TVIOWHFW 19

As the sound of footsteps grew closer, my heartbeat also sped up. I pressed my hands firmly over my mouth, lost in thought.

“Should I go out now?”

Somehow, my body wouldn’t move when I tried to act immediately.

“I feel like it’s already too late.”

I shouldn’t have held my breath! Every time the second hand on the clock in the office moved, my regret deepened. The footsteps stopped. They are right in front of the office desk. I heard the voice of the Knight Commander speaking.

“To be honest, I find it quite remarkable that the orphanage discovered by Baron Blonieu happens to be the same place your lady came from. Do you think there might be a connection?”

“Well, I don’t know.”

John’s voice came from right in front of me. It was completely different—cold and icy, unlike the usual tone when he talks to me.

‘So, they found the orphanage I came from?’

The Rabiánne Orphanage was an ordinary place with nothing special. Except that the orphanage director was surprisingly capable, and as a result, they adopted out the children quickly.

‘But taking all the orphans at once to work as laborers isn’t unusual.’

Even if John investigated my orphanage, he probably wouldn’t find anything particularly noteworthy. John sat lightly on the desk and spoke.

“Any excavation will reveal something. By the way, are there any recent attacks on the Blanchét estate?”

“Yes. Since the fall of Libertan, it seems everyone is being more cautious.”

“Good.”

I was nervously listening to their conversation, my heart pounding.

‘I should have just been caught if I knew it would come to this.’

The Knight Commander and John continued their talk.

“Oh, my lord. So, what’s the decision regarding Libertan’s letter? I haven’t received your position on it yet.”

“You seem to be in good shape?”

“Yes. I hear there’s chaos in the palace prison.”

John didn’t answer. I held my breath, feeling anxious about the silence. Then I heard footsteps, and John entered from inside the desk—toward the side where I was hiding.

‘He’s been caught!’

I looked at John with a clumsy smile, lowering my gaze slightly. I even pretended to wave hello awkwardly.

“What should I say? How do I explain?”

But John, raising a slight eyebrow without showing any sign, sat down comfortably on the chair.

“Are you trying not to tell them you’re here?”

The Knight Commander’s voice was filled with surprise. I couldn’t see his face, but I was sure he looked quite shocked.

“What exactly is going on? Is there a new monster problem we need to handle with the knights?”

“No.”

John replied with a faint smile.

“It’s about my wife.”

“Your newly arrived lady? What in the world is going on between you two…?”

The Knight Commander, Raymond, sounded absorbed. I also perked up, listening closely to John’s words. John slowly began to speak.

“My wife keeps calling me ‘Duke’.”

“Huh?”

“It’s been quite a while since we got married, but she still calls me ‘Duke’. This seems like a serious problem.”

I was surprised by his unexpected statement, as was Raymond. Raymond cleared his throat and asked again.

“Could it be that she simply can’t think of a different way to address you?”

“That’s impossible. She even called me ‘my husband’ during a crisis last time.”

“I see.”

“She even spoke very casually, as if it was nothing.”

Apparently recalling the attack by Anton.

“This is a very serious issue. Our married life is important in many ways.”

John’s tone grew more serious, and I felt even more embarrassed. My face was already flushed red from the heat. I had spoken out instinctively during the crisis, but hearing it from someone else made the situation feel completely different.

‘He’s teasing me!’

John, still pretending I wasn’t there, elegantly continued.

“I thought she was adorable then. I wonder if there’s a way I can hear that again?”

“Uh, I, I guess… the only way is for my lord to talk with the lady?”

I swallowed nervously and looked into John’s eyes.

“If your Grace would protect me, I could do anything. If something happens to me, you can rescue me immediately. Or, I could even bring a healer along.”

At first glance, I didn’t feel any curses or ominous signs from John’s office. Still, I couldn’t help but think that there might be something more to it.

‘It’s very likely the Duke and Duchess of Libertan know something.’

But they were currently under arrest for treason. Without John’s permission, and as someone still using the Libertan surname, there was no way I could go see them.

‘Of course, if others are involved, it would be hard to bring up curses.’

So, even if I went, I probably wouldn’t get what I wanted.

‘But not going at all is much worse.’

John tilted his head slightly as he looked at me. This was his typical gesture when he was contemplating something.

“That’s basic.”

“Huh?”

“If the wife goes, I, her husband, should go too. That’s only natural. But honestly, I’m not very reassured.”

John gently held my trembling hand resting on the desk.

“Think carefully. Maybe there’s a way I could help you with.”

What is that supposed to mean?! A wave of frustration rose within me, but I quickly regained my composure. Carefully, I spoke.

“Me, husband?”

“…”

“Is this how I should call you?”

My face, filled with the title ‘husband,’ turned bright red. John’s eyes softened into a gentle smile as he looked at me.

“That’s a nice sound, but it’s not the right answer.”

“Then, what is the right answer?”

John readily answered.

“There isn’t one.”

“Huh?”

“Just say you want to go.”

I couldn’t hide my confusion at his words. John then calmly stood up from his chair and said.

“Don’t ask for it—demand it. If you do, I’ll give you everything.”

There was a strange sense of guilt in the red eyes that looked at me. His gaze was especially fixed on my neck.

‘That can’t be true.’

I instinctively touched my neck. John’s lips tightened into a firm line.

“After getting up, is there any pain?”

“No, there isn’t.”

“…Then, my lady.”

John, now standing, gently held my face with one hand to meet my gaze. I stared at him with wide eyes.

“Have you ever wanted to leave Libertan? Regret being adopted?”

This was a question I didn’t expect in this situation. My body stiffened.

‘Answers about Libertan are too important.’

I had no idea how to respond. The reason was simple.

‘…I don’t feel any strange hostility in his voice.’

Should I be honest, or pretend to be a beloved daughter? I hesitated, weighing my options. I found a compromise between the extremes.

“Yes, I do. I regret it sometimes.”

“But do you love the Duke and Duchess of Libertan—that is, your foster parents?”

With a faint smile, I placed my hand over John’s, which held my face.

“I don’t know what love is, but I’d like to see them. It’s a difficult answer to give.”

Perhaps John sensed my response was slightly different from before?

‘But I have no choice.’

Any answer that diverged too much from my true feelings would be obvious as a lie. I had to meet the Duke and Duchess of Libertan to confirm the curse.

‘Before I die of treason, for sure!’

John was quietly watching me with an inscrutable smile. I, in turn, asked him a question.

“But why is that? Is something wrong?”

“You might have guessed from what Raymond said earlier, but there’s something I haven’t told you because I was worried it would shock you.”

“…”

“On the day you and I got married, the Duke of Libertan was wiped out for treason.”

“…”

“By my own hand.”

The final words carried a clear murderous intent.

~·~·*· . ·**##^^##**· . ·*·~·~

Hey there, It’s Green Rose 😉

Since I human I might have make some mistakes while translating so please if you find them let me know here in the comments or in the Discord group so I can correct them and be careful in the future so they do not repeat.

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

~~~Next Chapter~~~

Next chapter will be released Tomorrow.

See you then!!