Why Is My Husband the Villainous Schemer! - Chapter 84

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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 84
The guards watching the blue flames bloom realized this was no ordinary fire.
It was a fire started by a Magical Tool.
‘Using a Magical Tool spreads fire faster and stronger than oil ever could.’
The Observation Platform was consumed entirely in flames within a single minute, and the assassins stationed themselves at every exit in case the Crown Prince managed to escape.
Moreover, the rest of the security forces arrived late because of the Fireworks Display.
‘But Linea will find a way out.’
“Carcel, I’m really sorry to bother you knowing you have insomnia.”
“Yes?”
“Could you call Isaar for me?”
Carcel slowly sat up at her words.
“At this hour?”
“If I don’t go to the Fireworks Display tomorrow, that settles it.”
Outright refusing Lucian’s invitation could be one option.
‘And honestly, I’m not even certain that incident will happen.’
In the original story, Linea had been half-confined at home, so the setting was that she first watched the Fireworks Display with Lucian at fourteen.
But coincidentally, circumstances had changed—and now it just so happened that this would be the first time Linea and Lucian watched the Fireworks Display together?
And the invited location was even the same place where the fire occurred?
I had no choice but to prepare.
Besides, knowing that assassination attempts would happen relentlessly for the next ten years, and knowing who was behind them.
‘If I gather clues about the perpetrator beforehand, I might be able to end this faster.’
I know the future, but this is reality.
In other words, I can’t predict every twist of a fluid, shifting future.
So it wouldn’t be wrong to turn a crisis into an opportunity.
And even if I refused the invitation, Lucian might go to the Observation Platform alone.
If that happened, it would be far more dangerous.
With Linea there, she’d find an escape route, but without her, I don’t know what would happen.
When someone’s life is at stake, I always prefer to be 100% certain.
I made the request to Carcel one more time.
“Carcel, I think it would be better to call Isaar.”
Isaar didn’t seem like he’d come just because I asked.
“Understood.”
Thankfully, Carcel nodded without asking further questions.
* * *
And the next evening.
Bang! Pop-bang!
The Fireworks Display had begun.
At the sound of the firecrackers bursting, Linea jumped in surprise, her eyes widening.
Then Lucian, taller than her, approached and gently covered her ears.
“Thank you.”
“No problem. It’s scary the first time you hear it! I was scared when I first saw it too.”
Lucian spoke with mature assurance.
I stood behind Lucian and Linea, watching the children marvel at the sight.
“Wow! The stars are dancing!”
“Pretty, right?”
“Really pretty. Thank you!”
Linea laughed brightly, gripping the railing of the Observation Platform tightly.
I cautioned her from behind.
“Linea, careful you don’t fall! Be careful!”
“Yes!”
Then it happened.
Bang!
A massive explosion echoed from somewhere.
And thick smoke rose up, just like during the Fireworks Display.
“Wow, look at that smoke!”
“That was such a loud sound!”
I calmly explained to Linea and Lucian.
“You hear that sound, right? When they do the Fireworks Display, they set off explosions on the ground? That’s why we hear these sounds.”
“That’s amazing.”
But what the children didn’t know was that this explosion had come from the very place we were supposed to have met.
‘So it really did happen.’
I’d prepared just in case, and it actually occurred.
The thought of what could have happened to these precious children made my throat go dry.
“But that’s near my palace. I guess they’re setting off firecrackers there too.”
“If you’d watched from the palace, it would’ve been even more spectacular.”
“Come visit next time. My palace has peacocks and giraffes.”
“Really?!”
The children exchanged innocent words despite a situation where their lives might have been in danger.
That was only natural—they both thought they’d been playing “secret hide-and-seek” all day.
All of this goes back to early this morning.
Carcel and I had exchanged glances without having slept a wink.
And I’d approached Linea, who had just finished breakfast, with a proposal.
“Little one, let’s not study today and play something fun instead?”
“Yes! What game?”
“Hmm… today, Linea will play a secret hide-and-seek game all day long, hiding her identity.”
“Oh, I’ve heard of that! You wear a Mask, right?”
The fortunate part was that during the Spring Flower Festival where the Fireworks Display happened, people wore Masks as they walked around.
That day, everyone hid their identity to have a carefree time.
So Linea nodded and seemed delighted.
“So I can’t let anyone know I’m Linea Rivandel?”
“Right. That’s why you’ll wear more ordinary clothes, and Lucian will play with us too.”
“That sounds fun!”
So Lucian and Linea spent the whole day wandering the Market, filled with festival atmosphere.
And finally, when evening came, the real hide-and-seek began.
Though the only difference was that this was a life-or-death game of hide-and-seek.
“Sigh…”
My fingertips trembled slightly from tension.
Even knowing nothing would happen, if someone were to be hurt…
And still, as the fireworks continued to burst.
Whistle!
A thin metallic sound accompanied a red beam of light shooting upward.
Linea spotted it first and chattered at Lucian.
“Look, Lucian! Have you ever seen fireworks like that?”
“No, this is the first time I’ve seen one.”
A red beam of light shot up from near the Crown Prince’s Palace.
“But why do these lights keep appearing near my palace? Is something happening?”
Lucian wasn’t the sort of child who missed such details.
The boy was beginning to grow suspicious.
And my body trembled faintly at that beam of light.
Before the children could notice anything else, I called out their names.
“Linea, and Lucian. The Fireworks Display is almost over—shall we head in?”
“Yes!”
The children obediently came toward me.
“Are you hungry?”
The children had bought and eaten an enormous amount of Snacks from the stalls in the Market today.
So they hadn’t eaten dinner yet.
I managed only a faint smile toward the children.
But Linea, who was always attached to me, seemed to sense something was wrong.
“Mother?”
Linea reached out her hand toward me.
I knelt down on one knee, bringing my eyes level with the child’s.
“What is it, little one?”
“Mother, something’s wrong with your expression.”
“Is it?”
“Is something the matter?”
There was no deceiving Linea, as expected.
As Linea began to worry, even Lucian, who had been cheerfully laughing until now, approached me with a look of concern.
“Duchess, are you well?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Linea worried and suddenly nestled into my arms.
And with her small hands, she patted my back gently.
Lucian came into my view, watching Linea and me with a mixture of unease and longing.
“Would you like to come here too, Lucian?”
“May I?”
“Of course! If you’re Linea’s friend, you’re my child too.”
At that, Lucian, who had hesitated for a moment, nestled into my arms as well.
Once I confirmed the children were safe, the tension I’d been holding onto loosened somewhat.
Yet I couldn’t be at ease, so I turned my head to the side.
There were two Mages there.
They seemed to be communicating intently through a Communication Magical Tool only they could possess.
I couldn’t understand what they were saying—likely the Ancient Language that Mages use, being exchanged earnestly between them.
That’s right.
We were at the Magic Tower.
The tallest tower in the Capital itself, and one of the most impenetrable fortresses that no defense could breach.
The Magic Tower was far safer than the Imperial Palace, which had such an enormous area that it was impossible to secure 100% of it.
And holding the high ground, the entire Capital lay sprawling below us, making it ideal for defense.
For several reasons, we’d deceived Lucian and Linea into playing here all day.
‘The children probably thought they’d been playing in the Market the whole time.’
But that too was Illusion Magic, similar to a magpie’s nest.
The only genuine thing was the Fireworks Display, which we watched from the Magic Tower looking down.
‘I hope we get word soon, since Teleportation doesn’t work inside the Imperial Palace.’
I was also concerned for the safety not only of Carcel and Isaar, but also of Lucian’s guard knights.
Even with thorough preparation, the assassins’ ability to directly infiltrate the Imperial Palace was insane.
It was essentially the act of a suicide squad.
Then it happened.
“I have a message for the Duchess.”
A Mage approached me, watching the children carefully.
I nodded.
“Children, can you stay here for a moment?”
“Yes!”
“There are Snacks, so eat while you wait.”
The children welcomed the Snacks, apparently still a bit hungry.
As they immediately began sharing the Snacks companionably, I approached the Mages.
“Is everything alright? I saw a red Signal just now…”
Carcel and I had agreed on a Signal today.
If everything was resolved well, a green Signal would be sent.
‘If something went wrong, a red one would be fired.’
My heart thundered with anxiety, pounding in my chest.
Once I barely managed to steady my emotions, the Mage delivered the news.
“One injured and one casualty have been reported.”

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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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