Surviving as the Wife of the Swordsmanship Clan’s Troublemaker - Chapter 80

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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 80

***

Seraphim’s Paradise.

Under the cloudy moonlight tonight, Johannes sat quietly trimming silver lilies.

“You love lilies.”

The lilies he trimmed while thinking of Hallara had already filled his altar.

The silver flowers that sparkled following him as he emitted bright light even in the darkness were like the Milky Way created by the god who once embraced him.

“I’m confident you’ll love this place too. When you return, we’ll make our vows here.”

He finished embroidering the last remaining lily.

Here they would hold their private vow ceremony.

They would scatter Bloodmere’s blood and make vows to be together forever upon it.

“Have the vermin disappeared?”

Johannes asked, sensing a presence behind him.

For the past few days, there had been those who made his paradise noisy. They were the Emperor’s knight order sent from the Western Empire.

Seraphim’s Paradise was monitored by each of the four empires on a 5-year rotation, and this year it was under the Northern Empire’s jurisdiction,

However, when the Northern Empire’s forces became insufficient due to the war with the Western Empire, they drastically reduced the knights sent to Seraphim’s Paradise.

Thanks to this, two years ago Hallara was able to safely escape the paradise and enter Bloodmere.

And Johannes was also able to communicate much more actively with believers scattered around the world.

But the unexpected appearance of the Western Empire’s knight order these past few days had greatly disturbed Johannes’s mood.

“A few are still remaining.”

It was unclear why they had suddenly come. They had investigated Seraphim’s barrier for several days, and the High Mage among them had even strengthened the barrier a bit more.

Johannes was already sensitive due to the lack of news about Hallara, so he almost strangled them to death immediately but barely held back.

He couldn’t let momentary emotions ruin plans he had built for hundreds of years.

But even that patience was now reaching its limit.

“Increase the concentration.”

Johannes commanded, clenching and releasing his molars. The paradise was filled with Johannes’s magical energy, and if the concentration was increased, ordinary knights couldn’t withstand it. Their bodies would be compressed as if gravity had increased, making it difficult to even breathe.

“My lord, if we increase it further from here, it might actually arouse the humans’ suspicion.”

But increasing the concentration carried risks. While raising the concentration might drive away the knights immediately, in the long term there was a high possibility of a large-scale investigation.

Moreover, seeing how the Western Empire’s Imperial Guard had appeared without reason would only increase their suspicion.

Then, his silver hair swayed, deflecting the dark moonlight.

“So?”

“…I apologize, my lord. I’ll raise the concentration immediately.”

The subordinate bowed his head at the gentle tone and the not-so-gentle look in his eyes.

Otherwise, his head would have rolled.

“What about news from Bloodmere?”

“Well… messengers did arrive, but they can’t enter the barrier because of the investigation team’s eyes…”

Slash-!

When Johannes extended his white hand, the neck of the prostrated man was immediately sliced as if cut by a blade.

“Three days have passed. The time you promised me ends here.”

As soon as Johannes finished speaking, those who had been hiding like shadows in the darkness cautiously revealed themselves.

They quietly collected the headless corpse.

“My lord.”

A man in a white robe like the dead appeared from the darkness where moonlight didn’t reach. Johannes gestured irritably.

“Let all the messengers in and increase the magical concentration.”

And he said in a low voice.

“Once those annoying vermin are eliminated, I’ll go outside myself.”

His bloodshot eyes curved dangerously.

“I’ll make preparations.”

The man in the white robe disappeared.

Soon the moonlight grew even thicker.

The knights who had been looking into the paradise from outside the barrier screamed.

“Cough! Get out, get out of here right now…!”

Above the fallen knights, flocks of black ravens flew in as if dark clouds had gathered.

***

I think this is the first time I’ve slept soundly since possessing this body.

Even though I’d been sleeping in a soft bed all this time, it wasn’t as good as sleeping in Hallara’s shabby house. I suppose I felt relieved after revealing my identity to Docheop.

Though the heaviest task still remains.

[Your face looks refreshed. You almost slept in the snow-covered grass and nearly got facial paralysis, so this worked out well, didn’t it?]

“That’s true.”

Still, things will work out somehow. I have Junel and Docheop too.

“Young miss. Are you already awake?”

Then May entered, opening the door. She was carrying wash water in her hands.

“May, I told you I can wash my face by myself, why are you carrying heavy things?”

My comfortable mood from just moments ago is about to become uncomfortable again.

“Come here!”

I grabbed both of May’s arms.

She clearly promised not to bring it last time!

“Let’s get rid of your eye boogers first!”

I soaked my hands thoroughly with water and applied it to May’s cheek.

“Ah! Miss!”

“You’re so precise with the title ‘miss’ but nothing else, really?”

“I already washed my face!”

May struggled in my arms.

“Why is someone so delicate so strong?”

“Did I seem weak to you? Even after seeing me cook?”

“That’s a different matter!”

Look at this dirty water.

“You said you washed your face, so what’s this on your face?”

“I really did… I lit a fire to heat the water and ash must have gotten on me.”

“Oh my.”

I soaked the towel she brought thoroughly with water and wiped May’s face.

“Wow, it’s so warm and feels good. It’s like my face is melting.”

Since the weather got cold, the well water also became cold, so she must have just roughly wiped her face. Really, the conditions are too harsh.

The annex kids keep saying Bloodmere is on the good side, but thin maid uniforms and ice-cold water in winter…

“Ah, no! This is your wash water, miss.”

“I’ll wash my face myself. Really, please don’t bring wash water.”

From the beginning, I told May not to bring anything else, but especially not wash water. So she didn’t bring it for a while… but after hearing that I tried to run away yesterday, she probably wanted to treat me well.

“No. You need to get ready quickly today.”

May snatched the towel away. Then she took out a new towel from her apron pocket.

“Why?”

“The lady is looking for you, young miss.”

***

“You’re here?”

Having been dressed up by May, I met Francesca early in the morning.

‘Could it be that she called me because she heard I ran away?’

That must be it.

She went through all the trouble of calling a famous madam from the capital to make me a dress, and I ran away from the wedding?

Even I wouldn’t let that slide quietly.

“Drink up.”

Is it poison?

The color looks too familiar for that.

Taking a sip, I caught the familiar scent of rooibos that Francesca always served me.

She really does love rooibos.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yes.”

I answered but immediately regretted it. I should have pretended I couldn’t sleep. Because unlike me, who was practically glowing, Francesca’s face looked haggard.

“…You didn’t sleep well, did you?”

I asked carefully.

Francesca rubbed her face with the back of her hand.

“I couldn’t sleep. I heard yesterday that you ran away.”

I had hoped it would pass quietly, but it seems there are no secrets from her.

“I’m sorry. I don’t have any excuse…”

“I’m sorry.”

“Pardon?”

Contrary to what I expected – that she might throw the tea at me – Francesca started with an apology.

“It must have been very difficult for you.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Coming to the manor with no place to really attach yourself to, and now becoming one of the mistresses of a proper ducal house – how could that not be burdensome?”

That’s not why I ran away though.

Francesca lifted her head, trying hard to hide her falling tears.

“When I married the Duke, I really wanted to run away too. The responsibility felt so heavy on my shoulders.”

“I wasn’t burdened by that. Did you perhaps not hear? About the story related to the traitor.”

If Nikolai told her I ran away, there’s no way he wouldn’t have mentioned the traitor.

“I heard.”

Phew.

She answered briefly and let out a deep sigh.

“The ducal house has always been fraught with various dangers. Like a bloodless battlefield. I thought there might be people approaching you once you became part of the family. I just never imagined it would be the household guard who had devoted his entire life to this family.”

She understands this?

“You don’t suspect me?”

Even I find myself suspicious. Who knows what Hallara was up to in the past.

“What is there to suspect? When you think about it, I’m the one who brought you to this family. If you had joined hands with them, you would have tried to enter the family first.”

Francesca dismissed her suspicions on her own.

Moreover.

“Here. Take this.”

Clink-!

A heavy pouch of money dropped into my hands.

At this unexpectedly dramatic scene, I could only blink.

“What money is this?”

There’s no reason to give me money now that the wedding is over.

“It’s yours.”

“Mine? I just received my living expenses not long ago.”

Though I did spend it all.

“It’s not living expenses, it’s money you earned.”

“I did?”

“Yes. To be precise, it’s our first profit.”

Profit?

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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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