Why Is My Husband the Villainous Schemer! - Chapter 78

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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 78
This wasn’t exactly an interrogation chamber, but I was still wrestling with how to answer that question.
‘If I lie and get caught, then suspicion will set in.’
It seemed Carcel, Mother, and Lucian had all confirmed the circumstances beforehand.
And while he may have summoned me for the Meeting of Families, I could still end up under suspicion if I’m not careful.
‘Come to think of it, they said the Emperor’s paranoia worsens on nights when his insomnia is severe, but lessens when he’s had enough sleep.’
Today, fortunately, he seemed to have slept well.
In the end, I chose to tell him everything honestly.
“Yes.”
“……Hmm. How?”
“First, your eyes were violet. But the real giveaway was something else.”
I clenched my fists and declared theatrically.
“Even in that shabby Cloak, there was an unmistakable dignity and elegance that couldn’t be hidden! It was absolutely not something a boy his age would possess!”
As the Emperor’s eyebrows shot up, I pressed on.
“Not only that, but at our shared meal, you demonstrated perfect etiquette as if teaching by example what propriety truly means—it was impossible not to notice.”
“……Verbose, but accurate.”
“I speak as a mother of a child.”
From our first meeting, Lucian was courteous and took responsibility for his mistakes.
“My son seems quite exceptional.”
“Bloodline cannot be hidden.”
“……But then again.”
The Emperor leaned forward and smiled at me with his eyes alone.
“Were you the one who fed my son that Brownie?”
“Gasp.”
“And Churros too, they tell me.”
Damn. I’d been caught.
Suddenly become the culprit who’d fed the Crown Prince unhealthy food, I managed a strained smile.
Seeing my lips tremble, the Emperor let out a quiet laugh.
“I’m terribly sorry. For feeding His Highness such unhealthy food…….”
I bowed my head in apology first.
“Never mind. I only asked because my son said he enjoyed that time.”
“What?”
I lifted my lowered head and looked at him.
“My son said it felt comfortable, like eating with his mother.”
“Ah…….”
“He said you nagged him, wiped his mouth, and watched over him with concern when he played, as if worried he might get hurt.”
The Emperor’s expression as he murmured this was gentler than I expected.
“It seems my son has long yearned for such ordinary things.”
I opened my mouth carefully.
“His Highness is a remarkable person, but it seems there’s still a child within him…….”
“You couldn’t ignore it?”
“Yes. It wasn’t pity or sympathy. It was simply because he reminded me of my own child.”
Upon hearing that, the Emperor gazed at me quietly before speaking.
“I’ll be honest. I was suspicious of you, madam.”
The Emperor laid bare his true feelings openly.
“Had the Marquis not been the son of my old friend, I would have interrogated you in my usual manner—not this way.”
“I see.”
“You can’t deny there are many suspicious points. You married him just one month after your husband’s death, and suddenly you and my son became friends.”
I listened without a word.
Finally the Emperor pressed his temples and let out a soft laugh.
“But in this world, there truly are inexplicable coincidences.”
“I myself didn’t know Carcel was Duke Rakan until our wedding night. And if not for Linea, I would never have met His Highness in my entire life.”
“Ah, that fellow! I knew it!”
“Pardon?”
Upon hearing my words, the Emperor pointed an accusing finger at Carcel.
“You entered a Fraudulent Marriage?”
Carcel nodded.
“……When I asked Asha to tell me her ideal type, she said anyone but Duke Rakan, so before I knew it…….”
“Now the greatest mystery is solved.”
Was the greatest mystery in all this really the fact that Carcel and I had a love marriage……?
Unlike my stunned expression, the Emperor burst into hearty laughter.
“Well. In any case, I pushed for both of you to hold your wedding ceremony at the Grand Temple partly for my son’s safety. The Grand Temple is still a place where I can control the entire situation.”
“Actually, we had intended to hold a simple ceremony at home.”
“……Now that you’ve become his wife, I’ll be frank—my son is constantly exposed to Assassination Threats.”
The Emperor spoke with a troubled expression.
“In just ten years, he’s survived more than ten life-threatening crises.”
I nodded at him with an understanding expression.
“He’s simply been fortunate so far.”
“Yes.”
“My son will definitely want to attend your wedding ceremony. He’s grown very fond of Linea, your daughter.”
“They’ve become friends by chance.”
The Emperor nodded.
“Yes. I’ll permit the two children to continue their friendship.”
I inhaled sharply.
“Linea will be so thrilled! Thank you so much.”
“Well……, I’m simply trusting my son’s judgment.”
At that, I nodded enthusiastically and gave both thumbs up.
“Of course. I’ve seen many children over the years, but I’ve never met anyone quite like His Highness.”
“……That’s true enough.”
“The finest Crown Prince!”
As I flattered him, the Emperor regarded me with a considerably softened expression.
“But then again.”
“Yes!”
Reassured, I nodded with a more relaxed face than before.
“You purchased some land recently—where did the funds come from?”
“Gasp.”
A sudden audit inquiry left me breathless.
“……Actually, I borrowed some money from an acquaintance.”
“Two thousand gold?”
“I’ve known that person for quite some time, so after much deliberation, they lent me the money. Of course, it wasn’t a small amount, but I had to prove my ability to properly raise Linea.”
Not a single lie mixed into those words.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes and asked again.
“I hear that land is barren, with only grass growing—why did you purchase it?”
“I saw potential in it.”
“What kind?”
“I thought there might be a Magic Stone deposit there, so I purchased it boldly.”
At those words, even the Emperor had no choice but to ask back.
“Magic Stone?”
“Yes. I wasn’t certain, of course, but after compiling numerous sources, I developed a suspicion that a Magic Stone mine might exist in that region.”
“Quite the gambler.”
Worried he might grow suspicious again, I added more.
“Even if there were no Magic Stone mine, I was confident I could apply the land to other uses.”
“What other uses?”
“The surrounding mountain range is low, and there’s a wide plain suitable for tourism—I considered developing a hospitality resort.”
At that, the Emperor posed no further questions.
“So did you find a Magic Stone mine?”
I glanced sideways at Carcel.
‘It seems he didn’t ask Carcel about this separately.’
And I admitted readily.
“Actually, mining operations have already begun.”
“……Was there a Magic Stone mine?”
“Yes. With Carcel’s help, we confirmed it was indeed a Magic Stone mine, so we began immediately!”
The Emperor’s expression finally wavered.
“Then when will Magic Stone production begin?”
“It’s still in the early stages……, so I can’t be certain.”
“But you must have an estimate?”
I told him the schedule Isaar had given me.
“We expect the first Magic Stone to be produced within about a month.”
“A month?!”
Even the Emperor hadn’t anticipated this.
“That should take at least a year—how is production possible in a month?”
“Carcel introduced me to an excellent person. They said a month was possible.”
Now the Emperor began interrogating Carcel.
“Who exactly did you introduce?”
“I thought Asha deserved the best talent, so I introduced her to Isaar.”
“Isaar?! That fellow agreed to do it?”
“He accepted because he owes me a debt.”
The Emperor spoke in bewilderment.
“No, that fellow won’t come even when I call him—he makes excuse after excuse. This is absurd.”
“Perhaps you should scold him.”
Carcel spoke with a face that subtly hoped Isaar would be punished.
At this, the Emperor gave Carcel a look of exasperation.
“Aren’t the two of you close friends?”
“We are not.”

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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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