Surviving as the Wife of the Swordsmanship Clan’s Troublemaker - Chapter 81

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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 81

She took a deep breath and suddenly lifted the corners of her mouth into a grin.

“Hallara, the cabbage kimchi you made. I’ve secured investment for a business to distribute it.”

“Cabbage kimchi? You don’t mean that one from back then?”

The one from that dinner with Francesca and Docheop last time?

“You told me back then, didn’t you? That if you were me, you’d try everything you could do.”

“But you started a business with this?”

“My son said this was good.”

Francesca shrugged her shoulders.

“I don’t have talent for cooking like you do—I learned that clearly last time when I was peeling onions. Of course, I don’t know yet if I have talent for business. But.”

She widened her eyes and grabbed my hands firmly.

“If you don’t try challenging anything, you won’t know whether you have talent or not. Just like how I found out I have no talent for cooking.”

It was me who came to my senses at those words.

‘What? Why am I being affected by my own words?’

Francesca’s eyes seemed to sparkle like jewels.

“This is part of the investment money I received yesterday.”

“You even received investment?”

It was one surprise after another.

“Actually, I met with Madam Tierphol and Madam Cardia until late yesterday. I presented them with the exact same dishes you served me. And I confidently secured investment.”

“Just from tasting it once?”

“Of course. Who do you think made it?”

Francesca lifted her chin and shrugged her shoulders.

“In the Southern Empire where they mainly eat high-calorie dishes, they need food that can cleanse the palate in between.”

That’s true.

“Plus the climate is hot, so food storage periods are short.”

“And cabbage doesn’t grow there either. On the other hand, in Bloodmere, cabbage is what we have in abundance.”

“You know what? Bloodmere cabbage is much bigger and sweeter than regular cabbage.”

Clap.

High five.

“As expected of my daughter-in-law.”

“This is my first time with a mother-in-law like this.”

We communicate so well.

“First time? Ho ho ho. Did you have another mother besides me?”

“What? Oh, no of course not.”

Haha.

I held Francesca’s hands tightly and laughed.

Anyway, this is my first time with a mother-in-law like this. She listens to what I say and even shares investment money with me…?

“Can I really accept this?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you, Mother!”

I jumped up and bowed my head.

A mother-in-law who gives money is the best!

“Mother…?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I was so happy that I… I’ll be careful from now on.”

“No, no! Keep calling me that.”

“But there are many watching eyes.”

Francesca is someone who cares about others’ gazes more than anyone. Even if I had been a noble, she would have strictly insisted on proper titles.

“What does it matter who hears? We even held a wedding ceremony yesterday, so who would criticize us?”

“I understand.”

If she was fine with it, I didn’t mind. Money was more precious than titles anyway.

‘Moreover, the investors are Cardia and Tierphol? This is no joke.’

Francesca was a more capable person than I thought.

Not only was it impressive that she used the dinner gathering as soon as she thought of selling kimchi, but she also recruited those ducal houses as her first investors.

Having connections with those two families would be a great advantage for Bloodmere right now.

“If there’s anything I can help with, please tell me. I’ll help wholeheartedly too.”

“Oh my, thank you. If you have any difficulties, please tell me too. I’ll step forward and help you somehow.”

“This is my first time with such a reliable mother-in-law.”

“Ho ho. You keep talking as if you had several other mothers-in-law.”

I laughed along with her and finished drinking my tea.

I thought about telling Francesca about the traitor, but it seemed there was no need for Francesca to know yet.

Most of all… I didn’t want to spoil her mood when she was excited about having something she wanted to do for the first time.

***

“Oh my, I forgot.”

After chatting with Hallara for a long time.

Francesca, who had returned alone to her study, clicked her tongue as she remembered something she hadn’t said.

“I had something to tell Hallara.”

She had been so busy talking about yesterday’s events that she forgot to discuss the important matter.

“I was going to ask about the child…”

Hallara is pregnant.

She had conveyed that a doctor could be called anytime, but it seemed she hadn’t sought one out.

Hmm.

Francesca, who was considering calling Hallara back, summoned the servant.

“Karl.”

“Yes, Madam.”

“Go and bring Hallara’s maid.”

Instead, she looked for May, Hallara’s dedicated maid.

She judged it would be better to ask the maid rather than speaking directly.

Since entering the manor, Hallara never brought up topics related to her pregnancy first. And Francesca believed that the girl wouldn’t try to gain advantages by using her pregnancy. Still, the reason she didn’t bring it up first was…

‘Is she anxious? Worried we might kick her out?’

A sigh escaped naturally.

Honestly, she wasn’t in a position to confidently say no. Originally, she had planned to send her away after she gave birth.

But not now. Thanks to Hallara, she had sat down to eat with Docheop, whom she hadn’t even seen for years, and even cooked for him. Thanks to that, she gained confidence to do business.

She knew that business wasn’t something just anyone could do. She had always listened with her head bowed over the Duke’s shoulder. Especially a business like this one selling finished dishes was unprecedented. Maybe if it were rare spices like pepper.

But Hallara’s food could be stored for a long time and was special. If she were to do business, she wanted to do it with that.

“Great Madam. I came as summoned.”

As May entered with a knock, Francesca snapped out of her thoughts.

It was the maid who had served the food Hallara made last time.

“Is that clothing Hallara gave you?”

Francesca asked, looking at May’s clothes.

It was a wool cardigan.

“That’s correct.”

May quickly fastened her clothes as if realizing something.

Then Francesca spoke gently.

“I’m not scolding you, so don’t worry. It looked similar to what she gave me, so I asked.”

She touched the wool gloves neatly placed beside her desk.

“If she’s making clothes for you, it means she trusts you.”

“…I am serving with all my heart.”

May bowed at the waist. Francesca propped her chin on both hands and asked.

“Yes, I heard you know about it.”

At those words, May swallowed dryly and raised her head.

“About what….”

“About Hallara carrying a child.”

May almost hiccupped for a moment.

Still, thanks to biting her tongue as she had prepared in advance, she at least avoided hiccupping.

‘This was something I had already prepared myself for.’

She had thought about why Francesca had summoned her the entire way here. It was definitely about Hallara. But if she asked about the child?

‘The young madam lost her child. And she never talks about the child. Because it’s painful for the madam.’

Whether she wanted to deny reality, Hallara often talked to herself in the air. Even calling out the prenatal name ‘Junel’ repeatedly.

And when May entered, she would change her expression seamlessly. Sometimes she would even be startled.

“I said she could receive an examination from the family’s new physician anytime. Did you receive that message properly from the shopkeeper?”

Shortly after the family physician went missing, Francesca recruited a new trustworthy physician.

“Yes, I heard about it.”

May answered calmly.

“But she hasn’t seen the physician even once.”

“Yes. That’s correct. The young madam’s physical condition wasn’t bad, so there was no need to call him.”

Hmm.

Francesca tilted her head.

“When we met at the banquet hall last time, you said her condition wasn’t good.”

“That’s right. But immediately after, Master Docheop carried the young madam back, and since she was sleeping soundly, I didn’t want to wake her unnecessarily.”

She remembered that incident. The annex was in chaos because Docheop came in carrying the sleeping Hallara. That the young master they thought was a scoundrel was actually a romanticist.

“…Docheop carried her in?”

Francesca’s eyes widened. This was the first time she was hearing this story.

“Yes. The young madam fell asleep in the young master’s arms, and when she woke up after a while and I asked her, she said her physical condition had improved much.”

“That, that child did such….”

“Since then, she’s been as lively as she is now, so I judged it wasn’t necessary to call a doctor.”

“I see….”

Francesca still looked shocked with her mouth agape. Then she covered her mouth with her long fingers.

It seemed Docheop had truly fallen hard for Hallara. To pull off such a bold act in the manor.

“Still, she should receive an examination from the physician to make sure the child is growing healthily.”

“You speak wisely.”

May agreed with her words for now. If she said no when Francesca wanted to confirm the health, it would only arouse suspicion instead.

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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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