Newlywed Life Begins with a Mistake - Chapter 71
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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 71
‘No way!’
Arhes reflexively turned his head and fixed his gaze on a woman.
“Is there something wrong?”
Sebastian carefully asked upon seeing Arhes standing there in a daze.
Though he had said no escort was needed, Sebastian thought he couldn’t let a guest of the ducal house leave like this, so he hurriedly came after finishing up at the scene.
“Who, who is staying over there?”
Arhes, who had been standing blankly, pointed somewhere with his finger.
“Ah… over there is.”
Sebastian looked troubled when he saw where Arhes was pointing. It was because it was Evelyn’s quarters.
“It’s where an honored person is staying.”
“Could I meet them directly?”
“I’m sorry, but that would be difficult. They extremely dislike visits from outsiders.”
“Even just for a moment would be fine, so please at least make the request!”
Though Sebastian politely declined, Arhes earnestly pleaded.
At the persistent request, Sebastian wiped away cold sweat and expressed a gentle refusal.
“I’ll ask when the Duke comes later. Please go now.”
“…I understand. I’ll ask as much as possible.”
Arhes glanced at the room Evelyn had entered, then left the Duke’s mansion with polite courtesy.
“Huh? Why did you come back so quickly, Cardinal?”
The junior priest waiting outside immediately expressed his confusion upon seeing Arhes.
Even if a trial that usually takes time was conducted in one day, the work was processed too quickly.
“There was nothing to see. Every time she opened her mouth, she told lies and only emitted impure energy.”
“No way! Tsk-“
“Watch your words. It’s not certain.”
Arhes cautioned the junior priest to watch his tongue and extended his foot to board the carriage. Or rather, he tried to.
“Is there some problem, Cardinal?”
“…”
“Ah, is it because you’re not taking Princess Silvia with you? They said the Knights of the Heteus Family would directly transport her to the monastery. So let’s head back now.”
The junior priest, seeing Arhes standing like a faithful wife waiting for her husband’s return, urged him to hurry and board the carriage.
But with his feet refusing to move, Arhes closed his eyes and muttered quietly.
“I’m not sure.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Lady Cecilia’s letter aside…”
The energy he had definitely felt earlier was certainly divine power.
To be precise, sacred energy had emanated from the woman with green hair that seemed to contain fresh verdure.
And from the maid beside her, a murky energy…
“Since it’s gotten dark today, it would be better to find a nearby inn.”
Arhes, cutting off his thoughts, postponed returning to the temple.
The junior priest was bewildered by the sudden decision but quickly agreed.
“Yes. Since night is falling soon, it would be better to depart tomorrow. However, wouldn’t it be better to ask the Heteus family for understanding and get a room rather than an inn?”
“That would be nice, but…”
Judging by the butler’s attitude, the Heteus family was hiding something.
It must be related to the person from whom divine power was felt.
“Never mind. Since it’s late, let’s hurry and go find a room.”
Arhes boarded the carriage, putting his regret behind him.
Even if it meant meeting the person presumed to be a saint, he had to step back for now.
“Please, you must stay away from evil energy…”
Arhes, with a face filled with worry, let out a long sigh as he looked at the Hetis Duchy gradually disappearing beyond the window.
* * *
“The Noctis Cardinal wants to meet my wife?”
“Yes. He said he very much wanted to meet her.”
When Casian returned to the Duke’s mansion, Sebastian immediately gave his report as if he had been waiting.
“Any related factions?”
“I believe there are none. The Noctis Temple is far from worldly affairs.”
“Right. Unlike other temples, it’s a place of integrity and honesty, so that makes sense.”
Casian, adding that they should choose an appropriate time, handed his coat to Sebastian and fell into thought.
‘So it is the aura of light after all.’
Though he couldn’t be certain, there must be a reason why the 7th Cardinal who serves the Goddess Noctis was seeking Evelyn so earnestly.
If his guess was correct, the Cardinal must have seen divine power in Evelyn or felt something.
“This may be presumptuous, but what do you plan to do about Madam?”
Sebastian, taking Casian’s coat, asked carefully.
“It’s good that you have feelings for each other, but there are problems with maintaining a proper relationship.”
The southern duke who touched another man’s woman to eliminate hostile forces.
The northern princess who lost her memory and fell in love with her fiancé’s political enemy.
Anyone could see it was a perfect combination to become the subject of gossip.
“If the rumors continue, both of your reputations will be tarnished…”
“I know. I need to sort it out soon.”
Casian replied curtly to the concerned question.
Having dismissed his guest, he leaned back and pulled out a letter from his coat.
【There’s no reason for that child’s marriage to require our permission. However, if you have any conscience, you too should not interfere with that child’s life.】
He had personally traveled to send a marriage proposal to the north, but far from meeting Count Seldian face to face, only a cold response came back.
It was one thing for Casian to be unwelcome, but for Evelyn to be unwelcome too.
“…Would it be too much to package this as reconciliation.”
Casian pondered and pondered again to find a peaceful solution.
In the process, he needed an appropriate narrative that wouldn’t hurt Evelyn.
A justification that would maintain their reputation.
It was a matter that had to be resolved for Evelyn’s future return to social circles.
“The only way is to catch Count Heteus after all.”
Though he had kept postponing it, there was only one conclusion.
Evelyn had risked herself pretending to be Count Heteus’s lover to catch him.
So she had devoted herself to the country by unintentionally acting as lovers.
Leading things this way and then earning merit.
It didn’t matter if people said he was trying to cover the sky with his palm.
For now, this was the best option.
“To do that, I’ll need to use the banquet to set everything right.”
He had thrown the trap, and signals had been detected that someone had taken the bait.
Now he just needed to succeed in the hunt.
However, if there was something bothering him…
“How many Count Heteus are there, and which one among them is real.”
The problem was distinguishing the real from the fake.
“Whatever the case, Evelyn is…”
She’ll be fine.
No, she has to be.
Even if Evelyn had pretended to be Count Heteus at some point.
After all, the Count Heteus who ruled the underworld would be a man.
“…She’s not the real one, so it’ll be fine.”
Having reached that conclusion, Casian immediately pulled the bell cord.
“Disguise the knights as civilians for the neighboring village festival.”
* * *
“What? You want to go to a festival? When the Heteus Banquet is less than a week away?”
Casian suddenly came to me and suggested we go to a festival in the neighboring village.
And tonight at that!
“We are busy, but it’s time we need a change of mood.”
“Still, going right now is a bit…”
Even though it had been a while since we spent intimate time together alone, leaving work behind to go out and play felt unsettling.
“Couldn’t we go after everything is finished.”
When I politely declined, the corners of Casian’s mouth drooped sadly.
Making a forlorn expression, he lowered his eyes and spoke pitifully.
“I deliberately cleared my evening schedule because I wanted to spend pleasant time with my wife… I suppose it was too much to ask.”
He was pretending to cry and acting sly like a fox, which was obviously fake.
“Let’s go then!”
Why do I end up falling for it even when I know better.
Of course, it’s not because I’m swayed by his looks.
I’m going because I want some fresh air.
“Then I’ll tell the maids to prepare. Also, the 7th Cardinal of Noctis Temple wishes to see you.”
“The cardinal wants to meet me?”
“Yes. I don’t know the reason, but it seems he has something he wants to tell you.”
Have I met the cardinal in the past?
“I understand. When is the time…”
“It’s possible right now. He’s waiting in the drawing room.”
“…I’ll meet him now.”
I don’t know why he’s waiting for me, but it must mean he has important business.
Saying I would go alone, I dismissed those around me and headed to the drawing room.
As I entered, an elderly man came into view.
“I greet the noble one.”
The man in white robes saw me and bowed his head, greeting me respectfully.
“Oh, oh. Please get up, Your Eminence.”
“Please call me Arhes.”
“Yes. Lord Arhes. Please get up quickly.”
I was taken aback by his overly polite greeting.
Only after Arhes took his seat did I fire my question.
“Why did you ask to meet me?”
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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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