I’ve Become a S*ave Bride - Chapter 36
Chapter 36
The words she had heard three days ago echoed once again in Lenette’s ears.
‘What you have accomplished is not at all insignificant.’
A red glow crept up to the tips of her ears.
“Haah…”
Why did his words keep ringing in her ears?
“Why does this keep happening…?”
She didn’t know what was troubling her, but it was painful.
No, in fact, she wasn’t even sure if the feeling spreading around her heart was truly ‘pain.’
It was an unfamiliar sensation. A tingling she had never experienced before and a surge of emotion whose cause she could not identify.
And that was what made it painful.
“What do those words even mean…?”
In the end, Lenette’s hand that had been pouring water into the lunadel stopped.
“I’m going crazy.”
Resting her elbows on the desk, Lenette brushed her forehead with both hands.
“So whether you choose herbs or jewelry, you don’t have to worry about my opinion on those things.”
Kazen had said that she could buy anything Lenette wanted at any time.
Lenette liked that statement… very much.
“…I’m really going crazy.”
Feeling as if she had committed a taboo that must never be broken, Lenette anxiously bit her lip.
“Don’t think about it. Stop thinking about it. Is this the time to be reminiscing about such things? Get a grip.”
She needed to take revenge.
And she had to restore her family that had been shattered because of her and find her family as well.
So now was not the time to obsess over his words but to focus on what she could do.
“Get a grip.”
She shook her head as if trying to shake off the intrusive thoughts.
Surprisingly, it was an effective method. Her thoughts became scattered as her vision blurred.
Just as she managed to push away thoughts of Kazen, there was a knock, knock.
The old woman entered with a cup of bunna.
“Ah. Thank you.”
Lenette asked the old woman, who silently placed the bunna cup on the table.
“Was it difficult to make this?”
The old woman shook her head.
“Oh. I heard that previous brides often consumed it?”
Was it because of the term ‘previous brides’? The old woman awkwardly smiled and nodded.
“Then how did they consume this lunadel… I mean, the hyungran?”
The old woman clenched her fist and mimicked a grinding motion.
“You mean they ground it into powder and mixed it into food?”
Nod, nod.
Then, as if she remembered something, the old woman held up one finger with a serious expression.
“You have to eat only that much?”
Nod, nod.
“Can’t you eat more?”
Nod, nod.
“Then is it okay to mix the hyungran with bunna?”
As she asked naturally, as if she truly didn’t know the dosage, the old woman drew a circle with her finger.
“So it means we can eat it together?”
Nod, nod.
Seeing her bright face, it seemed she really thought there was no problem.
‘Why does she think there’s no problem?’
The side effects that occur within three to four hours after taking bunna and hyangran simultaneously are quite serious.
‘If the brides have been consistently taking it, they must know about it… Why doesn’t she know?’
“Do you also take this hyungran, ma’am?”
The old woman waved her hands and vigorously shook her head.
“Why? Is it too expensive?”
Nod, nod.
“Is it that expensive?”
The old woman nodded exaggeratedly, as if to say not to even mention it.
“Then does this region not enjoy eating this hyangran?”
She had a look that seemed to say, “Why are you asking something so obvious?”
“No one eats it?”
Nod.
“Then what about bunna?”
She waved her hands again, as if to say the same applied.
Seeing that, Lenette finally understood.
‘There are no users other than the brides.’
So, they didn’t know about the side effects that occur when taking both together.
‘Well… if it’s hyungran from Ecaron, it wouldn’t be cheap.’
Even if side effects appeared, they would probably just think it was a curse placed on the ‘bride of Kazen.’
‘Kazen… he doesn’t seem like such a bad person… why does he have such a malicious reputation?’
Once again, her thoughts led back to ‘Kazen.’
Realizing this, Lenette was startled.
“I’m crazy! Why am I thinking about him again?”
“Huh?”
“Oh, never mind. Just go out.”
In her flustered state, she waved her hands, and in doing so, accidentally knocked over the cup in front of her.
“Ugh!”
The bunna water spilled onto the desk, and the old woman made a sound that seemed to express regret, like “Oh dear,” as she busily moved about.
“…I’m sorry. I’ll take care of the cleanup, so you can go out.”
The old woman seemed reluctant to leave, but Lenette pushed her gently out the door.
Left alone in the room again, Lenette leaned against the door and let out a long sigh.
“Why am I acting like this…?”
It felt strange to behave in a way that was so unlike herself.
* * *
“What request did you make?”
Kazen turned around, surprised and amused by Nazan’s report while contemplating the tribute items.
“You said you would manage the palace’s household?”
“It wasn’t a proclamation… it was a request.”
“Same difference.”
“You expressed a desire to discuss it directly with Kazen, but since that wasn’t feasible, you asked me to convey the request.”
That was understandable.
Kazen was incredibly busy at the moment.
“Ugh.”
Kazen sighed and pressed his fingers against his eyes.
“Have you not decided what to send as tribute yet?”
“I have nothing suitable.”
The children of Kal offer tributes every three years in the name of ‘filial piety.’
Of course, Kazen and his half-brothers generally have neither deep respect nor affection for Kal.
But still, a father is a father, so they had to send something as a ‘filial offering’ in formality.
The problem was that they usually present local specialties for these offerings, but there was nothing of the sort in this Lagaan region where Kazen was staying.
“I knew it was poor, but I didn’t expect there to be nothing to send.”
Kazen, who had been complaining, asked his subordinate about Lenette.
“So why does she suddenly want to manage the household?”
It would be better to ask her directly, but given the circumstances, he had been searching the Lagaan region during the day and only returned to the palace late at night.
Kazen had been keeping watch by her side while she slept, and when dawn came, signaling the palace’s safety, he would have to go back outside.
“She didn’t mention anything about it.”
“What do you speculate?”
“I think she has developed some attachment.”
“…What?”
Nazan never made frivolous remarks or presumptuous assumptions. For him to say something like that was surprising.
“Why do you think so?”
“Her actions suggest that.”
“Be specific.”
As Kazen gestured for more details, Nazan recounted several incidents that had occurred.
“She seems to be paying attention to each household member in a way that feels different from when she was checking on the health of the palace staff at your request.”
The other behaviors he listed all seemed like things a ‘mistress’ would do.
“And most importantly, she has been asking indirect questions about you.”
“What kind of questions?”
“She asked whether you sleep well, if you have any ailments, and what kind of food you usually eat and drink.”
“……”
This was yet another unexpected revelation, so much so that it pushed thoughts of tributes out of his mind.
“…What about family?”
“I didn’t ask.”
That meant she was genuinely concerned about his health…
“We’re not that close, though.”
It wasn’t like the gaze of some priests who were infatuated with him.
What could her intention be this time?
“What should we do?”
At Nazan’s question, Kazen leaned slightly and looked down at the dusty ground.
“Allow it, as long as she doesn’t overstep. That’s something you’ll have to manage, Nazan.”
“Understood.”
* * *
“Here are the documents you requested.”
A day after Lenette expressed her desire to manage the household, a response had come back.
“Does giving me these documents mean… he has granted permission?”
“Yes. From now on, any requests for palace management should go through me.”
This implied that she wouldn’t be given complete authority.
‘This is enough.’
She wasn’t truly taking on the role of a ‘mistress’ to manage the household.
“Thank you. The items listed here are all that will be consumed within the palace, right?”
“Except for a few items, yes.”
Lenette opened the book and roughly scanned the listed items.
‘There’s nothing related to weapons.’
It was focused solely on necessities for daily living.
“Got it. Thank you.”
As she briefly expressed her gratitude, Nazan bowed his head and prepared to leave the room.
“Oh. And…”
Lenette suddenly seemed to remember something and stopped him.
“Yes, please go ahead.”
“I see that the quantities are listed, but the suppliers for these items are not mentioned.”
There was no immediate response. Nazan stared at her for a moment.
“May I ask why you are requesting the list of suppliers?”
“If I think there are items I need to order, I should know which supplier to contact, right?”
“I can request it if you tell me.”
Lenette, sitting in her chair, sighed and looked up at him.
“What if you disappear for an entire day like yesterday?”
“……”
“And if you don’t know exactly what I’m looking for, like before?”
“……”
“Are we going to go back and forth between the herbalist and the palace dozens of times again?”
“……”
“And it’s less troublesome for me to talk directly to the suppliers about the materials with the desired effects.”
“……”
Since she was making valid points, Nazan couldn’t refute her.
However, since he didn’t respond with “Understood,” Lenette spoke persuasively.
“If it bothers you, I’ll only call the suppliers when you’re around. Is that still not acceptable?”
