Surviving as the Wife of the Swordsmanship Clan’s Troublemaker - Chapter 108

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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 108

Morgan was a devout follower of the Holy Church who had become a member of Bloodmere’s guard with a heart dedicated to sacrifice for the Order since childhood. Because he had consistently earned the trust of the Family, the Order had revealed Hallara’s true identity to him. Along with that revelation came an order: should anything happen to her, he was to save her even at the cost of his own life.
But Morgan had been captured.
“Eliminate him.”
Johannes spoke with dry finality.
“Yes. I’ve already sent people. The problem is that the Imperial Court has learned of this, so Paradise will face investigation. This time, it won’t end with sending just a few inspectors.”
The Priest hung his head, unable to meet Johannes’s gaze, ashamed of his failure.
“We’ll move the Northern Emperor again. More importantly, have you heard from Lara?”
Johannes had no interest in that matter. Prodding the Northern Emperor’s weak point would make him handle the problem himself. Even if the Holy Church’s existence were revealed to the world, Johannes would merely be a pitiful angel sleeping in Paradise. The claim that the Holy Church was nothing but a group that worshipped him would suffice.
“My apologies, my lord. There has been no contact from Hallara.”
“No contact?”
For the first time, a flicker of disturbance crossed Johannes’s eyes, which had remained unmoved until now.
“Where is she in Bloodmere?”
“Hallara is currently at Bloodmere Castle. …As the wife of Docheop Bloodmere.”
This had been the Order’s plan. After Hallara established herself in the Dominion as one of its people, they would incite war between the Northern Empire and the Western Empire.
Then, when the Duke vacated his position, they would use that opportunity for Hallara to infiltrate the Family through Docheop, the child the Family had cast out.
If the objective had been achieved, there was no reason for her not to contact him.
Especially not Johannes, who would be more anxious than anyone.
Hallara would never leave her pitiful angel alone.
“I’ll send a messenger again. I’ll thoroughly investigate what has happened to Hallara—”
“Stop.”
Johannes spoke with weighty finality.
“We’re done waiting.”
Johannes rose from his reclined position. His silver hair cascaded like the Milky Way, sweeping across the floor.
“My lord. Does that mean…?”
“I’ve found Lara. I’m going to meet her.”
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***
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After several days, I returned to my room.
“The Holy Church seems to be the most likely force behind the Family’s destruction.”
I asked Docheop about it. Docheop had returned through regression, but he didn’t know which force had brought down Bloodmere. In the first place, the destruction of his family was merely the starting point of his journey, not his true purpose.
“I can’t be certain, but we should prepare as if it were them.”
“I agree. We must always face our enemies as if they were the strongest force in the world.”
I spoke with a slight smile, and Docheop let out a hollow laugh.
“You even know what I used to say?”
“I might know you better than you know yourself.”
I smiled gently. At that, Docheop’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“Not anymore.”
“Not anymore?”
In the world he now inhabited, the only thing different from before was me.
“You’ve come to understand my worth?”
I offered a bashful smile. At least Hallara hadn’t ruined his life.
“You understand well.”
“Then treat me well.”
“I will.”
His eyes softened with warmth. My chest tingled at his tender tone. Our eyes met. Docheop reached out his hand, and like at the villa, he brushed my hair back from my face.
Crackle, crackle. The irregular sound of burning wood echoed from the fireplace.
His gaze slid across my face like silk. It seemed to linger near my lips.
‘Surely not… that can’t be it?’
My heart pounded fiercely.
No. It couldn’t be. Docheop is naturally affectionate. He was like this at the villa, and he’s like this now.
That’s what I told myself.
But Docheop didn’t look away.
‘Why is he doing this?’
My heart was too loud. It seemed to ring louder than the fireplace.
“Docheop.”
“Yes?”
“We have so much work to do. You know that, don’t you?”
Docheop blinked.
“…Suddenly?”
I stood up from my seat. As naturally as possible. As if nothing were wrong.
Docheop watched me.
“Hallara.”
“Yes?”
“Your ears are red.”
I covered my ears with my hands.
“It’s from the fireplace.”
“Yes.”
He chuckled softly, brushing back his hair.
I pretended not to notice and walked toward the door.
“We don’t have much time. Casio needs to awaken as well.”
I spoke while suppressing the emotions rising within me. Work came first now. With that thought, I pressed down the feeling that tickled my chest.
Meeting Casio was only the beginning. He still didn’t know that his father was the previous Duke of Tierfall. Which meant he had many mountains yet to climb.
“I’ll be the one to awaken him. After all, I know that guy better than anyone.”
Docheop changed his clothes. It seemed he was about to go meet Casio immediately.
Docheop, who had experienced it firsthand beside Casio, would understand far better than I could from reading a book how Casio awakened as a Healer and grew.
“I don’t know how reassuring it is to have you here.”
I showed him a clenched fist—a gesture of encouragement. Though it was already late in the evening.
“Now?”
“Should I say you shine even brighter now? When you return, I’ll prepare something delicious for you.”
I smiled and encouraged him.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“Okay.”
He left the room. I took a deep breath. I had returned to Bloodmere. My objectives had become clear. There was an abundance of things to do.
After I prepared a delicious meal for Docheop today, it seemed I wouldn’t be able to do so for some time.
‘I need to move in my own way too.’
Since Docheop and I didn’t know each other’s true identities, we moved together this time, but going forward, time would be too limited to always act in tandem. I needed to find what I could accomplish alone.
‘I need to meet Elise.’
I had already thought of a way to meet Elise on the way here. Since Francesca was sponsored by Cardia and Tierfall, I planned to meet her through Francesca.
Elise was a High Mage hiding her true identity, so I would need to prepare a gift she would appreciate.
“Let me start by slicing some mulberry while I plan out my schedule.”
I changed into comfortable indoor clothes and left the room immediately.
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***
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“Three in the morning?”
Casio must have arrived too. I’d been so absorbed in showcasing my skills after all this time that the hours had slipped away unnoticed.
Docheop still hadn’t returned. Awakening wasn’t something simple, after all. I might not see him for several days.
“Still, I need to make sure he eats.”
Today I’d prepared seasoned vegetable strips and braised beef. I’d loaded them with eggs and beef—perfect for replenishing protein.
Besides, it was easy to make in large quantities, so I’d prepared plenty. I’d been bothered that I couldn’t buy gifts for them during my trip to the Southern Empire, but this worked out well.
“Yawn. I should get some sleep now.”
After removing the husks from the soaked barley, I untied my apron.
I was about to extinguish the candle and leave when I heard rustling coming from the kitchen warehouse.
“Hmm?”
I stopped in my tracks.
‘A mouse?’
Now that I thought about it, Hotsen had set mousetraps in the warehouse. He’d mentioned that with all the delicious fruits and ingredients we’d been bringing in lately, the mice seemed to be eating through the food.
I carefully transferred the flame from the candlestick to a lantern. Mice were terrifying, but cooking with ingredients they’d gnawed through was equally dreadful.
‘I’ll have to catch it myself this time.’
Though I didn’t have swordsmanship skills like Docheop’s.
Rustle.
I heard the sound again and pushed the door open cautiously.
In that instant, a figure beneath the lantern’s glow froze and looked up. It wasn’t a mouse—it was a person hiding in the warehouse.
“Who…?”
A woman in nightclothes crouched in the warehouse slowly lifted her head. With her hair tied back in a single knot, she looked at me and offered a sheepish smile.
“Hehe. I was just so hungry…”
A maid?
Her face was dimly lit and unfamiliar—she didn’t seem to be from the Annex.
‘Is she from the Main Building?’
That was possible. Rumors about the excellent meals served at the Annex had apparently spread even to the Main Building.
Still, I hadn’t expected anyone to be stealing cheese in the middle of the night.
“Are you hungry?”
“Yes, so very, very hungry!”
She nodded vigorously, then seemed to lose strength and slumped down, all while continuing to chew the cheese in her mouth.
“Even if you’re hungry, you can’t just eat ingredients like that. And snacks like this won’t satisfy you for long. You need a proper meal.”
“Stop nagging and give me something if you have it.”
“How shameless.”
“Ugh, I’m so hungry! So hungry!”
Where on earth did this beggar come from?

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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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