Surviving as the Wife of the Swordsmanship Clan’s Troublemaker - Chapter 55

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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 55

 

It seems Nikolai doesn’t know yet.

 

“That person was caught while looking for me.”

 

“…What?”

 

“Didn’t you hear from Prince Helbeorn? He said he stopped by my neighbor’s house in the village today and happened to see that person looking for me, so he brought him in.”

 

Seeing him lose his poker face, it seems he really didn’t know.

 

“…I heard.”

 

Nikolai… he’s being left out.

 

“Then you must also understand why I’m reading this book. You must have heard that explanation too.”

 

I carefully stood up and pushed the book back into the bookshelf.

 

Then I bowed politely.

 

“I’ll now get out of your sight immediately, Your Highness.”

 

Since I value my own life, I tried to follow his order to leave.

 

But it was Nikolai who kept holding me back after telling me to go.

 

“Why was he looking for you.”

 

“Didn’t you say you heard?”

 

“I received a report. But I don’t trust hearsay. I have a personality that requires seeing and hearing things directly to be satisfied. Tell me yourself. What connection do you have with him.”

 

Perhaps because he can’t lie, his words became quite lengthy.

 

‘Hmm. Should I tell him this or not.’

 

I quickly turned my thoughts.

 

There’s a traitor hiding in the family, and to expose them, I need help from someone in the family.

 

Especially since the traitor has been here for over ten years, they’re likely in an important position. So to root out that traitor, I need the power of someone with great influence in the family.

 

‘For now, Nikolai is the best option.’

 

However, he dislikes me. No, he despises me.

 

He’d trust the traitor’s words over mine.

 

“I don’t really know either. I’m just an ordinary village resident. But when I heard from my neighbor who was interrogated by the Holy Church, she said they were looking for me very persistently. I was scared too, so I was trying to find out more.”

 

I trembled like a frightened lamb as I continued speaking.

 

First, I need to make it clear that whoever they are, I have nothing to do with them.

 

I really don’t want to get involved with a group like the Holy Church, and I also don’t want my identity to be suspected because of them.

 

“You don’t know them at all?”

 

“I really don’t know.”

 

“Your parents, siblings, or relatives might know.”

 

Hearing that the Holy Church was looking for me, Nikolai’s suspicion deepened further. His questioning voice was rough.

 

“I have no siblings, and no parents either. I naturally don’t know if any relatives exist.”

 

“…Did they pass away?”

 

“I don’t know if they abandoned me or passed away. I’ve been alone for a very long time.”

 

That’s probably the case.

 

Hallara must have been an orphan like me.

 

If not, there would have been at least some traces of family left in the house.

 

Hallara’s house was filled only with her belongings.

 

“You were alone?”

 

“Yes. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been alone.”

 

I spoke based on my own experience for now.

 

Nikolai, who had been gauging my lies, fell silent as if lost in thought for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth.

 

“…Among those who come looking for you, are there any suspicious ones?”

 

“Just men who came asking me to drink with them, that’s all. If I had even the slightest connection to that side, I would have moved from house to house. Could I have settled down and lived peacefully?”

 

I would have lived a wandering life.

 

“So I have a favor to ask, Your Highness.”

 

I spoke first to him who had fallen silent.

 

Whether he accepts or not is up to his choice.

 

“A favor?”

 

I thought he would immediately curse at me, but he didn’t and waited for me to speak.

 

“Please let me meet that person.”

 

“Who knows what scheme you’ll plot.”

 

“I want to ask why he was looking for me.”

 

I’m really curious.

 

Whether he was looking for me because I carry Brinihanta’s blood, or if there’s another reason.

 

Nikolai didn’t readily give an answer.

 

“Whatever the reason, I’ll definitely tell you. I promise.”

 

My throat felt blocked, probably because it was a lie.

 

If I find out it’s because they know about Brinihanta and want to use that, I plan to flee immediately.

 

“…He’s dead.”

 

But even that became pointless.

 

“Pardon?”

 

“He’s already dead.”

 

Nikolai muttered as if to himself.

 

“He was murdered.”

 

In that case.

 

“There must be a traitor.”

 

It’s certain there’s a traitor inside.

 

“What do you know to speak so carelessly. Do you take this family lightly?”

 

“Then why was he murdered? Someone who knew he was captured somehow penetrated the family’s tight security, dealt with the prison guards, and then killed him. Doesn’t that make even less sense?”

 

Even to me, who doesn’t know the first thing about investigation, this seems impossible.

 

Rather, hearing that he was murdered made me more convinced that there’s a traitor.

 

‘This might actually be good. Nikolai must also vaguely suspect there’s an insider involved.’

 

“It’s none of your business. Don’t go around pretending to know things and babbling.”

 

“I’ll become the bait.”

 

“…Bait?”

 

His eyes narrowed. I hurriedly added an explanation.

 

“The person who came looking for me was murdered, right? Even though this reveals there’s an insider involved, they still committed this act, which means they have a reason they desperately want to hide. Can we say that reason has nothing to do with me?”

 

But he didn’t know where I was.

 

Therefore, the traitor likely doesn’t know I’m here either.

 

If they knew, they would have tried to approach me already. They wouldn’t have let the Holy Church person stir up the village.

 

“Please use me as bait.”

 

I spoke with an unwavering voice.

 

“There’s a strong possibility you’re one of them too.”

 

His eyes narrowed even more.

 

“If that were the case, when the Duchess said it would be fine for me to enter the family, I would have eagerly followed along. You must have heard about this part too, but I never wanted to enter the family from the beginning.”

 

At those words, Nikolai quietly ground his teeth.

 

Don’t tell me he didn’t hear about this either?

 

Oh my. It seems that’s the case.

 

“If you don’t need it, you can stop anytime.”

 

“How would you become bait?”

 

“You said that Holy Church person was looking for me, right? Then their purpose must be to make contact with me. Moreover, they don’t even know I’m here.”

 

“So.”

 

Nikolai tilted his chin.

 

“We need to clearly let them know that I’m in this family.”

 

If they know I’m here, approach is just a matter of time.

 

Nikolai must know this too.

 

“Should I put up flyers?”

 

Hmm, there is a more certain method than that though.

 

A publicity method that can definitively convey that I’m in the family, though I don’t really want to do it.

 

“Hold a wedding ceremony. So that everyone in the family can see.”

 

Could there be a more certain method than this?

 

Since I’ve ended up settling down here anyway, everyone will find out eventually.

 

If we hold a modest wedding ceremony at the manor, everyone in the family will be able to see it.

 

“Of course, only if you give permission. Since it’s something that has no benefit other than catching the traitor.”

 

Even if we hold a small wedding ceremony, the rumors will spread beyond the dominion all the way to the capital.

 

Bringing me here like a borrowed sack of barley without a proper marriage means that if things go wrong between Docheop and me or if he wants to abandon me, he can throw me out anytime.

 

I was well aware of that too.

 

I’m nothing more than temporary, and this is taking a big risk.

 

“…You do understand your position.”

 

“All too well.”

 

“You’re not thinking of buttering me up?”

 

“Were you someone who would be swayed by such things?”

 

“Not a chance.”

 

Nikolai answered firmly.

 

“I have no intention of acting cute either.”

 

That goes for me too.

 

“Insolent. For a lowly commoner.”

 

“You just said I understood my position well.”

 

“Seeing you immediately get uppity proves you’re indeed a worthless commoner.”

 

“If you find such a person’s proposal disagreeable, I’ll quietly withdraw.”

 

When I said that and stepped back, Nikolai came closer rather than letting me move away. Or rather, blocked my path would be more accurate.

 

“The traitor must be caught without fail.”

 

“What if we can’t catch them?”

 

“If you’re connected to the traitor, I can’t let it slide.”

 

“Would you torture me or something?”

 

“If necessary.”

 

What a scary guard dog.

 

He looks similar to Docheop but gives off a cold, chilling aura.

 

But the fact that Nikolai, who I thought wouldn’t even pretend to listen, agreed is a tremendous result.

 

“Then what if we catch the traitor? Is there a reward?”

 

“You’ll be cleared of suspicion.”

 

“How disappointing. I thought you’d grant me a wish or something.”

 

“Do I look like a genie from a magic lamp to you?”

 

Nikolai sent me a cold look.

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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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