Surviving as the Wife of the Swordsmanship Clan’s Troublemaker - Chapter 36

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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 36

 

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Meanwhile, Francesca, who had been troubled after hearing that the physician she had sent to Hallara had suddenly disappeared, headed to the banquet hall on the first floor at Karl’s request.

 

‘That child prepared my meal?’

 

It was an unusual matter. She heard it was a thank-you gift for the clothes she had given her.

 

‘Something I didn’t even ask for.’

 

She had only hoped the girl would stay quiet and well-behaved.

 

Moreover, she had a small appetite and didn’t particularly enjoy food.

 

She would eat this time considering the effort put into it, but she planned to tell her not to do this again in the future.

 

She couldn’t exactly say “don’t stand out” or “don’t make me worry about you.”

 

So she entered the banquet hall.

 

That vast and endlessly lonely place.

 

She had entered planning to give Hallara a firm talking-to, but stopped short when she saw someone sitting alone at the long table.

 

“…Docheop?”

 

Her son appeared in her widened eyes.

 

Docheop also stood up at the sound of her voice.

 

From his hesitation, it seemed Docheop hadn’t heard she was coming either.

 

Francesca clutched her startled chest and stepped into the banquet hall.

 

“Where is Hallara?”

 

“I don’t know.”

 

Docheop answered briefly.

 

Then May bowed her head and answered instead.

 

“The young lady suddenly felt very unwell and had to return to her room.”

 

It was a lie.

 

Hallara had suddenly cleared away her place setting, said she had something to attend to, and left everything to her.

 

May pressed down on her apron.

 

‘The young lady stepped aside for them.’

 

Hadn’t Hallara been ignored even by maids like Geti? From what she heard from Geti and the main building staff, Nikolai’s anger had reached the top of his head the day Hallara arrived.

 

‘She probably stepped aside worried that if it became known that three people had dined at the same table, another fight would break out.’

 

If she suddenly changed plans, that must be the reason.

 

From what she’d observed in the short time, Hallara was someone who liked people and was deeply considerate.

 

She was probably the only person who would readily put on a maid’s uniform when offered one.

 

“…She’s sick?”

 

Thud.

 

Docheop reacted quickly to those words.

 

“Where is she now?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

At his reaction as if he might rush out immediately, May hurriedly added an explanation.

 

“She’s just feeling under the weather. She said not to worry and to have your meal.”

 

“Sit down, Docheop.”

 

Francesca, thinking she had deliberately stepped aside, sat across from him.

 

Docheop also hesitated for a moment but sat down quietly.

 

“How long has it been.”

 

Francesca spoke first in the awkwardness.

 

She couldn’t even remember when she had last sat facing her son.

 

“This is the first time.”

 

“…Really?”

 

“Yes.”

 

As the mother and son sat awkwardly, May moved food from the trolley.

 

Francesca inwardly wished the food would be served quickly. She hoped this awkward atmosphere might ease if they at least had something to put in their mouths.

 

Soon five dishes May had brought were laid out on the table.

 

They were dishes that seemed familiar yet unfamiliar.

 

“The young lady prepared these herself from this morning.”

 

With the feeling of being similar yet different from typical dishes, Francesca thought they were modified versions of dishes commoners enjoyed eating.

 

“They’ll be delicious.”

 

Seeing her hesitation, Docheop spoke first.

 

“Hallara has excellent cooking skills.”

 

Francesca shifted her gaze to her son. It seemed he had been treated to meals several times besides yesterday morning’s breakfast.

 

“This is a first.”

 

“What is?”

 

“You praising someone.”

 

Francesca returned Docheop’s words and picked up her fork.

 

Though she wasn’t particularly inclined, she planned to eat just a few bites considering the thoughtfulness of the preparation.

 

“Oh?!”

 

Until she tasted a bite of the pasta.

 

Francesca’s eyes lit up.

 

‘The taste is wonderful!’

 

Rich umami flavors swirled in her mouth.

 

The unfamiliar yet familiar sweet and salty taste, and even the taste of vegetables that remained crisp despite being cooked.

 

Though the ingredients themselves were common, it was a taste that made her want to keep eating.

 

Francesca moved her fork before even swallowing what was in her mouth.

 

In the feast of food that never grew tiresome, her mouth forgot how to rest.

 

With Docheop sitting across from her also diligently eating, she felt even hungrier.

 

She, who had always sat alone swallowing lonely formal meals, felt like she was having a proper meal for the first time in a long while.

 

Docheop felt the same way.

 

All five dishes were excellent.

 

They weren’t overstimulating yet made you want to keep eating.

 

“Surprising every time.”

 

He had tasted all the delicacies of this world. But this kind of cooking was a first. Just where had this woman popped out from, to surprise him with different food every time.

 

“Did you smile?”

 

Francesca didn’t miss his expression.

 

From some point on, Docheop had erased his smiles and lived expressionlessly.

 

He couldn’t smile no matter what good things happened. He didn’t cry either. He didn’t yield even when beaten by Nikolai and Helbeorn.

 

Sorry, I was wrong, I won’t do it again. How many days had he been beaten for not being able to say these words.

 

And that Docheop was smiling.

 

‘When did he learn to smile like that?’

 

Come to think of it, Docheop’s height and build had grown tremendously.

 

He had grown as much as Nikolai.

 

“Tell that child I’m grateful.”

 

After some thought, Francesca said so.

 

Docheop’s smile deepened.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Seeing this, Francesca almost dropped her utensils ungracefully. Because it was the first time Docheop had smiled at her. She was so grateful.

 

“Don’t smile like a fool.”

 

Contrary to her inner feelings, the words came out twisted.

 

‘This isn’t right.’

 

Francesca tried to correct herself immediately, but Docheop answered first.

 

“I’ll be careful.”

 

“No.”

 

This isn’t right.

 

Congratulations on your awakening. You must have suffered greatly in your heart all this time.

 

“Don’t act recklessly just because you’ve awakened.”

 

From now on, don’t be discouraged by whatever your brothers say, and move forward with dignity.

 

“Always be humble and strive to become a soldier who can follow in father’s footsteps like Nikolai and Helbeorn.”

 

Her words kept going astray.

 

Francesca bit her tongue completely.

 

If she kept babbling on, she felt she would only hurt Docheop.

 

“I’m sorry for only causing you worry.”

 

Docheop bowed his head in apology.

 

“What is this red thing?”

 

Francesca didn’t want to say any more insincere words, so she changed the subject.

 

Among the colorful dishes, there was something particularly eye-catching.

 

It was a dish made with cabbage.

 

She couldn’t tell what it was just by looking, but from its red appearance and the smell that stung her nose, she could tell it was stimulating.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Francesca quietly turned her fork to the other side.

 

“What kind of dish is this?”

 

Then Docheop pointed directly at the kimchi and asked.

 

“It’s kimchi made with cabbage. The young lady said that whenever you find the food too greasy, eating this would refresh your mouth.”

 

May explained as if she had been waiting for this.

 

At this, Docheop stabbed a forkful of kimchi and put it in his mouth.

 

Cough-!

 

As soon as he put the kimchi in his mouth, Docheop covered his mouth and burst into coughing.

 

Francesca hurriedly stood up and offered her handkerchief.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

For a moment, cold sweat formed on her hands, worried that Docheop might not accept it, but that worry quickly disappeared. Docheop readily took the handkerchief and nodded briefly.

 

“It must have been very spicy. No wonder I wasn’t drawn to it.”

 

“No. It’s delicious.”

 

“Delicious?”

 

After coughing like that.

 

“Mother, please try some too.”

 

Docheop politely pointed to the kimchi with both hands.

 

Francesca blinked at her son’s behavior, which she was seeing for the first time.

 

“My mouth feels refreshed as described.”

 

And even a food review.

 

“Hmm. Since it was made with care, I’ll try it.”

 

Feeling sorry about her earlier obstinacy, she readily picked up some kimchi. She thought it was a bit stimulating but not inedible.

 

However.

 

“Cough! Ugh!”

 

The spicy taste spread fiercely in her mouth. Francesca’s face turned bright red from the spicy taste she was experiencing for the first time.

 

“Hahaha.”

 

“Are you laughing?! Are you laughing right now?”

 

“No. I’m sorry. *sniff*”

 

This time Docheop handed a clean napkin to Francesca. Francesca tidied the corners of her mouth with the napkin and glared at Docheop.

 

“Still, doesn’t it taste good?”

 

He said playfully. Thanks to the burst of coughing, the stiff atmosphere had softened.

 

“It’s so spicy.”

 

“I like it.”

 

“You can eat spicy food?”

 

She spoke with slightly slurred pronunciation due to her numbed tongue.

 

Docheop smiled slightly and nodded.

 

“I’ll bring something cool to soothe your tongue.”

 

Then Docheop left his seat.

 

The banquet hall was left in silence again.

 

Francesca, her face flushed red, took some wine into her mouth. Still panting from the lingering spicy taste and feeling embarrassed, she spoke to May.

 

“You’re a maid from the annex.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“But the shopkeeper told me that the child’s dedicated maid is Geti.”

 

Does she bring other maids around as she pleases, not just the dedicated Geti?

 

Even so, she had no intention of pointing it out. Just being able to have a meal with Docheop today made her feel indebted to her.

 

A child who was of no help to the family, no, beyond that, a child who was nothing but a nuisance.

 

Somehow she couldn’t bring herself to resent her comfortably.

 

“Geti ran away yesterday, so I urgently came to serve the young lady.”

 

“What? Ran away?”

 

This was unexpected news.

 

“Actually, Geti suggested to the annex maids that they should bully the young lady and drive her out. Chef Hotsen overheard this, and I think she ran away because of that.”

 

“She suggested driving her out? Is that true?”

 

“Yes. She definitely did.”

 

“My!”

 

How dare a maid try to drive out her master.

 

She had heard that Geti was sent specifically because of her high loyalty to the family, so how could she commit such insubordination.

 

Moreover, she couldn’t have been unaware that Francesca had accepted her.

 

“Does that child know about this too?”

 

“The young lady knows as well.”

 

“Oh my…”

 

Then she might have misunderstood that Francesca had deliberately sent such a maid.

 

‘And yet she still sent food.’

 

She held her forehead.

 

Really, she couldn’t lift her head from shame and embarrassment.

—————
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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