I Think My Husband is a Murderer

“Sina!”

 

Mrs. Penciller, lost in thought, grabbed her arm. I asked with a puzzled expression, “What does that mean?”

 

“How can you cover yourself with a crazy bragger like that under a blanket? You?”

 

Her face was innocent, without a hint of malice. That made it even more bewildering.

 

I held her arm for now and tried to calm her down. “I’m sorry, but my husband is not crazy.”

 

He hasn’t covered a single blanket yet. I swallowed the rest of my words.

 

Sina seemed to have no intention of calming down. She grabbed Mrs. Penciller’s hand with a surprised expression.

 

“Mrs. Penciller, people around here didn’t know what Johannes Schultz was like when he was in the navy. I thought you were joking! But it turns out it’s true.”

 

Mrs. Penciller sighed, placing her hand on her forehead.

 

Gradually, it became unpleasant.

 

No matter how loveless our marriage was, others did not know that fact. But how could someone insult another person like that in front of the person’s wife?

 

Just as I was about to say something, Sina spoke up.

 

“How can a woman who calls herself a wife not know anything about her husband’s identity?”

 

I stared at Sina with a bewildered feeling.

 

“I don’t know what identity you’re talking about.”

 

“He’s a devil to us on the mainland.”

 

Sina added after a pause, “I’m from the Scandia continent. Specifically, I’m from Bordene, a major combat zone.”

 

“Bordene? Why would someone from Bordene be here…?”

 

Most national leaders do not use their homeland as a direct combat zone.

 

This is because, for the protection of their citizens and to repair the buildings collapsed due to war, a huge amount of money has to be poured in.

 

The Scandia continent, especially Bordene, was one of the subjugated countries used directly as a combat zone in this war.

 

Why would Johannes be considered a devil?

 

He was just one of the soldiers used in the war following the orders of the nation. The soldiers from the subjugated countries would likely be the same.

 

I spoke to Sina, who blinked her gray eyes.

 

“If it’s just because he was a commander of the enemy, is that why…?”

 

“If you call him a devil just for that, would you call all soldiers that? Absolutely not.”

 

As I still seemed not to understand her reaction, Sina grabbed my shoulder, pulling me back to the chair.

 

Having sat down abruptly, I glanced at Mrs. Penciller for support. However, she only sighed and did nothing more.

 

It seemed she judged that she couldn’t stop Sina.

 

Sina then sat down in front of me and grinned. Now, I couldn’t find any vitality in her eyes.

 

Her appearance was eerie, giving me goosebumps.

 

“I came here somehow looking for a place to live. Despite being a subjugated country, Dochlia is still a good place to live.”

 

Good place to live? What nonsense. Mrs. Penciller snorted beside me.

 

“In this situation, it’s good enough! Other subjugated countries are in a state of national bankruptcy.”

 

Sina spoke bluntly. Mrs. Penciller now vigorously slapped Sina on the back.

 

“I should have warned you to be careful. Sorry. Everything is fine, but this girl loses her mind whenever the topic of war comes up.”

 

When Sina didn’t try to say anything, Mrs. Penciller forcibly grabbed her wrist. However, Sina, much larger than Mrs. Penciller, couldn’t be easily expelled.

 

“No, Mrs. Penciller. Miss McKelly…? Can you tell me more?”

 

“Of course. Feel free to call me Sina.”

 

She started explaining how dangerous Johannes was with enthusiasm.

 

Sina said that when Johannes’ fleet appeared on the sea, the surrounding enemies couldn’t return safely.

 

Those captured as prisoners spoke about their families back home, pleading with tears, but he was someone who showed no mercy.

 

An atrocious murderer who tortured prisoners to extract confessions and even went so far as to kill his own subordinates in the end. It didn’t matter if the confession was false.

 

“He can do anything to achieve his goals.”

 

Throughout the story, I had to pinch the back of my hand hard not to tremble.

 

Coincidentally, I remembered the contents of the mail that was lying in front of the house a while ago. The mail that vehemently opposed my marriage to Johannes.

 

“No way…”

 

There would be no connection between Sina’s story and that.

 

“Why would there be a saying that even whales don’t surface on the day of the Baltic Fleet’s appearance in the enemy’s coastal waters?”

 

“….”

 

“We Scandia continent people, especially people from my hometown Bordene, call Commander Schultz a bloodthirsty murderer. I’ve even seen that man kill his own subordinates on the same side!”

 

I held my breath for a moment.

 

“That was the eyes of a murderer. The eyes of someone who kills without any remorse.”

 

Sina chuckled lightly.

 

“But strangely, the people here don’t seem to know anything about Commander Schultz. They call him a highly esteemed duke? How is that possible…? Do you treat him well too, Mrs.?”

 

She looked at me with curious eyes full of curiosity.

 

Suddenly, Edward Windsor’s warning came to mind. Did he give me the advice knowing about these rumors about Johannes?

 

I felt confused, and Mrs. Penciller sighed deeply.

 

“I didn’t believe it from the beginning. But it was so detailed, and also…”

 

She stopped talking and looked out the window. The sound of hooves approached, then stopped in front of the house.

 

“Who is it at this hour?”

 

Mrs. Penciller, looking puzzled, went out to the entrance. After the sound of opening the wooden door, her surprised voice faintly reached us.

 

“Edith, Edith!”

 

Then Mrs. hurriedly ran towards us in contemplation. She spoke excitedly.

 

“In front, the carriage of the Schultz family has arrived! No, Duke Schultz is…!”

 

As soon as the words “Duke Schultz” were mentioned, Sina panicked and hid under the dining table. Her large body was trembling.

 

The person who was laughing and talking just a while ago was nowhere to be seen. Only a small woman, terrified by fear, remained in that place.

 

A strange feeling fluttered around my chest.

 

I looked at her for a moment, then shifted my gaze to the wall-mounted cuckoo clock.

 

“If you exceed the curfew, I’ll come to escort you.”

 

Come to think of it, the promised curfew with Mr. Prett was already well past.

 

I didn’t know Johannes would come to pick me up personally.

 

Outside, it had become dark without me realizing it. I got up from my seat with an awkward expression.

 

When I went outside, the carriage with the Schultz family crest was parked. Johannes was waiting for me in front of it.

 

“You’re late.”

 

He showed his wristwatch, and a faint smile spread across his face in the twilight.

 

Perhaps it was due to hearing the unrealistic stories a while ago, but Johannes’ smile seemed somewhat eerie.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

I made an effort not to show anything and slightly lowered my head.

 

And, so that Mrs. Penciller behind the door wouldn’t hear our conversation, I added discreetly:

 

“It’s been a long time since I met Mrs. Penciller, so the conversation got longer than expected, and it was so enjoyable that I lost track of time.”

 

Actually, I was surprised by the new information about Johannes Schultz.

 

His gaze, which lingered on the well-tailored coat collar, rose to Johannes’ face. The subtly colored eyes were looking down at me.

 

“The outside is still dangerous. I don’t know what might happen, so please return before it gets dark.”

 

My eyes widened.

 

Could it be that he came to see me because he was worried?

 

I soon denied that thought. The reason Johannes came personally was probably to be faithful to our roles.

 

Maybe tomorrow, the headlines of the newspapers will feature the affectionate Duke Schultz.

 

Not knowing if Mrs. Penciller was eavesdropping on our conversation, I spoke while concealing the truth.

 

“This is Muesen. Don’t you know it the best? That insane…”

 

I accidentally raised my voice, but remembering Sina’s words about the bloodthirsty murderer, I trailed off.

 

“The murderer has been caught. And we reinforced the security.”

 

Johannes’ gaze narrowed.

 

“For now.”

 

He immediately adjusted to my tone.

 

“But the tight reins we had on the murderer have been loosened.”

 

“…”

 

“It took so much time to catch one criminal, so it’s uncertain whether the crazy words we’ve been holding back might burst out.”

 

Johannes smiled slyly.

 

I felt Mrs. Penciller’s presence approaching. Should I react the way Johannes wanted here?

 

It was better to leave this place quickly, even if it meant preventing Johannes from meeting Sina.

 

Staring into the calm blue eyes that seemed to contain unknown emotions, I said,

 

“Johannes, I know you love me endlessly, but there’s no need for you to come to pick me up like this.”

 

His face was dyed with a sense of absurdity.

 

…This isn’t right.

 

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Translator Note:

 

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