Surviving as the Wife of the Swordsmanship Clan’s Troublemaker - Chapter 132

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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 132

Just a few hours earlier.
The Western Empire Emperor’s eyes widened gradually as he examined the documents Ludvin had placed on the table.
“The Northern Empire’s Emperor was a fake? How did they manage to deceive everyone…”
“Our guild will uncover the details in due time. What matters is that this information is genuine.”
Ludvin asked with a smooth, disarming smile.
“So, will you purchase this information?”
“I will. It would be strange not to, given such concrete evidence.”
For the Western Empire Emperor, this was precisely tailored intelligence for his current situation.
It was the perfect opportunity to cleanly dispose of the Northern Empire Emperor, who had long been a thorn in his side.
“I will make this truth public at the international conference with my authority. But before that, I need perfect groundwork to shake public opinion.”
The Emperor gazed directly at Ludvin and made a discreet proposal.
“Mobilize the entire intelligence network of your Libra Guild. Within less than half a day, lay the groundwork so the entire continent believes this rumor and tears the Northern Empire Emperor to shreds. For those conditions, I’ll grant you whatever you desire. Gold coins? Or perhaps a dominion?”
The Emperor’s extraordinary offer was generous, but Ludvin simply shook his head with his characteristic cunning smile.
“A dominion would be troublesome to manage, and a few chests of gold coins wouldn’t satisfy me. Your Majesty, I desire something far more permanent and grand.”
“Something grand?”
“Once the false Emperor is brought down, the Northern Empire’s throne will remain vacant for some time. The empire will fall into tremendous chaos as it searches for and verifies a legitimate successor.”
Ludvin recited what he had already prepared, revealing his true intentions.
“At that moment, the Western Empire—having exposed all these truths—will lend its strength to reorganize the Northern Imperial Family under the guise of righteousness. And I ask that Your Majesty grant our Libra Guild, which possesses the finest intelligence network, the authority to take full responsibility for these crucial practical matters and the verification of successors.”
“You intend to directly intervene in another nation’s imperial restoration?”
“Precisely. And in compensation for that effort, I ask that Your Majesty arrange for our Libra Guild to monopolize the state contracts and trade routes that will flow from the newly established Northern Imperial Family.”
A brief silence fell after his words. Ludvin was not simply demanding payment for information. Through this intelligence, he was positioning himself to become not merely a guildmaster, but a merchant magnate commanding influence over the Northern Empire itself.
“Meticulous beyond measure. It’s positively chilling.”
“Your Majesty, please don’t view it only in that light. As I mentioned before, I am family to the Empress before I am a merchant. In other words, this is not entirely a loss for Your Majesty either.”
“You certainly know how to speak.”
As he said, from the Western Empire Emperor’s perspective, this was a perfect transaction. It was a golden opportunity to firmly bind the Northern Empire under the Western Empire’s influence.
The Emperor let out a sigh.
“Very well. You cunning creature.”
“A most excellent decision, Your Majesty.”
Ludvin finally bowed deeply with satisfaction, and his lips twitched imperceptibly with a hidden smile.
“Spare me the pleasantries and spread this news at once.”
“Preparations are already complete. I will ensure the news spreads throughout the Western Empire within the hour.”
As Ludvin issued his command, the news spread across the Western Empire as if waiting for the signal. The rumor, ignited by the authority of the Western Imperial Family, spread unstoppably like wildfire across a parched field.
Maximus, the Northern Empire Emperor, was dragged from his throne without even a chance to respond, and soon found himself behind the cold iron bars of a Western Empire prison.
​
***
And now, that news had reached Bloodmere Castle.
“Clear evidence has emerged that Maximus, who currently sits upon the throne, is not of true Imperial bloodline.”
“What?”
At the Knight Commander’s bombshell declaration, every eye in the room shifted in unison.
They all turned toward Johannes.
If the Emperor was a fraud, then his son, the Crown Prince, was equally false.
“You.”
The Knight Commander, uncertain what to call him now, fixed his gaze upon Johannes.
“You’ll need to come with us for now.”
At his gesture, the Knights standing behind him surrounded Johannes like a closing net.
“If you refuse to cooperate, we’ll have no choice but to drag you by force.”
Karl, sensing something amiss in the tense standoff, rushed forward.
“What is the meaning of this?”
Upon seeing Duncan collapsed on the ground, he asked, and Elise answered with tears streaming down her face.
“Save him. Father might die….”
“This is outrageous! I’ll fetch Doctor Casio at once.”
The Servant’s urgent cry rang out sharply through the room.
At the mention of that name, Johannes’s pupils moved with mechanical precision.
Johannes swept his gaze across the swords of the Knights surrounding him as though they were nothing but refuse.
“So this is where the pretense of humanity ends, I see.”
He drew his hand through the empty air.
*Shlick.*
The Knight Commander’s head, severed cleanly in a single stroke, fell to the floor. Blood erupted as his body collapsed. The Knights, stunned by the sudden violence, could only gape in horror.
“Since the game is broken, there’s no reason to linger.”
In that moment, Johannes raised his hand once more to finish Duncan, who lay before him.
“Get away! You monster!!!”
Elise shrieked.
A magical barrier materialized once more.
But the barrier, already weakened from the mana poured into the gate, shattered instantly under Johannes’s touch.
Johannes extended his hand, stained black with demonic energy.
Yet that hand never reached Elise.
The magical spear exploded with a deafening roar.
Golden sword energy flowed through the shower of glass shards. From the dust, Docheop emerged.
“Elise.”
His entire body was drenched in the crimson blood of demonic beasts.
His black eyes, ringed with gold, swept across the room.
Duncan and Elise came into view. Thankfully, both were alive. But Hallara was nowhere to be seen.
“Young Master!”
Karl seized him, his voice trembling with emotion.
“Where is Hallara?”
“I am unharmed.”
With those words, Docheop’s anxiety seemed to wash away in an instant.
Yet he could not afford to lower his guard.
Docheop parried the incoming demonic energy with his blade.
Standing where the demonic energy had originated was a man he had never seen before.
A figure he had not encountered even before the regression—Auriel.
The fact that he, who had been dead, now lived meant only one thing.
‘Johannes of Lucidpol.’
He had appeared wearing a human shell.
“How is this possible….”
Docheop’s words trailed off.
Even if he asked and received an answer, nothing would change.
He unleashed a torrent of sword energy.
Johannes did not evade. Instead, as though bored, he raised his bare hand, and from his fingertips, pitch-black demonic energy swirled into existence, forming a web-like barrier of defense.
Kaaaaang.
Sword energy and demonic energy collided head-on, and a tremendous shockwave erupted. The terrible recoil transmitted through his blade made Docheop’s eyes narrow sharply.
‘This method.’
A sickening combat style he had endured painfully on some distant battlefield. Docheop’s gaze locked with the eyes beyond the demonic energy. He tightened his grip on his sword and spoke through gritted teeth.
“Do not hide behind that shell. Crawl out in your true form, Johannes.”
The mockery that had lingered at Johannes’s lips vanished in an instant.
“You recognize me?”
Johannes, too, felt the aura of Bloodmere strongly. The Duke could not possibly have returned from the Northern Empire. Yet before him stood one who wielded sword energy equal to, or perhaps exceeding, his own.
“The scent of the beast’s blood I once cherished reverberates so clearly.”
With that low whisper, black smoke erupted violently from beneath Johannes’s feet.
The smoke transformed in an instant into the gaping maw of a beast, hurtling toward Docheop.
​
***
​
‘Is Docheop coming?’
I gazed through the gaps between the wooden planks covering the window and exhaled a quiet sigh.
Upon returning to my room, I found that every window—the only source of respite—had been sealed shut. Despite the daylight outside, darkness enveloped the chamber. I lit a candle in the center of the room.
It was to leave a letter for Docheop, whose return date remained uncertain.
Fortunately, the Northern Kingdom Soldier who had ransacked my room had left behind a pen and ink.
“Really? You’re serious?”
As I began writing a few lines, commotion erupted outside the door.
“The Knight Commander just went to retrieve that man—the one we’ve been calling the Crown Prince, though I suppose that’s not quite right either. We don’t even know where he’s from.”
The Crown Prince? Could it be?
I stopped writing and pressed myself against the door.
“Hey, if that’s the case, do we really need to stay here guarding?”
“You’re right. If he’s not actually the Crown Prince, then it’s not regicide anyway.”
“Let’s go. We should see what’s happening.”
Tap, tap, tap.
The sound of footsteps faded into the distance.
On impulse, I turned the door handle.
To my astonishment, the Soldiers who had treated me as a criminal mere moments ago had already vanished.​

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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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