My Husband was Switched - Chapter 31

Glancing at him, she carefully continued speaking. 

 “……Do you remember the tree with holy power I mentioned before? Father must surely know about it. Perhaps Isabelle knows too. That’s why I thought we needed to find it quickly.” 

 Originally, they were supposed to go look for it in the forest together with Cedric, but Isabelle’s visit prevented that. 

 “Besides, I’m worried about how Isabelle left like that. With the hail incident and now the weather outside……” 

 “Are you saying the current blizzard outside is because of the Princess?” 

 She nodded. She had no choice but to reveal the truth about abilities. 

 Though she wasn’t sure what face Cedric would make when he learned about Isabelle’s ability…… 

 “As you might have guessed from last time, Isabelle can control the weather at will. That’s her ability.” 

 “I had suspected as much, but I didn’t think she would use it so recklessly. I’ve heard there’s always a price for using abilities.” 

 “Yes. I don’t know what that price is yet. Seeing how she uses it, the price doesn’t seem too high. But aren’t you disappointed now that you know about Isabelle’s ability?” 

 Cedric handed her warm tea while gently stroking the back of her hand. 

 “Did you think I would waver because of that?” 

 She shook her head vigorously. If Cedric was the type of man to be swayed by Isabelle’s ability, he would have already fallen for her face and seduction. 

 “Indeed, the ability to control weather is a power needed in the North. But since the Emperor wouldn’t have let her use her ability, whether the Princess has such an ability or not is irrelevant to me.” 

 “……That’s true.” 

 “Rather, the Emperor might have deceived me about Isabelle having a different ability.” 

 His words made sense. However, what she worried about was people other than Cedric. Wouldn’t others who learned of Isabelle’s ability feel regret? 

 “Not everyone will think like you. That’s what scared me.” 

 “I will never leave your side. And everyone here shares my intentions, so you don’t need to worry.” 

 He really was a man with a strong sense of responsibility. Moreover, since she was pregnant with his child, he would absolutely never divorce her. Though it seemed he had no intention of divorcing her in the first place…… 

 ‘Cedric’s unwavering attitude puts me at ease.’ 

 His firm voice made her feel comfortable. It felt like she could finally have a proper conversation with him. 

 Right. How many novels had she read where misunderstandings piled up because people didn’t communicate? Remembering the earlier situation made her heart flutter again. 

 “Grand Duke, please listen carefully to what I’m about to say. This is important.” 

 She adjusted her posture and began telling him everything she couldn’t before. Though her heart was pounding, she deliberately tried to stay calm. 

 This was something she hadn’t been able to tell anyone except the animals. 

 “I have an ability. One that no one knows about…… That’s why there are so many animals in the Grand Duke’s residence. I can communicate…… with animals.” 

 “Is that all?” 

 “……I can also heal animals’ injuries. And I can communicate with divine beasts too.” 

 Cedric’s eyes narrowed. Finally, he looked like he understood everything. 

 Why the animals clung to her so much, who the increasing number of animals in the garden were coming to see. The reason the numbers grew even without Sir Kaven catching and releasing them was because of her. 

 “I didn’t mean to deceive you. I just thought that if Father found out, I wouldn’t be able to escape from the imperial family.” 

 “If you can communicate with divine beasts, since it’s different from any known ability, the Emperor will covet it. Above all, unlike Princess Isabelle, your ability requires direct contact, so he would be even more likely to summon you to the imperial palace.” 

 His words were right. While Isabelle’s ability worked from a distance, hers didn’t. So if Father found out, she would immediately become bound to the imperial family. 

 That’s why she tried so desperately to hide it. Plus, the reason she tried not to get involved with the protagonists was because she didn’t want to be entangled with the imperial family. 

It seems she has started off on the wrong foot, so let’s not think about it anymore. What would she gain from obsessing over the twisted original story anyway?

 “I awakened through the tree with holy power, but I still don’t know what ability I gained from that.” 

 “Is there no way to know what ability you awakened? Then you’ve also made a contract with a divine beast?” 

 “……Well, yes. Though it’s not a perfect contract.” 

 Cedric looked at Zeno with his brief response. He thought for a moment and tilted his head. 

 “Then that guy……” 

 His voice echoed coldly. Somehow, a flash of anger seemed to linger in his eyes as he looked at Zeno. 

 “We need to protect the tree with holy power. It might become a great power for the North. According to Zeno, there are more trees with holy power in the North.” 

 Having revealed everything, she carefully watched Cedric’s reaction. Even after hearing everything, he remained silent for several minutes. 

 “……Are you very angry?” 

 Clutching her dress tightly, she glanced at Cedric. He took a sip of tea and gently shook his head at her. 

 “I’m not angry. You told me everything, didn’t you? By the way, you haven’t done the imprinting, right?” 

 “Even if she wanted to, I wouldn’t do it, so it’s not even a proper contract.” 

 Zeno burst out angrily in response to Cedric. He stared at Zeno with an expressionless face before turning away. 

 “Well, if there had been an imprint, you’d be in complete divine beast form. So, what should we do now?” 

 “We need to find the tree in the northern forest first. I already used one for my awakening…… Isabelle or Father will surely come looking. If it falls into their hands, they’ll obviously use it to manipulate you again.” 

 “I’ll move right away.” 

 “But what can we do? The snow won’t stop……” 

 Cedric took her hand and smiled gently as if telling her not to worry. She exchanged glances with Zeno with an anxious look. 

 ❖ ❖ ❖ 

 Cedric finished preparing to go to the forest. She fidgeted by the door while watching him carefully. 

 “Will you really be alright?” 

 “I’ll be fine, so don’t worry and stay inside.” 

 “……But I’m worried.” 

 “Wife, I’m not that weak. Despite how I look, I’ve never lost once in war. I’m used to blizzards like this.” 

 No matter how much he was the Grand Duke of the North, it couldn’t be safe to go out in weather like this. She grabbed his collar and shook her head. 

 “No matter how I think about it, it seems better not to go today. I’m worried.” 

 “It’s fine. When the blizzard stops, the Emperor might come here again. It will be difficult to go to the forest then, so now is the right time.” 

 Though Cedric’s words made sense, she worried if she was sending him into danger. His blue eyes curved prettily as he looked at her. 

 “Warm yourself by the fireplace.” 

 He kissed the back of her hand and walked toward the entrance. Rien placed a thick shawl on her shoulders. She couldn’t hide her worried expression as she watched Cedric and Zeno. 

 When the door opened, she could see the maddened blizzard raging outside. 

 ‘Isabelle is seriously angry.’ 

 It seemed she wouldn’t stop. She must be struggling in her own way to avoid going to another country. 

 Cedric pulled Zeno’s leash with an indifferent face despite the raging blizzard. 

 “Woowoowoowoo!” (No, everything else is fine but why are you taking me!) 

 “You’re quite noisy. I thought wolf form would be better than human form so I was going to take you like this. Or did you want to go in human form?” 

 “……Kiing.” (Master, isn’t this guy really crazy?) 

 She felt sorry seeing that huge body being led by Cedric’s hand. But since Zeno knew the location better than anyone, they had to move together. The knights bowed to her and walked into the blizzard with Cedric. 

 “Be careful. Come back right away if it’s dangerous!” 

 She waved with an apologetic expression. 

 “Wo, eurrrr! Woowoo!” (Master, are you abandoning me again? Again!) 

 “I’m sorry. But you need to go so we can find it quickly. I need to check on the animals in the garden too.” 

 “Woowoowoowoo!” (If you’re really going to use me like this, make a contract!) 

 Zeno’s voice echoed throughout the Grand Duke’s residence. 

 Though she still felt uneasy, since things had come to this, she needed to find what she could do as well. 

 When Cedric returns, she decided to look around the mansion for a place to keep the tree with holy power so he could handle it right away. 

 Since she couldn’t tell Butler Vahalla about the tree with holy power, she made up an excuse. 

 “There’s a precious tree in the forest that would be very helpful to the North, but it would be troublesome if the imperial family discovers its existence. So I want to move it to the mansion.” 

 “Are there many trees?” 

 At Vahalla’s question, she shook her head and said,

 “Just one. With one tree, wouldn’t it be possible to transplant it?” 

 “Yes, I think so too. However, wouldn’t it be better to plant it in the back where it’s less visible rather than the front?” 

 “That would be good since it would be quite noticeable.” 

 After deciding the location to plant the tree with the butler in the office, she looked at the clock. 

 ‘It’s already this late.’ 

 Several hours had passed since Cedric and Zeno left. The snow continued to fall without stopping. 

 “Your Highness the Grand Duchess. With so much snow outside, I think we should prepare for snow removal.” 

 “Please do that. We should inform the territory residents too.” 

 She nodded and stretched her stiff arms. She came down to the first floor with the butler after leaving the office. 

 “Well then, I think I’ll go check on the animals.” 

 Still, she felt relieved after revealing everything she had been hiding. So she rolled up her sleeves with a face full of enthusiasm. 

 BANG! 

 “……Butler, didn’t you just hear something?” 

 “I heard it too.” 

 CRASH! 

 “……What is that sound?” 

 It wasn’t an explosion, but it sounded like something was collapsing. Her anxious eyes darted around.