I Thought It Was a Common Transmigration

“It looks like Killian is in love with that woman, but they shouldn’t be swayed by the Duke’s punishment just because of that!”

 

“Killian’s feelings are deeper than they look, but he is not the kind of guy who would ruin an important family event with petty emotions.”

 

“But…!”

 

“You seem a little emotional right now. Lise returned safely, so you should not get excited. You will only provoke Killian more.”

 

In the end, Cliff couldn’t push his opinion any further and took a step back. And while the Rigelhof family and their associates were kneeling in the middle of the execution site, Killian entered the execution site and approached the Duke and Cliff.

 

“Are you here?”

 

The Duke greeted Killian with a heavy voice.

 

Killian, who returned after a few days, did not look that good at first glance. There were shadows under his eyes and his beard was messy. He seemed to have lost weight in the meantime, and his cheekbones and jawline became more prominent.

 

“Where is Edith?”

 

“She’ll be in soon.”

 

At that moment, one door of the execution site opened, and Edith walked in, following the knights. At the same time, Killian’s shoulders twitched when he noticed Edith.

 

‘Edith!’

 

Because she was far away and hidden among her knights, it was impossible to properly check her condition, but it seemed like she was seriously injured as her body swayed as if it was difficult for her to even walk properly. . Edith must have been assaulted and tortured at Wellesley’s villa, so it may be surprising that she is now standing on her own. Killian wanted to let people know right away that Edith had been assaulted by those Rigelhof humans, but the atmosphere at the execution site ahead of her execution was so heavy that Killian could not dare to step forward. The Duke spoke to Count Rigelhof and his family who were kneeling.

 

“If it had ended with a territory battle, I wouldn’t have bothered to kill you guys with my own hands.”

 

If that were the case, the Ducal family would not have been given the right to dispose of Count Rigelhof. It was the emperor’s authority to deal with families involved in treason. However, they kidnapped vulnerable women and tried to use them as hostages. And for that very reason, the emperor unusually granted disposal rights to the Duchy.

 

“Those who claim to know the honor of nobles, cowardly kidnap women? Do they still have the right to complain that they were robbed of the dukedom?”

 

With a clanging sound, the sword was pulled out of Duke Ludwig’s scabbard.

 

“I will behead everything that bears Rigelhof’s name! Send the severed head to the imperial palace to hang on the necks of other traitors and the walls of the castle, and throw the rest of the body on the mountain to be eaten by beasts!”

 

As the thunderous command was issued, the executioners standing on one side of the execution site grabbed new sharp axes and screams and cries erupted from the criminals sitting there. The Duke, who was looking down at the situation, turned his gaze to Killian and made one exception.

 

“However, I will leave Edith’s disposition to Killian. It is true that Edith is a sinner, but it is also true that she is Killian’s wife.”

 

At those words, Cliff called again in a low voice, ‘Father!’ The Duke looked alternately at Cliff, who looked disapproving, and Killian, who had a cold expression, and then said.

 

“I think it would be rude of Killian to have someone else decide Edith’s disposition. Even if Killian decides to save Edith, I will respect that decision. Of course, Killian must take responsibility for that as well.”

 

And the Duke took a step back to make way for Killian. Killian slowly walked towards Edith, holding the handle of his sword tightly. As if they had been waiting for this moment, the knights who brought Edith kneeled down on the spot. Naturally, he seemed to believe that Killian would cut off Edith’s head. And only then did Killian get to see Edith properly. She was dressed in shabby clothes, like something a commoner would wear, and her head and face were roughly covered with a cheap scarf. Only her forehead, eyes, and nose were visible outside her scarf, but she could tell that her complexion was pale.

 

“Edith…”

 

He called Edith, but Edith did not look at him. She looked into space with an indifferent expression, neither crying nor smiling. Her hair, which had fallen out of her scarf, was gathered to one side, exposing the white nape of her neck. Her resolute appearance did not seem like someone who was about to die. She had been mocking her all this time, calling her vulgar and licentious, but at this moment, Edith was a very noble lady.

 

“Edith! I said no! It’s a misunderstanding! Please speak!”

 

As Killian approached Edith one step at a time, Lise, who was watching her nearby and stamping her feet, hurriedly urged Edith again. But Edith didn’t move a muscle. The sight of her not expecting anything made Killian seethe inside him.

 

‘Why don’t you cling to me?’

 

Edith has always been like this. Even though the only person who could save her was Killian, she did not ask him to help her.

 

‘Am I still that untrustworthy? You don’t want anything from me?’

 

Every time she thought about that, her insides boiled and she felt like she was going to explode. He felt so bad for Edith, who kept her pain inside, and he felt sorry for her for not even being able to scream for help, so much so that he felt like he was going crazy.

 

“Edith! Please save me! Please, Edith!”

 

“Stop!”

 

When Lise shouted Edith’s name again, Duke Ludwig stopped her in a rare move. In the meantime, Killian looked at Edith, who was unwavering, and opened his mouth.

 

“All those Rigelhof bastards who not only participated in the treason but also committed heinous acts deserve to be punished.”

 

Duke Ludwig nodded his head in satisfaction, and Edith… She smiled slightly. Her faint smile, which only he noticed, made Killian’s stomach turn even more. So he continued his words as if to catch Edith off guard.

 

“By the way, my wife’s name has been Edith Ludwig ever since we got married. To call Edith ‘Rigelhof’ is an insult to Duke Ludwig. Isn’t that right?”

 

“Killian!”

 

Cliff shouted, but Killian did not back down.

 

“What’s wrong, bro? If you don’t believe me, should I at least bring the marriage vow we wrote when we got married and show it to you?”

 

Then this time Duke Ludwig spoke in a heavy voice.

 

“Can you take responsibility for your actions?”

 

“Father, why don’t you take responsibility? Then did you force me to marry her, and now are you trying to take her away from me?”

 

Killian was shocked even after he had said the words himself. His father pushed ahead with the marriage that he so hated under the pretext of ‘for the sake of the family and the Emperor,’ and the marriage oath that sealed the marriage still remained in the archives of the Duke’s residence and in the royal family’s aristocratic circles. And in it, it was stated that Edith Riegelhoff’s name would henceforth be Edith Ludwig. She had no qualms about it at all.

 

“Why are you kneeling like a criminal? If you don’t want to disgrace me and my family, please stand up, Edith Ludwig.”

 

Only then did Edith’s gaze turn towards Killian. Killian almost burst out laughing because her eyes said, ‘This can’t be happening.’ It was then.

 

“If you want to kill us, you have to kill that too!”

 

Count Rigelhof, who was sitting in shock, shouted as if he were screaming. Then Shane, who was sitting next to him, shouted along.

 

“That’s right! If you have to kill the entire Rigelhof family, kill that bitch too!”

 

Everyone in the room except Killian and Edith was surprised by their struggling attitude. Killian had a vague sense that Edith was not their beloved daughter, but to the rest of them, she was still Count Rigelhof, famous as a ‘fool.’ Although it was rumored that he had abandoned Edith, the sight of Count Rigelhof struggling as if he had defeated his enemy was completely unexpected. Even the rest of the family sitting behind Count Rigelhof were looking at Edith with venomous eyes. Only then did Duke Ludwig feel that something was strange.

 

“Shut up! It seems like you haven’t realized the reality yet. Whose decision do the death row inmates dare to disobey?”

 

Duke Ludwig, who scolded in a loud voice, looked at Edith quietly and gave an order.

 

“I will respect Killian’s decision. However, there must be an interrogation regarding the kidnapping, so please keep Edith in the dungeon for now.”

 

“Father!”

 

Killian shouted at the Duke.

 

* * *

 

‘How on earth does it work?’

 

She looked back and forth between Duke Ludwig and Killian, trying to understand the situation.

 

“I will leave Edith’s disposal to Killian.”

 

The Duke’s line was the same as the original line. Until she was brought to her knees by the knights and Killian approached her, she thought the story she was allowed to tell was finally over. Fearing that her hair might make the knife difficult to cut and cause pain, she quickly removed her hair and exposed her head. She didn’t even look at Killian’s face for fear of being shaken.

 

‘If I die here, where will I wake up next? Or, will everything end like this?’

 

While she was thinking about that and waiting for Killian to kill her without pain, Killian said something very different from the original.

 

“…All of those Rigelhof bastards deserve to be punished.”

 

Yes, up to that point, it was just like the original. Now, the line ‘Including Edith Riegelhoff, who has never been Ludwig!’ should have been said…

 

“By the way, my wife’s name has been Edith Ludwig ever since we got married.”

 

At first she thought she heard something wrong. Next, she wondered if there was a part she had forgotten in the original.

 

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Translator Note: