Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Ch. 33 .｡.:✧ Cologne (3) ✧:.｡.
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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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The Prodigy of Hildegart.
In my childhood, I was called by that nickname.
It wasn’t that I was a prodigy in any specific field.
I excelled in everything I put my hands on.
There were many things I wanted to do, and I had numerous options.
During that time, my father demanded that I study theology.
At first, I didn’t like it, but I soon found it interesting.
It was from then on that I aspired to become an inquisitor and dreamt of being a religious court judge.
In the year I turned 18,
I double majored in theology and law, graduating at the top of both.
There were many paths.
I could have become a clergyman like this, or a civil servant.
I could have also continued studying law and entered the legal profession.
It seemed like only a smooth path was unfolding in my life.
Until my family’s fortune rapidly declined.
News arrived that the mines purchased at great cost were being depleted one by one.
Almost simultaneously, business ventures failed in succession.
Debt accumulated in an instant, quickly exceeding Hildegart’s ability to repay.
Around that time, a helping hand reached out.
“Cornelia. I think you’ll have to get married. The Briam family said they’ll pay off the debt on the condition of having you…”
It was the proposal of the Briam family.
The Briam family was of pagan origin and had recently received the title of Count while naturalizing to the Holy Kingdom.
They had succeeded in building a foundation to some extent, but in order to survive future political struggles, they needed the help of a devout family.
“The other party is said to be Lawrence Briam.”
“I’ve never heard of him, so what connection do I have with him that he specifically pointed me out?”
“I suppose it’s because you’re famous. I’ll try to persuade him well. What’s important is the union between families anyway, not who you marry…”
I had just started on the road to success, so I couldn’t stop.
Marriage was out of the question.
Absolutely not.
In the first place, I had several older sisters who were already well past marriageable age, and two cousin sisters over sixteen.
There was no need for me to get married.
At least that’s what I believed.
“Cornelia. If it’s not you, there will be no debt repayment…”
“Pardon?”
It was like a bolt from the blue.
It had to be me.
What on earth did that mean?
“Did you persuade them properly? I can’t get married right now. I just graduated, and there are many things I want to do. At this rate, I could become the youngest judge. If I get married now, everything will be in vain.”
“I… I explained everything. I even earnestly begged. To please choose another child instead of Cornelia. But it was no use. They kept saying if it’s not you, the marriage talks are off… I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, Cornelia.”
I was dumbfounded.
That day, I realized early on.
The man named Lawrence was a complete lunatic.
A pervert who feels pleasure in blocking and trampling on other people’s dreams.
“Hello. I’m Cornelia Hildegart. This time…”
“Oh. You’re here? Sit next to me.”
“…”
And my prediction didn’t miss the mark at all.
The man named Lawrence Briam was an uncouth barbarian.
Perhaps because he knew the Hildegart family couldn’t refuse the marriage.
From our first meeting, he treated me like an object.
Even when I looked at my father in disbelief, his only response was silence.
Only then did I realize.
The fact that I no longer had a single ally here.
“Cornelia. I’m really sorry. It’s because I’m incompetent that you’re suffering…”
“Don’t. I don’t want to hear it.”
“If that jerk treats you too harshly, tell me anytime.”
“What will change if I tell you?”
“When time passes and we accumulate wealth again, I’ll propose a divorce. Even if we have to spit out several times the amount we borrowed as alimony, I’ll make sure you can get divorced. And who knows. He might just be rough on the outside but actually be kind…”
“Ha. Shut up, please.”
That man, kind?
The man who maliciously shattered my dreams?
It was ridiculous.
I could no longer trust my father’s words.
“Wash up and come. As thoroughly as possible.”
“I have something to tell you. Darling.”
“What is it?”
“I’ll only say it once, so listen well. I don’t think I can sleep with you yet. It’s too much to have a sexual relationship right now. So at least give me some time…”
On our wedding night,
I laid out my demands to my husband, organizing them clearly.
I told him I didn’t love him.
That even the touch of skin was unpleasant, so not only sexual relations but even sleeping in the same bed was uncomfortable.
Of course, I phrased it in a way that wouldn’t hurt his feelings.
“I don’t like that.”
“Pardon?”
“Do you still not understand your place? You were sold off, yet you’re making demands so boldly?”
I was rejected.
This was completely unexpected.
I didn’t say it would be impossible forever, just asked for time.
Yet Lawrence dismissed even that small request.
I was so scared of Lawrence approaching me, unfastening his clothes.
“No! I don’t want to!”
“Ah…”
In the process of resisting, I accidentally cut Lawrence’s cheek.
Lawrence’s face froze in an instant, turning icy cold.
A chill ran through me as if I had encountered a monster.
Lawrence got up with that stern expression and no longer tried to force himself on me.
Instead, he just grabbed my hair and raised his hand.
Slap!
“Ah! Darling! Please, ah! St-stop…”
“Stop? Looks like you still have the energy to talk?”
“Ow! It hurts! It hurts! Waah!”
At that time, I really thought I might die.
It was the first time I had been beaten so mercilessly by someone, so it couldn’t be helped.
My stomach was bruised, and a couple of my ribs were cracked.
The next morning, I realized that Lawrence was more cunning than I had imagined.
When I put on clothes, not a single injury or bruise was visible.
The fact that even his cruel behavior was carried out under infinitely rational calculation was utterly chilling.
From that day on, helplessness was imprinted on my body.
I could no longer muster the courage to go against Lawrence.
I couldn’t say anything that might displease him.
Whenever our eyes met, my abdomen would tingle and my gaze would automatically lower.
My already healed ribs would throb and I would have difficulty breathing.
“You can’t go out without my permission. You can’t meet anyone else without my permission either.”
“…”
It felt like I had become a bird trapped in a cage.
I had no freedom.
Even the books sent from my family, explaining what a woman needed to study, were all torn up.
I couldn’t even make a peep.
I didn’t want to get beaten again.
“What could this be? To my eyes, it looks like a letter slandering a husband who is like the sky.”
“Ah…”
The letter I had definitely sent to my family was in Lawrence’s hands.
It was a letter informing them of my treatment.
It seemed all the letters I sent were being censored.
My thought that at least minimal freedom was guaranteed was completely my misunderstanding.
“This is really… Ha… I let it slide, but I didn’t know you were sharpening a knife behind my back like this.”
“I was wrong, darling. I won’t ever do it again. Please. I beg you. Hic…!”
That day, I realized.
The beating I received on the first day was really nothing.
I learned what happened when a cruel monster lost control.
This time, I was truly beaten to the point of death.
Lawrence hit me without distinction, whether it was my cheek or my arm.
Even when I vomited and briefly fainted, he didn’t stop the assault.
By the time I no longer had the strength to even scream,
Lawrence left, dripping blood from his hands.
I think I was forbidden from going out for about two weeks after that.
They probably couldn’t let me show my swollen face with torn skin outside.
I thought countless times about asking for help from outside.
But was there anyone in this world who would help me?
I don’t know. My father would worry about me and criticize Lawrence, but he wouldn’t be able to save me.
The Hildegart family that said they would quickly accumulate wealth was still struggling financially, so divorce was out of the question.
Even if I reported it to the police, it would be meaningless.
The police wouldn’t intervene in marital disputes.
It was all too common for a wife to be beaten by her husband.
I might receive some sympathy, but there was no one who could pull me out of this hell.
“Smile, Cornelia. Stop making that face as if you’re dead. It makes me look like a husband who beats his wife.”
“Yes…”
I had to smile at every party or social gathering.
I had to pretend to love Lawrence by his side.
Of course, asking for help from the people I met there was unimaginable.
Lawrence was always watching me closely.
If he found out, I would be beaten to death.
I would be choked by a monster who had completely lost his mind until I stopped breathing.
I was so afraid of that, I couldn’t do anything.
“The mayor of Cologne passed away suddenly, so I’ll be temporarily taking over as mayor. We’ll be moving to Cologne.”
“Yes…”
The situation changed drastically when Lawrence became the acting mayor of the Holy Kingdom’s capital.
The workload was overwhelming.
The tasks that exceeded Lawrence’s capacity were passed on to me.
Afraid of being beaten if I didn’t handle them properly, I displayed unnecessary competence.
Lawrence referred to my ideas and carried out reforms by overhauling various systems.
As they all succeeded, Lawrence was elected as the mayor of Cologne in the next election.
I saw hope.
What the Briam family had gained through marriage to me was a solid foundation.
But now, the Briam family had an even stronger foundation.
The entire city of Cologne had become his support base.
Now, no one could insult Lawrence for being of pagan origin.
So there was no longer a need for us to continue our marriage.
Lawrence must have also been dissatisfied with me for not having a sexual relationship.
That’s why I thought it wouldn’t be difficult, but…
“Divorce? You want me to leave such a stain on my life? Don’t ever bring that up again.”
I was flatly rejected.
Lawrence had no intention of letting me go.
Then what would happen to me?
What would happen to a bothersome wife who had become useless and unnecessary?
The answer came soon enough.
“Drink. It’s warm water.”
“Darling…?”
“I said drink.”
On a day I caught a cold,
Lawrence suddenly pushed warm water to me.
It was colorless, odorless water with nothing strange about it.
The next day, and the day after that.
Even after my cold was cured, Lawrence brought me warm water every single day.
Had Lawrence finally come to his senses?
Had he decided to treat me well now, even belatedly?
“I… My throat is so sore right now, so if you could just wait a bit…”
“Drink it now in front of me!”
Of course not.
If I didn’t drink the water in front of Lawrence’s eyes, he would fly into a rage.
And I gradually began to lose weight.
Even if I ate, I didn’t gain weight, I couldn’t sleep well, and I always had a headache and felt dizzy.
I had a fever that rose and fell as if I had a mild cold, and I coughed frequently.
However, there were no signs of the illness getting better, and the symptoms gradually worsened, giving off an ominous feeling.
‘That water. It’s not just water.’
I was not a stupid, uneducated woman.
No, even such a woman would have quickly deduced it.
There was something in the water Lawrence made me drink.
And that water was slowly killing me.
It was probably a diluted poison.
‘That crazy bastard…’
I wondered how he would dispose of his wife who had become useless and unnecessary.
Lawrence had no intention of letting me live, knowing his secrets.
Divorce would leave a stain on the life of the mayor of Cologne, but bereavement was different.
Rather, if he showed a longing for his dead wife after bereavement, he would even receive sympathy votes.
With that calculation, Lawrence had decided to slowly kill me.
But even knowing the cause, there was nothing I could do.
Lawrence still mercilessly beat me if I didn’t drink the water.
He watched until the end to make sure I drank it without spilling.
Afterwards, he even had the attendants monitor me to see if I forcibly vomited up the water I drank.
There was no way out.
Even knowing I was dying, there was nothing I could do.
If it were my old self, I might have exposed Lawrence’s evil deeds in the middle of a party, saying let’s die together.
But such a strong will had long been taken from me.
My spirit was broken after being beaten by Lawrence countless times.
The fear of being beaten by him was much greater than the fear of death.
Having lost the will to resist and the courage to rebel.
I had half accepted death.
I drank the poison myself and slowly died.
Yet, in one corner of my heart, I couldn’t let go of hope.
The hope that someone would come and save me.
The hope that someone would notice the darkness in my bright expression and come for me.
I couldn’t bring myself to abandon that hope.
“Drink. You’ve been coughing.”
“Yes, darling…”
It was a day like any other.
The only difference was that a mercenary had come to have dinner at the house.
There wasn’t much else that was different.
Lawrence boldly pushed the cup in front of that mercenary.
And I accepted that cup and brought it to my lips.
My hands were trembling, but I had no choice.
I had to drink.
“Ah!”
“Oops. I’m sorry.”
Crash!
The table shook violently and the glass fell to the floor and shattered.
Startled, I looked across the table to see the mercenary lowering the foot he had kicked the table with.
“It was a mistake.”
It was clearly intentional.
He deliberately kicked the table to make me spill the cup.
‘Could it be.’
Not minding Lawrence’s frowning face,
That mercenary just stared at me with surprised rabbit eyes.
My heart raced.
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