I Killed My Husband (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16
“Me?”
He spoke with a light tone, as if hearing a joke. Gregory grew irritated and added:
“Did you think I wouldn’t know? Your Majesty’s condition—”
“Of course you shouldn’t.”
“…What?”
“Gregory. My comrade. You have keen eyes, and you’ve trained alongside me for years—you’re an exceptional warrior. Naturally, I assumed you’d know my condition.”
“But—”
“But it must remain a secret. You must not know. If the Emperor hides it, so must you.”
“…”
“Don’t worry. I won’t push myself. I’m fine, Gregory.”
Gregory’s face darkened.
“…Your Majesty.”
“Inform the elite. We depart at dawn.”
The Knight Commander swallowed his sigh and bowed deeply at Carlos’s command, then left the room.
Silence settled.
Carlos sat quietly, thinking.
At least two thousand rebels—or more.
We have five hundred knights stationed here, and thirty elite troops following us.
The disparity is absurd. To claim he wouldn’t push himself was nearly impossible.
And ironically, that enormous gap could be closed instantly—if Carlos strained himself to swing his sword.
How had he reached this position? Because of his impossible swordsmanship, because he was one of the few living users of aura, a figure only spoken of in legend.
So he had to succeed. Only then could he preserve his life as Emperor and prevent this throne from passing to another royal.
Carlos clenched his fist several times. Indeed, it had grown duller than before.
“…Just a little longer. Hold on. It’ll get better.”
He whispered to himself like a mantra.
Then, wide-eyed, he remained seated until dawn arrived, and finally gathered his armor.
He did not forget to leave a flustered note for Mercedes: “I’m sorry for making you eat dinner alone.”
Carlos thought his own letter was quite ridiculous as he stepped out of the imperial palace.
The dawn sky was exceptionally clear.
[This is the timeline separator]“Huh!”
Mercedes woke with a start, quickly scanning her surroundings. She expected the maids to be watching her with disapproval.
But no one was there.
“I must’ve overslept…”
She murmured. She had no clock, but sunlight streamed through the curtain gap.
“Oh.”
In her panic, she only then realized this was no longer the palace of Shaym—or its underground prison.
In Shaym, the maids woke her at dawn, just as their schedule dictated, pressing their annoying faces upon her until her grooming was complete, then left.
These were the maids chosen jointly by the Crown Prince and Empress—so arrogant, they often acted even more haughtily than Mercedes herself.
After enduring such mornings, she would spend the day anxious—wondering whether the royal family would summon her, or whether her father would storm in—all while wearing uncomfortable clothing.
Even in the Count’s residence, she had never in her life spent more than five hours a day in bed.
“…They’re gone. Right. They’re gone.”
She intellectually understood that those people were no longer beside her.
Yet a strange unease refused to fade.
Mercedes pressed her forehead.
It was her habitual headache. She exhaled deeply, then pulled back the covers.
‘So… when should I wake up?’
She rang the bell.
Not long after, a knock came at the door. After Mercedes granted permission, two maids entered.
“Good morning, Lady Mercedes. Did you sleep well?”
The maids asked with warm smiles. She nodded slightly in reply, then asked:
“Patricia. What is the palace’s official wake-up time?”
“Huh? Whenever Lady Mercedes opens her eyes—that is Lady Mercedes’s wake-up time.”
Mercedes was slightly startled.
In Shaym, everything was strictly scheduled. Here, by contrast, nothing seemed set at all.
“Since you’ve awakened, shall we open the curtains? The sky is exceptionally clear today. It seems the Ruum Empire is welcoming you.”
To hear such a kind greeting immediately upon waking was a refreshing shock.
‘Do all people of the Ruum Empire speak like this?’
Why, even the Emperor himself had always been so gentle in his praise. Perhaps this manner of speaking was characteristic of the Empire.
The two maids moved efficiently and without waste, preparing Mercedes’s morning wash and tidying the room. The chamber, which had seemed cluttered before, now appeared strangely neater.
“His Imperial Majesty departed at dawn to suppress the rebellion in the east. He left you a letter.”
Patricia stepped forward and handed Mercedes a luxurious paper card.
“A rebellion?”
Startled by the harsh word, she asked. The other maid, Londa, answered. Londa spoke a little more than Patricia and had a livelier demeanor.
“Well, after ending the conquest war two years ago, remnants remain, so His Majesty often departs. He is Ruum’s greatest military strength!”
Londa puffed out her chest proudly.
“Oh… I see.”
Yesterday’s gentle man had today taken up his sword and marched to war. It felt strangely odd.
Mercedes unfolded the note and read its contents.
[Being Emperor is such a nuisance—urgent matters cannot be postponed.I’m sorry to make you dine alone tonight.
I’ll return soon. Will you wait for me?]
It sounded exactly like his voice.
As Mercedes gazed at his elegant handwriting, she raised her head at Londa’s voice.
“Usually, he resolves matters within fifteen days. Since the rebellion in the east isn’t far, if he succeeds, he should return within ten days. Of course, that’s just my personal opinion.”
How did she know? How did she sense her curiosity? The answer came without being asked, and Mercedes found it peculiar. The maids’ perceptiveness was sharp.
‘Hmm. Mercedes, you don’t realize how transparent you are. Your thoughts are visible in your gaze.’
Or perhaps, as the Emperor said, she truly was rather candid?
Having never experienced such brisk service, Mercedes felt a little confused.
[This is the timeline separator]The Emperor’s absence was, perhaps, fortunate. It was the perfect time to gather her thoughts. Carlos had a habit of plunging her into strange sentiments.
Ah, but realistically, it was somewhat inconvenient.
She wanted to ask more about Shaym, yet the Emperor had left.
‘What can I possibly do in this palace without him?’
She thought.
And so, she decided to act first. There was nothing to fear—she had already returned from death.
“How about this? The color is bright—it suits Lady Mercedes very well!”
Mercedes sighed as she looked at the dress the maids brought.
She truly appreciated their thoughtful consideration in preparing comfortable garments.
But she could not wear it now. It would violate propriety.
“Patricia. You mentioned you had extra dresses prepared for me?”
“Yes? Yes.”
“Could you bring me the most dignified one?”
“Yes, Lady Mercedes.”
Patricia and Londa moved swiftly without question.
The dresses brought in were all of the highest quality. Mercedes chose a modest navy dress—one that did not suit her beauty.
Londa and Patricia looked disappointed, holding up the brighter dresses, but Mercedes stepped out without any accessories, her hair pinned up, determined to appear as demure as possible.
‘Ten days…’
The minimum time until the Emperor’s return was ten days.
She couldn’t just wait idly that entire time.
The thought of Count Cromwell and his family thriving made her chest ache.
“Do His Majesty’s attendants have a separate office?”
Fortunately, she’d heard His Majesty had many capable subordinates. Perhaps she could visit them and ask.
“Yes? Yes. They all share one very large office… But why—”
“Could you show me the way?”
The maids exchanged slightly troubled glances, then promptly nodded.
Their assigned duty was: “Accommodate every request from Lady Mercedes with utmost sincerity.”
Even if the destination was unfavorable to her—
She had no choice but to lead her there.
The attendants’ office occupied the entire right corridor on the second floor of the Imperial Palace.
All walls had been removed, and doors added where needed, creating one vast office.
Normally, attendants were given separate palaces, but Carlos had brought them into the Imperial Palace itself to ensure swift handling of affairs and smooth communication, Londa explained along the way.
That much was fine.
“Lady Mercedes has arrived. We’ll enter momentarily.”
But as soon as the maids announced her arrival and the door opened,
“Ah, a distinguished visitor.”
“What on earth is happening here?”
Sharp whispers pierced Mercedes’s ears.
Many of the attendants were unfamiliar faces she’d never seen in Shaym—and their glances were particularly hostile.
‘He really has this many attendants…’
It wasn’t just coincidental that the entire right corridor on the second floor had been given to them.
Given the Empire’s size, having numerous departments was natural. The office must have been bustling with activity before she entered.
“What brings you here?”
Someone approached her—a man with a stern expression.
The emotion in his gaze was unmistakably familiar: hostility, irritation, anger, displeasure.
“Oh, now, why so sharp? I apologize, Lady Mercedes. Please, this way.”
One of the attendants, who had accompanied the Shaym procession and knew Mercedes, stepped forward to mediate, likely because of His Majesty’s wishes.
Yet the murmurs and glances from all sides did not cease.
“He betrayed us.”
“Worries…”
She couldn’t catch every word, but the gist was clear.
Yet Mercedes’s expression showed no change as she was guided along.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
MANGA DISCUSSION
1 Comment
Chapter Comments (10)
I wonder what will the reaction of ML if he knows that they disrespect her 😬
They are cute. They care for her like sisters haha
Beside her stood a man, seemingly fused with the darkness, leaning close, gripping her hand that held the quill.
She thought her breath had stopped.
He’s back??
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Blairwoods
[Being Emperor is such a nuisance—urgent matters cannot be postponed.
I’m sorry to make you dine alone tonight.
I’ll return soon. Will you wait for me?]
That’s sweet of him asked her to wait him 😄