Surviving as the Wife of the Swordsmanship Clan’s Troublemaker - Chapter 3

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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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Episode 3

***

I headed straight back to the market.

<Kalrai Market>

I could see the market sign that I hadn’t noticed earlier.

That name that appeared frequently in the original work. The market where a sword spirit supposedly appears and devours goods.

The people here think the spirit story is just a legend, but later when Docheop returns here with his companions, he encounters that spirit.

Of course, that’s a story from long after Bloodmere falls.

For now, it’s just a peaceful market.

“The shop I spotted earlier…”

I looked around for the shop I had noticed while passing by earlier.

“Here it is.”

Looking closely, the groceries sold at the shop didn’t look particularly fresh.

Though they were much fresher than the neighboring shops.

“Huh? Isn’t that Hallara?”

Just then, a bearded shopkeeper approached me.

‘Does he know Hallara?’

Well, this is a street where poor commoners live within the estate, so it would be stranger if he didn’t know her.

But I couldn’t just pretend to know someone I don’t.

“Hello.”

I started with a greeting, and then,

“Huh??”

The man let out a high-pitched voice as if startled.

“Why, what’s wrong?”

“Eh? What? Is this a dream?”

Did Hallara have a bad relationship with him?

Why is he reacting like that?

“Did I perhaps speak informally before? Are we close? I’m sorry. I’ve been so scattered lately that my memory is hazy.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Huh? Then…”

What kind of relationship do they have?

“I know you, miss. But you wouldn’t know me~! Because you’re a famous person in our village. Haha!”

Fortunately, it was our first meeting.

I calmed my surprised heart and quickly put on a smile.

“I’ll come by often from now on.”

“Oh my. Really?”

“Yes. Your shop has the most variety and the best-looking groceries in this market.”

I smiled sweetly and laid on the flattery.

Getting friendly with market shop owners is my specialty.

My in-laws always made my life hell, saying the ingredients for ancestral rites had to be meticulously inspected from the start.

“Oh my, our village beauty saying she’ll visit my shop often – what a day! I guess the rumor that you’d never even touch market food was just a rumor~!”

“Ha, haha!”

That’s a very Hallara-like rumor.

That rumor probably wasn’t false.

In that shabby house, how many cigars were there abandoned on the ashtray?

They were definitely gifts from noble men. They probably fed her only the finest food too.

‘Why not give clothes or something expensive? Or at least expensive jewelry that’s easy to sell.’

I sighed inwardly and showed the shop owner a friendly smile.

“I’m planning to shop at the market often and cook for myself now.”

“That’s good, that’s good. Oh, goods have arrived. Take your time looking around and let me know!”

“Yes.”

The man ran off to check the cart that had just arrived.

Thanks to that, I could quietly browse the groceries.

‘Fruit prices are expensive while potatoes and grains are relatively cheap.’

Truly befitting the estate of Bloodmere, a knight family.

Unlike other great noble estates, most of Bloodmere’s land was used for wheat and potato farming.

Easily perishable fruits were grown on a very small scale, and flowers were almost nowhere to be found.

You could call it the ultimate in cost-effectiveness.

Due to its geographical location on the outskirts of the Western Empire, trade wasn’t very active, and even that was hindered by strict inspections that made it difficult for merchants to come and go frequently.

This closed estate management style made Bloodmere’s territory like one giant fortress, but it was also disadvantageous for obtaining luxury goods or cultural benefits.

“Still, it’s nice that there’s a good variety of vegetables.”

At least I could get things like carrots and onions cheaply.

That’s when it happened.

I saw a man grabbing an apple that cost ten times more than carrots.

His long hair hung down, covering his eyes.

‘Did he get caught in a downpour?’

Moreover, as if he’d been doused with water, his hair was damp. His clothes were the ordinary string-tied shirt that commoners wore, but even that was yellowed with dirt and dust clinging all over it.

But his physique, which couldn’t be hidden even by the cheap shirt, was definitely not built overnight.

‘A mercenary?’

Seeing the sword at his waist, that seems right.

Bloodmere is always going to war, so they’re constantly short on knights. That’s why I heard there are several mercenary groups that can be hired just in this estate.

The mercenary picked up another large apple with his rough hands.

My eyes naturally followed his movements. Even though it was an incredibly large apple, it fit perfectly in his hand.

“That one.”

But you know what.

“Don’t take that apple, take a different one.”

My inner K-auntie meddling instincts kicked in.

“…?”

“That apple. You’ve been fooled by its pretty appearance. The inside is already waterlogged and mushy.”

It looks shiny, but that’s because it’s been oiled to look glossy.

The stem has completely rotted off.

It probably hasn’t gone bad, but the moment you bite into it, the mushiness will ruin your mood.

“Hmm, they’re all in similar condition.”

I rummaged through the apples in the fruit basket.

“Ah, this one’s okay. Take this one instead. I don’t know about the sweetness since I haven’t tasted it, but it’ll be fresher than the others.”

And I handed him a small but solidly ripe apple.

The mercenary took the apple without a word.

Crunch-!

And instantly crushed the apple in his hand.

“Gasp! Why did you crush that expensive thing?”

The apple crumbled like a cookie and fell to the ground.

Even if mercenaries make good money, I didn’t expect such extravagance.

“If you’re not buying it, don’t touch it. I’ll talk to the shop owner about this…”

But the mercenary didn’t listen to the end of my words.

He turned around with disinterest and leisurely disappeared.

“Hey there!”

Without even paying!

I hurriedly followed after him, but the mercenary had already disappeared into the crowd.

“Wait!”

Just then, I heard someone calling from behind. The shop owner was looking at me with a stern expression.

“Hallara, do you know that mercenary who just left? He went off without paying.”

“Ah… well, you see…”

“If someone took goods, someone has to pay for them, right?”

Yes, of course…

I eventually pulled out my wallet from my shopping basket with an awkward smile.

I’ll definitely find that mercenary later and make him pay me back!

***

Three days had already passed since Hallara stormed into the Bloodymerry Estate.

Carlos, the head butler of the great Bloodymerry Family, was holding his head and taking deep breaths.

He was a figure even the other butlers and maids looked up to, having assisted with the family’s affairs large and small since his father’s generation.

And now he had made his first mistake.

“Carlos. You can do this. You can get through this. Father, please watch over me.”

He took out a pocket watch containing his father’s photo from his chest and muttered self-encouragement while looking at it.

Though he had experienced all sorts of things while working for the family, this was his first time conducting surveillance.

“It’s not that difficult. It’s not like I’m following a trained knight, just one woman.”

Right after receiving orders from Francesca to investigate Hallara, he had the family’s servants gather information about her.

However, the only information that came back was that she was an unparalleled beauty and that her looks had earned her the derogatory nickname of “seductress” in town for leading various men around.

She didn’t work, and except when meeting men, she never came out of her house, so there were limits to what the servants could find out.

Eventually, unable to bear it any longer, he decided to take action himself.

‘She said with her own mouth that she’s not pregnant, but I can’t leave any lingering doubts.’

Since this was an order from the lady, he would complete it perfectly.

Disappointing his master would mean he wasn’t even qualified to be a butler!

Quietly swallowing the tears that had formed in his eyes, Carlos left the duchess’ castle. For him, who had only stayed within the castle grounds, this was like a long-awaited outing.

The farther he got from the castle, the faster his heart beat.

‘That’s the woman.’

It didn’t take him long to find Hallara.

She had such a striking appearance.

A much simpler dress than when she had visited the family a few days ago.

And her hair tied back in a single ponytail.

The modest outfit actually made her glamorous appearance stand out even more.

‘They say she clings to rich men and lives luxuriously.’

He’d heard that men had been constantly around her since childhood due to her outstanding looks. So she was used to being treated well.

She looked like she’d never done any menial work.

Carlos clicked his tongue.

How pathetic.

This was the type he despised most.

The type that lived by clinging to others without any effort.

‘Was I being too sensitive? Obviously she must have approached him thinking of extorting money, since they say the young master is a scoundrel.’

And then she ran away, intimidated by the family’s power.

A sigh of relief escaped him.

It seemed like this matter would end more simply than expected.

Considering that woman’s behavior, there was a high possibility she was leading around various men besides Young Master Docheop. If he could just catch her in the act, the matter would be easily resolved.

‘In terms of persistence within the family, I’m right after the young masters.’

Carlos adjusted his clothes and took position to one side. He was already prepared to spend several nights outside until he caught that woman in the act.

“Oh my!”

Just then, some middle-aged woman burst out from the neighboring house.

She seemed to be someone who lived next door, but what was she going to talk about?

It would be nice if it was about men who frequently visited.

Carlos pricked up his ears and hid behind the fence.

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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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