Translator: Nox

Chapter 25

The protagonist possessed by her husband, Episode 25

"......It didn't seem like a very helpful explanation.

Anyway, he stopped walking and looked back at Louise.

"Louise?""What?"He was really shocked that Louise even thought about selling her hair.

I wondered if I was feeling that much of a threat to my livelihood, and it felt like my pride as the head of the family was shattered.

It was absolutely unacceptable to see a woman living with me selling her hair for money.

This was true not only for Luise but also for Eloy and his mother.

"First, go back home." I think I need to go back to the information center."Is it information compensation?""Yes." I will take you to where you can ride the carriage."Ah... But where is that informant located?""This is Luden.""Luden?""Ruden?"!”

“…….Alex flinched a little.

Luise and Eloy were startled as if they were shocked by the word 'Ruden'.

"I was wondering where the information came from, and it turned out to be a place in Ruden?" Are you really okay going by yourself?"...Yes?""What, is something wrong?"

Ruden was the most bustling and splendid place in the capital of the Lilt Empire.

The most prominent nobles in high society all frequented the place, and the finest artisans, renowned for their exceptional skills in various fields, had their shops there.

Not only that, but the largest bank, department stores, grocery stores, and more in the empire were all gathered together, and the townhouses of the nobility were also concentrated in Luden.

When he seemed a bit puzzled, Luisa said.

"Ah, I was just worried that you might be bullied over there.""...Ah."

Come to think of it, I remembered that something similar had happened near Ruden.

"That's fine now." I have been there before."Ah, then I understand." Still, since you came out, let's do it together."Ah, no." I don't want to go there.Eloy interrupted Luise and clung to her arm as if to wrap his arm around it.

She whimpered with a look of horror at the thought of going to Ludens.

"You might run into other kids there." I'm wearing a strange dress right now...”

“……."Ruden was a place frequented by high-ranking nobles."

In the current situation where his status has fallen, I could somewhat understand Eloy's reluctance to go.

Eloy, as well as other family members, were alternating between a few pieces of clothing that seemed to have been packed when they were evicted.

After a moment of contemplation at Eloy's words, Luiza spoke to him.

"Then I think it would be better for me to look around here a bit more with Eloy." Be careful and have a good trip, Alex."Understood."Alex replied softly.

At that moment, the light shining down made Louise's hair sparkle beautifully in his eyes.

It was someone else's hair that had nothing to do with him, but thinking that it almost got cut off just for money made me feel strange.

Alex thought that it would be better to stack gold coins in a box inside the empty room.

‘Gideon.Before leaving the market, he summoned his Familiar Spirit.

[Growl?"Follow the family members secretly."They are such striking women that you never know what might happen.

Inside the market, only Eloy and I remained after Alex left for Luden.

To us, Luden feels like a place resembling a dragon's lair, and it has been weighing on my mind that I sent him off alone.

What if I go and get hit by someone for no reason?

Especially when encountering the noblemen who looked down on Alex the most?

The names of dozens of those vile bastards came to mind.

'It will be okay anyway. It's a place I've already been to well on my own without anyone else...I tried hard not to worry about Alex.

Is it just my mood, or does the 10 gold I hold feel heavy?

It felt precious because it was money earned directly, and I even felt a heavy sense that I shouldn't spend it carelessly.

As I turned my body from the seat, I casually looked around and was startled.

It was because I made eye contact with two young children crouched in the far corner.

It seemed that the children had been watching me for a while, and as soon as I noticed them, they were startled and quickly lowered their heads.

I stared at them quietly.

Hair tangled with dust, a shabby face with dry lips, hands covered in dirt, and worn-out clothes.

They were really cute kids, but it broke my heart to see that they didn't seem to be receiving proper care.

And the round, small bowl placed in front of them.

There were many children like that wherever you went in the empire.

However, in places like Ruden, where many nobles frequented, it was common to be chased away.

Could it be that those kids are part of a group that systematically makes children beg?

He said that there are quite a few organizations that exploit children in that way.

All children, regardless of who they are, have heavy hearts.

"Sister, what are you doing?" Let's go."Ah, yes.""As Eloy pulled me, I reluctantly answered and started walking again."

I set out to find edible groceries.

There were quite a few snacks sold on the street, but Eloy didn't ask to buy any for some reason.

It seemed that the street vendors did not look neat, just like in Luden.

Finding a relatively decent store, I bought potatoes, bread, and jerky for 10 gold, and handed a bundle to the children I had seen earlier.

Eloy looked at me with surprised eyes, and the children blinked their big eyes.

I bent my knees to sit at the children's eye level and handed them a bundle in my hands.

"...They are truly children with clear eyes." It's cold, so go in early. It contains jerky, bread, and potatoes.”

“……."Thank you."One child couldn't bring themselves to speak, and another child, feeling bewildered, thanked her.

I smiled faintly.

I feel a bit more at ease knowing that the children seem to like it.

Suddenly, I thought whether this kindness and compassion were truly for these children or for myself.

If I just let it pass, my heart would have continued to feel uncomfortable, but is this what I should do to feel better...?

No, it seemed that if the children could eat their fill, that was enough.

The children made eye contact with each other and then politely greeted each other.

"I will eat well.""Then do it."The children who looked up at me again quickly went somewhere.

As I turned my body and started to walk, I heard Eloy muttering behind me.

"If that's the case, why did they shear the wool?" Why did you come out to sell wool up to here?I pretended not to hear Eloy's words.

I bought more drought-resistant crops with the money I originally had and returned home.

Anyway, there were many sheep at home.

"Another potato..."Eloy was a little teary-eyed and weak inside the carriage, but it didn't matter.

There is no other ingredient that can be cooked in as many ways as potatoes, which are delicious and nutritious.

Suddenly, a good idea came to me, and I subtly tested Eloy.

"Do you want to eat something more delicious?""Huh?""Then starting tomorrow, would you like to shear one sheep at a time?" If it's ten, it's 100 gold."Me...?""Then." The sheep are really gentle. Eloy, even young ladies who have grown up beautifully like you can do it easily without getting hurt."Really...?""Of course."I nodded twice with an expression that suggested it was very easy for me.

Nevertheless, it seemed that Eloy was not coming over, so I threw out another bait.

"Then I'll give you all the money I made from the wool.""Is it true?"I nodded even more vigorously at the hint of interest in their eyes.

There was a desire to push all the bothersome labor onto Eloy, but on the other hand, I thought about helping her become self-sufficient in the future.

However, Eloy's eyes narrowed.

"Really, I thought I was a fool." Why did my older brother go to the information dealer? You went to get money. Sister, you can't sell your hair.”

“…….My complexion, which had been filled with anticipation, gradually settled down.

Anyway, she was clever and didn't easily get fooled.

Soon, Eloy, looking out the window again, muttered as if to himself.

"So you’re a fake couple who don’t even love each other, yet you value your hair?""Before I knew it, the day has faded and night has come."

After having a simple late dinner with my family, I went outside after reading a book in the living room.

'When will they come?'It is soon close to midnight, but Alex still hasn't returned.

Even though Ruden is far away, if the work had finished quickly, he would have already returned. It seems that the matter regarding the information was not resolved quickly.

"By the way, are there more secrets that can be sold to the information broker?"What kind of book did you read...?

I thought it was something that could only happen once, but I was surprised when they said they would go to the information office again.

It was also amazing that the location of Prince Riddith was written in the book he read, and I wonder what kind of deal he is trying to make...

As I wrapped my arms around myself and paced outside, the words I had heard from Alex during the day came back to me.

You can get more money even today. I really don't want to sacrifice even my wife's hair, even if the situation becomes more difficult.The words that were both concerning and resolute.

At that moment, the feeling of my heart strangely racing came back to me.

It seemed that he was very shocked by my statement that I would sell my hair.

Well, if he had just let me sell my hair, I think I would have felt disappointed in that way too...?

I took a deep breath and pressed my chest gently.

It doesn't matter if you're empty-handed, just come back quickly.

In that moment, I stood still.

Something was approaching from a place buried deep in the darkness.

Did I see it wrong?

I opened my eyes wider and focused.

The night fog was thick, causing the surroundings to appear hazy.

The sound of hooves striking the ground echoed through the faint air.

Clatter, clatter...

And the sound of wheels running over the damp ground.

Could it be a carriage?

In the deep night shrouded in dim fog, as I listened to the sound of a horse approaching, it felt just like hearing an auditory hallucination.

The faint sound of hooves gradually grew stronger, piercing through the dark fog as a shape began to emerge.

Mist scattered around the white snout illuminated by the moonlight. And the fluttering white rake.

Like a scene from a dream, a white horse leaped into my view in slow motion. I thought there were two, but there were two more behind.

And the person holding the reins and driving the carriage with great dignity is...

“Alex?I couldn't believe what I was seeing, so I leaned forward even more.

No matter how you look at it, a tall man who looks like Alex stopped the carriage and jumped down from the driver's seat.

The black cloak draped over the shoulders fluttered majestically, just like that of a knight.