Surviving as the Wife of the Swordsmanship Clan’s Troublemaker - Chapter 96

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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 96

Days ago, I had exchanged such words with Nikolai.

“So if I catch the traitor, what’s my reward? Is there one?”
“You’ll be cleared of suspicion.”
“How dull. I thought you’d grant me a wish or two.”
“Do I look like a genie from a magic lamp to you?”

As he spoke, Nikolai regarded me with a look of disdain.
I had backed down then, unwilling to argue further, but I harbored hope that he might grant me some small favor in exchange for catching the traitor.
“Wasn’t gifting me that bracelet your way of providing compensation?”
That was before he gave me the bracelet.
“I simply saw it while passing by and purchased it. It means nothing.”
Nikolai averted his gaze as he replied. He bought something this expensive just by chance?
“Yet you’ve never once given Mother a gift before.”
“I’ll buy something for Mother too. Far more expensive and exquisite than yours.”
“What a thoughtful idea. You should have done that sooner!”
I smiled brightly. How unusual for Nikolai to say something pleasant. It seemed Ludvin had completed his task. He had honored my request to reconcile Francesca and Nikolai in exchange for the information.
“So what is it you want? Just answer that.”
“Are you truly willing to grant a favor as compensation?”
“Unreasonable wishes don’t count.”
“How far does that extend?”
“Nothing more expensive than that bracelet, so abandon any such dreams.”
He issued a warning. He seemed to think I was obsessed with money. It wasn’t entirely wrong, but since I’d already received such a valuable bracelet, I had no intention of requesting anything monetary as my favor.
“So you’ll grant it if it’s neither unreasonable nor financial?”
“Speak. Before I change my mind.”
I pondered what to ask. Should I request that he not kill me if my true identity is revealed? I had considered such things.
But I didn’t want to waste this opportunity on begging for my life.
“Please have a sparring match with Docheop!”
This would be better. It would help Docheop awaken as well.
“Rejected.”
Nikolai’s expression turned fierce.
“Thank you. I’ll inform Docheop right away!”
I didn’t back down either.
“It was you who insisted on granting the favor first. I’ve met all the conditions. So I’m counting on you for our Docheop!”
“Say something else.”
“A man cannot take back his word once spoken. You were the one who brought it up first. So please take good care of our Docheop!”
I waved my hand lightly and retreated.
“Hallara!”
I heard Nikolai’s angry voice. I bolted away with the same agility I’d honed fleeing from Helbeorn.
​
***
​
As always, I woke to the sound of birds chirping.
But instead of a bird singing by the window, Docheop with his crimson hair was leaning against the bedside, looking down at me. When our eyes met, I startled and let out a sharp cry.
“Why, why are you doing that?”
“Is it wrong for me to sit on my own bed?”
“No, no.”
Though technically he was right, wasn’t he also wrong? Since when had Docheop and I been sleeping side by side in the same bed?
I pulled the blanket up while blinking rapidly.
At that, Docheop’s eyes curved with amusement.
“You’re fully clothed, so why are you so carefully tugging the blanket?”
“Ah. I… ”
Even knowing nothing had happened, I felt embarrassed for no reason. I laughed awkwardly and covered my face with the blanket.
But unlike me in my nightclothes, he was dressed in everyday attire. A pleasant scent emanated from him—as if he’d trained and bathed. His hair was slightly damp too.
“You’ve been out since morning.”
Snap.
He closed the book he’d been holding.
And fixed me with his dark gaze.
“Busy because of someone.”
“Because of whom?”
“Who do you think?”
Surely not me?
Busy because of me…?
“Looking for a Doctor? You didn’t need to do that.”
The Physician Francesca had hired posed a risk of revealing my identity, so it seemed Docheop had been searching for a new Doctor. Though Docheop was awakening quickly, his position remained precarious. Not only did the Dominion doubt him, but most within the Manor still regarded him as a ruffian.
“The Doctor isn’t found yet. It’s something else.”
So it wasn’t that.
“There’s nothing else.”
“Absolutely nothing?”
“Surely… not Nikolai?”
I had asked Nikolai to spar with Docheop, but I hadn’t expected him to seek him out immediately.
The two of them had such deep animosity. How else would Nikolai have thrown a childish tantrum at Francesca in the Banquet Hall, complaining that she only paid attention to Docheop?
And that very Nikolai had come to find Docheop?
“Did Nikolai really come to find you? Why?”
“You asked him to. Were you planning to pretend you didn’t?”
“Did you spar?”
“From before dawn until now, continuously.”
At his answer, I quickly scanned the clock. It seemed they’d sparred for at least three hours.
“Where are you hurt?!”
Then Docheop must have been injured. I jumped up and felt along his arm. He let out a sharp cry of pain.
“Is your arm broken? What do I do….”
An arm that looked harder than this iron hammer could actually break.
With Nikolai, it was entirely possible. I wondered why he had agreed to my request so readily, but it seemed he had used the sparring match as an excuse to take out his frustrations on Docheop. No matter how much Docheop had awakened, could his strength match someone who had reached the eighth star since childhood?
“You’re worried about me now?”
“Of course. I asked for the sparring match to help you, but I didn’t know you’d get hurt. I’m sorry.”
I drooped my eyebrows and let out a pitiful sound. At that, Docheop’s face twitched slightly. It seemed his face had taken a hit and was cramping.
“This won’t do. I’ll call the Doctor. Stay here.”
As I pushed back the blanket and tried to rise, Docheop leaned heavily against my shoulder.
“Ow.”
“Where does it hurt?”
“Don’t move. Just stay still.”
At his ragged voice, my body went rigid. Inside, indignation toward Nikolai boiled over. I decided that the next time we met, I’d show him the burning taste of spicy kimchi.
I felt hot breath emanating from Docheop, pressed so close. My body tensed.
Now that I thought about it, all that separated us was a single thin shirt. The heat radiating from his body warmed me thoroughly. Sweat—whether from cold fear or from the heat—beaded on my skin.
‘If only Junel were here, we could at least talk.’
After Docheop moved into my room, Junel had taken to tactfully excusing herself whenever we were alone together. She had probably done the same today.
‘This is awkward….’
I had never felt awkward being alone with him before. It must be because we’re pressed so tightly together that such thoughts are creeping in.
My eyes darted around until I spotted a jar on the side table. I reached for it and opened it to find a yellowish cream. It had to be salve.
“Oh, this is salve. So you did see the Doctor. Point out where it hurts. I’ll apply the medicine for you.”
Using this as an excuse, I put some distance between us. As I moved away from him, the oppressive heat gradually cooled. A refreshing breeze slipped through the window cracks, and I felt a pleasant chill. Meanwhile, Docheop wore a displeased expression, as if something had bothered him.
“Where exactly does it hurt so much?”
“My hand.”
“Your hand? Let me see.”
I pulled over a pillow and carefully placed Docheop’s hand on it. His hand, easily twice the size of mine, was covered with various scars. They seemed to be marks from his hardships over time, not fresh wounds.
There were no obvious wounds or traces of blood, but since he said it hurt, I applied the salve without complaint.
“Where else does it hurt?”
“My shoulder.”
“Hmm. But there’s no blood on your shirt?”
There were no traces of blood or seepage on the white shirt. I peeked slightly through the gap in his shirt, but there were no visible marks.
But then.
“Take it off.”
Docheop spoke in a languid voice.
“Pardon?”
“You need to remove it to see the wound.”
But that meant I was supposed to unfasten Docheop’s shirt myself.
In truth, it was the natural course of action. To see the wound, I needed to see bare skin, and for that, I had to undo his shirt. Yet my fingers hesitated as they reached for his shirt ties.
“Um… there aren’t any other places that hurt, are there?”
In the end, I resolved to use up all the medicine on my other wounds and escape this suffocating atmosphere.
But that was merely my plan.
“You did injure your thigh.”
A far greater crisis awaited me.

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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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