Chapter 30

Maybe it was because I was married, or perhaps the nobles of this empire were excessively liberal, but as a married woman, I often heard outrageous remarks.

Though their tone was elegant, those noblewomen were notorious for arranging extramarital affairs among themselves.

The men were no different.

“It seems you still haven’t had any children. As a fellow man, I sincerely apologize on behalf of Duke Brent. Puh.”

“Hey, Garrison, isn’t that a bit harsh? Alec must be trying hard, heh.”

Their words amused me, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“How considerate of you to worry about me, Count Garrison. I’m sure you do your best every night to satisfy your countess, don’t you?”

‘So, when was the last time you were with your wife?’

I gave him a faint smile, with a look that conveyed exactly that, and Count Garrison furrowed his brows, realizing the unpleasant truth.

After briefly reminiscing about that moment, I refocused on the current situation.

They probably kept bothering us because they had never been properly humiliated.

Now that I was no longer a duchess, I didn’t need to protect the honor of my family or myself, right?

I thought about wreaking havoc in the social scene, which was a breeding ground for injustice and unfairness.

I should start by revealing a truly dirty secret.

“Marquis Marcel Howard?”

Marcel flinched at my call.

“How is the Marchioness doing?”

Mentioning his wife, Marcel’s displeasure was evident.

“Why are you asking about my wife?”

“It seems you’re still deeply devoted to her. Have you forgiven her for that incident?”

“What incident?”

Marcel frowned. As expected, he seemed to know nothing.

If he had known something, a man like Marcel, who cherished his wife dearly, wouldn’t have been hanging around with Garrison Osborne.

I deliberately avoided looking at Garrison as I continued to smile slightly.

“Apparently, you didn’t know. The Marchioness had a lover.”

Marcel’s face hardened like stone.

Eloise looked up at me in surprise.

The social scene was full of secrets that everyone knew except the people involved.

These secrets often started with, “I’m only telling you this,” and circulated openly.

However, the people involved usually didn’t know because no one wanted to make enemies in the small social circle.

Revealing that a wife was having an affair behind her husband’s back would only earn their resentment.

So, while people loved gossip, they were extremely cautious about letting it reach the ears of those involved.

Otherwise, they risked getting caught in the backlash.

But now, I was exposing one of those precious secrets.

Alec had suffered far worse because of these men, so this petty revenge didn’t even come close to settling the score.

I looked at Marcel sympathetically.

“You really didn’t know? I assumed you did since it’s such a well-known fact.”

Marcel, who had been standing still for a long time, finally gritted his teeth and spoke with difficulty.

“……Nonsense. My wife would never do that. Are you making up lies to defend your husband?”

Marcel’s harsh demeanor made Alec react slightly, but I held his arm firmly and smiled with a twinkle in my eyes.

“Of course. The marquis’s faith in his wife is admirable.”

“My wife only has eyes for me. You’re desperately trying to sow discord.”

Despite his vehement words, a hint of unease flickered in Marcel’s eyes.

“Is the Marchioness truly devoted only to you? Oh, Count Garrison Osborne would know best.”

I finished with a serene smile, and one of Marcel’s eyebrows shot up.

“Garrison?”

Only then did I turn my gaze to Garrison.

Marcel, Garrison, and Damian were all the same.

They should have left when I politely told them to.

Garrison had been swallowing dryly, visibly anxious. When I finally uttered his name, he looked as if his heart had stopped.

Marcel, having briefly looked at Garrison, turned back to me.

“Why bring up Garrison now? Does he know something? No, come on, Garrison, tell me. Is what she says true?”

“…”

Garrison just chewed his lips, glaring at me like a mute.

Did you think you could hide forever after fooling around with your friend’s wife?

I shrugged slightly.

“Or you could ask Marquis Damian Wells. Everyone but you seems to know about it.”

“…”

Marcel’s gaze shifted to Damian.

Damian gritted his teeth and glared at me.

“Marcel, don’t believe a word of what she says. She’s probably just holding a grudge because we’ve looked down on her husband.”

“Marcel will find out soon enough if I’m lying or not.”

“This insane woman is spewing baseless rumors-!”

Garrison screamed desperately, but I didn’t bat an eye.

I stared at him coldly, enunciating each word with menace.

“So, if you don’t want things to get uglier, stay away from my husband.”

Leave us alone.

Haven’t you tormented us enough?

My clenched fists trembled with pent-up emotion. I wanted to beat them until they begged for mercy, but I lacked the strength.

At that moment, Garrison lunged at me, raising his fist as if to hit me.

But something faster and heavier flew at Garrison’s face.

Wham!

The dull sound of bone against bone echoed, and Garrison’s body lifted off the ground, tumbling twice onto the cobblestones.

“…”

Seconds passed.

‘What just happened?’

Cough!

Garrison coughed and groaned in pain.

Blinking in confusion, I turned to see who had sent Garrison flying.

Alec stood there, looking coldly at Garrison. His hair fluttered gently in the light breeze.

My hand covered my mouth in shock.

Alec hit someone?

* * *

Ding!

Alec looked down at Garrison.

No, he was looking at the status window that had appeared above Garrison.

‘What now?’

He had only hit Garrison because the man dared to lay a hand on his wife, but now this window had appeared.

[Congratulations!]

[Louise’s command has activated a specialized skill.]

[Specialized Skill: Don’t Touch My Husband]

[Lv. 1]

[When enemies harbor ill intentions to harm you, resistance increases tenfold.]

[Mana decreases during use.]

[Duration depends on mana and affection levels.]

A specialized skill?

The skill name, “Don’t Touch My Husband”…?

Alec’s eyes widened as he recalled the system’s explanation about affection.

‘Your wife’s affection will make you stronger.’

‘When affection increases or you hear a command from Louise, a specialized skill will unlock.’

‘…Ah.’

A command?

Could Louise saying “Stay away from my husband” have activated the skill “Don’t Touch My Husband”?

He realized this was a specialized skill based on affection.

But tenfold resistance increase?

‘It’s much stronger than the resistance skill I originally had.’

Alec was inwardly amazed.

Even at level 1, the specialized skill was potent.

However, with affection at only 2, it wasn’t very useful yet.

[Duration: 30 seconds]

Thirty seconds.

With such a short duration, it was almost useless.

“Is this guy crazy?”

“What’s wrong with you, did you suddenly eat something bad? Or do you just not care anymore?”

Damian and Marcel frowned, speaking in turn.

Alec glanced from Garrison to Louise and Eloise.

Both seemed quite shocked.

“Are you okay?”

“…Yes.”

At his question, Louise lowered her hand from her mouth and nodded once, while Eloise nodded rapidly three times.

“It might get dangerous. Please step back a bit.”

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories