Why Is My Husband the Villainous Schemer! - Chapter 85

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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 85
The Wounded and the Dead
At those words, my heart plummeted as though the floor had dropped away beneath me.
Even so, I lowered my voice as much as possible to keep the children from hearing.
“Who’s hurt? And who died?”
“The assassination attempt failed. We’ve captured some of the assassins, but the situation hasn’t been fully sorted yet, so I don’t have reliable details…….”
“Is it possible for me to go to the Imperial Palace alone right now?”
Of course, I was certain the dead person was neither Carcel nor Isaar.
If it had been, the mages would have told me the news desperately.
Today, Carcel and Isaar had become Linea and Lucian through Disguise Magic.
The moment Lucian slipped out of the palace and Teleported from the rendezvous point.
Carcel had used Disguise Magic to become Lucian and wandered through the marketplace.
Of course, while holding hands tightly with Isaar, who was pretending to be Linea.
Two of Lucian’s guard knights had been assigned to them as backup.
They wouldn’t have known until then that the two were actually Carcel and Isaar.
‘But they’d have figured it out by now.’
The moment the assassins struck, they would have dropped the Disguise Magic and started hunting them instead.
For reference, last night at our house, when both Isaar and Carcel discussed it, their reaction to the requirement that they hold hands while walking around was this:
“Why don’t we stage a scenario where Linea and the Crown Prince fought the day before instead?”
“I absolutely agree. How am I supposed to hold hands with him and walk around the damn streets? I’m going to be sick.”
They were two who despised each other and didn’t want a single fingertip to touch.
Yet apparently they’d managed to act like good friends.
Since I hadn’t informed the Emperor—a man prone to suspicion—of anything, the palace must be in an uproar by now.
“I’d recommend you don’t go right now. Once the situation is completely sorted, we’ll guide you then.”
“Then at least find out the identities of the casualties quickly. Otherwise, I’m thinking of rushing there now.”
The Magic Tower and the Imperial Palace were quite far apart after all.
It would take a while to reach the Inner Palace, so even if I set out by carriage now, the situation would likely already be resolved.
I had no intention of putting myself in danger and making things difficult for others.
When they saw the firm resolve in my eyes, the mage finally nodded once.
“Please wait a moment. There’s heavy Communication Magic traffic, and the signal is weak.”
I nodded anxiously.
For an hour now, I’d been watching the children from the corner of my eye while hovering near the mages, worrying whether I might catch any news.
Finally, the answer came back.
The mage approached me calmly, just as before, and gave his reply.
“The situation has been sorted.”
“What about the casualties?”
“No issues have occurred for the two of them, so please don’t worry too much.”
Only then did a sigh of relief escape me.
“Thank goodness.”
“The Marquis said to be safe and not come to the palace, and to bring the lady and her daughter to the Marquis Residence.”
I frowned.
Then the mage continued.
“The Crown Prince must remain at the Magic Tower a while longer, and the Marquis and the Tower Master will go to the Marquis Residence…….”
“I understand.”
“The Emperor has also learned of this incident and is furious. He’ll be calling everyone involved back for questioning, so it seems safest to head to the Marquis Residence for now.”
“That does seem best.”
I hadn’t stopped to consider just how angry the Emperor would be.
It was a festival day—a day when everyone should be joyful.
And on such a day, we’d almost lost the Crown Prince.
So I said goodbye to Lucian with a tight embrace, then left with Linea first.
Just before we departed, the light in Lucian’s eyes I caught for a moment seemed to sense something.
‘That today’s game of switching identities wasn’t simply play—it was a matter concerning his own safety.’
The look in a child’s eyes who has known since early childhood that there are people intent on killing him so relentlessly was truly heartbreaking.
‘If I can help it, Linea and I should be by his side often and for long.’
Linea seemed to realize only upon arriving at the Marquis Residence that a day that had seemed pleasant was somehow wrong.
“Mother?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“About today’s play…….”
The Marquis Residence was bustling about even to the eye, so it was only natural.
‘Carcel must have already arrived.’
As I stepped into the front hall of the Marquis Residence with Linea, I nodded.
Then Linea, who had hesitated for a moment, asked me.
“It wasn’t really a game, was it?”
“Well…….”
I’m not sure if it was right for me to solve in Linea’s place the hardships she was meant to face in the original story.
But as a mother, I decided this was right.
At this age, Linea probably wouldn’t have been able to handle things the way fourteen-year-old Linea, who’d experienced multiple incidents, could have.
‘Though she probably would’ve lived through it anyway since she’s the protagonist.’
I wanted Linea to spend an ordinary day like the other girls her age.
But was it right not to warn her in advance of the dangers that would come?
After deliberating, I lowered my gaze to Linea.
“It was a game.”
“Really?”
“Yes. But an accident happened.”
“It’s related to Lucian, isn’t it?”
Linea indeed hadn’t been fooled.
Just from the atmosphere, she’d noticed that the day spent with Lucian had been meant to avoid some accident.
Since Linea was a sharp child, I had no way to hide it further.
“Yes. Lucian is the Crown Prince, and he has many threats because of that. And if Linea, as his friend, were to stay by his side…….”
“Would I be in danger?”
“That’s right.”
As I nodded, the child fell into thought.
“If I’m by his side, would nothing bad happen to Lucian?”
“That’s……, even I don’t know.”
Some details from the original story have already changed, and the assassination attempt that was supposed to happen when Linea was fourteen has erupted now at eleven.
One thing was certain: if we cut off all contact with Lucian, Linea at least would be safe.
For my own selfish reasons, I wanted to pass on only information about the assassination and keep Linea at a distance.
But the child had a different answer.
“Then I’ll stay right by Lucian’s side.”
“Linea could be in danger too, you know?”
“But Mother and Father solved it today anyway!”
Linea spoke as though she understood everything.
“You were trying to solve it without us knowing, weren’t you?”
“How am I supposed to manage when Linea’s this smart?”
Pleased on one hand, worried on the other about a Linea who would court danger, I simply stroked her hair without speaking.
From how much I’d been touching her, the crown of Linea’s head had already become slightly warm and soft.
“Lucian looks at me the way he looks at his memories.”
Linea lowered her eyelids for a moment.
The memories floating through the child’s mind were probably not good ones.
“So I want to keep being friends with Lucian. If I’m not there, Lucian will always be alone.”
The way Linea spoke with a bitterness unbefitting her age made me finally nod.
“Alright. Then Mother and Father will protect both you and Lucian.”
Linea looked up at me.
I spoke to the child with certainty.
“Linea, don’t worry about anything and do whatever you want! Just trust Mother and Father!”
Perhaps it was something I myself had once wanted to hear from my parents, even just once.
A reassurance that you have somewhere to lean, so go ahead and do what you wish.
Linea’s eyes widened.
Then the child stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms tightly around my waist.
“Thank you, Mother.”
As Linea spoke those words, I found myself laughing without meaning to, stroking back her hair.
That was when it happened.
“Asha! Linea!”
Carcel burst in from the reception room, having noticed our arrival.
“Carcel!”
“Father!”
I stepped forward and hugged him as he swept both Linea and me into his arms at once.
His embrace carried the smell of soot mixed with ash.
I quickly reached out and cupped his cheek.
“Are you hurt anywhere? The mages said there was one casualty and one injured……!”
“I’m fine. I did suffer some burns, but…….”
“Where?!”
As I looked at him urgently with concern, Carcel let out a soft laugh.
“My mother said I looked fine and just gave me Burn Ointment before leaving, but I’m pleased that you worry about me like this, Asha.”
“This is not the time to be pleased! Goodness, I can’t take this. You fool!”
I smacked his back several times.
Carcel, who truly liked the attention, soon hardened his expression.
“The casualty wasn’t from our side.”
“Then the injured person……?”
“That’s……, Isaar was somewhat injured.”
“What?!”

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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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