Surviving as the Wife of the Swordsmanship Clan’s Troublemaker - Chapter 88

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 88
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“Where is the Duchess?”
I asked Docheop when he returned. He shook his head slightly.
“She said she wanted to be alone, so I escorted her to her bedroom.”
It was clear that Nikolai’s harsh words had deeply wounded her.
“I thought Nikolai was supposed to be mature.”
It was nothing but whining—the kind even a child wouldn’t resort to. To think he’d grown jealous just because Francesca had praised Docheop’s gift.
“Right. I never expected my brother to think that way.”
Docheop seemed a bit taken aback as well.
Come to think of it, how long had he endured being treated as inferior? But I suppose he never imagined Francesca would suddenly turn around and argue that she’d only been thinking of Docheop all this time.
“I’ll go give him a piece of my mind.”
I rolled up my sleeves. It didn’t matter if he’d given her a gold bracelet. He deserved a proper scolding.
“Hallara.”
At that, Docheop gently took my hand.
“You don’t have to.”
It seemed he didn’t want to see his only older brother punished.
“Why are you always so kind, my lord?”
Were they really brothers from the same womb? Both Helbeorn and Nikolai were strange, yet only Docheop possessed such a generous heart. Perhaps that’s why he’s the protagonist.
“Because this isn’t the time for us to fight among ourselves.”
Then Docheop stood and gently stroked my hair.
“And my brother must have his own wounds. Ones I don’t know about.”
“You understand that?”
“He’s family.”
“Are you living your second life, my lord?”
“…What?”
Docheop flinched.
“I just wonder how you can understand everything so well. You were trampled by your older brother as a child, trampled by your younger brother, and ignored by your parents.”
“How do you know that?”
This time, it was I who flinched. But I didn’t panic.
“I’ve seen and heard quite a bit since coming to the Manor.”
“Is that so? I thought maybe you were living your second life too.”
He stared directly into my eyes as he replied.
“Even so, I would have kicked Nikolai’s backside.”
“To that extent?”
“Yes. Someone who doesn’t understand the value of family cannot cherish anything else.”
Of course, there are families that don’t feel like family. Like my mother-in-law, or my ex-husband who treated me like a servant. I’d decided not to count those as family.
“If I had parents, I would never have acted that way.”
“…You didn’t have parents?”
His eyes widened noticeably as he asked carefully.
“Yes.”
“Siblings?”
“None. I’ve been alone since childhood.”
That’s why I dreamed of a happy family early on. My greatest life mistake was marrying into the main house of a three-generation lineage due to such hasty judgment.
“I see.”
He nodded with a composed expression. Despite the heavy topic, Docheop neither pitied me nor looked at me with sympathy. Nor did he seem dismissive.
“Don’t you think I’m pitiful?”
I found myself curious. This reaction was unprecedented.
“Should I?”
“Most people do.”
Our eyes met with Docheop’s.
“You have one now.”
“Pardon?”
“Family.”
He spoke those words and lifted the corners of his mouth ever so slightly. It wasn’t a broad smile, nor was it a cunning wink. It was simply a natural smile, as though what he’d said was obvious.
My eyes softened at his pure sincerity.
“You’re right. No wonder it feels so natural.”
The protagonist is truly the protagonist.
With such a generous heart and a gift for melting people’s hearts.
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I knew well that this wasn’t the time for us to quarrel among ourselves, as Docheop had said. But internal division couldn’t happen either. By his words, they were now no different from family to me.
‘If I don’t reconcile now, I’ll regret it soon enough.’
I headed toward Nikolai with the dessert I’d made that morning with the Annex Maids.
“Oh.”
But Nikolai, whom I’d expected to find alone, was with Francesca.
“A new maid?”
It wasn’t just the two of them.
There was a nobleman I’d never seen before. A middle-aged man with a blue-tinted velvet hat pressed down on his head, sitting with arrogant crossed legs.
“Though one couldn’t possibly wear such expensive clothing as a maid.”
He raked his eyes over me as I entered, speaking with an intrigued tone.
“My. Sister Fran. I thought it was just rumor, but it’s true.”
When I called Francesca by her nickname, she exhaled silently and squeezed her eyes shut.
“Ludvin. Send her away and let’s talk among ourselves.”
Ludvin.
Hearing that name, I immediately knew who he was. Herman Ludvin.
Francesca’s youngest cousin and the head of the Herman Marquis House that had inherited her family.
“Isn’t it rude to send her away immediately upon arrival? Besides, she seems to have brought refreshments herself. It appears her origins don’t abandon such courtesy.”
He let out a mocking laugh and glanced dismissively at the tray I’d brought.
“Don’t mock me like that.”
“Sister, I’m hurt. You’re saying the daughter-in-law comes before me, who’s been family since birth?”
“Ugh… Don’t talk such nonsense, even you.”
Francesca let out a weary sigh, the dark circles beneath her eyes suggesting she hadn’t slept the previous night. I set the tray before her and steadied her as she swayed slightly.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Did you bring the tea for Nikolai?”
“Yes. I thought Mother-in-law would enjoy it, so I was going to suggest bringing it to her. But it seems you’re both here.”
At those words, Francesca pulled her dry lips into a smile. I poured her a warm cup of tea and set it before her. Then I poured another cup and brought it to Ludvin.
“You seem to get along well with my sister. How did you manage to win her over?”
“Hello, Herman Ludvin.”
“You know me?”
His deep blue eyes gleamed.
“How could I not? You’re the head of Mother-in-law’s birth family.”
“Oh. You’ve already figured that much out. I’ll enjoy the tea. But I’m afraid I can’t say hello.”
*Gulp.*
He swallowed the hot tea and continued speaking, his brow furrowed.
“You may be delighted with your rise in status, but the family is in complete chaos. Rumors are spreading throughout the Capital that Bloodmere has taken in a commoner—and without even informing the Imperial Palace. Instead, invitations were sent only to the Duke’s House in another empire, causing an uproar.”
“How my son’s wedding is conducted is entirely my concern.”
Francesca shot back immediately.
“Sister, regardless, you should have informed Alasta. Do you know how disappointed she is?”
“Don’t call your sister ‘sister’ so casually. She is Her Majesty the Empress.”
“How could I be a disgrace to Her Majesty? Look at where she’s risen to. What were you thinking, doing something like this? I thought the Duke himself had returned.”
Ludvin, having removed his hat, demanded answers with an incredulous expression.
“Uncle. Please stop.”
It was Nikolai who finally stepped forward.
“Nikolai, you haven’t accepted this, have you? You, who values the family above all else, you who will be the next head—you couldn’t possibly accept this.”
“…There were circumstances. Of course, since it concerns our family, we will take full responsibility.”
Nikolai spoke calmly. His eyes were also bloodshot from lack of sleep the previous night. I had expected him to sympathize with Ludvin’s words, so his response was somewhat surprising.
“Responsibility?”
“Yes, so…”
“As expected of the Viscount!”
Ludvin jumped to his feet as if he’d been waiting for those words.
“There are people who want to withdraw their investments because of this incident. I’d appreciate it if you’d take responsibility for that.”
And he spouted complete nonsense.
“What does the Marquis House’s investment have to do with this wedding?”
“It’s investment made because my sister is the mistress of Bloodmere. Since our sister, who maintains strict hierarchy, suddenly took the lead in this wedding, people are saying the ties have come loose with talk of divorce and all that.”
In other words, he was saying they’d sold Francesca to secure the investment.
“Since we’re suffering significant losses, I’m afraid you’ll need to transfer the building in the Capital that belongs to my sister.”
And he made an outrageous demand on top of it all.
“What in the…”
“As it happens, the Capital has been in need of an exchange. Sister, allow me to take the lead on this matter and resolve it well. All while ensuring no harm comes to Bloodmere, the Herman Marquis House, or Her Majesty the Empress.”
Ludvin continued speaking with a self-assured tone, as though he had already claimed the building for himself.
How he would resolve it was painfully obvious.
“Wait a moment.”
But my opponent was Ludvin—the easiest person for me to handle.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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