ITMWG 113

Chapter 113…

 Thud!

Is Altair doing well…?

Nadia thought about Altair’s appearance at the Viosques mansion.

She couldn’t imagine how he would react after finding the letter.

In any case, he might be angry since I ran away without consulting him.

She had told Altair that couples should discuss everything before making decisions, but it was funny that she broke that rule herself.

“There must have been someone who had poisoned you back at the Duke’s house. You’ve recovered a lot now that you’re here.”

While she was lost in thought, Leon, who had finished the check-up, let out a sigh of relief and got up.

“Please take the antidote regularly, and I will also prescribe you medicine to prevent miscarriage.”

Nadia felt a sense of guilt as she watched Leon treat her with sincerity.

She agreed to leave without telling Altair about the situation. That was the condition for him helping her.

Because of that, her heart would ache every time she saw Leon, but she tried to remain confident.

As-as long as I don’t get caught, he would still think that I followed the agreement.

If it were Altair, he would have the same thought. As his wife, she would have to absorb his good points.

Besides, it wasn’t a complete betrayal since she hadn’t told him the most important thing: she was pregnant.

“……Thank you.”

She pulled herself together and thanked him briefly, but he smirked, unable to understand her.

“How could you say thank you to someone who’s the cause of a marriage breakup?”

“Well, you’re trying to cure me, and you’re trying to separate me from Altair because you think he’s a bad person, and you don’t have to do that for me when we have nothing to do with each other… Except for your stubbornness in holding on to false beliefs, Leone is a very good person.”

“… I don’t know if that’s an insult or a compliment.”

Leon sighed deeply as he gathered his medical tools with a confused expression.

“Wrong beliefs…Don’t you think that your beliefs are the wrong ones, Madame?”

“No.”

“You don’t even hesitate.”

“Of course. Leon, don’t you think that your beliefs are wrong at all?”

“…”

Unlike her, who didn’t have an ounce of hesitation, Leon seemed hesitant to open his mouth.

She could understand the confusion that must have swept through his mind better than anyone else.

The Altair in the novel and the Altair she met in reality were so different that she also had a hard time figuring it out at first.

Just as she had been wary of the ‘Altair in the novel’ countless times, doubting it to be real, but eventually having no choice but to admit that the ‘Altair she met in person’ was real, it was clear that Leon would also be like that.

“You promised me, right? If Altair passes your ‘test’ this time, you’ll trust his words completely. You’ll fulfill that promise soon enough.”

“I wonder where that conviction comes from.”

“It comes from Altair himself.”

“He doesn’t seem like a particularly kind person.”

“That’s right. Altair isn’t kind. I never asked Leon to believe in his kindness to begin with.”

Leon widened his eyes, not knowing that she would agree with him. And she couldn’t help but chuckle, finding that funny.

“If Altair has decided to hit someone in the back of the head, he’ll just mercilessly step on them. He’s not the type to talk dirty behind their backs.”

“Merciless…Are there any wives who talk about their husbands like that?”

“That’s true. And I think that side of Altair…”

She actually thought that he was better than people who were vicious like her uncle. That’s why she liked him.

When she couldn’t finish her sentence and blushed slightly, Leon shook his head with a fed-up expression, as if he knew what she was going to say.

“Anyhow, I’ll keep my promise. If he really doesn’t kick you out until the end, I’ll admit my mistake and be loyal to Aylesford.”

“I know you’ll keep your promise.”

“… So why do you believe me when I’m separating you two, hah, never mind.”

Leon sighed as if he didn’t understand and ruffled his hair, frustrated.

For some reason, his grumbling face turned slightly red.

“Anyway, stability is the top priority for pregnant women. Especially for someone who is poisoned like yourself, stability is even more important. Don’t think about doing anything else and just get plenty of rest. Do you understand?”

“Uh, um, yes… ”

As Nadia was unable to answer easily, Leon clicked his tongue and let out a long sigh as he rolled his eyes.

“… You’re really bad at lying.”

“But I have to find the one who poisoned me in Viosques… Of course, I won’t overwork myself! Cain said he’d help!”

“How do you plan on finding them?”

“Well, first of all…”

“First of all?”

“We wait!”

❈❈❈

A few days after Nadia left the Duke of Viosques, rumours that Baroness Aylesford had gone to recuperate due to rapidly deteriorated health spread beyond the Duke’s residence to the capital’s noble families.

There were also rumours that Baron Aylesford could not sleep at night because of his wife’s illness and always walked around with a haggard face.

It was not entirely false.

It was true that Baroness Aylesford had suddenly disappeared from the Viosques’ residence and that Baron Aylesford was working with a haggard appearance.

“The inheritance law revision will probably go through in a few days…”

Duke Viosques, who knew all of them, trailed off in front of Altair, who looked as haggard as in the rumor.

“You’re going to die before that. What on earth is going on?”

“There were some things to take care of.”

“Things to take care of?”

“Yes. It’s a family matter. It’s not something the Duke should be concerned about.”

“How could I not be concerned about someone like this?”

Duke Viosques shook his head, frustrated.

“Even the servants are all watching you closely. Ordinary people can’t stand the energy you can’t control. I can feel it even now…”

Although it wasn’t an energy that was openly attacking people, unstable energy was surging around Altair.

It was an energy that would make an ordinary person feel sick and sweat just by getting close to him.

“I heard your wife was sick. Is that why you’re like this? I’ll send a competent doctor. He’s a doctor who also takes care of His Majesty the Emperor’s illnesses, so he’ll be helpful.”

“Thank you for your concern, but I think that part is already settled.”

“If that’s the case, I won’t say anything more…”

Under the worried gaze of the Duke, Altair got up from his seat.

“I have something to do, so I will get going first. I will personally handle the matter related to the Vine Marquis right after the revision of the inheritance law and the inheritance procedure for my wife.”

“Alright, so it be…”

Despite his haggard appearance, his speech was no different than usual, so Duke Viosques nodded, somewhat bewilderedly.

As soon as permission was given, Altair turned around and walked away, but the Duke suddenly got up from his seat as if he realised something belatedly.

“This is your room, so I should leave… ”

This was Altair’s room. The one who had come to see him was the Duke, not Altair.

So it was he who had to give up his seat.

It was because Altair, who was lost in thought, didn’t see the wall in front of him and just walked straight into it.

“…”

To see a knight of Altair’s level couldn’t notice the wall and crash into it, Duke Viosques gaped at the ridiculous situation and looked at the wall that was surrounded by a thick layer of dust.

Even in that situation, he must have reflexively protected himself with mana, because the poor wall was shattered.

“… Are you okay? That doctor that I mentioned, seems to be more needed for you than your wife.”

Along with Duke Viosques’ earnest voice, a strange gaze was watching Altair from the end of the hallway.

Altair absentmindedly brushed the dust off his body, but he didn’t miss the gaze that was watching him.

Now, it was the turn of that unknown figure to show his next move.

❈❈❈

“If the rumour spreads to other noble houses beyond the Duke residence, the one who has been poisoning me will be sure that I am not there. He will definitely try to contact my uncle to receive the next order.”

“However, Marquis Vine is imprisoned in Balstead. It is not a place that anyone can easily access.”

“So the methods of access are rather limited. Do you know in what cases Balstead allows visitation?”

“That’s…”

“If a prisoner is sick, the immediate family can bring a doctor and meet him. The prisoners will not be treated with the national treasury, so they had to treat them with their own money if they wish.”

“Then…?”

Cain’s eyes lit up upon understanding her intention. In return, Nadia nodded and confirmed that his guess was correct.

“I’ll probably go to Balstead using my uncle’s chronic illness as an excuse. In that case, I’ll definitely need the help of my uncle’s only family member, Melissa.”

“Then that rascal will come looking for her!”

“That’s right. I can just sit back and catch the culprit.”

“Wow…You’ve been thinking about that since you left the mansion?”

Her face flushed slightly as she felt burdened by Cain’s gaze that sparkled with admiration.

I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this.

It was a moment that made her wonder how could there be people who casually accepted praise from others.

“Then I’ll make sure to be even more vigilant around that woman than usual. I’m already blocking even a single ant from getting near you.”

Cain gave Nadia a somewhat playful salute and she shook her head at his determination.

“Then it’s difficult. Rather, please loosen your guard a little more than usual. The other party should be able to come to Melissa with peace of mind.”

“Ah, I see. If the guard is too tight, they might be suspicious and avoid contact…I’ve learned a thing or two, Madame! How lucky is our country bumpkin Captain to have such a smart madame as his wife!”

If she let him be, the embarrassing praise would continue, so she quickly dismissed Cain.

“Now-, now get back to work!”

“Huh? I still have a lot to say! I haven’t even expressed half of my respect for you, Madame!”

Even as he was pushed outside, Cain’s incessant chattering made her head spin.

At that, Nadia thought she could finally understand why Altair was tired of his knights.

T/n: Sorry guys, for some reason I could not find the image of this chapter =(( If I ever find it, I’ll update it later