Please Kill My Husband - Chapter 42

The reason why the imperial family continued to use old-fashioned language, which was called a relic of the past, was simple.

They believed it was a way to maintain dignity and nobility.

Many believed that knowing something that others do not use or understand was power and elegance.

Starting with the Emperor, the head of the empire, having such thoughts, the mindset of the nobles representing the old era beneath him was not much different.

Ludmila, though an illegitimate child, was born into the royal family and learned the old language early on.

Of course, it was not to treat Ludmila as royalty, but to build her basic knowledge so she could be sold off to a suitable place.

After marrying Kedilen, she had to study separately to be more precise, as documents containing imperial affairs and internal family matters were written in the old language.

For Ludmila, interpreting this level of old language was not particularly difficult.

“I’ve finished translating it into the imperial common language. However, I’m not sure how to translate it into the Khan language, so I’ve included the meanings. Would you like to check?”

Tenver, who received the paper from Ludmila, quickly scanned it and let out a small exclamation of admiration.

Saying she had simply included annotations was an understatement.

She had written down all the possible meanings of each old word depending on the context, making it much easier to understand.

Even the finance officers or trade representatives couldn’t provide such a detailed interpretation.

Whenever they received such documents, they would always say, “They must be sending this to mess with us!”

“But it’s a bit strange. They usually use a lot of old language, but I’ve rarely seen it used this excessively. Even words that don’t need to be treated specially are in old language, and there are many obsolete words even among the old language.”

At that time, I thought those guys were complaining because they were incompetent.

The moment I heard Ludmila’s subsequent words, I realized their complaints weren’t just simple grumbling.

“Is that so? We thought this was normal.”

“It’s rare for half of a report to be in old language. Learning old language is difficult, but not to this extent. This level is more like what scholars would use in universities.”

“So that’s why even those we sent to the capital to learn old language couldn’t interpret it properly.”

Tenver, who had been nodding slowly, tilted his head.

How could Ludmila in front of him interpret such scholarly old language so effortlessly? He almost missed how unusual it was because she spoke so calmly.

He had thought she was just a beautiful woman without any particularly striking features. But she possessed an unexpectedly great advantage.

“Um, and regarding that document, I think I can help you a bit more…”

The way she rolled her eyes and smiled bashfully was quite adorable.

He had thought she was just an elegant lady, but when she smiled shyly, a strange charm emerged.

As Tenver handed the document back, Ludmila placed one hand on her waist and furrowed her brow.

“In the case of financial audits, they always say it’s insufficient, no matter what. No matter how hard you prepare, it’s always the same. In such cases, rather than immediately requesting a re-examination from the Treasury, report to the Commerce Department first. The Treasury and Commerce Department are separate yet intertwined, and the Commerce Department is treated as higher than the Treasury.”

As she spoke slowly but calmly and clearly, Tenver’s mouth slowly opened.

Information that no one else had ever shared was flowing from the mouth of none other than Ludmila, a guest of the family.

“Even though there’s a deputy minister from this place, the fact that you keep receiving such reports probably means the family’s influence is lacking. So apply for a re-examination to the Commerce Department first. Then they won’t allow a re-examination but will review the existing documents and approve them right away. Of course, this is assuming there are no problems with the existing audit documents.”

“I-Is that so? This is the first time I’m hearing this.”

Of course it is. Her husband, Kedilen, was the head of that Commerce Department.

She had learned this fact because of that, and there were quite a few noble ladies and mistresses of wealthy men who approached Ludmila directly with subtle propositions, aiming for this information.

“This is common knowledge if you want to do business in the capital.”

Ludmila, who was disguising herself as a merchant, smiled with an appropriate excuse.

Tenver nodded glumly and took the document before turning around. Ludmila, watching from behind as he placed the document on his desk, took a step back.

“Well then, I’ll be going now. Good…”

“Ah, Lady Ludmila.”

“Yes?”

The voice calling her again came just as she had half-turned her waist.

Turning her gaze back to Tenver, Ludmila could see his eyes looking at her with great desperation.

“Then perhaps, could I get help with this too?”

Ludmila stared blankly at the document he cautiously held out, then looked up.

Seeing Tenver’s awkward smile, her lips curved upward slightly.

“I’ll help you.”

[This is the timeline separator]

“Hurry up and follow me.”

The man leading the way looked back and urged in an exasperated tone.

Emma, the white-haired old woman, followed the man’s back, breathing heavily. A short while ago, after Emma had dinner, a man came looking for her.

He told her that her residence needed to be changed and hurriedly led her out of the mansion.

The man sneaked Emma out through the back door instead of the main entrance and put her in a carriage.

Then he carefully moved somewhere in the capital.

When the carriage stopped, the door opened, and at the man’s urging, Emma got out of the carriage.

It was the 9th District, a place Emma had never been before. It was commonly known as the slum area.

The people on the street eyed Emma, who didn’t fit in here, with sharp gazes.

With her cat-like sharp eyes, Emma hurriedly followed the man, afraid of losing sight of him. But even so, her uneasiness continued to build.

“Where are you taking me?”

Emma asked, breathing heavily, but the man only rolled his eyes slightly without giving any particular answer.

At this, Emma bit her lip tightly.

[Emma. The moment Emma walks in there of her own accord, she’ll be inviting her own death.]

Ludmila was always gentle and calm, but the letter she sent was not.

It was so cold and harsh, yet rational at the same time.

Ludmila’s letter, which pointed out things Emma hadn’t thought of, was telling her how cruel and brutal the things unfolding before her would be.

[Even if Kedilen doesn’t, Celia won’t leave Emma alone. That man might act passively because he can’t let go of what he has, but his sister is someone who will do anything to get what she wants. That’s how the family raised her, and it’s also the reason she gained Kedilen’s absolute trust. Emma might even be tortured by Celia.]

If the handwriting hadn’t been the same, one might have believed someone else wrote that letter.

Emma broke out in a cold sweat at the content of the letter that came to mind.

What could be the reason for bringing her to a place like this? It was suitable for doing something secretive. Just like what was written in Ludmila’s letter.

“N-Now, tell me. What do you intend to do with me?”

“Haa-.”

The man walking ahead let out a long sigh at her repeated questions.

With his hands on his hips, he looked up at the gloomy sky and then turned his head. The man, who scanned Emma with cold eyes, even turned his body to approach her.

“Can’t you just go along quietly?”

“B-But you could at least tell me where we’re going.”

“If I tell you.”

The man cut his words short and narrowed his eyes.

“If I tell you, what are you going to do?”

“That’s…”

“Listen, old lady. Do you think you have a choice right now?”

Emma took a step back as the man took a step towards her.

One step, then another. As the two moved their feet to close the gap between them, eventually, giggling laughter could be heard from around them.

“That old hag is scared.”

“Must be her first time here?”

“You can only come here once. Once you come, you die and leave anyway.”

“Hehe. That’s true.”

Mocking voices pierced Emma’s ears.

Emma looked at the vagrants and slum dwellers staring at her.

The way they curved their lips and glittered their eyes as if finding it very amusing suggested that one person’s death here wouldn’t matter at all.

“I-I’m going back. This doesn’t seem like a place I should be.”

“Ah, this old lady, really.”

The man let out an annoyed voice and grabbed Emma’s head as she quickly turned her body.

“Aaagh!”

“Hey, old hag. Don’t you get it? Do you think this is a place you can leave just because you want to?”

“W-Why are you doing this? Please spare me!”

“Spare you? Who said anything about killing you? I said follow me. I’ll spare you. Of course…”

The man swallowed the rest of his words and grinned. Even without hearing the end, it was clear what those words meant.

Emma’s face turned pale. She struggled to escape, but the more she did, the more pain increased.

A nearly 70-year-old woman couldn’t overcome the strength of a strong man.

“Ouch!”

“That old lady fell down.”

“Did she break a bone?”

“What does it matter? They’re going to break them soon anyway, so one breaking early doesn’t matter.”

Eventually, Emma fell to the ground with a groan.

Emma was dragged by the man amidst the mockery and derision of people who seemed to enjoy even this sight.

“That’s why I said let’s just go. If you had just followed nicely, we wouldn’t have to use force, how nice would that have been?”

The man’s eyes furrowed as he grumbled openly. He didn’t seem pleased at all about having to use force because Emma tried to escape.

“This is why I hate bringing old people. They just have good instincts and only try to run away. So hurry up and follow… What?”

The man, who had been walking with a frown, suddenly felt his hand lighten.

When he turned his head, he saw that Emma’s white hair, which he had been holding until just now, was cut off in clumps and in his hand.

Emma was gone, and only her hair remained. He looked up.

There stood a man supporting Emma, who had fallen to the ground just moments ago, and a man with fierce golden eyes flashing.