I’ve Become a S*ave Bride - Chapter 31

Ecaron Kingdom.

“This is the place. This is the director’s office that Your Excellency will be using.”

“……”

Ophelia’s cold, lifeless eyes swept across the dust-filled room.

‘There’s absolutely no management….’

Should she say it more bluntly? It was so filthy that one would believe it was a pigsty rather than a room where people stayed.

She instinctively clenched her fists tightly.

‘Why am I… in a place like this…?’

Since the incident with the Great War, the king had taken the second workshop away from Ophelia.

It was unjust.

The only mistake she made was being deceived by the lies of the unscrupulous technicians, yet the royal family clicked their tongues as if she were a criminal of the highest order.

But despite her grievances, she had no power to resist, so she had no choice but to endure the unreasonable accusations.

As Ophelia recalled those desperate and miserable events, she shook her head vigorously.

‘Right. Let’s not look at it negatively. If I completely transform this messy place, they will surely recognize my worth.’

Ophelia forced a smile, trying to soften her face that had been as dry as parched land.

“So, what is it that I am supposed to do here?”

“Well….”

The vice-director rolled his eyes and glanced at the knight standing behind Ophelia. Then, reluctantly, he opened his mouth again.

“Just… just stay here. Although it looks shabby, there are many skilled doctors, so it runs well on its own, so there’s no need to worry.”

“No, that can’t be. After all, I am the director of this hospital.”

“Hahaha….”

The vice-director, who had guided her to the room, laughed awkwardly. Ophelia persistently questioned the vice-director.

“So, what should I do? I’ll learn anything with a humble heart, so please let me know.”

This was her own significant resolution. It was a determination to set aside her pride as the wife of Dawes and to learn with humility.

However, what returned in response to that will and resolution was nothing but cold indifference.

“Haha, well… I’ll be straightforward.”

“…Yes?”

“In other words… Your Excellency, who knows nothing of modern medicine, has nothing to do here. The best way you can help us is by doing nothing at all.”

What an insulting remark!

Are they saying she should do nothing? Are they mocking her capabilities?

Ophelia’s face flushed with shame. She bit her lip and lowered her head.

She wanted to say something, but she couldn’t.

The entire kingdom had witnessed her demotion with their own eyes.

No matter how foolish she was, she understood this much. Making excuses here wouldn’t change anything.

“…I understand. But if you need anything, please come to me anytime.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

Fearing that Ophelia might change her mind and threaten him, the vice-director left the room without a moment’s delay.

Cameron, the deputy director who had been by her side since the second workshop, spoke softly.

“Don’t be too disheartened.”

“……”

Is that supposed to be comfort?

She wanted to vent her frustration at the deputy director with all her might, but… that too was impossible given her current situation.

“It’s okay, Ophelia. Everyone can make mistakes. Just make sure that mistake doesn’t happen again.”

“Dawes…”

“From now on, you must take the deputy director’s advice as much as possible. You can do well, right?”

“……”

To be honest, she felt hurt.

What that meant was that even Dawes considered the incident to be her fault.

Moreover, he told her to listen to Deputy Director Cameron from now on.

“Haah… thank you.”

Ophelia replied reluctantly as she looked up at him.

“Can I ask you for one favor?”

“You mean you’re going to give me a ‘command’?”

“……”

Again, again. He was trying to teach her.

“……Yes. It was a command. But I said it to be considerate of the deputy director’s feelings.”

“There’s no need for that. Your Excellency has already shown enough thoughtfulness.”

“……”

Frustration surged within her, but Ophelia tried to ignore that feeling and continued speaking.

“Please get me books on modern medicine.”

“Are you thinking of studying?”

“Yes. They said I don’t have to do anything, but I really can’t do that.”

This time, it seemed the deputy director also agreed with her opinion, as he nodded slightly.

“Understood. I will prepare appropriate books.”

* * *

“How is Mahat’s condition?”

“It’s not as good as before, but he has recovered enough to work.”

“Really?”

Kazen, who had been looking around the hideout village for the first time in a while, stopped.

The words of Lenette suddenly came to mind.

“Yes. About Mahat. I think it would be better if he didn’t continue with his current work.”

That was quite a troublesome statement.

If they thought of Mahat, they had to stop him from working immediately.

But the situation was not that simple.

Mahat was the only gunpowder technician in the hideout village. Without him, they couldn’t carry out the corning process for black powder developed by those from the north.

And gunpowder that hadn’t gone through corning would…

“That’s too dangerous.”

Kazen pressed his fingertip against his temple.

“What about the technicians from the Ecaron Kingdom? Are they still being pursued?”

“I have something to report on that matter.”

“Go ahead.”

“It seems there has been internal strife within the Ecaron Kingdom.”

“Internal strife?”

“Yes. It’s quite difficult to get reliable news from there, but it appears that the first prince, who was the leader of the so-called emerging intellectuals, has been replaced by the second prince.”

“If it’s the first prince, isn’t he the one the king often uses as a propaganda tool, the so-called ‘fruit of love’ or whatever?”

“That’s correct.”

The king of Ecaron had gone to great lengths to glorify his conquest wars. He showcased a commoner woman from a small kingdom he conquered.

To keep this woman by his side, who he was madly in love with, and to seek revenge for her, he conquered surrounding kingdoms… such was the narrative, but those involved in politics did not believe it.

However, the common people were different. That legendary love story was quite a compelling ‘fairy tale’ for them.

Thanks to this, the king of Ecaron could glorify his brutal wars under the guise of ‘love.’

“If there are emerging intellectuals, then there must be artillery technicians among them.”

“That’s right. And it seems some factions have defected during this process.”

“Is this information reliable?”

“It’s about eighty percent certain. The remaining twenty percent uncertainty is….”

“There’s a possibility that the information got distorted while going back and forth in the barbarian region. I understand. This is enough to show you’ve done your homework well.”

Kazen lightly patted the shoulder of his right-hand man, Alman.

“And reporting this to me means you think you can recruit some of those ‘defectors,’ right?”

“They’re currently working on it, and if there are no major variables, they should join us.”

“Excellent.”

“However…”

Alman trailed off, looking troubled.

“The language is a problem….”

To join them, they couldn’t just have a rudimentary level of the Tazetra language.

“We need someone to teach and train them alongside the technicians.”

What kind of people were they here?

They were individuals who had suffered so much that they shed tears of blood instead of ordinary tears.

Perhaps that’s why they were always on edge and had a significant wariness towards outsiders.

And now, they were dealing with foreigners who couldn’t even communicate properly?

“I guess I’m the only one who can teach them.”

“There is one more….”

“Who?”

Instead of answering, Alman stared intently at Kazen, as if to say, “Why ask when you already know?”

“Don’t tell me it’s my fiancée?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“But didn’t you mention that you also need a physician?”

“……”

That was true.

Just as he had treated Mahat every time, they couldn’t rely on outside help. Even if no one was paying attention to this for now, suspicion would surely arise sooner or later.

With a deepening frown, Alman cautiously added, “She’s different from the other brides.”

Kazen, who had been lost in thought, paused and asked, “Why do you think so?”

“Setting aside her abilities, your attitude towards her is different, Lord Kazen.”

That was true. Until now, he didn’t even know the names of the brides.

Not just their names; he had never shared a room with them, gone out to browse the market together, or even had a proper conversation.

“That’s definitely the case.”

He rubbed his chin, falling back into thought.

“While that’s true… it’s still too early.”

“Is there something weighing on your mind?”

“Quite a lot.”

A lot, indeed.

And if he had to choose the biggest concern among them, it would be that woman, who seemed ready to run away at any moment given the chance.

“I need my own people, not a traitor.”

That’s why he was troubled.

Whether to devour his bride or to nurture her.