My Wife the Empress is Becoming Frightening

18. equal or greater

Episode 18

Marianne sipped the tea, but it wasn’t the tea she was savoring.

She was thinking about her husband, who had been bewildered a moment ago but had listened to her sudden insistence.

Although he felt a bit clumsy, Isaac praised Marianne wholeheartedly. At first, there were only stories about being smart or like an emperor, but Marianne’s unsatisfied continued demands made it possible to hear compliments on her appearance and appearance.

Thanks to that, Marianne was satisfied. But what satisfied her more than the praise was Isaac’s face when he spoke.

‘It was cute.’

It was the first time in my life that I felt cute when I saw a large adult male rather than a small animal, flower, or younger sister.

If it had been her up until now, even if she had a feeling that she was cute, she would have denied it, saying that there was no way she would be like that.

No, the image of him doing his best to meet his wife’s request while being embarrassed to the extent that he couldn’t hide it is beyond cute… …

“I don’t know.”

The voice of her heart flowed involuntarily from Marianne’s mouth, which was relaxed to maintain her dignity because she was alone.

Of course, she was smart enough to know. The emotion she is feeling right now is love, and the possibility that she may have fallen for the person she has kept a distance from, claiming to be her legal husband.

Although he is in the highest position in the world, he sometimes harbors ordinary longings. Even if you see it with your own two eyes, you will have a change of heart.

For example, the husband’s big and wide back that appeared at the moment of desperate situation when his life was in danger.

However, there was no information itself that could be compared to the current situation in her life to make a definitive conclusion.

Not knowing is uncomfortable. So observation was necessary. Marianne thought that if she always kept her by her side and continued to observe her, she would be able to know exactly what she was thinking.

“I can’t help it. It’s the first time I’ve seen a man like that.”

As Marianne unknowingly muttered an excuse she didn’t know who she was talking to, of course it was Isaac’s image that Marianne remembered.

Isaac smiled even though he had to leave his hometown because he was treated like a hostage. Even if I made him sit in a place where he would die, instead of being cursed at, he smiled casually.

At first I was puzzled by the laugh, but I wasn’t particularly interested.

Even when he joked about helping out and destroying a branch of the empire’s largest criminal organization, or secretly handing over information that could have a negative impact on the institutional economy to the Empire’s intelligence department with the huge business he gained by wandering around pretending to meet a woman, it was just flattery. .

‘Mmm. To be honest, I was a little worried from then on.’

In addition, Isaac brought important information from here and there and handed it over to the Imperial Intelligence until he virtually banned contact with women because Duke Jericho would contact him.

All of this was information that could not have been known unless one had a very close relationship with the person concerned or the target. Among the information, there was some that had the potential to develop into a dangerous situation if left unattended.

With the help of the Imperial Intelligence Agency and the Imperial Guard, which obtained information, they succeeded in preventing several incidents.

‘It would be okay to be a little condescending.’

Although he made a revolutionary contribution, only Marianne and a few people close to the center of the Imperial Intelligence Agency knew about it.

Isaac did not hand over the information he obtained. Since he delivered it through several routes in his own way, he would think that Marianne would not know about it.

Judging by his appearance during the conversation, there was no sign that he thought he had been found out about his actions.

“Looking at something like that makes me naive again.”

Like he himself said, is it because he almost lived on the battlefield? Sometimes, there were times when I acted and said something innocent enough to want to do something.

Yes, her husband has the power of a hero, so he can react sensitively to things like tailing.

However, tailing wasn’t the only way to find out the whereabouts of a specific target. Besides, she is the emperor.

Within the Empire, no one would be able to escape Marianne’s sight. No matter how strong you are, no matter how carefully you hide your words and actions, everything is meaningless.

There was no way his eyes would fall off Isaac.

“According to Haria’s report, it seems he hasn’t really had a girlfriend lately.”

I know it’s to get ‘important information’ to help ‘himself’, but I don’t like the way it works.

Among the Hounds, there are those who get information by acting similar to Isaac, so I’ll have to ask them from now on.

Since he would be sticking by his side anyway, he thought it would be a good idea to slowly observe him.

“It’s late anyway.”

Putting down the cooled teacup, Marianne looked dissatisfied at the door Isaac had opened.

The fact that it had only been about ten minutes since he had left was not in Marianne’s mind.

Even if it came to mind, I probably would have ignored it.

—

“Gilbert says he has no intention of returning to work. My wife is very happy that I didn’t do anything dangerous, and she felt that her strength was running low, so she said that hound work would be difficult anyway.”

Upon hearing the news I had brought, the subordinates opened their mouths in amazement, and immediately thought the same as I did.

If the treatment changed that much, Gilbert didn’t have to retire.

Anticipating the reaction of my subordinates, I stopped by Gilbert’s newly opened general store before returning to headquarters. And like I just said, it was rejected.

“I also regret Gilbert’s fighting ability, but I think it’s better to respect him because it’s his choice. So, you guys, don’t go there and talk about other things.”

My subordinates nodded and talked to each other at my words that clearly drew a line.

“Well, thanks to the captain, Gilbert was able to leave with the largest severance pay in the history of the Hound.”

“Not only that, but you also received a hefty reward for subjugating the mad wizard.”

“The general store was also opened as a pastime to make my wife’s dream come true.”

It didn’t seem like the regret was completely gone, but the topic of the story of the subordinates who were once again cheering for their colleague’s new start soon changed to the new Hound.

“I never thought I would be working in the imperial palace.”

“The captain said you’d have to wear a mask?”

“That’s what it used to be. And you can eat and sleep in the imperial palace, but what about wearing a mask?”

“That’s right.”

Boros, Damus, and Derrigan, who tend to be reticent to Jina, are also showing a lot of excitement. I am also looking at those subordinates.

but only two people. Haria and Selemin looked very dissatisfied.

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“Your Majesty, why did you suddenly make such a decision… … Could it be that you noticed?”

“If that’s the case, there’s no point in deliberately coming to the Hound… .”

It was natural for the two to be dissatisfied.

Haria spent most of her own money, well, in the end, it was Marianne’s money, but anyway, even the manager’s office was renovated with it, but it was a shame that the move was decided.

Not to mention the case of Selemin. I came to the Hound as a rebellion against my sister, but if the headquarters are moved to the imperial palace, it would be like going back to the starting point after all.

However, out of consideration for the other hounds, neither of them openly expressed dissatisfaction or rejection.

“Okay then everyone pack up. Even if it’s luggage, you’ll only need to bring your personal items. Make sure to move all of the materials without omission.”

I called a few wagons on the way, but I thought that there was probably nothing to call it luggage except for the materials.

So I thought the preparations for moving would be over soon, but I realized in a few minutes that I had made a mistake.

“Derrigan. The place we are going to is the Imperial Palace. You can leave those chairs that are about to break.”

“I can still write, but… .”

I lost a leg while I was talking.

“Garel. I respect your hobbies, but I can’t bring something like a cursed sword to the imperial palace.”

“I can’t… !”

Is this such an unexpected story?

“Boros. I buy new paint magazines after I move later.”

“But, boss. This is a legendary magazine that is no longer available and out of print!”

What do you know about that legend?

“pass. Are you planning on swimming in the imperial palace?”

“Oh no! It can’t be! This is a dress!”

Then it’s more of a problem.

“Damus… … What is that great burden?”

“It is my personal item.”

When we went to the corner and opened it together, the bag was filled with cute and cute items.

It’s a personal preference, so I decided to respect it. It’s also the most normal.

Thanks to my subordinates who had no intention of leaving anything behind, I suddenly realized that I couldn’t see one.

“Has the coil not arrived yet?”

“yes. Come to think of it, it’s a bit late.”

As I said to Marianne, the traitor who leaked our children’s information must be a high-ranking official or an aristocrat. So, before going to the imperial palace, I told Coyle to do only moderate inquiries before coming.

I was going to do a full-scale investigation after receiving Marianne’s permission, so I told her to just look around, but she hasn’t come yet?

It was around the time when I was a little worried that I might have gotten caught up in something. The door to the headquarters opened and Coil returned.

while being covered in blood.

“coil!”

Me and the hounds who were packing our moving bags ran to Coyle all at once. Bringing a towel and water, Coyle said as he wiped his face.

“it’s okay. It wasn’t as bad as it looked.”

I guess so. Looking at the signs of cuts and bruises here and there, it looks like they fought with their fists.

“Who hit you and what happened?”

“yes. that is… … but where are we going? Why is everyone packing up?”

When I briefly summarized the circumstances of moving the headquarters to the imperial palace, Coil showed the same reaction as the other hounds.

“oh my god. we really… !”

“Now that’s done, tell me what happened.”

When we interrupted our conversation and asked with a stern look, Coyle scratched his cheek and opened his mouth.

“Ah, that. As usual, I was wandering around the place where many noble wives and the wives of imperial officials gathered… .”

This is Cole’s story. As he was wandering around with the intention of lightly stealing a story under my command, he noticed a noblewoman he had never seen before, sitting lonely.

Coyle, who was unknowingly drawn to her by her appearance that could be said to be young and pretty, felt a shadow somewhere, and when she came to her senses, she was talking to her.

After hearing that, I stopped talking for a while.

“coil.”

“yes?”

“Were you led by your heart or by your lower body?”

“uh… … Both?”

It looks like the end of the story is in sight. I was told to continue.

“She was a humble woman. She became the second wife of an old nobleman, but within a few years her husband died. Since then, even my family treated me as an invisible person, so I was always lonely.”

“Did you soothe that loneliness?”

“Sure.”

Coyle answered confidently and continued the story.

It was nice to have a bed like that and come out again to have afternoon tea time, but a man who was in love with the widow in question saw that scene.

“If you listen to your wife, you are close to a stalker.”

The man lost his temper and rushed to fight Coyle, but it seems that Coyle beat him lightly.

“It was simple because he was not only short and skinny, but also unpleasant.”

“The last one doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the fight, but let’s move on. Then who did you hit?”

“I was drinking tea when he gathered his gang and came back.”

So Coyle explained that he was inevitably injured in the fight to get his widowed wife back home safely and get rid of them.

After hearing the whole story, I spoke to Coyle again.

“You have had a great romantic adventure despite the short period of time. So coil. I want to ask you something very important.”

“What is it, chief?”

“The man who attacked you with his wife. Are you just an ordinary wife and an ordinary man?”

I hoped Coyle would nod yes, but the words that came out of his mouth were brutal.

“Well, I swear I’ll find out later. Turns out, it was the Duchess of Jericho. Oh, of course, in the words of the current head of the family, the wife of the previous head of the deceased family. And the guy who attacked me turned out to be a secretary of the Ministry of Finance of the Empire? Are you sure your name was James Lecter?”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

aha. So, my subordinate ate the stepmother who became the widow of the highest aristocrat in the empire and returned after beating up the second-in-command of the Imperial Chancellor and the favorite disciple of the Prime Minister who was stalking her.

Even so, you’re scratching your cheeks as if you’re embarrassed, as if the neighborhood kid got caught playing around?

“Damus.”

“yes.”

“Get a hammer and crush that bastard’s lower body.”

“All right.”

Admit it, Coil. You are equal to or better than me.