I Wish My Husband Were Dead - Chapter 62



Only Krnovel

Father’s Daughter
2024.01.01.

“And even if you don’t know about Hillust, Vasquez is just a means to fill up the numbers and put pressure on His Majesty. You know that, right?”

“Of course you do. They are a family that is not even part of the council. However, no matter how fallen the family is, they are one of the eight sacred families. We cannot ignore that name.”

“I will make sure that you don’t have to worry about them soon.”

“So you broke Vasquez’s ankle?”

Leonard shut his mouth as soon as that was mentioned. When Leonard, who was always so confident, calmed down for the first time, Gabriel smirked and said,

“Do you think I don’t know what’s going on in the capital?”

“It seems like you don’t have much political affairs these days. You even listen to such trivial things.”

“I suddenly thought about why you went to Vasquez and broke his ankle, and then I remembered that your disciple is Vasquez.”

“I just got annoyed.”

“Haha. You? If it really bothered you, you would have killed him. Not just crushing his ankle. The family was going to collapse anyway, so who would care if Elector Vasquez died suddenly?”

Gabriel’s words were so accurate that he couldn’t think of anything to refute. He would get excited and say whatever Leonard said.

“I’m so curious to hear that story. Why the ankle, not the scrotum? And coincidentally! Your disciple was recovering at the mansion after hurting his ankle. A few days before you broke Vasquez’s ankle. Wow, what a coincidence. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s right.”

Leonard dismissed Gabriel’s fuss for the time being.

“And that’s not all. You carried your disciple out of the Saracen banquet in the middle of it. You treat women like rocks. Even that Elfenbaum lady was indifferent.”

“Cordelia is not just a woman, she is my disciple.”

“Do people care about that? They only make a fuss about you carrying a woman.”

The king threw off all pretense and laughed, tapping the arm of his chair. Leonard raised one eyebrow and stared at Gabriel.

“Your Majesty.”

“Me?”

“You must be so happy to have me back alive. You must know my every move.”

“Oh, I guess I didn’t say anything. Attila. I’m so glad you’re alive. You always give this boring palace something to talk about. Do you know how bored I’ve been during the three months you’ve been gone?”

“If you’re so bored, take a queen for me. Don’t keep busy people around like this.”

“Oh, you. It’s no use taking a wife because you’re bored. I mean, I’ve always dreamed of meeting a woman whose handkerchief was blown by the wind in a garden full of hydrangeas. Oh, that’s when I pick up the handkerchief and tell her, “I’ve been waiting for you for a long time!”

“Are you saying that you want to fall in love with a woman who trespasses in the king’s garden and walks around with her handkerchief sloppily?”

“… … That’s a bit different, isn’t it?”

Gabriel coughed loudly at Leonard’s sarcasm.

From Leonard’s perspective, this was a lot of taming. If it were anyone else, he would have told her to stop talking nonsense and stormed out of the room.

He didn’t hold back because he was the king, but because he needed the king’s cooperation to open the trial.

“So you really don’t want to get married?”

“Are you even caring about my marriage now?”

“I’m not the only one who cares. Half of the nobles in Yebo Delim would have bet on when you’d get married.”

“Who am I with?”

“Of course, Lydia Elfenbaum! Why? Are there any other candidates? If there are, just let me know. I made a bet.”

“… … ha.”

If it weren’t for the trial, I would have run away long ago.

Leonard suppressed his irritation and forced himself to follow the king’s rhythm. Gabriel knew this very well, so he teased Leonard even more excitedly.

* * *

“What are you so lost in?”

“… … nothing.”

Cordelia resumed her steps where she had stopped. Somehow her ankles were tingling more than in the morning. Perhaps because the time was ambiguous, she couldn’t see the trolleybuses circling the roadside.

Belluce had her sit down on a bench at the entrance to the park.

“I’ll call a carriage, so stay here.”

“Okay. I’m not a kid. I’ll wait here quietly, so call a carriage quickly. My legs hurt.”

“If you hadn’t been out in the first place, ha. That’s enough.”

Cordelia reassured him and sat down on the bench. Belluce kept glancing back as if she was anxious about something, and then soon disappeared from sight.

‘I love Leo.’

As the surroundings became quiet, Lydia’s tearful but confident face kept coming to mind.

She held Cordelia’s hand tightly and begged her to help her. Cordelia absentmindedly replied that she would do so, but a corner of her heart felt strangely uncomfortable.

‘Is it shocking that Lydia likes her Master?’

However, objectively speaking, Cordelia had no reason to be surprised. Rather, shouldn’t she have congratulated them on how well they matched?

However, for some reason, no congratulatory words came out of Cordelia’s mouth.

A strange discomfort that even she herself could not understand continued to linger in a corner of her heart, tormenting Cordelia.

‘Am I jealous?’

A reasonable inference came to her that she might be shocked by the news that her brother, who she had been attached to, was getting married, or that she might be jealous because her father had a woman he loved.

‘Come to your senses, Cordelia. No matter who your Master marries, it’s something to celebrate.’

She tried to calm herself as she watched a pair of butterflies flying by.

Then, a man came into view from afar. For some reason, even though it was only his back, he was clearly visible.

She kept thinking about who he was, since there were only a handful of people she knew in the capital. Then suddenly his name flashed into her mind.

“Dennis!”

It was her younger brother, whom she would never see in the capital.

Cordelia forgot what Beluce had said for a moment and jumped up from her seat.

She felt more anxious than happy.

‘When did Dennis come to the capital? Did he come up with my father? Why on earth?’

She tried hard to follow Dennis with her limping legs. However, the gap between them grew wider. It was hard to keep up with him even at her usual pace, but it was impossible with her injured leg.

Her ankle was getting numb, perhaps because she had moved too much. Cordelia frowned and stopped walking. She

would have to find out why Dennis was in Yevo Delim later and go back to where Beluce had told her to wait.

Cordelia turned around and took a deep breath. I don’t know why I’m so surprised today.

“S, Master.”

“Is there a good reason why you’re here alone when you should be at home?”

“Uh, um… … . Th, that.”

“Explain.”

Leonard looked down at her with a blank expression. Even though it wasn’t that hot, a little sweat was forming on Leonard’s forehead. Cordelia hesitated and lowered her head.

“I have an appointment.”

“What appointment?”

“I was supposed to meet Lydia. She said she knew a good dessert shop.”

“Without saying a word to me.”

“T-that’s it. The Master doesn’t like me going out in the garden… … . I was planning on going home right away.”

Belluce, who had gone to call a carriage, returned just then. He seemed to have figured out the situation by looking at Leonard.

“Master.”

“Beluce. I told you something before I left.”

“I’m sorry.”

He immediately lowered his head without making any excuses. Leonard glared at Belluce with cold eyes.

“You’re on probation for a week.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“Just a moment. “Beluce was dragged here because I said I would.”

“That’s also his fault.”

Leonard turned away and walked away, leaving only those words behind. Normally, he would have kept up with Cordelia’s pace, but her master seemed very angry and didn’t even look back.

Cordelia followed Leonard with her head down in frustration. At that moment, Beluce came closer and held out her hand.

“Didn’t you hear me tell you to sit there?”

“I’m sorry, Beluce. I just happened to see someone I know, so I’m just checking on them for a moment.”

“I know someone in the capital. What are you doing? Hold on. You were glaring at me earlier, asking for my arm.”

Cordelia leaned on Beluce’s arm and walked away, her eyes looking both sorry and grateful.

Leonard had already boarded Atilei’s carriage a long time ago. She got into the carriage with Beluce’s help. The carriage started as soon as the door closed.

Leonard didn’t even look at Cordelia. Cordelia mumbled in a small voice.

“I’m sorry, Master.”

“You can’t sit still for even a moment. Was it really that hard to ask you to stay put at home?”

“I really only intended to meet Lydia. I’m sorry I sneaked out. But you kept telling me to.”

“Is it my fault?”

“No. That’s not it. That’s what I meant.”

Somehow she felt like she was just making excuses. Cordelia chose to keep her mouth shut.

The carriage arrived at the Atilei townhouse in silence. When the carriage stopped, Leonard left first without saying a word.

‘Tch,

even though I secretly went out and came back, is it worth getting this angry?’ Cordelia felt sad and wronged for no reason as she watched him walk away. Of course, it was wrong for him to go out without telling her in advance, but she didn’t think he deserved to be criticized like this.

“Lady Cordelia!”

At that moment, Cordelia’s maid, Leila, ran towards her out of breath. Leila looked around Cordelia here and there excitedly.

“You’re finally back. Are you okay?”

“I’m okay. Why are you acting like this all of a sudden, Leila?”

“Oh, don’t be ridiculous. When my master came to the mansion earlier and found out that Lady Cordelia wasn’t here, there was so much chaos.”