Surviving as the Wife of the Swordsmanship Clan’s Troublemaker - Chapter 107

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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 107

“You know that scarf I gave you as a gift?”
“That fur coat looks better though.”
“Just be satisfied with this for now.”
I retrieved the scarf from my bag and wrapped it around Docheop’s neck.
Only then did Docheop’s petty jealousy subside.
“Priest, please put this on too. Your priestly robes are far too thin.”
Casio was still wearing his priestly vestments. I had offered him new clothes, but he seemed reluctant to let them go. That’s why I wanted to give him something new even more.
He stared at the clothes I offered for a long while before finally removing his own.
“I am no longer a priest. Just call me Casio.”
“Casio.”
Docheop called out first.
“Hey, you can drop the formal speech…”
“I’m a prince. This is our house.”
The massive Bloodmere Castle stood where he pointed.
His expression seemed to say: I’m a prince of the Hero Family, so what are you? Of course, he didn’t voice it aloud.
“So it was one-sided, this kinship you spoke of.”
“That’s not it. I’m telling you to speak comfortably too.”
“I see.”
At his blunt reply, my eyes met Docheop’s. We both knew how rough a healer’s tongue could become as time passed.
I burst into laughter, and Casio asked,
“By the way, didn’t you mention a honeymoon? Is it alright if I return with you right away?”
“It’s not.”
Docheop’s expression turned serious at once.
“We’re going again. Somewhere better than the Southern Empire.”
He turned to look at me. This time, I couldn’t smile. We were cooperating, but we weren’t the kind of couple to take a honeymoon together.
“Shall we head inside?”
I spoke first, leading the way. Docheop followed behind, gazing at me with warm eyes.
I no longer needed to pretend to be a loving couple.
Yet somehow, it felt even more tender.
‘It must be because we know each other’s true nature now.’
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***
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“You left for your honeymoon without telling me, and now you return in silence?”
Francesca’s face turned pouty, clearly hurt by my sudden departure.
I quickly grasped her hand firmly.
“I’m sorry. My heart was so unsettled that I hurried back. And I brought you a gift.”
There had been no time to purchase anything, but I had already prepared something precious for her.
“Have you ever heard of the Pearl of Balanka?”
A pearl with a golden luster gleamed brilliantly.
I hadn’t donated it to the Temple.
Instead, I had given a sacred relic concealing tremendous holy power.
“Goodness, the Pearl of Balanka! How extraordinary.”
I personally presented the pearl, heavy as a gold ingot, to Francesca.
“You purchased something so precious?”
“No. I encountered Balanka. It appeared on the very ship bound for the Southern Empire.”
“What? You weren’t injured anywhere?”
Francesca examined me with concern, and I shook my head with a smile.
“But Mother, who defeated that Balanka~?”
“Hmm? Balanka was… Surely not?”
Her gaze naturally turned toward Docheop. Docheop averted his eyes and let out an awkward cough. Praise still seemed unfamiliar to him.
“Docheop?”
“Yes! He dispatched that enormous demon in one swift stroke.”
I drew my finger across my throat to indicate it was finished.
Francesca placed her hand over her heart in astonishment and cast a look of pride toward her son. Yet she couldn’t quite bring herself to voice her praise. Sensing her hesitation, I added my own words.
“You’ve heard from Nikolai, haven’t you? Our prince has awakened.”
“Awakened?”
She clearly had no idea.
“The prince was stingy with his words, wasn’t he….”
“Hmm?”
“No, I have wonderful news. Docheop has awakened to the seventh star.”
Francesca’s eyes widened as wide as lanterns.
“Docheop, you’ve done splendidly. Splendidly indeed.”
Only then did praise pour forth from her lips.
“I always knew my son could do it. What joyous news! This calls for celebration. We must prepare a grand banquet at once.”
Her eyes glistened with tears even as she beamed with pride.
“Thank you, Mother.”
“No, I should be thanking you. I’m sorry. Whether you awakened or not, you are my precious child. I should have embraced and protected you. I was foolish not to do so. Will you forgive your inadequate mother?”
Her hand trembled as it traced his face, and tears fell first.
“Since you were young… I saw how hard you struggled….”
Francesca lowered her head and rested her forehead against Docheop’s shoulder.
“I know how much you suffered. I knew it all, yet I pretended not to.”
After catching her breath for a moment, she pulled him into a firm embrace.
All pretense of aristocratic dignity had long since been abandoned.
I nodded as I watched him blink at me, his stiff frame finally relaxing as he patted Francesca’s shoulder.
My own eyes grew misty. Awkward though it appeared, wasn’t this what Docheop had always longed for?
As I gazed upon the harmonious pair, I found myself thinking of those who were absent.
“I haven’t seen Prince Helbeorn lately, have I?”
The Manor had been unusually quiet since earlier. Even Helbeorn, who had constantly tormented me, was nowhere to be found.
“Helbeorn left with a friend. He said he’d met someone on our wedding day and would return shortly, but we haven’t heard from him since.”
That was typical of him. Or perhaps… the quiet without him was rather pleasant.
“And Prince Nikolai?”
“He’s gone to the Imperial Capital. I was meaning to tell you about it anyway.”
Francesca’s expression darkened.
“The Imperial Capital?”
“Remember that traitor Hallara caught before? It turned out they were a member of the Holy Church. How such people managed to take root in our Family is beyond me. Nikolai took them directly to the Imperial Palace.”
My eyes met Docheop’s.
It was a fact already revealed at the wedding. But Docheop hadn’t informed Nikolai out of concern for my safety, and it seemed Nikolai had discovered the truth on his own.
“Though we sent a letter while on our honeymoon since it was a serious matter, I didn’t expect him to return so quickly. Surely you two didn’t quarrel?”
Francesca looked between us with concern.
“No, not at all. It was wonderful. It’s just that we came back early because…”
It was time to mention Casio. We couldn’t very well keep him hidden from the Family.
“We found a capable physician during our travels. His skills are exceptional, so we brought him to the Family to recruit him.”
But Docheop introduced Casio as a doctor instead.
“A physician? A doctor?”
“Yes. I heard our Family physician had disappeared, so a new one was hired. But since they’ll be quite busy attending to Mother’s health, I thought it might be good to bring in another.”
He elaborated smoothly, as if he’d known about it all along. Moved by his words, Francesca nodded immediately.
“How thoughtful of you to consider me as well. I was actually wondering whether to hire another physician since you and Hallara are staying in the Annex.”
“Yes. And as you know, Hallara…”
Docheop turned away from me and whispered something to Francesca.
Francesca’s eyes widened and she nodded vigorously.
“Yes, that was well thought out.”
I didn’t know what he’d said, but it seemed Casio would be able to join the Family without issue.
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***
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Paradise stained with blood.
As rain fell, the crimson blood that had dyed the barrier washed away.
Johannes sensed that all life had ceased and lowered the concentration of demonic energy.
“Tedious humans.”
Then, as if waiting for this moment, a raven messenger entered.
“Hallara is at Bloodmere.”
Only then did joy bloom across Johannes’s face.
“Lara. So you were there.”
But it was short-lived.
“Why are you only telling me this now?”
Johannes’s expression darkened ominously.
“According to one messenger, our operative rooted at Bloodmere was captured. And according to another, his identity was revealed today and he was secretly transferred to the Imperial Palace.”
“They used a drug to discover our identity.”
“A potion crafted by those treacherous mages. The problem is they specifically targeted and captured our operative.”
A truth-revealing drug was exceedingly rare, and its effects were fleeting. The fact that it was used precisely on Morgan meant there had been something that could expose our identity. But the greater problem lay here.
“…My lord, that man knows that Hallara is our executive.”

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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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