Surviving as the Wife of the Swordsmanship Clan’s Troublemaker - Chapter 117

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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 117

“It wasn’t Elise I was concerned about—it was her opponent I felt sorry for.”
“…Pardon?”
My mind went blank for a moment.
Until just now, I’d assumed Docheop was worried about Elise. Perhaps that’s why I’d felt a twinge—a very small twinge—of jealousy.
But this? His unexpected answer left me utterly deflated.
“…Haha.”
A hollow laugh escaped me. I couldn’t tell if it was from relief or from the sheer absurdity of the situation.
“Why are you laughing?”
Docheop looked down at me with puzzlement.
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
I stifled my laughter and continued.
“I thought you were worried about Elise.”
“I am worried.”
“…What?”
“Mostly that she might hurt the people around her.”
Ah.
It wasn’t the kind of concern I’d imagined at all.
“I’ve started to feel sorry for her, actually.”
“Sorry for what? I’m helping her cast whatever magic she wants. It’s like a lifeline dropped from heaven.”
Watching Docheop speak so matter-of-factly, I abandoned my suspicions about romance between them.
He sounded less like he was talking about a lover and more like he was discussing a troublesome younger sister.
“Still, she’s someone we need.”
“That’s true. That’s why I gave her Freya’s Mana Stone. She’s probably used it to cast whatever magic she wanted by now.”
“You obtained Freya’s Mana Stone? How?”
“Have you already forgotten who I am?”
I knew, but…
“That’s impressive.”
Freya’s Mana Stone could only be obtained from the region where the star had fallen. It was designated a restricted area, surrounded by all manner of rare magical beasts.
“I know.”
He smiled.
Wait.
“Don’t tell me you asked her to create a Gate with it?”
“Yes. She’s probably making it right now.”
How thoughtful of him!
“Thanks to you, I can finally breathe. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
With so much work already piling up, Docheop had saved me. He’d taken a huge burden off my shoulders—from the Mana Stone to the Gate itself.
“Hallara, there’s something you’re misunderstanding.”
He gently placed his hand on my shoulder.
“You don’t need to take responsibility for all of this.”
That may be true.
“But I’m the one who brought you here, asked for your help, and even begged you not to leave. All of it was me.”
He spoke softly, almost to himself.
I let out a small laugh. He seemed to think I was struggling.
“There’s something you’re misunderstanding, my lord.”
I flashed him a genuine smile—one without a trace of falsehood.
“I’m actually having a wonderful time right now. To be honest, I felt quite lost before. But once I realized you were with me, everything became enjoyable.”
I smiled more brightly than ever, hoping my sincerity would reach him.
But he didn’t answer. I felt his large hand, resting on my shoulder, tremble ever so slightly.
“My lord?”
Docheop’s eyes, gazing down at me, wavered slightly.
“Oh? Snow is falling.”
At that moment, white snowflakes settled on his dark brows. They sparkled in the midday light. Yet Docheop seemed oblivious even to the snow accumulating on his shoulders.
In the frigid winter air, his intense gaze tickled my cheeks. Because of it, I felt no cold at all.

***

White breath dispersed into the cold air.
Beyond the hand resting on my shoulder, Hallara’s warmth reached me.
“Once I realized you were with me, everything became enjoyable.”
The moment I saw that smile, a searing sensation swept through my entire body.
That day in the swaying carriage, when I kissed her as she slept with shallow breaths—I had already recognized my feelings then.
But I was mistaken. That tremor paled in comparison to what I felt now; it was merely a prelude.
‘…I’m losing my mind.’
Watching her smile with such happiness, I finally understood. I had brought Hallara into the Family, I had stopped her from leaving, but I was the one who could never escape this bond.
“Oh? Snow is falling.”
Hallara gazed up at the sky and laughed like a child.
While her gaze turned skyward, I couldn’t hide my longing as I etched her profile into my memory. A conviction so intense it made my vision swim seized me.
A world without Hallara would be meaningless.
“My lady!”
Hallara’s Maid waved from a distance.
“Oh, it’s May!”
Her gaze shifted in an instant.
“My lord, I should go now. I have my duties to attend to.”
The Maid’s interruption of our moment was somewhat irksome, but I couldn’t simply keep her here.
“See you later.”
Hallara nodded and dashed through the falling snow with delight.
May hurried over trying to shield her with an umbrella, but Hallara playfully folded it and took the Maid’s hand, disappearing into the distance.
Her laughter echoed across the courtyard. Following her footprints traced upon the white snow, a soft laugh escaped my lips.
“I’ll yield for now.”
He tore his gaze away from her retreating figure with visible effort.
“It seems I’m not the only one who wants you.”
Behind his quiet laughter, only a deep thirst remained.

***

The Annex Kitchen bustled with activity.
“What on earth is happening?”
May’s eyes widened as she watched servants carry sacks of flour. “The Duchess of Cardia is coming here?”
“The Duchess is coming to learn cooking?”
“Yes. She said she wants to learn how to cook.”
“The Duchess cooking?”
May’s eyes grew wide. A noblewoman—and not just any noblewoman, but the mistress of a Ducal House—learning to cook with her own hands.
“Mother-in-law must have introduced her.”
“That’s right. Mother-in-law came first. Since she visits the kitchen so often, I suppose you’ve already forgotten about those days, haven’t you?”
Francesca had visited frequently since commercializing kimchi. Hotsen, who received research funding, created new kimchi varieties daily, and the Annex Kitchen had improved dramatically as a result.
“It feels like those days were so long ago now. It was already surprising when Mother-in-law first came to such a shabby kitchen, but to think it’s developed this much.”
The cooking hearths and utensils had expanded considerably.
And fresh ingredients overflowed everywhere.
“You all built this together.”
“No!”
May protested loudly.
“Would any of this have been possible without you, my lady?”
“Well, I suppose so.”
“Good heavens.”
May covered her mouth.
“What?”
“Look how shameless our lady has become.”
“What?”
This was not the sort of thing May, who always praised me, would normally say.
“It’s true, isn’t it? Every time, you say ‘No, it’s thanks to you all’ and argue about it for ten minutes before finally conceding with ‘Fine, I understand.'”
May pouted her lips.
I opened my mouth to respond but stopped short.
‘That’s right. When did I become so confident?’
I questioned myself silently.
In truth, I had never been the type to reveal my true feelings openly to others. Especially not in my life before the possession.
I was always watching others’ expressions, always retreating slightly rather than claiming my due, always wearing the mask of a good person.
But that was no longer the case. Now I acknowledged my own accomplishments and accepted gifts without guilt.
‘Could it be because of Docheop?’
I recalled his gaze from moments ago in the snowy courtyard—quiet, unwavering, fixed upon me.
He who trusted me completely, who treated me with tenderness regardless of who I was. Perhaps his presence, with its subtle reassurance, was gradually transforming me.
“You praise me far too much. Look at these flames. How could anyone remain humble before such a sight? My lips itch to boast about them.”
I deliberately feigned indifference and picked up the knife. Inwardly, I felt a touch of embarrassment, but what did it matter?
“Forgive my tardiness. My conversation with the Duke ran longer than expected.”
A composed voice settled into the kitchen where May and I had been exchanging light banter.
I turned to find Eva standing there in an elaborate silk dress. The perfect bearing of a noblewoman—utterly out of place in this space.
“Welcome, madam. I’ve only just arrived myself.”
But it didn’t matter. Soon enough, we would wear similar expressions and appearances.
“How fortunate. I’ll begin preparing the ingredients methodically.”
“Of course. Shall we head this way?”
As I opened the Annex Kitchen storage door alongside Eva, who nodded enthusiastically, a sharp cry from Eva split the quiet of the Annex.
“…Good heavens, madam! What on earth is this?”
May shrieked in utter shock. For a duchess accustomed to steaks plated on fine china, the massive slab of meat with its bones and musculature laid bare must have been nothing short of horrifying.
But to my eyes, it was simply premium ingredients with perfectly balanced marbling.
I touched the meat casually and offered Eva a slight smile.
“The young lady is quite fond of meat, you see.”

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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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