I Think My Husband is a Murderer

Bright blue eyes disappeared between the eyelids, then slowly revealed themselves.

 

“I have something you need to protect.”

 

He took a deep breath and said. The voice was somewhat chilly, so I got scared.

 

“It is true that all space restrictions disappear from the moment you become the duke’s hostess.”

 

When I could not even nod my head due to my nervousness, he continued.

 

“But I hope you don’t set foot in the basement as much as possible.”

 

“In the basement of the west annex?”

 

Johannes nodded his head. Why only in the basement? At that moment, tens of thousands of ghost stories related to the basement began to come to mind. Stories passed down orally, such as the Bluebeard story, were floating around in my head. I narrowed my eyes.

 

“…Do you know that sounds very suspicious? “Is there anything in that basement that I shouldn’t see?”

 

I lowered my voice even further.

 

“A vicious killer, a hidden corpse… Things like that.”

 

Subtle cracks appeared on Johannes’ frozen face. He laughed as if he was amazed.

 

“My wife-to-be has an overactive imagination. How on earth do you look at me?”

 

It was a cheerful smile I had never seen before.

 

“Someone who gets everything they want? After all, you married me too.”

 

Johannes raised an eyebrow. Seeing as he didn’t make any rebuttal, he seemed to be convinced.

 

“Please tell me why I can’t go in.”

 

“There is no particular reason. It’s a dark place with a lot of important things, no sunlight, and a lot of dust.”

 

It was a trivial reason, even though it set a great mood. Still, it didn’t hurt to check one more time, so I asked again.

 

“There is no other reason?”

 

“No, there’s not.”

 

It was time for Johannes to give a firm answer.

 

“It’s been a while, Johannes.”

 

A soft, low-pitched voice came from behind me. When I turned my head towards the sound, I saw a man walking towards us. The man was well-dressed in his dark gray suit, and had his dull blonde hair slicked back. Although he had an uncanny resemblance to Johannes, he had a more sad look than him. Johannes’ face immediately hardened when he saw him. It was a rare expression from a man whose composure was usually unbroken.

 

“For some reason.”

 

It was truly the coldest voice I had heard in a long time.

 

“There’s nothing wrong with attending your only cousin’s wedding.”

 

The man added.

 

“I never dreamed that we would meet again at your wedding.”

 

It was clear from the man’s words that he intended to tease Johannes. But only seriousness spread across his face, and it seemed like you had to look closely to notice the difference. A man whose thoughts are difficult to guess. Although he only saw him briefly, he could see why Johannes was not very pleased with him.

 

“Johannes Schulz, who seemed to have no interest in women at all, is getting married.”

 

Soon the man looked at me and grinned. I reflexively moved closer to Johannes. The man continued speaking regardless.

 

“Was it just a rumor that you like the same sex? I didn’t believe it anyway.”

 

He continued to scratch Johannes.

 

“What a great national loss it would be if the Schultz family line was cut off in four generations.”

 

Johannes, who was about to say something, glanced at me and closed his mouth. It seemed like he was holding back because it was in front of me.

 

“Are you sure you still misunderstand me?”

 

“Unfortunately, I don’t have the time to think about you.”

 

The man burst into laughter.

 

“Be merciful too. From the looks of it, it doesn’t seem like he has any intention of answering. But seeing as his temperament is still the same, I guess there is no particular problem.”

 

Either this way or that way. The man stabbed the man once near the chest with his index finger and then pointed to the top of his head. As I blinked in the heavy air, the man who had given up on hearing an answer from Johannes turned his attention to me.

 

“I’m late to say hello. Congratulations on your marriage. This is Edward Windsor.”

 

The man soon introduced himself as Edward Windsor. I, who had been trying to figure out the man’s identity a little while ago, became dumbfounded. No citizen of Docilia would be surprised to hear that name. Because the last name Windsor…

 

“Princess?”

 

While I was thinking about Edward’s identity, he spoke to me. I suddenly raised my head.

 

“Are you uncomfortable?”

 

I think I was frowning without realizing it.

 

“Oh, no. Sorry, I’m really late in my introduction. Then the prince-”

 

“No need to say hello.”

 

Johannes interrupted me, but Edward seemed to be used to this sort of thing, so he gently accepted my words and continued.

 

“I don’t actually have anything to do, so I would be grateful if you treated me as the police chief of Barden.”

 

As a member of the royal family, he maintained a very gentlemanly demeanor. Of course, I don’t know what he feels on the inside. They know everything they did to Duke Johannes and the Schultz family, so it doesn’t look good at all.

 

“It suits you well, Johannes.”

 

Johannes tilted his head at Prince Edward’s words. The dry blue eyes did not show the slightest kindness.

 

“So scary. There’s no need to be so hostile, right?”

 

“What is the business?”

 

“Oh, I thought I would apologize in advance. The flowers sent by the royal family to your wedding were handled solely by His Majesty the King.”

 

“You mean Begonia?”

 

As a surprising emotion passed over Edward’s face, Johannes added with an indifferent expression.

 

“Prince Windsor’s garden is a famous place in Docilia.”

 

There’s no way you wouldn’t know about the flowers that were taken out of your garden, so why are you pretending not to know?

 

“Yes, it’s true that it came from my garden, but—”

 

Edward stopped speaking and made an aggrieved expression.

 

“I, who is very busy with the police department, attended as a representative of the royal family instead of my family, whom you hate so much. Don’t you think you’re too hateful?”

 

“When will ego hypertrophy be cured?”

 

Johannes quirked his eyebrows with a bored expression. Then Edward answered, still cheerful.

 

“Johannes, I want to spend some time with my family… It’s different. They say they have no interest in power. I just want you to know that I swear I had nothing to do with that.”

 

After that, he turned his attention to me.

 

“Of course, I was curious about what kind of person the next duchess would be. We are relatives.”

 

“It’s just a facade.”

 

“That’s harsh.”

 

Edward playfully laughed off Johannes’ words and added,

 

“I know you hate me, but we know each other better than anyone else. I was always wondering what kind of woman could have bewitched Johannes Schulz…”

 

Then he came close to my face. Our gaze met with cloudy gray eyes. He seemed to be studying my face, then stepped back as if nothing had happened.

 

“It exceeded my expectations. I understand.”

 

Convinced. Displeasure spread across Johannes’ face at those words.

 

“Your face is properly illuminated, and I think your personal business is over.”

 

“Wow, that way of speaking is still the same. You’re so good at telling people to just get out of here.”

 

I burst out laughing without realizing it. Edward had a side that strangely irritated people. At first glance, it seems like he is caring and caring for Johannes, but if you pay a little more attention, you can see how obnoxious he is. Where will what I have seen and learned so far go? It was a time when I was thinking that I was indeed a member of the royal family who had been framed by Duke Shultz.

 

“Princess?”

 

“…yes?”

 

“What is it, why are you so surprised? Could it be that I was cursing myself in my mind…”

 

I awkwardly raised my eyebrows.

 

“Haa?”

 

Look at this? Edward looked down at me with those eyes. Soon he smiled briefly and raised his eyebrows.

 

“I guess that’s right.”

 

I should have managed my facial expressions a little better. Anyway, he is from the royal family of Docilia. If he is discovered to have been imagining something disrespectful in front of the royal family, he will be imprisoned if he is unlucky. He had to avoid doing anything that would harm Johannes. Even though he knew that, he continued to have trouble managing his facial expressions. It was so cold that his muscles must have frozen. As I struggled to raise my eyebrows, Edward spoke in a bored voice.

 

“Let’s not cry like that. I know full well that I am unlucky.”

 

Looking up at him, Edward, who had fixed his cravat, added:

 

“You have strange eyes.”

 

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Translator Note: