Please Kill My Husband - Chapter 40

Olua Muniar.

The woman born as the eldest daughter of the Muniar family, one of the influential families of the Khan tribe, married Benito, who was the leader of the Khan tribe at the time, when she was 17 years old.

Six years after marrying Benito, she gave birth to a son, who is now the leader of the Khan tribe, Aden.

Olua, who had given birth to Aden, was taken to the imperial palace a year later as part of the imperial-led policy to incorporate subjugated people.

While the ostensible purpose was to promote peace between the two countries, in reality, it happened because the Emperor had fallen for Olua.

30 years ago. The image of the Khan tribe was even worse than now, and public opinion was also turbulent.

Moreover, due to their closed background, these aspects were further highlighted, so it was virtually difficult for even the Emperor to bring in a woman from the Khan tribe as a concubine.

For this reason, he implemented an absurd policy to take Olua away, and as a result, Beressa was born.

But 3 years later. The Emperor lost interest in Olua and sent her back to Habertz.

Benito comforted Olua and faithfully welcomed her as his wife.

The Khan people also tried to soothe her wounds, but in the end, Olua took her own life less than 5 years after returning.

“That’s why Aden hates the imperial family more than necessary. His mother was taken away when he was young, and when she returned, she died when he was 10 years old.”

“……”

“Because of that, I became the one in danger. It’s natural that they would despise me, being of imperial blood, during a time when hatred for the imperial family was rampant. Nevertheless, Aden accepted me. In fact, Benito didn’t acknowledge this and didn’t adopt me into Habertz.”

By now, the tea had gone cold. Beressa calmly recited the story of her past while looking at the cooled red tea.

“What I want to say is not that we are half-sisters, but that Ludmila doesn’t need to be wary of me. At first, I was cautious of Ludmila, thinking Aden, who had made a dangerous contract, would put the family in crisis, but now I have no such thoughts and I know he’s making efforts for us, right?”

Beressa stood up and approached Ludmila.

Receiving the gaze that followed her, Beressa lightly placed her hand on her shoulder and smiled brightly.

“So there’s no need to feel intimidated for fear of causing misunderstandings.”

Ludmila, clutching her collar, felt her face reddening with embarrassment.

The misunderstanding she spoke of not only meant the relationship between Aden and Beressa but also directly exposed the feelings Ludmila had for Aden.

That it was not an emotion filled with personal desires.

She made excuses internally that it was simply a feeling of relying on him, but those excuses didn’t escape her lips.

It was because she had personally learned that unnecessary excuses shouldn’t be made.

Anyway, 4 months. No, now 3 months. After just a little while, these misunderstandings and emotions would scatter and disappear with the spring breeze.

By then, she would no longer be here.

Ludmila smiled faintly as she released her grip on her clothes, which she had been clutching without realizing.

That smile was the most appropriate answer she could give.

[This is the timeline separator]

The crochet hook threaded with red yarn moved busily.

In the quiet and silent room. Emma sat in a rocking chair in front of the fireplace, silently focusing only on her knitting.

With a dry face and lifeless eyes, she moved her hands busily to make a scarf.

It had been a month since Ludmila disappeared.

Emma, the only person who knew her whereabouts besides those directly involved, was still unable to sort out her complicated thoughts.

Certainly, when Ludmila ran away, she thought it was right to help her.

How many days had she wiped away tears, feeling upset and pitiful whenever Ludmila was oppressed by Marquis Erdi?

Unlike the servants who only knew that Ludmila was often scolded for not meeting Kedilen’s standards, Emma was one of the few who knew that sometimes the Marquis would lay hands on her for trivial reasons.

That’s why, when Ludmila said she was leaving the Marquis’s residence to rely on Habertz, Emma supported her despite her doubts.

But Emma had grown up hearing about their barbaric acts and dirty rumors for many years.

As time passed, she thought Ludmila might have made the wrong choice.

There’s no way those barbarians who know no honor would protect Ludmila.

That’s why she hurriedly met Celia, Kedilen’s sister, to ask for help.

She thought that even if they had oppressed Ludmila, those who know noble honor would be better than barbarians.

But that thought wavered again after actually meeting Celia and Kedilen.

Kedilen’s eyes, saying not to worry and asking for Ludmila’s location, were hollow like someone on drugs.

Those were not the eyes of a man longing for his wife. They were filled with anger and hatred.

Is it right to return Ludmila to such a man?

Emma closed her mouth to those who seemed like they would not hesitate to torture if necessary.

And as a result, she became confined to her room, unable to leave like now.

“Haa-.”

The long silence ended when Emma’s hands stopped, and a sigh burst out simultaneously.

Regret hung in Emma’s eyes as she lowered the small glasses perched on the bridge of her nose.

It was regret for sending the letter to Ludmila too hastily.

She cursed her judgment, which she thought was right at the time. Adults often said that when you get old, you should die.

She knew that was just a complaint thrown at children who didn’t pay attention to them, but now it seemed to apply to Emma as it sounded.

What would happen if Ludmila walked here on her own?

She would probably be confined right away. She might never be able to leave again.

She would likely live her entire life trapped in a very fancy cage, never enjoying freedom again.

Things that only became visible after facing Kedilen and Celia made Emma’s head spin.

Only now did Emma hope that Ludmila would not return.

Tok tok-.

It was then that something was heard in Emma’s ears as she stared blankly at the fireplace flames like a wax doll.

Emma, who rose from her seat, turned her head. It was a sound coming from the tightly closed window.

Puzzled, she approached and opened the curtain to see a hawk tapping on the window.

The hawk, looking at Emma with fierce eyes, tapped the window again with its beak and then shifted its gaze to its own feet.

Following that movement, Emma’s eyes rolled to discover a tube attached to the hawk’s leg.

Slowly opening the closed window, she untied the string tied to the hawk’s leg. As if it had been waiting, the hawk flew away with a fluttering sound.

Returning to her seat after closing the window, Emma opened the tube and took out the object inside.

It was a rolled-up letter.

[To Emma]

The moment she saw the familiar handwriting on that envelope, hot breath burst from Emma’s mouth.

[This is the timeline separator]

Aden, having finished the audit, made preparations to return the next day.

There was no particular meaning in staying in the capital, and something was moving his feet beyond there.

Benjamin watched with disapproving eyes as Aden hurriedly packed his belongings.

Usually, after finishing the audit in the capital, he would be busy drinking with him and badmouthing the imperial family, but this time he was preparing to return immediately without even contacting him.

“You look like a guy desperate to see his new bride waiting for him.”

Aden merely glanced at the mocking voice and hung his bag on the horse.

He easily ignored the suggestion to ride in a carriage until leaving the capital. Is he that eager to see Ludmila? From Benjamin’s perspective, Aden was an incomprehensible guy.

A man who had lived his entire life by the safety-first principle suddenly embraced the most dangerous bomb.

Not only that. He cherished and treasured that bomb. Benjamin, leaning against a pillar and staring at Aden, exhaled a slow breath.

“What did you talk about yesterday?”

“Yesterday?”

“I mean with Marquis Erdi.”

Benjamin had been driven out without even hearing the conversation because Kedilen wanted to talk to Aden alone.

What conversation the two had was one of Benjamin’s main interests.

“You didn’t provoke him by saying Ludmila is in your possession, did you?”

“Of course not.”

“That’s a relief, but… Please, I beg you, don’t do anything strange. She’s leaving in 3 months anyway. Let’s just stay quiet until then. You won’t be called to the capital for a while, so close the castle gates and stay quiet.”

Although he had settled in the capital for a long time, he still didn’t want his hometown to disappear overnight.

Aden, well aware of Benjamin’s wishes, answered by lifting the corners of his mouth instead. Of course, only Aden knew the true meaning of that smile.

“Anyway, travel safely. If anything happens when you get there, contact me immediately.”

Benjamin corrected his posture as he gave his final greeting towards Aden’s back as he was about to mount his horse.

Aden, who received the greeting with a small nod, put his foot on the stirrup.

“Ah, here you are.”

A soft exclamation rang out just as Aden was about to pull himself up. Benjamin’s assistant hurried over to him.

In response to his question about what was going on, the assistant handed him a newspaper instead of answering.

While Benjamin was examining the newspaper in puzzlement, Aden settled into the saddle.

“…There’s an interesting article here.”

At the same time, Benjamin’s slow voice flowed out.

He approached Aden with the newspaper he was holding and flicked his hand as if to say read it.

Aden, who had been staring blankly at the newspaper fluttering weakly and folded, reached out and grabbed it.

[The Asura of the Hilard Empire. The Two Masks Worn by Marquis Erdi!]

On the front page of the morning paper, along with a photo showing wounds on Ludmila’s chin and shoulder, Kedilen’s article was prominently featured.