I’ve Become a S*ave Bride - Chapter 45
“I’m sorry.”
“……”
Lenette’s pouting lips shut tightly, surprised by the sudden apology.
Then, the apology came again.
“I’m sorry.”
He didn’t add any further explanations.
After a moment of contemplation, Lenette finally spoke softly.
“…I’m sorry for acting recklessly, too.”
“You realize that, huh? ”
She glared at Kazen again.
“Did you come here to pick a fight again?”
“Of course not.”
After letting out a light laugh, he stood up and gently tapped the top of Lenette’s head.
“I came to make up. But it’s true that it was a dangerous action.”
“……”
In the face of truth, Lenette became infinitely weak.
“Well… I admit that part, so I understand.”
“Then does that mean you’ll stop pretending to sleep now?”
“……”
Why does he have to bring that up?
Lenette calmly stood up and replied,
“Yes. I’ll stop now.”
Thus, the conflict between the two ended emptily after two days.
“I’m hungry; let’s eat breakfast.”
“Sounds good. I want to eat the bread with lamb and vegetables that I had last time.”
Seeing Lenette brighten up immediately after the apology, Kazen chuckled.
“I get it. Let’s go out; I’ll treat you.”
* * *
The origin of the new medicine Ecaron is not about saving lives.
Although it is currently used to save lives, its inception was undoubtedly about “killing enemies more efficiently.”
Could Lenette, who has mastered such a discipline, be ignorant or clumsy when it comes to torture?
Absolutely not. In fact, she is more skilled and experienced than any torturer in the Tazetra Empire.
“Is this the confession potion?”
“That’s what it’s called, at least.”
Kazen quietly accepted the small vial that Lenette handed him.
“This must be Ecaron’s method then.”
Lenette shrugged her shoulders in response.
“Is the effect certain?”
“It’s fifty-fifty.”
“Fifty-fifty?”
“Yes. You either go insane from the pain after taking this drug or start spilling everything while searching for an antidote.”
“Is there an antidote?”
“No.”
Kazen replied calmly, watching the woman organizing her belongings.
She was unsettlingly composed.
Of course, he knew she wasn’t the kind of emotional person typical of other women.
But he had thought that at least when it came to torturing and harming someone, she wouldn’t be so unreserved.
“You’re quite different from how you looked when you were begging for the intruder’s life.”
“Don’t misunderstand. At that time, I wasn’t begging for my life; I was asking to be allowed to interrogate.”
Kazen looked at the small vial in his hand and asked.
“Is there a chance they could die instead of going insane?”
“Sometimes, yes.”
“……”
When he lost his words and looked back at her, Lenette raised and lowered her eyebrows, exhaling.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I knew you lacked a sense of duty as a doctor, but you seem strangely composed about killing people.”
At that, Lenette chuckled.
“Well, they’re not people, are they?”
“You don’t consider assassins to be people.”
“Exactly.”
“Because they kill people?”
There was no immediate response. So Kazen asked again.
“If it’s not because they kill people, then what is it?”
“Because they tried to kill me.”
Placing the wooden bowl she was holding on the table, she met Kazen’s gaze again.
“That person is my enemy.”
“Does that mean an enemy is not a person?”
“If it’s an enemy trying to kill me, yes.”
“What about an enemy who doesn’t harbor killing intent?”
“I treat them with the same mindset.”
“So you react relatively.”
“For now, yes.”
The phrase “for now” implied that there could be exceptions, but Kazen chose not to ask further.
He didn’t need an explanation.
Nothing is as futile as the beliefs and standards one expresses in words. In a world of savagery, it is wiser to have flexibility rather than meaningless stubbornness.
“Are you coming with me?”
“I told you I’d interrogate them myself.”
“Got it.”
With that, the two headed towards the abandoned house on the outskirts of the village side by side.
* * *
Upon arrival, the abandoned house was in better condition than expected. It seemed they chose a house with intact walls, considering the screams would escape outside.
“There’s a basement?”
“I found it by chance.”
Following Kazen, Lenette carefully descended the stairs.
Before long, a musty smell enveloped her.
“It seems like this place has been left unattended for a long time.”
“Please understand that we didn’t have time to clean.”
At Najan’s apology, Lenette shook her head. Was there really a need to clean when interrogating a criminal?
“It’s going to get dirty anyway, so it’s fine.”
Finally reaching the basement, the guards who had been on watch stood up.
Among them were those who had seen Lenette in her underwear, including Hosanta.
“L-Leneta-sama…”
Even in the dark basement, their embarrassment was evident.
The sight of the guards with flushed ears was unmistakable.
Kazen leaned slightly and scanned them, prompting the guards to quickly bow their heads to avoid eye contact.
“Is it hot in here?”
Kazen asked, knowing full well why their ears were red.
“N-No, it’s not!”
“Then why are your faces so red?”
“…Now that you mention it, I suppose it is a bit hot.”
“It’s pretty cold down here.”
“I naturally have a warm constitution….”
Kazen’s eyebrows twitched like caterpillars.
Lenette chuckled at the ridiculous sight.
‘Anyone would think he’s a devoted husband.’
It seemed silly to make such a fuss just because a woman dressed in her underwear came out.
At that moment, Nazan whispered from behind.
“It’s a grave sin for a man to see the body of a married woman.”
Hearing the explanation made it somewhat understandable, but it still struck her as funny.
‘It’s not like he really thinks of me as his wife.’
Irritated, Kazen shot back at the guards, who were still talking about the heat.
“Is that supposed to be an excuse?”
“…I’m sorry.”
The guards bowed their heads again and fell silent.
‘We don’t have time for this.’
If left alone, it felt like they would be stuck like this for half the day.
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Lenette stepped in to wrap things up.
“If we’re going to argue, I should also take responsibility for appearing without covering myself. We need to interrogate him and leave before it gets late.”
Kazen clicked his tongue in annoyance and gestured for the guards to leave.
Perhaps worried about giving them more ammunition, the guards hurriedly ascended the stairs.
Left in the basement were Lenette, Nazan, and Kazen—the three of them.stairs.
“Let’s start the interrogation.”
* * *
Lenette’s confession potion proved to be more effective than imagined.
“I-I’ll tell you everything…! So, please…!”
The assassin began to vomit on the floor before finishing his sentence.
Though it was quite a performance, Lenette calmly looked down at the criminal.
“If you change your words like before—”
“I—I won’t do it again. So please…! ”
As the assassin stammered in response, Nazan kicked at him.
Thud!
“Cough…!”
The assassin’s body was thrown against the wall. It was clear that Nazan was indeed a warrior.
“How dare you interrupt?”
Nazan hit the assassin a few more times.
Watching silently, Lenette decided it was enough and stopped Nazan.
“Stop it. Let’s give him another chance.”
Lenette approached the assassin with a blank expression.
One would frown at the sight of the assassin covered in blood and filth, but Lenette remained calm.
“Let’s start with something easy.”
The criminal nodded vigorously, kneeling down.
“P-Please… I’ll tell you everything… So just stop the pain, please…!”
A small vial was placed in front of him.
“It can stop about ten minutes of pain.”
“Ten minutes…?”
“If you give me an answer that satisfies me within that time, I’ll free you from pain forever.”
“R-Really…?”
“Yes.”
At that, the assassin quickly downed the vial.
The effect wasn’t immediate, but perhaps due to the psychological comfort of taking a painkiller, his speech became clearer.
“Ask me anything! I’ll really tell you!”
“Then let’s start with that.”
“Just say it…! I’ll tell you anything!”
Lenette smiled and signaled to Nazan. A chair was placed behind her.
Seated, Lenette looked down at the assassin, who was still kneeling.
“First, change that cocky tone.”
“Uh…?”
As he asked back with a dazed expression, a slap came flying toward him.
Smack!
Caught off guard, he widened his eyes and placed a hand on his cheek.
“It’s not ‘uh,’ it’s ‘yes.’”
“What is this…?”
Smack!
“Your answers are too short.”
Smack!
After repeating this process about three times, the assassin’s attitude changed.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t know my place…”
Finally satisfied, Lenette asked her question.
“Did you try to kill me?””
“…I didn’t want to do that—”at—”
Smack!
“……!”
‘Why is she hitting me even though I’m using honorifics?’
The assassin looked up at her with an aggrieved expression. Lenette then said,honorifics? honorifics? said,
“Keep your answers short and simple.”
“I’ll ask again. Did you try to kill me?“
”Yes…”
“Who ordered it?”
“……”
Seeing the assassin hesitate to answer, Lenette muttered,
“Looks like you haven’t been hit enough.”
At that, he flinched and hunched over as if trying to avoid her.
