclusion in his mind, he needed the permission of others.

Having made his decision, Arhes summoned the other cardinals and revealed the letter.

Everyone showed the same reaction as Arhes.

However, they felt it wasn’t a matter that would end with just their decision.

“We should probably send this to that person.”

After a long discussion, they eventually sent the letter from Count Heteus’s estate to the West.

* * *

“Let’s call it a day.”

The man who had been working at a desk made of ebony stood up.

As the man finished preparing and rose from his seat with his face revealed, a dry, emotionless voice stopped him in his tracks.

“Do you want your identity to be exposed?”

The man, who had been about to ignore Cecilia as usual, stopped walking and turned around with a twisted smile.

“Are you threatening me right now?”

The man with black hair swept back asked with curious eyes.

“No. It’s pure curiosity. You’ve been going out frequently.”

Lifeless eyes answered indifferently, containing no emotion whatsoever.

“If Bell recognizes me, so be it. After all, there isn’t just one Count Heteus.”

When the man shrugged his shoulders and replied nonchalantly, Cecilia spoke honestly.

“I’m envious.”

“Of who?”

“Of you. Because you’re not bound by causality.”

The man glanced at Cecilia for a moment, then looked at the pile of boxes containing herbs and asked a meaningful question.

“Do you believe in God?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t. I have no god.”

Disbelief was etched in his firm voice.

Cecilia, who had anticipated the man’s answer, immediately agreed.

“That’s right. Not for you.”

The more they conversed, the more it felt like the two lived in opposite worlds.

Though such thoughts lingered on her lips, Cecilia examined the herbs while offering advice.

“Still, be careful. Now is the time to protect yourself.”

The man brushed off those words and grabbed the door handle.

But before he could go outside, a woman entered first.

“Cecilia! From the East… Huh? Your Grace, you haven’t left yet?”

“I’m leaving now.”

With those final words, the man stormed out.

The woman, sensing the subtle tension that had passed, was momentarily flustered but soon got to the point.

“Cecilia, a letter came from Noctis.”

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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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