I Think My Husband is a Murderer

“It’s small…”

 

It seems that Johannes Schulz and I had very different standards for simplicity. The banquet was truly the height of splendor. Everyone’s words about not burdening me sounded like they were making fun of me. Not long after the banquet started, it became noisy outside. Meanwhile, fresh flowers and lights were installed throughout the garden, making the atmosphere feel like a summer evening. Of course, the air was still cold.

 

“You are the star of the banquet, so you should appear last. “Most nobles are probably curious about Miss Prim.”

 

I need to tidy up my hair more. The frizz remains. She said as Marilyn gently ran her fingers through her hair.

 

“You don’t seem to be in very good condition. How are you feeling? Are you feeling a little better?”

 

“Yes, I’m fine.”

 

Actually, it wasn’t okay at all. I stuck my head out the window to catch the cold wind. Several carriages were coming in one after another, and the workers were busy moving about. Joyful laughter continued. The nobles seemed to enjoy these banquets as part of their daily lives. It’s also leisurely. I was already running a slight fever, but looking at the dizzy surroundings, I felt like my head was pounding even more. After I closed the window, Marilyn said,

 

“If you’re having a hard time, at least get some air. If you can’t go out because it’s noisy, I’ll show you a quiet place.”

 

“Will you do that?”

 

“Yes, since you aren’t feeling well, put on a shawl and go out even if it’s hot.”

 

It was a welcome sound to hear. Marilyn put her pocket watch in my hand as she showed me a quiet place to rest. She then wrapped a shawl around her shoulders and told her to be back by eight o’clock. As I left her room and walked down her hallway, she began to hear chatter around the corner of the street leading to the place she had told me about. In fact, it was closer to backstabbing than small talk. I instinctively realized that this was my story and hid behind her pillar.

 

“Where on earth has Duke Schultz been and why did he just show up now? He must be related to that commoner woman, right?”

 

When he said the word ‘commoner,’ his voice was a little more secretive. Another voice said.

 

“I guess so. Because you showed up together.”

 

“Perhaps you were fooled by that beautiful woman who had no luck. I heard that commoners even sell their bodies to rise in status?”

 

It was clear that these people thought of commoners as some kind of street scum. Commoners also have their own society, and among them, there can be many hard-working people and rich people. Anyway, the voice continued. This time the voice was higher and sharper than before.

 

“You’re a seductress. From what I heard, that commoner woman is so beautiful. It’s not like she’s talking nonsense.”

 

That’s a false rumor.

 

“Even so, I wonder if he’ll take you as his wife. He is a role model for nobles.”

 

It’s a pity, but that’s true, unknown lady. I didn’t know how everything I said could be so different from the truth. Isn’t that the type of person who should never touch gambling?

 

“Maybe you’ve changed your mind. Men are indifferent when they see a pretty woman.”

 

Ho-ho, said a tactless woman. For a moment, the cold atmosphere could be felt even beyond the pillars.

 

“Mrs. Kelger has a point. But Duke Schultz is not the type of person to do that. You are the Duke of the Schultz family.”

 

A voice I had never heard before joined the conversation. Her voice was calmer and younger than that of the women before her. The ladies were silent for a while. A moment later, another voice was heard. It was a voice that agreed with the young voice.

 

“That’s right. I think so. Otherwise, how could you turn down a marriage chosen by the royal family?”

 

“I understand that Duke Shultz is not the kind of person who would be attracted to a woman.”

 

“We, the Marquis of Hatzfeld, put a lot of effort into the marriage…”

 

As I continued to listen to this conversation, I started to feel more and more nauseous. However, if I turned down the hallway like this, I would inevitably encounter them. Then it will be discovered that you overheard the conversation, and it will be very embarrassing for both of you. 

 

‘No, it doesn’t matter because you don’t know me.’

 

However, it is best to avoid encountering them as much as possible. Because several people will be harassing me non-stop. If you don’t have the confidence to come up with a plausible answer, you have no choice but to run away. I just turned around. I can go back somewhere else.

 

* * *

 

‘Was it to the right here…?’

 

I couldn’t remember whether the corridor that Marilyn told me about was on the right or left. But I usually have a good sense of it.

 

‘Unlike the left, the lights on the right are off…’

 

By all accounts, the place with few people was on the right. After walking for a while, we came to a corridor. I could feel the coldness on the milky marble filled with the winter air. As I slowly sat down behind the pillar, the headache seemed to go away a little. But the moment I opened my eyes and tried to check my pocket watch, I realized that my intuition was wrong. Someone grabbed my wrist forcefully. I was lifted up like a radish and stared in surprise at the man holding my wrist. Droopy little eyes, pointed nose. It was a face I didn’t know at all, but it didn’t feel unfamiliar. The man looked at me with interested eyes. A dark gaze fell on his bare skin where the shawl had been removed.

 

He grinned.

 

“Spring butterflies have flown into the shrine’s corridors. It’s winter here. Are you lost?”

 

“Let go. What are you doing now…”

 

“Or is it the beauty world? Are you planning to trap someone?”

 

The man tightened his grip on his wrist.

 

“Hmm… This is my first time seeing her face. Which family’s daughter is she? Ladies are not allowed here. It’s a secret place that you can only come by invitation.”

 

“I didn’t know. I took a wrong turn.”

 

The surroundings were dark, and the man smelled strongly of alcohol. If you shout, you won’t even be able to hear in the noisy banquet hall. It was better not to provoke him. Moreover, I was the one who stepped into the forbidden space. If you make a fuss, it will only create more fuss. I quickly erased the fearful expression that appeared on my face. The man’s face turned red from alcohol and he repeated muttering to himself.

 

“If you are a lady who is often invited to Evanstein Castle, there is no way you wouldn’t know the way. You would have known that this was the shrine’s corridor.”

 

I looked at his feet. Should I just run away? The heels of the shoes are high, though. Anyway, this man wouldn’t even pretend to know me if I were standing next to Johannes. I don’t know, but it felt that way. If I take off his shoes and run away…? The most realistic way is to wait until 8 o’clock. If I don’t go back, Marilyn, worried that I might ruin the banquet, will look for me.

 

“Beautiful girl, just tell me, ok?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

When I asked calmly, the man looked disinterested. Then his eyes sparkled again.

 

“I understand that the royal family was not invited, but could it be that the royal family took advantage of the opening of Evanstein Castle to send something like this?”

 

“That can’t be right.”

 

I spoke firmly to the man who was saying all kinds of absurd things. But the man didn’t seem to care about what I said.

 

“Then, instead of reporting me, I could play with you as a partner. I’m sure the young lady is not the commoner that Duke Schultz brought.”

 

There was silence for a moment. When I couldn’t answer, the man made a strange expression. I had a premonition that something was wrong. You have to run away.

 

“Am I right?”

 

“…no.”

 

It happened in an instant. The man grabbed my neck with his other hand and pushed me against a pillar. I was suffocated by the strong grip. As I started struggling, he tilted his head.

 

“Looking at your expression, it doesn’t mean it’s not true, does it?”

 

My breathing gradually became heavier. He ground his teeth with a face that said he wouldn’t let me go.

 

“What should I do with this? Because of you, my family has to ask for quite a lot of money. They said they were at a disadvantage in the trial because even the Navy was involved in the investigation.”

 

“Ugh, what is that…”

 

“It means I’m in deep debt.”

 

His throat became more strangled. I had no idea what he was talking about.

 

‘I can’t believe you made me ask for money. I’m sure you’re not going to die here, are you? shit.’

 

As I was almost losing consciousness, I heard a familiar voice coming from the corridor.

 

“I didn’t expect the prestige of the Shultz family to fall to this level.”

 

His voice was as dry as usual. No, I guess I was a little more angry than that.

 

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Translator Note: