I Became The Younger Sister Of A Dying Woman - Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Should I Stir Up Trouble?

Linzel also wanted to know who was behind this.

Had the Duke of Cardis’ men targeted her, as Ramon had warned? Or was it a stray arrow, or even an unexpected act of revenge?

“Izekiel, you can go now.”

Hernan tried to chase Izekiel away, but Izekiel resisted.

“I will continue to escort her to the end.”

“You? How amusing.”

“I’m the one who found the injured Linzel first.”

“But Linzel is my wife. So, I hope you leave now. I don’t want to waste time arguing with you.”

“Leave… what?”

Izekiel ‘s face wrinkled in anger.

The two men stared at each other, creating a tense atmosphere as if they were about to draw their swords.

‘Ha. It’s round two.’

Linzel didn’t understand why the two men wanted to fight.

Wasn’t it natural for Hernan to protect her? Although his words were rough.

“You two… s-s-stop fighting.”

‘No! I’m trying to say something serious, and I’m sneezing without realizing it.’

The two men heard her words vaguely but brusquely continued their conversation about Linzel, excluding Linzel.

“Izekiel, I’m curious. Why do you care about Linzel so much?”

“I……”

Izekiel couldn’t continue his words and his lips tightened. His momentum to rush at Hernan also waned.

Izekiel seemed to be at a loss for words again.

Hernan walked past Izekiel without saying anything.

Linzel wanted to thank Izekiel, but she knew now was not the time.

* * *

The hunting competition turned into complete chaos.

Hernan said he would publicize what had happened to her and bring the culprits to justice.

Realizing the gravity of the situation where the Princess could have been harmed, Delta halted the hunting competition.

Then he summoned all the nobles.

“All those who are armed with bows, step forward for a search.”

Upon Delta’s command, all the noble archers underwent a search.

Hernan’s knights looked around the vicinity of the forest to see if there were any suspicious individuals.

‘… It seems like things have gotten out of hand.’

Even if they did this, it was unlikely they would find the person who shot an arrow at her.

Before long, the knights returned with the arrow that had nearly hit her.

There was no one who possessed the same arrows as the one used. It was quite chilling for Linzel to think about what that meant.

It meant that it wasn’t an accidental shot.

It was more like someone prepared an arrow, ready to shoot without revealing themselves.

Who could it be?

Who was targeting her?

The original Linzel was too much of an outsider to be resented. She didn’t even have friends.

In that case, could it be someone who holds a grudge against Hernan instead of her?

She recalled Ramon’s words.

‘Oh, Your Highness. Since we met, let me tell you… It would be wise to be cautious of the people from the Cardis Duchy who participate in the hunting competition.‘

‘Why is that?‘

‘They have resentment towards the imperial authority. It is certain that they think negatively of Your Highness and His Highness Hernan.‘

Linzel looked at Lenox, the man who attended in place of the duke.

They had only exchanged greetings at the reception hall.

Lenox even had a quiver slung over his shoulder. At the moment, he was the most likely suspect.

However, without any concrete evidence, she couldn’t interrogate Lenox. As no significant leads were found, it seemed like the situation was gradually settling.

At that moment, people came into Linzel’s view.

There were three men, not belonging to the Olive Knights but to Hernan’s group of vassals.

Linzel had heard their appearance and names in detail from Hernan in the dining hall where none of the vassals had come. When Hernan was left to eat alone. 

(T/N: This scene in a previous chapter was translated with the “servants” leaving Hernan to dine alone. It should have been translated as vassals, which would indicate a greater slight to Hernan’s honor.) 

They also happened to be wearing uniforms emblazoned with the pattern that marked them as Hernan’s vassals. 

Linzel knew she wasn’t mistaken about seeing them.

She looked at them with suspicion.

‘Should I stir things up and confront them for their lack of loyalty to Hernan?’

It seemed like the perfect opportunity had come. Moreover, two of them were carrying quivers as well.

Linzel prepared to showcase the acting skills that she had displayed at their wedding.

“Your Highness Hernan.”

“Hmm. Is something bothering you?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Linzel pointed to the vassals with her fingertip.

“By the way, it seems like those gentlemen have been giving me unfriendly looks.”

“…What?”

“By chance, they even have quivers. Ah-choo!”

Linzel wiped away a tear that had escaped from the sneeze. She must look pitiful to anyone who saw her.

Or so she thought.

The vassals began to turn their attention to me.

“W-We’re being misunderstood! We never had any intention of threatening Her Highness!”

The vassals vented their frustrations.

And yet.

If they had been avoiding Hernan for a long time, couldn’t they have harbored some resentment towards his wife as well?

So, they might have shot an arrow at me to intimidate her.

Linzel approached them, feigning weakness.

The surroundings became unusually quiet. There wasn’t a single person who didn’t stare at the scene that was about to unfold.

Linzel stood in front of the vassals and began her dramatic performance.

“If I look closely, you look like someone I’ve seen in the woods before…….”

“Your Highness. Oh, you are mistaken!”

“Whether you’re innocent or not is Hernan’s responsibility to determine.”

“Hernan, Your Highness!”

Calling out like that wouldn’t make a difference.

Hernan was already in the mood to slit the throats of his vassals. It’s no wonder he believed his beloved wife more than he did the men who wronged him.

The vassals’ faces turned pale.

Linzel lowered her head and whispered to the man who was at the front among them.

“Why are you opposing Hernan?”

“……!”

The man seemed to understand what she said. His larynx bobbed up and down in his neck as if he were swallowing dry saliva.

Linzel spoke more firmly.

“I know everything. You have subtly disregarded His Highness Hernan all this time.”

“As long as I am his betrothed, I won’t tolerate anyone disrespecting Hernan. Got it?”

Just because Linzel’s body was weak didn’t mean her personality was weak as well.

She usually had a nonchalant demeanor, but she couldn’t stand seeing her people being disrespected or harassed.

If someone were to mistreat Letty, Linzel  wouldn’t stand idly by, even if it meant shedding blood.

The same went for Hernan.

“If you ever disregard him again, I won’t stay silent.”

“I-I will remember, Your Highness.”

“Now, what should we do next?”

The vassal looked puzzled.

They were good at evading people and bullying, but they didn’t know anything else.

Linzel formed a circle with her thumb and index finger and showed it only to the entourage.

It meant money.

“Would it be better if I enticed you to leave? Or would it be better to show some sincerity?” she asked, feeling like a gangster extorting money.

The vassal understood her instantly.

“……We show our sincerity, Your Highness.”

Well, well. That’s the way to go.

After finishing my threat, Linzel stumbled her way back towards Hernan and embraced his broad chest.

Just like a tragic heroine.

“Your Highness, it seems that I misunderstood. When I saw up close, it was a different person. Actually, I’m not sure if what I saw in the forest was a person or an animal.”

“……Is that so?”

“Yes. And I don’t think your vassals would have done such a thing to me.”

Linzel had no intention of punishing Hernan’s vassals outright. She just wanted to intimidate them and get some goodwill from them.

If she took the initiative to punish Hernan’s vassals, it would diminish Hernan’s standing.

And the token of sincerity she wanted to receive from them was intended to be used to refurbish Hernan’s study and palace.

‘It’s definitely not for my own benefit. Hmph.’

“That may be true,” Hernan reluctantly nodded.

“And there are some people who hold grudges against Your Highness…”

Linzel glanced at Lenox.

Instead of being flustered, he wore a relaxed smile. That only makes him more suspicious, doesn’t it?

But she couldn’t do anything to him without concrete evidence.

‘For now, let’s just be satisfied that we’ve managed to keep the vassals in line and not diminish Hernan’s status.’

Linzel slightly smiled and quickly withdrew it.

At that moment, she felt a peculiar gaze.

Linzel shifted her own gaze to where she felt those eyes following her. There, she saw a man with striking blue hair and distinctive round glasses.

The man was smiling with his eyes. It was a smile that gave off an inexplicably cold feeling.

‘Hmm… It’s often the case that characters with blue hair turn out to be villains.‘

But that man who gave off a villainous vibe…

He’s pretty handsome.

* * *

Hernan was declared the winner of the canceled hunting competition.

The winner was determined by the number of monsters killed before the hunt was canceled.

Hernan mentioned that he would soon receive the emblem of the Cardis Duchy.

“But I’m surprised the Duke of Cardis gave up his seal so easily,” Linzel said while looking at the outdated wallpaper.

After the hunting tournament broke up, she returned to Hernan’s room and lay still.

The imperial physician had, of course, visited her to check on her general health and treat the wound on her cheek.

Her general health was very good.

The trembling body that was shaking like a leaf from surprise had also calmed down.

Perhaps it was the presence of Hernan by her side that calmed her down.

Hernan was sitting in a chair beside the bed, looking down at Linzel.

“Anyway, I won, didn’t I?”

“But they might not give it to you because it was canceled.”

Moreover, they’ve never liked Hernan.

“That’s true, but to them, the seal doesn’t have much value, so they would have accepted it easily.”

“Aha.”

“Or maybe it’s the fact that not receiving the emblem even after fulfilling certain conditions could become a problem.”

Linzel nodded.

“Do you remember what I said about only those who like old things being interested in the royal archive?”

“Yes, Your Highness. I remember everything you said.”

“You’re remarkable.”

“I try my best, Your Highness.”

Hernan let out a small chuckle at Linzel’s quick response.

“I hope you’re not going to get yourself into trouble next time.”