Surviving as the Wife of the Swordsmanship Clan’s Troublemaker - Chapter 85

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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 85

Jingle-!

With a cheerful sound, the jewelry shop owner’s face turned around.

The middle-aged woman with a radiant face immediately recognized her customer.

“My goodness. To see such an esteemed person here.”

Any resident of Bloodmere Domain would recognize him. Nikolai was practically the owner of the domain.

“For the young master to come directly to such a humble place. If you had called, I would have rushed to the castle immediately.”

It was rare for him to visit the village. Some claimed to have seen him buying flowers at the popular flower shop on the street, but even that was just rumors.

“No. I just stopped by while touring the domain. I heard strange people have been wandering around the domain lately.”

Nikolai spoke while recalling the suspicious man Helbeorn had captured recently. That was also true. For such an unverified fellow to brazenly walk the streets – as the domain’s owner, he simply couldn’t accept it.

Because of that, he had replaced all the castle gatekeepers and tripled the guards on the streets. That was just yesterday.

“I did notice the security forces on the streets had increased. Did something happen?”

“Nothing to worry about. That’s my job to handle.”

“Oh my, how reassuring. We truly consider coming to Bloodmere our good fortune.”

The owner smiled, creating wrinkles around her eyes.

“It must be difficult to do business in a remote domain far from the capital. Only we or a few branch families in the domain can afford jewelry.”

“But we have a monopoly, don’t we? Compared to the capital where there was a jewelry shop every three steps, this place is heaven.”

It wasn’t empty words – the shopkeeper’s face looked more comfortable than when she first arrived here several years ago.

“Still, it must be hard to do business.”

“It’s really fine. Truly. Just a few days ago there was a wedding, and the dress shop bought a large quantity of decorative gems.”

“How much profit could you make from something like that? I know perfectly well what it costs to import.”

Nikolai kept giving the same response. As if he wanted her to say it was difficult. The shopkeeper found it strange but didn’t want to upset him, so she responded with a smile.

“Indeed, only the young master worries about us like this.”

That answer seemed to please him greatly, as Nikolai’s shoulders straightened with pride.

“I’ll buy something expensive from you.”

“What? You don’t need to do that.”

The shopkeeper waved her hands dismissively.

“Why not? You said business was difficult. If a domain resident is having trouble doing business within the domain, I should at least help.”

“That’s not what I meant. Really.”

“I’m serious too. Opportunities like this don’t come often, so hurry and show me your expensive items.”

Saying that, Nikolai strode toward the display case in the center of the shop. Inside the glass case, gems sparkled brilliantly.

“This one looks expensive.”

It was a gold bracelet with intricate patterns crafted from gold.

“You have a good eye. That’s a traditional piece we recently imported from the Eastern Empire…”

“I’ll take this one.”

Nikolai extended his long arm.

“Pardon? Young master. Are you planning to give it as a gift?”

That was correct.

But he couldn’t possibly say it was for Hallara, even if his mouth were torn apart. For the future head of the noble ducal house to give expensive jewelry to a mere commoner woman – how embarrassing would that be?

“Surely you won’t be wearing it yourself.”

“Why do you think I wouldn’t wear it myself?”

“Well, because the bracelet you just looked at is made for women? It probably won’t fit the young master’s wrist.”

Ahem!

Nikolai had actually never bought jewelry before. So he had no way of knowing about women’s versus men’s accessories.

Clap-!

Then the shopkeeper clapped her hands and said,

“It’s a gift for the duchess!”

She had completely missed the mark.

“Oh my. I should have realized sooner, I’m sorry. It’s obvious who the young master would give such a precious gift to.”

Nikolai couldn’t answer and just kept clearing his throat. He had never once given his mother jewelry as a gift.

“I’m confident the duchess will absolutely love it. The duchess has deep interest in items from other empires.”

Even at the shopkeeper’s foolish remarks, Nikolai still had no response. He hurriedly pulled out his money pouch and waited for the wrapping.

Then he ground his teeth invisibly.

‘Nothing good comes from being involved with that woman. If I give her something like this, she’ll probably forget all about favors and requests.’

He remembered promising to grant Hallara’s request if she caught the traitor. She’d probably never received such luxurious gold before, so he generously chose something expensive.

But what an embarrassing thing to do. For him to visit a jewelry shop to pick out accessories to give to a woman. He scratched his arm vigorously. These emotions were too unfamiliar.

***

Meanwhile, Docheop also headed to the training grounds after parting with Hallara.

“I reported to the viscount and tripled the number of trainee knights.”

The person he went to meet was, as always, Moldorf.

“Triple? Your brother actually agreed to that.”

“With the recent security reinforcement in the domain and this incident, he seems to be paying attention to various matters. He doesn’t seem certain yet about the connection to the Holy Church, but he’s definitely suspicious.”

Because of that, Moldorf had also become incredibly busy recently.

“Moreover, the procedures for selecting trainee knights have become more stringent. Even domain residents must pass all the procedures.”

Traitors could appear anywhere, anytime. Simply increasing the number of knights blindly wouldn’t help.

“That’s how it should be. When the new trainee knights arrive, I’ll participate in training too. Since I started this whole thing with my request.”

“Of course you should. I’m too old to handle all those young hotbloods.”

“You’re still perfectly fine, what are you talking about.”

While saying that, Docheop gazed at Moldorf’s new sword.

It was a sword he had picked from the pile of famous swords Hallara had brought last time.

“No presbyopia yet. You picked that out right away.”

It wasn’t quite at Phasma’s level, but it was a sword that could deliver powerful critical strikes depending on the user. Moldorf had cleverly noticed and claimed it.

“There doesn’t seem to be any knight in the Third Division who can handle this.”

“You chose well. It suits you perfectly.”

Docheop nodded. He had actually been planning to give Moldorf a decent sword anyway. He had always been stuck with mediocre swords, overshadowed by the First and Second Divisions. The Third Division was essentially a training academy for novices, so it couldn’t be helped.

“By the way, it seems like I’m the young master’s only conversation partner.”

Seeing him rush over eagerly every break time, Moldorf brought up the topic. What was curious was that each time Docheop visited, his energy seemed slightly different. He had no idea what the man was doing day and night.

“I don’t have friends in the family.”

“But don’t you have your wife?”

“I was just with her until now.”

“So you have exactly two conversation partners.”

There should be his mother and siblings in the family. Docheop still didn’t seem to properly converse with them.

‘Well, even if the young master has awakened, they’re not exactly close yet.’

Just from listening to the chatter of the lowly trainee knights, their relationship was obvious. Things seemed to have improved somewhat since he married Hallara, but some still gossiped that he was married to a commoner because he was the discarded son.

“Why are you looking at me pitifully?”

As if reading Moldorf’s thoughts, Docheop asked.

“There’s no reason to pity you.”

“Right, I have a wife.”

Docheop immediately agreed.

“I said I don’t pity you, not that I’m not envious.”

“Moldorf. How about losing some of that muscle?”

He surveyed Moldorf’s bulky brown muscles. Even with age, those muscles seemed to keep growing.

“What nonsense. For a knight, muscles are like a lifeline.”

“Large muscles can actually restrict movement.”

“That’s not something you should say, young master. Not when you’ve transformed into such a splendid knight in just a few days.”

Now Moldorf’s gaze turned toward him. Since becoming 6-star, he had grown larger than before. His shoulders had broadened and his arms had thickened. Thanks to that, when he appeared at the knight order, even the novices who used to sneer now bowed their heads in unison.

That’s how much muscle was an essential virtue for knights – no, for men. And he would continue to grow even more.

“Well, that’s true, but….”

However, Docheop seemed reluctant about this good opportunity.

“What’s wrong?”

“It seems like Hallara doesn’t like it.”

He rubbed his face with a troubled expression.

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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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